Dora's BIZ Corner: An Evening At A Seminar!

...Tonight was the much anticipated business seminar.  Sara and I were sent special (V.I.P.) invitations.  The business gurus leading the seminar are people whose business prospective strategies I have used for a long time.  As I have often stated, I do not have heroes outside my circle of family, but these people are as close as heroes might get--in my life.

I am so glad that we made this seminar.  We almost did not make it because of other business matters.  The topics covered were exactly two of the most intriguing topics that have captivated my attention for a long time.  We signed up for other work seminars and for a weekend training retreat.  I hope all of this leads to something positive.

Most of the topics, as I stated above, was not new to me.  The terminology was also well-known to me.  However, being able to use all that knowledge (old and new) is what I really wanted and needed to know.  It is like baking a cake.  You know which ingredients you need, but you are not sure how to mix it all together in a cohesive manner in order to garner the best outcome.  That cohesiveness is what this person requires in order to begin another venture in the real estate market.  I already deal in mortgage notes so this new market is kind of icing on the cake, per se.  I am now going to go full force with tax liens and buying foreclosed properties in order to flip for a huge profit.  I can do this.  I have been studying the real estate market for a long time.  At one time I even interned as a realtor.  It was short-lived, but I got a foot in and learned a lot.  It was because of the internship that I delved further into real estate. 

Real estate has always been a passion of mine.  Buying older homes, fixing them and selling has always been something I loved to do.  I am actually great at it.  Everyone who knows me knows that I always had a knack for building and fixing houses.  Bob Villa was someone I looked up to way before flipping got so popular.  Sure I love computer programming first and foremost; CP is my true career, but the real estate thing is what I would love to do on the side, and if I can become more successful doing that, then maybe CP will take a backseat. 

All I know is that I am ready to start on a path towards different, bigger and better.  Since I am already continuing my education in computer engineering, then this other real estate venture should not interfere.  I can do both things at once.  Just like I know that I will still have time for sports, politics, writing, etc...  It is all a new opportunity for me--a new day, if you will.  It is all good.  All I have to do now is to focus on what I have already learned and to be open to new ideas and to mesh it altogether to make lemonade.

Just my take for the day!

 

Dominguez Siblings: Happy #NationalSiblingsDay 2014!

In our family, we are blessed!

Happy #NationalSiblingsDay 2014!

Love to all siblings out there...enjoy yourselves!

Dora's BIZ Corner: To Start A Business Or Not To Start A Business!

...Well, when a person has too many options/choices, making decisions can become difficult.  Too many choices is often not a good thing.  Personally, when I have too many choices I tend to get a little irritated.  But not like I did 20 years ago.  Through the maturity of my later years, I have learned to retain my composure, but there remain days when some people just bite through the very last nerve I have for them.  LOL (or not)!

Anyway, I have the opportunity to open my own business, and I am not certain what I should do.  I am still following through with my return-to-college, but if I open a business or go into a joint venture with family or friends (more options), then school might take a backseat, per se. 

I am not sure if I want to open my own franchise, go into biz with family, go into biz with friends or to focus primarily on college.  I really want to tweak my computer programming skills and maybe apply for a job with the government (Austin, TX).  I have seen several postings on different job sites for government-related jobs in programming, IT, system's administration.  Sara works for the government and often brings job postings home to me or she emails job links to me.  The pay is bar none especially when you consider the fringe benefits.  The benefits alone are outstanding as is the tenure-track.  I know that tenure-track is more for college professors and such, but the government offers such a thing, but it is called something else--the term eludes me for the moment, but, hey, no big deal.

