Archive | August, 2007

Java is Such A Cool Language

By on August 27, 2007 in Programming/Coding

I am really enjoying my first course at Auburn. In the first couple of weeks I’ve learned the basic structure and commands to output text to the screen and do math calculations. We’re doing money and calendar conversions this week. The command structure is easy enough to pick up on. I downloaded the Mac version of the software from Sun Microsystem’s Java Technology web site. Now I can do my programs at home and take them to lab on my jump drive. I’ll try that the first time today. My TA says it should be no problem. It’s a great sight with all manner of downloads, programming tips and interviews from professional programmers who have leveraged the Java language to a level of expertice in a variety of different ways.

I have definitely picked the right major. It’s technical and artistic and I can get my creative jones going every time I start typing. Our text book is cool in the creative way too. The end of each chapter has examples of how to do simple graphics with the language by creating Java applets. Who knew it was so easy? Watch out, you might see some of my creations floating accross the web now that I’m learning what to do! Wasn’t expecting to be able to learn how to be a graphic artist in my spare time right out of the chute. Yeah, I love this program (the language and the major).

Our compiler, jGRASP, was created by a team lead by my professor Dr. James Cross here at Auburn so I’m learning from a nationally recognized expert. College is way different now than my first go-round in the 80′s-90′s. Today Dr. Cross, and from what I gather all or at least most of Auburn’s instructors, post their assignments, syllabi and anything else we’ll need for class on the web and we simply print it off before we go to labs and lectures. What a system.

I’ve got a routine down where I stay a chapter ahead in my reading and I get a start on my lab over the weekend before I go in on Mondays. I’m staying ahead of pace so we’ll see how it goes. It working well for me so far though.

So you expert programmers out there, what are some good Java web applet resources that you would recommend? I’d like to spend some time after the semester developing my animation skills. Give me the name of two or three books to choose from and I’ll decide which one to add to my holiday/new year gift list. Happy programming.

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Sign Up for the Blogging While Brown Conference

By on August 22, 2007 in Blogging, General Interest

The first major conference for bloggers of color is in the planning stages. From preliminary posts at the Blogging While Brown blog site it’s destined to be a hit.

The comments include the dearth of bloggers of African and other descent (African, African American, South American, Carribean, Middle Eastern, Asian, Persian, Afro-European) in significant numbers at other more well known blogger meet-ups. This effort will help to rectify that and do a better job of presenting the interests and broader perspective present in the blgosphere as is reflected in the world.

I’m excited about what the planners have on tap so far. I’ve submitted my suggestions based on a couple of teleconferences I’ve had with other African American bloggers in recent months. The potential to leverage our talents on an international scale is truly immeasurable.

So what would you like to learn and who would you like to see at the first ever Blogging While Brown conference? Go to the link and chime in with questions and suggestions. Maybe next year WE will see YOU in Hot-lanta and explore and expand the possibilities together!

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Say Hello to Dr. Martin Lindsey

By on August 6, 2007 in General Interest

Well, not yet, but, in a few years it’ll be Martin Lindsey, PhD. In true actionist form I have turned the corner in the five year transition. I’ve been accepted into Auburn University’s School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering graduate program!!! Just got the good news in the middle of last week. The first year I’ll be a provisional student taking prerequisite courses since my first degree is in mechanical engineering. Fortran was all we had to take back in the dark ages so I’ll have to beef up on some basic foundational programming courses first. (I had Pascal in high school. Does anybody anywhere still use that?)

Yep, I’m going back into the technical world again, only this time it’s something that I’ll actually enjoy in practical and artistic terms. I haven’t missed the industrial world or the dearth of creative and artistic opportunities that traditional engineering could afford me. I can’t wait to get back in the saddle on the CSSE end of things. Of course I have my first love Tuskegee University to thank for a solid tech foundation along with the corporate resume that lended me credibility to get into the grad program.

Auburn’s program includes a computer science track and a software engineering track as program options. You also have project or disertation options to choose from in order to graduate. It’s a great program and has great people that I’ve already had the opportunity to meet. Orientation is next Wednesday and class starts on next Thursday. Just working with the folks at the job now to see about going from a full time to a part time schedule.

