powerpoint >> I have started using it again

I expect anyone who knows me will be very surprised that I have started using powerpoint as both something to teach as well as a tool for teaching (not that much).
for the last 3 or 4 years I have been getting new year 7 pupils to create presentations (& e-portfolio's) using dreamweaver and flash. this year however I went back to what I was doing a few years ago and to my surprise the level of pupil application knowledge was more limited than previous years.
I think that it is from using social networking sites like myspace, bebo, and the like as very little user input is required (templates are the norm). very few pupils even consider layout except if there is a wizard for them. I don't have a big problem with these sites as if nothing else the have broken down the fear factor of computer use with the under 18's.
going back to powerpoint has actually made pupils consider how to construct/design a good presentation as well as making sure that content is the most important thing of all.

poor content can never be dressed up to produce anything worthwhile what ever software application you use. one thing hasn't changed I really have a problem with custom animation I hate it, it doesn't make things better!

candyjar >> & I don't want an iphone

I was having a look round cyber-land when I came across this blog dave ward (candy jar). as you may know I work a lot with adobe illustrator and to a much lesser extent adobe photoshop with the work I do with students and the web design work I do for educational stuff. the blog has got some pretty good help and information on both illustrator and photoshop short cuts, so could be very useful for some.


I am currently working on another major web re-design where some of the work can only be done on illustrator (well I cannot find anything that is better) but the strange thing is that all the work for is being done is on pc (well on a reasonably powerful pc laptop).
it does all the things I need I would prefer to use a macbook pro but it is not the cost but simply that the network at work is microsoft driven (oh well) so to use a mac would be difficult.

so I am not at all anti mac (or apple) but having said that I don't want an iphone, having found a phone that suits me just fine. so I will be staying with the blackberry I have on orange.