The Cobbgoblin speaks on Digital History

Last Reflections on Digital History

thecobbgoblin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:34:36 +0000

Digital History as a class actually is a great idea. This isn’t just to suck up and pretend that I enjoyed everything, this is actually how I feel. The projects we did were unlike anything else that college has offered me.

That being said, the projects took up the entire semester, and indeed have the look and feel of an entire semesters worth of work. But for the last four weeks, all of the groups were presenting every week the same thing that had been presented the last week with little or minor edits to the project itself. The presentations were great for the beginning of the semester when each week brought something new and exciting. After everything was set up, however, everyone seemed to sink into a repeating cycle of showing small change on the site with talk mostly concerning the back end that wouldn’t actually be displayed.

While my part in my group was almost mainly back end features that would tweak the display, the updates lost their flare and browsing the internet became a release for a slight distraction. Also I personally feel as though the beginning of the course with all the “wonderful tools” that were displayed to us, was giving us just enough information to be dangerous. Before taking a Digital History class, one that has a high risk of touching html code, SOME kind of computer coding course should be taken.

We were not supplied with the best version of the timeline program, and because of that we were limited to what we could do. It was if they gave us a rather large pool and said “Look at this amazing pool we have given you, swim and be happy.” To which we responded “How do you do that?” Then they said “How dare you ask us about such an issue, you start learning how to swim and maybe we’ll get back to you… probably” then pushed us in to watch us drown. So we didn’t really drown, but we weren’t very prepped for the task at hand. Instead we were wowed with the gizmos that Google was so kind to develop and then kept strung along by a list of “I’ll get back to you” emails which did not really help the case.

I guess what I’m saying about the class is, that a crash course in simple coding would be a lot more benifical to the class and students as opposed to learning about the cool things YouTube has on it, or watching random trailers. Yes, the class wouldn’t not have been as crazy fun, but it also would not have been over almost all our heads.

Lastly, my involvement in my group’s project. In the ending weeks of the project, I did feel myself slipping out of the work schedule and into inactivity. I had single handedly figured out the video code that was crucial to the timeline we were going to use. What I had forgotten was that there was still work to be done. It was then that my group members decided to inform in a very subtle manner that there was still work to be done, and I should be helping with it. I lucked out to have a group that was able to accept my appology ( with the condition being that I read more Bullet articles) and I was able to get back on track. The group on whole did have our few arguments, but our site looks great, and we all had a part in it.

Devil Goat Day…. What’s Up with that?

thecobbgoblin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:32:56 +0000

So while trolling through the Bullet archives most of the articles I found dealt with Devil Goat Day. Or… actually, just the rivalry between the Devils and the Goats throughout the entire year. That seems not to be the case anymore, and I hafta say, that sucks. There seems to be so much more school spirit in the past years. Apparently your Devil or Goat status was more important than your 9:30 class ( but not Digital History). My big question is, why the change? The new Devil/Goat Day is fun and all, but what happened to all the competitions? We like to pride ourselves as a school that loves tradition, I mean, look at our by-laws. They haven’t been changed since the 60’s… when we let guys in the school. If we’re so big on tradition, why can’t we have that Devil Goat fun that used to exist?

I keep on forgetting I have this thing.

Its a Small World After All

thecobbgoblin — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:20:28 +0000

To start, I would like to apologise for lack for not posting sooner, the internet at my house was down so posting becomes quite difficult without it.* So I went to Disney World this past spring break. The entire trip itself was amazing, one might even say magical. Yet during my visit to the Magic Kingdom** I was still able to get something close to work done on the Alumni Project.*** A woman approached me and asked if I went to Mary Washington.**** Just before our brief encounter ended, I was able to ascertain***** her name and email address so we could contact her for the website.****** The rest of my trip I spent with Mickey Mouse and the gang gallivanting around the Wonderful World of Disney.

And now your moment of zen.

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*Impossible from my home location actually

** Ruling leader Mickey Mouse? Mickey Mouse the Forgiving?

*** Believe me, it was purely accidental

**** Austin Cobb, proven once again to be kind of a big deal

***** Awesome word, well said*******

****** Basically I make friends EVERYWHERE

******* Thank you!

OH EM GE, The Cobbgoblin remembered that he has a blog?!?!

thecobbgoblin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:09:13 +0000

So I just realized that I have a blog that I should be utilizing. So here goes another wonderful Cobbgoblin post. Recently for the Alumni Group we’ve been compiling our site together using similie as our timeline program. One of the bigger points of the timeline is the addition of videos INSIDE THE BUBBLE!!!!* The concept of placing a video inside the timeline even baffled some of the best minds at the University** it came down to your friendly neighborhood Cobbgoblin to figure out how to place the video inside the timeline bubble. Now I bet you’re asking yourself “How did he do it?!”*** Well I have the answer. So for those of you who need this code go right ahead and use it, and all that I ask is somewhere on the site you add a point that you were helped by TheCobbgoblin. Now you’re asking “Well, when is he going to give us the special code?!**** Here it is for those of you who need it*****

So right after the area where the description is placed, add this code into the html.

Video:

<

/param>

Also, make sure that you have a column titled “video” inside your spreadsheet, or else the code will not work. Also inside that video cell you must add the part of the YouTube video embed link for the video. But be warned, using this code will cause a video section to pop up in every timeline bubble, a small price to pay for the ability to add videos to the timeline.

No zen.

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* Much better than outside, ya know?

** Or just the DTLT

*** Short answer, I’m awesome

**** Be patient

***** James Monroe group, not really for you

A Timeline Worthy of Cobbgoblin Praise

thecobbgoblin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:08:50 +0000

So in Tuesday’s class the part that was of most use for my group, or so I believe, is the function of the time line based in google spreadsheets. This will allow the time line to be edited by users after we’re done with it, which contributes to the information and timeline’s permanence on the web. Even if the original site becomes outdated, at least the code for the site will remain.