Anyway, the government jobs are everywhere in the state (TX), but the best ones are at our state capitol.  Matter-of-fact, all 50 states offer excellent opportunities as does our fare state.  I would not mind Arkansas.  Sara and I have been to Little Rock several times, and the camaraderie we experienced there was awesome.  The best area to live would be North Little Rock.  It can be pricey, but not as bad as Midland.  Heck, there are not many areas that are more expensive than Midland these days.  Midland is probably the most expensive area to live in for the entire state of Texas.  St. Louis, MO is another area that we fell in love with during our vast and many travels.  If Sara had her way (and one day she probably will), we would be living in NYC.  She would live anywhere in the New England area; she loves the cold and the ocean.  Perhaps I should clarify that she (like me) prefers the Atlantic over the Pacific.  Sara loves the snowy weather so any state along the eastern seaboard starting with the state of New York northbound to Maine would appease my Sara.  I know I would be happy living in NYC.  We just do NOT want to live in the south.  It is not progressive enough for us.  I do not welcome the cold weather as much, but I do love the vibes that a big city has...I will live almost anywhere as long as I am there living a healthy and happy life with the love of my life--Sara!

The chance to move has never been within reach and probable as it is right now.  For a long time I have wanted to move to another part of the state or to another state; anywhere as long as we live in a large city.  I love and welcome the opportunities that large cities would afford us.  I am a family-oriented person so I did not rock-the-boat when moving away came up.  I simply acknowledged that one day I would be open to the idea, but for many years my family was too important for me to make waves and move.  I especially wanted to be close in proximity to my mom.  Mom passed away a couple of years ago, and it hit me so hard.  Words fail to describe what her death did to me.  I am slowly coming around to find some kind of normalcy (whatever that is), and I am getting stronger.  With my Sara by my side, I feel myself ready to begin yet another chapter in my life.

So, with all of that stated above, I now need to decide what that next chapter in my life will be.  I know that we do not always get to do what we had hoped.  Like the saying goes (paraphrasing): "if you want to make G-d laugh, make plans!"  I have so many options before me right now as far as a career goes.  I have always been the type of person who needed to have a career.  I regret that I often do believe that a career defines a person.  Maybe I do not look at others in that manner, but I set the bar rather high for myself, and I do require a career of some sort.  Family still being important to me, but having a career is right up there after Sara, family, G-d, etc...  I have a career now, but it is far from what I want for myself.  I want more--not just to make money, but to enjoy what I will do for the rest of my life.  Like the other adage goes: "if you do something that you love, then you will never work a day in your life!"

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Corner: Learning To Be Understanding: The Art Of Autism!

...So I have friends and family with children who are autistic.  Heck, these days, having children with autism or any form of autism seems to be the "new norm"!  I am not sure why we are seeing more and more children with autism, ADD, ADHD, and such.  It makes one wonder what is going on with the world and/or the environment.  Actually, some of these used-to-be childhood illnesses are found in many adults.  Maybe the latter were never diagnosed properly or at all. 
Let's face it, back-in-the-day, there was a stigma about going to a doctor for mental issues.  Most often, people's mental-health was not addressed.  Mental issues were not talked about--most often it was all taboo.  Going to a psychiatrist or a psychologist was not for the sane person; it was a form of being broken and/or weak.  Regardless of one's mental state, it was just assumed that everything and everyone was okay.  So maybe, just maybe, because of all the "sweeping under the rug" which was done so long ago with people's mental health, maybe it all just got so out-of-control and created the pandemic that we now see, as aforementioned, in relation to illnesses such as autism.

I am no expert by any means.  People with loved ones with autism are way more informed than me, and they barely brush the knowledge of autism.  There are no real experts really or there might be a cure or a sound reason why some people get autism.  Studies have shown that the environment might be a factor.  The things we use to make things/build things, to grow food--all of it is atrocious.  Some people do not want to believe in the scientific studies which prove that what we are doing to pollute our world (i.e. toxins) is having a detrimental effect on all of us.  The greenhouse gases, fracking, spilling poisons into our water, soiling our ground, spewing toxins into our air--every negative action that we take against our earth, without batting an eye, is not just ruining our earth, but it is, in fact, ruining our health; mental and physical. 

