Over the past year I have become very in-tune with the zend framework platform. The few things that make working with zf is the ORM(Object Relational Mapping). In magento things get even more conflicting with the Advanced ORM aka Entity Attribute Value.

There are many ways to skin the cat, and magento/zend apps are no exception.

I have been slowing trudging through the Custom Module Route to adding fields to your registration form, and also biding them with backend & Db table. The most important thing to remember in Magento is that the Core codePool can be used along with any local module that you would want to add. Your going to extend the base classes, using your new Namespace/Module.

First Create A new XML file in etc/modules/Namespace_Module.xml

< ?xml version="1.0" ?>

true
local
The example shows Namespace->Music, Module->Customer

Second Create Copy The Existing function getDefaultEntities() from app/code/core/Mage/Customer/Entity/Setup.php

Add an array that specifies Your new Attribute at the very end of the first block like so
'artist_name' => array(
'label' => 'Artist Name',
'required' => false,

),
Third: You need to add the XML node, and the customize the module for the attribute name in file app/code/core/Mage/Customer/etc/config.xml

->Change From Mage_Customer
1.0.0.0
And Add the Attribute code to Create, Update.. Of CRUD(Create Read Update Delete). Settings of 1 equals Yes, for Required, and many other paired options.
Like so->

1
1
Fifth Step:
Once this is done, You just have to tell Magento to use the attribute in forms. This is the fun part.
You are going to want to create the php code below in your design/frontend/default/template/persistent/customer/register.phtml File.

/**
$setup = new Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Setup('core_setup');
$setup->addAttribute('customer', 'artist_name', array(
'label' => 'Artist Name',
'type' => 'varchar',
'input' => 'text',
'visible' => true,
'required' => false,
'position' => 1,
));
$usedInForms = array('customer_account_create', 'customer_account_edit', 'checkout_register', 'adminhtml_customer');
$oAttribute = Mage::getSingleton('eav/config')->getAttribute('customer', 'record_label');
$oAttribute->setData('used_in_forms', $usedInForms);
$oAttribute->save(); */
The best way to turn your new attribute into a registration field is to post the code in a comment. This is a snippet you will want to keep, because it is used to add your field to the table along with the forms you specify.
Change the value specifying record_label from the array, and the $oAttribute Object.
You want to upload all the previous files I have mentioned at this point, along with the register.phtml
The reason you would want to add this bit of code to this file per-say: All you have to do is visit url:site.com/customer/account/create. This will do the trick, but we have 2 more very quick alterations to make still..

We have to now add the fields to our edit.phtml, and register.phtml files. REMEMBER in Magento 1.6.1 you need to use the register.phtml file from the persistent template folder from within Customer. The edit.phtml file best used from /design/frontend/default/template/customer/forms/edit.phtml

< div class="input-box">< label for="artist_name">< ? php echo $this->__(' Artist Name') ?> < span class="required">* < input id="artist_name" class="required-entry input-text" title="< ?php echo $this->__('Artist Name') ? >" type="text" name="artist_name" value="< ?php echo $this- />htmlEscape($ this->getCustomer()-> getArtistName()) ? >" />

Keep in mind that you want to use  the above code with the spaces removed, and notice the php code  (getCustomer->getArtistName())

You will want to use the getCustomer method with edit.phtml.

For the register.phtml make sure to switch the getCustomer-> with getFormData->

Once you have all of these changes completed, you should have the attribute available, and functioning.

TO see the result, visit

Thanks for the read,

Rob

http://musicnation.net/customer/account/create/

I rememebr being able to wander the very small village town that wasn’t anymore than 1.5 miles to visit my Grams, or less that than to see My Greate Aunt & Uncle.

I have so many memories from that time in my life. My Maternal Grandma would be babysitting, and taking us out to movies, and also to camp Dearborn. She Drove me to Gymnastic for practice. My grandma would play cards, and listen to her radio. She was probably the most loving, patient, and also gently soal.

This woman was one of those ladies that was there. No matter who in the family need help with a sitter, or just about anything. She not only was there, but she was grandma. I can still her in my head. Taken pride, with also humility to be there in her Grandkids lives.

I have so many memories that go so far back. When I think of hugging my Grandma, all I can say is…
It wasn’t normal. Rather, I felt like I was toched by an Angel.

Grandma wasn’t just that way to me, or other’s in our family. When I looked into her eyes… I could see that deep down that she had that faith. That peace, and also she was always so willing to do whatever it would take to help someone. Mostly to help her children, but when us Grands got to see Gradma….

I feel so lucky,that I had almost 2 decades to be able to be close to someone, I now would call ’1 of the only people I have met that when I gave her a hug. I could feel the warmth she had inside her.
That warmth that I am referring isn’t a temperature.

Grandma was not a matriach, I belive her to once of those people that you just know that they were sent here to do something big.

Wanna talk to about something?

I don’t I have ever seen Grandma Cry, Grandma has always been the type of person want to be. The love that Grandma had inside her. Her ability to someone make all the sport events. Kelly, Holly, Basball. etc.

If you want to change the way you view everything. Start by changing the way you let the world view your web.
Your on the web. 2012 is a various contender based global battle. The winner keeps its history, and name. The looser becomes another Ass dictator after A Hitler. Numerology would say that if you bet on this, be prepared to play with your life- just dont play with explosives.

WW3 is going to be.. IEDs Vs IEDs and also Bots vs Humans(winning the competency award)
Regarding the new age… Yes there has been wars going on for forever. Apache Vs IIS, Mobile Vs Desktop, Flash vs HTML5, Semantic based content vs Sloppy WhatYouWaTtyingToSee Editors.. There have been so many wars that have stood the tech trend line. Trends are everything now, because HTML5 was developed with Portability, and also Extensibility.

Think of a code base that you could develop, like any other other xml+ecmaScript+css type mash. Flash Builder + PHP Support on the eclipse IDE platform can be used to compile any form of application that is best aimed for a target audience. The audience variation is a very loose fitted viewing port that a user will be using to view your website with.
Web App Cross-Platform Delivered Experiences can be designed, and deployed using the flash Builder framework. After you have built the MXML+FX/MX+As3+Assets application, you can test it in a browser, or in In this case you will want to use Adobe Device Central and load the relative HTTP URI that is used to test in the release area.
This is a front-end technology framework that depends upon the flash player virtual environment. This is a great way to provide excellent content, design, and best practices c compiled code.

Performance is always a huge importance. If you are a Web Client, or work with a developer; You Don’t want to assume that debugging, standards/based coding practices and performance measures on the browser, Server, and Client. DataBase Model layers.

