Tim Wright’s Learning JavaScript is very approachable. Wright doesn’t teach you everything about JavaScript, but just what you need to know to understand the language. If other thick, complicated books overwhelmed you, give this one a try.
Robin Landa’s Graphic Design Solution (5th edition) is surprisingly comprehensive. From a brief history of graphic design to typography to the design process to grid systems, Landa has done a thorough job of introduction these important design subjects.
In my early days, I learned design from a variety of resources. It’s nice to have a preview of everything in one source. This is a great read for beginners to learn the basic of design. To dig further, you’ll need to find books that are focused on a particular topic. Typography, for instance, needs a book or several books of its own.
I must confess that I didn’t realize the cost ($153.95) of this book until I checked it on Amazon. I just picked it up at George Mason library.
Five years ago, I left the lovely Poughkeepsie, New York and followed my heart to the Metro Area. Then I married the woman I love. Just like that and half a decade had passed.
We stood the test of time. We had gone through ups and downs. We have our differences, but we compromise. We’re not perfect, but we embrace our imperfection. We work hard everyday to build our lives together.
In retrospect, the past five years had changed our lives forever. I am grateful everyday that she had given me two beloved boys. The journey to parenthood has just only begun. The road ahead of us is still rough and unpredictable. We will have many challenges waiting for us, but we would pull through if we hold on tight. Love will conquer and unite us all.
Happy five-year anniversary. Thank you for all the love, laugh, sacrifice and support.
Michael Evamy’s Logotype demonstrates the art of transforming words into visuals. Through an extensive collection of over 1,300 examples, this is an invaluable resource for designers who are interested in crafting memorable, recognizable typographic identity. Added to my bookshelf.
Next month Dan will join his brother for the summer camp. I am sure he’ll have a much easier time adjusting to the new environment than Dao. He seems be to be less emotional than his big brother. I still recall the days Dao cried every time I dropped him off to daycare. It took him almost a year to get over that issue. We’ll see how Dan do.
I used to have to fight with Dao every time I brushed his teeth. On the other hand, Dan is a breeze. Each morning he gets up and greets me with a smile. I take him to the bathroom, brush his teeth, change his clothes and diaper and let him go over to his mom and brother’s room while I do my things.
As soon as we go downstairs, he goes to the shoe rack, picks up his shoes, sits on the steps and waits for me to put his shoes on. We go outside and I let him roam around for a bit before putting him into the carseat and go over my sister-in-law’s house. Once we arrive, I take him out if the car and let him walk around enjoying the beautiful morning before taking him into the house. I really enjoy those moments with him. Once I take him inside, his little cousin is very happy to see him. Then I stay with them for a few minutes before heading to work. Dan doesn’t seem to even notice that I am leaving. He’s very closed to his grandma and cousin.
Next month that routine will changed. Sending him to daycare is good for him and for us as well. The only problem is… there goes $2,600 each month for both kids.
I am now rocking with a brand new MacBook Pro with Retina Display and a 27-inch Thunderbolt Display. The Retina quality is simply stunning. Spent all day at work transferring all the software and files. Using the Migration Assistant would have been much faster, but I wanted to start fresh rather than bringing all the old junks over.
I had the old MacBook Pro for almost two years, but I actually don’t have much in it. I tried to keep my baby as clean as possible; therefore, starting from scratch isn’t a big deal. Google Chrome rocks. All I have to do was logged in and everything I had from the old laptop are there on the new one. As far as softwares go, I only had a handful. My IT man installed Office and Adobe Suite for me; therefore, I only had like a few programs to install.
The performance of the new MacBook Pro is doubled my previous one in term of memory, processor and storage and yet, the new laptop is even lighter. Very impressive.
About six months ago, I took my computer bag out of the trunk and accidentally dropped the old laptop on the driveway. One of the corners has a dense. I thought I broke it, but it still works great to this day. I am still glad to have it replaced though. My boss rocks, too.
Here comes a moment of kiss up. One of the things I love about my wife is that she always finds new, interesting music for me to listen and write. Her latest discovery is Korean singer Youn Sun Nah. The first time listening to Nah’s latest release, Lento, and I am completely hypnotized. Nah’s style is expressive, eclectic and quite eccentric.
