Bonus Blog

To all future personal journeyers,

This course was by far the most time consuming course i took during this semester of college. I honestly thought it would be the easy way out of doing a real course, but it was a lot more work than i would have ever imagined. Don't think you can slack in this course because you don't have to physically be in a classroom. Deadlines creep up on you fast, and those incomplete assignments you don't think matter most definitely do in the end. You can learn a lot in this course if you do the work, and almost all of the content given turns out to be really interesting. Check the website at least three times a week, and make notes on important deadlines. Make the effort to put aside a few hours of your day to complete assignments, the readings are much more time consuming than you may expect.
Overall, this course is simple if you pay attention. I wish i got this letter before i started the course, maybe i wouldn't be sitting here nervously waiting for my grade to be posted.

Good luck and all the best to you!
Laurel Benzaquen

Passion, People and Principles

The two podcasts I listen too were a series from a chapter in David Maister book " Strategy and the Fat Smoker". This chapter is called Passion, People, and Principles; he talks about the world and what we need to do to succeed in life. I feel that these podcast relate to this course because he talks about what is needed to keep your work managed. Since we are doing an online course I thought that this was suitable to relate to. This online course takes a lot of management, not only time, but to remember to complete the work. I also thought it related to our memoirs because he talks about people and passion. I felt that this was similar to our memoirs because he was talking about life and how passion is needed to succeed. The memoirs we have read are filled with passion, and I feel that they are very successful. I would recommend this podcast to anyone who wants to learn how to manage their work, and someone who wants to find a strategy to being successful with their lives. I felt that it was interesting, and I would recommend it.

Pain d'épices Recipe

This blog is about the culture of French baking in Paris. David Lebovitz talks about a baker who he believes is the best in the world. He relates American baking to french and how the French feel about out sweets. He then adds the Pain d'Epices recipe by his favorite baker Flo Braker. My observation on how this blog relates to this course is that David Lebovitz is a Canadian author, and his blogs seemed to be more about his opinion. This blog in my opinion is most similar to the blogs we have written. They seem more personal then informative. That is what i really enjoyed about this blogs, it felt like he was talking directly to me in a conversation. I found that it drew me in. He seemed to tell a story, and i found that this related to our memoirs we have read, very personal and real. I would recommend David Lebvitz blogs to anyone who likes to read about peoples personal opinions about simple things in life, such as baking. It is not boring and it was interesting to see anothers opinion.

Podcast: "As it Happens Daily"

The podcast I listened to was CBC’s “As It Happens Daily.” The podcast simply informs listeners on the latest global news.
Today, we have access to several different methods of education through technology, much like the course we are attending now. “As It Happens Daily” educates listeners through the technology that we have access to today, making education accessible right at our finger tips.
Many of the news stories told in this podcast are often tragic or life altering experiences. We’ve read several memoirs in this course relating to loss and uncertainty. I can’t help but think about those involved in these news stories and how much it will affect themselves, much like the authors writing the memoirs we read.
I would recommend this podcast to those who love to keep updated on the news, but may not have time to sit and watch the television or read the newspaper. I found it excellent for multi-tasking (In fact, I’m listening to it right now as I type this!) This podcast is great for someone who can listen in on the news while completing other tasks.

Does all life writing need to be profound?

The blog I chose to follow is from a radio station, Edge 102.1. It is called Dani's Diary-A. I discovered this blog while listening to the radio one day and realized that music has a great influence in my life as I'm sure it does for many others. So I assumed this blog would be fitting and somewhat relevant to the class information despite the random vulgarity, crude humor (including the title) and strange posts. However, this blog did appeal to me much more than many others that I tried to follow. I like to think I don't take myself too seriously in my down time and neither does the blogger on this site.
I've come to realize that this blog is essentially Dani writing out something that has happened that is interesting, strange or hilarious that has happened during the week. I think it's similar to what we've studied in that it is a recounting of an event or situation that took place in the author's life. I've also realized that these recollections don't have to be profound or overly interesting. They are exactly what they are supposed to be, a memory or reflection. Even if it is about dreams, shopping and no cable t.v.
I find it interesting that I am actually interested in what she has to say. I would have assumed that I just didn't care for blogs or what other people have to write if it does not pertain to my interests or life. However, it is actually quite eentertaining to read about mundane ongoings in life. Much in the same way we read about someones life ongoings in our class text. It can be simple, to the point and humorous and still be life writing.
I would totally recommend this blog if you're interested in reading about something ridiculous, or pointless or just for sheer procrastination. It is strange, at times vulgar and mostly pointless but entertaining nevertheless!

