I just realized it has been over a month since my last post. Sorry about that, but things have been really crazy. With that said, let's catch up.
A terrible thing happened recently, which scared the heck out of me. I was having some pain in my stomach, so I went to the emergency room. They knew it was my appendix right away. I figured it was no big deal since this sort of thing happens all the time. However, after my surgery, I found out just how lucky I was. It turns out my appendix was entirely gangrene, and a great deal of poison had been released into my body as a result of this. I remained in the hospital for five days. Since my release, I have still been quite ill, but I am getting better. I wish I could say the same for school. Since this happened in the middle of the term, I was unable to skip the term and come back strong next term. I was forced to be removed from one of my classes, and was asked to catch up three weeks' work in the other. As I am just now getting back to normal, this is not likely. Therefore, I will have to retake both classes next term. A small price to pay because I am just glad to be alive.
Some great things have happened as well though. I was appointed Vice President of the Iota Sigma Tau honor society recently. Though this is a great deal of work, it is worth it to be able to give back. The honor society has gone downhill since its inception, but I am working closely with the entire Executive Board in the hopes of making it stronger and better than ever. I have complete faith that the other board members and I will succeed beyond anybody's expectations.
In addition, I have been able to begin working with the Ambassadors & Leaders Program again. We are working to create our own online blog at BlogTalk Radio. I have joined the subcommittee of five members in charge of getting this project off the ground. We have a great group of committee members that are working well together to make this happen. I cannot wait to see how this works out.
That is all for now. I will do my best to ensure another month does not pass before I am able to return.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
NSCS Scholar of the Week
Hello everybody,
I just received an email stating I am the NSCS Scholar of the Week for the week of May 10, 2010. It is always a great feeling to receive recognition for such hard work. I am humbled by this distinction, but am very proud at the same time, if that makes any sense.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I just received an email stating I am the NSCS Scholar of the Week for the week of May 10, 2010. It is always a great feeling to receive recognition for such hard work. I am humbled by this distinction, but am very proud at the same time, if that makes any sense.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Another Term Complete
Good day everybody,
I have recently completed yet another term at Kaplan. I took Introduction to Multimedia Using Adobe Flash and Technology Infrastructure. I am happy to report that I successfully completed both courses, and I have maintained my 4.0 GPA. I will admit I was a bit concerned about the Technology Infrastructure course. This is simply because I am a Web Development student, and the course was essentially a course in Networking, but from a business user's perspective. However, I did rather well in the course, achieving a 95% for the year. The Flash course was a little less nerve-wracking for me, but there were some points in which I felt my inability to create as an artist held me back. However, I finished the course with a 98%, so I am very happy with that grade. I am glad to know that my hard work through this third year has paid off by allowing me to maintain a 4.0. This is not an easy task, especially with the intensity of the courses this far into my degree plan.
The next term begins on May 12. I take courses throughout the summer in order to graduate early. I have always done this, and would not know what to do with a summer off. The courses I will be taking this next term are Web Programming Development, which deals with learning server-side scripting for Web applications, and Interactive Scripting for Web Pages, which deals with learning JavaScript. These courses will be especially helpful, as they will allow me to move toward my goal of becoming a Web Developer, rather than just a Web Designer. I can hardly wait.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I have recently completed yet another term at Kaplan. I took Introduction to Multimedia Using Adobe Flash and Technology Infrastructure. I am happy to report that I successfully completed both courses, and I have maintained my 4.0 GPA. I will admit I was a bit concerned about the Technology Infrastructure course. This is simply because I am a Web Development student, and the course was essentially a course in Networking, but from a business user's perspective. However, I did rather well in the course, achieving a 95% for the year. The Flash course was a little less nerve-wracking for me, but there were some points in which I felt my inability to create as an artist held me back. However, I finished the course with a 98%, so I am very happy with that grade. I am glad to know that my hard work through this third year has paid off by allowing me to maintain a 4.0. This is not an easy task, especially with the intensity of the courses this far into my degree plan.
The next term begins on May 12. I take courses throughout the summer in order to graduate early. I have always done this, and would not know what to do with a summer off. The courses I will be taking this next term are Web Programming Development, which deals with learning server-side scripting for Web applications, and Interactive Scripting for Web Pages, which deals with learning JavaScript. These courses will be especially helpful, as they will allow me to move toward my goal of becoming a Web Developer, rather than just a Web Designer. I can hardly wait.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Narrative Update
Good morning everybody,
I finally have a minute, so I figured I would update you on the digital Flash narrative. This week, I added the third section, added some navigation, and applied appropriate background music to the individual sections. I am extremely happy with the effect the sound has on the overall effectiveness of the narrative. However, I am unhappy with the navigation, and will be working to correct this over the next few days. Initially, I had placed buttons that appear at the end of each section to either move forward or back to the beginning of the narrative. Now, I am considering using a slightly transparent bar with buttons to move forward one section, back to the beginning of a section, and then back to the beginning. I am considering creating a motion tween in which the bar slides in from the right with the buttons already attached. This will occur at the end of each section, and should give the narrative a more professional feel. Three more weeks and it will be complete. However, if you would like to see what I have done so far, you may visit http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/bio.html and scroll down to the bottom of the page. As a side note, once the title screen section comes to an end, there is an invisible button that covers the entire screen to move forward. This was not my choice, but one of the requirements of an earlier project and the overall final project. You will notice the arrow turn to the hand when the button becomes available. Just click anywhere and it will begin the first section. Feel free to provide feedback!!!
