Only a week after being hired at my company they got me started on a 1-man programming project. It actually would have been a better 2-3 man project, but we don't exactly have that sort of manpower around here. Anywhoo, 2 months later (coming up fairly soon), I will be completing this project. It will be quite a relief, because 40hrs a week working on one thing a majority of the time gets really old. Aside from that, the software has been tested in my own little black box, and has done fine. Yesterday I had the opportunity to start teaching other people how to use it. Ok, so maybe software isn't that good of a word for it. *System* would be better. Anyways, I've created a system that several people in my company will be using to streamline a couple of currently time-consuming processes. Is this system intuitive??? to a programmer, yes. To anyone else? apparently not! Fortunetely it wasnt built to be intuitive, but efficient and uber-flexible. So in order to achieve efficiency and uber-flexibility, I had to toss user-friendly'ness by the wayside. I didn't mind this sacrafice until I started teaching others how to use it yesterday, and It seems as though I have a little more bit of work heading in my direction (a niiiice manual, with directions that my mom could follow.... ok, so ill probably at least make the assumption that the *user* has at least used a computer before.). I never thought I would have to do this aspect of programming, but I guess it will be a good learning experience.
After having left the warmth and free wifi all over downtown Chattanooga, I have come to realize that I REALLY love wifi!!! When I was in Atlanta, things weren't all that bad... I was unemployed and all, but I did have a subscription to the Tmobile hotspot network at the Starbucks. It was quite a nice arrangement for me. I could go to one place, and have coffee and wireless, and not have to worry about all the distractions I would encounter at home. Now I live in smalltownfieldville... I think the population is between 25-50k. Its growing quite quickly, but still a small town. I see all these businesses that have been around for a while, and I see the wave of the future getting ready to replace them. It is quite sad. There are currently 3 coffee shops (to my knowledge) in Valpo, 1 being a drivethrough only and therefore not admissible for this conversation. The other 2 coffee shops though are both very quaint little places, but have 1 main problem. They both close early. Im talking early like 6-7pm. Fortunately they both host an open-mic night, and therefore stay open later on those evenings, but still...7pm?? In addition to that, both of the coffee shops now have websites (I am in the process of creating one of them), and the other shop has a crappy .biz domain. I'd try to convince the other shop that they need to get a .com or .net, but there is another coffee shop by the same name that already owns them. Moving along from that though, Valpo is supposed to be getting a Starbucks fairly soon. This could mean wireless access, or it could not. But these other coffee shops have almost nothing to contend with Starbucks except for the *local* atmosphere. I personally would rather go to a place with local atmosphere, but If i can get better coffee (sorry other coffee shops...), and wireless, and at a later hour, then Im going to starbucks... Wired has an article about Wifi that was fairly interesting that relates well to this.
This is an attempt to hear more about what lang has to say on this (i respect his opinion). I decided to take a look at the w3c site (i havent been there in a while...). I noticed that Firebird does not display the page correctly. I'm sure its a css issue, because I looked at the source. Then I attempted to look at the stylesheet to see what the page is *supposed* to look like. Oddly enough I couldn't find the elements responsible for the style imperfection. I did however, open w3c in IE, where the page displayed a more consistent style.
I don't want to bash Firebird, because I like the idea of a browser that is better than IE (better being a relative term... i know). I also would prefer a more strict interpretation of w3c standards, instead of addicting users to IE-specific renderings. However, I have had problems with Firebird, and I only downloaded it this morning. It crashed the first time I used it. (Complain number 1). It doesn't display the bold, italics, underline, and link buttons one the entry form. (very minor complaint...), it doesn't display my blog correctly, and it won't stop prompting me for remembering form input (and then disregarding my preference). Ok, so I realize that my blog is probably not w3c compliant. I apologize to those who think that's a sin, and I do intend to work on that.
If Firebird *IS* only a release candidate, I can easily forgive. I do look forward to the stable version (whenever that may come out), and I promise that If they fix the two complaints I have, I will become a new convert. Until then, consider me a skeptic...
I downloaded Firebird, Mozillas Web browser. I must say, I'm quite impressed with the look & feel of the browser, and look forward to seeing it replace Internet Exporer in the future. However, It seems as though MovableType is NOT Firebird compliant... There are missing buttons on the 'New Entry' page, and div tags aren't quite handled the way they are supposed to.... or at least the way that im used to. In addition to that, it prompts me to remember form information on EVERY form I fill out, despite my clicking *Never for this site* or deselecting the remember form information in the options menu. Its driving me nuts! If anyone else out there is having the same problems, let me know, I don't want to be the only one... Or if you can solve mine, I'd appreciate that even more!
