Another one of those dumb quiz things. I really don’t know why I do them, but I do…
Archive for November, 2007
Why do I keep doing these things???
Sunday, November 25th, 2007Computers, Computers, Computers
Sunday, November 25th, 2007My laptop is driving me insane! It’s still constantly freezing on me, even after I defrag it. I was going to put a bunch of pictures on CDs to get them off the hard drive but my CD/DVD burner won’t work. I put a blank disc in, and about 75% of the time it makes weird noises (I’ve tried repeatedly to do this) and then when I try to burn the disc it tells me in insert a blank disc. On that note, I guess it’s good that I’m going to get a new computer soon, hopefully. My dad and I have still been discussing it.
Now on to school. For my current classes, I’m down to 10 assignments. Yes, ten, that’s not a typo. I had two due yesterday. It would have been three but the date was extended, and even so, I’m still not finished that one. I have no idea what I’m going to do for it. It’s due Monday.
So, to explain what I was talking about in my last post, I have decided that I am not going to complete my Multimedia Diploma. I will for sure be finishing this semester, since it’s finished two weeks from Tuesday. I’ve decided that I am going to switch to CIT (Computer Information Technology). I realized, while doing research for a paper, that that’s more where my interests lie. I really love the programming side of computers and the web. I kind of knew that I wouldn’t get that from Multimedia, and yet, I still decided to go into it. I don’t regret it though.
I have liked the classes, for the most part, from this semester, but next semester, I’m not really looking forward to. “The Principles of Animation”, yeah I really don’t want to do animation! “Writing for Interactive Media” I probably won’t enjoy a whole lot. “Interactive Project”? Uh…yeah…no. “Using Flash and Web Standards”, ok I might like that. “Communication Process”… don’t care. And “Web Graphics, Layout, and Interactive Design”, I can probably survive without it since I already know it. I mean I barely learned anything in “Scripting for Multimedia and the Web” this term. I really don’t see myself finishing this diploma. It’s really not what I want. And lets face it, I’m really not the best at the “design” side of things.
CIT has all the stuff I enjoy and am interested in learning more. That’s not to say that I wasn’t interested in Multimedia. In the last few years, I have wanted learn how to edit video and go more into graphic design. I really wanted to learn Adobe Illustrator! But when I’m sitting at a computer, I’m always interested in learning things about the computer itself, and how it runs. I loved when Frank was passing parts of computers around the class. And if I’m doing something for a website, I love the programming part of it. I could sit there and write and play with code forever. I love it more than sitting and editing pictures and stuff in Photoshop. Everything about CIT just catches my interest more.
For the first time in my life I’m actually considering University. If I complete the CIT diploma here at LC (or even at another college), I could transfer to a University somewhere and get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science. Before this, I had never considered University. I’m not saying that I will go to University for sure, but the fact that I’m even considering it is huge. It’s a big step for me. Before, all I wanted want to was get my education over with and work in a field that I would enjoy, and also get out of retail. But now I’m really thinking about my future and I’m excited for it.
I’ve gotten my parents blessing. Now, all I have to do is find out how hard it will be for me to change programs. They do take students in January but who knows if I will be able to get in for January. If I do, then that’s great. If I don’t then I’ll apply for September and work until then. I was considering still taking that Using Flash and Web Standards class if I don’t get into CIT for January since I do like Flash, but now I don’t know. We’ll see.
On that loverly computer geeky note, I am going to go to bed because I am really tired. And I need to get working on that stupid video tomorrow. I still don’t know what to do!
Thoughts of Change
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007Okay, something major is on my mind and it’s driving me insane right now. I think I need to sleep on it before I go and make any irrational decisions. If I do decided to do this though, there will be some major changes with regards to my education. Like I said, I need to sleep on it…and probably discuss it with my parents…before I make any irrational decisions.
I know, you’re probably wondering “Are you going to tell us what it is?” and well, I will, just not yet. I need to talk it over with my parents, and probably some teachers and stuff.
The lyrics that I have on my MSN name and message suddenly have a whole lot more meaning to me than the did when I first put them up there:
can hold my breath only for a little while
til reality starts sinking in
once again, i’m settling for second best
turn the page and skip to the end
Cooking with Keira
Saturday, November 17th, 2007Cooking With Keira
I thought I’d share my movie that I made for my digital video class with you guys. I’m warning you now, it’s very lame! But it’s funny. (I’m putting it behind a more link to avoid long page loading time.)
