Today's the Day When the Teddy Bears Have Their Picnic

("You" implied) Use this picture of a cute Teddy Bear (command statement).

http://image44.webshots.com/44/5/64/21/384656421oTjxrO_fs.jpg

This picture is appropriate because it could be more saturated, less saturated, diffuse glowed, outlined, B&Wed, leveled, and so on.

We can also resize it, and talk about further file sizing when it comes to the Save For Web option.

Class presentation on Photoshop

Essential Points to cover
*what tools are available
--size and resolution
--cleaning images
--cropping
--getting rid of red-eye
*how to access Photoshop
*technical issues
--uploading/accessing/saving a file
*how to post a picture on your blog

Inform class that Photoshop CS2 is available on all campus computers.
Point class to online tutorials.

Basic Design issues
*how to text wrap
*where to place text in relation to a photo in your blog


These were just some of the first/basic ideas we came up with in class. And thus, the discussion starts........

Our Techy Tool of Choice

This was going to go up last night but... yeah. You can see the last entry (or so) that I made in my journal for details on the meltdown that occurred last week and almost made me quit my major. Or at least think about it. But then afterwards I had to spend the second half of Tuesday, all of Wednesday, and the morning of Thursday getting my big project back on track. It all seemed like one big day and it was pretty bad... And then, pop, work all weekend. And of course last night I fell asleep on my laptop at like 9 after getting home from work....

There's my excuse to tardiness, in case anyone is interested.

Luckily, we're on top of this. Obviously I believe that a picture is worth a 1000 words, and then I add more cuz I'm long-winded. Our techno-tool (giggle) demonstration is gonna be on Photoshop and it's many wonders, most of which I don't know how to do. But I do know the basics, so that's what we'll highlight. I'm not clear on when we're going to be presenting this information, but I don't really need to prepare for it or anythinig so we'll be fine.

Now I must return to running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, cuz I have a website due tomorrow and I need to crack the whip with my group. I suddenly feel compelled to share this with you guys, just so you know that I am in fact competent (technologically/artistically, which is why we're doing photoshop) at some classes. lol.

http://www.uwm.edu/~avpalomo/story/index.html

http://www.uwm.edu/~avpalomo/final/index.html

http://www.uwm.edu/~avpalomo/zen/zengarden.html

Blogging Tools

So I missed last weeks class and wish I wouldn't have because I am feeling a little lost for these upcoming assignments. Being confused seems to be a re-occurring theme for most of us this semester, so I am taking what I can out of the assignment.

Tools that I think are important for blogging are creativity and openness.

Creativity is an obvious one. The more creative your blog, the more interesting it is. The more interesting, the more people want to read it.

Openness is not as clear however. I think it is very important to be able to "speak" (type) freely about what is on your mind. I like blogs that tell stories. I've said it time and time again, but I like a blog that serves like a journal. If you're open to write about anything, then I personally find your blog more interesting. You would think that a blog comparing two sandwiches is ridiculous, but in some contrived way, I find it more interesting because it is so ridiculous!

These two tools are beyond the most obvious, which is technical skill. You have to know how to start a blog and have some basic computer skills to maintain the blog.

What tools do you guys find necessary? (Maybe asking a question will help to make us a more cohesive group???--just an attempt)

Venting at the expense of Group 2

Not to override your post Tom, but I will get to that shortly. I just feel compelled to share this.

I have been blogging on my personal blog on the four blogs I have been viewing for the past week or so. Only two of the four are actually able to hold my interest at any level, but beyond that, I got my first semi-offensive/serious comment from an outsider. Well I guess technically it is my second. I welcomed the first comment from an outsider (out of class) with open arms seeing as it was very nice. As you guys probably know, I don't write for comments, I write for me. Apparently with this notion, I tend to forget that anyone can see our blogs, which shouldn't change what I write anyway.

I recently made a post on a picture of a creepy doll in my opinion. You can check it out on "quotable quotes." It turns out that the person who maintains the blog where this picture was commented on my posting with some unfavorable words. What he said was completely legitimate, but point and case of why I don't love comments or blogging for that matter. Sure blogging is great for most people, but I just get too offended too easily. That is my problem and I am completely willing to admit it.

I just needed to get that off my chest.........

kick it into gear

Not sure how we can kick this blog into gear. Posting would help. If for no other reason than to start a dialog I'll ask; what are your plans for break? I still have to work so I don't have major plans. A week with no class or homework will be a welcome break though. Plan on putting in some marathon gaming hours.
Did everyone come up with feedback about the final paper for Dr. Sands? I am still not sure where to go with that. I did reassert my statement from class that D2L can go. Bringing that conversation here will help.


ADDED: Just came across this story on BBC. The 2007 award for journalism went to 22-year old blogger Abdel Kareem Soliman, who wrote under the name Kareem Amer. How's that for blogs making a difference and changing the world.

Interesting Blogging Article

This is entirely off topic of what our assignment sheet is saying, but I thought this was pretty interesting and random that I came across this article.

I found a magazine on the newspaper racks in the union. The magazine is called Young Money. Inside was an article by a technology editor, Dave Matthews, called "Beginner's Guide to Blogging." It was very brief, but discussed a couple key points. First of all, Matthews says that blogs are a good idea because they may one day be able to make you money. He brought this point up a few times, but never really expanded upon it.

He is also a big hater of MySpace and Facebook. He says, "If you are one of the millions of college students graduation this spring with MySpace of Facebook accounts loaded with so-called "friends" and message board entries, it may be time for you to grow up to a real blog."
I think this comment is a bit harsh, but I see his point. He talks about being able to make blogs private or public and being able to add photos. You can do all of these things of Facebook as well. I am not personally experienced with MySpace, so I can't comment on that. One of his main defenses is that blogs are easy to access. He says "can you imagine your grandmother signing up for a MySpace page, just so she can access your photos?" I think he soon realized that was a silly point to make because he mentioned that you probably wouldn't want your grandmother to see those photos anyway.

Lastly, the author offers some blogging quick tips. Here is what he has to say.
*Post regularly or readers won't keep coming back to your blog
*Leave comments on other's blogs, to drive more traffic links
*Make sure the comments are smart and not seen as spam
*Use a photo with each entry since a picture is worth a million words!
*Link to your friends on the sidebar to gain traffic
*Sign up for Google Ad Words to make some money from your blog traffic hat your expertise area is.