Spring Semester Class Blog
Here is the class blog for my Journalism New Media Class for Spring 2008. So far 16 students have enrolled, so it looks like we have a class! More information is here:

• The class is officially MCOM 63, Section 03 / APSC 63, Section 03
• Title New Media
• Dates: Wednesdays, 1/23/2008 - 5/13/2008
• Time: 6:00 - 8:45
• Location: Dwight Bentel Hall 226

It has been a year since I took this class and 4 months since I graduated from SJSU, and the more I entered the pros’ world, the more I find out how much this class transformed my career.

 I wished I could have taken the class as a pro, but as a “Virgin Amateur,” the class gave me the tools, now time has showed me how to apply them in the so-called “real world,” which is not that real.

 Thanks Steve, prof. McCune for your help. I will always remember how you guys really introduced me to the computers’ world.

 - Carlos

Audacity Essentials
We will be talking about Audio production for podcasting. This document is about how to use Audacity to edit audio tracks for Podcasting

Thunder over the Mountain
This is what I saw on my way north. It was not that long after this that I was driving through hail so hard and so furious I was afraid it would break my windshield. The hail sounded like pieces of gravel being peppered on the glass. It was both frightening and awesome.

I will be back on June 18. Vacation Posts Are Here!

John Edwards is going to be in San Jose next Thursday to meet with local supporters, and he would like to invite you join him. Space is limited, so I hope you sign up to reserve your spot right away .

Here are the details:

• What: “Small Change for Big Change” grassroots fundraiser with John Edwards and you
• Where: San Jose State University Student Union, Loma Pietra room One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192
• When: Thursday, May 31st

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tickets are $15
*Cash bar*
RSVP to reserve your spot online

This is an important event, because it’s our first “Small Change for Big Change” grassroots fundraiser.

It’s very expensive to reach out to voters in early primary states and across the nation. But the trouble with the usual fundraisers is that they are only open to those ready to write huge checks—and this campaign is built on reaching out to everyone.

So John asked his campaign to organize this series of grassroots fundraisers for supporters who share our passion but may only be able to spare $100, 50, or $25 dollars. In fact, for this Thursday’s event, tickets are just $15 each.

This campaign is about working together to achieve truly transformational change for our country and our world. We’re about creating a world where to every man woman and child in America has the quality health care they need, where no child here (or anywhere) has to go to bed hungry, where the planet and its people do not have to face the ravages of global warming, and where our men and women in Iraq are swiftly brought home to a hero’s welcome.

Is this all possible? Can we create that world? Yes. But not without you.

If you’d like to join us in this great effort, John would like to meet you this Thursday and talk to you about what’s next. We really hope you’ll be able to make it.

Here’s the link again to RSVP to reserve your spot online

There is a good blog post by Andy Kessler on newspapers and new media. Kessler sums it up pretty good, “Media, after all, is about owning a pipe — some conduit between the creation of news or entertainment and the eyeballs that consume it.” This is worth reading. The problem, as I see it, is that the lower profit margins that Web 2.0 disruptive startups like Craigs List can thrive on are non-starters for established media outlets. They have to be able to make the kind of return on investments that their former business model allowed just to be able to pay their bills. How can they invest in new media technologies that do not yet have established business models, especially when they have so much overhead?

Here is the URL to all my Cluetrain and Naked Conversaton Posts.

This is my vlog and feed address.

After much work and only a couple hours of sleep, here it is!