It feels like yesterday when the semester just started but, alas here we are the final day. I didn’t know what to expect at the start but, I found myself discovering new things and ways to do them. In my last recap, I commented on actually learning how to blog since this was my first experience consistently doing it. As far as my grade I don’t want to spend too much time discussing that but, I do believe I earned at least a B to B- for my work. I may not be the most reactive in terms of commenting back but, the work I’ve done I think is produced well.

Besides enjoying the freedom of working on your own time the thing I particularly enjoyed about this class came at the end when we started working on our websites. From laying the groundwork with my mmm.page it helped with adjusting to full webpage construction. Along with being introduced to the DS106 Repository and learning new skills there, I think I have a good foundation for what’s to come in my major (computer science).

Since building my first website at safehaventhinks.com I feel like if I keep working on these types of projects I could eventually make a hobby or a business from it. I do intend on continuing to work on my site since I really wanted to make it a part of my overall business structure.

Keeping a similar color scheme to my other site thinksafehaven.com I used a black/red/white look throughout.

For my about us page I wanted it to be less of a personal profile and more of a blog/idea station. I’ve uploaded a few posts already titled “Moments in Time” coinciding with different events in pop culture that are currently shaping the way we view the fashion industry. It’s essentially just a few of my takes on current events with the ability for others to share their thoughts through a comments section.

Here is an example of what one of my posts looks like. I did find myself having a little trouble working with the page editor but, I figured it out mostly with some tinkering.

This is what I know I’ll be spending most of my time working on since this is supposed to be the main focus of my site and there are a lot of changes that need to be made for it. It is operational now and you can sign up for it but, as you can see it is still very bare bones and needs a paint job. I started looking for youtube videos on how to edit my PHP chat and there’s not much information I found on it surprisingly. I  did come across one video that seemed to help but, it was still a little confusing.

Of course, I included the standard contact me page for all inquiries but, Im not sure if it’ll stay. I may want to have a more streamlined way for direct contact like something included in myphp chat.

1. Assignment #1: What’s making me happy on the internet?
2. Assignment #2: Making a GIF and CT101 so far…
3. Assignment #3 – Are Memes Art?
4. Assignment #4 – The Passion Blog
5. Assignment #5 Digital Storytelling Project Flexibility
6. Assignment #6 – MMM Good and Figma Woes
7. Assignment #7 – Middle of the Road
8. Assignment #8 – The Domain Name Game
9. Assignment #9 – Domain Registration Process
10. Assignment #10 – Constructing My Domain

Initially, I didn’t know what I wanted to create my page around so I figured I’d see what I could do with each page for starters.

I began working with the mmm. page and instantly found its ease of use and interaction with your page pretty addicting. It didn’t take too long to figure out how to edit the page so I explored.

For some reason, I thought about a prior conversation about vintage and underrated cars and decided to make my page a showroom. First off, I named my page midnightclub.mmm.page after one of my favorite racing games.

From there I found a backdrop of a showroom and “filled” it with a collection of some of my personal favorites from vintage to more modern. I also added a hyperlink to some of the best/most anticipated cars coming out this and next year in the “top cars for 2023” area.

After messing with mmm for a while I checked out Figma. This was the opposite experience from mmm as it’s very confusing on how to even get started. I’m sure there’s a lot there but, the way it’s structured makes it hard to maneuver through the site.

How am I doing in CT101?

I think I’m doing ok in CT101 but, theres definitely room for improvement. I try to watch back the lessons that I may miss part of or just to get an understanding of the assignment. Even though I am still working through some of those assignments I’m almost caught up with everything. One thing I know I have to work on is keeping up with my posts and responding to comments.

What have I learned and retained the most?

I never blogged before as much as I have this semester so one thing I can say I retained was that ability lol. Even the aspect of telling a story through images is something Ive gotten better at. Also to some extent my troubleshooting has gotten better since having to learn how to format different types of media in order for it to function.

What new skills have I developed, cultivated and displayed regularly in my weekly posts?

