To PHP or not to PHP

 I realized that I needed to understand PHP better to create contact forms for websites if not using WordPress or other content manager. I decided to take a course on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-php-4 but to follow along, I was using an online PHP at https://paiza.io/projects/zdJqVjzL2iixbcRu7bZ_SQ.

However, to develop a website with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP, it would be difficult to test the website using online PHP.  Therefore, I downloaded the Eclipse IDE for PHP and Apache Tomcat. (I was familiar with Eclipse IDE for Java which is why I chose the Eclipse IDE).

Downloads:

Eclipse IDE for PHP developers from https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=/technology/epp/downloads/release/2020-06/R/eclipse-php-2020-06-R-win32-x86_64.zip

Apache Tomcat from https://tomcat.apache.org/download-90.cgi

I researched how to link Eclipse to the webserver from https://www.eclipse.org/webtools/jst/components/ws/1.5/tutorials/InstallTomcat/InstallTomcat.html

1. Opened Eclipse

 

2. Windows > Preferences

 

3. Servers, highlighted default and pressed edit, then browsed to location of Apache Tomcat

 

Next, I will follow https://www.eclipse.org/pdt/help/html/creating_php_projects.htm to set up a project so I can practice the exercises of the LinkedIn class.

Video-editing: How to Add Text to the Screen

 

I have been adding videos to my YouTube channel at Cloudy Sky Today 

Sometimes, I use OBS Studio with a green screen in the background to display the images and my webcam.  Other times, I have used PowerPoint’s screen capture feature with Photos and microphone to make a video.  Then there are other times, I use my phone or my old camera to capture video.

my screen and my green screen

Generally, I use Wondershare Filmora to crop and export to mp4 format. But at times, I use Wondershare Filmora to combine different videos from the different sources even throwing in some images that I create in Photoshop. 

Then I noticed that Wondershare Filmora had a text on screen option so I decided to give it a try: 

There are other rows to experiment with but that will be another week!

Editing Videos - 2nd day of Roadtrip

As mentioned in Before the Video Editing, I already had some of the equipment and software for editing. A friend gave some constructive criticism to enlarge the pictures and my brother suggested adding music.  I didn't want to get copyright claimed on YouTube for using anybody's music so I tabled for another day.  Then I did more research on how to crop video and found https://filmora.wondershare.com/video-editing-tips/how-to-crop-video-files.html

and applied the techniques to Florida Lighthouses RoadTrip - Day 2:

 

Let me know if the cropping worked.  What other techniques should I try in video editing?

Before the Video Editing

 It was November 2020 and I noticed that personal hygiene was slipping. My appearance was slipping due to the lack of going out: I wasn't hosting poetry; I wasn't attending art events etc. However, when I know I have a video meeting and have to show my face, my personal hygiene improved.  

Before deciding to learn video-editing, I had bought Filmora WonderShare to convert video types and noticed that it could do other functions.  I already had a YouTube channel (cloudyskytoday) where I would post privately and share the poetry reading with the participants. Then I participated in a conference where people were demonstrating video editing using another product and there were similarities.  Additionally, I had used OBS Studio for streaming. Plus I already had a webcam. Wait, I already had a screen.

After taking stock of what I already have, I did some research on using green screen in OBS Studio and found a video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DzS9OxUqu-A

 Then I bought a green cloth (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07HSYD4HK?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details), ironed it and pinned the screen.  It doesn't stay wrinkle-free!

I made a recording in OBS Studio but the slide show would restart after the 6th image so I did the introduction with OBS Studio then I used PowerPoint to record the screen (learned by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCi7z-bJJXw) while I describe the pictures.  Then I used Filmora WonderShare to put the two together.

Florida Lighthouses RoadTrip - Day 1

So far, I have received some feedback and will try editing the pictures larger in the next video.

What tips do you have for me?

Keep Safe! Keep Dry! This Year has truly gone awry!

Normally, I enjoy writing poetry but lately the words come in spurts even shorter than on Twitter. A couple vignettes for today:

Like 2020 (in hindsight, if you prefer) what can I say

Things haven’t gone my way or most people’s way

It’s more the year that have gone astray!

 

 

The headline screams:

“Tropical Storm Eta soaks an already wet South Florida!”

I worry and eat a tub of ice-cream.

Let me know which you like better!

Creating a webpage for my business

     I have some time before finishing my Masters in Technology Management but I wanted to get started on my company as I have had inquiries on building websites. In fact, I have been helping people with their Wix website.  My goal after completing my studies is to help small businesses with their IT needs including building their website.  In college, I became knowledgeable on coding using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript yet I found myself using the online resources a lot.  I also used Adobe Dreamweaver in college but I don't have that software.  Also, I have used Content Management System such as WordPress in my studies and even added a WordPress page to be used as a blog on BardsOfBroward.com.  Since last year, I became familiar with another CMS -- Wix since some clients liked the templates.

    Yet for my new website, I didn't want to use a CMS so I dusted off my notes and perused online for the effects that I wanted. First, I coded with HTML5 and CSS then verified with the W3C Markup Validation Service. I uploaded it but it lacked pizazz and a contact form.  PHP was not my friend in school and it made me wish that I used a CMS for the contact form. I also added some JavaScript for some animation effects. I realized that with all the things that I learnt, without practice, it fades and I really had to research, think about the logic and why does the code do this!

Here are some of the resources that I used:

• https://www.w3schools.com/
• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
• https://validator.w3.org/
• https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/docs/display
• https://www.positronx.io/how-to-integrate-google-recaptcha-in-php-contact-form/
• notes, code snippets from my Broward College classes, such as CTS 1851, CTS 1806, CTS 2852 and CTS 2857 (2016-2017)

Preview my website in video below or go to https://cloudyskytoday.com/ and share your opinion with me.

National Poetry Month 2020

Another April means National Poetry Month. In years past, I have done challenges, such as PoMoSco, where I wrote a poem a day.  In fact, most Aprils since 2014, I had challenged myself to do a poem a day using prompts from the newspaper, dictionary and the Bible.

Yet it's the fifth day of April and I am now thinking about the prompts. Four days have passed and I haven't devised a prompt or wrote any poetry.  I'll be searching the internet for ideas.

In the meantime, here's one of my poems: