All Na-Tu-Ral

I had the hardest time coming up with a writing technology, and I blame it on today's society. Looking around my house for ideas there are things like Ipods, televisions, stereos, cellphones, where was my creative inspiration. I had to sit down and think simple. First when looking around the house I was thinking about using the television as a graphical representation of hypocricy, then I just had to take a break. I sat outside, just for a little bit, and though about the whole clay thing, but I didn't have any clay. The hardest thing for me was that there were plenty of sharp objects to write with, but what was I going to write on. So I tried my hand at making my own clay. I dug up some dirt from the big mudpile next to the trash and put it in a bag. It was loose and I had to make it sticky and smooth, so I added some water to make it the right consistency. Once I got it just right I put it into a baking pan and let it sit and harden under a bright light . It worked! Sharpened a stick with another stick and began to carve into my self made clay. I was surprised how well it worked, and equally surprised that I had been racking my brain for hours coming up with such a natural, abundant, realistic writing technology. Dirt is everywhere, water is everywhere, and the sun (my lamp) shines everywhere. I think my invention touches on the readings in that who would think dirt and water would be used as technology, just as know one saw the pencil being a technology. Everything has a use, it's just how one uses it and puts it to use;)

MaNgUeL and BaRrOn

These two essays have a lot in common. Barron mainly discusses the pencil as a technology, and how it is a paradigm of the development of literacy, as Manguel discusses the book, and how it developed in different ways over time. In both essays the new literacies allowed more and more room for fraud. The pencil used to be a tool for bean counters, now it seen as an old technology merely invisible, and every year it seems we have to catch up and embrace whatever is new at the time. With computers, as Barron points out, it is less authentic and there is ample room for fraud. Similar with Manguel, when Gutenberg bible was cheapened to quick production, it led to a larger market, yet there was that much more of the book out there that was less authentic. People were skeptical of which sources were reliable.

The writing technology I came up with would be seen as an early example like the pencil or clay palates, and would be modified just as these were. Manguel stated that books were made to be read more comfortably, and inventions were made to utilize this like the rotary reading desks. Nowadays things are created to fit into the fast lifestyle. I am proud of the writing style I created, but it wouldn't fit in today.

Writing technologies have to develop with the times, this is the common thread between Ong, Plato, Barron and Manguel. Not only without he times, but at the convenience of people. Like the computer, it may seem complex, but it's convenient. With the pencil, it may not seem complex, but as Barron stated, they needed knowledge of ink, cotton, waxes furnaces,dyes amongst other things to create was seems like a simple technology. With Plato, spoken word was more noble than written, but then truth was based on who the speaker was and where they came from. There's always that something as time goes on. With Ong and Manguels essay, they both touch on new technologies being artificial. How calculators are even allowed to be used, and how spell check was not even implemented when word was first introduced in classrooms. As time goes on, we become more and more outside ourselves, and create objects to do the thinking for us.

What is Style?

Style in writing is similar to style in fashion. Style, in regards to clothing, in the professional world has a basic set of fashion guidelines. For woman there are basic style peices that should be incorporated in a business wardrobe, but how these pieces are put together is what makes the person wearing them have a certain style. This style can can be liked by some and disliked by others. Like style in fashion, writing style is subjective.

Writing style is the way you put together a sentence. Of course there are basic principles of writing and grammar usage, but how an individual puts the pieces of the puzzle together is what crreates the style. Thers a difference between sounding smart and intelligently getting your point across. Being clear and being able to be understood is a big part of style. With the fashion metaphor for example, wearing a short skirt and revealing top to work sayss alot about that person. In writing, if someone is trying to use big words and no point is getting across, that person is kind of like the intern with the short skirt, trying a little too hard.

My name is Kaila, pronounced Ky-eee-la. It's a Liberian name meaning wise woman. I pretty much do a bit of everything. Some highlights would include: traveling to Monterrey, Mexico for missions work, playing soccer in Hawaii, attending the NCAA Leadership Conference, and getting the internship of my dreams;)

I am blessed to have such a wonderful support system. My family is very important to me and are really incredible people.

Random:
When I hear a really good song for the first time I cry
I just got a new car and it's my first car ever!
Ignorance is most definitely bliss