If the time needed is say 10% of the total Time spent building your application, you could be making sure that your investment makes it to Search Engine Users, and also doesn’t get taken out by RobotNics, and Iranian WebGHaRers. Blow up your own property, or we will strick back. You may have out done the US by lowering your strandards with whom you entrust to build your Structures or they may blow up your area of the desert. Just be careful while trying to hit an area about 1/1000th the size of your current land Mass.

Yes this topic is at hand. The world-wide global security measures, and practices are sometimes a BIoTch. They help us pass the airport security area without letting it all your mysteries become Airport Security property.
You cannot put any bombs in your underwares or your footwear. This is just like Making sure you use the web applications Header, Footer, And areas for Script Path inclusion (Declarations Areas). When you are wanting to pass slow, and also hacked by a Iranian Yute that is 100% Hater, and about 10% education or sensibility;
This is due to the stuxnet virus that was Deployed to slow Ignorance In Action. Like a Drunk Person trying to distill their Whiskey; they will not only spill their solution. They will only polute about 1/5% potency because a computer worm took out their Nuclear System. They have interned about a few sects of computer hackers to try to explode, or destroy any random website. Its very sloppy, and would work if the world was a stupid as an angry mob ruling without educating or Building Determination through Global Based Deciscions.

This is therefore the UN of the web World. Its the W3c, and is the common ground by which an application can actually be built to serve a common purpose that is decided by the party sponsoring, or Technical Mind. Because W3c has teamed up with all major companies behind a trendy browser, to create a useful HTML5 Model. Its supposed to be supported in 2012 the Great Dawn of a New Age. This is the same year that we will have amazing sky light views, tons of News and Media to get stupified by, and also the coming of HTML 3.0.

30 years of Web stuff will show to be the best tenure yet. With the Zend Framework, a standardized Colllection/stack/codebase of Sponsored PHP libraries. This is a common usage theory behind Pear, and Pecl Libraries.

This is the best of every world, and the best thing you can always rely on is the fact that the technologies behind this proposal OF DB-Zend-amfPHP+Flex/Flash APP Stack have been around almost as long as the common web era(past 10 years). This is not some new idea of making something better. This you everyday best way of doing things, by ruling out the things that make development and also the end Experience A Suicide Savage mine free area.

The common web depends on so many determining factors. These factors are the Web WW3 battles of audiences that must be able to share a common ground. This being an almost 30 year evolved technology that devices of any kind almost always utilized, and not just support. This common ground has to be an area that can begin to evolve with the best likely scenario. You don’t want to blow up your Nads and probably your whole town….
Just dont try to solve anything by playing god Chemist in your underwear. The major Money-Marketing-Based Resource Contenders like Apple, and MS.. Are for the most part, Brand Stupid techologies are not just playing survival of the fittest. They have a whole arena of Protestors that once did dictate what a web site/app technology would be widely supported. Like Front Page Vti_cnf folders, on linux hosts. The other scenario has in the past few years been reversed, and now can become the best able candidate to be used to base support of technologies, and also common usage trends. Yes IE is now behind Safari Browser in market-share, and this spec is only for popularity. Yes I use Opera and always have, although it seems to carry a 2%, it is the fastest browser if you can amass more than a hundred tabs per browser app.exe instance Process.

This is just a suggestion, as I am sure you will make the judgment any way you see fit; and should be able to.,
My Random Randts of Anti=>(Terrorist,Drama, secrect society/Cool Kid party) .
Freedom to act, speek, and if you are in the US. Freedom to not have explosions for our nation anthem. And also freedom to Blog are the many rights that the US stands Upon. The 2012 Future Finding Prophecy I have, Or IMHO ..lol
You should always check out the whole pie before you decide to eat the damn thing in a contest of Obsity.

Thanks,
Rob Mck-GraphicalInsight

You can spend less money if you have a precise model of what you want created as a website. You can create mockups and even front-end compositions in Microsoft Office with almost everyone of the apps in 2010. This helps get your content in one place, where links, images, and delicate graphics can be Mashed into your App.

Yes almost anyone can create a website without ever having to write HTML. Usually this creates your enormous 1200 line html file, but the developer behind the app will not care much less to destroy it and use the bits of resources where they can be easily served to an end-user.

You want to always work with a designer, or have your Pages drawn out. The content, the UI(Anything ending in -et, Applet, Servlet,widget,Wimlet,JS/AJAX gui)Java Usually being the common territory for this front-end, and back-end(the bits).

Get wild and develop a planned out work that you has your words, your thoughts, or your business as it’s primary purpose. Keep it simple, and as you begin to collect resources you then can modular the work.

Never use outdate HTML, or WYSIWYG editors for Real-time coding. The text alone is most of the application. Usually ending up as HTML,CSS,JavaSript,AJAX,XML code.

When working with code.. Less is more. Think before doing, and always keep your workspace tidy. You want to avoid wasting your time, money, resources, or effort. So stick to what you know. Always have a background of certification for you are speaking on. The content that you deploy on the web is used for Search Engine Result Page Ranking.

If your poor content is in a sea of nasty html tables , and weird xml entities you can almost bet that Google doesn’t give a rats azzinenough to index it. They won’t want to run diagnostics, or even care to be thought of.

Google is your best friend. Don’t be the last Micro-Dosser to stuck on Froze=Up We fall down systems. This is where viruses get your web time, and your productivity time. Google can provide you with a demo area to create web pages too. Who said even a prehistoric cave woman standing on her barefeet yaba-daba doo faster that you?

Yes a frozen. Overclocked, and over-cooked device is what results from an Over the End Proceess Thread when you have Graphics and other elements all over your filesystem.
Windows and unix use very different filesystems. Unix has always been the primary datastore on the net. Windows, and Oracle depend on elements that came from windows and linux.

So when you are thinking about your website. Think about the Cost of Domain Maintenance, Web Hosting, and also anything that is connected to it. Keep your receipts, or other records in one place. This is where you can really access your resources from a phone, tab, laptop, or other gadget. Wireless is the new Broadband. Always store your assets common conventions.

Windows=

Has a folder that is directly of the main root C: for anything but windows. If windows is acting reckless, than you are probably not using it correctly. Its over-done, so you have to keep its registry,DataSources, Cache, TempFiles, and C:\users\ areas fresh.