Like I previously stated, I do not know how autism (or other mental illnesses) began or why it attacks certain people, all I know is that we need to seriously educate ourselves.  This dilemma is not our burden until it affects a loved one.  Perhaps that last sentence is a little jaded, but nonetheless, it is the truth.  We look away at these things which cause uneasiness in our lives.  If we do not have to see it then we do not need to address it and the issue simply goes away.  I hate to intrude upon your perfect little world, but if we do not take part (via a collaborative effort)  to understand illnesses, then we will in a way keep sweeping these issues under the rug, and nothing will be fixed.  Future generations will continue having such illnesses until such illnesses become embedded in all of our DNA.  Maybe they are already part of our DNA.

But for now, until we can get better answers, just stop expecting people with autism and such to keep conforming to what we assume to be a perfect society.  I never liked the word perfect.  What in the hell does it really mean anyway.  Utopian societies are not real.  They have never been real.  We live in a cruel world.  However, it does not mean that we have a right to keep being cruel.  Let's just stop expecting perfection from everyone and how about, once in a while, we conform to other people's needs.  Hence the quote below!

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Technical Corner: The Differences Between Pix: .JPG, .GIF, .PNG and Vector!

...First of all, I hope you like my blog-background.  I played with it and this is what I came up with -- for now.  So many of the "host" websites just weren't offering the kind of background that I really wanted so...  As the adage goes, "necessity is the mother of invention!"  I usually draw my own backgrounds for all my blogs and for any websites that I design.  Some are more tricky since the templates that accompany blogs powered by Blogger, Word Press, etc. have their own CSS codes.  You really need to know how to navigate through CSS to override codes put into place by most blog hosts.
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About the pix...there are several different file types, if you will. 

1) .JPG:  Joint Photographic Experts Group

This is the most common file type -- we all deal with photographs.  It’s a file format that was created specifically for photographs. It’s a method of compression that keeps as much information in the photo as it can (colors, digital info, etc.) while keeping the file size at a decent size for storage and email. It’s also the file type digital cameras capture photos in and store on the memory card.

-- This is appropriate for both web and print and can be opened by anyone.

2) .GIF:  Graphics Interchange Format
This file type is specific for graphics and illustrations – basically things that are non-photographic. It’s a file type that is limited to a 256 color palette (which is why it can’t be used for photos) and can be used for animation effects on the web.  GIF is better than JPG for images with only a few distinct colors, such as line drawings, black and white images and small text that is only a few pixels high.

-- This is only appropriate for web display and can usually be opened by anyone.

3) .PNG:  Portable Network Graphics
PNG was created as a superior alternative to the GIF. Basically, it’s a GIF on steroids.  The PNG file format supports true-color (16 million colors) while the GIF supports only 256 colors. Both photographs and basic illustrations can be saved as PNG although you can’t make animations with it like you can a GIF.  PNGs are better for larger pix (graphics) that you want to save for better resolution.  Some photos can be saved as PNG, however, it is better that you do not save it as such because it will create much too massive a file size.  It will hinder you from being able to email or upload it without delays and file issues. Because of file storage, most printers also require photos to be JPG instead of PNG.

-- This is appropriate for web illustrations (especially when a transparent background is needed) and for some print (although not common) and can be opened by anyone. 

4) Vector Files
This is not necessarily a file type but a graphic type. Personally I love to use this type when creating graphics (personal or business).  A vector does not contain pixels and thus it can be used on large scale marketing materials such as logos, banners, window decals, clothing, and billboards – basically anything that is illustrated and needs to be re-sized in various ways without losing quality. Desktop Publishing comes to mind in regards to using VFs.  Vector graphics are based on vectors (also called paths or strokes), which lead through locations called control points or nodes. Each of these points has a definite position on the x and y axes of the work plane and determines the direction of the path; further, each path may be assigned a stroke color, shape, thickness, and fill.  Businesses always have their logo in a vector format in order to use it for multiple things.  Vector files can be exported into any type of file format for other uses.  The most common files types for a vector graphic are .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript is a DSC-conforming PostScript document) and .AI (created with Adobe Illustrator). Vectors can be exported into almost ANY file type but most printers request the native file of .EPS or .AI.

