Menudo

    I enjoy Mexican cuisine (who doesn't lol), but one of my favorite dishes is Menudo. It is a dish made with tripe which is not everyone's cup of tea. So this last week while at La Bonita picking up groceries I thought to myself, how hard could it be to just make it myself? So I bought the ingredients and went home to wash the tripe in preparation to wake up early and start cooking it. I invited my brother in law and his family over to try it. For a first time attempting the dish I was given many complements. My wife said it was good enough to sell as a side hustle. My sister in law who was visiting said that although I do not cook often, whenever I do it's really good. I've never felt much in place in the kitchen and I am very lazy about preparing meals which is why I prefer to make simple foods or eat out. I think I enjoy Menudo because I also really like Korean Hang Over Stew (Haejang-guk). My wife who is also Mexican loves Korean food and we believe that they mix well. Probably the reason why there's a few Korean-Mexican restaurants around the valley and especially in California. Has anyone tried either of these dishes? Do you like these kinds of stews? If not, what is your favorite stew or soup?

The Legend of Zelda

    For fans of The Legend of Zelda franchise, we have been waiting for the much anticipated sequel to the 2017 The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. The game won game of the year in 2017 and a sequel was announced in June of 2019. It has been 3 years now and the game was announced to be released in Spring of 2023 fairly recently. Some gaming companies have a bad record of announcing things way too early. We as fans end up waiting for too long and the hype doesn't always pay off. Games like Final Fantasy 15 and Kingdom Hearts 3 were in development hell for way too long and ended up being mediocre at best. I would much rather have a game announced and released within a 2 year time frame with updates and trailers along the way to build interest and excitement. Any fans of The Legend of Zelda? If so which game is your favorite and why?  

    

    

Threaded Discussion: 6.10.1 Presentation Tools

    The useful thing I learned in Power Point is the utilization of presentation tools. I had use Power Point in the past to give training on Army communications equipment and I was unaware of the speaker notes section so I would instead bring index cards to remember key features such as maximum effective range of SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System) can reach. Although it is important to be able to present the bulk of your presentation topic without the use of slides or notes. Even though you utilize a product like Power Point consistently, there's always a new tool or tick to learn that would make it easier to do something. It's worth exploring and getting official training for sure.

Housing

    Housing is becoming more expensive all across the nation and especially here in Las Vegas. My house which I bought in December has already gone up in value by 80k. As someone who recently left the rental life for a mortgage, I can say it is difficult to acquire your own home in this economy. I feel bad for the struggles people are facing in Clark County with the ever increasing rent prices. Rent is higher than most mortgages in most cases it seems. Without living with your parents rent free or having your parents assist you with money for college, providing you with a free car and health insurance it is rough. As a first generation American I have had to work hard to get to where I am at and still have much to go to get to where I want to get to in order build generational wealth to pass onto my daughter and future children.

    Housing can be as high as 70% of the average American's income making it hard to ever get out and pursue a home, further education, and a nice vacation. I feel as though today's generation has it rough compared to the last. My wife's mother was able to arrive in the United States at 40 years of age and not speaking English and was able to work and buy a house. Today's youth are more stressed about insurance and other bills and mental health is at an all time high. Not to be all doom and gloom, some companies have been working to help create more affordable housing solutions. 3D printed homes are one such example. If you didn't have to worry about an expensive rent/mortgage imagine how free you would feel and how much less stress you would have. I feel as though most Americans are a paycheck or two away from being homeless and that is a huge problem. 

    Do you think 3D printed homes could make housing more affordable and available to Americans? Why or why not? Would you buy a 3D printed home?

