Jeff Rodriguez

1/2006

E Journal

My name is Jeff Rodriguez. I have a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (Graphic Design and Illustration) I hope to be teaching High School Art.

I enjoyed the first class. I’m always glad to learn about computers so that maybe they can stop giving me enormous headaches. This week I have not accomplished as much as I could have because of some computer issues: my labtop is on the fritz. I’m not sure what exactly is wrong with it so I’ve spent a good amount of time on the Apple Website Forums getting to know all of the helpful “techies.” I also went to Comp USA to buy a hard drive enclosure so that I could retreave some of my recent files, but I bought the wrong one and since I’m working with Apple Computers I’m having a little bit of a harder time getting support and information.

I’m writing this now on an older version of Word on an older computer.

That’s all for now.

2/27/2006

Journal Entry

I had a dream this morning that I was in a crowded class. So crowded that I had to sit in the back. I started a conversation with another student—a female—when I noticed that I wasn’t wearing any pants. Much worse, I was wearing “tighty-whitey” underwear! I’ve never been so glad to be dreaming. I haven’t been able to get into black board since last week because I was temporarily dropped from my classes here at WPU. Apparently they don’t like it when you don’t pay your tuition bill. My tuition assistance check from my employer arrived this morning, so although I had the underwear dream, things were looking up. So I paid my bill and will be able to access blackboard.

I spoke to Prof. Yildiz before class about the curriculum project, and after she showed me an example I became a little less confused. But only a little. I’m not worried though, I’ll figure it out once I get back on black board. I’ve realized since I’ve been removed from black board how much I feel disconnected without it. It’s really useful. When I went to log on after I was dropped I started to panic and sweat.

I regret signing up to one of those list-serve groups. I get nothing but email. Too many. I don’t mind newsletters, but I don’t like to read anything online because after a while, my eyes start to hurt. I started a blogger page, but have not written anything yet. Maybe this weekend I can post some pictures and write something. I doubt it will be interesting, so don’t go running to my page in a big hurry. Who am I talking to anyway? Does anyone really read these?

3/6/2006
ejournal

I was just checking out the e-poetry link and had a good time with Natalie Bookchin’s “The Intruder” which is a story told through a series of video games that you have to play. It was interesting and fun. Usually it was a game where some sort of volleying was going on, like tennis or ping pong, except the “balls’ being volleyed were words from the poem. There were also some shooter games which shot out words instead of bullets.

The graphics were stylishly crude, conveying a certain “realness” and human quality to them. They matched the quality of the poet’s voice and just gave you the feeling that you know this person and maybe you’re sitting in her kitchen as she shares this poem with you.

The tone of the poem, the simplicity, the bold graphics, hypnotic voice and the interactivity worked well to keep my attention. I curious about where it was going, what kind of games were next, and I also enjoyed the poem.

3/29/06

It’s my first time working with video on the computer. It always was too intimidating for me to even begin. Reading the tutorials and talking to Prof Yildiz, eased the intimidation and after tinkering around with it, I’m having lots of fun. I’m using Imovie which is an application made for OS10 operating system for Apple. It plays on Quicktime mainly, but you can save your movies in a number of different file formats for different kinds of outputs. I particularly enjoy the layout of the timeline. I like how in certain editing modes you can see the sound tracks lined up with the visuals displaying precisely where the sound lines up with the visuals.

These programs (I messed around with Window’s program also) are user friendly and it’s relatively easy to add effects and preview them before applying them. Of the effects, my favorite special effect is the one where it makes the video look like old film. It basically adds scratches and a bit of noise imperfections but it looks very authentic.

I’m looking forward to moving forward onto video clips.

We put together a little mini-book in class last Monday. It held sixteen "sections" or pages along with a cover. It took a while for me to put together because of some confusion on how to fold the pages but I eventually had my book.

4/1/2006

Reflections on the Spreadsheet activity on Microsoft Excel.

I have to say that the program I’m most intimidated by… most petrified of, confused, un-excited about and least skilled in is Microsoft Excel. I don’t even like the name. Or the icon… or the way it looks. I do not like charts, or rows, or columns… It’s just something I don’t feel comfortable with. I do realize that once I learn it, it will make my life considerably easier. I also realize that I’m being way too dramatic and that I’m probably making it out to be scarier than it is. When we worked on the exercise in class, it was very uncomfortable, but I felt like I could eventually get it. I am no longer scared to death by it and I’m realizing that it’s probably like every other computer program I’ve learned… it looks harder than it is. We only touched on the basics in class and I’m glad we did. I’m going to tackle it head on this summer while I have no classes. Excel… I’m goin’ git youuuu!