Dublicator

Semiomantics XO2012

This past weekends seminar was invaluable. Those who attended have been working on the XOrc 2012, testing and familiarising themselves with the various features that the new version of the XO has to offer. It’s always exciting keeping pace with all the new developments and additional feature a script has introduced. The XO2012 is no exception. Why do I work with the WP based Semiomantics XO themes? after much testing over the years I have found that not only is Semiomantics is the best performing script its also the most versatile. As Yorgo says, there are 10o1 ways the layout can be manipulated to create a new theme.

Mobile ready

Technology is going mobile, therefore the focus for a web designer  means making sure that the designs implemented are lightweight and fast loading and clearly seen and navigated on any mobile device. What looks good on your desktop pc may not necessarily impress a visitor on a mobile.  So, a theme must be flexible and responsive, across browsers and cross-platform compatible. What you see in the IE browser is not always what you see in Firefox! How a site looks on a smartphone is not the same as on an iPad.

Semiomantics XO2012

I am still working and experimenting with the new Semiomantics features and exploring the possibilities. As the theme is tuned to CSS3 and HTML5 cutom design can make the theme more visually stimulation for a visitor. Included here is a first draft of a demo site undergoing some customisation.

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Updated my Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zonicholas/6802062847/
hope you like it!

CSS3 & HTML5

Saturday was a busy first day at the Ycademy seminar on ‘Semiomantics XO with CSS3 and HTML5′. The new Semimantics XO2012 is a sound base for further developments on  an already top performing script. Using both CSS3 and HTML5 it is  now possible to add elements such as video and audio straight into the code without the use of external plugins which often slow the  opening process or create conflicts. The focus today is on speed, and this is greatly enhanced with the use of HTML5 especially for mobile applications.

With CCS3 its also possible to add new elements to create more visually stimulating  web designs.

CSS3 & HTML5

Sunday will be another stimulating day packed full of information and workshops on creating content and design with CSS3 and HTML5. This is just the begining of an exciting year ahead at Ycademy, and more exciting, stimulating and cleaner designs for our customers. More coming soon.

Gingerbread Men

Entertaining a young child on a wet Saturday afternoon resulted in a sticky face and hands, a big happy grin and a tray of gingerbread men, and of course they needed decoration after being baked.

It’s never easy finding things for children that they want to do when it’s cold and wet outside, but cooking seems to go down well with our young grandson. It certainly is a fun way to spend a few hours  together and they learn so much without realising it. The only draw back is the cleaning up afterwards.

Gingerbread men

Gingerbread man

It’s funny how this tradition of baking a gingerbread man has caught on and stayed with us even in the 21st century. Wikipedia states ‘…Gingerbread dates back to the 15th century, and figural biscuit-making was practiced in the 16th century. The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits appearing was in the court of Elizabeth I of England. She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests…’

There are many versions of the Gingerbread Man story and probably as many versions of the gingerbread man recipe which is basically like a biscuit recipe with ginger, syrup and spices added and then cut out into the shape of a gingerbread man. A short bake in the oven and we have something  tasty to eat too. How you decorate your men is entirely up to you or the children who made them.

SEMINARS:

Attending this weekend 28/29 January 2 day seminar “Semiomantics XO with CSS3 and HTML5″ Click here to check out the details.

Social Media Marketing spin

Oh dear, another trend and dilemma!

This Social Media puts me in a spin!
Do I Digg or do I Flickr?
Do I Mash or do I Twitter?
Circle here, Foursquare there,
Where should I really dare.

First it was the SEO,
Now its Linkedin, have a go!
Build the traffic, cause a jam,
Hostings going crazy with too much spam.

Do I tick or send a click?
Will what I do really stick?
For every action will there be some satisfaction?
Connecting, rejecting who or what
Communicating on YOUtube, Who cares a squat!

Do I Google or skip over and test out Noodle,
Make some pages? or Meetup with friends I’d not seen for ages.
Facebook, Empire, Tumble or Stumble
Or better still do I just fumble.

Fingers crossed it does the trick!

Reading, believing, staying in touch,
Tips and tricks and all that stuff.
When will it end this media run
It’s getting boring and now no FUN!

Social Media Marketing

Putting some fun back into social media marketing. Just enjoy!

Social Media Marketing

PHOTOGRAPHY: Just updated my photostream at Flickr. Check it out here.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxZqun2

Colchester zoo trip

It was an absolutely glorious day here yesterdy, sun, blue skies, no wind with a few insects like wasps already buzzing around! better than some days during the summer last year and its only January.

Has the british summer arrived? I imagine not just a blip in the weather and of course we make the most of it. Seeing the beautiful day developing a quick decision was made to take a packed lunch and go visit the local zoo at Colchester, which is just a short distance away. Our grandson is absolutely mad about animals, especially the lions, rhinos and elephants.

Colchester zoo

Being winter time there were not that many people at Colchester zoo and it was easy to get around the various exhibits and see the animals and many even seemed quite eager to meet their visitors. A good opportunity to do a bit of clicking with the camera.

I will be uploading the rest of the photos to my Flickr account in the next day or so but here are a few that have already made it to my photostream. A beautiful day and some nice shots to remember it. Let’s hope we have a few more days like this.

Children learning

Children learn from an early age, as soon as they are able they mimic gestures, sounds, movements, just like a sponge they absord everything around. Just watch their eyes, they don’t miss a thing. Start them on the road you wish them to follow and they will continue. Surround them with books and they will learn to not only enjoy them but read them too.

Children’s books

The best news that I have heard for a long time is that Mr McD is going to be giving away childrens books with their Happy Meals instead of the rubbish toys they have lured children into their premises with. I must applaud McDonalds loudly!! Here in the UK the food in their outlets has improved and now we will improve children’s minds too. Body and mind well nourished! And what a great way to keep the young child occupied while eating, discussing the pictures or reading the story. For some children this book will just be an addition to their library, for others maybe just the one and only book they will own.