Wider Blog

So a while back, I wrote a post explaining why my blog was so narrow,and why I wasn't going to change it. Well ... I changed it. The reasons or leaving it narrow, accessibility for people will smaller screens, still exist. However, I finally decided it wasn't worth it anymore, because it was narrow that I had to shrink every photo and make all youtube videos a special custom size.

Another reason that was delaying me was the template I have. I really like the way it looks, it's nice and simple. But it's also no longer offered, because it's so old, and I was hesitant to change it, fearing I wouldn't be able to get it back. However, I realized that I have the option to manually edit the html of the template, so I just went in and increased the width myself. I think it looks better, and will be easier to use in the future. Any thoughts? Yay, nay?

Edit: Finally finished resetting all the video sizes to fit the new width. I think they look better, though it seems to dominate the text.
 

Lack of Posting

I haven't been posting much in the past couple weeks, for which I appologize. This week is finals week, and it's been pretty intense. I'm currently half done with exams, got 2 more tomorrow before I'm free. For now, I'll leave you with this.




 

Don't Believe Everything You Read

Abraham Lincoln was a wise man. He once said: "The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" -Abraham Lincoln, 1863.

Or so a friend of mine posted as her Facebook status today a a joke. The funny part is, she fooled someone. Below is a screen cap of the conversation, Purple is my friend, Blue is me, the rest are friends of her's.



 

Ramen Noodles

Have you ever seen someone eating Ramen Noodles and thought to yourself, damn, that looks tasty! Wish I knew how to make them. *sad face*

Well now you can! With 1 easy payment of 2 and a half minutes of your time! Just click on the button below to get started, watch to the end, and you will be making Ramen Noodles in no time!



I made this video for my CE 399 final video project. Yes the beginning is a weird grayscale, but it's not before I uploaded to youtube, so it's their problem, not mine.

EDIT (4-26-11):
The videos were graded half by instructor and half by peers, and the video that was graded the best in each section won a small prize. Those winners were announced today and ours won! I am now the proud owner of a very nice thermos with Purdue University emblazoned on the side.
 

5 Common Design Creativity Blockages, and How To Fix

I was working on homework for Intro to Systems Design today. It's what I like to call an administrator course, one which looks good on paper and makes the administration feel happy, without really being useful to students. The first question on the homework really demonstrates that. It goes:

Discuss 5 common blockages to design creativity and what steps can be taken to reduce their effect.

I'd like to share my first answer, which I was convinced not to actually submit by the fact that my grade is hovering between two letters at the moment:

Political Opposition: Fix the ballets and elect someone who will support your project.

Lack of Sleep: Coffee and Red Bull.

Environmental Concerns: Burn down the entire forest ... then there's nothing left to be concerned about.

Outdated Regulations: Talk to the county regulator, and if he doesn't prove cooperative, see above "Political Opposition", above.

US Patent Law: Bomb the US Patent Office, while simultaneously hacking their data center.
 

Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover

I was walking home today from McDonalds, and I happened to pass by one of the bars that cluster near campus. I wasn't really paying attention because I was thinking intensely about a conversation I'd had a few minutes before (which may be the topic of another post, if I can sort out my thoughts). I ended up walking right on the edge of the sidewalk, a few inches away from the storefronts. Just as I was about to pass a door, it opened and two biker-looking men stepped out. Big, grizzly, each covered in tattoos. I couldn't really go around because there was the wall to my left and the door in front, and they were then exiting towards me, on my right. I waited for a few moments and to my surprise, on noticed me standing there and realized that the door had blocked me because of his exit. I Immediately looked chagrined and said, "sh**, I'm sorry man! Didn't mean ta' cut ya' off!". He then pushed the door closed quickly so that I could get going again faster.

It wasn't anything terribly significant, but it just made my day, because it was courteous when the guy didn't need to be. So thank you, random biker!
 

Starwars, Star Trek, Why Must We Fight?

I watched Fanboys the other day, and I enjoyed it. The one thing that frustrated me was the animosity between "Lucas Hounds" and "Trekkies". Why can I not be a fan of both?

I friend sent me this today, and I felt the need to pass it on.