AntoineRJWright.com

I like website design. I really do. Working here though sometimes makes me want to jsut quit it all together. I understand that it has more to do with my relating to people than anything else. But, it is like I am back at college. I think differently. I am always looking at another way to do something that may or may not be easier, but in my eyes is more effective. I look at links and say that I should not have to click twice to get to download a file. Give me one link and if I dont have the program, then another link to download it. Simple to me, but I want to make that change now instead of waiting for the new site.

Right now I have three things at work on my plate and its a careful balance not to do too much in either so that I wear out in all. Its not a race, but it is at the same time. I have deadlines to meet and cannot wait to get to them. At the same time, I have deadlines and dont want to get stopped when on the way there either. If I were like this in my first years in college, then I would have done much better gradewise.

Sometimes I think that my attitude may get me fired when this project is done. I do challenge the project manager a bit because I get tired of little comments here and there that do nothing to help the team along. I get fustrated when I am told to update a part of the site, and then have to wait four months for the content. And when it comes, it is not in the format that it was asked. Yes, maybe I am just in the wrong profession. I should just try to find some quite job somewhere and live out my days.

Unfortunately, I get bored to easily and so that wouldnt work for me at all. I need movement. Motion. I want the wind in my face as I am making positive changes. Yes, work is there, but there is nothing like work that is progress. Who wants progress at the expense of being too tired to enjoy it. More often than not, I am seeing that in this oh-so-driven area. People make progress only to be too tired to enjoy the fruits of it. I dont want to be that type. Like Fred said, I want my destiny. I want what Dad has for me and dont want people or issues to get in the way. Is that really too much to ask? Maybe so. But I am in this world and not of it, so why should I be shoved by it?Read More

Satan playing with my needs.

I listened to a person in the office tell me about a business opportunity. Much like the Quixtar-type pitches, it started with, "how would you like." I guess that since I have heard so much about these I knew already what kind of business that I was being sold on. Again, impressive specs, this time the incentive being that your bills will pay for themselves.

Now if you must know, one of my latest prayers was that I would have fewer bills. I just don't imagine getting fewer bills being paid but a special organization that I join that essentially has the new people feeding the senior people the funds they want.

I am not doubting Dad. But in a way I guess that I am. Whenever these businesses come up to my attention, I always try to think of the word that says, "God shall provide all of your needs according to His riches in glory." This doesnt sound like the same God. I am ready to admit that life would be easier if I had more funds. That's why I do what I do. I work in website design, do a little website design on the side, some consulting, and write a few articles. In my mind, I am doing the little things that add character and purpose to my life. When I see/hear these "opportunities," I see a come get quick money scheme that really does take advantage of people.

That's where I see Satan in disguise. The business idea is nice, make money helping others to save money. But instead of the old-school consulting method, its the new school residual funds method. I bring x amount of people on board and for each person I get a percentage of their profits.

The guy that was talking to me today sounded quite genuine. He probably is quite aware of the marketing practices of his side job as well. He might even know the history of it. But for me, my spirit doesn't vibe with it. There is just something abuot those kinds of organizations that just don't fall well with me. Then again, he also said that the first principal of wealth is to pay yourself first. That is by no means according to the Word (aka tithe of the firstfruits of all thine increase).

I guess for as long as I am in debt or need funds for this or that, that these groups will continue to come at me. I guess that I can count it all joy. Dad knows my heart and knows that if wealth is to come to me, that I want to get it by His hands alone, and not by manipulating His children.Read More

As I sit here getting ready for bed, I do my usual wandering through the myriad of websites that I normally check many other times during the day. I look at the tech websites and wonder if I should introduce more of a tech focus on my own website. Then again, I like sports, should I add something more towards basketball and track. There is also that large end of my life that involves the Lord. Though I make sure to give God all that He is due, I wonder if I should be using my website to write more articles about issues of faith or scriptures that I am working through.

I have all of those things to some degree. But I just wonder if it would benefit those that come visit if I were to be more specific.

I admit, it is kinda hard to do so when I am trying to do a personal site and a professional one that has some multimedia goodies sewn through it. It is enough just keeping things updated this much.

I was reading the gospel of John some more today. I think that I am on my thrid consecutive time going through it. Today I read, and reread John 8. It was interesting. Jesus displayed a ton of discourse there, but also his emotions swung. It was almost like he was losing patience with the Pharasees who tried to trap him at every turn. Then those people whom he esteemed, Jesus came right back and told them that they dont even know him. Ouch. The more that I read John, there more I am seeing myself back at that time. I understand why the people did what they did. In some ways, I understand their speculations and unbeliefs too. But what I dont get is for those that were supposed to be the learned ones. Why, after waiting for the holy grail would they just dismiss it. Seems more like pride to me than anything else.

