August 2024

01

World Wide Web Day

In honor of World Wide Web Day on Aug. 1, read below as Eric Moreno, A.S. Web Designer, shares a behind-the-scenes look at the process of developing an A.S. website:

By Eric Moreno, A.S. Web Designer

World Wide Web Day is a celebration of the impact the web and other web technologies have had on the world since its inception in 1989. Such technologies significantly improve interconnectedness and enable us to share information at a rate that was simply impossible prior to their development. About 5.4 billion people use the internet worldwide [1], and that number is estimated to rise to 7.9 billion by 2029 [2].

Developing a website is a long process consisting of design, proofing, coding, deployment and maintenance. In this article, we’ll focus on proofing and coding, which can be repeated several times before the website reaches deployment. The upcoming A.S. newsletter redesign, which will be available next month, is a great example of this process.

During design and proofing, the A.S. graphics team develops several design ideas and as a team, we chose our three best designs. These designs are presented to the various A.S. departments as proofs. They then review the proofs and chose the design they prefer. This stage takes several months.

Once a design is chosen, the process then moves to the code stage. The coding stage has two main parts: client-side (or front-end) and server-side (or back-end). Front-end development (the side people interact with), typically includes HTML, JavaScript and CSS. These tools have different tasks: HTML generates the structure of the website, CSS determines the appearance, and JavaScript implements functionality. Additionally, we can use libraries (pre-written code) to enable additional functionality.

To allow us to create dynamically-generated content, we include server-side technologies such as PHP, SQL and databases. Using the A.S. newsletter as an example, each newsletter is generated from a file that pulls articles from a database when the user selects a specific month. This is possible because PHP and SQL allow communication between the browser and a database on the server.

Additionally, developers must uphold web standards. Web accessibility is particularly important, as it ensures disabled users can access information with the same ease as other users. Some users don’t use the web visually — they instead experience the web using sound or touch, accessing information via screen readers or braille machines, respectively. The WCAG and WAI-ARIA standards describe how code communicates with these machines to provide the user with information, whether that’s describing the document’s structure, describing an image or reading text. Web accessibility standards are ever-changing and it is the responsibility of web developers to keep themselves and their websites up to date.

The combination of these technologies often results in thousands of lines of code across many files. The code below is what is used to add the A.S. logo with hover effects to a web page:

I’m excited to show everyone some of my own web development skills with the September issue of the A.S. newsletter. You can expect a complete redesign with an improved experience and commitment to accessibility.

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/
[2] https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/internet/internet-statistics/

02

National Farmers Market Week

National Farmers Market Week is happening from August 4-10 and is the perfect time to visit one of San Diego’s many farmers markets! Enjoy fresh, local produce while supporting our community's farmers. Whether you're a regular or new to the farmers market scene, check out the delicious and unique offerings available at one of San Diego County’s farmers markets:

Sunday

The New Point Loma Farmers Market
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Point Loma High School, 2335 Chatsworth Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92106

Hillcrest Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
3960 Normal St from Lincoln Ave. to University Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103

La Jolla Open Aire Market
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
7300 Block of Girard Ave. at Genter St.
La Jolla, CA 92037

Rancho Santa Fe Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 9: a.m. - 2 p.m.
Del Rayo Village Center
16079 San Dieguito Rad
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091

Leucadia Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Paul Ecke Elementary
185 Union St.
Encinitas, CA 92024

Santa Ysabel Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
21887 Washington St. at Hwy 78 and Hwy 79
Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

North San Diego (Sikes Adobe) Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead
12655 Sunset Dr.
Escondido, CA 92025

Solana Beach Certified Farmers Market
Sunday: 12- 4 p.m.
410 South Cedros Ave.
Solana Beach, CA 92075

Monday

None.

