Chapter 11 - Web Pages and Scripting Alternatives - Sounds like fun, don't it?

• JavaScript- a bit of code written to enhance a Web page
• XML - eXtensible Markup Language is "designed to organize content or data"
• AJAX - Isn't that a soap? Not if you want to create complex Web applications. AJAX uses Asynchronous JavaScript, CSS, and XML to do that.
• PHP - Personal home page Hypertext Preprocessor is an open source, server-side scripting language that's useful for frequently changing data displayed in stable format.
• CGI Scripts - According to my teacher's Powerpoint, "Some Web programs work best when done by the server computer, but in order to use server-side programs, the client must pass info to the server. The protocol used by the client to pass needed information to the server is known as a Common Gateway interface or CGI.
• You don't have to know how to do all this complex stuff in order to have a Web page. That's what a graphical interface is for. You can look ot one screen and type what you want and the program will change it into whatever language will get it into the page the way you want. Oh yeah, and you can hire a programmer to do all this for you. Hurry! Time's-a-wasting. Order your programmer today. He slices...he dices....he purees your ideas into web pages for you in no time. And if you order in the next 5 minutes, we'll throw in our own compact version of virus protection absolutely FREE! Not as expensive as the original and it doesn't have all the extra bulky components the original had, but it's FREE!

*Don't expect or reduced version to block all viruses. Exceptions and exclusions may apply. This package has not been evaluated by the FBI, CIA, or the DNA and may not completely protect your computer. Ha! It may not protect you at all, but hey, what do you get for FREE?
Well, class is over and I'm tired. I'm getting off this thing before it sucks whatever traces of my brain are left clinging to the insides of my skull. Ugh!
~Vanessa ;) <><

Chapter 10 - Advanced Web Page Construction- Ooooooh......Ahhhhhhhh!

HTML stands for hypertext markup language. It tells the computer how things are supposed to look.

• There are 4 "elements defining basic Web page layout that should be included in every displayable Web page.

1. HTML
2. HEAD
3. TITLE
4. BODY

• There are start and end tags and content in between. What a crazy mixed up language it is, but look at the really cool pages it creates!
• Cascading Style Sheets tell how the Web page is supposed to look. This is where you change your fonts and your colors.
• Interactive Web pages have items that change colors, shift position, or even go blurry when moused over. Nice design layouts!

A'ight! On to the last one.

~Vanessa ;) <><

Chapter #9 - Basic Web Page Construction.

I had a lot of fun making my own web page. All it takes is a text editor. I used Microsoft Expression Web 2.

• There's a lot of copyright laws, so make sure the stuff you use is either cited or you can use copyleft stuff without having to cite.
• So much goes into it, like planning the content and organization. Storyboards really help you get the idea of how your page will look.
• The basic elements are the title, your name and contact info, the modifaction date, fun pictures (remember you can't take anything back that you post....it's there forever, so be careful!), and even links to other pages.
• Web page editors simplify the page-building process.
• To publish your page, you need access to a Web server, the DNS address of that Web server, and the pathname.

Fun stuff!

~Vanessa ;) <><

Chapter #8 - Encryption and the Internet - Kinda like heiroglyphics, only more up to date.

• Cryptography is the study of secret codes associated with classified information and intelligence gathering.
• Encoding and decoding info is key to encryption. They substitute one character for another, kinda like Morse code and all that fun jazz.
• There are substitution codes, which just go back and forth using the same keymap, but those are easy for hackers to decode. There's risk of interception every time the key is passed. It's like a football game where you're running with the key, trying to make the pass to the next guy, but these huge dudes are coming at you from all sides trying to take it from you. Must......pass......key! Can't....be.....CRUSHED!!!
• Public key encryption uses 2 keys, making it more secure. If one key is lost, the other's useless by itself.
• Digital signatures are more resistant to forgery than written signatures. They protect document integrity so your personal info doesn't get stolen.

Heavy stuff. Good luck!

