Journal 60: December 2

This semester has been an exciting one, especially in WRA 210. When I transfered to MSU, I knew I wanted to write for a Web site, but had no idea how much it would entail. My Web experiece was, for all intents and purposes, nil. My experience with computers was pretty much limited to knowing I prefered Macs to PCs because they run GarageBand so I could make albums with my, umm, garage bands. My knowledge 16 weeks ago is no match for my knowledge now. Same goes for my expectations for my future career. Things seem to be turning out perfectly!

Journal 59: December 2

I guess I'm still thinking about rapidly changing technology. I've realized that's pretty much why I became a Professional Writing major in the first place. I was originally a Journalism major. Though I was good at writing in a journalistic style, I really didn't like its constraining nature. But that's not what drove me to quit. I decided that the newspaper is quickly becomming an example of "old" technology - it's on the decline. So many people get their news from CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Etc. None of those media outlets have a printed edition. I looked at my future as a newspaper man, and it felt unstable. Web authoring is where the writing jobs are growing, and that's what I want to be doing when I graduate.

Journal 58: December 2

So I'm hopelessly addicted to The X-Files, and have been for quite some time. Well, I've been trying to watch the whole series from start to finish this year, using my very small about of free time. I'm almost up to season four, but that's not what I'm intending on writing about here. What I've noticed by this excursion is how hilariously dated the show is by the technology it features. The characters scramble to find dial-up access, very few people possess cell phones, gene therapy is "theoretical," and huge villainous computers run programs straight out of the stone age. The show exists in an era when technology was still coming into its own, when there were just as many capabilities as creations. Information still had to be found using libraries and their micofiche. The Internet was used only by those highly versed in its strange ways. The thing is, it really wasn't that long ago. Yet, it still feels like a foreign world to me. In fact, I wasn't even that young - maybe eight years old. I guess the point of this post is that our technological world is advancing at such a rapid pace, and I'm not only involved in it, I'm trying to become entrenched in it. That means it won't just be my job to create with technology. It will also be my job to keep up with it.

Journal 57: December 2

Technologically, there are a lot of advantages to being a student. I mean, MSU gives me this huge AFS space to host any Web sites I may create. And then there's the MSU computer store that gives me massive discounts on software. And last week, when I was checking out MacBooks at the Apple store, I was told I'll recieve a $200 student discount. Oh yeah, and if this year works the same as last year, I'll recieve a free iPod because I'll be a student purchasing a computer during the back-to-school sale. Umm... Maybe grad school is a good choice after all!

Journal 56: December 2

Way back when, I did a project exploring one of my favorite sites. During the project, I outlined many of its flaws and explained how it could be improved. Despite its problems, I still visit All Media Guide nearly every day. Well, I may get a chance to help them out. I recieved word of an internship I can take at the site's office in Ann Arbor. I'm currently pursuing that internship, and hopefully it will work out this summer. Of course, I don't expect to change the site myself, or necessarily get the chance to change anything. But it will be cool to get involved and see how such a site is created firsthand. How knows, maybe I could get a chance to help them develop and impliment ways of improving the site!

Journal 55: December 2

Looking forward at career paths I might choose, I've decided I would really like to get involved in something that involves
Web authoring. It's something I enjoy, something I think I'm pretty good at, and something I know I'll get better at. It involves creativity, which I possess, and requires skill in writing, which I also possess. I'm trying to get more practice in the field to better my chances at finding a job like that. I'm also doing more research into Web design. I think I'll be able to make this happen if I keep working at it.

Journal 54: December 2

It's amazing how streamlined Facebook and the like has become with our culture. It's like everybody has one. I mean, I was on just the other day and discovered a profile belonging to my 60-something former employer. What in the world? This year, my 50-something-year-old aunt befriended me. That's not a problem, or anything, but it's just... weird. And then there's my brother-in-law who spends his time finding Facebook-only girlfriends. Now, the news reported a divorce stemming from an affair on Second Life. Second Life?? My avitar couldn't even find friends on Second Life. Much less... whatever that was...

Journal 53: December 1

One of the ways I've been thinking of improving my site is to use Dreamweaver templates. My reasoning behind this is to see what their coding looks like so I can try to replicate it in the future and solve my compatibility issues once and for all. I mean, I've kind of been plagued by those all semester. I am curious, though. Are the Dreamweaver templates compatible with all browsers, or do they suffer the same ailments as my site? I guess the only real way of learning that answer is to try it out myself. I look forward to that!

