The WA Mash » creative writing

What’s the Point of Twitter?

steveb — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:23:14 +0000

Before I began taking Creative Writing for the third trimester, I had never heard of “Twitter.” Now that I have been introduced to the new phenomenon, I see it more and more in news, on the Internet, and also in real life. Maybe I just never noticed it before, but even so, it’s growing as a new social network on the Internet.

So what’s so great about simply writing roughly 10 words about what you’re doing? I don’t really know, and if it weren’t for this English class I most likely would never do it. I’m not bringing Twitter down, but to me, I don’t seethe point in telling other people what you’re doing, yet, twitter has already taken of in the social-networking world, currently holding the third largest network behind Facebook and MySpace often. For example, in the Telegram and Gazette, Worcester County’. 4-5 million people tweet daily and log onto read other people’s tweets. Now that I know what it is, I see it more and more. For example, in the newspaper there are advertisements for readers to follow stories and articles online and follow the Telegram on Facebook and Twitter. I can see how page could be useful to write reactions and comments about a story,but how do people do that on twitter? With only 140 characters, it’s hard a strong opinion about anything. Another time I heard about twitter was on ESPN (believe it or not), when NBA player Charlie Villanueva was caught tweeting on his cellphone during halftime. When asked about it, his coach said “We made a point to Charlie and the team that it’s nothing we ever want to,” You know, (we) don’t want to blow it out of proportion. But anything that gives the impression that we’re not serious and focused at is not the correct way we want to go about our business.” The actual tweet wasn’t anything negative, it simply said, “In da locker room, snuck to post my tweet. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.” Another time I heard about twitter was on the Today Show, when the hosts were talking about the website in general, and how it has grown to one of the most popular social networks around the entire globe. People all around the world are learning about this new idea,this new thing to do on the Internet, and it seems very important to some (just ask Villanueva)

What Twitter provides is a “SMS for the Internet,” in which people send small text messages to other desktops and Internet-based applications.These “tweets” are posted on your page and who ever else’s who requests you. You can also send direct messages to certain websites, blog sites,and other social networks that post a group’s tweets. Although I haven’t of these yet, there is a function that you can use to send direct messages to only one person. Because of the simplicity, easy-access, and quick information, its popularity has sky-rocketed beginning in 2007. However, because the profits gained form twitter is relatively low compared to other social networking sites, its long-term future has often been questioned. Maybe it’s because I’m a new user, but I do not share the fascination others have for twitter…at least not yet.

Photo Credit: mfilej

Photo Credit: somefool

Mr. Viva – The Character

Antonio Viva — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:00:10 +0000

You know what to do. I will be sure to share an original video tomorrow.

Cheers.

Mr. Viva

Source: Flickr
Author: creativesam
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Original Ideas for Fall Trimster Focus

Antonio Viva — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:02:54 +0000

What do we want to/need to communicate in this class?

How best do we go about communicating it?

To whom?

How can we effectively shape or change the world over the course of the next 10 weeks?

Decide on your top three choices.

Source: Flickr
Author: carf
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Gregory Stock’s “The Book of Questions”

Antonio Viva — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:26:28 +0000

Great class today guys! Below are the questions we looked at. Remember that I want you to select one and explore it in more depth. Be sure to identify which question you are responding too.

The Book of Questions – Gregory Stock

1: For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be little chance of seeing your friends or family again?

2: Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted?

3: If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

4: If you could spend one year in prefect happiness but afterward would remember nothing of the experience would you do so? If not, Why not?
5:If a new medicine were developed that would cure arthritis but cause a fatal reaction in one percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public?

6: You discover your wonderful one-year-old child is, because of a mix up at the hospital, not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake?

7: Do you think the world will be a better or worse place one hundred years from now?

8: Would you rather be a member of a world championship sports team or be the champion of an individual sport? Which sport would you choose?

9: Would you accept $1,000,000 to leave the country and never set foot in it again?

10: Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were the opposite sex?

Photo Credit:dhammza

It’s Called WA Mash

Antonio Viva — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:02:53 +0000

WA Mash stands for Worcester Academy Mashup. It is created and maintained by students taking Creative Writing as a junior or senior English elective with Antonio Viva at Worcester Academy in Worcester, MA. WA Mash is an online, alternative weekly magazine that deals with politics, news, current events, arts and culture, technology, business, fiction and creative thinking. You can find WA Mash on a variety of social media sites. It was created to give students a voice in the world of new media and an opportunity to publish their original work to a global audience. Original content is generated by students and published using a variety of social media tools freely available on the web.

MashTube is WA Mash’s YouTube channel. It plays host to the videos created by WA Mash. The most recent entry is a web series created by Jake Hilbert, Eric Rubino, and Austin Carroll called “Yay! Or Nay!” and features the creators asking members of the WA community their opinions on current events. MashPics, hosted on Flickr is a collection of photographs taken by members of the class from different places around campus and also shows photo-albums with different themes. MicroMash, hosted on Twitter, is the magazine’s microblog where student contributors post about current events and topics of interest.

Think Slate.com or Salon.com for high school.

WA Mash wants to welcome you to this weekly online magazine. Join us in the conversation and help us mash it up a little!

WA Mash: Social Media in the Classroom from Peter Baron on Vimeo.

Photo Credit: ekai