Social Networking

Social networking has become a major problem for many people today. Social networking is a time consuming chore that many people are composed to do. I find social networking a time wasting device that is dumbing down the American youth. There are many social networking sites online today like Twitter, Face book, MySpace, and blogging. Each has several hundred million followers that will go online several times a day to check there mall or update their status. It is quite easy to connect to one of these sites just by typing in the name http://www.facebook.com/ or going to Google that will give several hundred sites. Online social networking has also affected many of to days youths grades and GPA average. Because they would rather spend all night online messaging there friend or updating the status and not studying for their major exams that would be coming up.

            Social networking also has an upside to it. Social networking can allow people to find old friends and meet new ones. Social networking sites will allow people to message between themselves instead of using expensive texts and phone calls between each other. This can also lead to stockers, rapist, and identity theft. Social networking is a place for cyber bullies and pedophiles that will abuse the social networking sites for their personal amusements or devious deeds. That is why I believe all social networking sites should be careful watched by the government and also by the children parents.

Special Effects

This is a picture of how I created a lightning bolt with a lens flare effect in the program After Effects

Many of us have seen amazing effects in movies like realistic explosions, time travel portals, and much more. But do we know how they are actually done? Some people think that, because of technological advances, it’s just click, click, done! Or that it’s something that can be learned from just reading a book and following instructions. In actuality, it can either be a very arduous, frustrating process or a very fun, awesome experience. Being a beginner, I don’t know how to use all special effects programs but the one I found to be the easiest (and best!) one is Adobe After Effects. With this program you will be able to learn basic techniques such as compositing, blending modes, keyframing, and much more. I really recommend this program for beginners because once you are able to learn some of the very basic techniques, you will be able to create so much with. For example, you can animate a 2D character and even create simple 3D shapes and animate those as well! Of course, using this program alone won’t get you very far in the Visual Effects industry but it is a great first step!

Here is a video I created using the program to set my computer on fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11jPE1tlFk

Forever Young I Want to Be

I love being young. Most of the kids I know or graduated with say they can’t wait to grow up and get away from this despicable town we call Kingwood. I think being young rules, like honestly I see my parents go to work six or seven days a week and it looks awful. Right now I complain about working four to five days a week but my paychecks go directly to whatever the heck I want to spend my money on. Being young is awesome; I don’t have to worry about paying for anything but gas. Another thing I love about being young is the fact that I still have all of my high school best friends still around. I mean of course they are off at their own schools but when there is a break from school or its summertime I get to spend as much time with them as I want. I understand that someday I’ll have to grow up and be a “responsible adult” who works 40 hours a week but right now I’m going to experience new things, laugh as much as I can, and stay out till 4 a.m.

http://www.wikihow.com/Enjoy-Being-Young

Why Not Assemble It Yourself?

This is one of the two custom computers that I have assembled. It is now the family workhorse.

Every time I hear someone say how much they paid for a pre-built desktop computer, I cringe. What’s even worse is that they think they are getting a good deal. The best deal you can get on a desktop computer is if you build it yourself, period. Everyone tends to think that building a computer is hard; it’s not. Actually, it shouldn’t even be considered “building”, as all you’re essentially doing it putting it together. I’m not naming names, but there are computer companies out there who will happily charge you a premium price for “building” your computer. This is what they don’t want you to know! First, you select compatible components, then, given you selected compatible components, you can have your first computer built and running in less than three hours.  (I shouldn’t mention it, but an experienced system builder can have one together and running in less than thirty minutes!) Not only are you going to get a much, much lower price if you build it yourself, but you are going to get the satisfaction and peace of mind knowing that every component in your computer is really what you paid for. So, how do you start? There are many how-to videos all over the internet, which was how I learned. You can buy computer components on many different websites, but you’ll need to shop around to find the best deal and get the most for your money.  I gave a link to a website that I have always found to have the best deals and fastest shipping on components. I also recommend checking out my how-to video series on Youtube.(Link below)

www.youtube.com/user/DifficultyisEasy

www.Newegg.com

This is the first computer that I ever put together. It has never crashed after over a year heavy use.

What's Up With Wal-Mart?

I don’t know what it is, but every time I go to Wal-mart, I see things that make the fashion police run for cover. Sometimes when I walk into Wal-mart, it's like I stepped into a time warp. At my local Wal-mart, we even have an Elvis look-a-like dressed to the t. I didn't even know Elvis was alive! More often than not, customers of Wal-mart dress in clothes that don't match or they are too little and revealing. Please people, check your mirror BEFORE you leave the house. I don't mean to imply that everyone that goes to Wal-mart dresses bad, but for some reason there are more interesting things to see, like the circus. I am not the only person that has noticed this, there is a website dedicated to the people of wal-mart. Check out the link for yourself. http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/  
 

Tea Time

My daughter’s 8^th birthday tea party in our home.

My very first cup of tea was at a quaint little tea room in Bellville Texas in 1982. It was a blistery cold December day. I was staying at my aunts house for Christmas break. She wanted to introduce me to the art of tea. I remember the steaming cup of Earl Gray, delicious lemon bars, the smell of rose petals, and adult conversation with fondness. That afternoon at the little tea room I had a passion sparked in my heart, a passion that I still carry 29 years later.

I have kept up the practice of ‘tea time’ in my home and with my children. We used to have tea time every day when my children were little, then once a week as our schedules grew more hurried. Today we have tea a few times a month, or when a special occasion or mood calls for it. I yell out that it is “tea time” and the glow begins. We set out or special tea cups. We all have our favorite cups and tea flavors. We put out small snack to go with our tea. We put on classical music and we sit and talk about our day and thoughts in our heads. It is a very calming experience.

I have used tea time to introduce classical composers, artists, read classics like Aesop and Dickens to my children. Tea has broadened mine and my children’s world. Tea teaches manners and etiquette to children, nothing settles a rambunctious little boy down like putting fine delicates in his hands. 

 A cup of tea meets us right where we are. If you love antiques you can not help but fall in love with all the pretties used for tea. If you want to take a moment and build memories with your children, tea is a must.  If you want a moment of solitude, tea supplies. If you want to entertain or comfort someone, again, tea does not disappoint.

If you hear the call of tea beckoning to you, take a moment and pour a hot steam cup and enjoy the beauty, grace, and tradition tea offers.

The tearoom in Bellville Texas: 

http://www.teafortwotearoom.net/