FRECS-Fresh
Freeing Routine Enabling Computer Safety – Defrag, DiskCheck, CheckDisk. Rinse repeat, recycle.
This goes for the main computer, and also the web browser and directories used by your application. (With Windows)

If you want to use windows. You will have to work a bit harder at keeping it up. This is almost the case 100%. That is why you get 3 service packs before you get what turns into their new working model. That is alot of upkeep, and although you dont pay more for windows. You will be left with fewer choices of open-source software options. You will have to pay for plugins, extensions, and other GUI.exe advertising crap. Ever wonder why you get so much shit mail?

Answer: Every company that has ever Published ‘Enterprise’ software has to get with google. Google is where you get the market leader. They do not have that resembles Program files->The Trash Can. Why not have your programs actually work, update themselves, wipe the swap drives used for Virtual Memory. Yes Windows uses the C: for everything like one colosal trash bin. Waiting to become a place to spy on you because you didn’t RTF.Config when install.

So yeah windows is a place to shop and drop . Spend money to soupe up your pc because it cannot function on less. This is why you will have to have your file-system kept up for you, if it isn’t on the cloud.

What is the Cloud? This is a service that stores data, and other resources. Keeping the available anywhere the web can be accessed. A universal plugin to your social, Domestic,Fiscal,Personal, and Professional information.

If you can get others to want to use your stuff. You can then implant their systems with ploys to sensor your every tab-tab-tib-tap-tap. your email,passwords,credit card information, and medical records. Everything is available to the Big Three. Comcast, Microsoft, and Apple. Google amasses litterally a ton of process threads that represent user function on the web without having to use the big three.

Infact Google now offer Urchin Analytics (GA Analytics), along with Millions of other OSS-Creative Commons Licensed software. These tools have know become a standard of their own, and other smaller entities exist solely to steal your information.

You can use Google Analytics(Webtop), Urchin, or any other GA-connector for desktop-air-jvm-unix based gui for GA. Flash Acess, and PHP API access you can visually gather your statistics about the end-users. Those that flock to your site, how they get there, and how long they stay there are the big Tasks at hand.

If you remember using your webhosting control panel for almost everything email, Unchin reports, and code editing (back in the 2000s). You will remember weak graphs, and almost no way to use your resources in a readily available web dock.There are several CPANEL-like programs striving to do in WS2008RC2 what was done in Perl 20 years ago.

Alike the InetMgr is today. It bases its services that are to be casted into the minions of robots to work into a common purpose. These services are usually scattered all over the root directory with very weak user workspace file control. All the Personal affects that you leave behind are stored in a Hidden Temp folder in text files. This makes spying on you, and sending you garbage emails alot more easily attainable. More attainable that Novell and VMWARE, and Sun Microsystems combined. So we all use windows still while knowing it is a file creation monster, and it has all the elements of JAVA,Virtualization/CLoud, And Unix CYGWIN,MAKE,C++ machines combined.

-excerpt- First, it’s a great tactical move because it keeps Novell SUSE Linux out of the hands of VMware. The last thing Microsoft wanted was for VMware, its major cloud and virtualization rival, to have a major operating system to offer to its customers. Microsoft is having a hard enough time getting its Hyper-V virtualization and Azure cloud marketing story straight without having to compete with the one-two punch of VMware and SUSE Linux. -excerpt,

So Microsoft and the Top heavy, OVer-weight, and overconfident trash buckets don’t loose you, and your information. There are over 100 web browser and user agents that can work an application like a master-data-mining robot. But what browser do we all have to program Conditional Backward compatible code for. IE.

So yes it true. Windows is just trying to take over even more of what it chances to loose. Not because they threw out everything created by others. WindowsDefender-SecurityEssentials, a free antivirus app that is one in the same. Front-page, WebExpressions, WebMatrix, Visual Studio. All differing levels of programming. Down to crappy as drag and drop form elements.

The answer to the over-asked and half-baked answered question. Windows or linux?

Google is the most profitable open-source based software company! Novell was sold to safemate(probably a scape goat from Novell-VMWARE ->near-miss monopoly). 4.6Bill.
Microsoft might have been able to get away with buying a Linux company, but don’t forget that Novell also owns Unix’s intellectual property. While the pure Unix operating systems, like Solaris and AIX, are declining in the marketplace, their descendants, which include everything from Linux to Mac OS X, are everywhere.

Google stores a greater fraction of the web services that are used by the massess. They can be trusted to safely handle this information because why not?

When it comes to software, and the integrity of it… You can build the same level of software with the List of C based languages. Perl(CGI)-Pyton-PHP,Curl,C++,C# can all do with the sql and all most email user agents what outlook will fail to do still. This is because it hasn’t had the amount of work done on it.

Usually those programming with it have very less understanding on the front-end(client), and browser environment. It is easier to code in one language or maybe 2 than working in Code list now:
CSS
AJAX
MXML
XML
XSD
DTD
XHTML
HTML5
XSLT-XSL-FO
Foad
RSS
RDF
PHP
Ado.net
ZendEngine
Curl
C#
VBScript
E4x
AS3
Java
JavaScript
C++,

But it’s not going to happen. Since DHTML around 2004, and ever since there have been a list of languages and syntaxes that are combine together server-side & client-side.

AJAX, and even Windows Office use the XML as it’s backbone. IT’s the universal spot that everything meets in middle. It is Atlas, and also Asp.Ajax.NET. So you could have though that Windows is the middle ground? They have made it damn sure they could be the one bring up the last place medal for the triad of JAVA,WIndows,UNIX to co-exist. You can virtual any operating system in less than 2gb of disk space, inside a tiny box called VMWARE, or Xwindows. This is an example of a work-around.

Most sides of the Risk game, type investment map are now down for the count. While hosting companies make money by hosting green with lightweith Apache Axis 2. Windows has definately been the Bully behind the colobine. Microsoft has been outdone in every area that it competes, but somehow has edged the more-advanced and optimized free software companies that exist.

Apple just sold out MacIntosh goes Linux in the 90s, and makes more from 1 dollar downloads than Microsoft can today. They won’t be king of the castle until the numbers show it. Google uses most of the libraries for free. While using the GTK+ graphics kit to build their chrome OS. The desktop formally called Gnome Desktop will be now called Chrome. Its not stollen, merely stored in trust by Tux.

Instead Microsoft Ramps up costs, and over complicates the market with their version of even the Cloud. VMWare is everywhere, just because it was a competitior. You cant take out democracy, because we all stand in the middle.

Whether we like it or not, most of us have to live in all worlds. The Chrome World, and the Desktop world, and the virtual world(jvm/jdk/java/cloud).

Java just works processors better. :) Even the phones use it without fault.

BOTH is the answer. If you are a linux user, you probably wouldn’t give a shit about people getting their salads tossed till next sunday by monopolistic / non-free thinking corporate grinches.

Well its the web everyday, and Linux too. I cannot say that about WS2k8rc2 and win7. Those PCS I test IIS on and Adobe just done function as well. I stay coding my code, and know that know window can drop the html/css/ajax/xml/js/tag-soup like I can do. So whether I use PHP/MYSQL on WIndows or APache it doesn’t matter to me.
THE RESULTS – Windows is picking up the pace but at what cost?

Are that windows is bridging the gap, by having most other technologies as dependencies on their high cost, low lech, and slow browser agent producing Corporate Money and Property Mogol. I am not switching to Windows until there is no choice left, or until they become Open Source.
But it not the case for Linux/Unix. There is very few Windows applications that cannot be replaced with a Tux application into .deb/.tar/.rpm/64 for free will have creative commons as their license. This will become a situation one-day. Windows will either leave the pack, and stay in the back like always. Becoming free and Open-Code Sharing, Storing, And Serving in almost all ways. Except the Device avenue.

I can get a tablet pc with unix on it for 90 bux on amazon. You can buy a tablet with an over cooked chicken on it for 1500. Your choice.
Android is not a Dos entity.
Less is more, and sometimes just keeping up is enough.
My Bits
Rob

So your website looks or acts like an old rickety barn.. What do you need to do with it ?

Pratical:
1)Backup all the information you have created as content in word.
2)Planning, Doodles, and Creative Briefs
3)Get Visual thoughts on paper. Always keep drafts, and have progressive / current / up-to-date content and technologies in the backend-(The Bits). If you want a professional design: Business Cards, Paper Products, and other non-web products. Stick with a designer.

4)Take it to the grinder. Yes a programmer will take the precious ideas you have spent weeks, or months (hopefully) developing. If you are trying to sell vita-mins from Peru. Be the Expert, and offer resources for someone that would want to find Vita-mins online. It’s very simple.

5)Keep the website up to speed,Specification,Standards, Technology,Browser, and Portable-Device.
Always backup content you have worked on in the past. Don’t depend on someone else to run your business. Know what is going on with every step of development and Communicate directly with whomever you are paying to create your products.

Pick Windows,Unix, or Java Hosting. Have Designer, developer, and Director(you!) work together to have the most crystal clear idea about the things you are ‘attempting’ to do. If you are stuck, you are probably wasting time. It is not going to get old. The internet is older than me, and it is still growing like an infant. Business, Advertising, Consulting, Accounting, Inventory, Investment, And small or self-branbded businessess can be conducted all in one place.

The Browser window. Use your Windows, don’t it them use you. U .

–Be Clear, Concise, and Cooperative –

My-Bits
Rob

So MoMar is Diggin Tirant Raiding and Condie Rice :L)

Every wonder why stupid Shipt happens? Well it happens so that people can play with each other. So many Headlines in the web-liners. I had to start a post, because it has been a while.

I been working on a Windows Server 2000,APSX,C#,HTML4 loose overhaul project. It has been quite a bit of work getting all the Forms, Functions, Procedures, Validations, and other non-sensibility-but-way important parts ready for the final launch.

Why does MoMar get the title? Because in about a week no-one in the world will care about him. He is a fad, yes. Like the pet-rock. Because he like other tirants think that they can play God.

Thats really all I know about that A-hole. He will forever live wherever they dump the remains of his peanut hole.

He will be like the many kids on a friday night. Thinking about the freedom that they will be able to attain by properly forming the Weekend-warrior plans. Making forts out of the remnants of his Millions/Billions of once Boozey satire. He can now play like a toddler in a sandbox that they call Libya.

In other news. The star ship enterprise is coming back to earth as a meteor. There are about 10,000 nerds that are going to tape it, and then about the time Momar gets carried out of his once Steh-stacked prominence the Star ship will eclipse in Detonation and will destroy only his 20 acres of ruble in the desert. It’s so sad that the Trek fans have to watch the spoiled and not-so-fancy-Sand-Monkey Kidafih get punked.
But at least we will get to see the Double-Eclipse promo after the Trek fans film this waste of space from their furry costumes.

Well I guess I was going to blog about PDO, and MDB2. About how my domain expired, and my hosting company so-loves me; just let it stay in the cache. Love Ya-Inmotion,but I am moving to iPage.

They have wind-powered hosing, thats a nice way to use your Carbon. Woopieee. Another week has ended, and so another fad will be coming to a finale. I cannot wait till they get to have democrazy. They can go back and forth until the economy falls apart. :)

My Bits,
Rob

So steve Jobs has been predicting things like Miss Clio. I think most of the God awful garbage that he spews, is a mere whimper. He tried to punk Nokia, and nokia was like here…. I am going to slap you harder than you been slapped before.

HTML5 Mr. Jobs decides that he can make an absurd comment about the future of Flash. Well he was true. Flash animations from long long ago are dead. But RIAs, and Datadriven RIas are way forward moving. Infact JavaFX, Loszlo, Air, Flex, and the list goes on. I wonder if Steve Jobs reads at all. Qt4 is not bad, but there isn’t anything special about it. Goggle backs all of them, but Steve jobs can’t make anymore comments that I will pay attention.

He needs to sltick with developing devices that everyone already has had the notion to build. The social network….. Is the web, don’ g thinking you invented anything My Jobs. Nokia will wallop you every time. You are not the end all, or the be all. So I just laugh when I listen to confused people manipulate their elitest cult of grannys.

Yes My. Jobs, you do sound more gereriatic (sp), and cenile (agan wGAFF). Please retire. I have never bought anything but a 3g ipod. Its a piece of shit. I wish I could chuck it at it you. With the warning.

You should have gotten along with your constiuentcies… You make them look so more clueless than you.

If you want to know what is going to be the next thing, it is already here… It’s called privacy.. Get with IT :)

Rob

I have no idea who came up with the idea that ‘windows’ is easier. It makes me want to laugh at anyone who doesn’t know they are being taken for a ride.

I would n’t ever learn Windows Web technologies, because at the end of the day… Are they going to abadon another horrible ideas, and then purchase a technolog/company that works?

For the past 6 years I have been learning Java, and Unix/Tux. I saw this, not as a diversion, but as a goal. I figured if I could just stay on the same path to learning. I would far surpase all the followers that microsoft, and steve jobs have.

I cannot think of 1 good technology that Apple has comeout with in the software arena. Even the tools that Applie uses to spy on it’s visitors. to get the knowledge of what to use for ads was stolen. These two dub-phucsw are just posers. If you want to see how window’s 7 gets its look. Just look up ubuntu.

Don’t feel bad because you got suckered into their ploys. Many people have.