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I finally have a minute, so I figured I would update you on the digital Flash narrative. This week, I added the third section, added some navigation, and applied appropriate background music to the individual sections. I am extremely happy with the effect the sound has on the overall effectiveness of the narrative. However, I am unhappy with the navigation, and will be working to correct this over the next few days. Initially, I had placed buttons that appear at the end of each section to either move forward or back to the beginning of the narrative. Now, I am considering using a slightly transparent bar with buttons to move forward one section, back to the beginning of a section, and then back to the beginning. I am considering creating a motion tween in which the bar slides in from the right with the buttons already attached. This will occur at the end of each section, and should give the narrative a more professional feel. Three more weeks and it will be complete. However, if you would like to see what I have done so far, you may visit http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/bio.html and scroll down to the bottom of the page. As a side note, once the title screen section comes to an end, there is an invisible button that covers the entire screen to move forward. This was not my choice, but one of the requirements of an earlier project and the overall final project. You will notice the arrow turn to the hand when the button becomes available. Just click anywhere and it will begin the first section. Feel free to provide feedback!!!
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Working with Flash and ActionScript
Good evening everybody,
I am now in my seventh week of learning Flash. I must say I am pleasantly surprised with the versatility and power of Flash. This week, I am learning about using audio and video in Flash. I knew you could use video with Flash, but I had no idea the tools used for audio and video were so robust. Up to this point, I worked strictly with animations and creating the digital narrative. Now I get the chance to add other aspects to my narrative; aspects that serve to significantly increase the effectiveness of any project.
In addition, I have been working a little with ActionScript. I have come to discover this is an extremely powerful and complex scripting language. I consider ActionScript with Flash as analogous to an engine with a car. ActionScript serves to make Flash work even better. Whether you are using ActionScript to activate a button, or using it to control physics-based animations, the possibilities are endless. While I am currently focusing on learning the various aspects of Flash, I am scheduled to take both Intermediate and Advanced ActionScript courses toward the end of the year. This will be after working to learn server-side scripting with VBScript and learning client-side scripting with JavaScript. This will give me a great foundation for working with ActionScript, as I am told ActionScript is much like JavaScript. Once I complete these courses, I will be well prepared to work with Flash and ActionScript for extremely complex projects, and with have the scripting knowledge necessary to become a legitimate Web Developer. This will just add another facet to my career.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I am now in my seventh week of learning Flash. I must say I am pleasantly surprised with the versatility and power of Flash. This week, I am learning about using audio and video in Flash. I knew you could use video with Flash, but I had no idea the tools used for audio and video were so robust. Up to this point, I worked strictly with animations and creating the digital narrative. Now I get the chance to add other aspects to my narrative; aspects that serve to significantly increase the effectiveness of any project.
In addition, I have been working a little with ActionScript. I have come to discover this is an extremely powerful and complex scripting language. I consider ActionScript with Flash as analogous to an engine with a car. ActionScript serves to make Flash work even better. Whether you are using ActionScript to activate a button, or using it to control physics-based animations, the possibilities are endless. While I am currently focusing on learning the various aspects of Flash, I am scheduled to take both Intermediate and Advanced ActionScript courses toward the end of the year. This will be after working to learn server-side scripting with VBScript and learning client-side scripting with JavaScript. This will give me a great foundation for working with ActionScript, as I am told ActionScript is much like JavaScript. Once I complete these courses, I will be well prepared to work with Flash and ActionScript for extremely complex projects, and with have the scripting knowledge necessary to become a legitimate Web Developer. This will just add another facet to my career.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Midterms This Week!!!!
Hello everybody,
I have midterms this week, so I will not be posting a great deal. This week, I am redesigning the Title Page for my Flash Narrative, lengthening the first section, and creating the second section. The second section is going to involve quite a few shape tweens, as well as a rather cool concept in my opinion. I am going to have an image of me (the same image used in section 1 to keep file size to a minimum) with water moving in waves using shape tweens at my feet. As this section has to deal with the rush of emotions felt when one hears they are disabled, I am going to use formatted text that appears from a shape using shape tweens. As each word morphs onto the Stage, the water will rise higher. This is what it feels like at first, so this is what I have decided to do. Though a relatively simple concept, it has powerful meaning that I feel others will understand. As always, remember you can see the published version of my narrative up to the point on which I am working by visiting my Website and venturing to the bio page. http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/bio.html.
Aside from this, I will be writing a paper on the history of graphic file formats and Flash, as well as a paper on the differences between a hub, bridge, switch and router, and the basic functions of a network server.
This is quite a bit of work to complete in a week, so I better get to it.
Take care everybody,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I have midterms this week, so I will not be posting a great deal. This week, I am redesigning the Title Page for my Flash Narrative, lengthening the first section, and creating the second section. The second section is going to involve quite a few shape tweens, as well as a rather cool concept in my opinion. I am going to have an image of me (the same image used in section 1 to keep file size to a minimum) with water moving in waves using shape tweens at my feet. As this section has to deal with the rush of emotions felt when one hears they are disabled, I am going to use formatted text that appears from a shape using shape tweens. As each word morphs onto the Stage, the water will rise higher. This is what it feels like at first, so this is what I have decided to do. Though a relatively simple concept, it has powerful meaning that I feel others will understand. As always, remember you can see the published version of my narrative up to the point on which I am working by visiting my Website and venturing to the bio page. http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/bio.html.
Aside from this, I will be writing a paper on the history of graphic file formats and Flash, as well as a paper on the differences between a hub, bridge, switch and router, and the basic functions of a network server.
This is quite a bit of work to complete in a week, so I better get to it.
Take care everybody,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Successful Seminar
Good day everybody. I hope you are enjoying your weekend. I have been working very hard this week on school, Alpha Beta Kappa, and Ambassadors and Leaders. Last night, ABK was present at a seminar from Betsy Richards concerning ePortfolios. I feel it was a successful seminar, though I wish more members had made themselves present. Even so, it was successful, and we will likely be offering another seminar concerning resumes, as there were a great many questions concerning this topic. Betsy Richards was great, and she seemed very prepared. I look forward to working with her in the future.
Well, it is back to work,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Well, it is back to work,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I Have Found My Way Back
Good morning everybody,
It has been awhile since my last post, but that is only because I have been very busy. I had the meeting with Pearson concerning the Student Advisory Board, and am now waiting to hear back from them to see if I have made the cut.
Alpha Beta Kappa recently started a discussion thread for member introductions within our online community area. I believe it will be a huge success, along with the other features us officers have created. In addition, there is a great deal of interest being shown in students wanting to join the honor society. I have been replying to emails as fast as I can.
Classes are going well, and the gym membership has been paying off. I am finding I am able to walk a lot easier, and I am filled with more energy.
Well, I have to write a paper for Technology Infrstructure class, so I will end this for now.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
It has been awhile since my last post, but that is only because I have been very busy. I had the meeting with Pearson concerning the Student Advisory Board, and am now waiting to hear back from them to see if I have made the cut.
Alpha Beta Kappa recently started a discussion thread for member introductions within our online community area. I believe it will be a huge success, along with the other features us officers have created. In addition, there is a great deal of interest being shown in students wanting to join the honor society. I have been replying to emails as fast as I can.
Classes are going well, and the gym membership has been paying off. I am finding I am able to walk a lot easier, and I am filled with more energy.
Well, I have to write a paper for Technology Infrstructure class, so I will end this for now.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Monday, March 8, 2010
I Am Back
Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been a few days since my last post, but I have been focusing solely on classes. I have a few minutes now, so I figured I would come back and post. I have come up with the idea for the Title screen of my digital Flash narrative on Overcoming the Downfalls of Disability, and now only have to finalize the graphics and create them. That will take all of today, so I am up to get an early start. I am excited about the chance to create this, and only hope I will be able to share this with other disabled persons that are going through what I have already gone through and overcome.
I received the actual date of the meeting for the Pearson Student Advisory Board. The email I received stated the meeting will be this Thursday afternoon/early evening. I am quite excited about this opportunity, and can only do my best to secure a spot on the Board. More on this topic will follow Friday morning after I find out for myself the result of the meeting.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Sorry it has been a few days since my last post, but I have been focusing solely on classes. I have a few minutes now, so I figured I would come back and post. I have come up with the idea for the Title screen of my digital Flash narrative on Overcoming the Downfalls of Disability, and now only have to finalize the graphics and create them. That will take all of today, so I am up to get an early start. I am excited about the chance to create this, and only hope I will be able to share this with other disabled persons that are going through what I have already gone through and overcome.
I received the actual date of the meeting for the Pearson Student Advisory Board. The email I received stated the meeting will be this Thursday afternoon/early evening. I am quite excited about this opportunity, and can only do my best to secure a spot on the Board. More on this topic will follow Friday morning after I find out for myself the result of the meeting.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Meeting For The Pearson Student Advisory Board Program Confirmed
Hello everybody,
I know this is an extremely late post for me, but I really had to concentrate on hitting the books today rather than blogging. However, I am now all caught up, so I have time to blog for a minute before bed. I received the email today that the meeting for a possible position on the Pearson Student Advisory Board has been scheduled for next Thursday, March 11, 2010 in the late afternoon. This is an exciting time, as I will have a chance to show them I would be an extremely valuable asset to the program. Wish me luck!!!!
School is going good. I fell a little behind since I had to go to the doctor today for horrendous migraines. The doctor confirmed it was migraines, and I am now on medication for them, so hopefully this will not disturb my study time any longer. Though I am caught up, I will have to hit the books again hard for the Technology Infrastructure course later this morning. Then I will be able to begin working on my projects on Sunday so I can get done by Tuesday. I have to create the Title Page for my Flash digital narrative concerning overcoming the downfalls of disability. Though it is a serious topic, it will be fun to create. I also have to write a two page paper for my Technology Infrastructure course. This is essentially a step up from the Networking Concepts course, so at least I have a good foundation upon which this course will expand. Therefore, I have a completely full three days ahead of me, so I am going to go get some sleep so I can hit the ground running later this morning.
Have a great night,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I know this is an extremely late post for me, but I really had to concentrate on hitting the books today rather than blogging. However, I am now all caught up, so I have time to blog for a minute before bed. I received the email today that the meeting for a possible position on the Pearson Student Advisory Board has been scheduled for next Thursday, March 11, 2010 in the late afternoon. This is an exciting time, as I will have a chance to show them I would be an extremely valuable asset to the program. Wish me luck!!!!
School is going good. I fell a little behind since I had to go to the doctor today for horrendous migraines. The doctor confirmed it was migraines, and I am now on medication for them, so hopefully this will not disturb my study time any longer. Though I am caught up, I will have to hit the books again hard for the Technology Infrastructure course later this morning. Then I will be able to begin working on my projects on Sunday so I can get done by Tuesday. I have to create the Title Page for my Flash digital narrative concerning overcoming the downfalls of disability. Though it is a serious topic, it will be fun to create. I also have to write a two page paper for my Technology Infrastructure course. This is essentially a step up from the Networking Concepts course, so at least I have a good foundation upon which this course will expand. Therefore, I have a completely full three days ahead of me, so I am going to go get some sleep so I can hit the ground running later this morning.
Have a great night,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Pearson Student Advisory Board
Hello everybody,
Yesterday, I received the one email I have been waiting for. The email stated that one of the committee members and the Director of Student Relations want to set up a meeting with me to discuss the Pearson Student Advisory Board program to see if it is a good fit for me. Receiving this email shows me that all of my hard work in school is beginning to pay off. I have to especially thank those faculty members that provided recommendations for me, as I could not have gotten this far without them. While I do not yet have a position on the Board, I have taken a step in the right direction with the meeting. It is my hope that this works out, but I do not want to get my hopes up too much until I have the meeting. I am awaiting a return email explicitly stating the date and time of the meeting, so I will let you know when I know. In the meantime, all we can do is hope and see how the meeting goes. I know it will be either this Friday, or next Wednesday or Thursday, so until then I can only hope it goes well.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Yesterday, I received the one email I have been waiting for. The email stated that one of the committee members and the Director of Student Relations want to set up a meeting with me to discuss the Pearson Student Advisory Board program to see if it is a good fit for me. Receiving this email shows me that all of my hard work in school is beginning to pay off. I have to especially thank those faculty members that provided recommendations for me, as I could not have gotten this far without them. While I do not yet have a position on the Board, I have taken a step in the right direction with the meeting. It is my hope that this works out, but I do not want to get my hopes up too much until I have the meeting. I am awaiting a return email explicitly stating the date and time of the meeting, so I will let you know when I know. In the meantime, all we can do is hope and see how the meeting goes. I know it will be either this Friday, or next Wednesday or Thursday, so until then I can only hope it goes well.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
End of Unit 1 Term 10 / CSS3 and IE
Hello everybody,
End of Unit 1 Term 10
I have come to the end of the first unit of the new term. As always, there was a great deal of reading and learning how each individual course is run. For this reason, I am glad to see Unit 2 here. I will be beginning my Flash narrative this week, and will be getting an overview of Technology Infrastructure. I finished the storyboard, and believe I have come up with an interesting and meaningful concept. Essentially, I am going to create a digital narrative describing the process involved in returning to some semblance of a normal life after becoming disabled. As I have recently begun working on my physical health at the gym (2 weeks and feeling better all the time), I felt it was important to revisit the feelings and obstacles I have overcome to reach my present state. I know my limitations now, and am not being held back any longer by surgeries and self-doubt. With this said, after the term ends, the Flash narrative will be incorporated into my personal Website in order to inspire others, while at the same time showing myself how far I have come and why I must keep going. I find it much easier to put all I have into my work when it is meaningful to myself, or may benefit others.CSS3 and IE
While going along with my daily routine of waking up and reading interesting Web Design/Development articles posted by Smashing Magazine on Twitter (nice plug if I do say so myself), I came across two specific articles related to new developments in CSS3. Upon reading these articles, and getting excited about all of the new possibilities, especially in creating columns and how backgrounds will display, I noticed a very disturbing trend. None of the new properties discussed within the articles are supported by IE. Now, I had heard this before, but had never really seen any concrete evidence to support the claims. However, after seeing it written in different articles with different authors, I have received all the convincing I need that the allegations are true. This is a significant problem, as IE still has 60% of the market share. Therefore, IE is holding Web Designers, and Web Design as a whole, back by not conforming to standards, and at the same time, depriving its users of improved Websites with necessary components. We can learn about all of the new advancements in CSS, but cannot actually use them except in the case of creating browser-specific Websites, which is itself a rarity. The funny thing is, Microsoft keeps asking itself why they are losing more of the browser market share with each passing year. By remaining stubborn about conforming to standards, and supporting new technological advancements, they are hurting themselves, and anybody that comes into contact with IE. I hope for the sake of Web Design that this trend changes soon. Otherwise, Web Designers will be stuck using the same old techniques and properties to create their sites, and users will remain viewing the same sites for a long period of time with nothing new and exciting to discuss and enjoy.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My First Flash Project
