Sun, 20 May 2012 11:24:42 GMT <![CDATA[grayenterprises.us]]> Sun, 20 May 2012 11:24:42 GMT I found a tool that may help when choosing a domain registration service.

http://www.mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspxThis compares the mail server ip address against DNS based email blacklists.

]]> <![CDATA[Tool that may help when choosing a domain registration service]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:32:05 GMT Tool to help in choosing CMS systems. http://www.cmsmatrix.org/

This tool has an immense database of various CMS tools and a comparison tool to compare different systems side-by-side.

]]> <![CDATA[Tool to help in choosing CMS systems]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:25:49 GMT The main cms that I use currently is CMS Made Simple.  It is a free open source solution that is easy for both the webmaster and the client to use. 

I find that it is easy to install, customize, and maintain.  It is also easy for the client to keep the content on their website updated with no need to learn HTML.  If the client knows how to use a word processing software tool (such as Microsoft Word) then they would be able to use this.

 

www.cmsmadesimple.org/

]]> <![CDATA[CMS: Content Management Systems]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:08:46 GMT I see innovation as a daily necessity. Those who are not innovative and creative are more likely to feel/be stagnant in life and to be less likely to enjoy what they do most of the time that they are awake...working. I see and hear about many people who only follow instructions/orders and do not think for themselves. It's like they learned early in life that they and their ideas are not important, that thinking is a bad thing, or that mistakes.

Some background information on creativity and flow (which can be used as a point to encourage creativity):
A leader in creativity that I have studied is Cs�kszentmih�lyi. He talks about creativity and flow. Here is a link to a wikipedia elaboration on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology). According to wikipedia, "(f)low is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity."

A good example that the wikipedia link gives is when software developers get into the "zone". It seems like this zone that is mentioned may be an essential part of not only more work enjoyment but also creativity.

The possibilities of rising to the challenge:
The possibilities of encouraging innovation and creativity could be endless, but one thing that it may undo is the recession. If citizens are encouraged to be creative and given the tools, space, time to be creative, then possibly more solutions (and less need for micromanaging) would be available for everyone.

]]> <![CDATA[The challenge: Encourage creativity and innovation]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 04:24:05 GMT Using a color picker, sample the color of a picture and then look at the hex value (ie: black is #000000)
This can be done in reverse, if you know the hex value it can be specified as a value when coloring an image!!

  1. There is a connection between #000000 (or rgb 0 0 0) and the colors that a person sees.
  2. If you cannot see the color, you can still see (or hear for those who are completely blind) the numbers that represent the color value (as well as the other values ie: tone, saturation, alpha).
  3. Open a color picker.
  4. Use the eyedropper to see the numerical values that represent the color.
  5. Use those numerical values to make the visual colors what you want them to be.
]]> <![CDATA[Suggestion for Color-blind individuals wanting to choose their own colors]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 04:24:05 GMT When handling deadlines and mutliple projects, set small deadlines for yourself and work toward those.
Do not put everything off until the last minute, many good ideas fester to great ideas when given time to do so, but the project has to at least be started in order for this to happen.

]]> <![CDATA[Practice Time Management:]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 04:24:05 GMT Start doing something you want to do. If you do it well, or at least better than everyone else, someone will notice and pay you for it.

]]> <![CDATA[Volunteer work will lead to a paycheck eventually]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 04:24:05 GMT One of the first questions that I get when I tell people that I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology and am studying computers and web design/development is: why are you studying computers? They do not see the connection between designing and developing web sites and the use of psychology.

Here is a list that I quickly came up with that partially explains it:

  • User friendly design
  • Analysis
  • Research
  • Ability to see the whole picture (gestalt or holistic)
  • Observation
  • Finding and connecting patterns
  • Learning theory/personality theory applied to showing others (clients, co-workers, etc.) how to use the technology and assets that they need to work with to maintain their sites or complete their work with the provided technology
  • Knowledge of how to ask questions to get to what the client wants or needs concerning specs or knowledge
  • Time Management skills
  • Logic: greater ability to understand and explain aspects of development/design
  • Facilitation: Ability to understand various jobs/tasks and therefore to possibly bridge the designer/programmer gap
  • Listening as communication
]]> <![CDATA[Connection between Psychology and Computers/Design]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 04:24:05 GMT