Period 1 - Reflection Journal #3

Reflection Journal on your blog or written in word doc - Due Thursday, Nov 29th (3 paragraphs): 1) Briefly explain what your task was. 2) Describe what the following tools do: the magic eraser tool, the blur tool, the dodge tool, the burn tool, the sponge tool, paint bucket tool and gradient tool. 3) What other projects can you think these tools could have helped you with? 4)Which tool did you find the best fit for you?

1) My task was to utilize the tools: magic eraser tool, blur tool, dodge tool, burn tool, sponge tool, paint bucket tool, and gradient tool. The teacher assigned five pictures for me to edit according to the directions I'm given. Some of the pictures require a specific tool while the others require more than one. For example, pic D needed to be edited using the sponge tool.

2)The magic eraser cuts out a specific color completely out of a picture until it touches another color. The blur tool is used to, hence, blur the image by letting you drag the pointer to areas you want to blur. It's mostly used to help focus on a specific part of an image. The dodge tool helps the image to have a lighter color. It does not change the color of the image, but to lighten the shade. The burn tool is the opposite, as it helps by darkening the colors of the image, again not changing the original color but the shade. The sponge tool "soaks in" the color of an image. It basically desaturates the picture so that the color that is being desaturated is turning into black and white. The paint bucket tool obviously paints a color that you selected onto one body of color until it is in contact with another color. Lastly, the gradient tool creates a color that is generated by blending two colors using blending options.

3)The burn tool would've definitely helped me with the project of putting myself on an image with three layers because the image I picked was very dark and I was too bright to blend in with the image. The project that involved picking an image then desaturating the background of part of the image that you focused on probably would've been easier by using the magic eraser tool, unless I already did use the tool in the project. But the tool that best fit me would be the sponge tool because desaturating is easy for me, unlike the gradient tool. The sponge tool can also help focus on parts of an image just by making the parts of the image I'm focusing on have all the color.

Mr. Vanderputten's Class, Period 1 - Reflection

Project #2A Reflection

Reflection Journal on your blog or written in word doc - Due Wednesday, Nov 21st (3 paragraphs): 1) Briefly explain what your task was. 2) Describe what the following tools do: the Clone Stamp tool, the Healing Brush tool, the Patch tool and the Spot Healing Brush tool. 3) What other projects can you think these tools could have helped you with? 4) Which tool did you find the best fit for you?

1) Project 2A consisted of editing images with the use of the tools: Clone Stamp tool, Healing Brush tool, Patch tool, and the Spot Healing Brush tool. The task was to eliminate the blemishes or spots that were required to be removed and to try to make your changes as obscure as you can. We were given four different photos that need to be edited. 

2) The Clone Stamp tool allows you to select a reference of what you're going to stamp with, then be able to paint it on a different location. It is useful when you want to paint in a spot that is next to a big field of the same color and pattern. The Healing Brush tool blends the area you're painting and the area around it. It helps when the image is naturally a bit blurry. The Patch tool is almost like the Clone Stamp tool except it allows you to make a selection and copies it to another location that you choose. Lastly, the Spot Healing Brush tool allows you to retouch images. You can eliminate small blemishes by smoothing the area.

3) The project of putting myself in an image with three layers probably would've been more precise if I used the Spot Healing Brush tool to smooth my figure as close as I can get to the quality of the image I used. But the tool that I would like to use more and helps me most in my opinion would be the Clone Stamp tool because it allows you to create a pattern or just color an area with a reference in the image.

Homework14.1 Key Terms for MS Excel

Homework14.1 Key Terms for MS Excel

·                active cell - a highlighted cell.

·                argument - used in functions, a part of the function enclosed in parentheses following the function's name.

·                cell reference - identifies the location a cell or group of cells in the spreadsheet.

·                circular reference - a series of references where the last object references the first, resulting in a loop.

·                drag-and-fill - used to fill in more than 1 cell with a formula.

·                formula - used to perform calculations that a calculator would do.

·                formula bar - displays the data or formula stored in the active cell.

·                functions - a preset formula in Excel that always start with the equal sign.

·                label - used in formulas to identify a range of data.

·                marquee -clicking and dragging the mouse pointer over a group of objects to form a dotted line a box around it.

·                range - a block of cells that can be selected, manipulate, named, or formatted as a group.

·                value - when a cell contains a formula, the resulting number shown on the screen is called a value.

·                workbook - the Excel file that stores your information. Could include many worksheets.

·                worksheet - electronic spreadsheet that lets you enter, analyze, and calculate data.

·                worksheet cell - cells in the worksheet used for formulas.

HW15.1 Key Terms for Finalizing a Worksheet

HW15.1 Key Terms for Finalizing a Worksheet

·                bar chart - A bar chart or bar graph is a chart with bars that have lengths proportional to values that they represent. The bars could be arranged to be vertical or horizontal. A bar chart is used to show data.