Journal 52: December 1

I've been thinking a lot about the economy lately. I'm not scared of the future by any means, I'm just curious as to what could happen. What would happen if we had another Great Depression in this era? There are countless answers to that question, of course, but what would happen specifically to technology? Would there be a decline in Web sites because people couldn't afford computers, Internet access, Web hosting, etc.? Or would the costs go so far down that everyone would get involved, further incorporating the Web in with our culture? Or would all of this just... disappear? Our society is so dependent on technology, it seems that some people would almost cease to exist without it - they'd lose their source of income, their livelihood, their talents. Because of that aspect, I don't feel that it's possible for the Internet to completely go away. I hope it doesn't. This is giving me a headache.

Journal 51: December 1

I'm fully intending on working on my site after this class is finished. I'm considering changing the format a bit. I would like to incorporate Javascript and more music players. I would like to work with the design more, both in appearance and structure. I'll be modifying my CSS and probably changing my color scheme around, although I still like it. I feel like there are many ways my site can improve. If I keep working on it, I'll figure out how to make my site work at its fullest potential.

Journal 50: November 30

It's ridiculous how the Internet seems to be a place for people to live vicariously. There are so many people who are thoughtful and polite in the "real world" and obnoxious and snobby online. It can be entertaining to see this sometimes, but more often than not it's just annoying. I guess it is just the way people are, though. When they don't have actual contact with the people they're communicating with, they feel free to say what they want. It's the same way with telemarketers. This is an annoyance of mine, so I'm hoping I haven't written a post about it before...

Journal 49: November 30

I tried out a new MacBook Pro this weekend. I really love it. It's got an even sturdier aluminum frame than my PowerBook, but it's much lighter weight. It's eight times faster than my current Mac, and has 11 times more memory(40 times the current amount of memory left on it)! It's got six times the amount of RAM, too. Not to mention the latest version of OS X, so I can actually run programs made in the last three years. Between my tax rebate and increased hours at work this semester (maybe a little too increased, but we'll see), I should be all ready to go by the time Snow Leopard comes out. That means my Little PowerBook That Could will have to hang in there a bit longer. That shouldn't be a big deal, considering I have no technology-related courses this coming semester. But I really look forward to using Photoshop and Dreamweaver at home. It'll also be nice to have all my music on my laptop, instead of freeing up memory on my external hard drive. That kinda got old.

Journal 48: November 30

One thing I'll be trying to figure out after this class is Javascript. I know it can't be too hard, and it's something that seems very useful in a lot of instances. Of course, I'm not planning any elaborate Javascript intros or anything like that, but it's something I know I could put to good use on a site. I look forward to using it in the future, and I think Javascript knowledge can really help me in Advanced Web Authoring.

Journal 47: November 30

Although I've progressed a lot in the last 15 or so weeks, there are still some confounding aspects to Web Design. Try as I might, I simply can't figure out how to make my site work equally on every browser. Heck, I can't even get it to work properly on one browser. I mean: the text color and site structure work great on Safari, but the text size and music player are skewed; the music player works great on Firefox, but the structure and text color don't; nothing at all works on Internet Explorer. What in the world? I've done everything that I possibly can here, and it's not working out! It would on a Safari/Firefox hybrid, though...

Journal 46: November 30

As the semester winds down, I've been thinking about just how much of a difference this Web Authoring class has made in my general everyday life. I don't look at the Internet in nearly the same way as I used to; I look for design practices and anomalies, unique structures, color schemes... and then I look at the content. I didn't know what any of that stuff was a semester ago. Of course, my whole day isn't spent online (though it's getting closer). But even when I'm away from my computer, I am noticing things that I could incorporate in design: colors, users to keep in mind and ideas for content. It's as if I've found a new aspect to the world I've never been exposed to.