No computer is superior. But it is true that the way someone uses’s there computer can make them productive, less stressful., and also a bit smug.

No matter how much money you spend on a pc,mac, what have you. You should invest some time reading about how to use it. Because if you dont. You are not the rich elitetist you thought you were.

You are just an opulant asshole, who wasted his money…This is not a flame blog, but I get sick of people asking me if I use mac, because I do design from time to time. I tell them I have 2 dual boots. 7/Suse, and vistal/Solaris. They both are powerhouse machines, and were purchased eorns ago. WITHOUT THE BEST buy rippoff protection.

To sum this up. If you want to spend 10,000 to play with a computer that you may never understand,. Go with linux, or Windows, or Mac. You have to respect your computer, because you have to trust that your data is secure. Unix, Windows, etc, they alll can get viruses. No one is immune, and for the elitests.

You can’t buy expertise. That is earned, and I hope you learn how to use your computer, instead of letting it get to your head. You may be the next person that needs Mac tech support and cannot find anyone who gives a shit… Just go buy a new one . LOOL

Those are my bits.
Rob

Over the past few years I have spent an increasing amount of time working with wordpress. Most of the time, Wordpress is what the client specifically asked for as the CMS system. A few times a specific theme was even selected.(Thesis, Genisis).

I have been keeping my skill set fresh with PHP/Curl custom projects, but I find the Wordpress software to be of great help. WP is becoming more of an All-In-One Content Management System, and less of a Blog system. With things like Tags, Categories, and the ID system; you can easily management / publish most of the common types of resources.

Links, Pages, Posts, Sidebar Widgets. Seems so simple, but now with wordpress you can easily build anything.

• Forum (PHPbb/bbpress)
• Social Network System (BuddyPress)
• Ecommerce System (MagentoPress)
• SEO System
• Email Marketing System
• CRM System
  • Contact Management
  • Communication Tracking
  • Task Oriented- System
• Email Marketing System

Wordpress is also continually getting souped up.Version 3.2 will be out soon. It essentially fixes the wordpress 3.1, and it debugs/redesigns many of the problematic modules of the system. (See bottom). Just like wordpress 3 fixed menus, and child theme development. 3.2 will be a completely different experience for the future of updating the software. It has always been a bit buggy, with the plugins/system support compatibility. Many times requiring the user to backup data, and database components while updating the system. Also disabling the plugins between wordpress updates has helped, but these things are annoying to have to repeat whenever the wordpress team decides to update the system.

Overall, this piece of software has been around for more than 8 years. It continues to gain popularity with the mainstream community, and has always made up a great part of the internet. Its ease of use, and the ability to turn this CMS system into basically any kind of web app has given it power over the competition (MovableType, TextPattern). It has changed dramatically, and harness the power of Jquery/Scripting languages with great simplicity. Simple is better 9 times out of 10. This software solutions is probably better for a web project 9/10 times a client would like control over the content. It is very common for people to pick up the skills needed to change their website content very quickly. Picking up speed through the backend develops as well.

If you have existing software that uses Joomla, Magento, Drupal, Zend Framework, etc. Don’t worry about it’s compatibility with worddpress. It connects, and can be coupled with just about any existing web build. This includes ASPX, and .NET (MSSql) apps.

Another great part about using Wordpress is the commitment of the open source/ GNU GPL, LGPL community. You can rest assure that the time spent learning this system will be an asset to you in the future. It won’t be going away any time soon like FrontPage or any other ‘industry standard-like’ tool. Its a mature collection of highly configurable apps, and the best part is the mobile phone features for creating unique user-agent specific views.

Those are my bits,
ROb

What a much needed area of HTML. Most of the time you would avoid table tags, and now they have added back into the HTML library as to split up some of the div tags. I will call those elements (div tag markup tags).

Also HTML has added form stuff. This helps us keep the inputs specific enough, and also gives more ability to validate a users input.

More newness: Canvas, Audio, Video, iframe(was taken out of xhtml1.1, and xhtml1.0 strict).

Also HTML5 embraces client side storage. Just like SQlite, and other client side db storage engines. HTML5 does wonders with sessions as well. You can easily save information in localstorage, sessionStorage. It makes caching, of the data easy as well.

Just wanted to blog really quickly about my new understanding of the difference of HTML5 to its ancestors. HTML4, XHTML1.0, and XHTML1.1 are all previous versions. HTML5 is to HTML4, as XHTML5 is to XHTML1.1.

Those are my Bits,
Rob

I hear one question more than any other, while talking about the web. This just makes me laugh. I explain to them that I can’t answer their question. All that I get back from them is, “Why can’t you answer that?”

I would say that it is one of the biggest problems web developers face…. Under quoting a job, because the client asks that question right away. This is sort of a trap.

I think of the question like. “How much does a house cost?” “How much does a vehicle run?”
There is only one answer to this question. After thoroughly collecting all content, media, page hierarchy, design complexity, widgets?, etc.

Many people come to me with barely a rough draft of the content that they would want to have on their site. Some even have a logo and a color scheme that they would like. BUT this just isn’t enough. I would like to think that it isn’t a web developers job to speak on behalf of a company. Only a few individuals from any company/group/etc. would know the ins and outs of their purpose.

I need at least the following

• Mission
• Purpose
• Pages & Content
• Applications needed / DB driven?
• User Interactivity
• Pictures that relate to the group/company/etc.(not stollen from Google Images)
• A GOOGLE Acount (analytics/ect)
• A 1/3 downpayment

I am sure I left out some things, but you get the point. You wouldn’t get much of an answer if you were at a car dealership, and ask the question “How much does one of your cars cost?” The guy would probably ask you a few questions to help narrow down the choices.

I know the golden rule is “do unto others…” In the web I would say the golden rules are “Pick a time frame”, and “What is your budget?”

I can build a website pretty much any way the client would like. So After a long drawn out answer. The plain solution for this is for me to write out an intake form. It would be so much easier for me to build the website of someone’s dreams; if they knew what it was. If they leave it up to me to do content…. “Lorem Ipsum Dolar, Sit, amit…..” Thats about the best I can do. The only company that I can really speak for is Graphicalinsight.

A website is supposed to help expose your company/group/etc. on a world wide scale. Without unique content, it would be very hard for a search engine to even index your content. Also websites are supposed to be an asset to a company. Not a nuisance. I see so many companies that wasted their patience, and also man hours with tasks that could be replaced by a system or app on a website.

Let’s keep it simple.. But also Let’s keep it easy. Just because websites happen to be complicated for the layman. IT, PC repair, Car Tuneups, etc also are like this. Just hire someone that you can trust to do it for you. It may turn out to be way easier that you thought.

