Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Computers, Grammar, Spelling


Computers, Grammar, Spelling

Grammar, a simple concept that holds a language together and allows people to learn and understand verbal communication. Spelling, similar to grammar but different because spelling is the rule about forming individual words. Computers, machines that original were used to compute data and create a specific result depending on the programmer's command. Together these three - grammar, spelling, and computers – allow for the modern day man to pass ideas from one end of the plant to the other in a matter of seconds. However, unlike ten years ago the abbreviations are no longer as useful or needed because the internet is cheaper meaning that the amount of time we spend spelling out a word doesn't typically cost more than typing out the abbreviation. Using the abbreviations in today's culture isn't as valuable and now they're beginning to corrode the structure of the English language. Phrases like “cya” are shorter version of “see you” which in itself is slang, and so more people are becoming confused by the complicated abbreviations like “roflmaopp” which really mean “rolling on floor laughing my ass off, peeing pants”. The English language has an immense vocabulary so lets not limit it to acronyms when there are at least ten that mean the same thing. Abbreviations are not the only pitfalls that most writers on the internet fall into, poor spelling is another big and easily corrected problem. This problem brings to mind a personal story I've heard from a relative; down at the insurance office where said relative works one of the employees actually got into a disagreement over an obviously misspelled word. Now the spell checker underlined the word in question but the human on the other end who was the top graduate in her high school class thought she was right. She called my relative over, who happened to have a dictionary with them, to reinforce her opinion that the spell checker was wrong but after my relative saw the word it was quite apparent that the spell checker was very right. This story was a great example of people lacking the ability to not only spell but to recognize that the word they used was misspelled regardless how butchered the word was. Spelling is by far the easiest of the problems to fix but grammar is what takes plenty of learning and practice to be efficient. The usage of there, they're, and there is the most common example of misused and tortured words in poor grammar. Subject-verb agreement is another pothole in the road that writers drive through and then wonder why they're story sounds so awful. The easiest remedy for grammar is to go read books and many of them. So as a result of poor grammar, spelling and substantial use of the internet and computers are on the rise and confusion plagues many readers. Thankfully for the most of us there are tools to help us and people to turn to but beware of extensive use of inappropriate grammar and spelling will draw the attention of the Grammar Nazis. Therefore I leave you, the reader, with some advice English is the language of the country you live in, learn how to use it properly.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Advocation

This is proposition advocation and just what am I advocating for?  Well there is a very short list that I truly care about advocating for but improving computer and digital literacy is a must for technology to progress beyond our current means.  So therefore I believe the logical course of action would be...


I am advocating for improving computer literacy!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Screenshot!

So, my desktop tends to be very straight forward and nothing over the top or flashy is open when I'm actually working.  I've noticed that sometimes I've got music playing, but most of the time I will have the text document at full screen and only that program running.  As for composition in digital space there is hardly a difference from the older method of pencil and paper, or even a typewriter.  The major differences in composing in a digital medium consist of mostly fancy features like special fonts or characters.  Something that is not shown in this particular screenshot are the compositions that I frequently work on using the program GarageBand™.  Music is very much a composition and with the digital tools available to the masses there are new works daily for public and private audiences.  Understanding these composing tools takes time and effort and the end result can be breath-taking or steaming pile of crap.  Most programs and tools now-a-days come with help files that are there for your disposal, so if you don't understand some of the tech jargon search either the web or help file to find out just what those phrases really mean to the average joe.  Perhaps I'll link one of my compositions for you all to enjoy...