Computing and Interwebs Blog

Learning: World of Warcraft

2012-01-29T20:35:00.002-06:00

I've been hearing about World of Warcraft, or WOW as it's known by fans, since the late 90s. I finally downloaded the free US starter edition, got an account on US.Battle.net and have generally been kicking butt with my character since Friday afternoon.

I really like the graphics, the lack of gore, and the well-thought out user interface. I find I make progress by having a number of active quests and achieving one at a time and asking for more as soon as possible.

This game is better than the computer games I was used to in the early to late 1990s because there's no complicated gaming the game problem, where I could only make heads or tails by searching out a walk-through and cheat make my way out of the

Once you learn to pretty much take on whatever errand you can find, you earn great points, money, and run into people who ask you whether you want to duel (WTF?! gimme a break!) or join their guild.

I have skipped out on interacting with others just yet, not only to help me focus, but also because I'm leaving that for later, when I've learned enough about how things work. I would rather make an educated guesstimate than go blindly and later regret it.

I've been reading the guide on the official website, see battle.net above, and also by looking up particular things on WOWWiki.

So far, I think I've done well in WOW Cataclysm. I created a Draenei Mage female in Baelgun. Her name is Slaeyra and she's already reached level 8. I also tried creating a warrior Draenei, but that flopped so I deleted the character.

If you're ever in our hood and see Slaeyra running off, do say hi ^^

2012-01-29T20:24:00.001-06:00

I decided in December that I wanted to invest in repairing my 2007 Sony VAIO laptop. It hadn't booted up in almost a year, probably victim to a surge or some major hard drive damage.

VAIO repair was as helpful as they were the last time I sent them a laptop. Although a bit pricey at $600 and change, but they changed the hard drive, battery, and A/C charger and cord.

The investment is less than I would spend on a new computer, and, best of all, I now have a dedicated laptop for my World of Warcraft foray. I'm a newbie but hope to get the hang of it soon enough.

I've kept my MacBook Pro for my interwebbing, and my all around trusty sidekick.

Say No to SOPA

2012-01-18T08:03:00.002-06:00

DJ Earworm 2011 Mashup

2011-12-27T15:06:00.001-06:00

Free MIT Classes, Certification for Peanuts

2011-12-23T09:07:00.002-06:00

I was reading an article on Inc.com today (How to Get an MIT Education for Peanuts) that kinda blew me away. Apparently, MIT is going to start offering free classes that lead to a low-cost certification.

Free classes from major educational institutions are not news, because for years now you can get some pretty awesome free classes on Apple iTunes U. However, getting a certification at a low cost from a major institution is a groundbreaker.

According to a little research I did (What is MITx?), MIT plans to launch the program in spring of 2012. It's worth checking out if you think this might be a good course of study for you.

Definitely worth checking out.

New Twitter UI

2011-12-12T10:12:00.001-06:00

New Twitter UI, a photo by jeda21 on Flickr.

Need Work? Learn to Code

2011-12-11T11:03:00.001-06:00

With a headline like that, I couldn't pass the article on Glass Door up. I'm forever taken with the idea of coding, and yet I'm completely clueless when it comes to picking it up at last.

Thankfully, some of the HTML I studied in '99 and '00 stuck and I've been very glad to use it on occasion.

I may very well follow up on my all-time dream to pick up coding at the local community college, as soon as I start making a dent in my MS student loans.

Star Trek Christmas Ornaments

2011-11-26T19:44:00.001-06:00

It's amazing what treasures you can discover at antique stores #startrek, a photo by jeda21 on Flickr.

It's amazing the treasures you're liable to find at a local antique shop.
These beauties are waiting for the next Trekkie at Out of the Attic Antiques in Aurora, IL. All for a pittance, really!

Test

2011-11-24T13:18:00.001-06:00

I downloaded the Blogger app for Droid.

November Screen Print

2011-11-22T15:02:00.001-06:00

Quote of the Day

2011-10-20T15:16:00.002-05:00

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen." - Leonardo Da Vinci

Facebook Friends Likes and Comments

2011-10-19T09:16:00.002-05:00

With Facebook's latest revamp, one can easily become overwhelmed by seeing friends' likes and comments on other friends' walls.

I personally would rather not see people's photos and posts if they're not on my own friends list. So what to do?

The reason I am interested in this feature is that I accidentally commented twice on other people's walls or photos because I thought they belonged to my friends when they appeared on my feed.

Unsubscribing from a Facebook Friend's Comments and Likes

There's a reason I don't have some people on my friends list, and there's no reason why other people's friends need to have me posting on their pictures and uploads! Otherwise we'd all have all our posts set to public. Right?

Apparently there isn't a mass-unsubscribe option, which of course would be a fantastic and easy service to users.