Hello everybody,
Today, I will be working on the storyboard for my first real Flash project. The concept is still a little unclear, but I am receiving inspiration from the people around me. Hopefully the concept will become clearer as I review the project requirements for the entire course. I believe this will allow me to fully focus on what is to be accomplished. I want to have the idea fixed today though. This way I will be better able to create the storyboard and follow it for the next nine weeks. It becomes more difficult to complete anything when you change your mind, and the project, every week.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Today, I will be working on the storyboard for my first real Flash project. The concept is still a little unclear, but I am receiving inspiration from the people around me. Hopefully the concept will become clearer as I review the project requirements for the entire course. I believe this will allow me to fully focus on what is to be accomplished. I want to have the idea fixed today though. This way I will be better able to create the storyboard and follow it for the next nine weeks. It becomes more difficult to complete anything when you change your mind, and the project, every week.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Monday, March 1, 2010
An Eventful Weekend
Hello everybody,
After this past weekend, I am glad to see the week arrive. I spent most of the weekend fighting the Antivirus Vista 2010 virus on my wife's computer. This virus seems to have attached itself to her user account, and had rendered all of the programs on her computer unusable. It also changed all of her browser settings and kept displaying popup ads, and just wreaking havoc. However, after two days, we finally got it fully removed and have restored the computer back to its original state. This is the reason why there was no blog entry yesterday (I would have just ranted and raved anyway), and also why I am glad the week is here. Now, I can focus on my schoolwork, and leave the terrible weekend behind.
On a better note, I did manage to get my new webcam for business installed this morning. This will allow me to use Skype more effectively as I seek work and talk with clients. It is much easier communicating with someone face to face than it is to rely on text or strictly talk.
I was interviewed yesterday by a new student in her first term with Kaplan as part of her project for CS114. Essentially, she asked questions concerning everything from education to honor societies to communication and work. It felt good to help someone who has only recently taken the huge step into bettering her life, as well as the lives of her family members, through education. I hope I gave her enough information concerning what to expect as she moves throughout her education and finally off into the world of IT.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
After this past weekend, I am glad to see the week arrive. I spent most of the weekend fighting the Antivirus Vista 2010 virus on my wife's computer. This virus seems to have attached itself to her user account, and had rendered all of the programs on her computer unusable. It also changed all of her browser settings and kept displaying popup ads, and just wreaking havoc. However, after two days, we finally got it fully removed and have restored the computer back to its original state. This is the reason why there was no blog entry yesterday (I would have just ranted and raved anyway), and also why I am glad the week is here. Now, I can focus on my schoolwork, and leave the terrible weekend behind.
On a better note, I did manage to get my new webcam for business installed this morning. This will allow me to use Skype more effectively as I seek work and talk with clients. It is much easier communicating with someone face to face than it is to rely on text or strictly talk.
I was interviewed yesterday by a new student in her first term with Kaplan as part of her project for CS114. Essentially, she asked questions concerning everything from education to honor societies to communication and work. It felt good to help someone who has only recently taken the huge step into bettering her life, as well as the lives of her family members, through education. I hope I gave her enough information concerning what to expect as she moves throughout her education and finally off into the world of IT.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
I Found A Relatively Easy Fix / Ambassadors and Leaders
Hello everybody,
After yesterday's post, I was fed up with Windows Vista. That has not changed, but I did find a relatively easy solution to the Windows Update problem. When I had worked on the failed Service Pack 2 update previously, I had created an Administrator account in the process. Well, yesterday I tried everything to successfully install failed updates on the man's computer, and nothing would work. I had all but resigned myself to listening to all the forum responses stating I would have to email Microsoft to get the Vista DVD, and then spend hours attempting to do an Upgrade that may or may not work. I first decided I would attempt to manually perform the updates from the Microsoft Support site using the Administrator account. What do you know? IT WORKED!!! It took three hours to perform all the updates, but I have a very satisfied customer who feels much safer now that he knows I can successfully install his updates for him, even if it does take longer.
On a better note, I found out that my friend Scott Rowan (follow his blog at srkap.blogspot.com) has been accepted into the School of IS&T's Ambassadors and Leaders Program. This is very exciting because it proves to me that the program takes its members very seriously. He has been answering questions for me concerning blogging (he is responsible for this blog), CMS, and Web Hosting. Essentially, he has taken time out from his busy schedule to discuss anything and everything I have inquired about. This is exactly the type of friendship and teamwork we need more of in today's world. Needless to say, I am very proud of Scott, and am extremely grateful for everything. It is an honor to be his friend, and to now say we are both Ambassadors and Leaders. Way to go Scott!!!!!