Elden Ring

    I recently purchased a game called Elden Ring for the PlayStation 5. The game comes from the creators of the "Souls" franchise which is from a Japanese gaming company called From Software. These games are known for their extreme difficulty. The game was recommended from a friend who said: "you're not a real gamer unless you play souls". I have never played a game like this and although I have had little to no time to play due to other responsibilities, I can say it is difficult and unlike other games I have played. The enemies in this game are more intelligent and aggressive. So far I played for less than one hour and have gotten killed a number of times by simple enemies like giant rats or some simple knights. I can see how frustrating this game can be and I think I understand the meme "git gud", which is exactly what you have to do in this game because above all skill is the most important thing. Unlike other RPG's you can't just level your character to the highest level and then cheese your way through the game. Has anyone played a game like this? Do you enjoy difficult games?

   

Threaded Discussion: 5.8 Displaying Data in Charts

    What I learned in Excel is how to utilize charts to display data. I was not proficient in Excel at all prior to this course and have had coworkers in the past create charts to display vehicle and communication statuses in the Army. Now I fully understand how to take information from a table and convert it into an easy to read chart. Charts are also aesthetically pleasing and displays data in a more organized way. With this knowledge I plan to use charts to organize data to help be more organized with jobs in the field of Computer and Information Technology.

Picky eater

    I have a one year old daughter who is extremely picky with her food. She has a thing for textures and will refuse to try new foods. My wife and I have to force her to try something new and she will often spit it out. Currently she like yogurt and most fruits and her favorite food is french-fries, but hates meat unless it's rotisserie chicken or teriyaki chicken. She will be two in August and after a recent pediatrician visit, it was suggested that we take her to food therapy to help encourage her to try new foods. We have tried many different recipes and tried numerous amounts of foods, but she is just really picky and throws her food on the floor off of her high chair. She has no known food allergies and loves chocolate milk.

    Since some students in IS101 may be parents or have experience with children, I decided to post this to see if I can get some tips and tricks on how to get my daughter to eat vegetables and meat. Has anyone ever encountered a picky eater? This could also just be a phase that she will out grow, but as parents me and my wife are concerned that she doesn't want to eat. 

Netflix raising price for account sharing

    Netflix is the number one streaming service in the world currently, with close competitors with Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Peacock. Recently Netflix announced that they are testing feature where subscribers will pay an extra fee for sharing their service outside of their household. So far this is being tested in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru with no word on when this will roll out globally. To implement this Netflix will be using IP addresses, device IDs, and other information about devices signed into Netflix. No more will exist the days where you can share your Netflix account with friends and family for free at least. By doing this Netflix will be able to obtain more customers and revenue that will help them improve their service as well as fund new Netflix Original shows and movies. 

    For fans of anime, Sony acquired Crunchyroll awhile back and they already own Funimation. They began to merge the two services and decided to keep Crunchyroll as the premier one stop source for anime. Rather than try to compete with the already saturated streaming market, Sony chose to target a specific audience. Funimation will be phased out over the next few months as they finish the merger and Crunchyroll will be the number one anime streaming service globally. 

    What are your thoughts on Netflix's plan to charge more for sharing? What streaming services do you use and which ones are your favorite? Any anime fans? If so Bleach (the greatest anime ever) is returning this year with the Thousand Year Blood War Arc animation, which is very exciting.  

Best music streaming service

    In today's blog I would like to discuss what are the best music streaming services by comparing the amount of music, the quality of the sound, the interface, and the features. I will be comparing Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music as these are the services I have used and have experience with. As far as the most music is concerned I believe YouTube Music takes the round as the other music services all require a distributer to provide the music to the service, where as YouTube Music allows artists to add music for free. When it comes to quality of sound I believe Apple music has the best quality, although YouTube Music is a close second. For the interface I would say Spotify has an amazing interface that is far ahead of it's competitors. Finally when it comes to features, they all have great ones. Spotify has podcasts, YouTube Music has music videos, and Apple has lyrics for most songs.

    In my opinion I believe currently out of the three music streaming services I listed above YouTube Music is the best. It also comes free with YouTube Premium if you prefer YouTube without ads. What music streaming service do you use and which one do you consider the best? What are some reasons why you consider the service you use to be the best? 

