Ode to AJAX; You've consumed my mind...

Recently I learned that I love learning. I think it is one of the reasons I love to read so much. It may also be why my mind retains so much random information that then becomes a part of my life in some way shape or form or changes how I view certain things. The newest information to change how I look at things is AJAX.

Basically, I am computer/internet illiterate. However, I am now somewhat less illiterate now; Nate gave me a crash course in AJAX over dinner at Bamboo (mmm...curry...sorry, I digress). Okay, confession time: I can't EXACTLY remember what AJAX stands for EXACTLY, but I know that is has something to do with Javascript, XML (I think) and things NOT being done insync; it's all done behind the scenes, sort of like you have a little elf. But I remember all the other stuff I learned, and this is what has begun to effect how I see the internet. I've been seeing this stuff ALL DAY LONG:

For instance, I know that right now I am partaking in POST-ing, meaning I am changing information on the server, not just GET-ing the information. By blogging, I am adding information; if I delete the blog, again, I am POST-ing information to the server by telling the server to delete the blog. I think about this when I am on Facebook, Flickr, searching for flights, looking at the college website, searching for inauguration information, reading the news online, commenting on other people's blogs...it has now consumed my mind. Same with how AJAX works, behind the scenes with the little elf. I personally picture the Keebler elves, running out of my computer to get information everytime I punch in a web address. I wish he had cookies with him (and not the Internet cookies that have be enabled to make certain things show up...gah!) I know it isn't a REAL elf, but that's all I picture. Shoot, I don't even know if my servers USE AJAX, but I still see the elves! (That could be a completely different issue though.) The code stuff is still somewhat of a mystery to me; I know what they are, and even what they look like (like blogger uses Html [rather than Javascript, XML, or even, yes, json - seriously, how the heck do I remember all this??], though I still wouldn't be able to tell you how to write it or rework it).

Basically, to sum all this up, the internet will never be the same. And I am a nerd. Because I actually like knowing how it all works. It's part of the constant learner in me.

I really want cookies...E.L. Fudge...mmmm...