I wrote a few letters today. All to Kyera. A few via email, one written with a surpirse added, and a text or two. So many ways that we have been able to keep in contact with each other and yet not seeing and holding one another is what we miss the most. At least, it is what i miss the most. She has a way of making me just feel rested enough to just let life go.

Speaking of which, I need to let being awake go. Oh the day I have when I get to prepare a presentation. I hope that I do a good job with this.

If you are reading this, then you have a chance to bless someone with funds, time, or just a word. Make sure to take advantage of that moment.

Please keep the people of Indonesia and the surrounding areas in your prayers. I have two friends there and havent heard from them after today's earthquake. Hopefully, they are doing well. It would be a shame for me not to get to meet them after all of the good time that we have had with chatting online. I'll be praying for you Meriza and Azrul.

Peace and blessings, and goodnight.Read More

I guess that with me still up at nearly 2am that I can go ahead and make a posting before I get to bed.

This has been a restful day. For the most part, I had forgotten that it was the weekend of the Resusurrection and Passover. I tend to only center in on whether I go to work or not. Anything else is too much information.

I have gotten a few great emails lately and I have to just say thank you to all who have commented about various aspects of items on my website. I will do my best to keep it going, and to further let it be a testimony of what the Lord has done for me. truth be told, it was my father who gave me my first big break with computers and especially Flash. Most of what I do tries to be a reflection of those things that he taught me.

Many hugs to my ladi Kyera in Kenya. I miss her a great deal and cannot wait for her to get back into the states and into my arms. I have a huge hug waiting just for her. She and her friend Emilie have been in Kenya since January, and so they missed all the cold weather. And when they return there will be no cold weather for them at all either, how lucky are they :0

Well, make sure that you check out all the parts of this site that are live. I know that I made the pictures button live below, but that was to keep from doing that later. Hopefully, I will have some pictures up so that you can get an idea of what I look like outside of computers.

May your days be blessed. Thanka again for coming to visit. I hope that something you read here may touch your heart, or at least give you a differnt view on something you already know. Peace and blessings.Read More

Standing before Him I was to testify
Why were my words the cause of a movement?
And so I answered such

I wrote those words needing to cry
Each time I think of him I miss him more
The moments are all memories
None to happen again anywhere but in a dream
But when I finished I decided to share
Hoping that someone would offer comfort
I was determined to be noticed for that love
Then the comments started coming in
And the approvals were more consolations
Comment after comment thanked me
Each time I was being thanked for honesty
I did not know how to receive their words
So I just replied with a thank you
I changed my presentation to reflect my growth
Yet the pain of memory doesn't leave
I am just assured that others too feel the same
Not so much wanting to cry anymore
Just wanting others to know that their love is missed too

He listened to my speech and set forth the gavel
The sound ringing in my heart more than my ears
Opening His mouth it felt like forever
And at His reply each of us shed a tear

You came to me asking for a place of rest
I satisfied you with soft boards
You came to me asking for help on your journey
I gave you someone to push you towards
You came to me thanking me for a job
I told you that the work has yet to begin
And now I hear the fruit of your lips
Wondering if anything I had taught you would enter in
Actions were confirmed by best friends
It is clear to me that you learned love within
And so I grant you the peace you desire
And if you would so tire of this memory mire
I would relieve your heart of the pains of tired
And be your comfort and joy that hour

Hearing those words I fell on my face
Expecting to be guilty of pride or worse
I had been given the love which I sought
I had been going on the right course
I turned myself to rest that night
Thinking that my case was just a fainted sight
Opening my eyes to see there is no light
Just the peace of a memory that has finally gone right

Labels: poem

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The Professional Section of the site is now live. There may be some more updates to that section throughout the day as I have the portfolio links and PDA pieces to be completed. I may also explore doing a Feedback field on that page so that I can be emailed a bit easier.

One down, one to go.Read More

I just made another addition to my site after a comment that my site is good, but not always colorful. I made a special theme for the Spring than you can get to by clicking the Change Season button over on the right. Check it out and expect some more themes to come.Read More

The Poetry section is now done. It took a while to get some of those bugs out of there, but now everything should be running smoothly. Drop me a line if you get anything funky happening.

