let's go blog wild

Yes, everyone, this is what we've all been waiting for--the chance to get our blog on. But Ed, you might ask, how do I post to this blog? What topic will I be asked to write about by 8PM this Sunday? And what will we be reading next week?

Good questions all.

First, let's talk about the blog itself. After you accept my invitation to join the blog (have you done that yet?), you're free to post on it at will. Yes, that's right, at will. Sure, once a week, I'll give you a choice of topics to write about, and you're required to compose a response by 8PM Sunday that's at least a paragraph long (see the syllabus if you have any questions). But you can also post things that aren't assigned, things you think might be worth sharing with me and the rest of the class. For instance, a link to an interesting story, video, article (here's the somewhat frightening bride-having-a-haircutting-meltdown that I mentioned today. [A good catch from our own Michael Bushoy, I was apparently taken in by a hoax!]). As long as it's related to the course, and you're not making a personal attack on someone in the class, you can post almost anything that you like.

So how do you create your own post? Select the "Get Your Own Blog" button on the top right hand part of the screen. Sign in with your user name and password (again, at the top right hand part of the screen). The "Dashboard" screen will appear. To the right of "American Political Satire Before and After 9/11", you'll see a green icon under "New Post" (it looks like faucet handle). Click on it. The template for a post. Enter a title (your choice), and then compose your response in the field that appears below. When you're done, scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Publish Post."

You're invited to comment on other people's posts, too. To do so, simply click the "Comment" link at the bottom of their entry. (Again, no personal attacks.)

So far so good?

Okay, now to your assignment. For this weekend, please post on one of the following topics by Sunday at 8PM.

1. Still have things to say about Spiegelman's In the Shadow of No Towers? Did I not call on you when you had something brilliant to say? Here's your chance to share your thoughts. Describe the panel/s or essay/s that you'll be talking about in your post (i.e. give us enough detail to know what you're referring to) and then let us know what's on your mind.

2. Give us an example and explanation of how Spiegelman uses irony in In the Shadow of No Towers.

3. Respond to Jonah Goldberg's decision to drop Ann Coulter from "The National Review Online" after her "This is War" column.

Finally, we'll be reading David Rees' Get Your War On next week. You can find his comic strip at this website (which you can also get to using the "Useful Link" listed on the left-hand side of the blog). We'll be reading pages 1-17. Please print out, read, and think about the panels on pages 1-9 for Tuesday.

Email me with any questions or comments. Good luck!