The album kicks off with a soft, intimate title track, in which her soulful voice is accompanied with just a fingerpicking guitar. Then “Lament” gives a glance of her emotional progression. She starts out low and builds up the tension like a fighter who’s not ready to give up. The album takes a surprise detour in “Momento Magico,” in which she uses her scatting skills to duo the guitar. With the Latin groove backing them up, the experience is just electrifying. Then the album returns and dips further into the soul-stirring territory in a reinterpretation of Stan Jones’ “Ghost Riders In The Sky.” Near the end, she distorts her voice (without the help of Auto-Tune) as if she has been possessed.
Youn Sun Nah is quite something else. In Lento, she demonstrates not only her singing ability, but also her sensational artistry. Highly recommended.
Joshua Redman’s Walking Shadows is stunningly relaxing, and yet nowhere near smooth jazz. The album sets off with a lush orchestral reinterpretation of Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II’s “The Folks Who Live on the Hill.” His hauntingly clear saxophone weaves in and out of the string orchestration like ghost passing through glass. With Billy Strayhorn’s lyrical “Lush Life,” Redman shows off his fine, articulated chops in his second solo. In “Let It Be,” Redman sings Beatles’ lovely melody with his sax. The sophisticated beauty of the album is courtesy of the jazz-with-strings arrangements as well as the support from his friend and pianist Brad Mehldau.
After clients and I agreed on our contract, I would go through the preliminary process with them to get the project started. Although I have been doing this with each of my client, it only occurred to me last week, as I as doing the same thing with a new client, that I should put together a list of tasks my clients must complete in order for me to do my part. From now on, I just refer them to this post.
If not, you need to register your domain name. I use GoDaddy for all my domains. Even though I have heard not-so-good stories about GoDaddy, I haven’t have any problem with it. If you don’t trust GoDaddy, use Network Solutions or Hover. I heard good things about them.
If not, you need to sign up for a hosting plan. I highly recommend Lunarpages. I haven been with the company for over ten years and very happy with its service. For most of my clients, the Lunix basic hosting is sufficient. At the time of this writing, the plan is starting at $4.95 a month. The only extra add-on you need is “Premium Restore Service.” The extra cost of $1.50 a month is definitely worthwhile just in case something goes wrong with your site and needed a quick restoration. If you need other plans or services, we can discuss first before making the purchase.
Tracking your site is optional, but I highly recommend it. Google Analytics allows you to see how many people visited your site. Where they are coming from and so much more. If you already have a Gmail account, signing up with GA is very easy.
I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above; therefore, I am not responsible for their services. The recommendations are based my own experience. You should feel free to sign up with any company you feel comfortable with. Regardless of which company you go with, I will work with them on your behalf to make sure your web site functioning as I have proposed in our contract. If you have any question or concern, do not hesitate to contact me.
Thư từ bạn Sơn Phước:
Hi anh, em vẫn hay theo dõi bài viết của anh, đặc biệt anh viết những bài tiếng việt đọc rất xúc cảm. Có điều hình như vì anh ở nước ngoài nên đôi chỗ hay bị sai chính tả. Không biết là anh có nhận ra không? Em chỉ nói để anh biết chứ thực ra khi đọc bài của anh em cũng không quá chú ý đến việc đó, bài viết vẫn xúc cảm. Chỉ là nếu sửa được thì sẽ hoàn hảo hơn.
Trả lời:
Cám ơn bạn. Đúng vậy Doanh viết chính tả sai rất nhiều. Bà xã cũng nhắc nhở nhiều lần và bản thân cũng muốn sữa chửa nhưng thời gian có hạng. Ngày xưa thường thì viết xong rồi đưa cho bà xã kiểm soát lại dùm. Nhưng với con cái bà xã cũng khá bận rộn nên không muốn làm phiền. Vả lại khi viết xong một post thì chỉ muốn publish rồi đi ngủ chứ cũng không đọc lại.
Doanh cũng rất thích những bài viết của bạn. Bạn viết tiếng Việt hay và sâu sắc lắm. Doanh cũng học hỏi được khá nhiều. Mong rằng mai mốt sẽ có dịp trao đổi với nhau về âm nhạc Việt Nam.
Bạn nào thích đọc về nhạc Việt, hãy ghé thăm trang blog của Sơn Phước.