DONE!

Everything went better than expected!

I am finished, all sections are complete, the audio link for download does actually work after all.  I don't know what the problem was but it works fine for me now.  Hopefully it will continue to be able to be downloaded for the next week at least! 

I put in a video about Gerald Gardener, a few pictures, quotes, interviews, snapshot of the yahoo answers and numerous links to the page.

I decided not to do the video, it would have been a great addition, but I didn't have enough time when it came down to it.  Procrastination is an evil thing.

Feels good to have it complete, but it doesn't really feel like summer yet. Hopefully soon.

Over and out.

Mainbar

I'm so close to the end I can taste it!  Everything is complete except for the mainbar.  I have most of it written and separated into categories, but I have a little bit more to write and then proofing.

Well I guess I still have to figure out the link to my interview and get it on the page, the audio recorded one.  It worked for a few days but now it's gone, so I'll have to figure that out.

Almost done!

A Little Bit Closer...

Final's week has just begun, if I wasn't busy enough before I am now.

The sidebar is complete, I think I have too many words but there really isn't anything I could cut out so hopefully it works. 

I only put in about three of the questions because my interviewee talks a lot.  There wasn't anymore room so I put a link at the bottom of the sidebar to download the rest of the interview.  Readers can click on it to listen to us conversing.

The sidebar also contains hyperlinks.  When Proctor refers to something readers could be confused about, they can click on the link and it takes them to a webpage with indepth information.

I chose a quote from Proctor and put it in my main bar in the category "How Society Views Wicca," I think it fits there nicely.

Here it is:

"People take it to be so much worse than it really is.

It’s just another way of practicing your spirituality

in relation to the world around you."
-Reagan Proctor

Things to do:

Main bar

Q&A Box

Only a few days left!

Success

The interview had to be rescheduled to yesterday evening but all went well.

I met with Reagan Proctor, a KSU student who identifies herself as Atheist.  She said she was Atheist, then started Wicca, didn't agree with all of it so she s now back to Atheism.  It's a very interesting interview from an open minded person's opinion on the Wicca religion.

Audio was recorded and should be put up soon, also she is my sidebar! Yay!

Notes:
There's also a link to my Delicious page at the bottom next to the link to this blog!
I'm gonna put hyperlinks in the text so people know what she's referring to.
I took the witches hat wordle down, doesn't seem to fit now... maybe it'll end up back on the page but it was huge and distracting.

Another Interview

I have another interview scheduled for Tuesday afternoon with a former Wiccan.  She studied Wicca and practiced for about 6 months or so from what I've heard.  She's a KSU student as well. 

It will be interesting to see why she stopped practicing Wicca.  Was it something she discovered about the beliefs?  Something she didn't agree with or just found it uninteresting?  Also, how did she get started in the first place? 

That's always something I like to know about people, how they got started whether it's through another person or their own research.  Anyway, it should be enlightening.

I'll also be recording the interview since I haven't recorded one yet. 

Other notes:
Delicious page has numerous links but I don't know how to put it in a pdf?
Q&A box needs work.

Progress

Well, I started adding a few things to the Wiki page today.  I have a Wordle with the Wiccan Rede words used and it's in the shape of a witch's hat. 

I also took snapshots of two comments from my Yahooo Answers question and added those on there.  One is anti-Wicca and uses quotes from the Bible and the other is pro-Wicca and states some reasons why it's okay. 

I posted a link to the original page so if anyone wants to see all of the responses and the original question it's available easily.

Things I need to do:
Video opinions of people in Manhattan on Wiccans
Find something for a sidebar
Write the main story/construct headings
Q&A box
Delicious pdf

Ready, GO!

Opinions

I wanted some personal opinions from people from all over, not just around Manhattan, so I turned to the internet.  Yahoo Answers, specifically.  I asked a question on the forum and people from all places that were online could see it.  Within half an hour I had almost fifteen responses from people ranging from Wiccans to Christians to Atheists.  I plan on putting their opinionated responses on my page with a few excerpts from some of the responses.  I plan on choosing the ones that are exceptionally profound while also linking to the whole page.  That way viewers can see all of the answers from everyone.  I'm pretty sure that counts as a graphic too.

Multimedia

My question box is coming along nicely I think. I'm taking the five questions and answers from four different people and putting them together in a graphic.  I'm also planning on using a Wordle for another graphic with words relating to Wicca in it.

I also still want to make a video of the opinions of people just on the street , asking the question, "What is a witch?" or "What's a pagan?"  I think that would give a good view as to how some of the general public sees witches or how much they even know about them.  Plus it would count as a graphic I think so that's a plus!

Interviews

First off, tracking down Wiccans is not the easiest thing to do.  I did manage to find a place in town that they have weekly Pagan meetings at though, so that's good.  I talked to the shop owner and one of the guys shopping there at the time who is Wiccan.  It was an unexpected interview for them both, as I just went looking for potential interviewees.  I ended up leaving with two great interviews though.  This is proof that you should always be prepared for interviews, because you never know where you'll find them.

Getting Started

Well after completing a few spider brainstorming maps (you know, the ones you had to do in junior high with all the bubbles) I have narrowed my topic down.  I will be researching whether or not the Wiccan religion is as dangerous as most people think it is.  I need to find out if the people who think the religion is evil actually know something about Wiccans or have had personal experience or if they are basing their assumptions on historical events and Halloween costumes.

I want to make a short video on personal opinions on the matter.  For instance, asking someone what they know about Wiccans and whether or not they think they are evil based on their personal experience.  Chances are most people will think Wiccans are the same as Witches and therefore know nothing about the religion.

I was timid at first about choosing a topic such as Wicca, because I too had first believed that the words were interchangeable and that the movie portrayals were correct.  I also had a fear that I might be meddling into unknown territory and that someone with a cauldron would cast a spell on me!  But from my research so far it seems as though I, like most of society, have it all wrong.