Cracking the Code

Hello my friends from the web! We just got back from an excellent week long Fall Break, and as you all know, that means goodbye to Quarter 1, and hello to Quarter 2. Before we know it, its going to be Christmas! After that, just a few more months until summer vacation! But I'm getting ahead of myself. For know, lets focus on what's happening here in room F-101. As you've probably gathered by the title, it has something to do with coding. That's right folks, we are learning how to write code. Watch out! Make sure to check out the link list at the bottom, it's going to have some great articles, and
an online coding course! So anyway, before all of this caffeination wears off, (teaaaaaaaaaaa) I'm going to start this post!

So, to begin today's post, I'm going to explain the reasoning behind why I think everyone should learn how to code. Coding is basically a set of written instructions used by computers or a program to do something. It's important to know how to code because we live in a world controlled by software. As this article from the Guardian explains, "We are already living in a world dominated by software." (Why Every Child Should Learn to Code, Crow) I'm going to link to this article, you should definitely check it out! It really puts into words what I'm trying to express, probably a lot better than I can. In America, over 1 million jobs are unfilled, simply because no one has the technical knowledge to fill them. Coding is a great door opener. No matter what you want to do, coding is a great skill to have, so check out a class, or take the online course, An Hour of Code. This site will also be linked.

I have actually coded before this assignment. It was covered it a little bit in my science class last year, so I had a basic understanding of how it worked. However, in this class, we have gone more in depth, so I got to expand on my previous knowledge. I really enjoyed coding, and moving through lessons. I would like to continue to learn more about coding, and continue to learn more about this important skill. Coding is so important, and understanding it puts you ahead of the rest of society, because we are so dependent upon technology.

If I could design any project or game, I would want to design one of those addictive games that you just can't stop playing. It would be fun to watch people get hooked of something I created. I mean, that sounds kind of evil, but when you think about it, creating a game that everyone plays, and can't stop playing would be pretty cool. An example of those kind of games are the ones like Candy Crush, or whatever, that pop up on Facebook. I would make the jingle a little less mind-numbing, though!

Okay, sorry this post was so short, I'm kind of rushing to finish at this point, but I hope you enjoyed! IF you have an extra couple of minutes, (which I'm guessing you do if you are reading this) check out the great sites I've linked to. Dan Crow's article for "the Guardian" perfectly describes what I tried to explain, so check it out. Also cool- Code.org's great program, which is the site we used to step into the world of coding, and this article from "Code Conquest" which explains coding really thoroughly, if you still don't get it. See you all next time, and if you have any questions, just comment below! Bye!

Psst- Links!

• Dan Crow's Wonderful Article!
• An Hour of Code
• What Even Is Coding, Anyway?

My Humorous Monologue

HoeselM_Comedy from Kapaa Middle School MEDIA on Vimeo.

Hello, great internet peoples! Today I'm going to finish off where I left off and tell you guys a little more about the comedy project I wrote about last week. As of this intro, I have not yet finished the monologue, but by the time this post is up, you will have a lovely, hilarious video to watch. About cats, of course. I'm very excited to share with you this final week of Comedy Monologues, so let's begin!

To start off this week's post, I'm going to explain a little bit about what I have learned from this project. This has been a very fun project, albeit a little stress, which is bound to happen, of course. I really enjoyed learning how to write a joke, even though I kind of failed at it. I'm funny in bursts, random bursts of humor, not in concentrated joke material way. Throughout this project I expanded my knowledge of iMovie, which is kind of a given. I also learned more about my sense of humor, and what makes me laugh.

In this paragraph I am going to explain what pad is, and why it is crucial to use it. Pad is the three seconds of nothing until the action in a clip starts. You don't see it in video a lot of times, because it's edited out. It's crucial to use it because if you don't, than the camera will likely cut out the first few seconds of video. Pad has saved me from losing parts of my monologue, and it only takes about three extra seconds. In our class, we start by saying rolling once the camera starts filming, and then action after a few seconds have gone by. Yay pad!

Throughout this video, I have learned a little more about my weaknesses and strengths regarding film making. A few knew weaknesses of mine include actually being funny. As I've said before, I AM funny, just in bursts, not in the way it takes to write a comedic monologue. I liked the way my project turned out, but I would have liked to work on it more. However, as they say, "An artists work is never done, the deadline arrives." I am a strong writer, so the writing in my piece was good, it just wasn't all that funny. I also believe I had some strong B-Roll shots, and I am overall happy with how my final turned out.

I know this post is a little short, and a little rough, and a little less funny than usual, but I am honestly just happy that this quarter is almost over, because I am exhausted! So I'm going to sign off now, and leave you with a few words of wisdom... bring salt, burn the bones, and watch the Impala. For those of you who got that reference, I love you, we should be bestest internet friends. Now goodbye to all, and enjoy your break if you live here, and your last few weeks of school if you live somewhere else. Or maybe you already had break. Or maybe you don't get a break? I don't know, but enjoy no matter what situation you are in. I love you all, don't kill the internet while I'm gone!