Another month is over

Well September is over and it was an OK month a far as sweepstakes wins go. I had three wins, a DVD, and a gift card. I did not win anything until the middle of the month so I thought I might not get any sweepstakes wins this month. But I was wrong. I hope I will get a bunch of wins next month too. Sweestakes are fun!!

More thoughts on programing

Also besides the programming languages I mentioned I wanted to learn in my last post I also would like to learn python so I can use it with blender, scheme so I can use it with gimp, squeak because I think squeak is cool. I hope that is not to many programming languages to learn. And also I would like to learn hla.

I also need to learn one programming languages at a time. I think trying to lean many programming languages a once was another problem. I need time to practice programming in a specific language. Practice will make me a better programmer.

If I limit the programing languages I learn I will be able to learn other things like physics or math or something I did not know I wanted to learn. In other words I thought I was missing out not knowing or at least trying every programming language, but while doing that I was missing out on learning other things besides programming. I feel better now knowing that I can only be good at a few programming languages.

Some thoughts on programming

I think I have written about all the programming languages I have tried. Writing about all the languages depressed me. All the posts I wrote about all the programming languages I have tried were pretty much, well I downloaded and installed this compiler or this interpreter and did a few lines of code and that is all. I want to make a useful program, but I have not been able to make one.

My problem is I want to learn every programming language I come across. So I end up learning nothing except the names of a bunch of programming languages. I realise now I only need to know one language to be a computer programmer and I am probably not missing anything if I do not know or try every programming language because there is no way I can learn every
programming language.

I also realise that I need to decide on a one or two or three programming languages and stick to thoes languages and see if I am any good at programming. I need to set a goal. My goal is to make a website so with that goal in mind I want to learn php and javascript and also xhtml, css, mysql so I can make a nice site.

javaScript

Like java I have used javascript more than most of the programming languages I have tried. I have read Sam's teach yourself javascript in 24 hours. I have also tried learning javascript from about.com, but I have not practiced javascript enough so I am not good at it. I want to learn javascript so I can put some scripts on my website. I think it would be fun to do animation or small games with JavaScript.

java programming language

I have used java a little more than the other programming languages I have written about. I've read Sam's teach yourself java 2 in 24 hours. For most of the other programming languages I have tried I have only written a few lines of code.

I remember when I wanted to start programming in java I went to about.com java and found out what I needed to download and then I went to sun's java website and downloaded java with netbeans and it took 6 hours because it was a 100MB download. I installed the programs, but I could not get java set up so I could compile and run progams at a command prompt so I got upset and did not try to use java again for awhile.

Eventually I did set my path up right so I could use java at a command prompt and I think that is when I started reading Sam's teach yourself java 2 in 24 hours. It took me a month or two to complete the book. I had fun reading the book and programming in java. Although I would need a lot more practice progaming in java if I wanted to write a useful program.

I am not sure I want to learn how to write useful programs in java, but if I wanted to lean java better I would concentrate on applets. I would love to write applets for websites. Applets are cool.

ALA7 Programming Langauge

I found the ALA7 programming language on Doctor Dobb's CodeTalk. I was using a search engine to look for new programming languages and I found a doctor dobb's code talk article about the ALA7 programming language.

So I went to the ALA7 programming language website and downloaded and installed ALA7 on my computer. I wrote a few lines of code in ALA7 and that was all. I think it is cool that ALA7 is a newer programming language.

Ford hot rod scale model

This is a picture of a 1930's ford hot rod scale model. Well its a picture of what is left of a 1930's scale model kit I put together. Why did I take the model apart? I think I wanted to make the doors open.

I took the model apart and sawed the doors open and probably thought it would be to much work to make the improvements I wanted to make so I threw the model into a box and here it is now.

what a shame it was a nice looking model and I had to tear it apart. I wish I had left it together instead of making a mess out of it. Instead of tearing apart a model I had put together it would have been better to get new kits and cut the doors and trunks out so I could make opening doors. Leave the model I had put together alone that is what I should have done.

I won again this moth

I won fifty dollars from GE. I got the package today. I love gift cards. Wow what a great month this is turning out to be three wins and there are still 6 days left in September. I feel great.

Scheme programming langauge

Yet another programming language I have tried a little bit is scheme. I want to read a book called How to design programs and it uses scheme. I have read a small portion of How to design programs before, but like most things I never finished it. I want to finish the book this time though. I want to learn how to design programs that is for sure.