Peace and blessings.Read More

I know, I know. I am basically the most silly person that I have ever met. I think that I may have the world record for the most redesigns to a website before it is ever completed. But I couldn't help it. I was sitting here looking at different sites, and came across one that was just mouthwatering and mindblowing. The graphics, the interface; everything about it made me instantly jealous. So, I sat here while waiting for work to come in and simple remade my complete look and feel. As you can see, I changed some things, and other things just were made to feel different.

I think that this design is much better than the last. It is cleaner, and I am using a lot more screen, so I leave a bigger plate to play on. I may have the time today to get the poetry back up and going so dont get on me about that if you are wondering what happened there.

Also, you can tell that I changed my favorite links to be the respective icons of the places that I like. I think that gives a bit more color to the page. The other element that is going to be a fun one to get done is the picture gallery. If it is that I am working on this at work, I will have only a limited amount of pictures to choose from, but unlike the last gallery, this one will be faster loading and more intuitive. I may even just make a post about each section so that you can comment on different sections. Who knows? All I know is that I just spent most of my work day on this and I am no where near done. Feel free to comment about the new look.

Oh yea, I may change this font back to Veranda, Century Gothic isnt seeming so well any more. Peace and blessings.Read More

Ok, so I havent been here to write as much. Really, I have just been all over the place. Maybe I will just hunker down and get that Blogging program for my palm so that I can blog on the train in the morning and afternoon. I dont really want to do the email the post in thing. At least on the train I can take pics with my phone and then attach them to the blog. That would be fun. At least it would give me something to do besides sleep and play Monopoly.

Allergies are here and I am somewhat happy. Somewhat only because it means that it will be getting warmer. But that is not before the cold rain goes for a few days and all the trees get the ok to sprout buds. Then it will be the waiting game for the next rain after that that makes everything grow.

Well, that is really it. I have this song by Deirtick Haddon in my head. It is called Prayer Changes Things. Ima take that as a note that I need to go pray and get to bed. So, see ya next post.Read More

Something that I noticed about myself in the past week is that when I am kept from getting something done, that I tend to get angry. If there is a task to do, I just like to get to it and get it done. I really don't like to be continually stopped and prodded for issues. Emergencies are one thing, but nit picking is totally another.

With this new job we are working on a new website and it seems that the mode of operations here is that you are supposed to do the job and then be held to making a ton of changes before ever getting started. I almost blew up at the project manager today because she just didn't get that all we needed was a yes on a design. Nit picking about the placement of items when the project is 6 months behind is my idea of not productive.

I wish that I was better about it. I mean, I wish that I was better about relaying my feeling before getting angry. This has really been an issue since I have been here. I was good about it and when you have other things to occupy your time, I guess that people missing their end of things doesn't matter as much. But lately, with the new website coming more and more into the forefront, there isn't as much to do and so anything that keeps us from getting to our end date makes me edgy.

I guess that one of the issues that I need to deal with is my goal setting and how I allow that to dictate what goes on around me. I am quite focused on the task at hand, but have made good strides in the effort to not dismiss (completly) the outside world. I see a goal as attainable if steps are taken. If there is something that hinders those steps, it is meant to step over, if not slow me down to do a better job. I realize that. How then do I deal with others who have goals of their own and while we are on the same path, have a different perspective of the steps needed to get to that goal. I have a hard time being told to be creative and produce and then be stopped at every intersection to describe why I am/am not making a turn.

this post has taken a while, maybe because I felt the need to think about things a bit more

I have always held that the shortest distance between two points is the time it takes you to get there. There seems to be a clash with that mindset versus some, for they see the travel as more important than the goal. If that is the case then I have to ask why have the goal if all you wanted to do was cruise?Read More

If you saw the duplicate posts this morning, sorry bout that. I was trying to edit and post too fast this morning and made the last post duplicate. It should be fixed now.Read More

Something weird just crossde my brain. I was reading over a the Bible+ website and it seems that the author is just too busy to keep with the project. I can't blame him. Doing something like Bible+ for free is at first fun and then tedious. I can understand it. But it makes me wonder what about the website redesign that I have started. If there is another person that comes in, will they want things to stay the same. Or will it become a new program entirely.

I guess that it really brings some perspective about growing up. Sometimes, life takes you away from one love to another. I keep wondering if the same is going to happen to me. I enjoy website design. Granted, the current contract really makes me question how long it will be until I can't stand people. I do love being creative and can see writing and consulting being a bigger part of what I do. I started thinking today about what it would be like to work for myself again, but to have enough business to keep me going. I look at my friend who is teaching in a similar environment to which I was tutoring and get somewhat envious. I liked teaching, I like web design. I like writing. I like PDAs. There are so many things that I would like to put my hands in. All in Dad's time I guess.

