Lissa Explains it All

Browser Window pixYour first web site is a step into the brave beautiful world of self publishing, where you can share your ideas, your masterpieces, and, dare I say it, your very soul with the world.

Unfortunately, a lot of the so-called web page builders provided by the free hosting services out there leave a lot to be desired when it comes to customization.

Lucky for you, web design isn’t too hard to learn thanks to web sites like Lissa Explains it All. (This is quite possibly a take off of an old Nickelodeon show called “Clarissa Explains it All.”) Don’t let the garish color scheme drive you off, this stuff can be quite helpful.

Sure, you can use a program that writes the code for you. I’ve used plenty of those myself. However, I’ve yet to use a program where I didn’t have the desire to go in and tinker with the code “by hand.” Sometimes it’s faster and easier than trying to modify the same thing through the program’s menu options. I’ve yet to see anyone learn to use HTML and then regret the time it took.

Leoville.com

circuit boardYou’re in a jam – your computer doesn’t work. It could be a virus, but then again maybe it’s something you accidentally configured wrong. Could it be that your software’s incompatible? Wait … is smoke supposed to come out of THERE?! Oh, if only your user manual didn’t read like it was written in a foreign language!

Fear not gentle souls, for Leo Laporte is here! You may remember Mr. Laporte from the hit TechTV show, “Call for Help.” He’s also on the air in southern California on KFI AM640, a station with more than one decent show broadcast over the internet.

In my opinion one of the best features of this site is the Town Square, a friendly community message board suitable for all ages and full of people willing to help anyone out if they can. When I have a tech problem, this is where I go.

Mark Harden’s Artchive

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Ok, let’s say you’re having a discussion with your students and it leads to an artist whose work is pertinent to the conversation. Unfortunately this spontaneous conversation means that you have no preparation time, and you can’t find the right picture in your Art textbook (assuming you even have one). What do you do? Why, go to the Artchive, of course!

This gem of a resource, maintained by Mark Harden, lists artists my name and by genre. You’ve got a hunt on your hands if you don’t remember an artist’s name or the name of the artwork, but other than that this site is a gold mine for images that are large enough to make half decent 8.5 x 11 prints.

Archived: Art