Journal 45: November 9

It amazes me how much thought is out there on the Internet. Until I took this class, I took Web design for granted and only focused on content. Yes, I was amazed at the amount of content, and the quality of a lot of it. But I never noticed the huge world lurking beyond that little aspect of it. The form of presentation is just as important as the work it displays. In fact, the ideas out there for such presentation are just as good, if not better, than the featured content. I mean, sites like imeem, iTunes, Lala, eMusic, and Rhapsody feature so much music. But the ways they deliver that music are groundbreaking. They are so streamlined and user-friendly. To think of those kind of ideas takes so much intelligence and attention to detail, not to mention hard work. Sites like Facebook seem like everyday things now, and are largely taken for granted. But ideas like that are profound, and the ways the are implemented and presented are amazing. The Internet is truly a form of art that isn't nearly as appreciated as it should be.

Journal 44: November 9

Photoshop is one program that had a reputation I could never understand until now. It was used in my Journalism classes back when that was my major, so I have tried to use it before. But the thing is, because of the classes I was in, and the program's name, I only assumed it was for photos. And, yes, it worked well for retouching pictures, but I've used other programs for that, too. I guess I thought Photoshop was just an expensive way for obsessive photographers to tweak their work. But that all changed this week. I realized that it can also be used for designing. And lots of designing it can do. In fact, it seems like Photoshop is an essential program to have if I want to work with Web sites in the future. I can make my own logos and pictures. That means I don't have to rely on clip art. Yes, there is a lot of clip art out there, but it's not guaranteed to look good with my Web site. I can use Photoshop to insure that any of my images do work. Cool!

Journal 43: November 9

Okay, so MSU's Angel site could really use some redesigning. It's clunky, slow, and unreliable. I can never find where I need to go on it, and I swear some of my class pages change all the time. One of my professors has been trying to get grades updated this week, but Angel isn't posting the changes. It's a really frustrating system. Blackboard was used by my previous college. It is far superior to Angel. It's designed well, and I never noticed errors. Yes, MSU has provided a superior education, but I just wish its implemented technology would reflect that. Of course, redesigning Angel is too large a project for anyone in WRA 210, but the school should at least look into getting some more help in fixing the site.

Journal 42: November 9

Even though I never thought I would get to this point, I'm starting to be able to type in only code, without depending on Dreamweaver's views of what I'm designing. I remember in my earlier readings, people talked about using Notepad to design with HTML. I thought that was funny back then, but it makes sense now. I find it distracting to constantly watch how things look when I'm designing. I guess this is a good sign. Not only am I learning a lot, but I'm getting more confident, too.

Journal 41: November 9

I'm wondering how I can use my other blog to get me more attention. I wanted to use it to get more stuff for my portfolio, but I'd kind of like it to get attention, too. I've heard of several Web magazine authors wh0 got jobs that way, and I think I could do that, too. I use the blog address in my signature on a message board site I participate in, but other than that, I have no exposure. I have heard of people downloading programs that consistently access the site, allowing for maximum Googleability. Maybe I could do that. I suppose the best way to do this is to make good connections and hope they recommend me.

Journal 40: November 9

One thing I want to learn this year is how to write computer code. I've noticed that a lot of Web sites seem to go beyond HTML, CSS, and Javascript. I think that I could make really good sites with that kind of knowledge. Yeah, I know more knowledge is better, but I feel like HTML and CSS are almost common knowledge, the way they are talked about online. Granted, I'm not going into Web design, but I do want a leg-up on the competition for writing jobs when I graduate.

Journal 39: November 9

I'm wondering if we are near the end of desktop computers. I mean, laptops are just as powerful now. And much more versatile. Yes, desktops are ideal for school computer labs. And offices. But, really, nearly everyone owns a laptop now. At least most business people and students. Heck, MSU requires students to own one. So even the places that make sense having desktop computers could get by without them. I, for one, won't really miss them.

Journal 38: November 9

With my site progressing, I'm starting to wonder what will happen to it after I leave MSU. I mean, I would love to keep and update it after I graduate. But it's saved in my AFS space and hosted by MSU's Web site. I guess that means if I want to keep it, I'll have to pay for hosting. I know I had free domain hosting for a Geocites I had when I was in high school (I had my own .com), but that expired after a year and wanted payment. I may have to look into free or cheap hosting again in a couple years.