~Vanessa ;) <><

Chapter #7 - E-commerce

Be wise when you shop. Not all sites are safe, especially when you're giving them your credit card info.

• Always use a credit card, NOT a debit card, when buying things online.
• Make sure the site has a URL that begins with https:// . This and that cute little padlock on the corner of the URL ensure the site is safe for sensitive info.
• DON'T send credit card info over email. Dumb move! Anyone could get their hands on it....or they're mouse. lol
• Keep detailed records of all your order info just in case it gets lost or stolen, and check your merch to make sure no damage has befallen them. ;)
• Before you purchase, look at the e-store's digital certificate info. See that the URL matches the domain listed on the certificate.

Happy shopping!
~Vanessa ;) <><

Chapter #6 - Software on the Internet. Hmmmm...... is it kosher?

I like the fact that we can download free software on the Internet, but you gotta be careful.
Overview:

• Software found in stores is usually more expensive because of the production and media price. That's what makes downloading it so easy.
• Demos are cool, and free, but don't have all the bells and whistles the full version you have to pay for does.
• Shareware can be installed and evaluated for a fixed trial period, after which you have to pay to keep it.
• Nagware is shareware that continues to launch after the free trial period is over, but with reminder that it's time to register. Don't you just hate those?
• Freeware is distributed free of charge. Yay!
• Open source software includes application software and even operating systems.
• Antivirus protection, like Kapersky and Norton Antivirus, are good to have to protect against viruses and other great bugs websites want to give you. Yuck!
• Don't download too much software or your computer will get slower and slower. "Ugh! This is way too heavy! No more, please!!!"

That's it. Next chapter. Oy!

~Vanessa ;) <><

And Chapter #5.....

Search Engines.....VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooommmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• There are search engines and metasearch engines. Meta, as in it collects stuff from all over, not just within a small picky little area.
• Subject trees are cool. You start with a general search term, and then as you get into more detail, the branch gets smaller until you find what you were looking for....that tasty green leaf.
• It takes a lot of research and changing of your search terms to find what you're looking for. If in one search engine, you can't find what you're looking for in the first 20 or 30 hits, give up and try elsewhere.
• To narrow stuff down, use Boolean queries like AND, OR, NOT or even - or +. See? Those conjunctions we learned on Schoolhouse Rock really came in handy! Plus it gave us some great annoying ammo for long car trips. "Conjunction Junction, what's yo' function?"

Fun stuff. On to Chapter #6.

~Vanessa ;) <><

Like I promised, here's Chapter #4. This one was on Web 2.0....a real doozy!
My teacher did a great powerpoint on this one, even showed a bunch of YouTube videos to keep us from falling asleep by the light of the computer screens. It is a dark room after all.

Here's my overview:

• He told us how human beings are highly social (most of them) and are drawn to communicating media. This explains why Facebook and Myspace are so popular......and highly ADDICTING!!! So beware.
• Email is the most popular internet application, as well as instant messaging, blogging (your's truly), and podcasting.
• Web 2.0 technology allows more sophiticated internet participation, using Javascript and XML.
• We learned what a Wiki was and had to do stuff on one. It let us create and edit pages, even a TO DO list, that we could go into and change as stuff got posted and accomplished. According to the book, it uses database technology to store, organize, and retrieve content on demand. A wiki "provides server support, not content," so obviously all you can do is post on it, not look for a whole lot of info in it.
• Contrary to popular belief, Wikipedia shouldn't be completely hated. Its information is collected by people who post on it after doing their research. It's not all completely reliable, but that's the risk you run by using it.
• Folksonomies are the use of informal classification schemes to organize content, like Flickr and del.icio.us.
• We talked about the psychology of chat rooms....scary thought. You wouldn't think people would want to lie about who they are, would you? Anonymity is kinda fun, though. In one aspect, the Internet keeps people from being themselves, but in another, it can bring people together.

So I think I've posted enough on this one. Chapter #5's next.

~Vanessa ;) <><

And here's Chapter #3.