I have been learning about web based coding languages for over 5 years, and I love it. For someone to be able to cover all the bases needed,(for example: Security, SEO, XHTML/HTM5 coding/CSS/ JS/Server Side Language(for forms, and such)) that someone better keep in mind that if a website is build in a Sh*tte manner. It will eventually fall into a pile of it.

With all the robots, crazies, and spam stuff going on, how could someone hire a “Yes, Man” type of developer. In my eyes, I have to do everything damn near perfect. The chances of that website succeeding are greater when the code soup is done correctly.

You get what you pay for. That is always true, but lately I have been hearing about clients putting money down on a project . They got sweet talked by some older gentlemen that does welding, and housework for his profession. Eventually the poor lier ran away with the little chunk, because he knew how to do a website in 2003.

Websites are the 1st impression many times. It can be an invaluable asset, that one can mold and build up into the future.
You are going to have to remember that it does take effort, and expertise to properly work for you. Think of it as an employee, and it represents your business while meeting this employee at the door.

If this guy looks like crap, has you lost, and stressed.. You are not alone. I see more out-dated, and down right pathetic websites online, that ones that even function.
Even the government websites look horrible, and function disasterously. I can only say that specs like HTML5, XHTML1.1, CSS3 are my best friends. If I wasn’t able to use all those languages plus numerous others, I would be lacking some important skills that make a website prosper.

Before you hire your next website guy. Maybe do a lil research about his past projects. It’s sad when anyone looses money on a project, but it makes any of use ‘true’ hard working web developers look bad as well..

Anything can be salvaged, but never wait over 2-3 weeks for a website to be done. If so, you are being taken for a ride, and you need to seize as much of the content that person was given.

Those are my bits,
Rob McKinnon
Graphicalinsight

In 2006 I was convinced that Linux and open source technologies would take over the world. I was less crazy than others may have thought. Google Chrome Os’s coming of age wouldn’t have been possible with out GTK++/Gnome Desktop environment. Apple never would have been able to copy enlightenments dock. Vista would have no influences, Specifically KDE. I am going to tell the story of how I

I decided I wanted to learn linux in 2004 and chose (Fedora Yarrow rpm) to dualboot on my xp box. I soon became a novell /OpenSuse Guy. After I became comfortable with using linux, I bought an apache hosting space from canaca in 2005. Ever since I have been diligently learning all I could, because it sparked such an interest. I knew that open source would rule the IT world. My family thought I was crazy. They said no one uses it !! Your wasting your time. I didn’t care, and was going to use it anyhow. I loved the challenge, but watching the the Opensource Operating system evolve was what kept me from thinking it was pointless. I’m sure glad that I wasn’t off learning FrontPage instead.

I was amazed as I watched GnomeDesktopEnvironment()GTK evolve. Once I saw vista’s sidebar,Macs dock, win7 taskbar, and some many other things… I thought it was cheap to steal from Opensource. I had no idea they were going to buy open source technologies down the line. I chuckled, and thought “yeah everyone will be using this linux” its going to take over the world. would change everything. I looked at Macs taskbar, and thought Enlightenment. What in the world. microsoft got the idea for those vista gadgets that would freeze up. They worked better inside a tux machine. I also recognized the win7 taskbar, Gnome. how google was going to do when the bought the technology in 2006. Think of a 2d graph that shows a few stats.. That was Urchin js(apache website reporting tool) when I first saw it. It was transformed into the powerhouse that is Google analytics. Google analytics and Urchin both exist today. Urchin 7 by google sells for almost 10,000 a license. The company that backed my distro of choice was Novell was sold for over 2 billion dollars to attachmate, and Microsoft bought the rest.

It seems that the Linux platform has changed the way operating systems for the masses works. The days of Vista are over. The freedom to choose is actually not too hard. Where do the big 3 IT come to play (Microsoft/IBM/Apple)? The web. I will be waiting for IE9 for web programming to finally become standardized.

I love the ideas behind a constantly evolving, and maturing software platform. It will always live where it the mindset of sharing, and inovation live.

Just my Bits,
Rob

I started using a computer as a banker from Boston. Yeah Oregon trail was an obsession, and I had to start out RICH. Not that it ever saved me from drowning in the river. I was a 5 yo at school playing games on a computer. That is what I still try to be, 20 years later. I just try to have fun. When things get stressful… I put the PC away

Over the past few weeks I have been swamped in web work. I love to work in the web field, because ever since my first web project in 2005 I have never stopped learning. My clients’ project’s have been a collection of His/Her/their ideas along a solid notion. Whether the purpose was to spread the message and offer support, or it was in some way asking the visitor to buy something.

The way that the client projected their purpose has been the one thing that I love about my job. Bringing to life people’s ideas, and creating something unique for them to use has been another cool part of the task at hand.

So finally to my point. I have come very far(relative to my notion of it) in the programming, and web development industry since 2005. Now that I can sit back and enjoy building w/e it seems. I have found to be like a toddler. I can’t run yet, and I would love to be able to use Twisted-Python Smart Proxy, or Echo3 with ease. I can just barely crawl (creating Flex->ajax interactive applications). XHTML 1.1 strict as a foundation, and working with PHP5 OOP/Zend with an increasing notion.

As I think back to HTML, and all that funny Caps ridden code with CGI backend(if I could figure out the .pl). LOL. I am amazed that I have kept up with it. Also I think how far I can go into infinte.

There will always be something for me to learn, to better my skillset in the web field.

I will always be a bit ahead of some, and a bit far behind others. I am part of a moment (OpenSource = Coding +Creativity) & not Mac/Apple.

I can just think back to when I was struggling to pick up spry, and couldn’t ever imagine compiling Flash/AS3. Those dang compiler errors always the wall between me publishing anything in flash. Lol

The thing is. Open source has been my education, and I have learned in scholastica. The one thing I can about the internet and you good people. Whenever I had to find an answer; someone had written it somewhere in a PHPbb forum.

If not receiving a UTFSE, I could ask. Then someone would help me. That is actually the one thing I love most about my job. My collegues, and co-nerds are so helpful. There is no way that microsoft, or Apple would be where it is today w/o the GNU/GPL. For that matter, without people like Linus Torvald, and Tim Barrens Lee I wouldn’t be a nerd. Those guys never developed what they had for grossing in the stock market. They simply were inspired by something, and never gave up on it. Today it ecompasses so much more than just money.

When I see people on there computers so stressed, and seeking the latest new/stock information.. It saddens me. The web is about inspiration, creativity, sharing information, and also porn. J/K. Well it is.

