Ahhhhh...E-Portfolio

Well, I've been Google-ing examples of E-Portfolios, and I feel thoroughly unaccomplished now. Maybe I should make myself a website after all...there are so many really amazing ones out there. And I can see its value as a resumé...just in a more interactive format.

Oh, Angelina likes ... [insert interests here] ...? Let's check out her
favourite websites!

But back to the point--E-Portfolio, and how I've been using new media lately.

Over the past year, I've enjoyed delving into the practices and consequences of new media.

To tell the truth, I really had no idea what our courses would turn out like. I honestly didn't think we'd spend so much time going over fun stuff. But now that I think about it, it hardly feels like I've accomplished anything this year, because I generally associate accomplishment with completing unenjoyable projects... Perhaps now is the time to change my mindset, on that account.

I certainly feel that I've learned a lot. I mean, yes, I thought I had a pretty decent understanding of the workings of new media before I came here. But I think the true depth of my understanding has changed. My comprehension of the extent of new media's effect on our world has been broadened, and with that I can reflect on how much more there is beyond the scope of our course. It's unpleasant being aware of how limited your knowledge is.

But enough of this, I can feel a rant coming on. That's what this blog has done to me, it's making me want to spill my heart out on the screen. Because I'm lazy, the following is a summary of my online exploits this year:

The group video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8wEfW0ESBc

(also embedded in the post below)

The Hyperlink Project:

http://ataglia.blogspot.com/2009/02/hyperlink-assignment.html

Ummm...What else?

I guess I've been playing with Twitter a bit. But it seems kind of silly to spend much time with it when you only have 8 followers...

http://twitter.com/ataglia

And...? This blog, I guess? Probably one of my favourite projects. It's like a giant, extended version of my Facebook status for me. (I'm ashamed to say that I'm one of those people who updates their status religiously)

Beyond these things, I don't know. Lots of random websites that I've either lost interest in already, or I haven't contributed enough to warrant sharing...

And now, it's almost time for class. So I should post this and run.

Oh Lovely Video Project

Well, here it is! It has been driving me completely and utterly bonkers for the last few days. Can I mention how much I dislike Windows Movie Maker now? It isn't letting me be as precise as I'd like to be, with the timing of the music and other audio stuff. So, therefore, the video disgusts me ever time I see it. But I guess it doesn't really matter...it's just a school project... BUT STILL!

And now that I'm looking back on it, I see that I've kind of messed up the volume levels between the scenes, and that they don't flow nicely together.



Bah Humbug.

Old Times

When I have important homework to do, I am the expert at finding other, less pressing uses of my time. Like looking through old pictures, for example...

Anyways...last summer, I went through my Oma's black and white collection and scanned everything, because in my opinion, old photos are lovely, and I wanted to preserve them. (By the way, Oma=Dutch grandmother, if you didn't know. It's the same in German too...and probably other languages too.)

There are so many awesome pictures, but here is a sampling of what I have on my laptop right now. Some of the really good ones seem to be missing, so I'll have to go search them out...

The boy on the far left is my Opa...I love his face there! It's funny though--he looks so young in contrast with his friends. I'm pretty sure there wasn't that much of an age difference...

The woman second from the right is my Great Grandmother Johanna, my Opa's mother. This is one of my favourite pictures--vintage beach-wear at its best :)

The girl on the far right is my Oma. See any resemblance? Apart from the platinum blondness? :P

It's Spring! Like, actually, sort of Spring!

It's brilliantly sunny today. I've been sitting on the couch in the living room, editing our video for ASTU almost all morning. The sun was so intense, I was almost sweating. And maybe I didn't have to share that with the world...but anyways...

It's nice--I'd like this weather to stick around for a bit, so I can take my spring wardrobe out of hibernation, and put my boots to sleep for the summer. I'm tired of having cold feet and a wet jacket, and having to lug an umbrella with me everywhere I go. And bus people smell bad when they're wet...blah...

But it's time for happy thoughts! White Rock beach is a 15 minute walk from my house, and I hardly ever go there. But what about gelato at the beach! Scrumptious late night dinners at the beach! Picnics at the beach! Sounds like I'm longing for some beach time, maybe I should plan an outing for next weekend...anyone care to join me?

The bus is a (fun/annoying/exasperating/infuriating) place

You have to love commuting by bus, especially when it makes you two hours late for school (Monday), or gets in an accident with a guy who speaks no English (Wednesday). Yes, I am having a bad bus week.

But there are still interesting parts. I am conducting an unofficial cultural study on "bus people". And, though I take the bus nearly every day to school, I'd rather not consider myself one of them. Today's discussion topic of choice:

"them darned gangsters"

The lady with the neon-pink lipstick says, "They oughtta just lock them up in BC Place for a night, and let them have it out right there."

The guy who takes up two seats replies, "Ha ha, let 'em clean up after themselves for once."

Huh? I'm pretty sure I read a similar proposition on NowPublic.com, but that scenario gave them full run of the PNE grounds for a night. Anyways, the topic got the whole bus excited. It is universally intriguing to walk around everyday knowing that you may by hit by a stray bullet, because, you know, the odds are so likely that that will ever happen to a random citizen.

Note: the excitement only extended to conscious persons. This does not include the Asian guy who was falling asleep on my shoulder. Why do people always fall asleep on my shoulder? Is it because I'm too polite to rudely awaken them with an elbow to the ribs? (I've seen someone do that before...the victim is usually too disoriented to realize what happened, so I could maybe get away with it...)

I tell myself, it's all part of the journey. It makes civilised company that much more enjoyable.

One more thing--I try really, really hard not to giggle when I'm eavesdropping on the bus, or when I peak over at the old lady next to me and notice she's reading a Harlequin Romance. I kind of hiccoughed today a little while attempting to stifle a laugh.

"...as the perspiration dripped off her delicate brow..." OMG! Funny!

Maintaining composure is difficult. Very difficult.