Finally got the blog front pages integrated into the new overall website design…

For those interested in web site design and development, I wanted to pass along some resources which I have utilized heavily during my recent site redesign.  First off, I want to give a blog Big Up to Chris from CSS Tricks.  Their articles and screencasts are great if you want to get right in and start learning valuable concepts demonstrated with practical examples. 

If you’re like me and well past ready to shake off that old html-table-based design paradigm and jump into CSS with both feet, here’s a tutorial, where after a fairly simple series of steps you are left with a very clean and professional design.  Nice! 

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention W3CSchools.com.  They are one of the main reasons why I don’t see the need to memorize syntax anymore.

We’ve finally pounded out our first home page design!  It’s my feeble attempt to tie all of the site features together.

It will be a constant work in progress as we address browser rendering issues and test things out and add features, but every journey begins with a single step.  

What do you think?

Talking to family and friend about this a little, I guess it is something of a cop out to say in one breath, I have been dragging my feet in getting the site off the ground and then, in the next breath put it out to the audience to get some idea on what to develop.  If this is going to get done, we are going to have to come up with some workable concepts and bring them to reality.  Now, that doesn’t mean we won’t be relying on a lot of help from readers and other blogs.  But it does mean we cannot afford to wait for some “magic number” of responses to figure out our next step.  Otherwise, this is just another website dedicated to extreme procrastination techniques!  (Not a bad niche)

We’ve come up with a plan!  Primarily, we will be blogging about life in general, current events, what’s new in tech and attempting to parcel out some useful technical support tips.  Additionally, come back often as we plan to launch several new and useful site additions in the near future.  The first is a throwback to my original site design…

We have all run across our fair share of trash on our journey along this vast information superhighway.  And as the old saying goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  Thus, here I have sought out to collect some of the web’s very best trash for your entertainment.  The very first (re-released) WebDump!

We also ask that you participate. We’ve got a lot of ideas and the only thing that will keep my ego and the site in check is the constant vigilance of a trusted membership. 

1. If you have any questions about computer support, the internet or technology in general, please post a comment or send a message to mailto:support@qaiyimjamal.com.
2. If you want to share a funny story, pictures or web video with the world, we can publish it here in the WebDump!  Send those posts to mailto:WebDump@qaiyimjamal.com.
3. If you would like to impart words of wisdom, an inspirational story or any other form of spiritual encouragement, we will not hesitate to share those as well.  Send to: mailto:Uplift@qaiyimjamal.com
4. If you have any suggestions or comments aim at improving the site or the content, send mail to Webmaster@qaiyimjamal.com

Wow… this could turn into a site I actually use!

Have you ever wanted to do something so badly and so well, that you researched, prepared, guessed and second-guessed yourself into a state of paralysis?  That is where I have existed with this site for quite some time now. 

Countless ideas on how I could turn my small net rest stop into the next million dollar dream.  Equally as many books and articles read on the latest technologies which would allow me to deploy the next killer app and take over the world. 

So, a few years into the experiment and not only has my site NOT taken over the world and made me a household name; but pitifully, even I would have to admit that the current amount of “content” I have compiled is a little lacking…

What went wrong?  The only real utility which I have really gotten out of the site are the email services and as a test bed for the myriad of development projects which I have been involved in over the years.

But that’s ok… I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it… People like me!  Seriously, I had to come to grips with the fact that it is what it is.  This probably is not the proper location or platform from which to launch my empire.  But as a developer, I know I can do a lot better than “Under construction.”

Now… Where do we start?  J