Enjoy the web, and learn to love learning. I found that by thinking this way, I won’t ever be worried about the Associated press. I won’t care about whos doing what, and why. I will only be sharing information, and having fun.

No worries, No Gossip, No Lies.

Thank – Rob’s Bits

P.S. I am starting my blog from scratch. No more knock of themes. I am going to cherish the beginning while it is still fun, and if you want to see my latest project.. Click Me

I have noticed that when you buy a new computer with windows on it, it comes with a bundle of crap that I don’t need or want on my pc. Although I am a linux guy, I still have to have one of my machines with the current windows os. I help clients with their computers sometimes, and I must have windows skills to do so. The follow tricks can help your computer run ‘better than new’. There are a lot of things that windows does that most users have no need for. Disabling these features, and cleaning up the microsoft support ‘ad-ware’ can help your computer run much better.

#1: Windows has a default setting to allow remote connections. This option allows your computer to be controlled remotely.. To turn this off, go to control panel, system, remote Tab. Uncheck the remote assistance if you have no need for someone to control you computer remotely. Most users do not need this, and if you do. Simply enable it when needed.

2#: Windows doesn’t have the best software for degragging your disk, and because windows usually has fragmented files more so than linux/unix(Mac), you will need to have an excellent program(Perfectdisk/O&O defrag) to keep your files from becoming horribly fragmented. File fragmentation can lead to poor system performance, and virus scanning can take forever.

3#: Remove Bloatware.. Windows and computer manufacturers loves to install things that are not needed, and often have a trial period associated with them. For resources about Bloatware, there is a site that helps you become more aware of these types of ‘bugs’. Decrapify/CCleaner are suggested at removebloatware.org.

4#: Disk Error Checking is something that should be done on a regular basis. I have found that very few people even know what it is. This is something that should be taped on the screen of windows pcs when they are packaged in their boxes. Read/Write errors can also slow your system down, but they also enable viruses to hide in your system. To run this tool on your C: drive, your operating system cannot be up and running. For more information go to the microsoft instructions.

For anyone currently spending money on anti-virus software, you should just install Windows Security Essentials. Every Operating system can be infected by viruses, and your data could be lost by a system crash. Remember to create your boot disk, and ALWAYS backup your data.
Its much easier to just reboot your system than trying to salvage data that could be infected. Best buy may love it when you have computer problems, but why pay to have your system fixed. You can reboot your system very easily without their help, if you have created a backup & a boot disk.

Windows may not be strong in many areas that unix/linux are, but if you are like many in the business arena without a choice over the matter. It’s best to have a ‘backup plan’. This saves time/money. Anyone that uses windows computers knows that when a virus hits, you are left with few options. Make sure you develop healthy ‘backup’ skills. It’s part of being a computer user. Mac has anti-virus software as well, and anyone that thinks they cannot be harmed by a virus just hasn’t had it happen yet.

Hope this helps someone. Just my bits,

Rob

Google has several services that can help you market, Analyze, and execute your presence. Google Adwords Keywork tool, Webmaster’s Tools, Website Optimizer, Google Places, Google Base, and Google Blog search can be used to make sure your information is found quickly by your target audience.

SEO doesn’t have to be hard. Google Webmaster’s tools provides ease for viewing SEO related information like sitemaps, Backlinks/Internal links, Keywords, Performance information, Malware, Meta tag Uniqueness, Crawler result, Robots, site links, and search queries . There are so many saas providers, freeware tools, and random methods people may use for just one of these methods. Google almost gives you this information leaving no stone left unturned in providing web developers/clients with  the most efficient ways to analyze important information abo

Want to search the blogosphere, just use Google  Blog Search.
Google Places can help you make your mark in a geographical way.
No other search engine could out-do google in services, popularity, etc. Cuil at one point tried. It no longer exists.

I love how google continues to move forward with a spirit of domination, spirit to do more, and motivation to push their competition to their limits. They have taken on smart phones, operating systems, tablet Pcs,  Tv, and soon they will launch their cloud service. Android as a platform has be picking up steam, and I am curious to see how it fits into the web software market share.

People are even going to be putting Android software into apple products as a homebrew.

Ipads with Android as software. with openboot

Great job google. You know how to set a standard, and force complacency out of our marketplace. So what’s next? I just can’t friggen wait. Every year that goes by, google seems to somehow out-do itself. 2010 was no exception.

The best keyword tag tool out there, belongs to Google in their AdWord application. Why would you want to research your keywords with just any old 3-rd party tool? Google has APIS for almost all of theirs. They share, and they don’t just provide everything with an Open Source option. They provide Swaths of resources, examples, and Compatible programming languages with their freely available cloud-filled web-warey goodnesses!

I almost can’t imagine them not existing in the 21st century. They have been a huge part of it, along with the impact of Open Source Qualities. I remember Linux used to be so darn UI-lacking any luster. Now the new Google OS is available for download as a Release Candidate (Post Beta, Pre Official)..

I was impressed by Microsoft just not too long ago, but it doesn’t take much for me to loose interest with what they bring to the table.

Google Chome Os is open source, just as linux is. Open Source has been my mainstay since before google even touched Urchin JS which turned into Google Analytics. The rest is history, open source software is no longer hiding in the shadows. It is amazing to see what Google has done by carrying many Open Source technologies into the future . Google has come light years in very little time, it couldn’t have been done without the help of the open source community. Google is world wide, and has broken down the walls of licensing that kept major companies from working together.

Those are my Bits,
Rob

Sometimes I hear gossip about web technologies and people saying what side they are going to take. First off Ajax and Flex are not going to  fight, because they both work seamlessly in most browsers. The technologies that make up AJAX are not that uncommon, but Flash is actually a more matured technology. 1996 was the year that Macromedia Flash began development.

I love both of them, and they each have their own strengths. Flash is much more appealing for timeline driven graphics/Buttons/Movie Clips. Ajax is great for speed, and is more widely supported(well flash is catching up in apple /mobile). One of the weaknesses of javascript is that some people have the js turned off in their browsers. Another issue with Javascript is popups, and some automatically running script problems.

Every web project calls for a different mashup. How could someone say that Flash sucks, or that it is going to go away? No one could be able to predict the future, and not learning AS3/Flex/Flash only limits your abilities. I could say Flash sucks too, but because I hate full-flash websites. I don’t think that a flash app should be tossed into a few lines of HTML, because there is much need for accessibility. Web applications make use of many resources. Server-side, Client-side, and remote( or cloud).

