Okay, so i thought i would send off my final blog, with a review of this class and our Professor. Oops maybe i should wait until after the final.....
JUST KIDDING..
On Blogging: I have never thought about blogging, EVER. Nor did i EVER want to. Not sure i ever will again. I There is just something too personal about putting all your ideas, comments, opinions out there for someone to stumble upon and rip to shreds... my ego is too fragile.. Okay my skin is too thin. And yes, i know they dont' all have to be that way, they can be more informational, I can see the benefits to keeping people informed about what's up. Like the annual Christmas Letters sent to all generically. So i will resolve to take small baby steps, like filling in the "im doing...." on facebook.. LOL.
On Content: Loved the class. Great topic and insight into how the Internet works. My Friend, who works at Weyerhauser IT dept laughed when she saw our book, but truth be told, i loved it and found it very helpful. I think i may even keep it for reference and not resell it.. She never needs to know..... :) I think my favorite part was the Scavenger Hunt, of course taking first place didn't have anything to do with it..... It was awesome! My little husky dog almost got hijacked by my daughter on my arrival home. But Juneau (he came with that name) has replaced my computer mascot (Yoda) and is adjusting just fine. The guest speakers were awesome as well, opened up insight into a Tacoma i never knew and I've lived here my whole life practically. Quite frankly, i have always been afraid of downtown Tacoma, not a very good place to hang when i was a teenager or even later than that. I'm sure Professor Fry remembers those days. I am happy to see that Tacoma has cleaned itself up and has created a culture to be proud of.
On the Professor: I wish all my professors were as fun and animated as he. Not a big surprise he acts! I liked the fact he was so straight forward, and tested on what he taught. I really dislike professors that disassociate their tests from their content. But Professor Fry was right on.
I would totally recommend this class to any major. Don't ever quit teaching this class Professor Fry.. it's awesome and a great reprieve from the accounting classes i have to take!! I enjoyed the class thoroughly..
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Illegal file sharing
Yeah! I definitely was excited to hear on this book. I want to read it! Okay, so maybe I'm not like rushing out to buy it. But we have all thought about pirating things, maybe have done so. And like Professor Fry, said the line is so thin. Do we have the right to copy a CD (or download it on our MP3 player) since we already own it? We all raised our hands, i certainly won't stop doing that.
But I have to admit, i have burned DVD's with pirate software too, and one of my Friends just gets all over my case for it. This is why it's so expensive for the rest of us, he says... I guess that's what retailers tell us too, right? Shoplifting drives up the prices.. makes sense. Okay, I'm convinced. I will TRY not to do it again.
As far as downloading illegally from Limewire or Nabster, i had a friend who tried to "help" set me up with Limewire and ended up totally killing my computer. virus, or something, it was bad, and i was upset, needless to say, i have honestly never attempted since then to ever download illegally from a site.
I would like to learn how to protect myself however, when it comes to file sharing. I just don't know enough about it. I have the WiFi on my laptop and it's always asking me if i want to share with " so and so... " another computer. And i really don't' like the idea of someone on my computer. OR snooping around it. So for the protection factor alone, i am very interested... So i should go and download the ecopy.. just kidding... I'll check it out.
I have learned that whatever it is that i want, the public library usually has and reserving it really takes no time at all. It's all online now. So we watch most of the movies we want to see between netflix and the library. I just wish they would start carrying textbooks and save us hundreds of dollars in those fees. And speaking of that, if i could pirate anything.... it would be the textbooks, i think that is ridiculous the gouging they do to us. Talk about Exploitation.... (see just about anything can be justified... LOL)
And PS the group did an excellent job presenting the book, i was engaged.
But I have to admit, i have burned DVD's with pirate software too, and one of my Friends just gets all over my case for it. This is why it's so expensive for the rest of us, he says... I guess that's what retailers tell us too, right? Shoplifting drives up the prices.. makes sense. Okay, I'm convinced. I will TRY not to do it again.
As far as downloading illegally from Limewire or Nabster, i had a friend who tried to "help" set me up with Limewire and ended up totally killing my computer. virus, or something, it was bad, and i was upset, needless to say, i have honestly never attempted since then to ever download illegally from a site.
I would like to learn how to protect myself however, when it comes to file sharing. I just don't know enough about it. I have the WiFi on my laptop and it's always asking me if i want to share with " so and so... " another computer. And i really don't' like the idea of someone on my computer. OR snooping around it. So for the protection factor alone, i am very interested... So i should go and download the ecopy.. just kidding... I'll check it out.
