Hello, world!  

This website was originally dedicated to serving my high school students with information about the classes I was teaching. Since I have retired from teaching and from the technology work sector, the website is more of a vanity/hobby site. I keep adding to it, here and there, writing articles and lessons, more for my own amusement and to keep my mind awake.

If you don't know what Hello, world! is, click here.

The three main areas of my website, as shown below, are:
 Blog
Although this website is mostly devoted to technology, the writings I post here are not necessarily technical. I also post stuff I have done and written about, like building furniture or teaching.
 Articles
These articles are all related to areas of technology I like playing around with. Mostly I like database tech (SQL), HTML (of course), CSS, and a smattering of other stuff.
 Lessons
Although I only taught school for a short time, it was very important to me. Here are some of the lessons for my class in computer science. They include several areas of CS in general with a focus on programming in Python. Of course, they are created for high school students.

Blog  

Shaker Style Chest
Some woodworking tools on a rustic table.

For my first attempt at building furniture, I thought I would try to find something simple and easy. After looking at a plethora of articles and videos, I narrowed it down to either an entryway sofa table or a blanket chest. I finally settled on trying to make a Shaker style chest. It turned out to be neither simple or easy.

Building a Workbench
Some woodworking tools on a rustic table.

Sometime during the past three months of Covid Quarantine, I got the crazy idea that I could build my own furniture. Although I was in the Carpenter’s Union for about 20 years, I was not a carpenter. I was a millwright. Millwrights work more with steel and not so with wood. So this is a new experience for me.

Fancy Lists With HTML & CSS
Artsy photo of various icons.

Creating lists with HTML alone is somewhat limited and requires CSS to get beautified. The options for bullet points or symbols within HTML for unordered <ul> and ordered <ol> lists is sparse. In this article I show how to make both types of lists more interesting using CSS and some free icon libraries.

R & R Garage Shelving
Finished and painted shleves in my garage.

The house I recently moved into has a very nice looking two car garage that is completely dry walled and had some storage shelves on one wall. Unfortunately, the shelves were only supported with lag screws and when they started pulling loose from the ceiling I decided to remove them and build shelves of my own.

Building a Play-set (twice)
My grangson, Morgan helping me assemble the playset.

Sometime around October of 2012, I decided my grandchildren needed to be able to do something when visiting Papa Kevin other than watch TV with the old man. I kept looking at my back yard and thinking maybe I could get a swing set or something for the kids...

Google Search x 3
Google search logo with magnifying glass.

Here are three methods of adding a Google search engine to your website. Two versions are homemade and one version uses a Google script. One is a general web search and two are site searches, which will allow users to search your website. Google does a search by using a search URL that looks like this . . .

Now Meet Edison
Edison microbric robot

I am honing a few of my lost skill sets that went unused over the past twenty years or so while in the work force. My schooling in robotics from way back when shows little resemblance to the plethora of educational opportunities in robotics available today. Here is a STEM resource . . .

Art and HTML
Caitlin holds up the LACMA rock.

On this trip I was kind of focused on the idea of what art is. Like the big rock behind the museum. In spite of its weight of several tons, Caitlin was able to hold it up with no effort. I wondered what it cost but I am not going to bother researching it. It's big. It's a rock. But is it art?

Teaching English Language Learners
New Skills Training

A PowerPoint presentation and cheat sheet, of sorts for teachers pursuing a credential, is based on my notes and abbreviated definitions of the main components and SIOP Features from the book, Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model.

WHAT NOW? – Tips for IT Grads
Graduate cap vector icon

It’s tough to find a good job in Information Technology. In fact, it’s tough to find a good job in any field. In IT, as in many fields, you as graduate job hunter are up against stiff competition from seasoned veterans with plenty of experience . . .

Go to my blog!

Articles  

Viewing SQL Data - Part 2
A sieve showing data processed into information.

This is the second part of an article about how to display SQL data on an ASP.net website. In this article we will take up where we left off and as promised, we'll use Visual Studio's built-in tools to add formatting to the data we have retrieved and modify our gridview.
 

