Michael Strizak's Blog:]

For this post I just wanted to talk about what I liked most about this class. I felt that I have learned enough html and Dreamweaver knowledge to finally be dangerous with web design. I learned where web has been and where it looks to be going. I enjoyed the detailed focus on design for a site as well as the focus on how to make it look like you want it to. I think we had just enough conceptual design work to start giving us ideas about what every site needs to reach the next levels of the web. I had no beefs or dissappointments with this class but wish my web 1 class wouldn't have left me hardly prepared. I appreciate the focus on making sure that everyone gets the ideas before moving on with the class. Most teachers wouldn't care if a student falls behind but I'm glad that we all moved along at the same pace leaving noone behind. All in all, its been a good class, I hope they implement this into the core curriculum for future students because it very good to have. later for awhile -mike-

This to my left is a datamatrix barcode. What is it exactly? These are starting to show up everywhere because they are bar codes that can be photographed with a smart phone, aka, iphone or blackberry. After photographing one of these it usually takes you to a website with some kind of significance or special sale for finding it. These are popping up on magazines and products everywhere and are even making their way onto clever business cards that link you to websites. Very snazzy stuff indeed. I learned about them from the cover of a superstreet issues which had one that took me to a limited content portion of their site with special downloadables as a courtesy for finding them. Check em out as well on Castro Oil containers at your nearest part store. lata -mike-

If you follow my blog, you will notice that I follow a blog called the selvage yard. If you want insite into the kind of style and culture that I get into, check out their blog. Its phenomenal. From historical biographies of cats like James Dean, Von Dutch, and Carol Shelby, to wrenched out hotrods, this single blog covers so much of hot rod culture. Its definitely worth your time to check it out. They have photos of old pin-up girls and bios of the kind of life they led in the 50's and 60's. It just covers so much. Let me know what you think. -mike-

I keep seeing these commercials for 3d tvs and It really makes me question the need for the technology. It sounds cool at first, but what they don't initially tell you is that in order to utilize the 3d capabilities, you have to wear the special 3d glasses. First off, the glasses probably cost a fortune, and secondly, what happens when you lose your pairs, or don't have enough for everyone? When you watch one of these tvs without the glasses, you see a blurry image because it works through overlaying images to create the 3d effect. I just see it as unnecessary technology. This reminds me of a little know but once attempted, smell-o-vision. They had the idea for a tv that recreates scents of the things you see on screen. A cooking show could be phenomenal. However, sweaty gym socks would not be. Heres a wiki link to the history of smell-o-vision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smell-O-Vision lata-mike-

I recently had a car issue with my nissan 240sx I couldn't figure out. I found my way through the internet to nicoforums.org. Nissan Infinity Car Owners has one hell of a forum. I found my way into the tech pages and found similar rants and raves by other 240 owners which I combed through until I found what I needed to know. I found the site useful which got me to thinking about the value of little known forums and clubs like this. It really comes in handy to be able to network with other people with the same interests. I know I designed a similar forum for our web 2.0 project, but in retrospect, I find it would be pretty awesome if there was a facebook-like social networking site that had these values and usages. It would be great to log into your personal account and be able to post questions and post on other team/club members pages to help each other learn and grow. Outside of class project? I think so.

I was just thinking about the past a little bit. I remember when Myspace was all the rage and facebook was unheard of. I first got my myspace account kickin back in 2006. I used the site like another email and a link to my old friends and such on a daily basis. Now, four years later, I don't check it but once every few months if that. Now everyone has switched over to facebook, which appears to be run by fewer ads than the competition. I will admit that I use facebook, but I can't say I use it half as much as some of the people I meet. I see people all day long who have to be logged on constantly and checking or posting updates. Does it really matter that much, If you can't see the people your updating your life to on a daily basis, should you really be giving them updates? on a daily basis? IDK, im tired so I'm gonna hit it, but long story short, I don't like where some of this social networking stuff is going. We may be releasing all to easy some rather personal stuff. Funny I should say all of that in a blog, but then again, how many people will ever see this? later -mike-

I have been following the Wrench Monkees blog for some time now. This is a badass group of bike builders out of Denmark, who also happen to be graphic designers and photographers. These guys usually strip a brand new bike down to the frame. Chop in some retro looks, then reassemble altered and painted parts until a 2010 Suzuki looks like a 1970's Suzuki Cafe Racer. The thing that sets apart the wrench monkees from everyone else who tries to capitalize on their name or do design work, is that these guys are ACTUALLY GOOD AT IT! If you sneak a peek at their site you will only notice thoughtful and dramatic lit photography, clean and prepared design, as well as some pretty snazzy motorcycles. Their blog is always interesting and worth following. If you can't do that, at least check em out at www.wrenchmonkees.com tata -mike-