If you wanted to create a whole website in PDF, SWF, or DHTML. Why do that though? I think you would miss out on the flexibility of Web standards, and most likely lose an audience.

Flash ISN’T getting the boot because of Ajax or HTML5. Flash has evolved. Meaning, just like MS office got an xml upgrade to allow more functionality; so did JSP/ASP/PHP and Flash. Flash wont get the boot like FrontPage. It’s been modularized, and has evolved. There is a reason for Flash Catalyst, and AIR. Adobe has really picked up steam with Flash, because you can created Windows Applications AND Mobile applications in AS3. Flex has been keeping up with Silverlight, and JavaFx.

Ajax and Flex are much more alike then they are different. 1 thing that about Flex that really takes the cake… Flex connects to .NET,Java, and OpenSource Server languages. It also connects to E4x, XML, Rss, SOAP, & JS.
The lovely Flash AJAX Bridge enables the developer to build interactive web apps that marry both technologies with ease. So with HTML5, flash is not going anywhere. Due to HTML5 API compatibility, I look forward to working with both Flash and Ajax alongside the new markup language.

These technologies will never fight, only the people using them. If I had my choice I would pick both of them. The reason I would choose both, every project is different. Yes they both have their strengths, and their weaknesses.

So if not to replace FLASH why is HTML5 such a big deal? HTML5 is an amazing set of next generation elements that give web developers a much needed upgrade in the HTML toolbox. Also with this release of HTML, interoperability between browsers is closer than ever.

Just my Bits,
Rob

|Download here: Free Security Essentials by Microsoft|

I am so darn impressed with microsoft. I started becoming very happy today when I decided to change my test server BACK to IIS7. This has been a game of back and forth for me, along with my IDE of choice for programming. I either get tired of having an Apache2/XAMP installation on a non-C:\ hard drive, and then re-install IIS7. Going back to XAMPP, I find some flaw in IIS7 environment that isn’t compatible to my Live Servers. Usually I just didn’t know every little thing like I tend to understand apache. I did find a way to convert .htaccess into a web.config, so that the urls will work in rewriten manner.

Interoperability has always been a main focus for microsoft though.

Why Is Interoperability Important?

The cloud works because all your consumable data is fixtured around the web, and this includes movies, music, emails. The web is about Mashing it us. Blending everything together to create the most efficient user interface to display the data.

So I guess Windows support for PHP has gotten a lot sweeter. Just having PHP/CGI available on Windows Server is cool, but without security it doesn’t matter whats ‘cool’. I have noticed that Microsoft has been picking up open-source values along with their addition of opensource language support. They have free Anti-virus software that runs smoothly, and can scan your computer without loosing a bunch of system resources.

It’s called Security essentials, and it locks into windows like the Defrag tool. It’s so nice to have seemlessly available software products. Like the IIS, it’s easier most of the time to have a windows tool installed rather than a 3rd party one. Tons of 3rd party software took off because there were many things that windows didn’t do easily.

I am beginning to see a huge change with windows. Not just Windows the operating system, but Microsoft on the whole.  It’s a good change because when vista came out it was the first time I saw laptops with Unix alternatives available. Along with Apple OSx taking hold on the Mac, and having quite a large following. Unix was beginning to have many different theme and desktop environments available. Making linux/Unix more user friendly than ever before.

With Linux they have an application called ClamAV, and this is because linux can get viruses/rootkits too. Not just windows, and I believe that there can be bad code executed in Apple os’s as well. So windows does have an advantage now. It’s supporting free Anti-virus just like Linux does.

When I think about that for a minute, I can’t believe that I a saying this. I think I am going to become a windows guy. Across the board. With website being on IIS7 for my websites, on the server side. And Windows systems for my laptops. It’s just easier for once to have Windows across the board.

Another cool thing, IE9 will be providing HTML5/CSS3 support finally to join the rest of the pack. Just like all the big bois like Chrome, Opera, Safari, Firefox, Flock, Web-kit, and mobiles. Internet explorer has been taking it’s big Boy pills, but still has a hard time even launching in IE9 beta. I will keep my eye open for that area to become the best,But I know it will. So far I am cool with Office, Desktop, and soon with be using Microsoft Server along with the browser. :)

|Download here|

After a day filled with Bird, and family. I can’t help but feel extremely lucky. A couple times during the day I noticed there were people around not worried about work, OR the economy. I was happy to be in the company of my blended family. Not only happy, I was being with gratitude.

Gratitude that they were all there, and more thankful about my own personal situation.  I have the ability to do what I love. I love learning about web standards, browsers, and how to create websites that push the limits. Using code that loads fast, and using the apache2 server effectively.

I didn’t just one day wake up, and know where to look for a job. Know what I wanted to do with my mind.  Sometimes I was just going through the motions at school, or while working a job in a non-It Position. I am grateful for XHTML/CSS/XML/JS/PHP Mashups. I learned all the components separately, and over a long period of time. Dang, I remember trying to pickup JavaScript. I also remember learning ActionScript, and compiling MXML/AS3.. It stupified me, and it was not an overnight process.

I found out that I love being a web developer (Backend IT) PHP/MYSQL guy. It took over 5 years before I could just focus on a few good things. I was playing around in PhotoShop/Fireworks/Illustrator/InDesign the whole 9, and later than sooner.. I found that I favored XHTML/PHP coding.

I wouldn’t have been able to learn about all these magnificent things without Unix, and the open source community. Sourceforge and and all those Blogs that have tutorials. Many sites giving a bit of knowledge here and there. I am the most grateful for the IT community. I am also grateful for the Non-Profit Community. I would be no where with my understanding of hot to do what I do today without those 2 communities.

The way that the web evolved was organized by the Worldwide Web Consortium, Wasp, WHATWG. These are all non-profit organizations. My first contract work was also with some 501c3s, and other non-profits. I was able to learn a bit as I went, and was paid a modest hourly wage. These connections turned into 3 fiscal years of learning. Learning business, as well as how to do things the way the state would. It was worth tons to volunteer as well. Without it I would know much less about Ecommerce, and the way Boards/Commitees work.

On Thanksgiving I think I got a lot out of it. Got to hang with the family a bit, took a nap, and then went online for a few. I wanted to say Thanks to the IT community, and the Opensource movement.  Everyone being resourceful, and helpful. Sharing secrets, and tricks for the myriad of browsers. I was able to find a career that I love because the information for me to find it was available.

Can’t wait to push CSS3/HTML5 elements to their limits. When IE9 hurries up.. Lol, JK.

Thanks to the people behind CSS PIE…

Till next time,

Rob McKinnon : Graphicalinsight