How effective are online classes? With the rapid advancement of computer technologyrecent years, online education will become a bigger issue. As for my opinion, I do not think there is a general yes or no answer because it is a case by case basis. While online classes may not work in one scenario, it may be perfect for another. For example; a chemistry class has laboratory work that few people have the equipment to perform. Many other traditional classes have fieldtrips and hands-on activities that make learning fun. These activities can not be performed on a computer alone. The good news about online classes is in the case of English of really boring philosophy classes. These classes are mostly reading, so nothing is lost by reading in the comfort of your own home where you can take a break when needed, unlike in a classroom, (especially if you get a "Ben Stein" type of teacher). Online classes are great for people who live far away, or if you are in a small university, (like F.G.C.U.) that has required classes, (but does not offer a lot of the damned classes!). An online class from another university can sometimes be taken for credit. It is important to remember that online classes still have due dates, so don't get too comfortable. In conclusion I think online classes are a good thing. While they can't replace certain classes, they can replace a lot of topics that can be extremely boring in a traditional classroom. It is the 21'st century, and technology is going to have an increasing influence in just about every aspect of life, so its good to analyize different situations.

The videos I have posted are some pretty funny commercials from wolkswagen. I like to have a little comedy in my blog. Check them out.

VW GTi Commercial (Wrecking Ball)

VW commercial with Helga and some sort of mad scientist engineer that deal with "pimped out" rides. Check out www.vwfeatures.com (or www.vw.com) for more info.

VW GTi Commercial (Catapult)

VW commercial with Helga and some sort of mad scientist engineer that deal with "pimped out" rides. Check out www.vwfeatures.com (or www.vw.com) for more info.

Review of Gabriella's blog. After reading Gabriella's blog, I agree with what she said about video games being used as a scapegoat. Another great point is how many parents are never home and have no contact with their children. This is a terrible problem. My parents looked after me when I was a kid, and while they couldn't be everywhere I was, I feel I made resopnsible decisions because they did their job as parents. I also agree with her on the Janet Jackson incident. I personally don't see what the big deal was over her showing her breast, it's probably about as real as her brother's nose. I am happy to see that Gabriella and others see the hyprocracy of the media.

What effect does "virtual violence" have on real life? In my opinion, very little. First of all, the majority of video gamers are in the late teens to 20's, most in their 20's, therefore I don't see how it can affect on kids when they don't play it. The age group of gamers is also the reason why there are a lot of mature game titles. Its because the manufactures are listening to the market demands, not because they are trying to push an agenda. There are plenty of games that are made for younger players. When you compare violent video games to television, movies and music, video games are nothing. I think movies are much more violent and realistic. Many movies have wanton and gratuitous violence, in music a lot of rap songs promote violence and denigration of women, yet the media, (the same media that complains about video games) either says nothing, or in most cases actually promotes it. I think that is hippocratic horseshit. While graphics are getting better on video games, movies are real people acting on film, and are viewed by a much larger audience. I think some of the war games might make younger people appreciate their parents and/or grandparents who are veterans, because they can virtually experience what their parents and/or grandparents experienced in real life. While stories are great, virtual experience gives you a better perspective than words alone. Violent crime has been around much longer than video games. Some people blame games because they don't want to accept personal responsibility or the fact that some people are just plain evil. As someone stated in class,"Did the game Frogger make people go play in traffic?"
I love video games, I've played them all my life, from the Atari to Nintendo to Playstation 2. Violent video games did not yet exist when I was a kid, so my parents did not have that concern. I would not let a kid play a some of the games I play until they are more mature. Video games are just that, a game. It is a fun fantasy that can improve hand/eye coordination relieve stress and have fun. I wonder how many people who complain about video games actually played or viewed them, so they actually know what they are talking about.

Review of worthmoreblog. This person takes a very different look at star trek. Taking a somewhat pessimistic view, the author suggests that star trek is a fantasy for people who pollute to be able to go to another planet when the current one is too polluted. I disagree. As I stated before, I think Star Trek brings out that sense of adventure and exploration in people. It has inspired many creative people to invent stuff to improve lives.

