"Dawn of the Digital Natives"

I grew up reading hard copies of books and I miss those days of getting lost in one. The reason for not being able to read as much as I did has nothing to do with the digital age but rather the lack of time. I do read about 90% of my news online for the convenience and instant access.

I'm not concerned what type of books my kids read. I'm worried about the electronic devices that have multiple applications that are a distraction from reading. It would be interesting to see a current US report on reading which accounts for digital media and it's affects.

"Why I Blog"

When I read the "Why I Blog" section of the (e)dentity book, I reflected on my own experiences with blogging.  I have participated in blogs by reading and providing comments. However, this is the first time I had the need or inclination to start one myself.

Like other people in the English 1010 class, I started this blog for class. I don't consider myself a "tree hugger" but saving paper in my hectic life is easier for me. On the other side of that thought, having my thoughts and work posted makes me feel a little uneasy. That being said, I do like improving myself so please leave me some constructive feedback and or comments.

If I had the time or the nerve, I would start a blog about my life to inspire people. I was homeless for a short while as a teenager and never finished high school. It was a long road to pull myself up and learn a trade. Years later, I had the opportunity to join the military that gave me more skills to survive in various aspects in life. Now I'm facing the challenge of completing my general education.

My Identity vs. My (E)dentity (In class project 25 June 2014)

There is a not a significant overlap in my words to describe myself and my (e)dentity.  There are a few words such as responsible that are duplicated.  I have to be responsible for my actions on and off duty to include what I post on line. Also, I’m a very passionate person whether I’m online or not; for things that I believe in or impact my life. I will respectively tell people my point of view and try to have a healthy discussion.

I think compared to most of my peers, I’m a private person online and have a limited (e)dentity.  I do not have a social media site I subscribe to. I think in moderation an online presence is good but I miss the personal interactions between people.  As a family man, I think people need to get “unplugged”. I will have to concede it’s hard to keep up with my family from the Netherlands without an online presence such as email.

My (E)dentity

I have resisted having an "(E)dentity and the latest technology in general for the last couple of years. I think of myself as "old school", born in a generation that received a hard copy of letter and social interactions seemed more personal. Everywhere I look I see someone plugged in an electronic device on the internet and I wish people would unplug. I finally have a cell phone but it does not have internet service. I will have to admit it is hard to stay in touch with family and friends without a social networking site.

I will concede that in moderation, I need to catch up with the times. For instance, I started a profile on LinkedIn to enhance my online presence for potential employers and to stay in contact with professional peers.

Introduction to English 1010

Hello, I’m James Flanders, not to be confused with Ned Flanders from the Simpsons. I used to work on aircraft and my nickname or call sign was “Ned”.  I had the opportunity to switch my career from aircraft maintenance to be a paralegal. The change brought me out of my comfort zone in regards to writing and the use of computers. Although those skills are still rough around the edges, I have learned I can do anything I set my mind to.

I was always apprehensive about taking an English class because I never finished High School. I worked late at night during school and eventually was homeless for a while as a teenager.  I grew up in New England and moved around a lot. In the summer of 1989 I had the opportunity to go to school in my mother’s country of Holland with my cousin Wendy. I remember I had to go to the front of the class and show my penmanship. It was embarrassing compared to the rest of the class. I was impressed with how well their English is.

I eventually received my GED from a University in 1996.  I have chased the dream of completing my general education classes ever since then. I’m grateful to live in a country where I have educational opportunities and the freedom to accomplish whatever goals I challenge myself to. I’m looking to forward to English 1010 and improving my writing skills