When Graphic Artists get Bored...

Well I was like…WOOOW when I first saw this video. I mean I’ve seen some pretty cool things but these were amazing (well most of them). Some were really dumb, and hard to get, but most of them were simple yet so well twisted in such a cool way! Really, I wish I was motivated enough to do this kind of work!

Which image do you think is the most interesting? Why?

Well, it was hard to pick from all those images. Many just jumped out at me, such as the orange/frog duo, the cow/earth map and the penguin/hockey jersey, but the one that I loved was the KISS Pandas. THOSE WERE AWESOME! Like I don’t really know if there is a deeper meaning to it, but I don’t really care. They just look amazing. I don’t know if those pandas really exist in real life but if they did, I would want their autograph (or paw mark?).

Describe step-by-step how you believe the graphic artist was able to achieve this hybrid image in Photoshop.

Well achieving this effect in Photoshop isn’t really very hard. There are two ways to do this, the long way and short way. The long way would require getting a picture of the KISS group, copying the eye types, pasting it on top, blending it in and such. But the shorter way would be quite easy. First, the artist could use the lasso tool to select the eyes in the shape of the KISS eyes. Then with that area selected, since you can only change that area, he/she can use the clone/stamp tool to clone the black part of the panda’s fur and stamp it on the areas selected. They wouldn’t even have to be too careful if they selected well enough. The selection could also be done using a masking effect. Once this is done, copy/paste the original eyes and it’s basically done. To make it more professional, a few touch-ups could be added. But doesn’t seem like a lot of work!

Facebook and Education...a new partnership?

What do you think about the whole situation?

I think the whole situation was being blown out of proportion by the university. I mean the guy didn’t really do anything wrong. He basically offered tutoring online, where it can be accessed to more than one person. Instead of tutoring one person face to face, he found a way to give help to a lot of people at once. According to the second article from the blog question, there wasn’t even any valid proof of answers being given out.

“Loreto continuously stated there was no evidence that answers had been posted on the site.”

Now if there isn’t any proof, how the hell can they charge the guy? I think this situation is just another way for the teachers to stop the use of online forums for the students.

Do you feel the university is in the right or the student?

THE STUDENT!!!!!!! No way is the university right. They were basically about to expel him for trying to help others out. So far as I’ve heard, people who help others should get rewards, not expelled from school! Also, if the university were scared of people sharing answers, why would THEY support a tutoring program? That’s basically the exact same thing except its not online and that’s supported by the university but this facebook group isn’t. Pure stupidity, it’s not rational, incomprehensible…the sheer thought is unfathomable!!!!!

Do you see how facebook could be used as an educational tool or is it simply a social utility?

Well I knew all along that facebook is both a social utility and an educational tool. Last year one student tried to make a group that would help people who are behind to catch up. This group didn’t flourish as well because people joined, but no one was willing to post any of their notes or answers up. Thus I left the group soon after as I saw it as a waste and I think it’s abandoned now. So it can be a great educational tool but I think its mostly used as a social utility. As a high- schooler, I think that homework takes up too much of our lives and we don’t want facebook turning into a place for homework too. Thus we only use it as a social outlet rather than chance to get help regarding education.

Music Mania Downloads!!!

How do you feel about this practice of downloading anything you want for free?

Lets see...how do I feel? Seriously, I really like it. Like all teens and basically everyone in the world, getting something for free is better than having to pay for it. Sure its not the most moral thing to do but mehh...something is better than nothing. I, for one (out of every million), am actually without any physical listening devices. No mp3, ipods, walkmans, etc. I do have a phone but my laziness stops me from downloading anything onto it. So everything I listen to is form television, the radio and mostly downloaded from some random sites on the Internet. The ever-growing expanse of the Internet has a lot to offer and why not milk it for what its worth. Getting something free, sure why not...if I have to pay...sorry "NEXT!"

Do you have any ethical reservations about downloading software or music? Why/why not?

Err...no. Why would I have ethical issues for downloading for free? Most software is WAYY to highly priced. Things like Photoshop and other adobe software I barely even use, and like if I buy it its like friken hundreds of bucks. That's like wasting money on stuff I'm only using for homework and then never touching again. Might as well get a keygen for it and use it. Then later I delete it anyways so there's no point in buying it.

Music is a whole different story. But even for this, I have no moral or ethical reservations. See the thing about music is that it's a pure money making scheme. Not so much for the artist as for the record producers. Because the record producers give a percentage to the artist but most of it goes to them. This means that we are making some lazy bums rich by just buying their albums. I mean come on, they’re already rich enough without us giving them more money. So I say downloading it is fine and even good to a point because then it helps people socialize…somehow. Seriously, downloading music is like second nature to everyone. Most people have some sort of listening device and so download music on a daily base. To them it’s like checking email or going on Facebook (to all those Facebook addicts).