I wonder what will happen to all of the poetry that I have written. I am very pleased at those who have read what I have done so far. I know that I need to get on the ball and get these printed and put into a good binding. I just don't see where I have the time to submit these for publicaion. Shoot, I dont want them to come back and make me edit them either. But, I never heard of anyone who published their own works. That seems quite hard to me. I dont know. I love my poetry, I just dont want something so personal to be so critiqued. Who knows, that's what I get for thinking.

Well, to bed I go. Hopefully things happen in some wise. Peace and blessings.Read More

My heart waking this morning draws nearer to dewdrops
My life has only one sunrise and sunset
Each minute that passes stresses my being
A hope that I would develop more than just outer meaning
Could there be another who feels my pain
Another who feels my joy
Doubtful that there have been any others who have walked this walk
I plan to see the sunsets without any answers

Its true perhaps that I am mistaken
Seeing the birds fly and the bees swoop that dance in the sky
Holding fast to my dreams
I find that the soil that I've been planted in saps more than it gives
I wish that my ancestors would have planed me elsewhere
Then I would have the chance to realize my potential
I would be an energy kinetic to this ground stale
A fever pitch in a land breathing aspirin
I plan to make it to my sunset
Yet every thought speaks its own wise
My petals have neared the halfway point of the season
The day requires me to produce more than life

The daily opening and closing
The nectar taken from my being
The course seems a oval only to be repeated again
Yet it is true
This day is not like the rest as I have been buzzed about a different type
My friends have spoken rumors contrary to my thoughts
Hence my life has more significance
That sun has never dimmed
Even though I have hung my petals thinking that shade was life giving
I was hoping someone would really listen
Would really talk to the innermost of my being
And stroke some growth like what I knew when I was a bud
Instead I look back and see only tears and dew drops inflicted
Their excuses now only keep those rips in my being defined
Things aren't going so well I tell my friend
And as the message buzzes in his ear the reflection is clear
He must be doing better and not feeling that dew drop tears
For he always replies to me in words that calm my stem clear

How now I wish that the sun would speak
That I would see that I am most wanted on His love list
That my petals would stop waving just long enough
For me to feel the embrace of that warm touch

My friend's buzz has come back to me
The sun which you see is the love of a real parent
A love that would lead you to the sunset with peace
The sun that I speak of is different that yours
For when his beam came down it lived within me
And though my search too had been for a sun that accepts me
It is only true that I needed to only look up
For the sun that leads its beam to me
Has told me the only truth that this sun does love
I too was in a search to get away from the lie of the soil
And found that the sun told a truth that was most revealing
That if I would accept that His love was pure and destined for me
That greater things would happen than a sunset to me

So I hear that buzz and wondered aloud
If His sun can do that then why can't mine
Why are those around me looking for the same beam but none can find
The dewdrops have appeared in the midday once again
Yet this time they mean the sun shines for me
I have only now a choice to make
Will I embrace this sun or let the shade consume me.

Labels: poem

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The weekend is over and I am feeling rested. I can say that I am sure that spring is here, not round the corner - but here, becaue my allergies started this morning. I had the can't open my eyes thing, and the mild headache coming on. I got to say that this is the most fun time of year [hence the sarcastic 'ahhhhh'].

Talked to my ladi last night (or was it this morning, technically it was this morning for her, while for me it was last night). I miss her - nuff said. I just want to hold my ladi again.

The other reason that you know spring is here is because ladies start wearing those spingtime colors. Who needs a calendar, just ask your resident fashionist what the season is. Colors and styles will easily let you know whats going on.

Well, that's about it. Many blessings to my co-worker Travis and his family who just suffered a loss in the family. May the Lord bring you all much comfort in this time.

That's all for me, peace and blessings.Read More

Big Update to the Site!

I have finally gotten the poetry side up and going. There is also a placeholder in place for what the Professional section will look like.

You will notice that this all stays on one page. The idea here is to learn more about how Flas interacts with itself. So far things are going well. I like this design and think that it might stay a while. But know there may be some tweaks, like the header that has been slightly changes for the fun of it.

