April’s lockdown gave a lot of us some extra time to play with and some people took it as an opportunity to learn new skills or start side projects. At the same time, I found myself working on a new project with people who barely spoke English, if at all. Online translators like Google Trainslate and DeepL.com have come a long way since the last time I wrote about language acquisition but I still don’t like to depend on them blindly so my learning project was to finally study the Spanish language after over 30 years living in Florida.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Resources
My Virtual Vacation and Free Stuff
Summer vacation has mercifully arrived for me and my students. Unlike many teachers, I’m at the school through most of the Summer. My students get three weeks off – I get one week followed by a couple weeks of what will essentially be teacher workdays. Judging from the sympathetic looks I was getting from other staff members and the sudden, dramatic drop-off in attendance of my classes, I’m thinking the break didn’t come a moment too soon.
Ocala Area Hiring Events: August 11 – 31, 2016
The following hiring events are being held by CareerSource Citrus / Levy Marion from August 11 to 31. Some events require registration through EmployFlorida.com. Please see the flyers for complete details or visit the EmployFlorida website.
A Couple of Notes on Cloud Computing
Years ago, when I was making do with the limited computer equipment that I could afford, I never dreamed that I would one day be able to login to a website, plug in a few specs about the machine I wanted and then, a few minutes later, log into that machine remotely and run whatever programs I needed to. Yet, that’s exactly what today’s cloud computing resources enable me to do.
A Return to Programming
I’ve been working on a number of different projects lately, from I.T. networking to a book on MySQL, so I haven’t had as much reason to break out the programming tools as I used to. If not used regularly, programming skills can get a little rusty or even disappear like old friends from your college days that you lost contact with.
So, I’ve decided to delve back into the subject and update my status as a .NET programmer. The first step is a quick review of the C# language. One resource that I can recommend for this is The C# Programming Yellow Book by Rob Miles. It’s just $0.99 for the Kindle version on Amazon.com and you can even get a free PDF version from the author’s website.
ASP.NET for Beginners
If you’ve been wanting to learn how to design websites with ASP.NET, here’s your chance! Check out my latest three-part series on OcalaITPros.com where I explain the basics of Microsoft’s ASP.NET framework and how it’s used to create dynamic websites. This series will guide you through creating and publishing a sample application completely from scratch. The series is based on my speaking notes from a recent meeting of the Ocala I.T. Professionals.
Part I – What is ASP.NET?
Learn about the difference between static and dynamic websites and how ASP.NET is used to serve dynamic content.
Part II – Getting Started with Visual Studio and ASP.NET
Installing Visual Studio 2013 Community and starting your first ASP.NET project.
Part III – Building and Publishing Your ASP.NET Application
Completing your ASP.NET project, testing it on on your local machine and publishing it to a hosting service.
Learning a New Language Online
Learning a new language has always been a challenging task whether you’re satisfying a class requirement in school, moving to a new country or adding a new language for work or recreation. The fact is that we take years to become proficient with our first languages from the time we’re learning to recognize language as infants through the time when we’re able to string sentences together as we reach school age. The expectations are much higher with a second or third language as most people would not want to take three or four years to be able to speak basic sentences and longer to communicate effectively in writing.
Continue readingOcala I.T. Professionals – Come Join Us!
The Ocala I.T. Professionals is a new I.T. networking group in Ocala, Florida. It’s purpose is to provide a forum for people from all areas of I.T. and all levels of experience to come together, discuss the latest technologies and work together on projects and new opportunities.
We’re currently using Meetup.com to organize the group and enable people to sign up and stay informed on the latest meetings. The meetings are being held every two weeks in various locations and the intention is to alternate between presentations on various technology subjects and casual social gatherings where the members can relax, get to know each other and talk shop over food and drink.
So, if you’re in Ocala and have been looking for a group of like-minded I.T. people who will understand you when you talk about the latest programming tools or hardware, come join us!
Find us on Meetup.com … http://www.meetup.com/Ocala-I-T-Professionals/
On Twitter … https://twitter.com/OcalaITPros
On Facebook … https://www.facebook.com/OcalaITPros
Also, check out our site! … http://www.ocalaitpros.com
Problem Steps Recorder: Documenting Windows Errors the Easy Way
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‘Your First Guide to Database Design’ – Now available in Adobe PDF!
My latest book is now available on Scribd.com in Adobe PDF format. That means that even if you don’t have a Kindle or a Nook, you can STILL learn how to organize any kind of information and create your own database applications. In a world so completely dependent on the flow of information, this is a valuable career skill and a valuable perspective on how your own information is managed by others. Your First Guide to Database Design is written to present the concepts involved in database design in a clear and logical manner using everyday examples and is available for only $9.99, far less than the average technology guide. Check out the free preview on Scribd.com! If you’d like more information first, you can also check out the book’s official page on AndrewComeau.com which contains links to the free PDF preview and all the locations where you can purchase the book for the Kindle and Nook as well.