Tuesday

Coronado Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 2:30-6 p.m.
Coronado Ferry Landing
1201 First St at B Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118

Chula Vista - Otay Ranch Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 4-7 p.m.
2015 Birch Road and Eastlake Blvd.
Chula Vista, CA 91915

Pacific Beach Tuesday Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 2-6 p.m.
4500 Bayard St. from Garnet Ave. to Hornblend St.
San Diego, CA 92109

San Marcos Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 3-7 p.m. (Spring/Summer)
Tuesday: 3-6 p.m (Fall/Winter)
251 North City Dr. (off Highway 78 and Barham Drive)
San Marcos, CA 92078

Escondido Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 2:30 p.m. to sunset
262 East Grand Ave. at N Juniper St.
Escondido, CA 92025

Mira Mesa Certified Farmers Market
Tuesday: 3-7 p.m. (February - October)
Tuesday: 3-6 p.m. (November - December, closed in January)
Mira Mesa High School
10510 Reagan Road
San Diego, CA 92126

Wednesday

Little Italy Wednesday Certified Farmers Market
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
501 W Date St from Kettner Blvd. to Front St.
San Diego, CA 92101

Ocean Beach Certified Farmers Market
Wednesday: 4-8 p.m. (April - September)
Wednesday: 4-7 p.m. (October - March)
4900 Newport Ave. from Cable St. to Bacon St.
San Diego, CA 92107

South Bay Certified Farmers Market
Wednesday: 3-7 p.m.
4475 Bonita Road
Bonita, CA 91902

Carlsbad State Street Certified Farmers Market
Wednesday: 3-7 p.m. (March-October)
Wednesday: 3-6 p.m. (November-February)
2900 State St. from Carlsbad Village Dr. to Grand Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Santee Certified Farmers Market
Wednesday: 3-7 p.m. (March-October)
Wednesday: 3- 6 p.m. (November-February)
9600 Carlton Hills Blvd. and Mast Blvd.
Santee, CA 92071

Thursday

Oceanside Certified Farmers Market
Thursday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Pier View Way and Coast Hwy 101
Oceanside, CA 92054

North Park Thursday Certified Farmers Market
Thursday: 3-6 p.m.
2900 North Park Way from 30th St. to Granada Ave.
San Diego, CA 92104

Scripps Ranch Farmers Market
Thursday: 3-7 p.m.
10045 Carroll Canyon Road (Newtopia Cyder Parking Lot)
San Diego, CA 92131

Friday

Rancho Bernardo Certified Farmers Market
Friday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Bernardo Winery
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
San Diego, CA 92128

Imperial Beach Certified Farmers Market
Friday: 2-7 p.m. (April-October)
Friday: 2-6 p.m. (November-March)
Imperial Beach Pier Plaza
10 Evergreen Ave.
Imperial Beach, CA 91932

La Mesa Village Certified Farmers Market
Friday: 3-7 p.m.
La Mesa Blvd from Palm Ave. and Allison Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91942

Saturday

Poway Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
14134 Midland Road at Temple St.
Poway, CA 92064

Little Italy Mercato Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
501 W Date St. from Kettner Blvd. to Front St.
San Diego, CA 92101

Pacific Beach Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
4150 Mission Blvd. from Reed St. to Pacific Beach Blvd.
Pacific Beach, CA 92109

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
598 Harbor Lane - Fish Harbor Pier (near Tuna Harbor)
San Diego, CA 92101

Vista Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
County Courthouse
355 South Melrose Dr. (south of Hacienda)
Vista, CA 92081

City Heights Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
On Wightman St. from Fairmount Ave. to 43rd St.
San Diego, CA 92105

Fallbrook Main Avenue Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
100 S Main Ave. from Hawthorne and Fig
Fallbrook, CA 92028

Rancho Penasquitos YMCA Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
9400 Fairgrove Lane and Salmon River Road
San Diego, CA 92129

Cardiff Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus
333 Manchester Ave.
Cardiff, CA 92007

Kearny Mesa Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Service Road from Lightwave Ave. to Spectrum Center Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123

Del Mar Certified Farmers Market
Saturday: 12-4 p.m.
Civic Center
1050 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014

03

Cats, Television and Bacon

A.S. Book Club

Up next! “On Earth as It Is on Television” by Emily Jane.

The arrival of spaceships can bring up a lot of big questions:
What does it mean that we’re not alone?
Why did aliens come here?
Who knew beforehand?
Where…are the aliens going?

