CSS

CSS is the best thing since sliced bread. Seriously.

Sure it's a little hard to grasp at first. But once you've linked a series of pages to a CSS, making websites becomes so much easier. Changes you make to one page apply to every page. Yay for innate continuity and fluidity! Not to mention, you don't have to type in code. Everything can be done in a design mode; it's like working in word except for the internet.

Images, links, and tables. They're all so much easier in CSS. I just need some more experience working with CSS, and then maybe my webpages will start to look legit. Yes, I said that.

making a website

As my web design class comes to a close, we have a new project to design a website for a "client". Well, I asked around and my friend, Betsy, decided that she could use a website. She's kind of a spectacular writing, so I'm thinking that the website can be a way to publish her poems or short stories.

But in the end, it's what she wants that matters. Which should be interesting. Not that Betsy is a difficult customer or anything. I just don't have that many skills in web design. I'm a little worried that I won't be able to produce the "website of her dreams".

Just a little worried, though. I have plenty of other things to stress about. Work, school, the usual.

Peace, love, dove,
Alice

Assignment

Actions speak louder than words. And there's not a more apt example of this phrase than the representation of Steve Jobs in Pirates of Silicon Valley. The film details the rise of Apple and Microsoft through narration by some of Steve Job's and Bill Gate's closest friends--Steve Wozniak and Paul Allen, respectively. The depiction of Jobs, in particular, is unflattering. His actions in no way reflect his words; Jobs' hypocritical nature vilifies him.

Steve Jobs has these great, meaningful world philosophies in the film. He's all about creativity, love, and peace. It's very hippie, likely influenced by Jobs' stint at Cal Berkeley--infamous (or famous, depending on who you ask) for it's counter culture, rebellious ways. Jobs is depicted at the beginning of the film fleeing a protest at Berkeley of some kind. Immediately after this scene, Jobs declares his intent to be a revolutionary and change the world. I assumed that Steve would undergo this revolution in a Gandhi-like manner, with peaceful demeanor that supported his supposed values.

But my assumption was incorrect. Once the small, garage-based Apple company--that started as some friends just hanging out and making computers--begins to make an impact, Jobs transforms. His physical appearance changes: he shaves his beard in order to be more "bank" friendly ambition, cuts his unruly, long hair, and wears a suit. Even when Jobs resumes his hippy look--he sports cut off jeans and a t-shirt for most of the movie--it's clear he's already sacrificed his personal values in order to succeed.

Or maybe they weren't truly his values at all, rather an idealistic musings. Because just like his physical appearance changes with Apple's success, Steve's personality changes as well. He yells. And yells. And yells some. He ridicules his employees and demeans them; he starts an inter company feud between two project groups. All his peace, love, dove philosophy that was result of his world experience and the basis of Apple is forgotten. The pinnacle of this demonic side of Jobs is his refusal to father his daughter. He ignores his former girlfriend and won't even provide child support. The idealism is gone...and all that remains is hypocrite. ***

**An essay for web design.