Slacker's Space (MS)

Movies and ArcGIS

2008-12-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

All an aha moment again. I just works that way when learning something completely foreign.
What was the last step to complete before handing it in?
The last movie I saw was Deja Vu. It was a pretty good movie. Denzel Washington action adventure...how could it not be good?

The next couple weeks...

2008-12-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

All aha moments again. Everything was new. GPS and how it works was fun/interesting to learn.
What are the differences between the two different coordinate systems you were talking about in reference to the GPS. We used lat. and long., but you wanted a different one. What was it?
The hardest thing about the next two weeks will be the exams and getting ready for finals. There are several little things to catch up on. But, at least most major projects were finished on Monday. Happy!

December!

2008-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today we learned how to label different layers and give them their own individual colors.
How do you make lines between the different layers?
My favorite internet site is probably iGoogle because I check the weather and follow major news sites through it. It also has my main email in addition to random games.

Thanksgiving...

2008-11-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

Everything was new again. One large aha moment.
I have lots of questions, but I think I need to attempt to use the information I have to see how far I can get.
For Thanksgiving I will spend time with my boyfriend's family (they came to Provo area for the holidays) and my brother who is coming up tomorrow. I have no idea what anyone's schedule is like yet, but it will come soon enough. It will be a full, fun week, and I am excited. Yeah holidays!

Christmas music

2008-11-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

Everything is an aha moment today. It is a lot to take in.
Are there any tricks to getting my mylar to fit my map. Every change I make seems to make it worse, not better.
I start listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. Growing up, my family would always drive out in the South Dakota Black Hills to find out Christmas tree, and we would break out the Christmas carols for the drive.

Books

2008-11-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Everything in this program is an aha moment.
I have no specific questions...I think I need to use it first.
The books I have read most recently were over the summer. I highly recommend John Grisham books. They are interesting. I enjoy books in the style of The Client.

My Favorite Place to eat...

2008-11-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

This was all an aha moment. I have never used this before at all.
I have no specific questions on what was taught today. I only have questions on things we have not covered.
My favorite place to eat is probably my boyfriend's apartment (he is a REALLY good cook). However, if I were to pick a restaurant it would probably be Macaroni Grill or PF Changs or something like that.

Jokes

2008-11-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

This was a really good review. It seems like forever since we have learned several things.
I have no questions at this time.

Jokes...I like the Adam and Eve joke. I can't claim it as my own though.
An Englishman, a Frenchman, and a Russian are walking through an art museum and find a picture of Adam and Eve. the Englishman says, "they are beautiful and in a garden...they must be English." The Frenchman contends, "No, they are beautiful and they are naked...they must be French." The Russian sighs and says, "They have no cloths, they only have an apple to eat, and they are told it is paradise...they are Russian." Have a great weekend!

2008-11-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

I learned how to make transparent backgrounds/objects more or less transparent.
I have not questions at the moment. I think I need to just play around with it.

Tell people in some detail what you are doing. Slides should help but not be self explanatory requiring nothing from you. Avoid words such as like, so, um, stuff, etc. Do not talk about things that do not matter to your presentation. Look at the audience, not at the slides. Do not read from the slides. Do not tell about your weaknesses (this is really bad but I included it anyway). Avoid slang. Have all slides matter!

Classes!

2008-11-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

I learned how to make larger images. I also tried to fix the quality of my illistrator project on Friday, but it would not work. Knowing about the resolution change option, I now can fix that. Thanks. Sorry it was not done on Friday. I really did try to fix it.
Could post how to embed objects in Illistrator so I don't forget? Thanks!
My favorite class is a tough question. One of the best at college was an International Relations Class with prof. Cooper. It was easy to follow and interesting, so I loved it.

Moving around

2008-11-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

My aha moment for the day was pretty all encompassing. I learned the gradient tool, the rotate tool, and how to use the knife, scissors, and eraser. This will be really helpful to maximize time usage on projects.
I have questions, but they would better be addressed with actively doing something.
I have lived in a few places. I was born and raised in Rapid City, SD. When I left for school at BYU my family moved to Tucson, AZ. I lived there for a few months before leaving on my mission to British Columbia, Canada. While on my mission, I lived in 6 different areas of the province. When I came home my family had moved again, so I found myself in Reno, NV. I have loved all the places I lived for different reasons, but South Dakota is the one that feels like home.