One thing’s for sure I’ll definitely have more time to post from this point forward. I haven’t done any justice to experimenting with and optimizing my WordPress set up. I still have to put a few hours into learning how to download a theme and actually doing it one time. I need to add feed and fave buttons and pick a tag option that I like. As the fall moves along I ought to be able to get myself in gear like I want to.

It’s a family affair now. Everybody is going back to school in a couple of weeks. What about your household? What have you been wanting and waiting to do but haven’t made plans and done it already? Well hey, use me as an example and go into pursuit mode!!! It’s actionist time!

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Zipped Lip Or Sunken Ship?

By on August 4, 2007 in General Interest

This post is my first speech from the Toastmasters International Humorously Speaking manual. It’s the second of my ten to reach the Advance Bronze designation. I switched manuals – from Speaking on Television – because I needed a change of pace. The humor manual requires short 5-7 minute speaches. The TV manual requires 15-20 minute efforts. I’ll get back to that one at the end so I can blow through this book. Anyway, I started out parental on this first speech. Read and enjoy.

***************

Daddy, guess what?

What babe?

I’m not going to tell you what we bought you at Wal-Mart.

Shh! You’re not supposed to tell him girl!

I said I’m not going to say what I’m not supposed to tell him.

Now he knows.

No he doesn’t

Yes he does!

No he doesn’t!

Does too!

Does not!

Remind you of your kids when they were four and seven?

Such is the method of learning to keep a secret. And it’s not an easily attained skill. Knowing this universal truth got me to thinking about an idea. I have always wanted to try out my own version of what I will call secrecy branding. Who can you trust with a secret and who can you not? Having been a lone wolf by nature most of my life I have rarely had anything become widely known before I wanted it to be revealed.

Madame Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters and guests, when your business hits the streets before you intend it to, that’s a bad thing. There are times when you’re ready to exclaim it to the world and you can’t get anybody to repeat it for you. Suddenly the grapevine withers and dries up. But for those times when you want it to simply stay where it is I have what I believe to be a fool proof method of distinguishing between your friends who can keep a secret and the “loose lips sink ships” crowd.

So, how do you make the distinction between the two? By testing your friends on purpose. Think of something personal and harmless, tell it to five people in private and see if it gets back to you. Eventually you will be able to tie it back to the person or people who blabbed. You can still be friends because your news was harmless by design. Just remember not to tell anything that is actually important down the road. You don’t want any personally damaging information to start spreading. You also don’t want to mess up the timing of future events if something is revealed too soon. Many a promotion has been lost and many early and unplanned retirements have been initiated because of this.

On the other hand, when you find out who the blabbermouths are keep them in mind for the things that need to be advertised quick, fast and in a hurry. Are you starting a new business? Tell them. They can create business traffic for you. Ask any business owner. Word of mouth is the lifeblood of any business. You need people constantly referring to you as the go–to person for whatever goods and services you sell.

Do you have a new project at work that needs some internal PR around the office? Definitely tell them. It will help your name to be heard more consistently by your bosses. In case you didn’t know, no one gets promoted just because of his or her efforts. Your work doesn’t get noticed just because you do it well. And trust me it does not advertise itself. So you have to schmooze and do it well. So be sure to groom your own personal schmooze crew.

Running for public office? Absolutely tell them. They will get the word going on the grass roots grapevine better than any print or broadcast advertising. Every candidate needs believers to blow the trumpet for their political bandwagon. Yes, strike up the band indeed. You can’t possibly form relationships with all potential voters but your supporters can certainly expand that range.

And what is the point of each of these examples? That your tight-lipped friends can’t help you here because they don’t talk enough (LOL!).

Seriously though, in the end it’s all about using good judgment. Our friends mean well but we can’t tell them everything. Sometimes their good intentions can lead to total disaster. So be wise about what you reveal, when you release it and whom you tell. Not only will this help you avoid asking the inevitable “How did you find out?” of “Who told you?” but you will also be better able to protect your interests and make sure your boat stays afloat.

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