Morton's Musings: Canadian Law and Policy

The name of the blog I followed is “Morton’s Musings” written by James C Morton, a Canadian lawyer, law professor, and media commentator. Morton discuses and gives his input on the latest news stories going on in Canada on a daily basis.
While reading Morton’s blog, I found two similarities between the memoirs read in class, and his blogging. Besides the obvious fact that he is a Canadian author, I found there to be other interesting similarities in these two pieces.
Morton blogs about news reports that often reflect tragedy and loss, such as the memoirs we have read during this semester.
I also found that Morton discuses information that relates to the subject of truth or lies. Although the subjects he reflects on in his blogs are news pieces, they are not necessarily completely factual, much like the memoirs we have read.
I would recommend Morton’s blog to anyone who reads the newspaper, or keeps up to date on Canadian newspaper websites. He has an interesting input on different topics, and is constantly up to date on subjects occurring in Canada. His blogs aren't the most entertaining thing in the world, but for someone who reads the newspaper quite often, he's a good change of pace.

Engadget

Ah, Engadget. Where cool meets nerd. Some even say, this is becoming the norm now. Well, almost...

Engadget pretty much covers anything to everything related to tech. It could be the development of a new way to use lasers, a new hybrid vehicle which stands out, or just simply the latest and hottest television on the market.

The reason people visit Engadget, is because they say what they want. All of the writers have a personality which stands out on the screen. How this relates to this course is beyond me. I guess the news of the new Kindle might be noteworthy to some, but that's about all I can think of. Maybe the connection of Engadget to this course is more obvious than that; I mean we are in an online course, Engadget is a technology blog, where the latest and greatest advancements matter. This is the way things are straying now, laptops everywhere, ethernet jacks right behind them, and a screen for which you use to look at your online course, and then check out Engadget, I highly recommend it.

GeekBrief.TV

I chose to watch a videopodcast from iTunes called GeekBrief.TV, as visuals are far more entertaining than merely an audio file, I immediately was pleased with what GeekBrief.TV provided. GeekBrief.TV is, also related to the blog I studied, a technology videopodcast updating viewers with the latest and greatest in technology.

GeekBrief.TV offers numerous 3 minute episodes informing, and demonstrating, new technologies, gadgets, applications and programs available today. Being a videopodcast, they also demonstrate how the featured item works. One item I discovered is reading on an iPhone through a new application, full books! Imagine one day we have textbooks uploaded to our phones and iPods so we can study on the go! This connects to our recent study on using blogs and classrooms on the go through blogging and podcastng. This podcast I suppose is a briefer version of the blog I read, Gizmodo. Available to upload to an ipod or iphone, episodes offer instant updates to handy and amazing gadgets, updates and applications available to everyone.

I would reccomend this podcast, it is imformative and not only that, but it demonstrates visually to further enhance education. The attractive host, 'geek girl' Cali Lewis, informs her podcast audience of tech tools and toys that are available for everyone and brought to you directly through your mp3 player or iPhone.

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide

The blog I have been following the past few days, 'Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide', is a daily blog about today's newest gadgets and updates in technology. They cover everything from viruses to be aware of and to new gadget reviews. It informs readers of all the crazy, helpful and popular technology updates from around the world.

I found this blog to be very informative and surprisingly interesting, reading it every day or so surely will become a habit. It is updated all the time by members of the blog who submit informative posts. I at first thought I would have no interest reading about technology, but I found a lot of the posts helpful, entertaining, or just good things to know for future gadget purchases and computer help. Gizmodo is connected to our course through it's technology aspect, as our course is online and we are currently researching new technologies used to broaden classroom experiences, this blog informs readers of new technologies to enrich our lives. Schools are closely connected to technology providing online access to lectures, class blogs for students to network in and recieve peer feedback and assitance as well as a new emerging technology in school systems, podcasting.

I would definitely reccommend this blog to anyone who wants to keep connected and up to date with our fast paced society. Keeping up with inventions, handy gadgets and universal progression in technology is, in my opinion, important information. Our world is moving so quickly sometimes that it can be hard to keep up with what's new, what's in, what's not worth your money, and what's actually worth investing in. Gizmodo helps us by offering reviews and daily updates regarding today's complex offerings of technology and gadgets.