Journal 37: November 9

I'm still not sold on my Web site for my final project. I mean, the design is fine, the content is fine, I'm happy with the ideas for it. It's just the color scheme that's bothering me. My favorite color is orange. I think it's a fairly warm, inviting color. It represents individuality, hard work, and it's pleasant to look at as long as it's not too bright. But I don't know if everyone agrees on those things. Orange also looks like Halloween when paired with black, which is not okay 364 days of the year. It's too bright for white text, looks bad with red text, etc. Basically, there are very few colors that will work with it in a color scheme where orange is the background. Pretty much purple, blue, and green. Now, I don't really care for the color purple. Blue is great, but people could easily get the text confused with links. That leaves green. A green and orange color scheme looks really good. For the non-colorblind. Oops. I guess that's one of the prices to pay for maximum accessibility.

Journal 36: November 9

I'm a little stuck on a decision I'm trying to make.

My poor little computer is starting to die. Of course, it still runs. It just runs a little slow, simple tasks it used to perform give me the Spinning Pinwheel of Death, and some of the not-so-technological aspects of it (the latch, battery) are starting to cause trouble. Also, I'm going to purchase Dreamweaver and Photoshop before my senior year, so I can take Advanced Web Authoring without having to go from my apartment to a computer lab every day. There's no way my Panther OS X will survive these kind of programs if it can't even run iTunes consistently anymore. Oh, and I have under five gigs of memory left on my hard drive and a full external (deleting my music collection is not an option). Basically, it's time for a new computer.

So I've decided on getting a Macbook Pro. It's the new version of the durable computer I've had since late 2002/early 2003, and I'm hoping for similar luck this time. I mean, if I get four years out of my next one, I'll be more than happy. If I get six years, like I did with my current one, I'll be overjoyed. I think it just might work out again.

Here's the deal... It would be wonderful, but not necessary, to purchase the notebook next semester. I can get away with waiting until the summer if my PowerBook holds out, but I'm not sure if that will happen - again, it's starting to die. But it looks like Apple is coming out with a new version of OS X (Snow Leopard). Of course, its release date hasn't been announced, and bloggers are saying it should be at least the second quarter of 2009. Normally, it should seem obvious that it's worth waiting for. Except that I'd be getting the first version of Snow Leopard. That means glitches galore. Should I wait even longer, and put off taking Advanced Web Authoring until Spring 2010? Should I purchase it next semester and use the last version of Leopard? Should I take the risk that the first version of Snow Leopard won't have too many glitches, and that simple update downloads will suffice?

It's kind of giving me a headache.

Journal 35: November 9

I make it sound like CSS has been perfect for me in my previous post. Let me assure you, even though CSS has been easier than I expected, it's also presented its share of problems. For example, I've been stuck for a couple weeks on a fairly major issue concerning its implementation. It seems certain aspects of my Web site don't translate across browser platforms. Equally frustrating is the fact that everything works as it should in Safari, but is messed up in Firefox. That's just backwards.

But, try as I might, I'm not able to fix these little problems. I've coded everything correctly in CSS, and then coded it to do the exact same thing in HTML, just to make sure everything is as it should be. It's still wrong. And frustrating.

Journal 34: November 9

I recently completed a few lessons in CSS. It used to be something that scared me: HTML was hard to learn and I wasn't sure if I could handle new code so soon. After the past couple weeks, things aren't so daunting. Sure, it's new code - it's just not that hard. It's also very easy to make a CSS template for your site. It allows the author to only need to consult one style sheet for design issues. Even though I didn't foresee it happening this way, I'm still spending significantly more time on my HTML pages than my CSS ones. I consider this to be a good thing.

Journal 33: November 9

Okay, I've gotten past the temptation to create a bad Web site for a final project. How is this? Well, in my attempts to make a good site, things have gone wrong and made it bad anyway. Considering the amount of effort I've put into it so far, it's frustrating to have such things happen. I think that flushed the temptations out of my system.

Journal 32: October 15

As I get ready for my final project, I have to admit I'm a little worried about it. I want it to be really good, something I can use and build on in the future. The problem is, I just have too much fun designing ridiculous things. I want to be able to make it have pop-ups, though I know they would make it bad. I want it to have hilarious background images, though I'd be the only person to truly appreciate them. The list, unfortunately, goes on and on. What I need to do is focus on the best in functionality the Internet has to offer and imitate that, instead of, say, Wolves. Once I clear this hurdle, the sailing will be a little better.

Journal 31: October 15

One of the things I'm most curious about is formatting my Web page for handheld devices. I'm not sure how to design a page to look differently depending on what form of device is used to view it. Do I have to code it different at the top of the page?

Another major problem with my dilemma is the fact that I don't have access to any handheld Web browsing devices. This means that even if I figure out how to design a page to fit PDA's, I have no way of knowing if it worked or not.

Maybe there is a PDA simulator online.

Journal 30: October 15

Here's another tip I learned for Web design: Use a relative scale for font size, not an absolute preset. That's a great idea I would have never thought of by myself. But, of course, now that I think of it, I can remember many times when I had to skip an article online because the font was too small. That's something I need to remember to do.

The reading I got this from also included the mantra, "more is less." That's the opposite of what I would normally think, but it makes sense. I need to give the user complete control to do whatever or go wherever they need on my site.

Good stuff.

Journal 29: October 15

Well, it's time I really start putting together ideas for my final project. I've been going through all the Web sites I normally visit, looking in greater depth. I've also been doing all the readings I can find about Web design. I'm doing all of this in hopes that everything sinks in.

Obvious idea number one: make sure each page clearly tells the user what site they're on. Cool.

Journal 28: October 15

The debate over whether or not Web-based music makes money just got more intense today as the figures from Radiohead's 2007 album/experiment In Rainbows were released. The thing sold 3 million copies! I'm pretty sure record companies are going to take note and start releasing more and more material online before becoming available in stores.

Of course, iTunes and eMusic have been offering "exclusive" albums before official release dates for a while now, but I'd be surprised if more companies don't go the digital prerelease route. I mean, if people really want to hear something before it comes out, it just takes a simple Google search and some form of download manager for them to get it in their ears. In fact, the statistics said more people downloaded In Rainbows via BitTorrent than the 3 million who purchased it at their own price from the official Web site. That's a huge, untapped market there.

It kind of makes me wonder what form of media will soon become forever linked with the Internet...












movies

Journal 27: October 14

While reading Consumer Reports in the Olin Health Center waiting room today, I discovered an article regarding Web safety. It basically said the only way to be safe online is to use a subscription-based anti-virus program. It also said the "I'll trust my Mac to be immune" method doesn't work at all.

Here's the thing. I have a Macintosh PowerBook G4 I purchased in mid-2003. It managed to stay in perfect condition until very very recently. By perfect condition, I mean the thing has behaved every day just as it did on day one. In fact, the recent "problem" I alluded to is simply a minor slowing down and a few sticking keys. Considering how long it has given me top-flight performance, this thing was well-worth the $2000-something price tag I worked all summer '03 to pay.

So what am I getting at? Well, at no point in time, despite continuous Internet use, has my steed been harnessed by an anti-virus program. Not once. And yet, it's shown no known repercussions.

Now, maybe I've gotten lucky. Maybe it's because I don't partake in adult-oriented sites. Maybe it's because an infection just hasn't happened yet. Or maybe it's because the Mac-based system of Web protection actually works.

Yes, I will have to purchase a new computer next semester so I can use Dreamweaver (and also because my version of OS X isn't compatible with much anymore and 30gig hard drives no longer cut it), but I don't know that I'll bother with Norton or McAfee. I think this system works for me.

I will miss this old friend, though.

Journal 26: October 14

It's hard for me to believe people are able to design their pages knowing only code. Getting more into Dreamweaver, I don't know if I'd even be able to get along without it. I mean, I typically type as much code as I can, but I need to be able to see what's going on while I do it. I'm confident I'll soon be able to write HTML and CSS and not have to constantly rely on the drag-and-drop method of page design, but even using it as a check seems to be of the utmost importance. I guess that's why I'm going to purchase Dreamweaver this year.

Journal 25: October 14

I'm starting to get annoyed at the types of sites that are routinely acknowledged as "good" sites. They all seem to have these elaborate Flash intros that take ages to load, look confusing, and generally aren't skippable. They may look "high tech," but behave like crappy sites like, I dunno, Wolves. Good layout beats good visuals every time. My favorite part about these "cool" sites are the pages devoted to compiling them. They look horrible! Ha!

Journal 24: October 14

I'm constantly amazed at how new Web technology really is. I was looking at the history of CSS via analysis of old sites while sick in bed today. Stumbling on a message board from 2000, I was quite amused at the interplay between the person 'in the know' and the 'noobes.' Gosh, 2000 doesn't really seem that long ago.

