My First Battle with WikiHow

WikiHow is the How-To Manual of the 21st century. Whenever we need help using or making something, wikihow provides a detailed answer with very accurate pictures. It's a thinking tank that accessible to the world and is fact checked by thousands of moderators. The system is perfect because it allows for truthful and useful post without any of the uselessness that’s posted on other help sites. In fact, upon posting on WikiHow, the creator will immediately get an email telling them that their post is under reviewed. If you’re lucky the post will pass the review and will immediately be posted. But the reality is that the review process will take at least a month as the reviewers are very detailed in their criticism. But all those reviews serve the purpose of being a perfect teacher for the idiot reading the post. 

An important part of WikiHow is visual examples. Words although very detailed won't provide the same type of definite detailing as pictures or videos. If you look at a Wiki post it has pictures which provide technique for the individual learning. Its intuitive to add visuals because WikiHow understands that people learn differently. For some people, words will be enough to provide a step by step guide. But other people are visual learnings and require a guide in which the process is clearly shown. Both ways of learning are represented in WikiHow by allowing visuals and words.

Another part of WikiHow is references. When trying to post something on the site, it may seem that all tutorials have already be done. But when you find an original idea those tutorials will serve as guides. They can be used to just learn how to format your ideal tutorial. Such as using exact wording to provide detail without being general. A unique thing about post is that you can preview the coding the publisher used. For those who don't know much about coding, they can review the code and learn what to use so they can construct their guide. And for those who have similar ideas to past post that's acceptable to. Instead of mimicking the post, the person should review similar post and then they'll know what not to use. Or better yet they use the post as inspiration to incorporate specific details that otherwise would've been criticized by the reviewers. The only thing that publishers should be worried about when referencing others work is plagiarism. But if you follow the rules, WikiHow is the home for any of those who wish to teach and learn. 

 

GO CHECK OUT MY SITE!!!

 

Websites are the yellow pages of today's society. Whenever we've had a question or require services, we turn to the internet to provide the answer. It stands to reason that when it comes to self-promotion, the internet would be the location for it. The best way to promote yourself on a website is to highlight your best work. Whether it be writing, presentations, or videos anything is allowed on the website because the goal is to show talent. Along with the projects a bio is needed. The bio serves the purpose of providing a description of the individual that they deem important. Some information on the bio may be their education, passions, and career goals. Website portfolios should be used by more students because it showcases their work to potential employers. Now, whenever an employer Google’s their name they'll get a firsthand look at your best work. 

Creating a website and social media accounts in this digital age allows for students to cement themselves before even leaving school. With social media projects, it’s an entry point to a world filled with opinion. Everyone has a social media account, so it allows for user to zero in on a specific subject. Whether the social media account be focused on climate change or tourism, a community is given to users to speak freely on a subject. In some ways, social media accounts are an extension of oneself and it's being reviewed for the rest of the world for criticism/opinion. That takes a lot of courage. Website portfolios serve the same person. It’s an extension of a person's best work which will now be judged by future employer or those who're curious. 

However, although website portfolios are an asset, they require extreme attention to detail. Each line of coding in a website serves a person. Whether it be angels, links, or even a picture display the website is dependent entirely of how its coded. For those who aren't used to such detailed steps the process can become very aggravating. Aggravation may also come from the many different programs needed for a website. The inexperienced think coding occurs on one application than the site is launched, but coding is just one part. Those creating websites most also learn to make their content presentable and web ready. Applications that help prepare websites are Adobe Abstract and Adobe Photoshop. But even those applications can be extremely intuitive. Making a website is about dedication. If a person dedicates themselves to learning each application and patience, then their finished product is a website that displays a strong professional portfolio. Otherwise don't even bother. 

 

I don't watch movies, I make them!!!

Cinema is moving art that's open for interpretation by the audience. The best director's like Lucas, Spielberg, and Scorsese have created movies that have stood the test of time. But the process to making such a masterpiece isn't so easy. Its a demanding process that requires attention to detail and patience. What most would consider simple task like filming and light editing for a 4 minute video become strenuous objectives that make you question the direction of your project. But throughout all the second guessing and long nights, the finished product is beautiful simply because its a display of creative potential. However, be warned the road to a finished product is filled with dilemma.

Perhaps what seems like the most fun of any filming project is the acting. Acting is stepping out of your shell to encompass a character that resonates with the viewer. But there's a reason why acting isn't a profession for everyone. What the professionals never talk about is how cringe worthy acting really is. Picture yourself having to pretend to do something in front of a camera. Every motion on camera becomes critiqued by yourself. The key to this issue however, is to lean into the uncomfortability of acting. Many times when actors aren't invested in their craft it resonates on the screen for the audience which ruins the whole experience. Even if its for amateur acting being cringe can be avoided by embracing the silliness of what you're doing. This way acting becomes more of a game and not a forced façade. Also viewers will enjoy the movie because the emotion of the actor is genuine. We see this example with Blade 3, a disappointment for many reasons but the most notable one is the acting. Viewers feel Wesley Snipes contempt of the movie even though he's playing a fictional character. Scenes that should've kept us at the edge of our seas were riddled with boring dialogue. As a result the Blade franchised was stained with a subpar third movie.

This video project was a great lesson is communications because it teaches the viewer to use more than words. A requirement for the project is no dialogue is allowed, which can prove difficult when the short film is 3 minutes and needs to be understood by the audience to get credit. But movies are moving images that relay's information without having to say words. In fact the best scenes in movies are moments of silence followed by a swift action. The trick is to fill the screen with visuals perceptions of the character so personality is built. If the setting of a scene is a bedroom full of boy band posters the audience expects the inhabitant to be a teenage girl who loves boy bands. From there we make further assessment so we can familiarize ourselves with her. Its very common now for movies to have "Easter Eggs" which are visual references in the background of a screen that can provide additional information without having to say it verbally. By using less words in videos it demands both the director and the audience to put in an extra effort, which usually makes the experience that much better.

Each video however must show range of visual details depending on the theme. For abstracts it's difficult to display without any words and short visuals. The definition of abstract is "existing in thought or as an idea but not having physical or concrete existence." The only way to tackle abstract is by making the idea as visual as possible. This brought on the idea of making a video about an evil version of one's self. Its a familiar concept done many times in television/cinema but always provides a good response because its a display of the impossible. When audiences witness abstract videos it stays in the brain as an afterthought long after they've seen the move. Diplopia was made to highlight the subconscious everyone has and giving that double a malicious personality. This idea then presents the audience with an interesting alternative that results in abstract thinking.


A challenge of abstract however, is making sure the idea stays abstract. Even with the idea of an evil double, its second nature to try to confine the character in everyday life. But what makes the abstract idea standout is thinking outside the box. So, in order to meet the criteria, scenes have to be extremely throughout to express the idea across. If even one detail is missing, the viewers will lose focus of what's happening. This type of pressure results in constant storyboarding, second guessing, and continuity errors before the final product is complete. And even then, the final product may seem off and require more additional scenes to incorporate more nonverbal details about the characters in the video. But this process of constant reshooting and editing pays off to make a wonderful visual experience for everyone involved.

Visual communication is how we understand each other on deeper level. Sometimes word can't describe an idea, like in the case of abstarct. That's why visual enterinment is beloved by so many. It creates experience's through images that resonates with us. To this day many still talk about scenes like Titanic when Rose is holding on to Jack as his body lay's lifeless. Moments like these capture raw emotion and that's never to be taken lightly. Visual communication is simply a tool learned in a classroom, its an experience we're living everyday.

Twitter Fingers

Twitter has arguably become one of the most influential social media apps of this generation. Unlike the broad scope of Facebook and its subsidiaries, Twitter is a platform used by the most respected officials in the world. As a country America has built itself on the mantra of free speech, with Twitter that mantra is given a technological location. Twitter mission statement is “to give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information without barriers.” But this mission statement has exceeded the notion of free speech. Now Twitter is used as one of the main sources of information for the world. Its more than just connecting with people, the app allows you to connect with the world. Even brands have moved to the app to market to consumers in a wildly successful way. An article written by FastCompany.com interviews Netflix and how they succeed with Twitter marketing. Netflix said the key to their success is “don’t promote, entertain and stand out by taking risks.” Those familiar with the app know that Twitter is nothing if not a risky platform. Twitter has transformed from the app that posted random “micro” thoughts, to becoming a social media juggernaut that encompasses aspects of our everyday life. 