Thanks for visitng and supporting. If you have any suggestions, just drop a comment to this posting below and I will be sure to see it. Peace and blessings.Read More

It has been a while since your voice was put to rest
Each day it gets harder to know its tone
All the pictures I have left have begun to collect dust
As I have picked them up less for memory's sake

I've struggled to remember the good times with the bad
And nothing but respect drips from those thoughts
Manners and customs that I once took for granted are shadows
And the silhouette I cast makes me think you are still near

I am further along now than when I was when you left
Some steps have taken me back and others forward
I have had some success in keeping touch with those we love
And some failure keeping near those you love still

I cannot say that I don't still try to call you
Wishing that the phone number still worked in times of need
Or want
I just want you to know that I am doing well
That I remember how you took care of me
The skills that you have given me I have endeavored to remember
Not to say that also remember what in me you disliked

I remembered how you modeled to me all that you knew
And even if you weren't right you were honest in appearance
You kept from me those things that you believed would hurt me
You brought me quickly to those places that were to my advantage
It's safe to say that I am more mature now
Even looking to start a family of my own
Hoping still that memories of you guide me
As I keep every mention of you in memory.

Labels: poem

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I had a bit of a good thought for the past few weeks concerning a website that I had been designing. My thought was to take the design, and instead of making it to look like the rest of the websites that I see, I would design it around the goal of those whom I was designing the website for. The idea, in this case with the navigation and page layout elements, was to design for the content reader, rather than have the design follow the content. In other words, to design the website in such as way that information retrieval became the main focus of visiting the website, rather than navigating to the content that you were trying to acquire.

The design that I created took the commonly held three-column layout and pressed that into a 1 + 2 layout. At first look it seems to be that same thing as a three-column layout but it differs in many profound ways. The '1' column is the main content column. It has only that which is the information that is the main display feature of the page. Following Western traditions, this column appears on the left side close to the top of the page. The '2' columns contain first a column that has extra information; links to other content pages, and/or search information. The second column contains the submenu (I will touch on that in a bit) and any other links that would be more universal to the whole website rather than just the particular section that you are in.

About the submenu:
The best aspect of the 1+2 layout is the idea of concentrated navigation elements. Only the first two levels are displayed within the menu that appears on all pages. In my design sample, this worked best in a horizontal layout. The first level of links, as with most websites, is always seen. The second level appears on a rollover to each of the other links. Any sub links that would appear per section after the second level would appear in the 'a' of the '2' column.

Why Do I Suggest This?
This design philosophy says that we are not designing the website around common perceptions or typical layouts that offer similar content. 1+2 says that a user comes to a website for one snap of information and any other information they will progressively lead into once they are finished consuming the main parts of information. It is my guess that a traditional three-column layout is designed like a newspaper's front page - the idea to get the reader to focus on the center of the page and then unfocus to the information that is around that. The only problem with that is that it is not a natural thoughts-perception process and therefore makes the user adapt to the website, rather than the website adapting to them.

I believe that a website that can employ the 1+2 design opens up the page to more interactive elements that will keep the user on a page so that they can read all of the information they visited there for. At the same time, non-essential information is, by design, delegated to levels of importance.

This does present a problem to the website designer who is used to crowding a page with information so that fewer pages are employed. The designer has to take hold of issues such as white space, sub text elements, and navigation instead of leaving those elements to the information that is present. 1+2 does give back space to the screen, however. And less scrolling to get to information is always a good thing.

For my design example, please click here.

If you have any questions or comments about this issue in website design, please leave a note via the comment function below, or send me an email.Read More

I guess that I am to learn a few lessons here at work, one of them amy be in the issue of friends. For me, friends are people who are not afraid to encourage you (for just about everyone will critize you if given the chance). Friends are people who give you an energy to be your best, will push you past that point, and in blunt honesty, let you know that you have made it. I feel that way about some people here at work. They have a way of making things just feel better so that I can go about just being me.

In someways, I feel like I am back in college when working on this new design for Prince George's County. As a website designer, I am willing to push the edge of the mainstream of thought so that effective net presence can be reached. It seems that beyond the normal politics, I have to deal with egos. Its hard enough dealing with my own, but to be pushed into the status quo isnt the most fun thing either. My thought about websites has always been to do something different, something normal, and slightly different. To create a design that is both functional and pleasing even if it means getting away from the norms. In doing that, I have run into that teacher/boss who is only looking for the same ole thing. That is not effective if it has been done. So here I am balancing ego me and ego them.

Ok, fustration is setting in here at work, so I guess that friends chatter need to chill so I need to get back to work.Read More