Using Icons in HTML
image of miscelleanous icons

In a previous article I discussed using Unicode as icons for the numbers and bullets in ordered and unordered lists. I was going to do a follow up article on Glyphicons, but in doing the research, the icon topic in general led to an expansion of this article into discussing four free methods of obtaining and using icons for . . .

Display XML Data
image of xml icon

An abbreviated version of a walk-through from Microsoft at MSDN showing how to display XML data on a web page using ASP.net data controls. The XML data file can be copied from the MSDN web site or . . .


Using HTML Escape Codes
A laptop with HTML code on the screen.

Often times when writing a technical article for the web that deals with HTML, it becomes necessary to show the actual markup elements that you are writing about. To do that, the HTML elements need to be escaped or replaced by a reference that renders them as they are. The most common method is by using . . .

Viewing SQL data
A laptop a browser viewing tabular data.

For this article we will use the Microsoft Northwind database example, SQL Server and Visual Studio Community 2015 or 2017 to view data on a web page using a few out of the box ASP.net web server controls to display that data in an ASP Gridview.


Using Microsoft database examples
Some connected database icons.

For many years Microsoft has shipped example databases with its database products, SQL Server and MS Access. In this article I have listed five that are useful in training and testing. Also included are download links, some practical installation information and a quick tip on using Server Management Studio to restore a database.

Database Fundamentals
Database schema icon.

This is a list of keywords, their meanings, and related resources for a course offered by Microsoft Virtual Academy on the fundamentals of databases. The course includes over 4 hours of video instruction by MS certified trainers. It's a great introduction to database . . .

See all articles!

Lessons  

Drawing with Python 3
Python logo.

Four lessons in a series on drawing with Python 3 using the web application, CodeSkulptor3. These lessons use a module called "simplegui" for drawing and animations. Covered in these lessons are; using CodeSkulptor, using functions, defining functions, using x and y coordinates, graphing objects, comparison operators, and if, elif, and else statements.

Introduction to Computer Science with Python 3
A circuit board with a cranium image.

This is the first lesson for a basic, introductory computer science class I previously taught to 9th through 11th graders. Intended for high or middle school, the lessons are designed to be understandable for students with little or no computer experience. The content consists of general CS principles and beginning Python 3 programming.

Easy Python 3 - Lesson 1
Some Python code on a computer screen.

This is the first lesson in a class for high school computer science students in programming with Python 3. The lesson is designed to be an early lesson in a CTE course sequence for the career pathway in Information and Communication Technology, Software and Systems Development with the associated occupation of Programmer.

Networks, The Internet, and the World Wide Web
A globe with network lines covering it.

This is the first lesson in my class, Introduction to HTML & CSS. The lesson is designed to be an early lesson in a CTE course sequence for the career pathway in Information and Communication Technology, Software and Systems Development with the associated occupation of Web Developer. It could also be used in other courses.

Elements, attributes, values and Hello World!
HTML5 logo.

This is the second lesson in my class, Introduction to HTML & CSS, intended to provide an introductory level of information covering core Web technologies, defining HTML, elements, tags, attributes, values and finally demonstrating the student's first web page, Hello World!

File and Folder Management
A folder with files inside.

This partial lesson for my class, Introduction to HTML & CSS, but could be used for any introductory computer class. It covers the importance of Windows file management, the computer desktop metaphor, navigating the Windows File Explorer and the steps for various file management skills.


Number Systems
Circuitry and binary

This introductory lesson explains what number systems are, has a review of decimal system, explains why computers love powers of 2. It covers binary, octal & hex and converting between systems and finally demonstrates the Windows programmers calculator.


Using Color
Mosiac of various colors in a cubed design.

An introduction to using color in CSS. Lesson objectives are to define the RGB color model, show various methods of adding color and the correct syntax to use, look at various color themes and harmonies and use an online color picker.



View all lessons!

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