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Interview Who? Gateway 2000

Growing up, I remember seeing a bulky white computer on our desk with a golden worded logo and a dairy cow patterned box. I decided to Skype my mom and ask her about it. As I predicted, it sure enough was a Gateway 2000 (now just Gateway). She couldn’t remember the exact model, but knew it had to have been from around 1998 or 1999. After doing some research, I believe it was the Gateway 2000 Pentium II that came out in 1998.

When I asked why her and my dad had gotten the computer, she said they wanted to use it for emails, documenting (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), my brother’s homework, and that they had gotten a good deal on it. Gateway 2000 had come from Sioux City, Iowa and they were known for having a pretty good reputation at the time, which would be part of the reason why they bought from them. Additionally, it turns out the company got the dairy cow logo idea from a farmer’s cow that lived in my hometown, West Point, Nebraska. This particular cow’s pattern was seen as “perfect,” and Gateway decided to use it for their logo. Well, the farmer with the famous dairy cow had bought soybean meal from my dad’s company to feed his livestock, and so my parents got a deal when they bought the computer since my dad had “contributed” to the cow’s upbringing. I thought that was kinda crazy. I was actually pretty surprised they never had told me, but then again I was only like 4 or 5 years old and probably wouldn’t have cared back then.

When it comes to other computers during this time, my mom said Compaq and Dell were pretty well known. She also pointed out that computers were sort of pricey back then. That “they were an investment,” and added how “now-a-days everyone has one” and can get some models for a pretty good price. When I asked her what is most different about computers then and now, she laughed and said “no dial-up.” She said how it would be annoying at times if you wanted to use the Internet back then that no one could use the home phone, which of course was used often since cellphones weren’t anywhere close to being big back then. My stepdad who was in the background mentioned how communication and presenting at his company is a lot easier with today’s computers, plus they hold a lot more memory and are quicker. My mom also said “accessibility.” Being able to find any answers with just the click of a button, and being able to do simple things like online shopping. She added “it’s really nice now with laptop computers because you can take them anywhere,” and that “laptops back then were too expensive.” Also, back then you had to print out pictures and now you can just save them on your computer.

Being told and remembering some of these things gave me a brief case of nostalgia. I still remember the white font and black background as the computer started up, along with the famous Windows ’98 tune blasting, which basically shouted to the whole neighborhood letting them know you were using the computer. It’s crazy how far computers have come in a pretty short amount of time. I, of course, prefer modern day computers, but the Gateway 2000 will always hold a special place in my childhood memories.

#interview who?

Watching the Watchmen

http://digitalamericasp17.wikispaces.com/QUANTUMHAND

#watching the watchmen

DT Hall of Fame

http://digitalamericasp17.wikispaces.com/UAVs+%26+Drones

#dt hall of fame

#game makers

Two Thumbs Up For One Ups #2

So I haven’t played a game on my phone for years. The last one was probably when Angry Birds first came out, but I decided to check out the App Store on my phone and see what was new. After looking through numerous games debating on which I should choose. I ended up going with a game made for nine year olds called The Trail. The Trail is a simple game where you act as a settler arriving to the New World. After choosing an avatar, a guide tells you all about the trail, and rules to follow. While walking this trail, you collect various items along the way. These items are anywhere from sticks to pinecones to fur to apples and much more. With these items, you can combine and create hats, coats, hatchets, moccasins, apple juice, etc. This is basically the whole point of the game. You collect items, create useful objects, and choose to either keep them yourself or trade them with others. With trading, you can do this at every “pit stop” on the trail, which is usually just a fire pit and logs around you can sit on. While walking the trail, you automatically stop at these pit stops. There’s no option to keep going, which you wouldn’t want to anyway because it refills your “stamina” (life). Your stamina, by the way, gradually falls as you walk along the trail, and it goes down faster if you don’t have shoes/moccasins or if you have other types of clothing that is worn down. In order to not “faint,” in which if you do you have to buy gold to refill it, you have to eat food (apples, raw meat, cooked meat, etc.) or just try to make it to the next stop. Going back to trading, you do this with other players. It’s best to turn the items you collected into a useful device rather than selling them by themselves. For example, instead of selling two sticks and a stone, you could make that into a hatchet and then sell it at a higher price. Speaking of hatchets, you can use them to cut down trees and collect the logs/sticks to craft toys and small sculptures. Why one would need those? I’m not sure, but they’re sold for a decently nice price. You can even go hunting, which of course they tone down the violence because shooting Bugs Bunny and Thumper probably wouldn’t go well with children. Instead, you build a slingshot (or buy) and once you shoot a rabbit, it just falls over (dies) and fur and bunny legs pop up for you to take. It sounds awful how I explain that, but I promise it’s nothing close to gruesome (see picture below). How the game “looks,” is ok. The graphics aren’t amazing, but this is also a kid’s game so I don’t think that necessarily needs to be at the top of the list in order to be a “good” game in this case. Overall, I really liked this game. It kinda reminds me of a G-rated Far Cry with of course, fewer extremities.