I have installed on my computer Dr. scheme which is used for the book. Dr. scheme looks like it will be fun to use. I think I also installed another scheme, but I don't know what it is called.

One thing I like about scheme is that if I lean scheme I can write scripts for gimp. I also like that scheme is similar to lisp. I hope I read the book and learn scheme.

MODULA-2 programming langauge

Another programming language I have tried is MODULA-2. I also wanted to try MODULA-3, but I could not find a compiler for windows. There are a few compilers on the modula-2 website, but I tried only one of the compilers and it is called Native XDS. I got XDS installed on my computer OK and started the program.

I had high hopes about learning modula-2, but like most of the other programming languages I have tried I used it for a day or two and then quit. I wanted to read the documentation and everything, but never go it done.

By the way Native XDS is also an oberon 2 compiler so I did try a line or two of oberon 2, but not more than that. I love the name oberon 2 because it sounds like some programming language from outer space. A fantastic name for a programming language.

MySQL Database

I want to learn how to create databases with mysql and connect to them with php. I don't remember why I wanted to learn sql all I know is that I downloaded mysql so I could read sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 hours. That's why I wanted to learn Mysql so I could read the free book. Yes that is it.

So I tried to install Mysql, but I had problems, because my firewall was blocking a port. That frustrated me a lot. Somehow I got Mysql installed and started reading sams teach yourself Mysql, but gave up reading the book after a week or so.

Now I want to start reading the book again so I can use Mysql with php as I said before. I don't know what I can do with a database although I am sure I will find something. I hope I learn Mysql this time.

PS3 Monster Madness video game win

This is the Monster Madness PlayStation 3 video game I won at the end of last month from the HDR room. I love to win video game stuff. I don't have a PS3, but some day I hope to win one. What a wonderful win!!

TAB electronics robot kit

A couple of years ago I got a robot kit made by TAB electronics. I got the robot kit, but waited a few weeks to assemble it until I could get smaller tools to use to put the kit together because I though I needed to get smaller screw drivers. It turned out that I did not need smaller screw drivers after all, my regular screw drivers would have worked fine.

The robot kit did not take long to assemble probably an hour or less. I broke a peace of the kit, but I used my model glue to put it back together. I got the kit together and tried the robot once or twice and now I leave it sitting around gathering dust, but it is nice to look at.

The robot kit came with a CD that had assembly instructions and it also had programming information. The robot has a serial port connector on it so you can hook it up to a computer and program it. The serial connector did not come with the kit and I did not want to buy the connector so I never learned how to program the robot although I think programming the robot would be fun.

PHP programming langauge

I installed a version of php on my computer a year or so ago and tried a php tutorial or two and then I stopped using php. I was not interested in learning the language. Then I decided I wanted to build a website and my website host has php on their server so I thought I should learn php so I can put a program on the server.

I'm fired up about learning sever-side programming because I have never done that type of programming, I have only tried java and javascript client-side programming. I am not sure what I can do with php, but it seems like it will be fun to learn.

Yay, I won this month

I got the Over My Dead Body DVD in the mail today. I won it from star magazine. I was worried I would not win this month and then this prize shows up. Yay what a win. Now all I need to do is win a DVD player so I can watch the movie.

Animation Meat

I found Animation Meat on about.com drawing and sketching. I have downloaded a few of the PDFs that are on animation meat and read them, but I have not practiced the lessons at all. I think being able to draw animations would be great fun. Today I want to start learning animation from animation meat. I don't know how long that will take, but that is my goal, and I know I'll enjoy learning animation.

Synfig

Yesterday I read and article on about.com Linux about a program I had never heard of before called Synfig. Synfig is an animation program so I knew right away I wanted to try synfig. I hoped there was a synfig version for windows OS. There were 4 .exes to download for windows.

I downloaded the 4 .exes for windows and then got confused because I had looked at the synfig documentation and it talked about installing mingw and other stuff for windows so I downloaded Mingw and msys, but could not get msys installed because of an error, so in desperation I ran the 4 windows .exe and then realised I had wasted a few hours downloading mingw and msys and should have tried running the 4 .exes first. At least I got Synfig to work that is all that matters to me.

