It’s really simple that whole parking thing we learned in drivers ed
I’ve lived in Texas all of two months.
So far so good.
I found a great hair lady.
I can get to the RedBox.
Although sometimes I forget to go back…
I know where the best tacos are, how to get to the gym, grocery store, post office, the mall, and where the closest Starbucks is at any given moment.
The basics I’ve got down.
I moved from California to Washington (in 2007) then here, so I know it takes time to get used to new surroundings.
What I don’t get is how Texans park.
Exhibit A
This is from today at the Social Security Administration.
Scott actually had to pull the car out so I could get in.
Anyway, the guy who helps us sees that we are recently married and tells me that I needed to give Scott 25 bonus points for coming with me and that it is NEVER something he did. Other than unsolicited marriage advice he was rather pleasent and the whole process was wasn’t completly horrible.
Hopefully I never lose this card, because I’m sure the next guy will need to see my feet stamped in my baby book, get my grandmother’s pie crust recipe, and know all my secret passwords before I get a new one.
One time when I was working at a restaurant in California, the employees parked in a public lot. I leave my shift to go home, but I could not get in my car (similar to Exhibit A, but on the drivers side too). See in Cavaliers the doors are long and open wide with a very wide area attached to the door on the inside. So even though I could open the door there was just no room to squeeze in.
Luckily I had a skinny friend who lived down the street.
She could barely slide in either.
The best part. My car is a five speed and she could only drive an automatic. I basically gave her a crash course in driving so I could get home.
Exhibit B
This is from a few weeks ago when I was at the Starbucks drive thru…as there were no parking places because of this idiot.
Why, yes I understand your need to take up two spaces since your car is so amazing, and seeing as I drive a late model Cavelier please go right ahead. Don’t worry it’s not an inconvenience at all.
I thought about blurring out the license plates but that required about as much effort as parking between the lines.
Yeah, I peeked, but God still loves me.
So, I’m sitting in church this morning on Mother’s Day with my family and my friend Dena.
The current series is called “The Vow”.
Ok. He’s gonna talk about marriage. Got it.
So Dena and I are sitting there.
Both single…and divorced.
Pastor Mark: raise your hand if your single.
Me: hand raised.
Dena: hand raised.
Everyone else: hands down.
Ouch. Thanks for pointing out that we’re the only two single people in the room.
And Oh Horrors! Divorced.
I pull myself together and open my ears and heart.
He says the actual message is relevant to married people as well as those who wish to be married in the future.
Me, that’s me.
I’m listening, because I want to and will have a great marriage.
He says some words, and then some more words.
I heard them all.
Then he asks us to bow our heads to pray. And he prays for those who are married and asks those who are married to make a commitment and raise their hands if they are going to make God first and their spouse second.
Me: eyes closed. Hand down.
Then he says something about the other people to make a commitment and raise their hands.
Me: hand down.
In the middle of the prayer he says things like: Ok. You. And you…Yes, you… And you.
Me: …
I have no idea what just happened.
Was I supposed to raise my hand?
Was he looking at me?
I’m hungry.
So I have this streaming conversation in my head: Father God you know what is in my heart and even if I didn’t raise my hand you know that I have a relationship with you…But aren’t I supposed to make a public declaration that I choose him as my Lord and Savior? Now I’m really hungry. Well, I did that when I got baptized. And what was I supposed to raise my hand for again…??
Pastor: Amen. See you next week.
I’m confused 
Blahhhhhhh!
Dena and I go out to lunch where we sit outside and then it rains on us, so we get moved inside and by this time her 4 year old is in Cr@zY mode.
So we eat real fast, take food to go and leave.
So, we’re talking about the sermon on the way home and Dena says she had no idea if she was supposed to raise her hand during the closing prayer or not.
Me: me neither.
Dena: yeah, I know. I peeked.
Me: …
I smile.
Then I tell her all the things that were running through my head.
And we both laugh.
Hysterically.