Instead, you can target each instance of TMI sharing as it happens on your feed. Just click on the upper right hand corner of a particular "offending" post--you'll see a little white down-arrow where you need to click. A pop-up menu will appear. Look for the very last option on the bottom, that says "Unsubscribe from the comments and likes by XXX" and you're done.

Cheers!

PS - doesn't that baby jaguar in the photo look like it's ready to hurt someone? ^^;

Quote of the Day

2011-10-14T08:07:00.002-05:00

Intelligence and hard work are fascinating, sexy even. I am madly in love with intelligence." Philippe Starck, designer, writing at Wired.com

Formatting Leading Zero Numbers in MS Excel

2011-09-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

When you're trying to input into an Excel cell a number which includes various zeros (leading zeros) at the very beginning, you'll find that Excel deletes the multiple zeros out.

My example is the number: 000014. Excel was showing it as 14, so I right clicked on the cell formatted it the way I describe below, and the result was a 000014.

In this particular case, I was not able to use the apostrophe shortcut to override the cell's number format, because we needed to use the document as a merge source for a database project. The apostrophe would have affected the export.

In order to keep the zeros you will have to modify the custom format option. This is amazingly easy to do. Here's a run through:

1. Select the cell or column you need to format to allow leading zeros in a number
2. Right click and select Format Cells
3. Under the Number tab, select Custom at the bottom of the menu
4. Look for the section "Type:" and input the format you need the number to appear in. In my case it was 000000.
5. Click OK and you should be set.

I hope this helps anyone out there who also had this same issue come up. Cheers!

Troubleshooting: Pandora on Droid Charge

2011-09-02T09:34:00.001-05:00

I wanted to use Pandora today, since it's TGIF and I need some uplifting of spirits after a hard week.

Well, there was just no getting my Pandora to work. As I clicked on of my radio stations from the home page list, I would get 1) a black screen with the navigational buttons on the button and no sound, then upon clicking different radio stations 2) the screen would go black for a split second and then switch back to the main page listing all the stations.

I looked online and found an Android App FAQ page on Pandora.com where they suggest you uninstall Pandora, turn off your phone, remove and reinstall the battery, reboot, then reinstall Pandora.

It worked.

The Evolution of the Web

2011-09-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

I was reading a blog post on Google's Official Blog about Chrome's 3rd birthday (Happy third birthday, Chrome!), when I was struck by one of the most useful infographics of all time: The Evolution of the Web.

I had no idea that HTML 4.0 had been around for two years when I first heard about it in the fall of 1998!

Rant: New Phone!

2011-08-24T22:08:00.004-05:00

After being a loyal AT&T Wireless customer for the past 7.5+ years, I finally switched to another service provider. The reason was that there just is NO wireless coverage in my house. There was outside, near, and around, but not inside. That's not acceptable.

Having a phone call drop in the middle of a discussion with two, ill family members really did it for me.

So why switch? Although I have a land line and I don't use my cell phone voice plan that much anyway...you kind of want to get value for your money. Yeah?

After much soul-searching and reviewing online wireless service coverage maps, I finally decided to go for the switch. And a new cell phone handset, too.

I honestly got tired of waiting for Apple's whims of when they might or not release a new phone. Most other handset manufacturers keep their phone plans under wrap until they're ready to throw a big PR party for their newest release.

That's how you do it, you don't tease salivating fans until the very last drop of saliva is juiced out of them. Or their hard-earned money.

After today's announcement of Steve Jobs' resignation, and the absolutely preposterous rumors surrounding the release of the next iPhone, I couldn't be happier about my decision last weekend to at last bail ship.

My new phone service provider has excellent coverage for the area I live in. I get a signal. My new handset is a 4G. It's got a huge screen.

After all, it's highly unlike me to stick with one thing for too long a time. I get antsy.

Here's some useful links if you're also thinking of making a service or handset switch:

CNET's cell phone coverage map, Verizon's, T-Mobile's, AT&T's, and Sprint's -- please bear in mind that many service providers say coverage and really mean voice service, not always data.
Cell phone handset reviews by CNET, PC Magazine, and ZDNet.
Mint's the true cost of an iPhone

Blogger Themes vs. Google Analytics

2011-08-16T08:08:00.002-05:00

Silly me. I thought that because Blogger now includes some ~~really poor~~ limited Google Analytics statistics from within the Blogger dashboard, that it was therefore easier to integrate Blogger and Analytics. Tisk. Tisk.

I recently updated my blog template and a couple of days later (no surprise there!) find that my hits as recorded on Google Analytics (not the analytics within Blogger) have gone down to zero.

Checking the status for the blog(s) on Google Analytics was pointless, because GA was saying it was receiving data. Which it wasn't.

This is a typical occurrence whenever you modify the blogger HTML via the design and layout options: the Google Analytics code needs to be re-inserted into the <head> </head> tags to keep working.