It has music so you should have your sound on the get the whole effect. lol.
The more I watch it the more it amuses me lol. And I had been avoiding doing it because I really didn’t want to video tape myself. That’s why I was laughing throughout everything I shot in the green screen studio (all the mini-me shots lol). I really wish I could remember some specific things we learned in class for this because the part when I take myself out of the toaster doesn’t go how I wanted it to but I didn’t know how to get around it and still use the part with me on the plate, which also looks kind of bad after I rotated myself it went all weird.
My music totally doesn’t go with it but I was having a hard time getting the sound I wanted for it because I kept finding loops that I really liked but they didn’t work for the video or go with what I had. One day I’m going to spend the entire day making songs out of GarageBand loops!! lol. It’s fun.
If you are not able to view the video from here please let me know. I’m trying out a WordPress Plugin for embedding videos but it doesn’t appear to be working for me right now but I also don’t have the greatest connection (good ol’ rez internet lol). There are a few plugins that might work and I would try them right now but it’s getting late, I’m sleepy, and I have to get two assignments (one is much bigger than the other) done this weekend, due Monday. And Cecil’s coming down again too (I just found out on Thursday). So I’m going to go to bed now. I will talk to you all later 
Keira
Theme Annoyance and Assignment Stress
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007There’s a pretty good chance that I’ll be changing the downloaded WP Themes. I get so annoyed with things that I don’t design because they’re not exactly how I want them to be. So I will likely randomly change the theme.
It’s looking like it’s going to be a while before I get to finishing my own WP Theme. At the moment I have 8 assignments on the go from 5 of my 6 classes:
- Digital Video:
- Assignment 5 – Transparency/Green Screen » Due: Friday, November 16th
- Midterm Project » Due: Friday, November 23rd
- Graphic Design:
- Assignment 4 – Logo » Due: Monday, November 19th
- Multimedia Principles & Design:
- Midterm Project » Due: Monday, November 19th
- Assignment 6A – Cost Estimates » Due: Friday, November 23rd
- Research & Writing for New Media:
- Research Paper » Rough Draft Due: Tuesday, November 20th – Final Draft Due: Thursday, November 22nd
- Digital Audio:
- Assignment 4 – Audio Scrapbook/Podcast » Due: Thursday, November 29th
- Research Paper » Due: Beginning of December. Official date not set yet.
So I’m just a teeny bit stressed.
Ok, that’s an understatement!
Temporary Theme
Friday, November 9th, 2007Ok, so I changed the theme. I did not create this one, but I was getting so sick of that Default theme. It was driving me insane. Also, I can’t seem to find the theme I had been working on. I think I accidentally deleted it. But I was starting to not like it anyway. I’m going to start over again. I don’t really like this one that I put on here that much. I’m not really a fan of the design but I liked the colours in it and I couldn’t find anything else that had similar colours. So I’m going to stick with it for now. I’m going to try to make a new one though. Again, it might take me a while with school and stuff and all the other stuff I have to do too. But we’ll see what happens.
Edit:
Ok, it turns out I didn’t delete the theme I was making. I had a brain fart. I remembered where I put it. But I still don’t know for sure if I’m going to finish it or not. We’ll see what happens.
But anyways, I should get going. I’m going home for the weekend and I’m just about ready to go.
Converting to Mac
Friday, November 9th, 2007So it’s starting to look like I might finally be getting a Mac! It won’t be until after Christmas, but my dad and I have been discussing it. I was thinking just getting an iMac might be fine. The new iMacs are really cool looking, but he’s been pushing the laptop idea so that’s probably what I’ll end up getting. I don’t know it’s going to be a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. I’m hoping for a Pro because they’re cooler looking, but they’re $2000+ so I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.
My current laptop has been acting up lately. I think I’ve got it working a little better right now, I hadn’t defraged it in a while and I did that and it’s seems to be working a bit better, but it’s still freezing on me. Before I defraged it, it was freezing on me every 5 seconds and all I had open was MSN and Firefox. It was getting ridiculous. I usually have at least three programs running at one time so I definitely need something working faster.
Ever since the release of Windows Vista, my respect for Microsoft Windows has gone downhill. I’ve been having so many issues with it. As some of you know, I had upgraded my laptop to Vista but ended up going back to XP because it couldn’t handle it. It says it’s Windows Vista capable, because it was release only a few months after I got my laptop (I’ve had my laptop for just over a year) I thought it would probably be ok, but I was wrong. They’ve got way too much going on in the Vista operating system alone to even have enough RAM left to run any programs.