The reach that Twitter has can be used for more than just marketing. Twitter is a tool that can be used to successfully inform the masses or gain information. For journalist, Twitter is the app where they can reach people to keep them informed. On the explorer page whenever something newsworthy is trending, users can see news outlets coverage of the topic. Instead of mediocre journalism that takes place on apps like Facebook, Twitter has coverage that includes reports, news anchors, eyewitnesses, and live footage. As a tool for journalist Twitter doesn’t harbor limits to informing people. It provides a space for people to gain information but also to contribute to it how they seem fit. Another use of Twitter is in the realm of politics. Politics is tricky and, in the past, hasn’t always been transparent. With Twitter the transparency is ever so apparent. Now politicians visit the app routinely (some more than other) to reach out to the people they govern. This helps to get a sense of your supporters/haters and what they’re needs ours. There should more than one channel to have a dialogue with our world leaders. By using Twitter in politics, we can incorporate proper influence in decisions making. Just in the last couple of years certain laws have changed to fit our more modern times. That’s the result of having a platform to express our political concerns. 

This year alone has shown just how powerful Twitter has really become. The world seems to be riddled with crisis and Twitter seems to catalog all this information for its users. One tragedy that comes to mind is the Amazon Fires. The man-made wildfires of the amazon rainforest may have gone unnoticed by Americans if not for Twitter. Instead timelines were filled with videos of raging fires destroying Mother Nature. Those videos were accompanied by the indigenous people who live in the Amazon rainforest crying as their home is being eviscerated by greed. The response that followed were dozens of GoFundMe accounts raising money to help those people. Activists took to Twitter to rally the troops against those who benefit from the wildfire. In one day, a topic that wouldn’t get coverage on the evening news got the attention of the entire world. The response after the news proved that Twitter has enhanced communications so that we could help our fellow man. Another instance that shows the power of Twitter is the recent impeachment inquiry against the President. The inquiry when it was reported became an instant trending topic on Twitter. Since then people have constantly contributed to the topic by expressing their opinions on the subject. The subject is then fueled by news outlets that add more facts to the conversation to keep it fresh. Now people can express their ideas and get responses. This impeachment inquiry has increased conversation amongst the app that it has become a regular trending topic. The most prominent example of Twitters power however comes in the form of President Trump. The man has made Twitter his home and for better or worse, users communicate about him every day. His every tweet is overanalyzed by millions of people who make their responses public. Some glorify Trump because his Twitter informs Americans without the political correctness. While other demonize him for using the app to communicate obscenities to the American people. Regardless on which of those people you are, the result is the same. The President is a topic that has allowed for opposing sides to communicate on scale that was previously undreamt of. Each of these examples are successful at showing how Twitter is used as a communicator to the public. These examples generated a worldwide response that have proven how prevalent Twitter has become in present day. 

For the Twitter project the page @Lakem01 followed three accounts that pertained to climate change activism. One page was called Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR). The page is run by an activist group that protest for climate change around the world. The group is made up of mostly young people who don’t want to see their planet die. Following this page gave the Twitter account legitimize in terms of young people protesting. The other two people followed on the @Lakem01 were Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Barack Obama. The reason for following them is because they have been very vocal about climate change. Both have introduced policies to hopefully reverse the harmful things done to the environment. Although both have been met with ridicule, they continue to regularly speak out of the importance of climate change. These three twitter pages correlate with the mission statement of the @Lakem01 twitter. 

Twitter is a smaller version of blogging that garners more attention. Blogging was once the way people could communicate their ideas but with Twitter those blogs have begun to die. Using Twitter was easier because it’s a familiar platform that has a small learning curve. Anyone can go on to the app and start conversation. The same cant be said about other social media apps or free speech platforms. The simplicity of Twitter is what intrigues people, what they find after that is the reason, they continue to use the app today.

I'm the Teacher!

