The Lion’s Eye February 6, 2006 The Lion’s Eye Featured Columnist: Gerry Dungan WARNING! This is an actual blog from the actual internet. Greetings From the Not So Distant (dramatic pause) Present... The “Modern Synergy of Blogging” was created out of thin air by the astronomically astound- ing force that is the will of the American progress. It was made from the finest combination of buzz- words, articles of definition, as well as possession. The phrase itself, “The Modern Synergy of Blogging,” can be direct- ly translated from the Latin to mean: “Eng. 420 — ‘Writing for the Web’ — a Penn State University ‘world campus’ class — anno dei MMVI.” Old and New Main: A University’s Grasp of the Future This means that I will be writing these blogs in the name of modern education (not to mention my own graduation). Here in the ‘world campus,’ the paper-thin columns of Old main’s traditional education have been torn vhergy Of down and digitally replaced on the sweatless backs of bloggers, MySpace mongers, Facebook fiends, LiveJournal junkies, and the occa- sional IST student. The Internet: A Poor Man’s Frat House After “talking” (that is to say corresponding by rapidly pushing a series of buttons) with fellow Eng. 420. blogger (Heather Edenfield’s name is not withheld), an epiphany hit me like a missed deadline: The reason why millions of people have turned to blogging is for the free therapy. This, of course, implies that millions of people have problems, but I would disagree. Millions of people are trapped in a basic societal dilemma. I say dilemma and not problems, because problems have solutions, while dilemmas compel rational human beings to sit for hours in front of their glowing monitors clicking and typing, jigging and verbally teasing, fishing for someone to appreciate them. STUDENT NAME: Jack Braconnier YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Pre-Med HOMETOWN: Springfield FAVORITE BAND: Foo Fighters FAVORITE MOVIE: “The Godfather” FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Walking cats and cleaning bathrooms SPRING BREAK PLANS: Scuba diving in Aruba WHERE HE WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: Fishing at the Jersey shore FAVORITE QUOTE: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." Jack Braconnier By Gerry Dungan STUDENT oa PROFILE Rowland We want people to listen to us, everyone craves attention — and this is exactly what the University attempts to provide in its cybernetic lessons, but do the ends justify the means here? I mean, why would the universi- ty allow the use of such a media tool that encourages the blantant abuse of health insur- ance by repeated vistis to the E.R. becuase of chronic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! And for what purpose — So that those individuals might feel more loved, more lis- tened to, bust especially more appreciated. Welcome back to kindergarten. Traditional listening and learning from one another then becomes a precious commodity whose advancing replacement pro- cures nothing more in the student than a dubious sense of security that can only be compared to that of the likes of pornographic voyeurism. In other words “the internet is so big, somebody’s gotta be listening to me.” (Ooo is that an Intelligent Design concept?) An Encore of Perfect Synergy: Progress Americana I heard one time that if an infi- nite amount of monkeys were given an infinite amount of typewriters, then they would eventually produce literature similar to that of Shakespeare. I hope that the American Progress never ceases. But if it doesn’t slow down, everyone in our society will eventu- ally believe what bloggers produce from their minds as Gospel; bad news for the press and students, I suppose. : Unless, of course, we all just slow down a bit and appreciate the News already being offered to us at break- neck speeds. And then be right about what we write about, instead of being left to fend for ourselves, what if everyone is talking, then there is no one listening. But perhaps some foreign advice 1s necessary here. British author, Douglas Adams once said, “Deadlines!” he : exclaimed, “I LOVE deadlines, I love the ‘whooshing’ sound they make as they pass me by.” Add your Blog comments to gmdl138psu.edu. TEACHER E m— A NAME: James Symmons BEGAN TEACHING AT PENN STATE: 1998 CLASSES HE TEACHES: Acting Fundamentals (THEA 102) Introduction to Acting (THEA 105) and a Theater Diversity Workshop (THEA 208) OTHER SCHOOLS HE TAUGHT AT: University of Michigan, University of Delaware, DeSales University and Lafayette University INTERESTS: Theater, Politics and International Relations WHERE HE WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: Teaching at UCLA FAVORITE QUOTE: "The show must go on! James Symmons
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers