PHP scripts make you look smarter

Maybe that title should be "PHP scripts make you look smarter than you really are!"

photo credit: Extra Ketchup

I was recently loaded up at work with the task of adding a bunch of functionality to our company's web site. Having allowed my co-workers know that I understood a little about coding in HTML, I was suddenly the office "web guy". This was not a direction I had anticipated my career moving towards.

Many of my more computer oriented friends and associates work and play in the online world of web development. More times than I can recall, I've heard them discussing various computer languages, scripts, platforms, development foundations and so on. When you hear this stuff enough, you begin to speak the language.

Perhaps understand the language is a better way to describe what I picked up. I knew a lot of the vocabulary, and could even use it intelligently in conversation. The challenge I faced was that beyond this level, I had no real skill to speak of in any of these areas.

When my boss over heard me spouting something about coding and PHP scripts, he tagged me to be the office web development guy. From that day forward I've been crash coursing on how to develop effective web applications.

Affordable web hosting helps historical society

Have you ever done volunteer work for a civic organization or local service group? If you have, you'll understand how hard it can be to try and donate your time and life experiences while refraining from also having to spend more than your fair share of money.

A few years back a friend of mine asked if I'd help her with a local historical society. They had a ton of information they wanted digitized and organized. They had hoped to find affordable web hosting and start an online presence where they could bring that data to the people, for a charge.

Well as they quickly found out, the best web hosting is not synonymous with the cheapest. Of course, it was my friend and I that had to be the bearers of bad news.

It was just assumed they could get away with a $25 per month account. Unfortunately, it turned out that the group just had way too much data in order to allow such affordable web hosting services to suffice.

In the end I was able to find some inexpensive ways to make their budget stretch enough to cover the site's needs. One of those ways was discovering that SmugMug.com, a fine photo hosting business, gave away free professional quality accounts to not for profit organizations. This was just what they needed in order to make money and save on hosting costs.

My First Small Business

If you want to be really literal about it, I've always been an entrepreneur. I was running my own small business when I was just 11 or 12 — a babysitting business, but a business nonetheless.

I remember putting a sign up on the bulletin board at my dance studio. It was my first experience with marketing myself, technically. I worked on what to say, and then carefully wrote out a nice sign, complete with little tabs with my phone number on them that people could tear off.

Of course, my mom promptly took it down without telling me, but that's another matter entirely.

My point is, even when I was a kid looking for extra money, I was thinking like a businesswoman. Oh, I wasn't one of those ridiculously mature mini-adults, but I was still trying to run a business.

I remember I read a suggestion somewhere that as a babysitter, you should bring with you a bag of toys, jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, and crayons or markers. The justification was that kids love playing with new stuff, even if they already have something remarkably similar — which is true, of course. So of course I took the suggestion, and found that it worked.

I just find it funny that even as a preteen, I was taking suggestions on how to improve my business.

I guess it should come as no surprise that when I grew up, I became a small business owner: I currently work as a freelance writer. Technically, though, I never entirely gave up my "first" business — I babysat my way through high school and college, and I still have a couple of families that I babysit for occasionally.

A Purpose for My Ex

I have one of those ex-boyfriends in my life. You know, the kind that just keeps hanging around. He doesn't call me often but he does call now and then. I don't see him often but I usually do grab lunch with him when I go back to my hometown.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about why this guy is still in my life. I don't particularly like him. I don't feel like I get a lot of support from him. I wouldn't say that he's a friend of mine. And yet, he's still kind of there anyway.

I've always joked with my family that it's just because it's easier to keep him around than it is to get rid of him. When he feels like he's being rejected, he gets a little nutty. If I take his calls now and then, he's normal and easy to deal with.

Recently, I came across another good reason to have this guy in my life. I realized that if I was ever arrested for anything, he's the guy that I could call. He knows a bunch of criminal lawyers in Tampa so he could definitely get me legal help. Plus I think he'd pay my bail. Of course, since I don't ever do anything criminal, this is kind of a silly reason to keep him in my life. But hey, it never hurts to have someone like that around!

Job Applicants Asked to Prove Themselves Today

The job market is fierce right now. Employers want to know in advance that you're going to be the best person for the job. Many employers are actually adapting their hiring methods to make it easier for you to show them that you're able to do the work.

One company recently made headlines when it announced that all job applicants should apply via text message. The job is for a mobile marketing position. People who get the job need to be able to express themselves in a mobile format. This new method of accepting applications shows the company whether or not you're cut out for the job.

If you're applying for a job today then you should expect to see more of this type of action taken during the hiring process. Let's say that you're looking for a web 2.0 job in Tampa. You might be asked to apply via email to show that you can create an email marketing strategy in Tampa. Or you may be asked to recommend others for the job via Facebook to show that you can do social networking campaigns in Tampa.

Not all businesses are making the switch to entirely new hiring practices. However, nearly all businesses are getting pickier about who they accept for their jobs. You'll want to make sure that you're truly qualified if you're going to apply for a position today.

Claddagh Rings Can Be Good for Employee Gifts

Claddagh rings are popular Celtic rings that people get to celebrate those who are special in their lives. These rings are most often associated with love relationships. In fact, they're popular as Celtic wedding rings although they are also regularly exchanged as a gift between good friends. It's always special to receive one of these. So how would it be possible that Claddagh rings could also make good gifts for employees?

The thing about these rings is that they have a specific design which symbolizes three things: love, friendship and loyalty. Although you probably don't feel love for the people who work for you, it is likely that you feel the other two qualities. More importantly, it is likely that you want your employees to feel these things for you.

If you operate a business that is small enough then it can certainly be appropriate to give these rings as gifts to your staff. They can be given as a holiday gift or as part of a staff-wide bonus. When employees receive such a gift, they'll know that you appreciate the work that they're doing. This increases employee loyalty and improves morale around the office. In the end, this gift could mean a much better working environment for everyone.

Where to Book a San Diego California Hotel

I took a trip to San Diego last summer without knowing anything about the area. I loved every minute of that trip. I think part of what made it so great is that I chose hotels that were in really great locations.

I ended up staying in two different hotels during the time that I was there. This was because I was able to get two different hotel deals that reduced the price compared to staying in just one of the two hotels.

The first hotel that I stayed at was on Shelter Island. This is a small strip of land that is located right on the water. Every San Diego California Hotel located on this island is within walking distance of the water. You won't be able to swim much here since it's not the actual beach but it makes for a great place to relax.

The second hotel that I stayed at was in the Gaslamp district. This put me close to tons of restaurants and bars and retail stores. There was a block party happening there while I was there so I got to hear live music from the balcony outside of my room.

I don't know if there are better places to stay than these two places in San Diego. I'm sure it depends on what you're going to do while you're there. What I do know is that both of these places were really great in terms of their location and I'd recommend staying there to others.