Wednesday, April 14, 2004
06:21 ~
Trying to think of something to post. So here you go.
My newest class started last Monday. This is a class I was looking forward to. It's Graphics and Multimedia, which somehow translates as 'Learn Flash'. Flash is cool and I've taught myself a bit, so I'd like to learn it better and become proficient and junk. I'd hoped I'd actually learn some sort of drawing or graphics techniques I didn't know, but.. no, it's just all Flash. Well, anyway..
First they want you to buy Dreamweaver and Flash MX. Well, okay. Software. Useful. Then they want you to buy a Hands-On-Training book. The Dreamweaver version of this book was of questionable professionalism, but I guess it gets the job done. So okay. But then they want you to pay 150$ for instructional videos. These are video files on a CD. This is more than the education price of the actual software! Just to watch videos of people using the software! Jeez. Needless to say, I didn't actually buy this.
Turns out I also bought the wrong HOT book. I bought Flash MX Hands-On-Training. I was supposed to buy Flash MX 2004 Hands-On-Training. How did I screw this up? I wasn't paying enough attention. Plus I was home on my mother's computer. It's a psychological thing. It's slower; it makes me feel dumb. But I'll also blame Capella, because the only way you can find out what materials you need is to go to their bookstore. But the bookstore is designed such that they give you a list of titles and authors, but not ISBNs. If you want ISBNs, you have to click on the entry. So I was lazy and only searched by title. And I hadn't learned the distinction between Flash MX and Flash MX 2004.
But that's not all. This semester is the first semester that they're employing the new courseroom on a widescale basis. The School of Technology is, naturally, the guinea pigs. For the first week, I had such trouble with the courseroom. It was hella slow, when it worked at all. Capella seemed to be aware of this. They sent out two messages saying basically 'we know some people are having problems, sorry'. Well, a quick trial on K's machine yielded the theory 'Maybe my Java's too old.' So I updated it and yes, that did seem to be the problem. Why didn't Capella tell me? Do they even know now? Maybe I should tell them, eh?
On top of all of that, the instructor hasn't posted squat since the first day. Most instructors will post now and then throughout the week. They'll add to the discussion, answer questions, etc. And then they'll post up the new discussion questions and whatnot at the start of the week. It's now.. well, technically Wednesday, and there's been nothing from him. Most instructors post by Sunday.
They extended the 100% refund drop deadline.. I have another day or two to make up my mind. I'm sure I can bully my way through the class and get a decent grade, but it is just so not going at all like I'd hoped this class in particular would go.
So. There you go. Probably my most blog-like entry ever. ;)
Thursday, April 08, 2004
18:58 ~
I noticed this awhile ago, that some oatmeal packets have different amounts in them than others. Maple and brown sugar has more than fruit and cream, for instance. I verified this at the store not that long ago. But I've just looked it all up online, so here it is for your edification and enlightenment. Remember one packet is one serving.
From Quaker's website. Prices are from Peapod.com.
Flavor - Grams per Packet - Calories - Packets per box - Price
--------------------------------------------------------------
Regular - 28 grams - 100 - 12 - $3.59
Fruit and cream - 35 grams - 140 - 10 - $3.59
Maple and brown sugar - 43 grams - 160 - 10 - $3.59
Cinnamon and spice - 46 grams - 170 - 10 - 3.59$
Kids/Dinosaur eggs - 50 grams - 200 - 8 - 3.59$
Conclusions: They want kids to eat more. Cinnamon and spice is the most cost effective. Regular is the least.
Have any conclusions of your own? Comment. :)
Sunday, April 04, 2004
23:16 ~
The Tale of Sir J
So the kids came over after church, just to wake me up earlier than I needed to be up. Then we futzed around waiting for them to leave and I wouldn't be surprised if I forgot to pack something or do something because you try to think with 3 screaming kids and 5 grups in the house.
So then we left shortly after 2, because you know, we need 2 hours to get lost. Then we stopped at the outlet mall and I bought some books. 4 books for 11$. More than half of that was a coffee table book on geishas that I left with my parents. I was carrying around enough weight as it is (walking for two). The other notable purchase was a Rowling biography. That cheap, I couldn't resist.
So then we get to where we're going. We don't get lost once, but everyone's convinced we're lost about 3 or 4 times. Then we're wicked early. Then Dad goes in through the rain to buy my ticket. She gets my name wrong; he doesn't notice. He didn't get a baggage check thing. I thought all larger bus terminals did that as a matter of course. I thought maybe they wouldn't let me put a bag under without it. But it turns out the chick has no idea how to do it. The guy is certain he knows how, but he doesn't manage to do it. So that was a fun way to kill time waiting for the bus.
We had a movie on the bus! Two Weeks Notice. Which I'd seen. But that's okay, because I couldn't hear it very well, one monitor flipped to black and white about half hour in, another blanked out entirely halfway through, and we ended up arriving a bit early, so the bus driver talked over the ending.
Then.. tada.. well, I won't say where I was. But it was a big red place. Ponder that. So I had an hour to kill. So I sat down, sorta tried to read. This older guy is there with a friend. He talked like a gay Vincent Price. I'm not kidding. I didn't know real people talked like that! He berated his friend in very cultured tones for not buying him dinner last night.
So.. the next bus. This chick comes on at the very last minute and takes a seat just in front of me. As we're pulling out of the terminal, she starts sobbing on her cell phone. 'I'm coming and if you don't want me, tell me before I get on the bus.' For the entire ride (an hour), she repeatedly calls this guy and yells at him. Always for the same thing. He talked to her ex-husband, Paul, about her daughter. And it was disrespecting of her and yadda yadda. I believe it often resulted in hang-ups. And she cursed him a few times when the phone wasn't on. Drama drama. Is there a hotel near the station? When's the first bus back? 'I don't know what I'm going to do if you don't pick me up, but..'
I was looking forward to more entertainment once we got there, but alas, he was waiting for her. And I swear she'd called him like 3 minutes before. He must've let her yell at him while in the car waiting for her. He swings around and yells at her for not realizing he was there waiting. And then they were gone. Helas.
Must be real fun to be her daughter.
And thus ends the Tale of Sir J.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
01:08 ~
You are a MASTER of the English language!
While your English is not exactly perfect,
you are still more grammatically correct than
just about every American. Still, there is
always room for improvement...
How grammatically sound are you?
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