Scratch Day 5: Conversations

For the conversations piece of this unit, I created this project by focusing on the "broadcast" feature, rather than using the "wait" block excessively. For remixing the penguins, I merely changed most of the "wait" blocks to "broadcast" and "when I receive" blocks. If I were to describe broadcasting to someone, I would say it's the feature of allowing sprites to have realistic feeling conversations with one another, that would take less time than trying to figure out how to put "wait" blocks in the project, and for how long. Timing would be used if the conversation between the two sprites was not going back and forth, if there was more action in between. Broadcasting would be used if the conversation was straight back and forth between the two sprites.

Scratch Day 4: Characters

The "make a block" function made using Scratch a lot easier. As we learn more and more about the tools available in this program, I've found it has only gotten smoother to work with. If I were to explain "make a block" to someone else, I would say that it is a combination of pre-set blocks that can be condensed in one block. And because that one block saves, you can use it again in future projects without having to make that long combination again. One might use "make a block" if the characters in the project were doing something repeatedly, like dancing, or if you were having them do something that looked really nice on the program so you may wanted to save it for later.

Scratch Day 3: Debug It!

1. Debugging was a lot easier when I could see the script so going online and looking at the script was a great way to discover what had to be altered. This was a useful strategy to me, and having the ability to really interact with the scripts and easily undo any mistakes was also beneficial.
2. Sometimes the best way to learn how to debug a project, especially when you have no idea on what to do, is to experiment. You can move things around, see what would happen if you changed the script, and sometimes you'll discover what you need to alter in the program in order for it to work. I discovered one of the solutions to the "debugs" below by simply experimenting and see what would happen if I took away all but one of the "turn 90 degrees", and that turned out to be the solution.
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Scratch Day 2: The 10 Block Challenge

1. Having the ability to only use ten blocks on a Scratch script helped me figure out how each of those individual blocks worked and how rearranging blocks, even in the slightest way, can completely change the product.
2. The ten block challenge didn't really restrain any ideas I had since I'm so new to Scratch. With a project that isn't involved around creating something with only ten blocks, it would be useful to be able to use more blocks as to get more out of the program. I don't know enough about Scratch to not see the benefits of using more than ten blocks.

Scratch Day 1: Introduction to Scratch

1. Nothing with scratch was too surprising. I was surprised to see that over five million projects have been shared, especially for a site I haven't heard of before today.
2. Going step by step when first being introduced to something is beneficial when what you are doing is especially hard, but with my background of doing different activities online I think I could have done without a tutorial for scratch. I still think it was helpful, however, because it basically is an overview of all the basics of scratch, which is good to hear when you're first starting out.
3. As a learner, I prefer to have structure when certain guidelines need to be met or when we're first starting out a new program. Freedom and creativity come when I've mastered the program and I don't need to be looking off a piece of paper for help. I think once I've learned the ins and outs of a program it's easier for me to make the most of it.

The Big Sur of California Webpage

California's Big Sur

Information on history, top destinations, and landmarks you can't miss!

Unarguably one of the most placid and picturesque places you'll find on the west coast .

About the Big Sur

It isn't just one place, one destination... the Big Sur is the region of California that stretches along the coastline from the Caramel River to Monterey County, about 90 miles. The terrain provides stunning views, so it is a popular destination among travelers.

A map of the Big Sur, stretching along an extensive region of California's coast.

History

The name "Big Sur" is derived from the Spanish name, originally calling it "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", meaning "the big country of the south". These names are referring to its location in the Monterey Peninsula. Some of the first inhabitants of the Big Sur were Native Americans, specifically the Ohlone, Esselen, and Salinan tribes. The first Europeans to see the land were Spanish mariners, lead by Juan Cabrillo. In 1769, the first Europeans set foot on the Big Sur, nearly 200 years later. Portolá established the town Monterey, which became the capital of the Spanish colony Alta California. The Spanish colonization devastated the Native American population. Most tribe members died out from European diseases or forced labor and malnutrition at the missions in the eighteenth century, while many remaining members assimilated with Spanish and Mexican ranchers in the nineteenth century.

Destinations to Visit

Nepenthe Restaurant

The food here is more than adequate if not up the standards of a gourmet, but Nepenthe is not just about the food. The Big Sur coast views and laid-back ambiance are Nepenthe's strength, overlooking some very scenic terrain.

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is a National and California Historical Landmark, located on the Central Coast of California, near San Simeon. It was designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947 for William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. The Castle features 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world's largest private zoo. Zebras and other exotic animals still roam the grounds. Some specific parts of the castle were built over as many as three times to please Hearst, such as the Neptune pool, pictured above.

The 17-Mile Drive

This drive through California's coast was popular even before automobiles had been made. It began as a carriage road for guests at Monterey's Hotel del Monte in the 1880s, being known, even since the very beginning, for its magnificent scenery. You'll see beautiful beaches, wildlife such as seals and sea lions, the famed Lone Cypress, astounding mansions, and the legendary Lodge at Pebble Beach.

For more top destinations and history on the Big Sur, go to:
Things to Do in the Big Sur
History of the Big Sur

HTML Assignment 5

Western USA

Some of the most surreal destinations are found in the western end of the US. Check out the list below to see if you've heard of any of these spots.

• Antelope Canyon, Arizona
• Oneonta Gorge, Oregon
• Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington
• Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado
• Zion National Park, Utah
• Yosemite Valley, California
• Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
• Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii
• Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
• Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska
• Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
• Northern Lights, Alaska
• Bryce Canyon, Utah
• Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
• The Wave, Arizona
• Sequoia National Park, California
• Thor's Well, Oregon
• Palouse Falls, Washington
• Glacier National Park, Montana
• Na Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii
• Devils Tower, Wyoming

Eastern USA

While the Western end of the US has some beautiful destinations that can't be beat, the eastern region shouldn't be overlooked, harboring some of the most scerene mountains, state parks, and the well-known Niagra Falls.

1. Watkins Glen State Park, New York
2. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
3. Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee
4. Niagra Falls, New York
5. Savannah, Georgia

Central USA

Whitaker Point

Arkansas

Badlands National Park

South Dakota

Hamilton Pool

Texas

For more information on destinations in the USA and more, go to Surreal Places to Visit Before You Die