#two thumbs up for one ups

Signals in the Dark

#Signals in the Dark

Going Dark

#Going Dark

Visit Original Link

Podcast #1: A yellow jacket summer

#podify your life

Two Thumbs Up For One Ups #1

After dusting off my Xbox One and controller, I decided to play the Battlefield 1 campaign for the first time. I told myself I was only going to play it for about an hour, but four hours later there I was remembering how much I missed gaming (I hadn’t played in months). I finally decided to quit though because I knew I needed to get some homework done tonight, and I also kept dying every five minutes. But from the start of this game, I was hooked. Not only were the graphics great, but also the overall storyline was super impressive. I knew earlier when the game was first coming out that it was about WWI, but how the gaming writers/programmers laid it out was amazing. It really makes one get a sense of the ruthlessness of war. Right in the beginning, a man is lying peacefully in a cot, but then he wakes up in the middle of a battlefield, confused and shocked. The game goes on to tell us how over 60 million soldiers had fought in “the world to end all wars,” and that “It ended nothing. Yet changed the world forever.” I found that intro very moving and thought-provoking. It made me think of all the lives that have been taken because of war. The game then lets you play in which you eventually inevitably die. After your death, it tells you the name of the actual historical soldier you were portraying, and his/her year of birth and death in the war. I thought this was very meaningful because it kind of tells you this person’s story, and their position in the war, and overall makes it a lot more realistic. That seems to be the main focus the developers were planning. I believe there are five stories to choose from, each being from different countries across the world. I only got to start on one, which was Daniel Edwards’s story as controlling a tank. From what I played I liked the plot/level, but I kept dying at one point, which I’m pretty sure was the last level and I kind of just gave up. I do plan on going back to it and finishing it through though, of course, and the rest of the whole game. There was just one time where I got really annoyed when controlling the tank. I was plowing bullets on an enemy standing right in front of me, and yet the dude would not die! I’m guessing it was some sort of glitch because I was doing everything I could to end the man and wreaking havoc, but he refused to die. Anyways, that was my only “complaint” of the game otherwise Battlefield 1 is great. To me, it isn’t just a game, but also like a history lesson or a reminder of what these men and women went through, and the countless lives lost. The game developers, EA Dice, really gave a brilliant and affective approach to this game, and I look forward to what they will bring in the future.

#two thumbs up for one ups

Digital Time Travel

So apparently I’ve been on Facebook for around 10 years—yikes I feel old—and after looking back (and cringing) on some of my posts throughout the years, I noticed a huge difference on how it used to be. I posted a lot more statuses, wrote on more people’s walls, posted more pictures, and now I’m kinda just like “whatever.” I guess I’m not a huge social media person, so that may be part of it. I deleted my Twitter and Instagram, and only check Facebook every once in awhile. But back then, I was on Facebook on a daily basis. Telling my best friend how I missed her (even though it was like two hours after we got out of school), and what we were gonna do on the weekend. Statuses about what I was doing, what I was going to do, how I was feeling, etc. And oh…the song lyrics. Dear lord the song lyrics *cringes.* Back then, it seemed Facebook encouraged a lot of socialization, not that they don’t do that now, but it was mostly all public. There were conversations right in the public space on Facebook for everyone to read. People that’d write on my wall, I’d reply and we’d just have a full on conversation on my wall page. Now Facebook has private messages, so all the conversations about asking to hang out, or saying they want to come visit, is all in your inbox (usually), or of course, many of us talk through texting. I notice some of my Facebook friends still occasionally do this, but it’s rare. Those things are a lot more private now, and I’m not sure if it’s just because we have texting and private messaging available, or if it’s because it’s considered “annoying.” I, for one, really only post maybe a meme to my friend’s page, or tag them in it. Otherwise everything seems to be pretty private now when it comes to conversations on Facebook. Now it seems my Newsfeed is filled with memes, pictures, funny videos, and occasionally some news article, but I don’t really see as many statuses or conversations, and this could be because of who/what I choose to “follow” as well. Something, that wasn’t available in the earlier years of Facebook.

#digital time travel

Communing with the Virtual: Star Wars

I am a part of a fairly large, private Facebook group that is for Star Wars fans. Although I consider myself a fan, I do not know everything about Star Wars like some of the diehards do, but I really enjoy the series and storylines. This group is all about promoting and fans simply posting and discussing topics regarding Star Wars. This can be anywhere from the latest news and trailers on upcoming movies, members posing in Star Wars t-shirts or dressed up for cosplay, décor around their homes, and of course countless memes. Although this page is mainly all about Star Wars, the admin will [sometimes] allow other sci-fi subjects (see image) on the page if they find it appropriate. Basically, the page just wants all of us nerdy fans to be able to get together to socialize on what we love the most: Star Wars! People comment on each other’s pictures, encourage their new Star Wars t-shirt or tattoo, put up votes like: “Like” for the Dark Side, “Love” for the Force. It’s all a very positive and fun environment. Although, there usually isn’t trouble on this page (at least not that I’ve seen), the admin has pretty strict rules. They do not tolerate people offending each other, or putting each other down. Like here’s an example in their rules guideline: “Rude comments will not be tolerated. Example: ‘Jar Jar Binks sucks ass’ is acceptable. ‘You suck ass for liking Jar Jar Binks’ is not acceptable.” I found that example hilarious, by the way. Mainly, they’re fine with people disagreeing with each other, just as long as it doesn’t turn into insults and threats and all of that. They have other rules/regulations (around 32), and if these aren’t followed or you break any of them you are automatically banned. Out of these 32 rules though, a couple are simply funny. For example, “Always remember. HAN SHOT, GREEDO DID NOT,” and “No Gungans, No Ewoks.” Overall though, they take this group page very seriously. Even if you claim to be the biggest fan in the world, they will ban you if you break the rules. Plus, it’s not about who the “biggest fan” is, or who “knows the most about Star Wars.” These are all types of fans both knowledgeable like the diehards, or not so knowledgeable, kind of like me. The point is, is we all love Star Wars, and that’s all that matters. So if the world were remade in the image of this community? It would look like the Star Wars universe, of course. No doubt. And everyone would most likely have a light saber, which let’s be honest, would probably turn out bad in the end.