Thank God for understanding friends.
Friends that totally get me.
And leftovers.
Holy internet Batman, I haven’t blogged in almost a year. As I begin again, here’s a plug for my friend Krista’s photography.
Over the last year, I have purchased a variety of prints from my friend Krista’s Etsy site. Most I have ordered for gifts for friends and family. Every time I open one of her packages I get this feeling of exhilaration and I want to keep all the prints for myself.
Alas, I do not. I frame them usually with a mat, sometimes in a floating glass frame with no matting. Then I wrap them up so I can give them away.
Isn’t this GORGEOUS!
I actually have this print hanging in my bedroom in a floating glass frame.
She takes pictures from around my hometown in California and then she prints them (in practically any size you want) on this metallic paper she gets from Kodak. Her photography is simple yet breathtaking and this special paper makes them glisten…even when in a glass frame.
She is uber talented, and yet humble. Check her out on Etsy, and Facebook and tell her Sheila sent you.
Nostalgia: Candid Thoughts of a Yearning Youth
This semester I had 5 classes an internship and 2 jobs.
Luckily it is my last semester because I could not have done this more than once.
For my Creative Writing Poetry Class each student had to create a chapbook for our final. This is to show our best work written for the semester.
I enjoyed this course and had never thought of myself as a poet – more like a girl who wrote a poem or two, but not a poet. Since writing more than forty poems this semester and ultimately having three pieces of my poetry published in The Online Literary an Arts Journal The Element (INK, PASSION, and UNDER THE AUTUMN LEAVES) at Washington State University, today I feel like a real poet.
Instead of creating one on paper I wanted to integrate my poetry and web design skills in one project to display my work at the 2010 Liberal Arts Symposium.
Check it out here!
Kinetic Typography || Big Bang Theory
Our DTC 477 class learned how to use Adobe After Effects.
This is what I made.
Presentations for 9 April 2010
Brent Rust: Online activities change us
We say things online that we would not say in person. We change how we interact in meatspace because of how we interact online.
Moved from filter then publish to publish then filter.
We are changed in that we give out personal information online and how we participate in our online lives.
What is it about our culture that makes us feel safe doing so?
SmartPhones are the tool for the technology and a way that we communicate in this new way. This technology changes the way we communicate. We inherently trust facebook.
Cynthia Jackson: representations in cyberspace
Cyberspace gives underrepresented groups more choices about representations that are not available thru traditional media.
What are the groups and why they are underrepresented?
Underrepresented Groups: focus on ethnicity and racism.
Who are these groups and why are they not represented?
The majority rules in TV, movies, print. They fall under stereotypes, and physical images. Computer science and technology fields are mainly males and white. These ideas are beign perpetuated without us even knowing it.
Why does it matter?
You need to show your roots, and share history. Traditional media is owned and operated by white males, and it is difficult for minorities to get published.
Facebook groups FotoDaria, Magazines and digital magazines with forums, rallies, traditional newspaper, virtual communities like racism 101.
Issues: Freedom of speech and access (digital divide).
Conclusion: Cyberspace has potential to allow underrepresented groups to create spaces that are not governed by the same issues as traditional media. Spaces are out there, but access is a primary issue for these groups. It is up to everyone to maintain these spaces and keep cyberspace open for everyone.
Good Job!
Neil Fastbend: The advantage of Smart Phones narrowing the digital divide
Argument: Cell phones and internet ready smart phones are narrowing the access portion of the digital divide around the world, and that is a good thing.
Digital divide and developing countries can use this new technology for good (like the guy who texted representatives about the food shortage).
Having the technology and being dependant on it is better than not having it.
And last but not least…
Josh Cook: Internet activism
Argument: Internet activism is a necessary tool for physical activism in the real world
Some things to keep in mind: internet activism is email, www, podcasts.
Examples: www.Meetup.com, and a latent group of beer lovers. Gives groups a chance to get together and crate a situation where they can organize for activism.