Journal 23: October 13

Upon further inspection of the readings about logos, I realized how important a company's colors are to their image. I would like to research what each color best represents and use that as a guide for my final project. The colors I've picked out so far, orange and blue, may have to go in favor of something better. I kind of thought something like this may happen, but that's the advantage of planning early...

Journal 22: October 13

Another thing I've been noticing from the readings lately is the importance of logos to their respective companies. I guess, as a consumer, I never realized how much thought and importance was placed on the millions of logos put in front of my face. Each company designs their logo with so much thought and detail in an effort to convey what they intend to bring to the marketplace: quality, integrity, class, etc. It's helping me realize just how complex every part of our society really is.

Journal 21: October 13

While doing my class readings today, I discovered we're going to be learning some CSS this week! Although I don't understand HTML as much as I hope to in the future, I'm excited about the chance to further my knowledge in Web design. After this reading, I'm not as intimidated by it as I used to be - it's just code! Cool!

Journal 20: October 12

I was reading an article this morning about bad Web sites. I was kind of shocked to hear the writer's opinion that it's easy to find good sites. I don't know if I agree with that. Sure, most of the Internet is functional and with purpose, but that should be the standard and not the standout. I think for a Web site to be considered good, it must transcend its common denominator and rise above the competition. Maybe I'm too picky, but I don't think everyone can be the best. I mean, if mediocre quality gets recognized, everyone will just shoot for that as a goal, and no boundaries get pushed. I don't think technology should ever stay stagnant.

Journal 19: October 12

Bad sites seem to peak everyones interest! When checking my email today, I discovered a link posted by MSN to an article listing some of the worst Web sites of the Internet. I gleefully clicked the link and explored the MSN-perceived worst of the Web. While the design of most of the featured sites wasn't horrendous, the content was. This reinforced the idea that the content makes the site, and the design is what makes it accessible. I think it's easy to get caught up in design, and it is important, but it would be useless without functional content.

Journal 18: October 7

Today was a good day.

I got my bad Web site finished this afternoon, and believe me, it's horrid. What exactly did I do to make it bad? Well, any time I got to a good stopping point I sat back and asked myself, "How can this be worse?" Should I use animated caution tape for a background? Yes. Should I insert a massive animated firework explosion? Yes. Should I insert lots of YouTube videos? Yes. Should I add seemingly never ending pictures and animated GIFs? Yes.

Trust me. This is a truly awful site.

Awesome.

Journal 17: October 6

Big news!

I just figured out what I'm going to do for my final WRA 210 project!

If you flip over to my sporadically updated other blog, you'll see that I write music reviews in my free time. This is something I not only like to do, but something I want to do for, well, money.

So I'm going to take some of those reviews, add some new and old ones, and compile them onto an actual non-blog Web site. This will look good for my readers, for me, and for anyone interested in hiring me in the future.

I decided on this because it's relevant to the field I want to go into, and interesting to me. Basically, it's exactly what I want to get out of this course.

Journal 16: October 6

I've been having a lot of fun in my WRA 210 class lately. Why? Well, besides the usual learning about how the Internet works, I'm learning about how it's not supposed to work. Considering most of the major lessons I've learned in life have come from doing the wrong thing, this is my kind of topic. So, what kind of poor tactics have you been learning, you ask. Well...

I'm no stranger to bad Web design. As a high school freshman way back in 1999, I entered the absurdist world of Yahoo's Geocities. What a nightmare that was. Of course, I was the most tech-savvy 14-year-old in the school (so I thought). It didn't matter that the Web site featured Smashmouth record reviews (oh man, I just fessed up to owning that), bullshit Superbowl predictions, and, uh, stolen animations of Hamsterdance. But, man, I had my own Web site!

What does this have to do with my current project in WRA 210? Well, this is my grand chance to out-do that atrocity (long-since removed by Geocities). What's worse than dancing hamster GIFs and Smashmouth? Well, this may be debatable, but one could take the stance that pop upstarts The Jonas Brothers offend just enough sensitive tastes to do this. Okay, they aren't as bad as Smashmouth, but I can't just re-make that old site, you know!