Macs don’t seem to have that problem. Mac OS X is great. It’s simple but really great!! I’m in love with Apple! lol.
Anyways, I think that’s all I really wanted to say right now. I figured I should post something since I haven’t posted in a little while. That’s all.
Fading Flowers Update
Friday, November 2nd, 2007Ok, so I have a new layout on my fanlisting collective website. It took me all of an hour to do. I wish I could get my WordPress theme to go that fast. I should have stuck to the old blog that I had a long time ago. It was way easier to code. WordPress has to many different codes to look up on their website. I’m probably going to give up and cheat a little. We’ll see. I just have to work up the motivation to do it.
Projects, Assignments, and Stress
Thursday, November 1st, 2007I’ve been really stressed out this past week or so. It feels like all the assignments and projects have been thrown at us at the same time. It’s so hard to keep track of everything and course the fact that I’m easily stressed doesn’t help, but I definitely am not the only one in the class that’s been feeling the stress going around. But a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders this afternoon. I finally managed to get a hold of the person I have to interview for an assignment that has managed to get itself integrated into three classes, both of Jim’s classes: Scripting for Multimedia & the Web (CMM 163) and Research & Writing for New Media (RSR 160) and Cal’s class: Digital Audio (CMM 153). Even though the assignments are different, they’re all linked to each other.
First, the assignment was for RSR 160: We’re supposed to get together information for an informational website. We were all assigned programs at the college. Mine is Cultural Studies. Which is stupid because it’s actually a major under the General Studies program, where as other people got actual programs. It’s dumb. If I was researching just General studies it would be way more interesting (even though, yes, it is General Studies). Anyways, we’re supposed to interview the person in charge of the program we were assigned and record the interview so we don’t have to rush to take notes and what not
Then, in CMM 163 we’re supposed to actually make the website part of it.
Later, Cal decided to join in on the fun and create an assignment for CMM 153 where we’re supposed to interview someone and record it. But he has to be really picky about it and force us to use the interview we’re doing for Jim’s assignment. Even the people who aren’t in Jim’s classes have to do it. He’s forcing them to do Jim’s assignment to do his. It’s retarded. Then to top it all off he makes it due tomorrow. I mean yeah, that’s a good way to get us all on track and get it done but I’m willing to bet that he’s going to get assignments from less than half the class. For a while I was thinking that I was going to be in that “more than half” group but I’m starting to think that I might be able to hand it in on time.
I finally tracked down the person I have to interview today and I said whatever time worked for him would work for me, and he said tomorrow at 10:00. Which is amazingly perfect because I have class from 8:00-9:50 tomorrow and then a four hour break before my next class. Now, I just have to make sure that I can get a hold of one of those damn mini disc recorders for 10:00 tomorrow and everything will be fine.
Ok, well I don’t know for sure that everything will be fine. I have another assignment, well a portion of an assignment, due tomorrow. This is for one of Frank’s classes: Multimedia Principles & Design. We have to do a project to show what we’ve learned so far in the course. The project is to be developed around a “how to” theme. As of this moment I have not decided what to do. So far the only half decent ideas that came to mind are:
- How to open a bottle of POP, after someone has shaken it up, without it exploding.
- How to design/code a basic webpage/website.
Ok, you can stop laughing now. The POP thing was the first thing I thought of, probably because I had a bottle of POP in my hand. And the website thing, well it’s the only real hobby that I have that I might actually be half decent at explaining. The final product of this project has to be either a PowerPoint presentation, a Flash presentation, or a DVD video. I’m leaning towards DVD but Flash is a definite possibility too. PowerPoint… meh…. I can survive without PowerPoint.
The proposal for the project is due tomorrow. The rest of the project is due on the 19th.
The rest of the project consists of:
- An outline created in PowerPoint (which is dumb, but whatever)
- A Storyboard
- Then the presentation has to contain at least the following:
- Title Screen
- 5 Bit-Mapped images
- 1 Vector Image
- 1 Animation
- 1 Custom Audio Track
- 1 QuickTime Video
- 1 Slideshow
- 1 Credit screen
Yay! How exciting. NOT! Well, it would be if I had better ideas!!! PLEASE!!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!