Obama’s Presidential campaign used the internet to secure voter support. This trend shows how online activism is changing the political arena.
Other argument: some argue that the “ideal” Internet Activism is nothing more that a fragment of the ideal where people can select only what they want to view hear and discard the rest.
Great job presenters!
Tuesday Presentations for Julie’s class
Daniel Andersen: exploring the correlation between video games and virtual communities
Argument: The learning principle of video games are enhanced in online environments, and this enhancement may account for an increase the number of online gamming community members.
Support: James Paul Gee’s learning principles of games, Xbox Live stats
Learning principle as explained by Daniel: the learner and master and each level has a higher master and so forth.
Affinity Group Principle: in gaming and computers the group bonds through shared goals and practices. Initiation. Civic involvement. Community building.
Statistical Information: numbers of Xbox users has increased and there is opportunity for more growth. A user must have an Xbox to participate.
Conclusion: focusing on virtual communities, effects of VC on Meatspace, and the interaction of Cyberculutre.
Lee Kidd: YouTube’s Unique Roles: Political activism and the perpetuation of hate
Thesis: YouTube has revolutionized political activism and in doing so it has uniquely contributed to the perpetuation of hate, however inadvertently.
YouTube is a form for political activism whether it is good or bad.
Julie: Why is this important…? What are the things you are linking together from this class? Digital Communication and hate…
Micheal Payne: Cybercrimes: Real vs. Virtual Space
Crimes that happen to you are worse online than in meatspace.
Real Crimes: bullying, credit card fraud, rape, sexual harassment, identity theft.
Virtual Crimes: Cyberby=ullying, cyber rape, “phishing” sites, advanced sexual harassment, using stolen credit card online.
How our info gets stolen in meatspace: garbage can/dupmsters, unlocked mailbox, info given out via phone scams.
Online: email inboxes and saved emails, no/bad passwords on computers, scam emails.
So what? Virtual space is vulnerable. People need to invest more time, resources, money and caution into our online lives more than in our meatspace right now.
Michael gave information about how to protect yourself and gave examples like www.lifelock.com and suggested that people check their credit with www.freecreditreport.com.
James suggests that include that our culture is moving to reinforce people to protect themselves.
Cynthia suggested to use information about how cyber crimes are proven and use real life experiences in your evidence.
Julie: find a way to make this into an argument, and make this into WHY?
Angel Almarez: Bridging the digital divide by using the concepts of video games in education.
To bridge the digital divide students become actively involved in learning how to use new technologies which can be accomplished by applying the concepts of video games in education
Digital Youth Network hybrid digital literacy program started in Chicago for middle school and high school students the gives students the opportunity to learn how to use new media.
First Lego League: build robots out of Lego’s. Show kids how math and science are applied in real world situations. These kids are more likely to go into a technology field and many go onto earn higher level degrees.
I like the link for outside of classroom access and activities to learning and video games.
Derek Nelson: Bridging the Gap: Mobile Phones and the Digital Divide.
Thesis: Phones good. Effect divide and are a digital barrier.
Statistics: ever expanding use and spread of the mobile phone.
So what? More phone access in some areas than television and/or internet.
Soultion: Rhiengold. “Farmers, Phones, and Markets.”
Content: Virtual and Hybrid Communities. Carvin: “Mind the Map.”
Silva: The virtual community migrates to physical space and becomes -à hybrid space.
Barriers: Education. Basic understading of literacy then education can be achieved. Mobile internet on phones give access to things that otherwise in rural areas would not be accessible.
Conclusion: The Digital Divide will no doubt continue to exits, and there are still questions unanswered surrounding its issues; however, through the use of mobile phone technology, users can be granted access in rural areas, a means to network and establish communities of the virtual world and hybrid varieties, and continue to educate themselves via their mobile devices.
Kristin Elsen De La Rosa: Program HOPE. Addressing the issues of access knowledge and safety on the internet.