Today I have to venture to my mom's house to install some software for her. You can never get too big to keep doing the little things for people. If you cannot take a little time out to help others, then all your work and education is pointless. I am also going to install the webcam I bought for use on Skype. This will enable me to have more professional meetings and discussions.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
After yesterday's post, I was fed up with Windows Vista. That has not changed, but I did find a relatively easy solution to the Windows Update problem. When I had worked on the failed Service Pack 2 update previously, I had created an Administrator account in the process. Well, yesterday I tried everything to successfully install failed updates on the man's computer, and nothing would work. I had all but resigned myself to listening to all the forum responses stating I would have to email Microsoft to get the Vista DVD, and then spend hours attempting to do an Upgrade that may or may not work. I first decided I would attempt to manually perform the updates from the Microsoft Support site using the Administrator account. What do you know? IT WORKED!!! It took three hours to perform all the updates, but I have a very satisfied customer who feels much safer now that he knows I can successfully install his updates for him, even if it does take longer.
On a better note, I found out that my friend Scott Rowan (follow his blog at srkap.blogspot.com) has been accepted into the School of IS&T's Ambassadors and Leaders Program. This is very exciting because it proves to me that the program takes its members very seriously. He has been answering questions for me concerning blogging (he is responsible for this blog), CMS, and Web Hosting. Essentially, he has taken time out from his busy schedule to discuss anything and everything I have inquired about. This is exactly the type of friendship and teamwork we need more of in today's world. Needless to say, I am very proud of Scott, and am extremely grateful for everything. It is an honor to be his friend, and to now say we are both Ambassadors and Leaders. Way to go Scott!!!!!
Today I have to venture to my mom's house to install some software for her. You can never get too big to keep doing the little things for people. If you cannot take a little time out to help others, then all your work and education is pointless. I am also going to install the webcam I bought for use on Skype. This will enable me to have more professional meetings and discussions.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Friday, February 26, 2010
First Seminar Of The Term/Windows Vista
Hello everybody,
The first seminar of the term is over, and I believe I am going to love this term. These courses are higher level degree requirements, so they are a little more in-depth than my previous courses, but it is nothing I cannot handle. These courses will require a great deal more Web research on my own if I am to take them seriously, but learning is why I am there, so it will prove beneficial. Besides, as my Flash professor so eloquently put it, "Learning Flash for a Web Developer is like learning how to read." Flash is something I must learn if I am ever to become a successful Web Designer/Developer. The only thing I am not too happy about is that there is not enough time to delve into ActionScript. Without learning ActionScript, I will only be learning the visual side of Flash. Not to despair though, as there are plenty of resources out there that will allow me to learn on my own as time permits. One thing at a time.
Now on to Windows Vista. Am I the only person that believes Microsoft should have skipped this version? I am off to work on another Windows Vista problem for the same man I have been working for since he purchased his computer. Specifically, the issue is Windows Updates for Windows Vista. There are so many problems with this that it is ridiculous. The worst thing about it is that there are no easy fixes developed by Microsoft for these errors. Like I said, ridiculous.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
The first seminar of the term is over, and I believe I am going to love this term. These courses are higher level degree requirements, so they are a little more in-depth than my previous courses, but it is nothing I cannot handle. These courses will require a great deal more Web research on my own if I am to take them seriously, but learning is why I am there, so it will prove beneficial. Besides, as my Flash professor so eloquently put it, "Learning Flash for a Web Developer is like learning how to read." Flash is something I must learn if I am ever to become a successful Web Designer/Developer. The only thing I am not too happy about is that there is not enough time to delve into ActionScript. Without learning ActionScript, I will only be learning the visual side of Flash. Not to despair though, as there are plenty of resources out there that will allow me to learn on my own as time permits. One thing at a time.
Now on to Windows Vista. Am I the only person that believes Microsoft should have skipped this version? I am off to work on another Windows Vista problem for the same man I have been working for since he purchased his computer. Specifically, the issue is Windows Updates for Windows Vista. There are so many problems with this that it is ridiculous. The worst thing about it is that there are no easy fixes developed by Microsoft for these errors. Like I said, ridiculous.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
First Day Is Over
Hello everybody,
The first day back went really well. I got a great deal accomplished, and I will be hitting it hard again today. Essentially, this week I am mainly introducing myself to my Instructors and fellow classmates. However, I am also learning the history behind multimedia, and more specifically, how media ultimately became multimedia. This is fascinating, as anybody who knows me knows I absolutely love History.
Anyway, I have to create a storyboard for a 1 - 1.5 minute multimedia story using Flash for this week's project. The story can only contain illustrations and photographs. Since many photographs will likely add too much size to the Flash file (and interrupt many times during playback), I have no choice but to rely on illustrations. That raises another problem. Though I am creative, I cannot draw illustrations. With this said, I am going to be spending a great deal of time using shapes to create illustrations for use in my Flash movie. Seminar is tonight, so maybe I will get some better ideas from that. One can only hope. Regardless of what happens, I just have to create the storyboard this week, so I am pretty sure I can handle that.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
The first day back went really well. I got a great deal accomplished, and I will be hitting it hard again today. Essentially, this week I am mainly introducing myself to my Instructors and fellow classmates. However, I am also learning the history behind multimedia, and more specifically, how media ultimately became multimedia. This is fascinating, as anybody who knows me knows I absolutely love History.
