Category: neodux

The time has come It's still quite a ways off, but and I wanted to share the news that I'll be presenting a lecture on PHP at the TCEA annual conference in February. The Texas Computer Educator's Association is a training and advising organization for Texas computer teachers.

My lecture/workshop will focus on PHP and its use in the classroom (specifically high school). I cut my teeth on PHP years ago and I really feel like it is a great way to introduce programming concepts. Instead of the student having to learn a language as well as learn to use an IDE. Instead of fumbling with source, executables, libraries and somewhat cryptic IDE debug messages, PHP allows you to just 'run the source' and instantly you see the fruits of your programming in your web browser.

I think web scripting is also becoming much more relevant than it has been in years past. Instead of making those dumb, boring "cin/cout" programs, students can create dynamic pages for themselves or the school. After learning the basic syntax of C-style programming students are better equipped to move on to Java or C++ after they grasp the basics with PHP.

I'll post more details about the lecture as they emerge, possibly post my Powerpoint slides for your review.

update: My presentation is February 7, 2008 at 4:00p in the Austin Convention Center.

Alright, we're all set. You can now post comments in reply to another user's comment. Right now I'm only allowing one level or reply. I might go deeper in the future, just depends on how much use this feature receives. Feel free to comment or reply to someone's comment!

About bloody time! Right? It really didn't take long once I sat down to do it. Maybe 15minutes? I was able to use FeedCreator, as suggested by a friend of mine. It made the whole process pretty trivial. You asked for it, now you got it. So, there you have it. Quick, easy, done.

Don't know what RSS is? It's a quick way to check various websites without having to go visit each one individually. It makes surfing the web and staying on top of news and blog entries a cinch. Simply "subscribe" to an RSS feed (like neodux) by using a Reader, like Google Start Page, Google Reader or My Yahoo.

Oh yeah, the link is http://www.neodux.com/rss. What do ya think?

In my ongoing stream of new posts, I wanted to make today's post on my super-cool array of birthday gifts that I have received over the past week.

The first gift I received was the ever-present birthday money from the grandparents (always a plus!), my mom came up for Easter and my birthday (which coincided this year) and to see some of the snow we had fall on us on Saturday. I got a stash of new clothes, a nice dinner and a zOMG huge map of 1836 Texas that outlines the Texan fight for independence. Pretty cool.

I thought the map was it, but Jennifer had another treat for me. She bought me a nice 8-gallon 115psi air compressor from Harbor Freight that I was eyeballing since it went on sale for that week. I can now drive the impact wrench, grinding tools and other air tools I've received from my father-in-law or bought since Christmas. (I think I may have also found another toy to use with my air compressor.)

As if all that weren't enough, I spent some of my birthday money ordering a few items I had also been eyeballing. Of course you read about my Arrow Antenna, I also received my 300mW ZComax wireless card which is pretty much, flat out awesome. I've made pretty decent connections for quite a distance with my cantenna mounted on my new tripod.

update: Whoa, how could I forget?! Notorious got me this great shirt and a sticker of "when i hit the drum you shake the booty". Right On...

Yep, it's my birthday. The big 2-6. Odd how I didn't feel any different about my birthday this year, or the last, or the last. I think after you turn 21, they all blur together.

Birthday presents? Well, I got a new computer (a "slammin' setup" according to Jenn) and some money so far. I'm going out to eat with Jennifer and some friends, where Jenn says she has a few more gifts for me.

update: I had a pretty nice birthday. Thanks to everyone that was able to make it to the dinner party. AW won ropepull, that was pretty nice. It took 59min 55sec to win - but it's another win for the house. We went to Pietro's Italian cafe to have dinner. I got some Dale Jr. gag gifts ("yeah buddy!"), a Dave Matthews Band - Live at Central Park DVD , Google Hacks & The Zen of CSS Design books, some Tommy cologne (ha! get it? it's funny.) exchanged for Lacoste Essential cologne, my niece got me a foam growing turtle and a message bean (rock on), a portable USB hub and USB light & some clothes from Old Navy.