WikiHow is the famous webpage that shows up whenever we type in "how to" on google. It’s a public manual for nearly all topics. There are conventional 'how-to's" posted like how to make bulletproof coffee and non-conventional 'how-to's" like how to be authentic. WikiHow is the evolution of communication with the help of the internet. Websites like wikiHow are an example of how knowledge can be shared so simple now. However, like all wiki websites, there is room for more knowledge. These three topics that'll be presented represent instructional alternatives to things we do in our lives.

1. How to use a clothes steamer

    Steamers are the forgotten cousin of the flat iron. Their purpose is to remove wrinkles simply by using steam created from boiling water. Unlike the iron which requires an ironing board to get the job done, the steamer is the only tool required to remove all wrinkles. Contrary to popular belief, using an iron can prove to be quite difficult because there's no clear way on how to do it. The person has to apply pressure while also gliding this burning hot iron all over their clothes.  Steamers don't even require you to place the tool on the clothes. The steam will remove all the wrinkles without any of the hassle. The future of wrinkle-free clothes is with the steamer. 

2. How to make Plantains with Salami and Cheese

    This dish represents a flavor filled meal on a budget. The average cost will spend 10 dollars for the ingredients of this meal and if rationed correctly it could last an entire week. This meal although intimidating to some, is an investment to your stomach. The origin for this meal comes from the Dominican Republic. The reason this meal should be added to the wiki page is because it introduces a delicious meal and culture to people looking to educate their palate. If done correctly this cheap meal can be the introduction to a world of cultural foods in a household.

3. Dunkin Donuts style iced coffee (at home)

    For coffee lovers this recipe can save you lots of money. Dunkin's iced coffee are loved by many but the long line every morning on your way to work can become exhausting. Now with a coffeemaker and generic coffee products you can have Dunkin style coffee in your own living room. This idea also helps save money because the average price for an iced coffee at Dunkin is $4. With just $14 you can make the drink as many times as you want. 

These ideas need to be presented to wikiHow because they are alternatives to better our experience’s. Why should we have to use an annoying iron or pay a ridiculous price for coffee. With incentive these ideas can become reality for others looking for improvements in their everyday lives. WikiHow presents a platform to help people be/do better and these "how-to’s” listed are in service of those people.  

Social Media: Society's Greatest Force

When social media was in its infancy, I also was in my infancy. I remember it being either fully embraced or completely rejected. Life become easier especially for younger folk who felt the need to express themselves in a different outlet. Gone are the days where people only felt seen on a bathroom stall. Now the entire world was our audience. Entire personalities were built and it wasn’t weird because everyone participated. But like every obsession it has drawbacks.

            Social media is a force so powerful that even world leaders have fallen prey. Positions of power that were once respected have become celebrities roles. Government officials have begun participating in twitter feuds. Needless to say, social media has become a place to claim fame but possibly lose all integrity doing it. For instance, awhile back a mass shooting took place inside a mosque in New Zealand. The shooter clearly deranged decided to live stream his action for the world to see. Facebook feeds were filled with videos of the gruesome killings. The shooter's actions alone were horrifying, but what amplifies them is that he knew he would become world news. Social media has given us a way to connect to the world effortlessly and people will tune if it's interesting enough. But that's a price that comes with the relative freedom social media provides. 

But the trick about social media is that it’s really inviting. Adults would constantly nag children to get off their phones. Growing up we always knew how our parents felt about social media. How they would sit us down to explain all the dangers of the internet, just so that we could ignore those warnings completely. Now social media has become an epicenter of everyone’s attention. My mother was always against social media. Long after flip phones she still kept hers because it didn't have “extra stuff.” Five years ago though she made a facebook with a friend and now she’s always posting. This happened to many critical adults. Sooner or later they all became slaves to our adopted world. My point is that the future of social media can only get more enticing. I see the immediate future of social media as irreplaceable. Rather than trying to disconnect, the world will connect more resources to it. We’ve already trusted social media to control our transit, daily communication, and even personal information. Social media will become immortal because in the long run it’ll be the only place we feel a spark. From the moment we wake up till we fall asleep we are constantly glued to our phones. That’s how wrapped in social media we’ve become. It's the first and last thing we do and we’ve accepted it. I even find myself itching for my phone when I haven’t used it in a while. But it even then I can’t completely criticize social media without being hypocritical. It's a place where I’ve built identity. Although it’s flawed, social media is the greatest invention known to man.