So after I got Synfig installed I stated the program up and it worked, Wow I was so relieved that it worked. I did not have time to use Synfig last night so I shut it down. This morning I went to the Synfig website and tried the beginner tutorial, using synfig was not to hard. I want to do all the tutorials on the synfig website so I can learn how to use the program.

Drawing

Another hobby I have is drawing. I have been drawing every day for over a year. I don't remember when I first wanted to draw, probably 15 or 20 years ago. I never drew much before a year ago because I would draw and what ended up on the paper would be pretty bad so I thought I did not have any talent. So I did not practice drawing.

I know now what I wish I knew 15 years ago, if you want to get good at something you have to practice, practice, practice. I don't think I am a good artist, but at least I am doing something I enjoy and that is all that matters. I may never be any good at drawing, but that's OK.

More Radio Control

I did not know anything about RCs when I got my RCs and I don't know much about RCs now. I had one little booklet with pictures of RCs and one issue of radio control car action when I got the hornet. I think the hawk and hornet came with manuals, but I never bothered to read them. I charged the battery and drove the vehicles without knowing what maintenance I should be doing.

The battery pack I got to use with my hornet got wrecked or for some other reason did not work anymore so I got another battery pack for my vehicles that was used and it still works today. I bought the used battery because it was cheaper than a new battery. I am surprised either battery lasted very long because I would run the battery down and recharge it with my charger without letting it cool down which is bad for the battery.

One thing I did not like about the Radio controlled vehicles was that the transmitter took eight AA batteries. I know I could have gotten rechargeable AA batteries, but I got regular AA batteries and it always seemed like a waste. I wanted to convert the transmitters to be able to use a battery pack, but never knew how to do the conversion.

TRAXXAS HAWK RC truck

My other RC vehicle is a Traxxas HAWK. I think I got the hawk a few years after the hornet, but I can't remember. I wanted to get the Lunch Box, but I got the hawk instead because the store was out of the lunch box and I could not wait to get another RC. I got it ready to run although I could have gotten it as a kit to build also. I wish I had gotten the kit and built the hawk myself.

I always wanted a transmitter with a steering wheel so I got one when I bought the hawk. I always wanted a electronic speed control so I got one for the Hawk. At the time getting an electronic speed control made perfect sense, but looking back I wonder why I got it. I only drove the hawk in the driveway so why get the electronic speed control. The decision makes no sense at all. The mechanical speed control would have been fine for how I used the hawk. I should mention I got the electronic speed control after I had the hawk for awhile.

Another thing I did that makes no sense now, I took apart the transmitter. I don't remember how much of the transmitter I took apart. Why I took it apart I do not know, but at least I got it back together and I am sure it works now. Taking apart the transmitter was a bad idea.

I like the hawk although I have not used it for awhile. A battery powered truck is fine, but some day I want to get a gas powered monster truck. Driving a monster truck I am sure would be great fun and I have always wanted a gas powered RC.

The Hornet 1/10 scale

Another hobby I have is Radio Controlled vehicles. I have not driven my RC's for a while although I still have both of them. The RC I want to talk about today is The Hornet. I have had it for 17 years. I think it sill works, but I have not tried using it yet.

I remember when I got the Hornet I probably wanted a Lunch Box which is a van with big wheels or an RC 12 instead of the Hornet, but the store probably did no have those two RC's so I got the Hornet. I also got a transmitter and a battery and a battery charger so I could drive the Hornet.

The Hornet came as a kit that had to be assembled before I could use it, but I did not assemble it, my dad did. I wish I had the patience at that time to assemble it myself but I didn't. I have never assembled and RC kit myself, but I think it would be fun to do. The assembly probably took a day or two for my dad and I am sure I used the Hornet right after he finished putting it together.

The RC has needed a few repairs:

1. The mechanical speed control had to be replaced once, but I am not sure how the original speed control broke.



2. The wires on the electric motor have had to be soldered a few times because they came loose.

Vim

One program that I have wanted to learn since I got the cygwin c/c++ compiler is vim. I think the idea of a text editor where I can use keys on the keyboard to edit rather than using the mouse is pretty amazing. I have not used vim much at all, but some day I hope to learn how to use the program to write source code.

XBLite programming language

Yet another programming language I have installed on my computer is the XBLite programming language which I found at programmers heaven. I have not used the XBLite compiler much. I would not mind learning the programming language, but I do not have the time to learn it right now. It looks like it might be fun though so maybe some day I will get around to trying XBLite.