Because Blogger in Draft now has an updated interface, things have moved around. More fun. In order to access the HTML edit mode in the new navigation in Blogger in Draft, do the following:

1. Log into Blogger, and navigate to your dashboard.
2. Select "Template" on the left-hand side menu.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the template page, and select: "Edit Template HTML."
4. find the </head> tag, and just above it paste your Google Analytics tracking code.

Voilá.

Blogger Themes

2011-08-09T21:35:00.001-05:00

I happened to look into Blogger's themes section a few weeks ago and realized they've tweaked the layout settings to even more personalization options.

So, tonight, I finally set some time aside to play around a little with the settings. Now, as a result, all my five Blogger blogs got a little TLC and look a little bit more updated.

If you go under the Template section in your dashboard, you get to pick the navigation look and customization options: colors, fonts, etc. You can truly knock yourself out and go wild here.

The pages option is another great tool, which has come in handy to clean up the right-hand side column. I've added a third tab to all my blogs, which contains links to all my pages and profiles online.

I'm really liking the accessibility and personalization options that Blogger is making available. It's possible that more than one Blogger blog out there may use the same background, but because of the number of personalization options, each shines with its very own personality.

Learning: File Management

2011-08-02T19:55:00.001-05:00

I've decided I need to revisit my file management philosophy. At work, I deal with a rather large amount of file revisions and complex tasks under each phase for each project. It can get confusing, fast.

What happens in the case I'm out of the office and my boss or a co-worker need to get into my project files to access important information? My file system needs to be intuitive.

Right now I have sub-folder under our department's folder on the shared drive. Inside my "area" folder, I have hundreds of other folders for each of the projects that I either started or that needed saving for archival purposes.

This is when it gets tricky. Each project folder obviously needs sub-folders to help sort some of the contents. For example, a periodical will have a "pre-production" folder, with the edits folder, the layout folder, and a series of loose files about the printing house quote/invoices/etc. Obviously, that makes for A LOT of subfolders.

Folder Structure
Saving the file location in the file itself has never been a favorite technique for me. This resource location address needs to be updated in the case the file is moved to a different folder, else it becomes obsolete.

Date Documents
The auto-date field can overwrite a previous version's date, by accidentally opening and resaving to the same file name, thereby losing important information.

Consistent File Names
For files I share with others in a collaboration, I prefer adding a v1 or v2 to the file name, along with the date. However, by using the day's date in the file name, it's redundant, as the details view in any folder can automatically show you the date a document was created and/or saved--the trick is, when you cut and paste a file from a folder to another one, it's possible the information becomes lost.

WYSIWYG Reminders
I remember in my project management coursework, a few years ago, there was a table inserted into our group collaboration document with the date, initials, and version to help delineate what was done, by whom, and when. If too many revisions were made to the document, we'd end up with a two page table just for the version tracking. Not fun.

Some individuals feel that all invoice documents or all graphics documents are best saved in folders with like files, so you have essentially a repository of all the same file extensions. I definitely would never be able to find anything that way. I work better looking up a project's folder and seeing the files laid out before me. At least to me, it makes sense.

So, there obviously isn't just one or two "right" ways of managing files. It's very subjective to what you need to access, how quickly, and what you need to know about each file. Or even to whether your company has a policy for how things should be saved and accessed--such as is the case with intranets usually.

A majority of the search results for "file management" tips from Google is just a series of advertisements for downloadable file management systems or apps. I, however, am interested in restructuring the way I process information and save it, so that it's easily retrievable.

I was looking up various file management tips online. I found a good, basic run-through on an About.com portal (Small Business Canada: 10 File Management Tips), but it left me wanting more.

There was a good guide on the Microsoft Windows website (Working with Libraries), discussing libraries and how they can help you find a better solution than just folders and sub-folders.

So if I come up with or run across a more useful process, I'll be sure to post it here. Right now, the process I use seems to help me answer those "Johnny on the spot" left-field type questions that I usually get at work. Thankfully, I've a document trail for almost anything ;o) Learned the hard way!

Learning Adobe Illustrator

2011-08-02T19:20:00.001-05:00

I signed up for an online Illustrator class on ed2go.com via a local community college in my area.

I've wanted to learn Illustrator since 2000, which is also when I first heard about it and dabbled with it a wee bit. I really hated it and couldn't imagine why anyone would want to use it instead of trusty old Photoshop.

Back then, Illustrator was a very rudimentary and manual. Kind of an unpleasant tool for a newbie like me. These days, however, it's a spectacular tool with a ton of automated tricks that make design a joy rather than a chore.

I now know how our graphic designer is able to duplicate so quickly maps and figures from the innumerable publications I work with her on!

I actually ended up purchasing a student version of Illustrator CS5, the only version currently available for purchase from reputable sources. This necessitated my dropping out of the CS3 class I had originally signed up for and instead registering for the CS5 class I needed. I'm in the process of checking what assignments are due and getting those down ASAP before it's too late and I miss points.