Monday Madness

2008-11-03T08:55:00.001-08:00

Today I became better at using tools like the divide tool as well as the transparency tool. I also appreciated learning about how to make a cross section. Thank you for providing the USGS colors for us to use in our papers.
Do the same tools apply for making cross sections from scratch, without a background picture to use, or would you approach it differently by creating different shapes instead of dividing one shape?
I had a busy, and fun, but complicated weekend. The semester will only get more involved as time goes on. I spent Halloween with family and went on a double date to Nickelcade on Saturday.

Halloween Plans

2008-10-31T09:02:00.000-07:00

My aha moment for today involved pretty much every aspect of making a strat column. This will take practice to make sure I do it right.
I don't have any specific questions, I think I just need to try and use tools, fail, and realize I need help.
As for my Halloween plans, I am going to SLC to spend the evening with my brother, his wife, and my 1+ year old niece. She is going to be Tinkerbell, and it should be really cute.

Costumes!

2008-10-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Illistrator is a really neat program. Everything today was new as well. I particularly liked learning how to use the strat column patterns.
I have no specific questions. I think I need to just keep working over it and playing with it. I will learn best this way.
My favorite Halloween costume was probably my snow white costume. I was like 5, and my mom made it for me. It is really cute. If only I were that good of a seamstress.

the future...

2008-10-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Today was almost entirely an aha moment. I have never used illustrator. It was really neat to learn. I have no specific questions on what we learned today. It was well explained.
I would love to know things I could do to better help my family...or what my scores will be on exams to know if I should study better...that could be really handy. It would not hurt to know what would be good things to invest in either. But, knowing about the future might defeat the point of life in general even though it would make the world a lot more predictable.

Friday!

2008-10-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

I used several tools listed as follows
- move tool
- magic eraser
- rectangle tool
- gradient tool
- levels adjustment
- contrast
-resize
- burn tool
- dodge tool
- merge down
I learned the clone tool today, and it was really neat. Thanks Nicole!
I don't remember how to change the font style of words I use in an image.
In general I don't think I am superstitious. When I am really bored and looking out car windows I will sometimes count reflectors. I know...it is random...such is life. Enjoy the weekend.

2008-10-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

I used the following tools for this image.
1) I adjusted the levels using the white and black eyedropper.
2) I used the erase tool and the Gaussian blur lighten the picture as a whole and make the letters stand out more against the backdrop.
3) I used the Dodge tool to lighten around and in between the letters.
4) I used the burn tool to darken the lettering.

My aha moment today was from learning how to rotate and move objects while resizing to make multiple pictures one large picture. That was really neat.
When my computer locked up I missed how to lightly erase the black that over-layed the regular color of the photo. How do I do that? I had the same problem with learning the gradient tool. Tragic!
I am a sports fan, but nothing extremely avid. I love to play most any sports for fun. As for watching sports, I love football, soccer, hockey, and sometimes basketball. I get really bored watching baseball even though it can be fun to play if you have a fun team.

Fall fun!

2008-10-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

My aha moment was probably when we used the burn tool to darken the scanned photo. I did not realize it would make such a significant difference when changing the setting from midtones to highlights. Interesting.
I have no questions regarding today's lecture. It was very clear and easy to follow. Thanks!
I love to go for walks in the fall. They are relaxing, and it is rarely too warm. If I am lucky, it is beautiful with changing leaves on many of the trees.

It's Friday!

2008-10-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

To adjust this image I used several tools. First I used the ruler tool to level the picture. I then cropped it to a smaller photo. I then adjusted the levels using the eyedropper tools. I also adjusted the color of the water using the color balance. I used the brightness tool to lighten the photo. Finally, I used the burn tool to adjust the color in the upper right corner of the photo.

I have no specific questions for the day, but the entire class was basically an aha moment. I had a lot of fun learning all of it. Thanks Nicole!
As for my best date ever...it was probably the week I spent in Texas with my boyfriend. We just spent tons of time together and with family.

Injuries...eek

2008-10-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

In order to create this image I used the crop tool and the move tool. My two complementary colors are blue and orange.

Today I learned how to use the magic paint brush.
I have no specific questions today. I need to play around with it.
My worst injury ever was pinching my hand between a car and a trailer. I am honestly lucky to have fingers on my right hand. I was helping my brother back our trailer in the driveway, and he was not paying attention to me until it was almost too late. I ended up with the huge white mitten of bandages on my hand for several days, but nothing was broken. There was temporary nerve damage and I could not right for over a week.