-- This file type is appropriate for print. Most vector graphics can only be opened by anyone who owns the software it was created in such as print shops and other graphic designers.

5) .PDF:  Portable Document Format

PDF is a file format that provides an electronic image of text or text and graphics that looks like a printed document and can be viewed, printed, and electronically transmitted.  PDFs are more commonly used for business documents!  Actually -- everyone these days uses PDFs.  PDFs can embed and encapsulate graphics, fonts, colors and other digital information required to view a file.  It is used most commonly for business documents and files for printers such as books, manuals, publication advertising, postcards, and marketing materials. It also commonly used to download multi-page documents off the web.  A PDF document can be created using a combination of GIFs, JPGs, PNGs and Vector files; all can be saved as a PDF and sent to anyone to open. Usually the recipient cannot edit a PDF unless he has the proper program to do so.  It has quickly become the standard for sending information from one person to another. Although you can’t display a PDF on a website as an image, anyone can download a PDF from a simple link from a website and view in their PDF viewer.
-- This is appropriate for print and downloading from the web. It is not appropriate for web display. It can typically be opened by anyone with a PDF viewer which comes standard on most of today’s computers. It is the most requested file type by professional printers today.

Dora's Corner: If You Want To Read All About It: How About A Dolores Huerta Day!

My views regarding how the great Dolores Huerta should have her own "day of recognition!"

Read all about it via my Celebrating My Latino Culture Blog.

Dora's Corner: If You Want To Read All About It: The Heretic {sic} Foundation!

My "beef" with the Heritage Foundation (a.k.a. The Heretic Foundation).

Read all about it via my Political Blog!

 

Dora's Corner: Raison D'Etre: Reason For Existence!

Everyone has that one something that captivates their mind, and enthralls their heart.  Each person has a reason for existing, living, etc..  Everyone has that certain raison d'etre!  Why and from where does it develop?  Je ne sais pas!  I believe that it is just something derived from living and being around other people, etc..  I just know that we all just have to figure out just what that one thing is, and maybe, just maybe, we can make a living doing it.  As the adage goes, "if you do something that you really love, you will never work a day in your life!"

For me the raison d'etre would include programming, coding, and almost anything that deals with computers especially computer graphics.  However, as much as I also like messing with the innards of a computer and am able to fix boards and such, it is the programming (System's Admin and IT) that I prefer.  I will work on computers when they are down for others, and most often, I find the problem and fix it -- whether is was mechanical or technical.  In trying to explain how I prefer the programming part of computers, I guess I could use an analogy like this one; a lover of cars does not desire to be a mechanic.  For me, dealing with the innards of a computer is more like being a mechanic.  I have nothing against mechanics either.  My brother and my nephew are mechanics.  My brother works on diesel motors and is quite good at it.  He makes a very profitable living doing so.  My nephew specializes more on green-cars, and he has learned and now teaches everything about electric cars.  He is an important team-member of Tesla Motors (San Francisco, CA).

The other things that make this person tick are: politics (don't get me started on this topic unless you are serious and have a lot of time on your hands, per se), history, writing (I have had a few articles/journals published, but I am by no way an author -- just because I have an affinity for writing does not make me a writer), reading (when I make time for it), and most of all, I love sports. 

Hey, give me a job as an IT person for a sport's franchise and then let me write about their team (whatever sport) and you have yourself a very "happy camper." 

This next semester I am focusing more on computer graphics as I return to college.  I aim to better myself and to extend my knowledge on the new computer technology as it grows every single day!  But, while I am working on these new endeavors, I plan on tweaking my writing.  Mostly I need to improve my grammatical side of writing.  Writing itself is wonderful for me; words seldom elude me.  I just suck at grammar like I already stated and as you can tell.  Sometimes when submitting written work I use a "nom de plume" so I am not actually getting credit for it.  I mostly use a pseudonym because the content may not be as welcomed by the people in my life with whom I would love to share my articles.  By-the-way, using a "pen name" is not because I am embarrassed to have my real name associated with a badly-typed piece.  Most companies use their respective editors/editing departments to fix any work submitted.  Besides I live with a person who has a masters in History and English (and excels at it) so most often I allow her to edit my work.  I am the computer/science/math person in our home while she is the grammar expert and Historian.  It's all good.