    The answer to my previous post on "guess the video game franchise" was Street Fighter. Congratulations to the few who answered it correctly. The character I was referring to was Ryu, but yes Ken also uses the same fighting style and moves as Ryu. Street Fighter recently announced a 6th entry in the franchise with a much more realistic artistic style as compared to the traditional cartoony look. I am very excited for the next game in the franchise.

Threaded Discussion: Format a Calendar

    What I learned from Chapter 4 was how to format a calendar using Microsoft Word. I was unaware that Word could be used for so many other things other than just writing a paper. There are several different templates that you can use such as a cover letter, resume, brochure, flyer, and even certificates. The calendar was most interesting to me as I like using a physical calendar rather than a digital one. Knowing that I can create my own custom calendar using Word is great. I have been able to utilize this skill outside of IS101 in that I was able to create a calendar for meal plans and for chores around the house. Being able to post a physical calendar in a common room such as the kitchen or living room helps for all to see.

Guess the video game franchise

    Inspired by a fellow student's movie guessing blog, I decided to do a blog on guessing the video game franchise. In this game you travel around the world via airplane fighting opponents from different countries. The main character can upper cut opponents into the air and throw energy projectiles from his hands and kick you with a tornado style kick. Bonus points on if you can name the character and names of his attacks.

Introspection

Why did I take IS101-3010, Spring 2022?

I took this course as it was listed as an optional class I could take towards my degree plan. I never had any formal digital literacy training and wanted to ensure that I understand the fundamentals. I have learned many new concepts and have obtained new skills by taking this course and I am excited to attempt to acquire certifications and become a certified Microsoft Office Specialist.

What are my proudest moments?

I would say that I have not had a proud moment thus far. When I complete IS101 with the highest grade I am able to achieve and have obtained as many MOS certifications as I can, I can say that I am proud. Just like the professor said before, until we are done with everything can we worry about our grade. I cannot be proud of something I have not followed through until the end. Victory is after the finish line and not before.

Travel

    Over the past years of my life I have traveled quite a bit. I have been to many States including; Nevada, California, Utah, Oregon, Washington, North and South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. I have also visited many countries to include; Mexico, South Korea, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Czech, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. I have also lived in a few of these places. It is great experiencing different cultures and trying different foods. Many of my friends have never traveled outside of just Nevada and California. The reasons I believe is procrastination, fear, and being tied down by material things. Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck because we often find ourselves wanting to live beyond are means. We want the newest car and the newest phone, or we want the nicest house and get stuck working so much to have all of it. We are also a country of debt as we use credit cards to get the things we cannot afford.

    In my honest opinion experiences will always triumph over material things. Buying something new may make you feel good at first, but that feeling will fade and soon you will want to fill that void again with another purchase. It is sad to hear when people wait until old age (retirement) to really explore this beautiful world. Some never end up leaving their hometown. Traveling is not a scary thing, get your passport and plan a trip somewhere, you will not regret it. Traveling will open your mind about the world. My favorite thing about traveling is the food. If you have never gone to Mexico to try real tacos, you are missing out. I plan on taking to my family to Japan next. I want to see Super Nintendo World and see all the cool anime and video game stuff they have. I also want to see the beautiful nature they have and eat up all the Japanese cuisine I can. Life is more than just Las Vegas. Go out and explore and have fun.

Threaded Discussion: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Facts

     What I learned in Chapter 2 is the topic of  Hypertext Markup Language, Cascading Style Sheets, and JavaScript. These web design languages all play a significant role in web designing on the front end side of websites. HTML is used to create the content and structure of a website. CSS gives websites their look and feel. JavaScript is used to make webpages interactive. On the back end of programming a website is where other things such as security and payment options are added to a website. It was an interesting topic to learn about as I didn't know much about the languages that are interpreted by the web browser to create the content I see on the screen.

