On a similar note, Microsoft also has some great free materials specifically for kids. Check out this link...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/bb308754.aspx
Friday, October 24, 2008
Beginner Programming from MSDN Microsoft
I just noticed that Microsoft has some interesting material on their website for Beginner Programmers. At one time my agent at StudioB was going to pitch this idea to Microsoft with me as the moderator. Oh well, let's not cry over spilled milk---here's the link...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx
They have two tracks---Web or Windows Development.
Be sure to check out the Coding4fun blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx
They have two tracks---Web or Windows Development.
Be sure to check out the Coding4fun blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Waiting on Google Adsense
About 2 years ago I had a Google Adsense account which allowed me to make some money from advertisements that Google would place on my website.
Unfortunately, I mentioned this in one of my Penn State classes, and some enterprising students wrote a program that clicked on the Adsense links about 10 million times, causing Google to drop me because they termed me a 'click bandit'.
My emails to Google (along with those of the two students) did me no good--and since then, I've been unable to get them to reinstate my account.
When I created this blog, I received a notification from Google that I could apply to have advertisements displayed in my very dynamic blog (so far, no one has read it :)
I'm still waiting for word from Google as to whether all is forgiven.
I hope so.
Unfortunately, I mentioned this in one of my Penn State classes, and some enterprising students wrote a program that clicked on the Adsense links about 10 million times, causing Google to drop me because they termed me a 'click bandit'.
My emails to Google (along with those of the two students) did me no good--and since then, I've been unable to get them to reinstate my account.
When I created this blog, I received a notification from Google that I could apply to have advertisements displayed in my very dynamic blog (so far, no one has read it :)
I'm still waiting for word from Google as to whether all is forgiven.
I hope so.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
44 years ago
I woke up this morning at 7:12 with a rapid heart rate...strangely, that's about the same time that I was awakened 44 years ago when my grandmother called the house to say my grandfather had a heart attack. Later that day, I found out he had died.
Every sunday night I would visit him and my grandmother.
I was 9 at the time, and his passing began a very depressing time in my life.
Every sunday night I would visit him and my grandmother.
I was 9 at the time, and his passing began a very depressing time in my life.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Old friends and customers
Back when I was selling a bunch of books every year, I probably received over 200 emails a day---most of them asking me for computer programming help or career advice.
I did my best to answer all of these, even if it was just something to say OK, I got it, I'll get back to you. If I ever failed to do that, it was usually because the answer to the question was too involved and I would save them for Sunday morning, or I just forgot.
I use Eudora for my email, and I found something like 10,000 emails in nearly 500 folders---I've managed to break them down into two major categories---Customers, and Others.
Some of these people are definitely customers of mine---I can verify they bought something directly from me via my website.
Others are people who say they bought or read one of my books, perhaps in a book store or a second hand store, something like that.
When I could identify a last name, I moved these emails into a subfolder with the last name letter---for instance, all the Smiths are in a folder called S.
Over the last few months I've been doing my best to make contact with everyone who's ever contacted me. Right now, I'm up to the B's in both the Customer and Other lists.
Many come back undeliverable---some are being answered, mostly nicely---and surprisingly, some people attribute my book to the reason they got a job, a promotion, something like that.
Once in a while, someone will say something like "I asked you this question 5 years ago, and you never answered me..."
Unlikely, but possible.
Another interesting thing...some of these people have really done a lot of good computer work since reading my Intro books, and I'd like to hire them to teach for me.
I don't think they believe me when I say so.
I did my best to answer all of these, even if it was just something to say OK, I got it, I'll get back to you. If I ever failed to do that, it was usually because the answer to the question was too involved and I would save them for Sunday morning, or I just forgot.
I use Eudora for my email, and I found something like 10,000 emails in nearly 500 folders---I've managed to break them down into two major categories---Customers, and Others.
Some of these people are definitely customers of mine---I can verify they bought something directly from me via my website.
Others are people who say they bought or read one of my books, perhaps in a book store or a second hand store, something like that.
When I could identify a last name, I moved these emails into a subfolder with the last name letter---for instance, all the Smiths are in a folder called S.
Over the last few months I've been doing my best to make contact with everyone who's ever contacted me. Right now, I'm up to the B's in both the Customer and Other lists.
Many come back undeliverable---some are being answered, mostly nicely---and surprisingly, some people attribute my book to the reason they got a job, a promotion, something like that.
Once in a while, someone will say something like "I asked you this question 5 years ago, and you never answered me..."
Unlikely, but possible.
Another interesting thing...some of these people have really done a lot of good computer work since reading my Intro books, and I'd like to hire them to teach for me.
I don't think they believe me when I say so.
Who cares what I have to say?
I'm not sure---everyone seems to have a blog these days, I thought I would try it out.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
My first book now under my control
I published my first book, Learn to Program with Visual Basic 6, in November of 1998.
The rights to the book were purchased by Apress in July of 2003 when my original publisher, Wrox, went out of business.
In September of 2007 I asked for, and received the rights to the book from Apress, with the intention of self publishing it via own imprint, Smiley Publishing.
The rights to the book were purchased by Apress in July of 2003 when my original publisher, Wrox, went out of business.
In September of 2007 I asked for, and received the rights to the book from Apress, with the intention of self publishing it via own imprint, Smiley Publishing.
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