Literature in a Wired World

For the final blog vote of the semester we have a tie!

Like MAD and The Unprepared Critics

Congrats to both of the these crews! The last stretch of blogging is always tough. You guys rocked.

So, who will emerge victorious?

Who will be crowned with fame and glory and bonus points?

We’re leaving together,
But still it’s farewell
And maybe we’ll come back,
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
We’re leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

It’s the final countdown…

As everyone knows, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… on hidden-camera surveillance footage to be unearthed and used for future (or present) blackmailing purposes. Duh.

And I’ve mentioned before that everything you put online stays online in one form or another. Forever. Right, Monica?

And I always make it a point to talk with my classes about how everything other people put online about you stays online forever. This isn’t news, and it isn’t rocket science. You’d think a smart up-and-comer would have figured that out by now.

So, pop quiz time: Who’s The Guy On The Left Honking Hillary’s Hooter?

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It’s late. You’re not working on your final project. You’re surfing the web aimlessly.

But then, up ahead, you see the neon glow of a VACANCY sign. It’s Hotel 626. Why not check in? You may even be able to check out.

Hotel 626 is an “advergame.” Like The Lucky Ones, it’s an online diversion that’s trying to get you to buy a product. Like The Lucky Ones, the connection between the game and the product may be hard to see. But the game itself is fascinating, moody, and intense.

And as the name suggests, it can only be played from 6pm to 6am. So if you want to play it during the day, you’ll need to change your computer’s internal clock.

This vote’s winners are:

Like MAD

Congrats again to Blowfish, Melissa, and Doug! You guys are really on a roll.

I mentioned in class a story about a team-writing assignment that went horribly, horribly wrong (kinda like A Million Penguins).

Here’s the link to that story, and Snopes shows us that it might even be true!

http://www.snopes.com/college/homework/writing.asp

It’s time for our fourth Blog Vote. Who will emerge victorious? Will last time’s winner retain the throne? Will the exiled former #1 return in glory?

Only you know. So vote. And, as always, give a good reason for your vote.

May the best blog win!

This blog vote was a major shakeup, with the class expressing some pretty clear dissatisfaction with the previously reigning champs, Royale with Cheese. This time around, each of the blogs got multiple votes, which is awesome.

The margin between the winner and the runner-up this time around was again one slim vote.

• Runner up: Indigo Squirt
• Winner: Grandma’s Blog

Congrats to Tess, Chas, and Slide!

Exit polls indicate, however, that the playing field is now wide open. Are the shakeups over? Have we found a new reigning champ, or will one of the other blogs take the title next time? Wait and see!

I’ve been buried under multiple stacks of papers from both classes (note to self: plan paper turn-in schedule more carefully next semester!), but I’m digging my way out, slowly. In the meantime, here’s something to distract entertain and inform you.

I posted earlier about a great satirical video purporting to show the “Petticoat 5,” the first computer by women, for women. That video came from the British show Look Around You, whose creators, Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, are now at work on a new project.

Popper and Serafinowicz are reportedly in talks with Adult Swim to develop their new show. I was initially doubtful about the enterprise. I loved the video, but I had no idea how they could spin this into a regular series.

That was before I clicked through to the main page for Tarvuism. There I learned everything never knew I needed to know. And it was so easy! After reading the fun stuff on the main site, I poked around the Tarvupedia. Holy crap on a cracker! There is a ton of stuff there. And it’s fantastic. Now I really, really hope they get their show. I’m dying to see Tarvuism in action.

And here’s an added plug for my spring classes! Notice that the Tarvunty is illustrated!

Yes, this spring I’ll be teaching a seminar for senior English majors on The Illustrated Novel. If only the campus bookstore would agree to carry the Tarvunty! I’ll also be teaching a graduate seminar on 21st Century Literacies. The entire Tarvuism web site is an excellent example of the literacies we use now that we’re living in the future 21st century.

(X-posted to Digital Digressions and the Teaching Practicum blog)

Blog vote #3 is here! Who shall prevail? Who shall fall?

Vote. And, as usual, explain your vote.

The fate of the world may rest in your hands.