Just my take for the day!
(Oh, and did I mention that I also love anything French!)

Dora's Corner: Getting Paid (Properly) For Your Creative Genius!

...Well, I usually don't charge family and close friends for my computer-related services, but when it pertains to others...business is business.  Point-in-hand, I design websites for people/companies.  Honestly, if I could focus on just this aspect of computer design, programming then I would.  I just do not like hosting the sites.  My fee is fairly substantial according to what I do and how much time and effort I put into it.  My fees usually commiserate with my time.  My usual fee is $1200.00 for a corporation, LLCs, SMCs...and if it is for personal use then the fee drops considerably.  Lately I have been doing favors for family and friends and not charging my standard fees or making it pro-bono; my 1099s for 'business write-offs' is going to see an increase next tax season.  J.K. (or not).

When I perform these tasks relating to building websites, I get extremely involved and said tasks take up a large amount of my time.  I love it, though, and do not mind utilizing this creative side of me.  I also add though that I do prefer to be paid because I put 100%+ effort into it.  Some friends and family members still come to me with issues relating to the websites I created for them --the freebie ones.  Although I do not host I still get involved when issues arise.  Not my duty, but, hey, I believe in going the extra mile.  My bad.  But, it perturbs me to no end when I get questioned about things that do not/should not involve me at all.  The host company(s) slow-server issues especially not being my fault for one.  Then there are issues with bad codes...again not my fault unless I wrote that particular code and it ended up somewhat broken then, yes, I deem it partly my responsibility to try to fix.  I will work with the website hosting company(s) to fix my art.  Coding is fun and sometimes easy, but it can be extremely difficult depending on which programs/language we use.  So with the long hours, and creative coding...making websites is an art.  But do not shoot the messenger most of the time the host company(s) are the culprits behind a website issue.  They are the ones with the moronic people at the helm of watching their MEM servers and such.

Bottom-line if you ask someone to do something for you for free or for a small fee, don't complain about the service.  Or better yet, find out if the issue is truly their mistake.  Don't just assume that the result of a freebie was shotty work because I assure you that when I create or design a website for you that you are getting top-notch work.  If I develop a code for your picture files (i.e. GIFs, PNGs, JPEGs, etc.), for your websites, for your music --anything with a code which allows a layperson to just C&P a code to embed onto their respective website, blog, or via social media sites...please just know ahead of time that you are getting exceptional work from me.  My codes are true and steadfast.  I can boast that I have yet to end up with a true broken code.  I code better than the geeks in my firm.  Women make better coders is what I should really say.  Proof of over 11 years of doing this.  Not just my theory, I have seen it where I have worked.  Women are better programmers overall.  Long and old-ways of thinking is that women are supposed to be 'less than' their male counterparts in regards to math.  B/S, guys!  Since all of everything computer-related involves some serious mathematical skills it is still assumed (serious misconceptions) that men 'should' have the upper-hand, per se.  But my belief is this and it is quite simple...women pay closer attention to details.  Us women can do the math these days with little to not conflict (a far cry from the days of old).  Details, folks, are what makes you or breaks you in the computer-universe.  Details are a woman's best friend with anything in this life.  Women were after all chosen to bear children.  Ha, ha...just joshing with you men-folk.  Get over it and get those panties out of that was.  LOL!

So the next time I compose anything e-related for you...don't ask me if I forgot to do this or that if you don't want me to ask you if you remembered to fuel up your vehicle the next time it breaks down on you.  ROTFL!  And for Karma's sake...don't have a conniption fit when I quote you my fees because I am worth every penny.  But, if you did manage a pro-bono out of me...if it doesn't work, or goes awry somehow...it wasn't my fault.  I have yet to be the one at fault.  Don't complain if your pocket-book I did not drain.  LOL!

Just my take for the day!