The first few assignments have been fun and almost a breeze to go through. I'm learning a lot and appreciating designers' work even more with each bit I learn.

I really like the instructor's (Sherry London) approach to the course, especially since she discusses both Windows and Mac techniques/shortcuts which makes all the difference. I hope to take additional courses she may be teaching. Perhaps even a PhotoShop course, since that software is continuously changing. It must look nothing like the last version I used about 2 years ago, in my now defunct VAIO.

As a side note, I began using ed2go courses back in 1999 when I was very into learning Java, JavaScript, and Perl. I somehow managed to pass those courses, but I can't remember a thing about what I learned. Which is probably a good thing anyway. You wouldn't want me coding or getting into other's people code, trust me.

Ed2go is a great resource for time and finance strapped students who need to gain useful skills in a variety of topic areas. There's even classes for entrepreneurs! It's really worth a look. Most community colleges are affiliated and have their own portal on the ed2go system to help manage their students (and probably get a % of the revenue).

Cheers to good learning opportunities!

Specifying the Downloads Folder in IE 9

2011-06-28T08:14:00.002-05:00

I recently downloaded IE 9 at work because my IE 8 version kept conflicting when accessing my work Facebook account.

However, I really became annoyed when my downloads began to dissappear. I realized I hadn't specified where downloads should be saved. The process to change which folder your downloads save to, is quite easy.

There is an instruction walk-through on this page, but their screen print doesn't match where the "options" button appears--in my version of IE, the options button appeared on the bottom left corner of the pop up window.

Now it's much easier for me to access my downloads, without wasting precious time. Easy peasy! That's how we like it.

iOS 5

2011-06-06T15:34:00.002-05:00

Today Steve Jobs and the Apple team released info about the upcoming iOS 5 update.

The best source for concise info about what the new OS will do is from Mobile Crunch (Everything You Need To Know About iOS 5).

The biggest deal for many seems to be the addition of notifications, and missed notifications on the lock screen that allow you to swipe directly to the pertinent app. Apparently many folks felt this was a major issue on the Apple vs. Android battlefield.

I'm personally more interested in the newsstand portion of iBooks, where your subscriptions to magazines will now appear.

Many folks were also stoked to hear about the reading list option. From Safari, you can now add items to a reading list which will showcase your articles in a "prettied up" version. Sort of like your very own magazine or newspaper.

Reminders, the way I understand it, is the least useful change for me personally. I already have reminders popping up from my calendar, which I've synced to Google Calendar for years now.

One thing that is interesting is the photo shortcut from the lock screen. This makes capturing spontaneous shots easier, faster, and better. They say the camera's improved as well with this latest software update. This is probably aimed at higher-pixel camera phones coming out daily nowadays.

The thumb keyboard cracks me up. It's the keyboard separated into two areas, one on the left margin and one on the right margin.

The "PC Free" concept is pretty much, yes very, a huge deal, since we've all been tethered to laptops and desktops indefinitely for iPhone and iPad updates and syncing...and let's not even bring up iTunes syncing *shiver* The Wireless synch to iTunes and the iPad mirroring are nice add-ons that make a difference without much effort from the user.

Twitter is now better integrated, and iMessages promises stealth and speed when sharing between users--not something earthshaking since I don't really use my IM app of choice (eBuddy) all that much anymore, nor IM in general. And I doubt this is that relevant for most, since they're anyway used to texting.

I am very excited that this latest iOS update brings with it so much functionality, that I can barely contain myself to run home and plug in the little buggers to see how it all applies to the particular models of devices I own (iPad 2 and iPhone 3GS).

If anything interesting happens once I update, I'll be sure to follow up with a post.

Cheers and happy iOS-ing. Of course, we have to wait until the fall, but what's a couple of months!

Social Media Etiquette

2011-05-24T08:16:00.001-05:00

I just ran into a great post online (Six Concepts Brands Should Understand About Social Media Etiquette, on CareerBuilder of all places!) about social media etiquette for brands.

If you manage a company account (or two) on various channels online, there's user behavior that you might encounter on occasion, which can leave you doubting how to best react on behalf of your company.

It's a little testy having to communicate on behalf of a company, and be their voice in that particular channel. The article lists a number of potential scenarios, and how to best react to them. The major thread of the helpful guidelines they discuss are:

Keep your voice volume to a reasonable level.
Keep your language clean.
Stay courteous.
Don’t automatically take it personally.
Take responsibility for your own actions.
Don’t ignore or delete people.

It's a great short list to help us step back on occasion and review how we've been approaching communicating our message and building connections with users.

US International Strategy for Cyberspace

2011-05-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

Today the White House launched their strategy for cyberspace. Check out the script for President Obama's presentation. or the fact sheet.