·                gridlines - lines in a sheet in Microsoft Excel that separates cells. It shows boundaries to help you see the size of each cell. It's 1 pixel wide and you can choose whether they are visible or not. 

·                landscape orientation - a page orientation which the rectangular page is displayed with the length being horizontal and the width being vertical.

·                line chart - A line chart or line graph is a chart that shows data using lines that differ within values that the y axis and the x axis represent.

·                pie chart - A pie chart or pie graph is a chart that shows data using a circle with sections proportional to values they represent. 

·                portrait orientation - a page orientation which the rectangular page is displayed with the length being horizontal and the width being vertical.

LAB 10.4

Lab10.4 USB versus FireWire

Why, when both the USB and FireWire technologies were introduced, 

did the industry choose USB over FireWire?

-The industry chose USB over FireWire because of three things. 

1. Apple demanded a license fee of  few dollars for each PC, which wasn't, economically, able to be maintained. So USB had a chance and had no license fee. Apple dropped the license fee to $0.25 but their former license fee dealt enough damage.

2. Firewire implementations required 5V chips, which was okay for desktop PC's but not for 3.3v laptops. Plus, the FireWire chips would be more expensive to produce as chip die sizes got smaller. Even if the future higher-speed FireWire standard will be a lower-power, lower-voltage implementation, the damage was enough.

3. The first Fire Wire chips produced by Adaptec and Texas Instruments had a lot of problems. Unlike USB 1.1 which had no problems whatsover, just the lack of speed. However, USB 2.0 changed the problem and had increased its speed to match FireWire, with up to 127 devices supported AT ONCE with cable lengths up to 5 meters.

In conclusion, FireWire blew its chance to become big and USB continued to be more popular.

23

A microprocessor is a silicon chip that contains a CPU. All personal computers and most workstations require a microprocessor. Microprocessors control almost all digital devices, from clock radios to fuel systems for automobiles. A microprocessor contains an instruction set, bandwidth, and clock speed. The bandwidth and clock speed are important for a powerful CPU. The more the bandwidth and the clock speed is, the powerful the CPU.

RAM is the acronym for random access memory. It is a type of computer memory that is able to be accessed randomly. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers or fax machines.

DVD is short for digital versatile disc or digital video disk. It is a type of disk technology similar to the CD-ROM. It holds a minimum of 4.7GB of data, enough for a full-length movie. 

Amazon Kindle

Features:

• Could be used as an MP3 player
• Has internet browsing, not advanced but could be used for checking e-mails or simple websites
• Built-in dictionary & Wikipedia
• Add notes, bookmarks, highlights for reading a book
• Newspapers and magazines are delivered in the Kindle
• Text-to-Voice Reader

Price: $399


Even if the Kindle cost a decent price, the price of the books you buy in the Kindle store are recently increasing so people are getting angry about it. People are starting to buy real books instead of books in the Kindle store because some are more cheaper. If the price of the books decrease, the Kindle would possibly be more praised. 
I think the Kindle would most likely replace newspapers but I don't think it'll replace books.


iPhone 4G S
Features:

• New camera — The 8MP camera with simple editing features (crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction), a backside illumination sensor, and larger aperture (for better low-light and white balance correction) make the iPhone 4S's camera one that competes with regular point-and-shoots. It will also come with face detection and image stabilization and the ability to capture HD 1080p video.
• • Faster processor — The custom A5 chip in the iPhone 4S is the same one you'll find on the iPad 2, which means the iPhone 4S will be faster in processing speeds, games, and downloads.
  • More carriers — Since the iPhone 4S is compatible with CDMA and GSM cellular bands, you can use it in more places around the globe. Even on Sprint's network, if you're looking for a change.
  • Siri integration — Apple's new Assistant feature basically turns the iPhone 4S into a voice recognizing personal assistant. The demo during the keynote was impressive and highlighted some interesting uses for the blind, hands-free texting, and more.
  • Wireless syncing — Raise the roof for wireless sync! This will be an iOS 5 feature that will be compatible for the iPad and iPod Touch as well, but I couldn't help but mention the fact that you'll soon be able to set up your devices and get updates without connecting your iDevice to a Mac or PC.
  • Airplay — If you've got an Apple TV, the iPhone 4S will allow you to stream what's playing on your device to your HDTV with Airplay, which is built right into the new iPhone.
• Fingerprint resistant — The iPhone 4S has an oleophobic coating on its glass exterior, making it resistant to fingerprints by repelling oils in your fingers.

The iPhone wasn't that much of an advance from the iPhone 4. It still has no 4G and there are better options with the iPhone 4 than the iPhone 4 S. 

I think however that the iPhone will replace separating devices. 

“What is going to happen if we don’t take steps to protect our environment?”

