Web Gems are interesting websites that I believe should be shared for everyone to see.
12/14/11 — At Freestyle Academy we focus on learning computer programs like Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Many times I want to go beyond what I learn in class. I first go to Youtube, but the videos there typically lack quality audio and visuals. I found out about lynda.com from my mom, who uses it to stay up to date with graphic design and internet trends. Lynda.com has a library of hundreds of videos which can be accessed through a monthly subscription. The videos range on topics from SEO marketing to creating 3D models in z-brush. Beyond standard "in class" training, I believe that Lynda.com is one of the fastest ways to educate yourself about a new computer program.
11/2/11 — Vector Tuts+ is another software tutorial site I found online. Everyday tutorials are added that relate to creating projects with vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator. I often go to this site when I want to learn how to create a realistic image using a vector program such as illustrator. The tutorials are all free and made by professional graphic artists. Personally, I believe that looking at professional work and going through tutorials are the most efficient ways of becoming a stronger designer.
10/24/11 — Abduzeedo is a site that I found when I was looking for Photoshop tutorials online. It is a blog site where daily ispirational photos and tutorials are added. The reason I like this blog over others is that it has intuitive navigation and straightforward design instructions. Also, all of the tutorials are added by the same person to maintain consistency. During junior year of high school, I checked Abduzeedo regularly for new uploads. I am inspired by work off this site, because I can utilize similar styles and techniques in my own projects.
12/10/11 — I am big into gaming and staying up to date with the latest and greatest game releases. IGN is a news site that releases the newest details of new games and movies coming to the market. In addition, they have movie and video game reviews, game cheats, game-play walkthroughs, new game trailers, gaming news, and a YouTube video playlist. In the past few years IGN has grown in popularity because they provide free and easily accessible content. Recently I have been on IGN to gain information about the new Star Wars MMORPG, The Old Republic. All of their content is up to date and provides top notch information about whether or not the game is worth to buy. Gaming has become a large part of our society, not just as a way to kick back and relax, but also a way to communicate with others. If anybody wants to learn more about a game or movie, I strongly would recommend going to IGN.
11/29/11 — Pandora is a fairly popular website and most people know about it, but if you do not, it is a free music streaming site that lets you listen to full songs of any genre you like. You do this by creating personalized music stations tuned to your liking. For example, you can enter your favorite music artist, like Van Halen, and then Pandora will randomly play songs from similar artists. Not only do you get to listen to your favorite songs, but you can also discover new ones. Without Pandora I would have never found some of my favorite bands today. Usually I listen to Pandora when I want more song variation compared to my ipod with the same old songs. Also, when I am working on a computer project, some good motivational rock music can really pump me up. I would suggest Pandora to anybody who wants to broadden their music variety.
11/16/07 — Have you ever wanted to create a rap, but couldn't think of words that rhymed well? Today, your problem is solved with rhymezone.com. On Rhymezone when you enter a word your will receive a list of words that rhyme or sound similar. I use RhymeZone when I want to easily create rap songs with my friends, or work on poetry for a class assignments.
Put on your thinking cap.
And then,
Write a few lines of a rap.
You should go there right now.
See your work,
And be like "wow"
This was the worst rap ever.
11/16/07 — I am a huge fan of strategy games, and for the past year my favorite game has Starcraft 2. Starcraft 2 is a step up from its predecessor Starcraft 1, a beloved space game enjoyed by millions. The fundamental idea of Starcraft is to quickly and strategically train an army and then crush your opponent with it. What Starcraft is known for is its demanding style of play, where you have to make reactionary decisions and control your army perfectly in order to survive. For many, Starcraft is serious business and played for a living by competing in sponsored tournaments. To become the best, players work on their strategies and train their APM (Actions Per Minute). The exciting fast paced gameplay makes for interesting videos to watch. In free time I watch the best rated games, usually between players like oGs_MC and MarineKingPrime who display an exceptional level of skill. So, if you are a strategy game fan I would strongly suggest going to GomTV and watching their latest videos.
11/07/11 — Armor games is a free site containing hundreds of free flash-based games. Every week, new games are posted ranging from simple puzzles to elaborate adventures in medieval times. Most games are rated on a scale from 1 to 10 and played by millions of other users online. There are many other alternative online game sites similar to Armor Games, but I strongly believe tht they lack content quality and post games that are not even worth playing. Usually I go to armor games to relax in my spare time, and get my mind off of school work.