I try to incorporate all the necessities in my weekly posts whether it be GIF or hyperlink. I usually try to create my posts to be quick and to the point like a synopsis but, still apply the storytelling techniques that we were taught.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

Before taking this class I was unaware of the history of things like blogging and meme culture. Something that seemingly came out of nowhere was actually an idea started long ago that we were late to the party for. I also learned a lot about AI and the different programs available using that feature.

What grade do I believe I am maintaining and why do I deserve that grade?

I think I’m hovering around the B- area since I have turned in the majority of my assignments and I participate when I can. My work shows growth throughout each assignment.

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain why –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

I feel like my posts have been expanding creatively especially when discussing more personal topics. It was easier for me to expound on my ideas about my passions per se instead of drawing on personal experiences for other topics. I do feel like I have a formula when writing my blog posts which may lead to a bit of sameness to them.

Are there any assignments that you are missing? If so, list them.

Right now the only assignment I’m missing is number 6 because Im having trouble conceptualizing what i want to do for my pages.

Assignment #1: What’s making me happy on the internet?

Assignment #2: Making a GIF and CT101 so far…

Assignment #3 – Are Memes Art?

Assignment #4 – The Passion Blog

Assignment #5 Digital Storytelling Project Flexibility

Are you commenting regularly on your classmates posts? Are you responding back to comments given to you by the professor & your classmates?

This is something I definitely need to work on because I don’t respond to comments as often as I should.

Are you participating during the class time? If not, explain why.

I feel like I participate during class time when I can but, there aren’t many opportunities to do so. Primarily because I usually chime in during our history breaks instead of during instruction time.

When first hearing about this assignment I initially thought it’d be complicated but, after setting it up it’s a pretty straightforward process. We’ll be using the site reclaimhosting.com for this project.

When first thinking of domain names for my site some of my first thoughts were what would symbolize a community based site that promotes the expression of ideas. After running through names like thinktank, ideahouse,  my namesake lcollins and a tie in with my clothing site safehavenblog. I finally settled on the simpler safehaventhinks.com. With this site I wanted to have an open source chat feature and I’m also exploring options on the submission of user creations.

My worries are of course potential bugs and possibly the need for moderation or restrictions. I’m excited about having a domain but, when you have so many options on where you want to take it its difficult to stick to one focus. I don’t want my site to end up cluttered with adding to many things.

Youtube probably tops the list for me though as I still find myself going through rabbit holes of information I never thought I needed to know. Plus things I’m generally interested in usually have around 500 different people talking about it so there that. A lot of my learning comes from youtube (for better or worse) as it is my first stop for every how to. For My site I actually wanted to borrow elements from both youtube and instagram to make like a user friendly creative factory lol.

For my new domain I want to design it around being the hub for social interaction and the exchanging of ideas under the umbrella of my main line SafeHaven. With that in mind I present you safehaventhinks.com

I want it be a small glimpse into my ideas while also keeping a similar dark aesthetic to the brand. For the social aspect I was going to add either BlaB or phpMyChat but, Im leaning more towards phpMyChat since its open source allowing for more interactivity.

After watching the feature video for wordpress Twenty Twenty-Three, I decided that would be my best option in terms of wordpress customization. The other options I searched through on reclaim hosting didn’t offer as many features.

For the assignment I can do on my own I chose making an animated GIF- get off my porch because it’s a good way to work on my editing skills. As I was working on it I found myself having trouble figuring out how to add an image to a GIF. I felt like this would be something we’d start to work on in class so it would be good to learn now.

So I went through the process of finding my image and uploading it.

Then the somewhat tricky part was adding the GIF process but, I figured it out pretty easily. In a few short steps I was finished and I learned a quick new skill that as I continue to work on will allow me to create more elaborate projects.

However, my finished project is supposed to represent the disappointment

of watching the NBA put more of a focus on theatrics and drama than the actual skill of the players.

The topic I chose that I’d like to work on is code assignments – make a simple program. I chose this because it’ll be a good introduction to my computer science major.