Wait…they can’t just leave! Not without inviting us into their galactic federation — or at the very least obliterating us!

“Cats, television and bacon all play important roles in the book; cats can perceive things humans can’t and are given powers that help the characters find their way, and the funny way television changes the aliens’ minds about their own culture is quite the commentary on our world. A compelling plot with some quirky features makes this book a great selection for a sci-fi reader.” — Booklist.

“Embracing the strangeness that is life in the twenty-first century, ‘On Earth as It Is on Television’ is a rollicking, heartfelt tale of first contact that practically leaps off the planet.” — Amazon

Join the A.S. Book Club as we discuss spaceships, aliens, cats, television and bacon on Aug. 8, at 4:30 p.m. in the Presidential Suite of the Student Union.

For more information or to join the club, contact Quentin at 42303 or email qskaggs@sdsu.edu or just stop by one of our meetings. Check out the club’s website.

04

Nicole with her mom, Melinda.

15 Questions

Nicole Noroian

What is your name and title?
My name is Nicole Noroian and I am an Events Planner.
Which A.S. department do you work in?
I work in the Student Union department. In my position, I work with student organizations, university departments and off campus clients to help facilitate their event. I work through all the logistics and help their vision come to life by relaying information to operations, audio visual and other teams.
How long have you worked for A.S.?
I have worked at A.S. for a year and a half.
What do you like most about working for A.S.?
My favorite part about working for A.S. is learning and working with different teams. There is always an opportunity to learn and grow. I enjoy watching an event come to life and how so many people with different skills contribute.
Do you collect anything? What do you collect and why?
I love plants! Unfortunately, I have limited space in my apartment so I can’t collect any more plants but the ones I do have, I truly love. I have seven plants that I take care of. My favorite plant is my money tree. It is seven feet tall and thriving!
Do you prefer pens or pencils?
I only write in pens. It feels better and looks better!
What is your favorite book?
I am in a book club with my friends, and we finished the series “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” This was my first time finishing a series of books and reading fantasy. I am obsessed with the characters.
Would you rather be a superhero or the world’s best chef?
I would rather be the world’s best chef because it seems like a great opportunity to capitalize on my own restaurant chain. Most restaurants fail but because I am the world’s best chef, I feel like I could start any restaurant and it would be successful. Also, I love food.
What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
I have a family dog named Bentley. He is a shih tzu. Bentley is like an old man who only wants to hang out with people. He is a great cuddler and I miss him a lot.
There is a free, round-trip shuttle to Mars. The catch: it will take one year of your life to go, visit, and come back. Are you in?
I think I will pass on going to Mars. I have learned that a lot happens in a year, and I wouldn’t want to miss out on a year on Earth. I am sure there is a livestream or photos that I can see instead.
What is your favorite breakfast food?
My favorite breakfast food is lox and bagels. Whenever I go home, we always have it on a Sunday. My favorite way to eat it is a toasted bagel with a little cream cheese, tomato, lox, capers and maybe onion.
What does your perfect burger have on it?
The perfect burger starts with the meat itself. I personally like adding feta cheese, an egg, breadcrumbs and spices to the patty. This helps it stay moist longer (especially for meal preparation). For toppings, I don’t really discriminate (besides mayonnaise). My ideal toppings would be sauteed mushrooms and onion, paired with cheese, some avocado and tomato.
If you had to sing karaoke right now, which song would you pick?
If I could sing, I would want to display my vocal skills the best way I can. One of my favorite and most challenging songs (in my opinion) is Dream On by Aerosmith. I love classic rock and Aerosmith.
Would you rather speak all languages or be able to talk with animals?
I would rather speak all the languages. It would be so fun to order different dishes at restaurants in the native language and travel the world. Also, I think it would make me 100 times cooler. If I told people that I could talk to animals, I think they would just think I am weird and not believe me.
What is one of your favorite things to do on the SDSU campus?
My favorite thing to do on campus is go on a walk during my lunch break. I love getting some movement in and exploring different parts of the campus. Also, the campus is so beautiful and full of seasonal flowers and plants.