Throwing my back out hasn't prevented me from attending class, even if I can't leave my house. I've been skyping in to participate. The sound isn't so great for hearing the rest of the class, but I can hear the professor perfectly.
It has made me a bit self-conscious, because I can see myself in the little video in the corner. So far I've noticed my chin seems to be inflating like a bullfrog attracting a mate AND my hairline is uneven. Then I get distracted by how many funny faces I can make.
I am a terrible student.
The next day I skyped in, I actually got to be useful and set up a ustream channel to show how easy it was for someone to set up their own internet television channel. From account creation to broadcasting, it took five minutes and most of that was waiting for the confirmation email to come to my email account.
I did the trick again with my ipod. In fact, everything we've done in this class except anything heavily flash-based, I could have done on my ipod, a tiny device as small as my hand. And my hand is tiny.
Like the professor said: We're our own press on the internet. We can present any way we want. The only thing we don't have automatically is an audience.
Try out making your own channel over at Ustream (or one of its many competitors).
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Monday 20 May 2013
Forums
Two weeks ago, I set up forum software (phpBB to be specific) for a group writing project with my friends.
I like forums. A lot of sites I've used over the years have phased out their forums for a variety of reasons. In some cases they weren't frequented enough, in others there was trouble hosting it elsewhere, or the major reason is that they've changed how their pages are served. Webcomics specifically have been moving to more dynamic web software like wordpress, comicpress, which allows them to use plugins for special commenting software on each individual update.
Forums have their place. They're indispensable to sites for videogames, for players to bond over the product and tech support. I could lose hours reading the arts forum for City of Heroes, back before the game was shut down. Which is leading me to something I need specify.
When I say forum, I'm talking about a messageboard, which can be divided into several subsections with their own boards and childboards. Writing this, I realized how flexible the term forum actually is.
The one I used, phpBB, I created in two sections. The first section was the important details of the world we were writing in and contained two boards inside of it. One, for biographies, writing details, and scenario details. The second board for resources and actual information we needed for it.
The second section I created is gaining boards as we work, a new board with every leg we complete to keep everything in chronological order. This is the same for most messageboards. Many or few sections, containing boards inside dedicated to a specific purpose.
I enjoy these, as they keep communication organized. But that doesn't mean I dislike the new discussion methods that have sprung up as messageboards become less common. Tumblr, blogspot, twitter, facebook, and to a lesser extent sites like Livejournal, all have native commenting systems instead of dedicated discussion forums away from the page. Some, like tumblr, have plugins you can use to allow even more communication if the site itself is limited. The result is something much more intimate and timely than a dedicated messageboard.
And that's what the internet is becoming, a much more personal, interactive experience. Instead of having to remove yourself to a special area, you can interact directly with the creator of the content.
But if you're running an interactive site that the discussion is the forefront of the site's reason to exist, messageboards definitely still have their place.
I like forums. A lot of sites I've used over the years have phased out their forums for a variety of reasons. In some cases they weren't frequented enough, in others there was trouble hosting it elsewhere, or the major reason is that they've changed how their pages are served. Webcomics specifically have been moving to more dynamic web software like wordpress, comicpress, which allows them to use plugins for special commenting software on each individual update.
Forums have their place. They're indispensable to sites for videogames, for players to bond over the product and tech support. I could lose hours reading the arts forum for City of Heroes, back before the game was shut down. Which is leading me to something I need specify.
When I say forum, I'm talking about a messageboard, which can be divided into several subsections with their own boards and childboards. Writing this, I realized how flexible the term forum actually is.
The one I used, phpBB, I created in two sections. The first section was the important details of the world we were writing in and contained two boards inside of it. One, for biographies, writing details, and scenario details. The second board for resources and actual information we needed for it.
The second section I created is gaining boards as we work, a new board with every leg we complete to keep everything in chronological order. This is the same for most messageboards. Many or few sections, containing boards inside dedicated to a specific purpose.
I enjoy these, as they keep communication organized. But that doesn't mean I dislike the new discussion methods that have sprung up as messageboards become less common. Tumblr, blogspot, twitter, facebook, and to a lesser extent sites like Livejournal, all have native commenting systems instead of dedicated discussion forums away from the page. Some, like tumblr, have plugins you can use to allow even more communication if the site itself is limited. The result is something much more intimate and timely than a dedicated messageboard.
And that's what the internet is becoming, a much more personal, interactive experience. Instead of having to remove yourself to a special area, you can interact directly with the creator of the content.
But if you're running an interactive site that the discussion is the forefront of the site's reason to exist, messageboards definitely still have their place.
Sunday 19 May 2013
News for My Little Pony collectors
Good news! After a dry spell of main 6 releases, new ponies are starting to make their way into stores and pre-orders!
First up is Sunset Shimmer, a yellow and red unicorn, who is the only unique pony in her wave (the other three being repeats):
If you're looking for her, you can find her at the Hasbro online toy shop, at BBTS, or in your local big box store that stocks ponies. The best part of Sunset Shimmer is she features a new eye mold type for unicorns, along with a unique colour scheme.
Last, and certainly not least, is a pony set featuring two brand new ponies!
The Princess Celebration Bakery, featuring Mrs. Dazzle Cake (just Mrs. Cake in the show. In the set her two children and husband seem absent) and a new never before seen filly named Twirly Treats! Not in stores yet, but up for pre-order on BBTS.
It's good to see that Hasbro is still making interesting new ponies, even if it's not close to the volume of unique ones in previous generations. The constant influx of blind bag ponies has soothed the pain somewhat, however.
First up is Sunset Shimmer, a yellow and red unicorn, who is the only unique pony in her wave (the other three being repeats):
Last, and certainly not least, is a pony set featuring two brand new ponies!
It's good to see that Hasbro is still making interesting new ponies, even if it's not close to the volume of unique ones in previous generations. The constant influx of blind bag ponies has soothed the pain somewhat, however.
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