All posts filed under: Other

Why do you write?

Published by

As a writer, I’m always interested in why others write. Obviously no one writes to get rich (if that is your reason, I’m sorry and good luck), so what is it about writing that we all seem to love so much? Some authors cite their characters keeping them awake at night or something noble like wanting to change the world. Their answers are varied and thoughtful. While I agree with these reasons, I also have some of my own to add. I love writing… …because everything around me can turn into a scene. I’m in love with the sound of the keys tapping, and more than anything, I want to see my words copied on paper and bound in hardcover. There’s the off chance that I can create something more than words on a page. I can create world of my own and travel to another place for free. I love writing because I want to taste the stars. …because it helps others understand me. It helps me understand me. I have something to say …

Gamification & Dogs

Published by

In Reality is Broken, game designer and author Jane McGonigal discusses the ways in which games positively contribute to the human experience. To do this, one must define a game; therefore, she lists four basic traits of games: a goal, rules, a feedback system, and voluntary participation. It is also important for a game to have significant benefits in order to have such a positive impact. The four intrinsic rewards she gives the reader are satisfying work, the experience (or the hope) of being successful, social connection, and meaning. By taking these traits and applying them to reality through a process known as gamification, society should be able to attain the rewards she lists. There are many aspects of reality (outside of the gaming world) that already encompass these traits, such as performing or cooking. The example I will break down and explain is having a dog (or a cat if you’re a cat-person or a baby if you’re a human-person) as most people can relate to owning a pet.

Cooking with Keara | An Audio Slideshow

Published by

This is a short little audio slideshow I created for a production class last semester. It is the story of my friend Keara as she bakes a cake that holds deep personal value to her. I conducted an interview with her before baking the cake to learn the story behind it and figure out potential ways I could frame the video. However, in the middle of shooting her cooking, the cake unexpectedly broke, causing the narrative to change entirely. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any audio equipment with me or time to check out new equipment for another interview, so I had to use my phone in the moment. Obviously this is a flaw that I wish I could change, but sometimes the story is so important that it forces one to make choices like this. I can also happily say that I am a much better photographer now.

The Digital Dating Phenomenon

Published by

People are connected. It’s a fact of the Digital Age. It has allowed us to engage with people we may never have otherwise interacted with. In the dating world, this presents a unique opportunity. Before technology, we were limited to people within our social circles, which realistically didn’t add up to very many people. How likely are you to meet your ‘soulmate’ in such a small pool of people? The Internet turns that pool into an ocean. Suddenly, people are meeting and falling in love online. There’s hundreds of dating websites to help direct single individuals to each other. Some of them are specifically tailored to the individual like Farmers Only and Single with Food Allergies. Out of the 7 billion people in the world, there’s a much higher chance you’ll find the one for you. Sometimes an individual might click a few hyperlinks to find someone’s blog, discover their mutual interests, and reach out from there. The dating landscape has changed drastically.

Introversion versus Extroversion

Published by

The world is full of social butterflies and wallflowers. No matter how much someone might want to change this personality style, it is nearly impossible to do because it is so ingrained within us. Knowing whether you are an extrovert or an introvert is important because how we interact with others is an essential aspect to our daily life. When you better understand how you do so, you can optimize a lot of relationships and feel happier and less drained overall. If you’re curious, take this quick quiz to find out which you are. Remember to answer the questions as honestly as possible, without trying to get a specific result. Take the Quiz Introvert You are a thinker. You are deliberate and are good at concentrating. Socially, you devote your energy to close friends. You are a great listener, but when it comes to communicating you think before you speak. You express yourself better in writing or thinking alone. Most introverts despise small talk, but this doesn’t mean that they hate social interaction. Social introverts …

52 of the World’s Most Common Misconceptions Debunked

Published by

The Internet has a tendency to perpetuate a lot of misinformation. Similar to how gossip functions, someone will hear an interesting fact and pass it on to the next person and so forth. The problem is that these ‘facts’ may not be true, and people might not have a reason to question their veracity. Some of these myths are so prominent that the majority of people believe at least one or two of them. London-based author, data-journalist, and information designer David McCandless attempts to combat this through infographics. In his book Knowledge is Beautiful, McCandless presents information in a fun, yet educational manner. His goal is to get society to better relate to the information we are constantly bombarded with. In the book, he includes an infographic of 52 ‘MythConceptions’ that most people believe. Did you know that Napoleon wasn’t short, that it’s okay to wake up sleepwalkers, or that adding a little bit of salt doesn’t actually help water boil faster? McCandless’s infographic sorts these myths into sections by color and indicates the the …

Word Wit

Published by

Word Wit Part of being able to articulate yourself well is having an expansive vocabulary. When you have more words in your repertoire, you can choose the best word to convey your idea. You will also be able to better understand those who use specialized jargon. These are the main reasons students have so many vocabulary tests in school. As frustrating as those could be, they were helpful. Its biggest flaw, however, was that it’s not so much about memorizing the definition as it is about understanding the words and knowing how to use them. Part of this is practice. Once you use these words a few times in a casual setting, they will begin to come out naturally within conversation rather than sounding forced. This is why another important aspect of using your vocabulary is knowing when not to use large words just to sound smart. Yes, you may be a walking thesaurus, but chances are you aren’t using them correctly and cannot be understood with whomever you’re talking. What is the point of …

Qualities of the Intelligent

Published by

What makes someone smart? Much of society believes receiving high test scores, attending an Ivy League, or obtaining a masters degree is the mark of the intelligent. However, others believe intelligence means being wise in the ways of the world. Is someone who studied mathematics at university necessarily smarter than a world traveler who reads a lot? In the pursuit of figuring this out, many studies have been conducted on the qualities that intelligent people possess; however, these studies have a major flaw. Intelligence is highly subjective. It means something different to different people and may vary from culture to culture. Because of this, it is impossible to measure intelligence accurately. Yes, there are indicators like IQ or brain size, but even these do not give an accurate representation of intelligence. Your IQ level does not (as commonly believed) measure intelligence, but rather how quickly you can absorb information. Someone with a high IQ may be able to understand material quicker than classmates, but if they don’t pursue knowledge, they may not be any more …