Will “The EvCC Strict Coder Guru”

Bork

Don’t send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

After a long time away, I am back in action now.

This past summer I took on the new web site release, which you can now find at http://www.everettcc.edu and also teaching Computer Programming 120 - Beginning Web Design.

The new web site release went off well. It took a period of time to update bookmarks, correct links, update content on division pages, fix template configurations, but it is up and running. We have received many postive comments about the site. I hope to continue adding features that will enhance the site to be more user friendly. You can also stay up on the news and events through the RSS feeds I created at http://www.everettcc.edu/rss/

The summer quarter of CP 120 went well. It was a busy and accelerated class since it was 11 weeks of information pushed into 8. Many students felt it was too much work, but they did learn a lot. You can check out some of their Final Web Site Projects – The one positive/negative of the class was the “Hybrid” status in which it allowed us to meet virtually online to study and turn in assignments. It did save time from coming to class, but then being motivated to work on assignments without instruction may have hindered some students.

It seems with the advancement of WYSIWYG editors, Content Management Systems (CMS), and One-Click Installs, that the once title of  “Webmaster” is slowly disappearing. Some of the small simple jobs that once were used as resume builders or quick start-up websites are being replaced with hosting companies that give One-Click component and software installs that give the owner ability to start a forum, blog, calendar, gallery, etc. in a matter of minutes. You say, “What should I be talking about, you are using one yourself!”… and I have to agree, as far as this B is concerned, this was a minute install just to create topic discussion. However I am one of those “coders” that can and will write in strictly code only.  Creating a Blog or Forum Interface is a matter of connection with a database and displaying it on the page. However by hand, it would take me far longer since I am simply one person. Wordpress for example had many developers with continues upgrades and patches, where I can create a specific interface suited for the owner. So are “Webmasters” going extinct? Maybe. However the true coders will still be writing these interfaces and web applications to make it easier for another user.

The Last Day

So I woke up and watched the news seeing that the major airlines were still having delays, but not cancellations. I packed up and headed out. I had to stop by a Dunkin’ Donuts just to try it and then I was off onto the Everett Turnpike Toll road to the airport.

I pulled into the airport and dropped off the ridiculous rated car rental and then I headed in. The lines to check in for US Airways were long, but most were standing there not using the kiosks. The lady asked for people to step forward and no one did, so I went and checked in including my baggage. Well it seemed other flights were delayed, luckily mine was not though. I went to the security check-in to see the lines, but not as long as other major airports. It seemed it went quick until they checked my bag. I had a lead shield to protect the camera film, so they said my whole bag looked black and will be ‘thoroughly’ checked. The lady opened up ever zipper and slowly took everything out. She took the special wand and sniffed out my bag, going through everything. I am glad in a way, since there is more precaution now and making sure nothing will happen.
Read more

Day 4

So today I woke up to some distressing news on Airport security. It seems they found Terrorists in UK planning on bombing mid-flight planes on the way to the US here. They arrested 21 of the maybe 50 they suspect. The main thing they found was inert liquids that they could bring on, but once combined could be high explosive bombs. So now Homeland Security has determined a high risk of terrorism and has given the following restrictions against the following carry-ons:

· Beverages
· Shampoo
· Suntan Lotion
· Creams
· Toothpaste
· Hair Gel
· Other items of similar consistency

Read more

Day 3 

So it got down to making custom controls inside Visual Studio for the training site we are creating. Some simple functions we worked on were categorial lists, creating business rules, server controls in VB, and then into Document Management. When we used the library and the image editor, I was excited because it allowed the user to crop and resize when uploading into the library (something Greg was looking for). With this manager, Ektron Explorer, it seemed like a simple file system interface, yet I was not able to upload and got the great error -2147217911. They took the number and then tried to fix it, but no avail. Read more