Anyway, I have to create a storyboard for a 1 - 1.5 minute multimedia story using Flash for this week's project. The story can only contain illustrations and photographs. Since many photographs will likely add too much size to the Flash file (and interrupt many times during playback), I have no choice but to rely on illustrations. That raises another problem. Though I am creative, I cannot draw illustrations. With this said, I am going to be spending a great deal of time using shapes to create illustrations for use in my Flash movie. Seminar is tonight, so maybe I will get some better ideas from that. One can only hope. Regardless of what happens, I just have to create the storyboard this week, so I am pretty sure I can handle that.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Back To School
Hello everybody,
Classes begin again for me today. I will be taking Technology Infrastructure and Introduction to Multimedia Using Adobe Flash. Needless to say, I am very excited!!! I have reviewed both of the books I have received, which are listed on my LinkedIn page. There will certainly be a great deal of learning, though I feel good about this term. I believe the Networking Solutions course I took previously has definitely prepared me for the Technology Infrastructure course, though this course is at a higher level than the Networking Solutions course. As far as Flash, I was made to work with it in a very limited sense two terms ago in my Web Development course. Therefore, I cannot wait to learn more about this program, which is very instrumental in my growth as a Web Developer. Essentially, this is the program that will be used for various multimedia functions, and will also be a great deal of fun as well. I will keep everybody aware of how these courses are going throughout the term. My goal is not only to increase my Information Technology and Web Development knowledge, but also to maintain my 4.0 GPA. Wish me luck!!!!
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Classes begin again for me today. I will be taking Technology Infrastructure and Introduction to Multimedia Using Adobe Flash. Needless to say, I am very excited!!! I have reviewed both of the books I have received, which are listed on my LinkedIn page. There will certainly be a great deal of learning, though I feel good about this term. I believe the Networking Solutions course I took previously has definitely prepared me for the Technology Infrastructure course, though this course is at a higher level than the Networking Solutions course. As far as Flash, I was made to work with it in a very limited sense two terms ago in my Web Development course. Therefore, I cannot wait to learn more about this program, which is very instrumental in my growth as a Web Developer. Essentially, this is the program that will be used for various multimedia functions, and will also be a great deal of fun as well. I will keep everybody aware of how these courses are going throughout the term. My goal is not only to increase my Information Technology and Web Development knowledge, but also to maintain my 4.0 GPA. Wish me luck!!!!
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Smashing Magazine
Hello everybody,
One of the best resources for Web Design/Development I have ever discovered was discovered by accident. Upon recreating my personal Website, I wanted to add some useful links on my Links page, as my old ones were no longer relevant. I conducted a Google search for online Web Design magazines, and that is where I found Smashing Magazine. What separates this magazine from the multitude of other online magazines is the sheer variety of content. There is nothing a Web Designer/Developer could need that is not covered by Smashing Magazine. While I have certainly read through other magazines for extended periods of time (I will withhold their names to avoid their embarassment and further demise), Smashing Magazine is simply the best magazine out there.
I have found Smashing Magazine so useful that I have incorporated them into almost every aspect of my online presence. I have subscribed to their RSS Feed so that it appears in my Outlook, I have the RSS Feed on my blog, I follow them on Twitter (I highly recommend this), and I have my Twitter account linked with my LinkedIn account so all of my connections can benefit from receiving their Tweets. Having said this, if you have not yet immersed yourself in the world of Smashing Magazine, I sincerely hope you decide to do so in the near future. I can tell you from experience that you will be glad you did.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
One of the best resources for Web Design/Development I have ever discovered was discovered by accident. Upon recreating my personal Website, I wanted to add some useful links on my Links page, as my old ones were no longer relevant. I conducted a Google search for online Web Design magazines, and that is where I found Smashing Magazine. What separates this magazine from the multitude of other online magazines is the sheer variety of content. There is nothing a Web Designer/Developer could need that is not covered by Smashing Magazine. While I have certainly read through other magazines for extended periods of time (I will withhold their names to avoid their embarassment and further demise), Smashing Magazine is simply the best magazine out there.
I have found Smashing Magazine so useful that I have incorporated them into almost every aspect of my online presence. I have subscribed to their RSS Feed so that it appears in my Outlook, I have the RSS Feed on my blog, I follow them on Twitter (I highly recommend this), and I have my Twitter account linked with my LinkedIn account so all of my connections can benefit from receiving their Tweets. Having said this, if you have not yet immersed yourself in the world of Smashing Magazine, I sincerely hope you decide to do so in the near future. I can tell you from experience that you will be glad you did.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Personal Update
Good afternoon everybody,
I wanted to take a minute to let all of you know that I have recently made it much easier to connect with me and my blog. Essentially, I have linked my blog with my LinkedIn profile. If you view my LinkedIn profile, you will see my blog posts as well, as I have used the BlogLink application available on LinkedIn. These are constantly updated, as I create new posts, so I hope at least somebody besides me feels this is helpful and convenient.