My favorite season...

2008-10-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

I learned how to drag and drop pictures into photoshop. This is REALLY handy. Thanks!
I was lost a bit in the cropping coverage in class. What was it we were specifically supposed to be able to do?
My favorite season in spring. It is warm and green, but not overly so. There are flowers and trees. It is just a fun time of year. Plus, it is the precursor to summer.

Pets...

2008-10-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today was test review. It felt good to go over stuff like tracking and kerning. I have no questions now, but may have some after studying for the exam.
My favorite pet was probably my grandparents dog Stubbs. He was soooo fun and easy going. I loved seeing him when my family would go there. Specifically, my family only ever had one pet, and it belonged to my youngest brother. We got it when a neighbor showed up on our door with a Beta and said they would flush it if they could not find it a home. The thought of it dying for no reason was tragic, so we kept it.

Extreme Sports

2008-10-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today it was nice to get a feel for how to organize data into charts and then manipulate that data. It makes information more user friendly.
Which chart types are most unprofessional for using in publications. Are there any forms that are considered inappropriate? For example, my statistic professor recommended not using pie charts. If money were not an issue, I would love to go either hang gliding or scuba diving. If I were hang gliding, it would preferably be in somewhere tropic. This also applies to scuba diving. It would be more fun if it were warm. Scuba diving would be best along a reef where I could look at different types of coral and other sea life. Someday...

Mmmm...breakfast

2008-10-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Greatest difference is 8592.8. It was number 36.
This was a really useful lesson. It was a great to get a refresher on using formulas. I had forgotten how to do that.
I can't think of any questions at the moment. But I am sure I will come up with something later in the week.
My farvorite breakfast food is probably crepes with strawberries and whip cream. SOOOOO tasty. Chocolate chips make a nice addition, but they make it a little less breakfasty.

Musical Instruments

2008-10-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

My aha moment today is more review than anything else. It was very helpful to be able to review the steps needed for our homework and the test. Thanks!
I don't really have any questions.
I played the piano for years growing up, but I don't play much any more. Honestly, I am not being modest. I have not practiced consistently in years. It is actually sad, and some day I will remedy it. In the meantime I will have to live with the fact that I do not play. If I were learning something, I would choose to learn to play the piano better.

Family...

2008-10-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have never used Adobe Professional, so it was really helpful. Now I can edit and change documents in new ways I was formerly unfamiliar with.
I don't have a question today. I asked it in class.
My strangest uncle is probably Alan. He is my favorite uncle, and by all known standards of craziness in not anything too nuts. He is a rancher, and looks like a short lumberjack. He loves to tickle, so when I was a kid he was a bit intimidating. Sorry this is not too unusual. I guess my family is all too normal.

Editing...

2008-09-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Today I learned how to edit a paper. I have used the comments before, but I never knew how to track changes within a word document. This will be useful for editing my own papers or helping friends with papers they have written.
My question for the day is how perfect do our final proposals need to be. Should we only make editing changes, or do we need to make content changes as well?
As for the worst movie ever, in my opinion it is "Master of Disguise." I watched it with friends at the dollar theater my freshman year, and to this day I consider it a waste of time and money. I would have been better off sleeping. It was EXTREMELY stupid humor with little to no redeemable qualities whatsoever. I will never watch it again.

Sept 26

2008-09-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today my aha moment involved recognizing the components in my paragraphs. It is so easy to write something without really breaking it down and seeing the individual pieces. Furthermore, it is easy to get caught up in the grammer and lose site of the flow of my paper.
I don't think I have a question for today. Class was short, and most of my immediate questions about my proposal were answered yesterday in lab.

Two of the world’s greatest necessities in this age are drinking water for survival and oil and gas for powering large industrial nations. These needs are expanding daily as populations increase. Without either, society struggles, if not coming to a halt in all but basic functionality. Water, oil, and gas accumulations are facilitated by fluid movement through pore spaces and faults of rock beds. In order to accommodate the growing needs of the future, we must understand fluid movement through different facies, and understanding ancient eolian systems like the Navajo Sandstone will continue to be more relevant.

Sept 24

2008-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Today I learned about uploading information onto my portfolio site. I have never done it and needed extra help, so it was good to learn. I will probably play around with the site to get a better feel for it.
I have no specific questions right now.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a detective. Then I realized that certain character traits I have would make this difficult. My observational skills would make this form of career problematic. But it was a nice thought.