So I'm 25 now... oh wait, 23.... yeah. I feel immensely older, wiser, better looking, funnier, and more defined as an individual. Yes, its amazing the changes that happen in those brief 7 hours of rest prior to my coming-of-age. From now on, I will face life head-on, and deal with whatever obstacles might come in my direction. I will live life with the ferver of one who knows their life on earth is short. I will not settle for what life has to offer me, but take from life what I desire. I will settle for nothing less than leaving behind me a destiny, a dynasty, and a dominion.
Or maybe I feel exactly the same. I think I might treat myself to subway for lunch.
I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, but now with variation of Josiah's *Comment Meter*, I now have a way to see who actually participates in my blog. So, thanks goes out to Josiah, Huffine, Krueger, and of course Myself for taking the time out of your day to read & participate.
If there's anyone else who happens to frequent my blog but NEVER comments (I know of at least one person), you should at least stop by and say hello!
Ok, so i tried to figure out a funny little title for this entry, trying to pull the two companies together, like Palm shakes Hand(spring) or Palm puts finger on Hand(spring). you know, something like that, but funny. Anyways, I was blogsurfing this morning, getting my local dose of Krueger, Renk, Josiah, Holton, and Huffine and I got sidetracked somewhere and ran across this article. It seems as though Palm will be (or have already) purchasing Handspring, in attempt to take all the bad parts from Palm Pilots and integrate them with the bad parts of Handspring... err something like that im sure. anywhoo, the article is dated June 04... so who knows, this might have already happened, and I might be preaching to the choir. If anyone knows anything more about this, I'd still like to know. I apparently don't get out enough.
Last thursday I picked up some freelance work. This in itself, is not all that bad. However, I already had a potential freelance job waiting (which became official last friday), not to mention was waiting for details on yet another freelance project. Thats 3 freelancing projects... Simultaneously. The one i picked up thursday was only supposed to be about 10hrs worth the updating to a website. Not so hard? Well, Saturday, my client and I decided that the site was better off being written from scratch (it was doing some funky junk). My 10hr update project turned into a 40hr overhaul.
Its strange that Im getting all of this work, now that I *have* a full-time job. I wonder why these things could not have come sooner? (i know the answer to that question...) Either way, my plate is going to be full for the next month. I can kiss any free time that I thought I might have, goodbye. So If i forget to blog two-three days, I apologize. Email me and I'll try to remedy it :)
I just happened to do a search for webhosting companies in Valparaiso, Indiana, and you should check out what I found here at valpomall. If people like this can sell websites and webhosting, then I have got to be able to do it too! I'm almost ashamed for their clients. Im almost ashamed at myself, for being ashamed for their clients.
After a couple days to mull over the pro's and con's, I decided yesterday to go ahead and become my own web host. For a couple years now I've been wanting to do own my own webdesign and webhosting business, and with this new acquisition, I will be one step closer to my dream. Unfortunately, I was hoping to share this business venture with one or a couple other people, but I have had no time to foster such relationships. Currently, I'm not in this to make a ton of money (even though I theoretically could), so if anyone needs any webhosting or domain names, shoot me an email and we'll talk. If anyone is interested in forming some sort of business alliance, read on...
Ok, I am a programmer, only a programmer. I have some marketing instincts, some business instints, and some graphics instincts. I am very open to spreading some of this profit possibility to others. I currently have 25gb of monthly transfer and sufficient disk space, waiting to be used. The sooner it gets used, the better I feel about paying for it. I can host an unlimited number of accounts (domains), and each account (domain) will have unlimited subdomains, unlimited email (pop3, imap, smtp), a nice control panel, and many other goodies. If anyone might be interested in trading web hosting for other services like marketing, graphic design (dwayne, derrik, john), or just selling websites, email me, and we'll see how I can make it profitable for you.
My girlfriend has been telling me that I have a big nose. I have never thought that this was true. In high school my two best friends (who were twin brothers) had big noses, and they were picked on accordingly (very sparingly because they were popular). I however, was never picked on for having a big nose, and therefore concluded that the size of my nose fit into the *normal* category. This arrangement has been very satisfactory to me for the past several years (nothing counts before then because all kids have disproportional features at some point in their life... right?) and I figured that I *deserved* a normal size nose, due to the sheer size and stature of my ears. The other day though, I happened to notice that I can NOT drink out of a coffee travel mug, without my nose hitting the inside of the lid (and closing the pressure balance hole...). I'm sure some of you are laughing at me being a moron, but honestly, this pressure balance hole is important!!! I can't be having my nose getting in the way! It just so happens that when the pressure hole is closed, liquid does not flow as smoothly, and has the gurgling effect that you get when you turn a 2-liter upside down to pour it. Seeing that it is ONLY a coffee travel mug, the effect is not quite as dramatic, but there nonetheless. In addition to this, after taking a sip of my coffee, when i start lowering the travel mug, my nose pulls away from the pressure hole, and WHAM! The coffee floodgates are opening, just as my desire for coffee has been quenched!!! So I find myself tilting my head to drink out of the travel mug (when I subconciously remember...). I'm sure people are watching, and thinking "Look at that big nosed fella drinking out of his mug with his head tilted... what a moron!". Maybe I just need to switch mugs...