On another note, my wife and I have started our second week of working out. As many people close to me already know, I have been disabled by diabetes, must use a walker to get around, and have frozen shoulder in both shoulders that limits my range of motion. However, since signing up at the gym, and actually going, I have been strengthening my body, have increased my range of motion in my arms, and have been able to walk increasingly longer distances without my walker. I always said I was not going to take diabetes and disability lying down, so I am fighting back now that all my surgeries are done. I still will never be totally independent of the walker due to the resulting nerve damage in my feet and lower legs, but at least I am feeling better and keeping my sugars under control. It is definitely worth it.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I wanted to take a minute to let all of you know that I have recently made it much easier to connect with me and my blog. Essentially, I have linked my blog with my LinkedIn profile. If you view my LinkedIn profile, you will see my blog posts as well, as I have used the BlogLink application available on LinkedIn. These are constantly updated, as I create new posts, so I hope at least somebody besides me feels this is helpful and convenient.
On another note, my wife and I have started our second week of working out. As many people close to me already know, I have been disabled by diabetes, must use a walker to get around, and have frozen shoulder in both shoulders that limits my range of motion. However, since signing up at the gym, and actually going, I have been strengthening my body, have increased my range of motion in my arms, and have been able to walk increasingly longer distances without my walker. I always said I was not going to take diabetes and disability lying down, so I am fighting back now that all my surgeries are done. I still will never be totally independent of the walker due to the resulting nerve damage in my feet and lower legs, but at least I am feeling better and keeping my sugars under control. It is definitely worth it.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Finished With The Website
Good afternoon everybody,
I have finally finished with the Website. Feel free to take a look at http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/. It was a great learning experience, and I am glad it is finally complete, though I will be looking into creating some sifferent widgets for it so I can practice. I have a bit more learning to do before I can gett too advanced though. Anyway, feel free to let me know what you think about it so far.
Also, notice that I took the time to provide a little interactivity to my blog as well. If you look to the right, you will notice I added an RSS Feed from my favorite magazine, "Smashing Magazine". This magazine is very useful for anybody interested in Web Design/Development. I only wish I had time to read everything, because I would be much more advanced if I did. Anyway, take the time to use it so I did not put it up for nothing.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I have finally finished with the Website. Feel free to take a look at http://kaplandgreer.webs.com/. It was a great learning experience, and I am glad it is finally complete, though I will be looking into creating some sifferent widgets for it so I can practice. I have a bit more learning to do before I can gett too advanced though. Anyway, feel free to let me know what you think about it so far.
Also, notice that I took the time to provide a little interactivity to my blog as well. If you look to the right, you will notice I added an RSS Feed from my favorite magazine, "Smashing Magazine". This magazine is very useful for anybody interested in Web Design/Development. I only wish I had time to read everything, because I would be much more advanced if I did. Anyway, take the time to use it so I did not put it up for nothing.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
My Website and LightCMS
Good morning everybody,
I am finally close to finishing my personal Website. All I have left is the Contact form and I will be done, except for uploading the content, but that does not take long. I am excited, as I feel I have learned a great deal about design, and a bit about development, during the creation of this site. It seems as if the more sites I create, the better they get. I guess that is the whole point after all!!
As I am a newbie to CMS, I decided to do some looking around to see if I could find more information. I found a site dedicated to LightCMS found at http://www.speaklight.com/. I immediately became intrigued, as this seems to open up many doors to creating more professional and current Websites. I will certainly be looking into this over the next few days before the next term starts.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
I am finally close to finishing my personal Website. All I have left is the Contact form and I will be done, except for uploading the content, but that does not take long. I am excited, as I feel I have learned a great deal about design, and a bit about development, during the creation of this site. It seems as if the more sites I create, the better they get. I guess that is the whole point after all!!
As I am a newbie to CMS, I decided to do some looking around to see if I could find more information. I found a site dedicated to LightCMS found at http://www.speaklight.com/. I immediately became intrigued, as this seems to open up many doors to creating more professional and current Websites. I will certainly be looking into this over the next few days before the next term starts.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
This Is It...My First Post
Hello Everybody,
Upon talking with one of my friends on LinkedIn, he told me what I needed to hear. Though I know how to create Web sites, I know virtually nothing in the way of CMS and Web 2.0. Therefore, I have begun this blog as a way for me to begin working with new technology that is sweeping the Web Development world by storm. In the process of taking up blogging, and venturing outside of my little box to try new things, I hope to learn more about the reasons for businesses and individuals alike to take so rapidly to providing more information to everybody.
With this said, I thank my friend for bringing me outside of my comfort zone, and I look forward to not just learning more about the reasons behind this information movement, but also how to apply this to my knowledge and Web Development skills.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
Upon talking with one of my friends on LinkedIn, he told me what I needed to hear. Though I know how to create Web sites, I know virtually nothing in the way of CMS and Web 2.0. Therefore, I have begun this blog as a way for me to begin working with new technology that is sweeping the Web Development world by storm. In the process of taking up blogging, and venturing outside of my little box to try new things, I hope to learn more about the reasons for businesses and individuals alike to take so rapidly to providing more information to everybody.
With this said, I thank my friend for bringing me outside of my comfort zone, and I look forward to not just learning more about the reasons behind this information movement, but also how to apply this to my knowledge and Web Development skills.
Have a great day,
David L. Greer, Jr.
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