Sept. 22

2008-09-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today I learned to create a web site. I have never done that before. It will be interesting to see how it all comes together for my senior portfolio.
I don't think I have a question for the day. It was all pretty self explanatory.
My favorite food at the moment is no bake cheesecake with strawberries. It is soooo tasty I can only eat it a piece at a time without being overloaded with flavor. Mmmmmm....that is a happy thought!

Sept. 19

2008-09-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Today I refreshed my basic writing skills. Basics of writing papers are always useful, and I have found it is very easy to get casual in my writing when it is usually emails, letters, or other less formal writing types.
My question - How detailed I need to be in my discussion of the benefits or application of my paper?
If I could have a super hero power I would be able to control things with my mind. Kind of like Jane in the X-men. It is verstile and allows for things like flying, moving objects, and understanding people.

Sept 17

2008-09-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

When I was a missionary, one of my zones randomly chose tools for each zone member. I was designated as a purple swiss army knife. Their reasoning was that I was useful to have around, and had lots of different things I could be an asset for. However, I was still a girl and had to have a feminine quality so I was purple. It was really random, and had not thought about it until coming to class this morning. It is interesting to see what seemingly random things from the past can come up again in the future.

Sept 15

2008-09-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Today I appreciated learning how to combine topic searches in the ISI Web of knowledge. I never knew how to do that, and yet it can help me to search more specifically without phyciscally looking through hundreds of different journal articles.
My question for the day is, how do I know if my topic is too specific or too broad?
My dream vacation involves time to relax, put my feet up, and enjoy the world around me. It would be near modern conveininces, but there would not be too many people. I would spend it with someone I love. There is a beach near with water warm enough to swim in. It is sunny, but not overly hot. Honestly, I think visiting the Mediterranean Sea in either Italy or Spain during the off season (October ish) would satisfy my dream vacation requirements. Plus, I would have the opportunity to explore history while enjoying the world around me.

Sept 12

2008-09-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

I love the concept of being unique. Honestly, I think this a difficult idea in a society where many people are trying to blend in and be the same as others around them. It is what is unique about us that makes us memorable and valuable to others, because it is our differences in talents and abilities that allow us to make up for each others shortcomings. That is what will make us valuable to companies.

My question is, "What are ways others can see that I differentiate myself?"

How do I differentiate myself? I think I am fairly subtle in this idea. I always try to be polite and listen to people more than asserting myself or my own ideas on others. This is useful sometimes, but I know there is a balance that needs to be a part of this.
On a more visual aspect of this, my sophomore year I realized that I walk differently that others. Random, but I have been told I walk like a model or dancer, or other things in a similar vein. One of my roommates was able to find me in a crowd by the way I walked with confidence, and for the rest of the year I had the nickname strut. This would not be so helpful in an interview, but it is unique.

September 10

2008-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

My favorite insight for today was the tip about keeping objects in a word 2007 document from moving. In the past I would reset the alignment but objects would still move with the text. Ultimately, it took extra time in order to move it to the correct spot on final projects.
I was wondering if our CV's can be basically the same except that on is web appropiate an done is not?
As for a prank, on April Fools day my companion and I decorated the zone leaders' car "Just Married". It happened to fall on General Conference Sunday that year, so my companion and I saw their car (as best as they could clean it in 5 minutes) show up at church. It had window paint, cookies, cans tied to the back, streamers, and balloons all over it. Honestly, we were all good friends and they got a good laugh out of it. On the flip side, they retaliated by putting a snake in out kitchen sink.

Sept. 8

2008-09-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

My aha moment in class today involved the tabs. It was nice to learn how to use the tab function. I have never done it that way before, and honestly, the tabs have been a source of annoyance and confusion for a long time now.
As for scars, I don't have many. My favorite is probably a small scar on my upper left leg. I was helping my grandfather fix barbed wire fence on his ranch. When trying to get to the other side, I underestimated the room I needed and the fence tore through my jeans and left a 3/4 inch scar on my thigh.

Style/Business Logos

2008-09-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

The “i" in iGoogle is in italics which we discussed is a way to show emphasis. The font for Google has serif’s. The font size is larger than other items on the heading, so it will stand out more prominently than the other words at the top of the site. Also, it is in mostly lower case so as not to shout the name but simply state it.