My Writings. My Thoughts.
Mastering Me
// February 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // Programming, Self improvment, Web Dev
I know that mastering anything can take many, many years if you’re lucky; sometimes a lifetime but only if you’re really dedicated.
This year I decided that this is the year that I change the way I am; the way I do things. I turned 30 last year and I was thinking about all of the things that I have said I want to or am going to do, but never get around to them. For me, this list had continued to grow to be a list larger then I can track. You see, I have an undying thirst for knowledge. I like to learn about so many different things, such that if I were given 5 of my lifetimes and never wasted a moment I might be able to learn a little bit about everything I have an interest in today. However, every time I learn something new I also learn that there are more things involved and those things get added to the list of things I wish I could learn. It’s a never ending loop; hence the things I want to learn but never have the time.
I was inspired by a friend of mine who was telling me about his plan to get to where he wants to be. He knew what he had to do and had a detailed plan on how to get there. I let him know that the planning part is where I always seem to fail. I never have enough direction, attainable goals, or structure to me getting things in my personal life accomplished. He offered to help me out and try and get me to the point where I could do this on my own. I am very excited about this and I have been making big changes over the last month.
The first thing he had me do was write out a list of the things that I wanted to do, change, or learn on a sheet of paper. This was not a hard task for me because I had several long lists scattered around with notes of skills I wanted to learn and a few tasks that I wanted to accomplish. I also have a few personal goals that I added in there. Like get myself to a healthy weight so that I don’t have so many back problems and can enjoy being more active. Then he had me pick out three of the things I wanted to focus on or are most important to me right now. At the time I did this I was focused on changing what I do for a living and finally getting into the career that I really want to be in; web development. Even though I have been working with many of these skills my for a while I always feel like I’m not quite at the level I should be at. So I decided that I would start with the basics and get myself to the point where I feel like I know what I’m doing. I chose (X)HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The third step was to rank each of these things, on a scale from one to ten, what I think my skill level is and what skill level I think I need to be at in order to get an entry level position in web development. This was a great exercise for me because my biggest issue is that I don’t think my skills are up to where they should be and it caused me to evaluate where I currently am and how far I have to go. Then he told me to focus only on (X)HTML to start with. Then we can move onto CSS and JavaScript. So I have been working with (X)HTML for a long time and I do know it well enough to put together a web page or two I often need to look things up and I am not familiar with forms and tables like I could be. So I have started out with basic old (X)HTML again to really get it in my head so that I feel a confidence when I say “Yes, I know (X)HTML.” I just started out trying to determine what intermediate and advanced HTML is. Sites like w3schools, Web Developer Notes, and HTML Dog helped me get an idea of what was basic, intermediate, and advanced. I also found this article on savedelete.com (15 Best Websites that can make you a Web Designer) on Twitter yesterday. Also, this article on NetTuts (A really great site), 30 HTML Best Practices for Beginners, is a great read. One thing that I have picked up over the years of learning web development is that it changes fast and there are many really great people on the web that want to teach and share what they have learned. Mentioned above is NetTuts, and there is also Chris Coyier’s CSS Tricks and Digging into WordPress, Noupe, Smashing Magazine, and A List Apart to name a few of my favorites.
So in the end do I expect to master (X)HTML? Not right now, I just want to be able to go into a prospective job and say that I know it and be confident that I do actually know it. Maybe someday I will be a master in what I do.
Me 2 Pro
// January 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Me, Web Dev
I am currently trying to figure out how I get from me (currently) to Pro. I desire to be the very best at all that I take in, but also realize that goal is not achievable. I am aiming too high; which can be good, but it seems to leave me stuck. I need to take baby steps, but I need instant gratification.
I am back!
// November 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cool stuff
There was a small (cough) issue with my domain, but I am back up and running again.
Post from my iPhone
// July 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // blogging
I am writing this from the WordPress iPhone app to give it a try. It looks pretty cool.
Logo
// April 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Cool stuff
I need to come up with a logo for my site. I like this theme, but don’t like having that default theme logo.
Updates
// April 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // blogging
I am working on my site a little at a time including updating the look and feel so you may have to bear with me a little for the time being.
It’s been a long time.
// February 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cool stuff
Wow! It’s really been 6 months since I have done anything with this site. I guess it’s because what I was wanting to do with this site was post things that I think are interesting that I find on the internet, but what I have been doing is using FaceBook to do that instead. The tools that they have for sharing things with your friends and family is far better then my ability to develop them on my own. Come check me out there sometime.
Upgraded
// September 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // blogging
Finally got WP upgraded. Without a hitch. 
Things that interested me this week.
// September 26th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Cool stuff, Tools, Web Dev, digg find
I decided it might be cool to try and organize a summary of cool things I have seen or done online each week.
Evernote
First thing on my list is the reason I got this idea. By trying out Evernote online. It is a very cool little tool for capturing things you find on the web. I installed the desktop client, but the Web Clipper seems to be what I am in need of.
Create your own Wordpress Theme
One of the sites I like is Nettuts. They have a nice little Tutorial about how to create your own Wordpress theme from scratch. I really want to do this. Check it out here:
CSS Swiss Army Knife?
I think every developer should have a CSS Swiss Army Knife in their toolbox. This was written at Pathfinder Development here.
I like free (Magazines)
A list of 30 free PDF magazines here
What does CS4 look like?
A look at Illustrator CS4 done by VectorTuts.
And a look at Photoshop CS4 done by PSDTuts.
Money for digg
I have always been a fan of digg.com. Looks like they are doing well. I can’t wait to see what comes about for them now.
Adobe, Open Source, and Flash
Adobe moving into more open source?
Android and the future of phones
The T-mobile G1 took off this week and that has been creating a lot of buzz. There is a ton of stuff all over about that. Looks like it’s going to be best to wait and see what the next gen. Android phones will bring. I like the idea, and I have not gotten an iPhone yet so…
Apple Insider has a nice little comparison article here.
Webkit is the first to pass the Acid3 test.
Toolbox CSS
Chirs Coyier from css-tricks.com wrote this article about this thing he calls the Toolbox CSS. I think it’s a great idea.
Adobe extends Photoshop to mobile phones
Mobile and Cloud computing are major right now. This is just more proof to back that up.
20 Sites You’ll Love if You’re New to the Web Industry
I am already subscribed to most of these site’s RSS feeds, but it’s good to have a nice list for you.
Visually Stunning Portfolio Presentation – Marius Roosendaal
Creattica Daily featured this very nice Portfolio site. I only hope to get this to something close to that caliber.
How to Create a Mobile Site with MoFuse
// September 17th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cool stuff
Mobilize your website with mofuse.
I need to do this for this site. I was just thinking about this the other day when I viewed it for the first time on my phone.
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