Parting is such sweet...summer joy.

I can smell it in the air: barbeque, freshly cut grass, chlorine and insect repellent. Ah, summer.

for me anyway.

For you dear readers, by now it is fall. Wind, leaves, and freshly sharpened pencils, and once again, education. You have just taken your seat in the CSCI 1300 classroom, waiting for the course to commence, and you might be wondering...well, maybe nothing depending on the time of day (wake up 8:30-ers!). However, for the majority of you, you're wanting to know what the heck to expect to get from 3 months in a computer lab. So, as my last blog post...I shall advise you:

-Be prompt (it's easier to know what's going on if you're on time...trust me)
-Be thorough (make sure to double check stuff, Xcel and HTML coding can be sneaky)
-Be creative (it is design based...)

and you're good.

and the Moira goes to...

The year is coming to a close, meaning the closing of this blog. Sad days are a comin', I know. Before that time comes, I'd like to give a few shout outs to some pretty awesome classmates with some sweet websites...an awards blog of sorts I'd say: The Golden Moira Awards (oh wow) to be specific.

and the Moira goes to...Oh! It's a three way tie!

Come on down Alex Holmes, Larissa Lozano, and Amanda Patterson!

Alex had the coolest navbar (original hand drawn cartoons!), Larissa had the best web layout (really professional/uniform design), and I felt like I got to know Amanda the best just by looking at her webpage (pretty awesome from what I can tell, and I'm jealous of the trip to Europe!)

congrats kids, feel special.

I have a website...and I'm not pretentious.

Please visit my website, I'll give you a gold star and everyone likes those.

This week, I used the program Expression Web to create a personal website to share with my family and friends. When first starting, I was really confused by the process of web creation, making it difficult for me to do the assignment. However, once I got the hang of it, it turned out to be pretty easy to complete and have fun doing. I made a five page website, but I'd have to say I'm most proud of my gallery page because it took me a while to figure out how to make the photos fit the table and remain aesthetically pleasing, which proved to be my greatest technical challenge as well because I couldn't get the pictures to center within their cells. In regards to design, the biggest challenge I faced was deciding what I wanted to do, pretty much that there were too many little web design ideas floating around in the ole' noggin. In hindsight, I would have spent more time learning the ins and outs of Expression Web to make my site look even more impressive. I think that if I were presented with the opportunity to utilize technology and creativity in my future academic endeavors, I wouldn't hesitate to whip out my skills and pump out another cyber gem.

yes, I'm proud of it.

Pinnochio Photography

I chose to super-impose Mickey Mouse onto the working floor of a massive sweat shop with the Disney World slogan above him so as to convey the rightful criticisms towards the Disney company. I manipulated it by cutting Mickey out of a Disney World snapshot, and placing him behind the viewing rail of the sweatshop. Then I changed the saturation and vibrance of the photo to make it duller and appear older (roughly 60s photography) to show that Disney sweatshops have been in existence since the beginning of the enterprise. The manipulation is indeed harmful as it depicts the Disney company in a very negative light, showing that even a supposed family oriented corporation can be socially corrupt. Anyone who sees this would take the slogan as sarcasm due to the contrasting emotions of the two photos, showing Disney's obvious acknowledgement of their wrongdoings (Mickey smiling). Many would at least believe the purpose of the photographic alterations.

You would think that my manipulation proves that modern technology has caused people to constantly question what they see...well you'd be right. However, images have been altered for quite some time. In the article I read, the author (Browne) emphasizes the fact that though technological advancement may have provided the masses with the ability to forge photos, the ability to do so itself has existed since the creation of photography. "But in the end, a doctored photograph's ability to deceive seems to depend chiefly on the willingness of the viewer to accept a picture as truthful." This holds true for all images, the power to manipulate a photo is nothing compared to the power within that power to manipulate a person (photo finagling to the second power!) and if the person does note concede, the power of the photo is lack luster.

Works Cited!

MALCOLM W., BROWNE. "Computer as Accessory to Photo Fakery." New York Times 24 July 1991: 6. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 12 Apr. 2010.

HTML Power Rangers

Prior to my enrollment in CSCI 1300, I had absolutely zero experience with HTML coding. I always associated it with the green numbers from The Matrix streaming down into the endless depths of cyber space...now I associate it with cats. I was able to create an entire webpage by my own hand...using words. It amazes me that we have that power of creation these days, with the ability to create virtual images and communication sources through the click of a few keys. However, technology has advanced even beyond this power and mighty morphed into ultra-"just click the mouse button" megatron programs that take over the nitty gritty for you. I'm not sure about all you readers (a small portion of my CSCI class...), but I enjoy the nitty gritty! It's like a piece of art, whether it be a full on Monet (Clueless anyone?) or a macaroni lanyard/keychain I made at summer camp, it makes me feel accomplished to have known that after finishing a project, I have created absolutely every single bit of it on my own. So keep that in mind the next time you decide to take a shortcut friends, don't forget your roots be an HTML Power Ranger!

You know, cause it mighty morphed.

Playing favorites...

After watching my fellow CSCI 1300 classmates present PowerPoints on their academic interests, I have to say I was quite impressed. Not only were they able to speak coherantly at 8:30 in the morning, but they did so with gusto and in some cases the power of persuasion. Two presentations stood out to me amongst the rest, that of Miss Larissa Lozano and young Mister Travis Halff. Larissa did an amazing job, combining her powers of design and emotional transference into one solidly convincing presentation. Let's just say, I still have a strong affinity for musuem education but I'd work with Larissa on immigration policy anyday, and her color scheme was lovely to boot. In regards to Travis' presentation, twas an absolute delight. He had the entire class in rapture, displaying his marketing and advertising talents, many were left wanting a Shake-Weight (object of marketing strategy) and were itching to go out to the nearest "As Seen on TV" shopping aisle. The design was a little all over the place, but it worked, allowing us to focus on his manufactured British accent.

All in all, both were quite successful. Golf clap.

Power Plays in PowerPoint

Technology has become an essential in terms of contemporary communication, i.e. this blog. However, in order to present information in a...presentation format...the program PowerPoint is often used.

To be a successful PowerPoint player:

1. Don't use the cheesy images you find in clip art...they aren't gouda.

2. Don't be wordy; the slides are a guide, not a script. Verbatim readers are boring and ANNOYING.

3. Aesthetics are key, choose an appropriate font that's legible.

4. Themes can be distracting and dull or enhance the ideas of the presentation (do that...)

5. Take time to practice, you'll be well-versed in the flow of your slideshow and therefore feel more confident!!!

So whether it's a presentation on the national fiscal policy in regards to departmental spending for your economics class or a persuasive attempt to change your parents' fiscal policy in regards to your spending money, PowerPoint can be utilized for an effective outcome.