As a creative experience, this exercise was somewhat fulfilling. When I create in words, music, whatever, I like to assume other points of view than my own. I like to tell fictional stories, as embodied by the narrator. In this case, the narrator was a Jonas Brothers fangirl, roughly modeled after my sister's youth. As that psyche has, until now, remained entirely untapped, found this a very interesting creative experience. I think the, er, badness of the final product shines.

Journal 15: September 25

I've been getting used to HTML now. I just analyzed the code for All Music Guide and Jeffrey Zeldman's Web site. I'm getting better and better at reading what the coding means! I also have been taking tutorials online to show me how to read and write code. This is something I really want to be able to do well, so I'm putting in the time to make sure I learn it.

Journal 14: September 17

Wow,

I just discovered there is an organization in charge of setting up Web standards for Europe. That's a really great idea! The thing is, there is nothing the in the article to suggest the United States has anything to do with this. Of course, this isn't surprising. The USA tends to lag behind Europe a bit in most matters. It seems like it'll be a while before we incorporate any socialist ideals into our system (i.e. European Union), and Obama's universal healthcare plan hits me as something that sounds better on paper than reality.

Back on point.

It's necessary that the United States get on board with this. The Internet is a major reason for our current state of globalization and we need to make sure it works with every other country.

Journal 13: September 17

I'm curious.

HTML code can support any language you want to put on the page. I found some various languages across the Web and they all appeared in their original form in the Page Source window. But what do Web designers in other countries use for HTML? Words like "source," "script," and "link" all appear in English. Is that just because of the country I'm viewing this from, or do all Web designers need to know English?

Journal 12: September 17

This is the place to mention Internet epiphanies, right? Right.

So I'm sick of Web sites that take way too much time to load on certain browsers and go quickly on others. Where's the consistency? The trouble is, I haven't picked out the right super-costume to wear when single-handedly fixing the entire Internet. So I realized that maybe it's best to get more browsers. That's a lot of work, right? Maybe. But maybe not. I use Blogger to, well, blog. But man, Blogger takes forever to load on Firefox. I mean, it just timed out on me a couple minutes ago. Talk about a drag! So Google owns Blogger. It also owns Chrome. Maybe Blogger works great with Chrome? Possibly. It's worth a shot!

I had just another epiphany: Gary Numan is perfect background music for writing about computers on computers.

Journal 11: September 16

I'm starting to realize that my future job as a writer will hinge on my ability to navigate the channels of Web design.

My goal is to write for a Web site. This means I'll not only have to write in a Web-friendly way, but I will, most likely, have to design the pages I'll be writing on.

Even if I don't, people will need me to help them with their own Web problems because of my position, and I'm going to need to provide good assistance. My job will really depend on it. This makes my Web design class absolutely essential to my future career.

Journal 10: September 16

The Flash Player is starting to annoy me.

As my wonderful Macintosh ages, it is s-l-o-w-i-n-g down. This does not bode well for surfing the Flash-infested Internet. Yes, the pages load, but they are starting to take so long! And for what? Advertisements. I can't remember the last page I have been on that featured Flash content in and of itself. It's the stupid ads that have it and ruin my load times! Do I need to see an over-joyed person dancing like an idiot IN FRONT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER because they got a new mortgage rate? No, I don't. Nor do I want to.

This Flash craze needs to end now.

Journal 9: September 16

Zeldman has me thinking.

He says 99% of Web sites are outdated. How can this be? Aren't there huge amounts of Web developers out there making creations with the latest technology? What do they do all day?

Well, I guess the question was answered a bit in a YouTube video shown in class explaining the demands of Web authors. They have to deal with no-nothing bosses, page redesigns, and clients with unrealistic demands.

So I guess that answers my question.

But there are so many sites out there that seem just fine. I believe I mentioned Yahoo in a previous post. Yahoo performs its functional duties, but it's still outdated? I wonder what other popular sites are there are also dinos?

The real question is: If these sites are outdated, what will up-to-date sites look like?

Really, I guess I have a lot to learn.

Journal 8: September 16

I'm back!

Class today was interesting. We went over an article by a man named Zeldman. It covered the do's and don'ts of Web authoring. The article explained various things designers/authors need to keep in mind when designing pages, and used some surprising examples of what not to do (Yahoo!).

Of course, all of this reading was due before class, we just analyzed the work. In the name of analysis, we got into groups and made presentations describing exactly what the site was talking about.

PowerPoint redemption.