If we don't take steps to protect our environment, it won't be able to provide us the things we would need. Right at this moment we are hurting the environment for our sake of survival and entertainment. We may not do this on purpose, but we do it because we think that our environment can supply us with things we need all the time. Unfortunately, our environment CAN'T support us all the time. Soon, it will become horrible due to pollution and lack of recycling. That's why we should do our best to help the environment and try to lower the pollution so we wouldn't hurt our environment as much.

The United States should end the criminalization of marijuana, which costs money to enforce, and make money instead by taxing it like cigarettes and alcohol.

My opinion is that the criminalization of marijuana is pathetic. 

People were against marijuana because they were afraid, racist, and greedy.

People were afraid because they believed that marijuana was the devil and that it causes people to become insane and belligerent. They believed that marijuana will corrupt the American population and that it will be the death of them all. 

The only reason why they believe that is because of racism. Marijuana was distributed to the United States from mormons that came back from Mexico. Before it wasn't such a big deal, but ignorant legislators started to blame on the Mexicans and the Negroes when people started becoming addicted to it. That was when the all-out war against Marijuana arise. 

Legislators who hated Mexicans and Negroes did their best to criminalize them by saying that Marijuana made them violent and insane. By doing that, they also made a lot of money just distributing fake information, called Yellow Journalism. Because of Yellow Journalism, people all over the country started believing that Marijuana was evil and started hating the innocent drug. 

Why Marijuana is Illegal - This article shows the real reasons why Marijuana is illegal and it agrees to my opinion.

Ignorance is bliss.

Photos of 2011

A wave caused by a tsunami flows into the city of Miyako from the Heigawa estuary in Iwate Prefecture after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake. You could see how much destruction is going to be made to this city due to the wave. This shows how deadly the tsunami made by the 8.9 earthquake is and how much it affected Japan. 

Sixty-six-year-old Yoshikatsu Hiratsuka cries in front of his collapsed house, possibly because of a lost relative in the debris. It's really saddening to see how much loss citizens had in Japan. This photo shows that the earthquake didn't only take their houses, but their love ones as well.

A man rides his horse through flames during the "Luminarias" religious celebration on the eve of Saint Anthony's Day in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares, Spain. Tradition says that people would ride their horses through flames to "purify" them. It looks really dangerous and something that Jackass would do for a stunt, ahaha.

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, fill the sky above the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The aurora borealis (the northern lights) is one of the most marvelous natural wonders of the world. It is a truly wonderful tourist attraction in Alaska and is seen only for its beauty.

The Nyiragongo Crater, located in Congo, is known to be the world's largest lava lake. I think this picture has a perfect angle for the lava lake, showing the smoke and the insides of it. This lava lake is really beautiful to see, but not so beautiful to feel. Just the sight makes me feel like going inside for a steamy, burning hot bath. 

A motorcycle policeman burns from getting hit by a petrol bomb as his partner tries to help in Athens. Young adults threw rocks and petrol bombs at riot police after riots broke out during a strike. As it looks in the picture, the armor the motorcycle policeman has was protecting his body, but his face shows how afraid he was of the fire. This picture shows how violent riots are starting to get, hurting both the police and the protesters.

A rebel celebrates by shooting his assault rifle while his comrades fire rockets toward the government troops, west of Ajdabiyah, Libya. This shows that they would do anything to liberate themselves from the government with will, courage, and determination. I guess tyranny doesn't appeal to them. 

Visitors wearing rabbit ear headbands watch a night parade held to celebrate Chinese New Year -- the year of the rabbit -- in Hong Kong. This shows that the visitors respect the Chinese culture, or they just want to wear the bunny ears.  

Twenty five years ago on April 26, a number four reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear power factory suddenly exploded. Pripyat, being less than two miles away from the plant, has been consumed by the radiation. Now its being consumed by returning forests, ecological succession occuring.

Anti-government activists clash with riot police in Cairo. Egyptians are protesting to reelect a new democratic leader for their country. This shows how determined they are to their goal by showing the number of riot policemen the government needed to block their protest. The riot policemen are using riot shields and tear gas to maintain the protesters and prevent any violence.

"How can we make this a better world to live in for everyone?"

How can I make this a better world to live in? There are many ways to make this world a better place. People have different solutions depending on what they really want. Most of them want world peace. 

But I think that will never happen, for arguments will always occur because everyone has different opinions. 

Some people, like me, would want the world to be the same. It doesn't need any change.

The world is as perfect as it can be. We, the people are the ones corrupting it. 

So the better question is "How can we make ourselves better for the world to accept us, making it a better world to live in?"

But to answer this question, I would do my best to enhance our technology. Technology that won't hurt the environment and make it beneficial for us humans. It'll will be complicated for all resources that we get comes from either the sun or the earth. 

I wish someone would be able to obtain this kind of technology someday. Wouldn't you want that as well?