1. Technology has helped the public communicate in more ways then we could even imagine. We have so many resources we can use when it comes to facebook, myspace, twitter, email, google docs, there is still new blogs and forums being created everyday! I feel the message that big message Benkler was trying to get across is that we can instantly communicate with anyone around the world with great resulty. I think another point he was trying to get across is that we have to be aware of some things that are said and actions that we take while using the online media, an example I can think of is with facebook and how people are not being aware of certain pictures they are getting tagged in. Social networking give friends the ability to stay in touch across the world without having to wait to write letters or even pay big charges to talk on the phone! Freedom of speech is being used by everyone now around the world when they are using social networks online by having there own blog or profile on a site.


2.A great resource for students here at UNI is WEB CT! Many students can connect with one another through messaging if they are in the same class and help one another out if they do not get certain assignments or just need to study for the class.
This past summer I was having some problems with my Itunes on my lab top and wasn't able to burn some compact disc for a friend, I stumbled upon this blog where thousands of people would post certain problems they were having with itunes and people would respond with tons of different ways on how to fix the problem. I cant find the blog because i did a pretty deep online search for it. Blogs like these are really valuable cause it saved me a lot of time and money from not having to take my computer in to get it looked at!
Skype is becoming very popular it is allowing friends to video chat and see one another without having to pay phone fees! I skype with some of my friends who go to out of state schools and it is a great resource to have!

3. My best friend just returned this past year from his two year mission trip in Warsaw Poland. We did not have very many options to communicate to one another about what was happening in our lives. We could email rarely but it was not enough, so we both started our own blogs. He would have one free day a week and would read my post and then type a post about what happened during his week and it worked out really well. Benkler talks about how technology can hinder relationships but our relationship stayed strong because we were able to stay in touch through our own blogs and hearing about one another experiences.
I am a passionate sports fans and I love reading sports blogs and forums from many different sites! It is just interesting to read so many different view points that sports writers write and just debate with thousands of people online about it.