This one was on e-mail management, something I'm so addicted to I couldn't possibly NOT know everything about it....well almost everything. ;)



I learned that....

• email messages are usually fairly short, address a single topic and rely on plain text (Have they seen MINE lately?)


• they are written in informal style (you'd better believe it. I'm addicted to smileys ;) and other weird phrases that started online like LOL and LULAS


• You can send replies right back to the sender with just the click of a button ( Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: Re: Send this back to me!)


• Email convenience has given new meaning to the word "regret". It's just too darn fast for the mind sometimes. Been there, done that, bought the stupid t-shirt with the finger pointing up at MY face.


• A valid email address consists of a user if and a host address. Type one wrong letter and that sweet love note you just sent your wonderful boyfriend just went to some bikerdude in the city.....who's very lonely.
• You can filter your email! This is a wonderful thing. I really don't have the money to take a cruise to Iowa or want my body to be donated to science for research on how long it takes bugs to find it on a crime scene. I can say no to these interesting but usually disturbing offers that some into my inbox. Thankyou very much.

These are just some of the things email has to offer. If you're reading this, you obviously have access to a computer, and email addresses are free. So get one. They're useful.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

On to the next chapter!

~Vanessa ;) <><

Okay, here's Chapter #2.

This one was on Personal Safety Online.

We learned:

• each time you connect to the Internet, you enter a public place in which your conduct is visible and everything has consequences
• There is an actual policy, an AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) that outlines appropriate use of the Internet and is enforced by system administrators
• Your password is the first line of defense. It can keep someone from accessing your personal life and getting into your other accounts too
• Passwords should be really nice and confusing for potential hackers. Make it as hard as possible for ANYONE to figure out....except yourself, of course. I actually made mine so hard I was almost unable to get into this site to post this blog. lol
• We learned about Phishing - a form of online fraud through e-mails asking your personal information and looking all official. Some stage a problem to get you worried your account info is being stolen, so you give them the info needed to sign into your account and POOF!!! There they go with your bank book.
• Identity theft (I LOVE the Capital One Vikings!) occurs when stolen personal info is used to open accounts used to make fraudulent purchases. Get this...it isn't even limited to Internet activity. Oy! Still feel safe?

I think I'll stop there for now. I've got quite a headache and have a job to go find so I can pay for more of this wonderful education that taught me all of the above.

See ya!

~Vanessa ;) <><

Buckling down to basics

Hey Everyone. So yeah, I've procrastinated once again but I'm here to redeem myself.
I have to share with you some stuff I learned in class on each chapter of my computer book, so bear with me while I give you the gory details. Don't get me wrong, I love my class and my teacher rocks. Procrastination just seems to come back and bite me in the butt sometimes. So here goes.....

Chapter#1

In this chapter, we learned that:

• college seniors use the Internet an average of 11 hours per week
• the internet is used for so many things, from business to personal, to just shooting the breeze
• the internet can be used for good and for evil and this class is supposed to help me to learn how to use it for the former
• a computer is made up of 3 main parts - an Operating System, which is literally like the "heart" of the computer and is needed in order to run other programs like Microsoft Word and fun stuff like that; a Central Processing Unit (CPU), which pretty much digests all the information that's incoming (AHHHHH!!!!INFO OVERLOAD!); and the Memory, which in humans unfortunately diminishes the longer they stare at its cold glass monitor.
• There are two kinds of memory - Random Access Memory or RAM, and long-term memory.
• So the RAM kinda acts like Dory in Finding Nemo and loses any info when the computer is shut off because the CPU reads and writes to the RAM so quickly. Each program requires some amount of RAM.
• Long-term storage includes hardware that stores files you create and software and its data files. Examples we were given include hard drives, CD-ROMs and flash drives (my personal fave - don't leave home without it! I actually have a backup just in case I lose it. Be prepared!)

So that's just some of the stuff we learned on Chapter #1.

On to Chapter #2!

~Vanessa ;) <><