Threaded Discussion: Rules of Netiquette

     A great topic that I have learned in IS101 at CSN is the Rules of Netiquette. Netiquette refers to rules of etiquette that should be observed while using computer networks, such as the Internet. Writing clearly and concisely without using shortened phrases such as "lol" help establish a more professional presence while online using computer networks on the internet. Writing in all capital letters can come off as angry and rude and should be avoided. I believe that everyone using the internet should avoid being a troll online and understand that their behavior online is a direct reflection on how they conduct themselves professionally. The Rules of Netiquette is a great topic that should be taught in school to help educate users on how to interact with other properly.

Car accidents increasing in Las Vegas

     Car accidents related to both speeding and driving while under the influence have been a rising issue here in Las Vegas. The State of Nevada has reported 382 traffic fatalities in just 2021 which is enough for one person to die each day of the year. According to statistics it was a 18% increase from 2020. Driving is starting to become a very scary thing. There are too many road rages and people always in a rush to get somewhere, as well as people driving drunk or under the influence of drugs. Las Vegas may be a party city, but that doesn't excuse people from driving recklessly while endangering their lives and others. I lived in Germany for 3 years. While there I had to take the driving test for Germany to get both my drivers license for Germany as well as my international license for all of Europe. The way Germans are brought up is to share the road. Passing is only done from the left and slow traffic is moved to the right. Germans allow merging traffic in and use signaling to inform drivers to slow down or move over with flashing headlights or using emergency lights. Germans stop at yellow lights as if they are red and running a yellow light is an offense. It is amazing how different the dynamic is with how Americans drive compared to Germans. Obtaining a license cost more money and the test itself is much harder than in the states. The condition of your vehicle also plays a significant role where as here in the states you just need a smog, in Germany it is a much thorough inspection. The inspectors check your breaks, tire thread, fluids, and much more. License plates are also required on both front and rear of your vehicle and Germans have cameras on every intersection as well as many parts of the autobahn. The police in Germany do not pull you over for speeding. Instead the cameras are set to catch speeding vehicles and a snap shot of your car with plate is sent to your registered address with a ticket. I believe that in order to change the way people drive in Las Vegas is to first implement more restrictions to keep bad cars off the road. The next thing would be to teach drivers how to properly drive and punish those that make offenses by revoking their drivers license and severely punishing offenders who drive illegally. Either way great change is needed all over the United States as no one should ever lose their life on the road.

Japanese Ramen

     One of my favorite types of food is Japanese Ramen. I have tried many different restaurants in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin and by far the best one in terms of price, portions, and taste is Michi Ramen in Henderson. If you are a fan of ramen I highly recommend it. The best thing about this spot is that it's not located in China Town so often times there is no wait to be seated. One of the best sides is the garlic edamame which is packed with flavor. Jinya Ramen has raised their prices and the quality of their ramen has dropped over the years in my opinion. Monta Ramen is a good spot, but the restaurant is tiny and the wait time can be long. Ramen Sora suffers from being too popular and busy as well. Finally I will recommend another ramen spot called Tomi Ramen, they have a Naruto style ramen that is really delicious and the location is not as busy as the ramen spots found in China Town. 

Dimas Chang

     This is my first semester with CSN, IS101 is the only class I am taking physically. I served in the United States Army for seven years and I am using my VA benefits to attend college. After I left the military in 2019 I worked as Help Desk for the United States Airforce for a company called SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) for a year and a half. My IT knowledge and skills felt a bit lacking even though my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was Signal Support Systems Specialist so I decided to pursue a degree. My job focused on a few IT skills such as managing and creating accounts in Active Directory, troubleshooting computers and printers, running CAT5 cable, and operating Army radio and antenna equipment to include SATCOM, HF radios, JBC-P. I transitioned from service to the civilian work force and now I am a full time student. I hope to learn as much as I can while attending college before I return to the work force.