My Father's House

In Sylvia Fraser's memoir, she is described to be both the detective and the murder victim by Margaret Atwood. This description of Fraser's memoir is spot on, as she does have to uncover her past to discover the trauma she had hidden from herself as a child. A miraculous way of self protection for such a young girl, she soon finds she had created another personality which filed away her memories of sexual abuse, a personality who also took over whenever she was raped by her father. The Child Who Knows is Fraser's other self that she had created, and later named as an adult, digging up her memories from the past. This Child Who Knows is indeed Fraser's murder victim, the one who hold's the secrets and memories of her sexual abuse from the age of three all the way to her years in university. This 'murder victim' would take over and protect Fraser from these experiences to the point where she had no idea of her sexual abuse. As a grown woman, triggered by a friend's experience, she finds that her hatred towards her father may be because she was raped. After this sudden anger and surprise thoughts about being raped, Fraser is determined to find answers to these accusations she comes up with. Putting herself in the detective role, she must go to a hypnotherapist to uncover the answers she is searching for. Searching for the answers to her own childhood experiences creates a unique mystery for the reader to become involved in. A very unique mystery, and also exciting as we wait for Fraser to find closure and answers to her own life searching within her life.

Atwood and Fraser comparison

Margaret Atwood writes “My father’s house has the tension and pace of a detective novel except that the detective is part of the narrator’s self and so is the murder victim.” After reading the memoir “My Fathers House” by Sylvia Fraser, the connection between the two became quite clear. Throughout “My Fathers House,” Sylvia splits herself into two individuals. Her adult self plays the detective, and her childhood self, who plays the victim. The foggy memory of being the victim of rape and incest starts to resurface while her adult self tries to unsolve this mystery. Sylivia feels she owes it to her childhood self to unravel this memory and confront it, in hopes of finding the strength in her to forgive and feel a sense of closure. To dig up a suppressed memory so deep must be extremely overwhelming and powerful and I truly could not imagine going through such an extreme event, especially when you realize your father played the criminal.

Margaret Atwood's Quote

Margaret Atwood's quote "My Father's House has the tension and pace of a detective novel - except that the detective is a part of the narrator's self, and so is the murder victim." is pretty self explanatory if one has read "My Father's House" (or knows what it's about). Atwood's quote is indeed very befitting because Sylvia Fraser had somehow done the miraculous act of splitting herself into two people unaware of the other's existence - a victim and a detective of sorts. Both live in one body but seem to be of different minds. Her comparison of the life story to that of a detective novel seems appropriate. When I read the excerpt, I found myself wondering how Fraser would analyze and collect the clues she had embedded in herself to reach the truth she had unknowingly buried so long ago. Fraser had to search through vestiges of a second life led unconsciously.To discover an occurrence so terrible and catalytic hidden within one's own mind seems very profound to me. It must have been that much more unbelievable to the detective that discovered she was indeed the victim.

- Lucie M

Atwood's commentary on Fraser's Memoir

Atwood's comment about Fraser's memoir is a perfect description. It describes what Fraser herself must have felt while discovering this unknown, suppressed part of her own self. It is frightening to think that an individual could live through a traumatic event and be so damaged they actually completely remove it from their memory unknowingly. It raises questions about how the physical body is connected to the mind so intricately and with such complexity that our conscious selves cannot always understand or be aware of the connections. In this case, Fraser was divided as two selves, one that experienced the torture and one that is shielded from the abuse. Her physical and mental self was so damaged she refused to let herself even be aware of what occurred nevertheless remember it. In coming to realization, she also becomes aware of this other self, as Atwood describes the detective and the murder victim. It is puzzling and terrifying to think that the two can be one and the same. Inevitably, Fraser’s trauma was life altering and destructive to a degree that her own mind could not accept. In discovering this murder mystery she had to discover that she herself was the victim.

My Fathers House

Throughout Margaret's life she has created this other half of a person to hide and burry the thoughts, memories, and guilt brought on after the sexual abuse she encountered from her father. After many years later she has then excavated her thoughts and feelings as her own detective to the mystery of her hidden secrets- the murdered victim. As the detective discovers further into the past, the revealed pieces merge together both this hidden other and Margaret herself to one day receive closure from her traumatized and impactful childhood.

My Father's House

My Father's house does have a feel of a detective's novel, just like Margret Atwood said. Sylvia is trying to figure out why she feels the way she does. It is as if she had locked up all the real memories and made them into dreams that seemed to resemble fantasies. Her dreams, where like her actually descriptive thoughts of what she felt towards her father and the events of abuse. It is as if she is detecting the crime that had happened to her, she was the victim, but as the detective. No one else would be able to figure it out but her, she was there and experienced the abuse, Sylvia also needed to figure it out for her own sanity. Since she had locked up her memories of the past she had to think hard about her encounters with her father and try and remember things like exact details, and her feelings. It was almost like she had ton investigate her own mind, and re-enact the past, so she could truly solve the crime.