So if you were going to sell webhosting, what would your company be called?? hehehe. chattahosting.com?
So im online yesterday looking around at webhosting and web design comanies to get a feel for how they layout their sites. My current webhost wants me to redo his website, for free, but with advertising for my services on his site. While I was looking around, I came across this awesome deal that would allow ME to become a webhosting provider. I have given this idea some thought before, but wasn't interested because of the high overhead and startup costs. I figured that one day it might be feasible, but just not right now.
Im pretty excited because this would allow me to potentially add a considerable amount of income. But even if it doesn't, I will still be able to give my current web design clients a discount, while completely paying for my overhead costs. So, if theres anyone interested in webhosting, send me an email, and we'll see what I can do. I might be able to cut a lot of your costs...
I went to my new local coffee shop (link should go here, but they dont have a website), and was able to talk to the owner (who I've talked to on several occasions now).
I am trying to do 3 things at the coffee shop:
1. work there on occasion. I really miss the coffee shop atmosphere, and I miss using my barista skills.
2. create their website for them. They really need a website, and I can really use the work.
3. get them to host a wireless connection in their shop. This would be cool for me at least. I've only been here for like 3-4 weeks, and haven't spent enough time at the coffee shop to know whether or not that is a viable option.
So back to tonight, I talked to the owner and she is very open to the website idea. I won't be charging her as much as I'd like (I don't think she can afford more), but its a good opportunity to work with this designer. As far as the working at the coffee shop is concerned, I think that is progressing quite well also, but only time will tell. And the wireless, I think that will be on the back burner for a while.
I'm trying to get the local coffee shop up here to get a website... through me. I was searching google for some marketing techniques I can use, and I came across this webdesign company. It gave me the warm fuzzy's inside to know that I even though I suck as a web designer (emphasis on design), I am WAY better than these guys. THe first hint that they suck, is their own website... it reaks. It was most likely the result of a bad frontpage exposition. I thought I'd check out their prices while I was at it, and dayum! For their gold package (which gives the cutomer 8 SUCKY pages) they wanted almost $400! If these guys can get $400 for a website like that, then I surely can get $4000 for a site of equal size. (I guess I am implying that I am 10x better.... well, maybe).
So I've noticed a recent pattern in my blogging... I write every other day. In order to break this pattern, I need to blog today.
Voila, I have blogged.
Heidi was doing some searches on google and happened to do my name. I had just done this several days ago, and noticed that my blog came up, my website, and phpmypass, one of my softare products on freshmeat. I then became curious to see what would be generated if she just typed in phpmypass. Surprisingly it brought up 4 pages of links... Unfortunately, most of them were links to sites that syndicate freshmeat. However, I did find a link to php | architect, where phpmypass actually got a mention from what looks to be a site admin. So I was fairly stoked to say the least.
I am having the hardest time finding freelance web designers, or graphics folk. Most of the ones I do find have hourly rates that exceed twice the amount per hour that I make doing a site. Granted, I could be making a lot more per hour (if I were to have a graphics person), but since I do my own graphics (which suck, i know), I cannot charge as much (that and most of my clients cant afford it...). At least having a graphics person would give me the ability to market my services to people/businesses who ARE willing to pay decent money.
Point being, If anyone happens to read this, and knows an inexpensive graphics person, send them my way PLEASE. I'd like to start making some decent money...
While I was looking on freshmeat, I saw an advertisement for M$ Visual Studio .NET. Isn't there some sort of conflict of interest going on?
About a month or two ago, I submitted my first GPL liscenced software at freshmeat.net. Today I got my first wish-list request!! This is kinda exciting. Turns out that the request was a *logout* button. Something fairly small. Now, I wonder if the fact that I've only gotten 1 request means: it takes longer than 2 months to generate enough interest, no one likes it enough to use it in the first place, or (what I hope to be true) my software already has the primary functionality needed. We'll see.
Oh, if anyone decides to use this, lemme know how you like it.