9/29 blog upkeep.

Hello. Please try to change the language setting on your computer now. Today's class will start with some reading.

Okay for today's lesson, we will work on three things: adding some extra protection against evil spammers to our blog, changing the blogger page to English, and posting comments on our photos.
READ THIS CAREFULLY. Work with a partner. One partner is Group A and one Partner is Group B. Group A partner does assignment A then B, Group B partner does assignmnet B then A. Partners, help each other, ask questions if neither of you understand, then ask for help from me, or other students.

Group A. Changing the security on our blog to stop the spammers (remember, 'spam' is unwanted junk mail advertising, a spammer is a person who sends this junk mail) & operating language.

1. Open a new window, (right-click and choose the N from the menu -- I think the second option).
2. log in to your blog and go to your dashboard.
3. on the dashboard page, under your profile to the right side, there is a link, the third link down "Change Language" will allow you to change your language from Japanese to English. Please click the link, then click the top choice (English) and then at the bottom of that page is an orange button, that says "Save settings." Once you hit the save settings button, you will be taken back to your dashboard. Congratulations, you have changed the language, go on to the next step -- adding "word verification" to peoples' comments on your blog.
   
4. From the dashboard, choose "Change Settings" The icon looks like this:
5. From the second set of buttons near the top, click on "Comments" (4th)
6. Now we will add some security to your blog comments. Find the " Show word verification for comments?" (6th) option and change from 'no' to 'yes.'
   This will add an extra step on your comment page. If people want to comment on your blog, they will need to type out the colorful letters they see under the comment window. This should stop some of the spam, since most won't take the time to fill out these letters (easy for humans to do) but you have to look at it, so a computer can't do it on its own.
7. Now click on the happy orange button at the bottom that says "Save Settings" and the computer will work. It will refresh the page (just let it work on its own) and the message "Your settings were saved successfully" will appear at the top in orange.
8. After you see this message, you must click the blue botton at the top left part of the page that says "Republish"
9. If your computer takes you to a new page that says "Your blog published successfully," then you are finished! Good work. You can start on the other part of the assignment.

Group B. Uploading pictures with comments.Your weekly blogs should contain pictures. We will practice uploading pictures in class, and then discuss how to comment on them. If you can not load pictures in class, you can and should still post a blog. This entry does not count for your weekly blog post, unless it has an image and a regular sized writing (usually 8-12 sentences).
First we will talk about the kind of pictures, then about how to write about them. Please follow the steps below.

1. Types of images for our blog. Please take a picture of something you see during a regular day. These pictures do not need to be special or outstanding, or unique, although they can be, and they should not be posed (arranged or set in front of the camera) This means if you take a picture of your room, don't clean it first; if you take a picture of your friend, don't tell them "I'm taking a picture for my blog, smile and say 'cheese';" instead of a picture of your dog's face, take a picture of him asleep, or eating, or doing something that he/she always does. Posed and arranged shots often look fake, life is interesting enough for others without posing and besides, the goal of this is to show images of your 'real life,' the things you would see even if there was no camera.
   I will give you photo assignments over the next few weeks to help you understand this more clearly.
2. Please try to post a photo. Even if you think yoru photo is 'wrong' please post it. You remember how? Move your photo from your email/disk/camera to the computer desktop, in a 'new post' click the "add image" button, upload your photo. Your photo should appear in your post, and you can then work on your comments.
3. If your photo does not appear to have been uploaded, hit the "refresh" button. You can also go to "Edit posts" and see if it posted your photo. If it did not post your photo try again. Try two more times, then if it still does not work, Ask for help! I will look at your image, and then tell you to move on to the next step: write a comment about your photo. Write about the photo witout the photo.
   
4. Ok now lets talk about commenting on your images. When you put up an image, think of it as a normal, weekly blog entry, meaning you need to write a paragraph with it. Two or three sentences is not enough. These writings are a excellent opportunity to practice close description, if not what you see, then how you feel about this photo, or the thing we see in the photo. It is difficult for me to tell you what to say about your picture other than ask you to explore and write (like a freewrite exercise) about the photo you are looking at. Tell us the situation, tell us a story about the thing, tell us your feelings about the photo, how it is connected to you and your life. Often times this sort of freewrite about an image we have chosen is difficult since we see it so much, we forget to notice our feelings and connections to it, but hopefully the idea of looking at the image, and discussing it (its story, its connection to you, your feelings about it, etc.) will help you notice the things in your life, and how you can explain them to others. This is sharing your life, your culture, your existence with others, I think they will be interested. I know I am! Please write about your image, and explain your connection to it. The writing should take 30minutes or less. To make this happen, you should close your dictionary and write using the vocabulary in your head. Once you have done this, publish it, and then go on to the other half of the assignment.

Once you finish both assignments, please make a comment on our class blog. This comment can be a short paragraph. Tell me about this assignment, was it difficult? Was it easy? Why and how could we make this better 'next time?'

If you do not finish both assignments (and the comment on our class blog) in class, they are homework, due by Friday (a normal blog post).

Good luck. Don't forget to talk with your partner if you need help. Or, if you are both confused and/or stuck, you can ask me questions too. I think you can do this assignment, on your own or with a little help. Do your best!