My name is Dan and I am currently a freelance blogger as well as a solo web developer. I earned a two year degree in web development back in 2008, in which I learned the basics of languages including HTML/CSS, .Net, PhP, ColdFusion, SQL, and in my spare time I've taught myself some unix scripting. While in school, I also learned how to use programs like SQL Server, Visual Basic Studio, and Microsoft Office programs such as Excel and Access. I live in the Minneapolis / Saint Paul area.
I created this website with the goal of connecting to you, a potential end user by showcasing examples of what I do. Whether you are a curious visitor, an employer, or an advertiser who is looking for publishers, I have samples which demonstrate knowledge of web development as well as blogging. In addition to showing examples of various content which I've created, this website also serves as a portal to help companies get their brand well known through partnerships.
Even if you are just a curious visitor who would prefer to have nothing to do with me, the fact remains that you have already visited this website and we have connected. Whatever your reason for visiting is, I politely wish you the best of luck with your endeavors. Feel free to browse this website if you want.
I earned a two year degree in web development at a local technical college in Minnesota back in the Spring of 2008. Since then, I've done whatever possible to stay current with web technology trends and practices. Some important web sites for web designers and developers include W3 Schools, PhP Academy, Tuts Plus, different YouTube channels like The New Boston, Think Vitamin / Doctype, and various web development blogs such as Css Tricks. It seems like Doctype is an abandoned project since a new tutorial hasn't been made in a long time (it is by the same makers as Think Vitamin.) Think Vitamin requires a paid membership to view most of their videos but most of the time they offer a free introductory video on a given topic. It could be that they no longer contribute to Doctype since it may not be very profitable for them, as all of those videos are free.
As for blogging, I need to be knowledgeable of different topics to write about so that I have productive reasons to go online every day. I spend time on web sites like Reddit, Digg, YouTube, in search of knowledge and inspiration. There isn't necessarily any one topic that I'm totally dedicated to right now. Blogging is actually a broader topic than what some people might realize, but it sort of depends on who you ask. Writing tweets on Twitter is considered microblogging and if you would include something like that as the standard definition of blogging, than most people are bloggers. (At the very least, most young people are bloggers.)
As a blogger and a web developer, I will often times do both of these things at once. An example of that is my FAQ on Background Checks. I checked reputable sources to put this information together and I used jQuery and CSS for design and effects. There are commercialized inbound and outbound links on the faq for background checks which implement different effects using CSS and JavaScript libraries. One example of this is the advertisement for a Background Check Superstore called . That web page alone is just an advertisement with special web design effects but there is a link to the FAQ for background checks.
I have articles which are not on my own web site as well. This includes articles I've written on HubPages as well as different blogging platforms like Blogspot, sites.google.com, as well as various forums which I participate in. This is an article I wrote about passing the road test. (you know how nervous and frustrating the practical road test can be!)
Although I have no experience babysitting, not long ago I decided to write an article making suggestions to people who are new to babysitting. It might sound like I don't have any business doing this in the first place, but of course I made sure to do my homework before doing writing about this. If you wanted to you could read this article I wrote and critique it. Writing articles on topics you're not interested in pursuing can be a growing experience and for professional purposes, its good discipline. Since I blog about the background check industry, I came up with the idea of writing an article on babysitting because background checks on babysitters and nannies are a must! If you have kids, they're probably your most valuable asset.