As I have already alluded to in the title, I finally decided
where to start with my code-breaking plans. Here is a brief review of my list from last week:
BASIC
C++
JAVA
Python
HTML
(and an added suggestion from a professional
minion-code-breaker: Ruby)
I started to try to research these to see where I should start. Then I started to research the history of computers and the origins of programming. Then I went to the library and took out a bunch of books, since I find paper comforting in times like this. Plus, simply having a book in my possession makes me feel more knowledgeable, even if I haven't actually read the book yet. Or ever. Anyway, I then began to realize that perhaps I was going a little overboard.
While this is not a picture of my actual library books, I did take out Dreaming in Code,
in the hopes that merely having it would help me to dream in code.
I think you're meant to read it, though, not just put it under your pillow. Oh well.
So there’s a button on the top of my blog post as I type. It says “HTML.” I want to know what happens when I click
that button. Wouldn’t learning
about how I’m actually making this very blog be a great way to start my
minion-code-breaking-ways? So HTML
it is…
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, by the way. As far as I can tell, it is the
language that Internet minions use to make webpages. I have sought the help of some actual people who are real-world
minion-professionals (Thanks Nancy!) and have been directed to a newly dubbed “trusted source” www.codeacademy.com.
So I start the free online tutorial called “HTML
Fundamentals.” I was thinking that this is pretty boring, honestly. Here I am, adding the little bracket
things: <body></body> and it’s OK but it seems like an elaborate
ruse to make me think that I am learning more than I am. I mean, it seems like the same as my
Word program, but now there are all these weird rules about brackets, which is
fine but not terribly difficult or exciting. Remember when you could Show or Hide characters in Word? It just seems like that:
<p></p>…boring.
Then it happens. 57% through the series of lessons, my mind is
blown. Here is the trick that did it:
<a href="http://cnn.com">Click here for
CNN</a>
OMG. So this blows my mind for two reasons:
1. It looks pretty badass. I mean, this looks like the type of
elaborate code that I’ve been wanting to crack since starting this
project. Look at how cool it is,
with the href and the = sign:
<a href=”….”>….</a>
Wow.
2. It actually takes me to CNN’s webpage. Holy crap. I don’t think you fully
understand that it takes me to the REAL LIFE CNN WEBSITE. For those of you who don’t know, since
the beginning of my Internet experience, CNN has been the go-to way I have
checked to make sure that the Internet works. Is my Internet connection not working or is it that
particular site that’s not loading? Go to CNN.com. Have
I successfully fixed my Internet connection issue? Go to CNN.com. So when I
created an actual link that worked and a little mini-CNN website appeared in
the tiny viewing box, I pretty much freaked out. Sh*% got real.
(Note, your Internet is working fine, but this is not a working link. I am not that cool yet.)
Since CNN.com is my fundamental definition of “the Internet,”
this bit of code mastery clearly means that I am queen of the Internet.
This is a very tacky image I pulled from the Internet.
However, it has the exact phrase I was looking for all spelled out: "Internet Queen."
I could do without the flashing plant though. And the weird little face in the Q.
Maybe someday I'll learn how to turn those parts off...