Lori was in my group and we nailed the presentation. Our slides were great, and we provided a good, timely lecture for the class.

PowerPoint redemption.

Journal 7: September 16

Oh man, this blog has gotten away from me a bit. It's been unintentional, though. I like doing this every day and plan on starting to do so.

I suppose a recap of my PowerPoint performance is due... The slides looked great, I spoke well (but not great), and I hit most of my topics. That's the positive side. The negative side, unfortunately, outweighs that aspect in this case.

So my presentation was over ten minutes long. Ouch. I missed a few topics I was planning on hitting. Ouch. I talked fast and shaky. Ouch. Who would have thought I would be a bundle of nerves up there? I'm never nervous in school presentations.

Oh well, there is some more good news to be told, though.

I got a very good grade. Really, that's all that matters.

Journal 6: September 11

Today is the day I get to unveil my PowerPoint presentation regarding All Music Guide. I've analyzed it, re-analyzed it, and viewed it countless times. I guess that means I'm ready! I've got a lot of points I want to go through, but not much time to do it. Hopefully I can go fast! Wow, I've used two exclamation points in this post. Good sign?

Journal 5: September 8

The first PowerPoint for WRA 210 was due today. It was a fun little project that I got to do about one of my favorite sites, All Music Guide. Not only did it give me an excuse to spend way too much time on the site, but it gave me insight into the way the Internet works. I discovered what makes people go to the site and what keeps them coming back. Admittedly, AMG needs a lot of work but, in some sort of cathartic way, this project helped me channel my negative feelings about the site to do something productive, instead of just exist as annoyed mutterings when I get frustrated on the page. I'm all done with the project now, and just have to present it. I'll be interested to see just how accurate my findings are.

Journal 4: September 2

We critiqued Web sites in class today. I guess I always knew a lot of work goes into the creation of Internet media, but there are so many details that go into making a site "good" or "bad."

All I have to say is it must take a special kind of person to make a Web site as bad as some of the ones we saw today. It's like they looked at all the possible things that go into a well-thought-out site and did the exact opposite.

There is a difference between doing a lousy job and having bad taste. I dare say some of these tread the line.

This is another reminder that taste is not an acquired trait.

Journal 3: August 28

I reviewed some Web sites today. It was the first time I've ever looked at a Web site from a construction point of view. I noticed layout, colors, ads, etc. Basically, I felt like more than just a Web user. That was the first time I've felt that way so far.

The tech terms I referenced yesterday are all finished, and that's a relief. Everything felt foreign to me. Of course, I realize this is only the tip of the iceberg. I haven't even gone into HTML yet. Or CSS. There is a lot more here than I ever thought possible. It's really like exploring another world. I never dreamed Web authoring could be so challenging! Luckily, it seems I'm able to come up with the time to dig into it.

Journal 2: August 27

Another day is winding to a close. After immersing myself in math, Spanish, and work, I've just completed a marathon of homework relating to the still-unknown-to-me world of computers.

I can now define several technical terms, though I'm not at all familiar with how to use their wares. Although I'm convinced I'll be able to use them eventually, just learning what they are is tough enough for now. It really is like learning another language.

But, hey, the best rewards are the ones that are hardest to achieve, so I'm optimistic.

An unexpected but not surprising side-effect of this homework is the broadening of my Internet horizons. Yes, I knew it was a vast world, but the pure scope of things boggles my mind once I leave my narrow path of interests. It's an enjoyable journey, and I hope it leads me to a wider understanding of computers and systems.

Journal 1: August 26

It was the first day of class for WRA 210 and I had no idea what to expect. Will it be about posting work online (blogging), writing in some form of online style, dealing with bosses across the world? Etc?

Well, it deals with the etcetera part.

This isn't a bad thing. I have always been curious about this thing they call "HTML." Now I get to learn and use it. I like the idea of that! Yes, this class will push my boundaries a little, but that's okay. That's why I transfered to MSU in the first place.

Those boundaries have already been pushed, by the way. In the assigned reading, I learned that writing for the Web is much different than writing for print. My style lends itself to print a little easier, so that wasn't the greatest news. I'm adaptable, though. I'm going to make sure I get good at this.

The design aspect of the reading was already way over my head, and this was day one. I've got a challenge in store for me!

Today I learned that good Web authoring must be kept short...