I have learned that whatever it is that i want, the public library usually has and reserving it really takes no time at all. It's all online now. So we watch most of the movies we want to see between netflix and the library. I just wish they would start carrying textbooks and save us hundreds of dollars in those fees. And speaking of that, if i could pirate anything.... it would be the textbooks, i think that is ridiculous the gouging they do to us. Talk about Exploitation.... (see just about anything can be justified... LOL)
And PS the group did an excellent job presenting the book, i was engaged.
World without secrets
Incredible, the amount of technology. This was a great book to hear about after the South Sound Tech conference, not to mention the World security conference last month. The author brought brings to light how technology being created is stripping away at the privacy that we hold so dear. WE get so excited over these really cool things being created yet Businesses and governmental agencies exploiting this technology. Like the guy getting a speeding ticket by just being tracked by the GPS. Incredible!!
I guess i shouldn't be surprised, i think our world, our culture is already hyper desensitized. If you have been around long enough to know or remember what TV looked like 20, 30 or so years ago, you would have to agree. Leave it to Beaver and brady bunch days would never have thought about crossing the lines of invading privacies. Well, maybe i'm wrong, but society as a whole would be way more appauled by the invasion. Honestly, i don't think that many people are concerned about the ramifications. Especially after 911. Some people think we need to have more sensorship and we need to be spying on more people. If we had, we may have uncovered the plot before they had a chance to fly thier planes into the buildings. "All for the greater good"... that is how our privacy will all be rationalized away. Interesting book, interesting topic. Good presentation.
I guess i shouldn't be surprised, i think our world, our culture is already hyper desensitized. If you have been around long enough to know or remember what TV looked like 20, 30 or so years ago, you would have to agree. Leave it to Beaver and brady bunch days would never have thought about crossing the lines of invading privacies. Well, maybe i'm wrong, but society as a whole would be way more appauled by the invasion. Honestly, i don't think that many people are concerned about the ramifications. Especially after 911. Some people think we need to have more sensorship and we need to be spying on more people. If we had, we may have uncovered the plot before they had a chance to fly thier planes into the buildings. "All for the greater good"... that is how our privacy will all be rationalized away. Interesting book, interesting topic. Good presentation.
Friday, November 21, 2008
In-class presentation
Well, we are doing our presentation on a book by Lee Seigel. "Against the machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob".
Devin Reynolds, (who incidentally sold our anonomity out) and my other accomplice will be presenting a third each of the book. I have the first part, my other accomplice has the second part and Devin has the third. If you need more information, i think Devin just about covered it ALL. :) Nicely done Devin!
Not to change the subject but i got to attend the South Sound Technology Conference 2008 . Professor Fry, hosted the conference. I will definatly post more, but it was very impressive and informative. I am sorry i didn't get a Brain, though.
Devin Reynolds, (who incidentally sold our anonomity out) and my other accomplice will be presenting a third each of the book. I have the first part, my other accomplice has the second part and Devin has the third. If you need more information, i think Devin just about covered it ALL. :) Nicely done Devin!
Not to change the subject but i got to attend the South Sound Technology Conference 2008 . Professor Fry, hosted the conference. I will definatly post more, but it was very impressive and informative. I am sorry i didn't get a Brain, though.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Virtual Tours/Worlds and where i'd go.
I never knew there was such a thing online until Professor Fry discussed this in class. But what an awesome racket to get in on if you have the capabilities to be a host of one of these sites or the know how to create the technology. The future can only look brighter for those entrepreneurs. I can see this taking off into something as addicting as the online games, except better. I'm sure, however, it will come at a cost. Someone will be up in arms about what ills it will be doing to society. But that's a whole other subject.
So who will use these virtual worlds as technology sits today? Besides the obvious gamers, people who could never afford to take vacations, people who want to see the places before they actually take a vacation there, school kids doing a report on another country, and then there is Me... I know for sure i will never go to places like Australia, or Japan, maybe never Europe. I have a few other places I'd like to go first and those seem to be a challenge to schedule in and afford. So if you can't see it in the flesh, whats the next best thing? A virtual world. Yeah! I bet there are ways in which the entire family could get in on that too.
