bs1494@txstate.edu

My website will focus on young women who have developed eating disorders in order to obtain the perfect image that the media so often portrays. It will explore why as a society we constantly pit ourselves against each other, why we are so willing to put down others in order to feel better about ourselves, and why we have such a warped image of what beauty is.

-I don’t want to be ugly anymore.
The first page will be a narrative that explains the thought process behind so many who have developed eating disorders. Whether it be looking for a sense of control, wanting to always lose “just five more pounds,” or never feeling quite good enough for those we have surrounded ourselves with.

-Facts and Figures.
This page will dive deeper into why as a society we act the way we do using evidence of stats and this particular Youtube video.

-My body. My rules.
Ways to overcome self-esteem issues and how to fight the urge to purge.

-Share your story.
A page for visitors to connect with others who are going through the same issues. You are able to read others’ stories as well as submit your own.

-Find help here.
A contact page of places to find immediate help.

I have a strange obsession with dogs, particularly those poor furbabies without a home stuck in an over-crowded shelter. My site will be dedicated to finding homes for dogs in local shelters(San Antonio to Austin but with a bigger focus on Hays County.) Most shelters have their own website but due to lack of funding they don’t usually have current information.

Other than the home page, the site will have a “Pet of the Week” page featuring a new puppy and its adoption info every week, a “Contact your local shelter page”, a “Not ready to adopt?” page with ways to help by volunteering and donations, and I think it would be really cool to have a “Success story” page of recently adopted dogs, but I do not know how realistic it would be to keep up with. I’ve also thought of having a page dedicated to my pup, Jacks, because he was the inspiration for this and I love showing him off.

I do not have a color scheme in mind yet but want something neutral. Pale yellow and gray, maybe? I also couldn’t really find any inspiration from another site. I’ve been on the computer a lot the past few days researching for other things and they’re all starting to look the same.

How has no one talked about this yet? I cannot be the only one who ends up sitting and watching twenty different videos in a row after looking for “just one” small distraction.

YouTube is fabulous. Not only can you find all the music videos of the artists you already love but you can also end up discovering new talent that will make you seem totally hip once you share it with your friends. Or you can just shake it with Taylor on repeat. Your choice. I think my favorite part about the site is that it allows the public to upload their own videos. . Whether you think you’re a singer, a comedian, or the next Bam Margera you only need to share your video to find out what the world thinks. And they will tell you what they think. Hours, no, days of entertainment can be found on this site.

I think the best design aspect of the site is the bar along the right side of the screen that shows videos similar to the one you’re currently viewing.  From a visitor’s standpoint there is no easier way to lose track of time. Plus it’s such a simple tactic to get the viewer to stay on the site.

Remember last week when we talked about what the most embarrassing thing we have on the web is? YouTube claims mine. The last five years have taught me nothing in regards to my dance skills. Whatever, I’ll just keep shake, shake, shaking it off.

-Birdie Abigail