I actually have to agree with Matt’s post concerning del.icio.us, and it being pretty much useless. I have tried numerous* times to use the digital bookmarking site and I personally would rather just use my own bookmarking system and be done with it. I do however understand the implications that come from a digital bookmarking system in which I can share with my group the sites I’ve found that relate to our project. That is helpful, but I would like to hear from some of you who have utilized the bookmarking site,** I sure hope its going better for you.

In Cobbgoblin related news, I lost my iPod. I’m not sure how many of you actually have lost yours before, but its pretty much the end of the world, or losing an appendage. So as of recent I have spent my time browsing ebay for an iPhone. But here is the catch, I don’t wanna pay more than 60$ for it. Mainly because I can’t allocate*** the funds for such a purchase. Basically what I’m saying is as of today I’m starting the “Buy Austin an iPhone Fund.”****

And now for a very history moment of zen.

Excelsior!

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* So like twice

** Not Dr. McClurken… I’m almost certain he knows what he’s doing there

*** Man this word a day calendar is AWESOME!

**** For details***** please see Austin.

***** Details cost about 5$ apiece.

Blogging While In Class… That’s How The Cobbgoblin Rolls

thecobbgoblin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:46:53 +0000

SO, let me start off by saying I received NO belated birthday wishes today… its alright, you all will get yours in the end. But now, the in class lecture today seemed to take about an hour and fifteen minutes, yet only about 5 or 10 minutes of the lecture seemed relevant to our projects. Its just kind of frustrating to be, like I said before, shown all of these tools but not really have any idea how to use them in our projects. Dr. McClurken is, at the moment, refuting this post and pretty much making it debunk. But we’ll see what happens on thursday I guess.

No zen for today.

A Now Year Older Cobbgoblin Speaks on Digital Tools and Whatnot

thecobbgoblin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:52:35 +0000

As the title suggests, yesterday was indeed my birthday.* I am now 22. That, however, is not the purpose of this post. ** The purpose is for me to speak on the tools used, and how much I’m impressed with them, or how I’ll think they shall be used. I’ve already started using del.icio.us to bookmark sites for my senior thesis, so I guess that’s started to come in handy.*** What really baffles me is Omeka. Actually to for me to be fair,**** this class as of now just feels like we’ve been thrown a ton of tools and are now expected to use them. I’m not sure how everyone else feels, but I kind of get the sense that we’re all just talking like we know what we’re doing. I have an idea of what my group is going to be doing, but projecting those alumni****** online into a time line without a greater understanding of HTML code******* is a daunting task.

That’s all I have for now.

And now for your moment of zen.

Excelsior!

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* I expect belated birthday wishes in class

** To be fair, it really was.

*** By started, I mean, thought about using it

**** I never really play fair, life to me is a lot like monopoly*****

***** Or as I call it “How Much Can I Cheat and Get Away With It”

****** Yes, the “Close Talker” from Seinfeld is a famous Mary Wash Alum

******* Nerd speak

A Cry for Assistance from your Neighborhood Cobbgoblin

thecobbgoblin — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:37:06 +0000

As I wind down my college experience, my largest concern pertains to the daunting task of writing my senior thesis on a popular culture topic. So I figured with all of us crawling* the web doing our other school work**, that if any of you come across links that pertain to my topic I would really appreciate it if you could send it to me via delicious. My topic is looking at American single life from 1970-1990’s through the sitcoms that portrayed it, Three’s Company, Cheers, and Seinfeld. Yeah, that’s pretty much it, thanks guys!

And now for your moment of zen.

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* Or surfing, or trolling, or as I prefer going on a “Web Safari.”

** Lets be serious, we all do this… in fact, I’m almost certain that some of you have that window open right now.

The Cobbgoblin’s first thoughts on the Adventure into Digital History

thecobbgoblin — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:43:13 +0000

So I’m going to start off this process with being honest. I took this class because after speaking with Dr. McClurken* about the class I was informed that the class would not have as much reading as the other seminar classes offered. Also, Digital History has a base in American History, so that’s like a two-fer for me. But now after two classes I can honestly say that I am interested in the work we’re going to be doing. Even if I have no idea how we are going to publish our thoughts, processes, or actual work. But that’s kind of what makes the entire process exciting and fun. Either way there’s a good chance I’m going to learn something here, which makes everything alright in my book.**

So, what I plan on getting out of this class? Well the answer is a better understanding of Digital History, as well as an even greater ability to use the new “Web 2.0″.*** But the real question I know all of you are asking is, who is this mysterious Cobbgoblin, and why do we want to hear his thoughts on Digital History? Well, I’m Austin a senior History Major**** at Mary Washington. I am a part of the swim team, show choir, and fraternity.***** Also I enjoy; the occasional video game, reading a book, and doodling when I’m supposed to be taking notes. Also, I tend to reference wikipediain most of my history classes, I feel as its my way of making the site a tad more credible. So I hope y’all have enjoyed getting to know me and my thoughts on this class so far, as I have creating this post.

And now for your moment of zen.******

Excelsior!

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* This picture is in serious need of an update.

** My book being titled I’m Kind of A Big Deal: Life and Times of Austin Cobb by Austin Cobb, that’s a patent pending by the way folks.

*** Web 2.1 is still in Beta.

**** You kind of hafta be, to be in this class right?

***** Stalkers, fans, and mothers’ daughters take note, because I’m not repeating this again.

****** This is the part of the post where I show you something interesting or funny that I found on my travels on the world-wide-web.