Argument: new program HOPE (Healthy Online Presence Education)
Similar to D.A.R.E
Purpose and goals: acknowledge need for information literacy, and lack of existing programs, reduce cyberbulliyng, bridge education and access gaps.
Context: Cyberbullying, Cyberstalking, Sexting, Digital Overshare, Information illiteracy.
Programs currently in effect: i-Safe. CyberAngels. Wired Safety (best one Kristin found). Parents and teachers have access to information.
Potential partners: police, social media gurus, psychologists, web rhetoric specialists, web designers/programmers.
I could listen to Kristin talk all day on this. I love this concept and am bummed that I had to miss the end of her talk.
Good Job presenters!!
A spot of humor in dead week by way of “The Deodorant Song”
My best friend Sara and I wrote this song in 1990 driving from my house to meet my parents at Taco Bell in Jackson, California.
When we got out of the car we promptly sang the song to my parents in the parking lot.
Luckily they clapped, then laughed.
I had forgotten about this until I recently reread one of my old journals, this was part of an entry from when I was 18.
“The Deodorant Song” (sang to the tune of “Dream a Little Dream”)
Bad odors millions find you
Stale scents that leave a trail behind you
But oh those smells whatever they be
Wear deodorant for me
This may not seem so easy
It’s just a simple way to please me
But if you find this too hard to do
I’ll just say adieu to you
Introducing The Element
When you are a DTC major at WSUTC you have to complete an internship component to qualify for graduation.
I applied last fall for the Web Designer position for the Online Literary and Arts Journal at WSUTC.
After I turned in my paperwork and had an interview I got the position. Sweet!
This is the premier issue of The Element which focuses on the arts and literary works created by students and alumni at WSUTC.
To start myself and my partner Adriana Nacaratto went to work designing the logo. Once that was approved we set forth with the general layout and made mockups.
Luckily each time we presented new material the editors and advisors agreed with our vision and we were on our way.
Our trusty advisor Dr. Farman was always there to guide us to the end, and even helped with designing the animated gifs on the Art page and put the finishing touches on the Flash component on the home page. Thank you!
Check out the Editors and Web Designers page to see the others who helped make it happen.
Enjoy!
Round Three of Class Presentations
Quiet Mark M.: Online enabled environmental activism
Online communities are the future to environmental awareness and activism. NIMBY (not in my backyard). Julie said to focus on the information found in the iPhone application Ecosnoop.
This is a great idea and shows how people can be activists while on the go.
Sarah Fuentes: presenting yourself differently in cyberspace
People present themselves differently in meatspace and in different social media sites. Not so much an extension of themselves as a presentation of different identities? People do not act the same in virtual spaces…? Sarah asked me some questions about my interactions on Facebook. She said my answers challenged her argument and that it was good because it made her think.
Online we act in a certain way so people see the perceived us. We represent ourselves in a way so that people will have a good perception of us. When on online especially a space like Facebook I find that I am careful about what I type because I feel like once it is out there then you cannot take it back. I mentioned in class that I posted a comment on a friends profile that said ‘flm’, and worried about it after I submitted. Maybe I take myself too seriously.
Cassie L.: Social Networking sites in the classroom
Social networking sites like Woggiworld and A Really Different Place should be used by teachers and students in the class room to enhance the learning experience. These sites help with teaching/learning and engage those who are not enticed by traditional book learning.
WoogiWorld was created to teach kids proper internet behavior and online social skills. This is like Club Penguin where kids need a parent or teacher to sign them up. Both sites promote proper internet behavior and have educational features.
A Really Different Place is a blog created by a Kansas teacher for 4-6th graders. This blog centers on reading, writing, and creativity.
The benefits of a blog such as this one is that teachers can add content that will be pertinent and engaging for the students (like Julie’s Academic Sandbox for our class) and teaches kids online etiquette that will help them navigate the 21st century.
I’m bummed that I missed the presentations on Thursday because I always learn new things when I hear what my peers have to say.