The Wizard of Woz



Steve Wozinak is a co-founder of the Apple computer, who along with Steve Jobs started the personal computer revolution in 1976. Stephen “Woz” Wozinak was born in California in 1950. When “Woz” (as he was called) was 13 he won a science contest for building a computer-like machine, which could add and subtract. “Even in grammar school Wozinak would get so engrossed in mathematical ponderings that his mother had to rap on his head to bring him back to the real world”. (Hackers, levy)
In high school Woz would draw diagrams and when his friends would ask what he was drawing, he said he was designing a computer. Woz and his friend Alan Baum would get computer manuals read them and then redesign the computer to work better and easier.
Woz and another high school friend, Steven Jobs, were the masterminds for beating the telephone system by making their own “Blue box”, an illegal pocket-sized attachment that would allow the user to make free long-distance phone calls. He even sold them door-to-door at Berkley.
Wozniak was working at HP (Hewlett Packard) and did some side work for Atari when he re-met Jobs at Atari. Working at Atari provided side

benefits, Woz went to a bowling alley where they offered a free pizza to any one who scored over a certain level on a coin operated video game. “After a number of pizzas, his amazed companion asked him how he had beaten the game so easily. ‘I designed it’ said Wozniak between spasms of laughter”. (Hackers, levy)
Woz and Jobs designed what would be the Apple I in Jobs garage, then came Apple II and PC’s boomed. In a quote from Steve Paul Jobs he said “Woz [niak] was the first person I met who know more about electronics than I did.” http://ie.cs.vt.edu/~history/Jobs.html Woz received the National Medal of Technology in 1985.
After leaving Apple with $45 million in 1985, people would always ask him for money. Woz had donated about 7 million to charities. Then he developed a company called Cloud 9, making remote controlled devices. He brought the first universal remote control device to market in 1987.
Today, Wozniak is 55 years old and lives in Los Gatos California. It is 15 miles south of Apple headquarters. His kids attend Los Gatos schools where Woz taught 5th grade students and was involved in more charitable activities in the field of education. His goals were to be an engineer and teach 5th grade, and that is what he did.
Wozniak has written an autobiography titled “iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It.” It was released this fall and is now available.
Back in 1976 Wozniak was asked how he thought a personal computer would change people’s lives. He responded by saying that they did believe that computers would fit into every home because of the price and would be used for normal home things, like recipes and checkbook balancing. He didn’t expect the magnitude of the revolution. Millions of lives were affected all over the world. He didn’t set out to change the world, he was just doing what he loved. He made the best product he could. But he did change the world, his creations have exploded.
Woz was also asked about Apple and he said Apple was not the company he hoped it would be. He worked at HP and Apple, but it was HP that was “composed of top engineers and multiple labs full of scientists developing new devices out of physics and chemistry”. http://ei.csvt.edu
Woz still maintains some of the hacker ethics. Since the Viet Nam war and the draft lottery, Woz has never trusted authority even though he has met lots of good people in the government. While Wozniak made the blue box, he was an ethical phone phreak who paid for his own calls. The blue box was used for the real mission of phone phreaking: not to steal or mess up the system, but to find flaws, curious things and secrets the phone company never told anyone about.
It was really interesting studying Steve Wozniak. Not only was he an extremely intelligent person, but he also has a good sense of humor. I wonder what computer technology would be like today if it wasn’t for Steve Wozniak.














Bibliography
Levy, Steven. Hackers. 1984. Delta Publishing
Wozniak, Steve, with Smith Gina. iWoz. 2006. W.W. Norton & Company
The Seattle Times, Business & Technology. Q&A with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. By John Boudreau. April 10, 2006
Srivastava, Manish. Steven Wozniak. http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/WOZNIAK.HTM
Wikipedia. Steve Wozniak. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wozniak

The cult of star trek. A very good question. While there are some devoted fans, and some fanatical fans, some are just bizare. Like the fan who wanted a sample of their blood. Anoyne see that episode of Futurama where the crew went to a planet where the original star trek cast were being held by a obsessed alien fan? I loved the part in the end where the crew was wondering if the alien was all that bad, discussing all the good things he did for them, then Fry says, "And all you had to do was put up with one annoying Star Trek fan" The crew looks at each other and Leonard Nemoy says, "Let's get the hell out of here" Great episode. Star Trek is a good series that I guess gets more attention than Star Wars because star trek was a tv series with movies. Many people are facinated by the future and technology on star trek, but I think what drives people is the sense of adventure. There is a lot to space that has yet to be explored. Like acient sailors who were drawn to the unexplored sea to see what is out there, people want to voyage into space and take a few risks to discover something new.

Inspector's report of Desiree Lee's blog. This person makes a good point about how science fiction has fueled the imagination. Especially the part about medical technology. Advancements in medicine have made life better and more comfortable. A lot of prople have good teeth thanks to advanced technology, compared to our grandparent's generation, who mostly wear false teeth.