#communing with the virtual

Judge releases USA Gymnastics sex abuse files

Earlier this evening, a Georgia judge released thousands of documents containing information on sexual abuse allegations against the USA gymnastics’ coaches over the past 10 years. The records reveal numerous complaints throughout the years towards 54 coaches, but none were banned until they would later be convicted. “One file included a letter that said a USA Gymnastics regional chairman spoke with former President Robert Colarossi in support of allowing a convicted sex offender to keep his membership.” So not only were there numerous complaints, but even the chairman “ok’d” it and let the sex offending coach keep his position. It is also mentioned that another coach only got probation for punishment, and still got to keep his job. Larry Nassar, one of the team physicians, has been accused by over 80 people. Some of the coaches, who were accused, lost their membership and were willing to take legal action to get it back. Even some of the gymnasts’ parents wanted these coaches to be able to retain their memberships. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?! There are so many gymnasts who were assaulted, and yet these parents are ok with it? It’s honestly disgusting. And we all know why they want to keep these coaches. They want their children to win. What other reason would it be? Apparently getting a medal is more important than scarring a person’s life forever *eyeroll.* After reading this article, I immediately thought of Jerry Sandusky. He got away with sick crap like this for years, and some of the school officials didn’t care to report anything because why? They put theirs and the school’s reputation first. They didn’t care about a kid being molested. No, that’s not important, what’s important is making the school and admin look good. To win and to have a respectable front. I just can’t believe some of the parents in this situation with the gymnastics sided with the coaches. The USA gymnastics organization also stated they have banned 37 of the 54 coaches accused in files with 48 being involved in the law enforcement. I really hope all of the coaches accused get banned from the USA team AND get jail time. There is no reason for them to get away with this. This isn’t a “slap on the wrist” kind of thing. This is and should be prison time for all. The sad thing is, is they’ll maybe only have to do around 5 to 10 years, and be out, while the victims will be permanently affected for the rest of their lives by the damage they caused.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/03/judge-releases-usa-gymnastics-sex-abuse-files/98715344/

#blogify the world

Blogify Your Life

So the other night I watched Good Will Hunting for the first time, and wow, that was a pretty moving movie; highly recommend if you haven’t seen it yet. I thought Matt Damon did a great job being an angry, emotional young man who had been through hell. At times I thought he was a complete asshole, but obviously for reasons behind that I will not say (trying not to spoil anything). Robin Williams, of course, always is brilliant and did an outstanding job as Damon’s therapist. How he sees things in life and makes Damon’s character know he’s worth something, it kind of spoke to me (not trying to be cheesy). Even Ben Affleck’s small part in this was pretty good. His talk with Damon towards the end was really powerful, especially for how his character acts. I read a little bit more on the movie after I finished it, and found out that Damon and Affleck had actually written this story themselves, which I thought was amazing. I never knew they had been friends for so long or had written their own movie scripts. Mel Gibson was apparently supposed to have directed it, but dropped out. I tried picturing how different it would’ve been, and if it would’ve been better or worse. Either way, this movie was great and I think everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.

#blogify your life

Hey everyone!

My name is Morgan and I am a senior majoring in English with a minor in Criminal Justice and Digital Humanities. I honestly don’t know what kind of career I exactly want to pursue after graduation (I’m always changing my mind), but I do know I want to leave the Midwest, and I’m looking into living in Charleston, SC. Outside of school I like to hang out with friends, travel, watch sports (football, MMA, hockey, & occasionally baseball & basketball). I also like to play video games when I have the time, as well as read and write. I’m pretty obsessed with movies as well. Some of my favorites are: The Changeling, Alien(s), Saving Private Ryan, The Dark Knight, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and many, many, MANY, more. I’ll watch basically any genre except rom-coms or just plain roms...a person would have to buy me food or drinks if I have to go through that (no offense to the rom/rom-com lovers). Anyways, this is a picture of me and my Dad when we visited the famous beer hall, Hofbräuhaus, in Munich. If you’re into traveling, I highly recommend Germany - beautiful country & culture.

#tutorial

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