Space shuttle model

The pictures are of a space shuttle model I put together a long time ago. I remember I put it together the same day I got the model kit. It was a skill level one model that snapped together and that is why I put the model together so fast. I did not paint the model before I assembled it. The paint was put on some time later and I did not do a good job of painting it.

The shuttle is missing the wheels. I don't know where the wheels are, they are probably laying around some were because I don't think I through them away. The model looks to be in good shape considering I have not taken care of it.

Plane model

The picture on the right is a plane model I put together. Well at least it's what is left of a model I put together. I'm not sure what kind of plane it is because I have not found the box yet. The model kit was I think skill level 2.

The model is missing the wheels, the propeller the cockpit windshield and most of the pieces that were in the cockpit. I remember the model kit had little metal pieces that I had to glue into the cockpit. I used Elmer's glue for the little metal pieces and was nervous while gluing them into the cockpit of the aeroplane, but I got them glued in fine.

I think the model looks OK, but what a shame I let it get ruined. I don't know if I will be able to find the missing pieces and put the model back together. I wish I woud have taken better care of it.

Austin Powers

Today I think I'll write about 3 of my favorite moves, the austin powers movies. I think the first two austin powers movies were ok, but the third austin powers movie austin powers goldmember is my favorite. I think it's the best austin powers movie.

I liked goldmember because of the 1970's disco parts of the movie which I thought were cool. I love disco music although I don't know the names of any of the singers who made disco music except for Donna Summer, and the beegees. I also like the clothes from that era, yep I love pant suits and platform shoes. I don't know much about clothing so I hope all the things I mentioned above are from the disco era. I can't think of anything else to write about the movie so this post is done.

Lisp programming langauge

Another programming language I have tried is Lisp. I wanted to read the book practical common lisp so I downloaded Lisp in a box and started reading the book, but Lisp in a box uses Emacs so I thought I needed to learn how to use Emacs and I only wanted to learn lisp so I got frustrated and stopped learning lisp after a few days. I want to try and learn common lisp again someday. And also learning how to use emacs would be fun too.

My favorite car model The General Lee

The pictures are of my favorite car model the general Lee a 1969 dodge charger from the T.V show The Dukes of hazzard. The front wheels are not on the model because I smashed the model a little, by accident. I cut the trunk lid off because I tried to make a fancy trunk with a nice interior and opening trunk lid, but it did not work out. Making a trunk is harder than I thought I would have been.

I think the decals look nice. I am proud of how the decals turned out, because I did not think I'd get them on the car without ruining them. I am not good at putting decals on models, but I wanted to do a good job because the general Lee kit had nice decals to put on the car. I also used Elmer's glue to glue the windows on the model.

I do not remember how long it took me to put the model kit together, but it probably took a month or two. I like the way the model turned out and I had fun putting it together.

scale modeling continued

More about scale modeling. I also had putty for scale models. I know I used the putty once, but I don't know what for. I think getting the putty was a waste. That wraps up all the scale modeling tools I have because I can't think of any other tools I have.

I enjoyed the scale modeling hobby, but I probably quit the hobby because I got frustrated that I could not create a great scale model with opening doors and trunks and spark plug wires and a great paint job with perfect decals.

I was also thinking maybe scale modeling is to expensive and that is another reason why I quit, but then I though it's not that expensive, 10 to 15 dollars for a plastic model kit and may be 15 to 20 dollars for some paint and glue its a cheap hobby compared to some others. Writing about scale models makes me want to build one.

plastic scale models continued

Some more scale model tool talk today. I had sand paper that I wanted to use between coats of paint when spay painting my models. I probably did use the sand paper for that purpose, but I don't think the sand paper helped my paint jobs. I believe I also had a tack rag to use after I sanded the coat of paint to get all the loose debris off the model.

I wanted to do some custom stuff to my models so I had a little saw, small knives, and sheets of plastic. I used the saw to cut the doors open and also make trunks open on cars. The doors and trunks opened, but I needed to make hinges. I did not make good hinges. Cutting parts out did not work well. I'd rather buy models where the doors open that would be a lot less work.

I used the knives to cut the parts for the model from the numbered plastic, I think they are called trees they come on. I wanted to use the plastic sheets to put flatbeds on trucks. I don't think the flat beds turned of good, but at least I had fun making the flatbeds.