I’m sure this will be part of what I’ll have to learn, which would help me since I know little to nothing about how to code. The assignment page offered a site to help, but I was still a little confused.

Getting a basic grasp of such programs like Java and Linux would help, but I’m sure it’ll take time to get the hang of it. In the future, I hope to be able to code animated and possibly interactive media.

It all started with this picture that was taken around the late 2000’s. There’s many reasons why this picture is iconic but, everyone’s attention was focused on the footwear a young Kanye West was wearing. Although I didn’t know what they were at the time I knew i needed them.

Unfortunately everyone else did too and so began my interest and eventual passion for style and fashion culture. Although cliche it really is a way to express your creativity and individuality. Along the way I found inspiration from such designers like Kim jones, Virgil Abloh and Wes Lang.

The way designers like these changed the idea of whats considered luxury fashion not only generated a lot of influence for the community but opened doors for young designers who can now professionally enter a space once thought impossible. It was in high school where I really went all in and started gathering pieces from different brands or just going to the stores to get a feel for what aesthetic and vibe a particular brand is going for.

Of course my style changed over the years and developed with the help of my influences, I eventually learned a bit of sewing and starting working on SafeHaven my clothing line. Its become my pet project now that at first started  as my creative outlet.

Memes have become an integral part of modern communication, particularly on social media platforms.They have become an important way to express a wide range of emotions and are incredibly effective at conveying a message quickly and succinctly. In preparation for this post I read two articles that both touched on the idea of Memes now being viewed as art and how they are used in how we relate. In Cassandra Lucas’ article she spoke on memes being able to bridge gaps between generations using humor and messaging while, Alice Bucknell  believes that same messaging    can be used nefariously.

They are often used to comment on concurrent events or pop culture phenomena, making them particularly relevant and relatable to their audience. This is especially important in a world where attention spans are increasingly short, and people are bombarded with information from all directions. Memes allow individuals to express their thoughts and opinions in a way that is both entertaining and accessible. Similar to this notable moments calendar that allows us to easily remember what story dominated the headlines for said month. 

Memes are often shared across cultural and linguistic boundaries, allowing individuals from different parts of the world to connect and relate to each other while also serving as an effective way to address serious issues in a lighthearted manner. By using humor to address serious issues, memes can help to engage a wider audience and raise awareness of important topics.

(Ahem)

However, it is important to note that memes can also be used inappropriately or maliciously. In some cases, memes can be used to spread hate speech or perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

In conclusion, memes are a fun and effective way to convey messages quickly and connect with others on a global scale. While they can be used to address serious issues and promote positive change, it is important to use them responsibly and to be aware of their potential negative consequences. As the internet continues to evolve, memes will likely continue to play an important role in shaping the way we communicate with each other.

I didn’t know what to expect when I elected to take this class so I had no idea what to expect from it. Its necessary because of my minor in communications technology but, I was looking forward to seeing what it was about.

A few weeks in and its become one of my favorite classes primarily because of the flexibility of it. Especially after last class’ discussion on staying relevant to the times and it being okay to use your imagination when working on assignments. This is definitely a better change of structure then the formulaic way of my other classes.

I’m looking forward to whats to come in this class though as its already kind of forcing me to be a better blogger (which is good!), I’m ready to see what else I can work on.

Since we’re focusing on GIF’s this assignment it reminded me of an article I read before on NFT’s. Essentially Beeple was the first notable artist to take his art digital and sell it as “1 of 1” copies. Thus taking a idea and making it exclusive to make a profit. How ironic…

Well for starters I don’t know how many of you are basketball fans but, the G.O.A.T. just became the all time leading scorer passing Kareem’s 38,387 point record.

Aside from that, I recently found out that another season of “Your Honor” had released. Its a really good show about a judge(played by Bryan Cranston)  who essentially has a complete character change after dealing with a series of events stemming from his son being involved in a hit and run. Ironically the victim of the accident was the son of a mafia boss. It airs on Fridays on showtime but, with everything going on I haven’t been able to keep up with it like I’d like to.