I can't wait for the virtual world to be interactive, when i can do a virtual visit that feels like i'm on the Starship Enterprise or a new galactic federation world, i am so there! Even better, visit the places in Star Wars like tatooinne, maybe i could throw my Ex in to the Sarlac. (oops better not, i might get in trouble for that!). But i could go to Yavin 4 and train to be a Jedi Knight or do the Kessle Run in 12 parsecs with Han Solo and Chewie. THAT would be Awesome! And yes, I know there are games that i could already be playing that do those things, and strangely enough i haven't had time to mess with them. Too complicated, so depending on how complicated the virtual world is, i may not have time for that either. But i can only imagine, that with time i won't have to take several lifetimes killing myself in games & running out of life to figure out how to use the dumb remote control buttons in combinations that do things as simple as jump or changing a weapon!
So who will use these virtual worlds as technology sits today? Besides the obvious gamers, people who could never afford to take vacations, people who want to see the places before they actually take a vacation there, school kids doing a report on another country, and then there is Me... I know for sure i will never go to places like Australia, or Japan, maybe never Europe. I have a few other places I'd like to go first and those seem to be a challenge to schedule in and afford. So if you can't see it in the flesh, whats the next best thing? A virtual world. Yeah! I bet there are ways in which the entire family could get in on that too.
I can't wait for the virtual world to be interactive, when i can do a virtual visit that feels like i'm on the Starship Enterprise or a new galactic federation world, i am so there! Even better, visit the places in Star Wars like tatooinne, maybe i could throw my Ex in to the Sarlac. (oops better not, i might get in trouble for that!). But i could go to Yavin 4 and train to be a Jedi Knight or do the Kessle Run in 12 parsecs with Han Solo and Chewie. THAT would be Awesome! And yes, I know there are games that i could already be playing that do those things, and strangely enough i haven't had time to mess with them. Too complicated, so depending on how complicated the virtual world is, i may not have time for that either. But i can only imagine, that with time i won't have to take several lifetimes killing myself in games & running out of life to figure out how to use the dumb remote control buttons in combinations that do things as simple as jump or changing a weapon!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Kevin and Feed Tacoma
Kevin discussed his Feedtacoma.com site, what it is, how it was born, contents, etc.. I was impressed and awed. Makes me want to live in Tacoma, well I'm close anyway...
As far as functionality, it is pretty impressive that a site can be self maintaining or at least have minimal maintenance on Kevin's Part. What a contrast to Derek Young, Exit 133, who worries when he takes a vacation. That being said, i realize Exit 133 is a founding contributor to Feedtacoma.
I also thought it interesting that Kevin thinks his website concept would only work for small community type cities, not too big, not too small. I kind of think it would work anywhere where people are contributing online into their communities. Maybe a lack of content or fresh ideas might be a challenge, but surely businesses, pta's, schools and local papers could jump on the bandwagon, if only to promote their businesses and events.
Of course i realize one of the nice concepts of the site is not being bombarded with advertisements. But Kevin's site offers a "shop" and i think that could be used effectively for local businesses benefits without peppering the website with ads.
All in all- great concept - great site- even for the neighboring cities and suburbs. I may not live in Tacoma, but i do go to school here. And i live close enough to enjoy and appreciate all that Tacoma has to offer. I'm glad for places like Feedtacoma, and Exit133, they keep us informed of what's happening around us.
As far as functionality, it is pretty impressive that a site can be self maintaining or at least have minimal maintenance on Kevin's Part. What a contrast to Derek Young, Exit 133, who worries when he takes a vacation. That being said, i realize Exit 133 is a founding contributor to Feedtacoma.
I also thought it interesting that Kevin thinks his website concept would only work for small community type cities, not too big, not too small. I kind of think it would work anywhere where people are contributing online into their communities. Maybe a lack of content or fresh ideas might be a challenge, but surely businesses, pta's, schools and local papers could jump on the bandwagon, if only to promote their businesses and events.
Of course i realize one of the nice concepts of the site is not being bombarded with advertisements. But Kevin's site offers a "shop" and i think that could be used effectively for local businesses benefits without peppering the website with ads.
All in all- great concept - great site- even for the neighboring cities and suburbs. I may not live in Tacoma, but i do go to school here. And i live close enough to enjoy and appreciate all that Tacoma has to offer. I'm glad for places like Feedtacoma, and Exit133, they keep us informed of what's happening around us.
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