This week in exploring the internet

This week in my course we learned a little about how to use JavaScript.  We learned only a few basics, but it’s a very powerful tool for creating dynamic web pages.  What do I mean by a dynamic web page you may be asking yourself, well I tell you.  My previous page only displayed the information I put on it, which is great for people just look at the pictures, videos and read what’s there but, they are unable to interact with it or see updated information, unless I updated the page manually.  Using JavaScript I am able to add things like the date and time, which will update and show current information.  Also you can interact with it, I only have limited examples, but for instance you can have a person visiting your site enter their name or whatever data you’re looking for and have the site respond in some way.  Additionally you can use it to perform mathematic functions, I have yet to “play” around too much with that function, the examples we were given only demonstrate problems that we enter, I think with a little trial and error, and my limited C programming knowledge I can allow someone to enter their own variables to solve for.  Till next time…

The "Freeride" bike

The Freride mountain bike is sort of a hybrid type of bike, it combines a lot of the robustness of the downhill bike with some the characteristics of a dirt jump bike ( I’ll talk about dirt jump bikes in my next post).   “Freeriding” differs from most other forms of riding in that there is no set course or rules, you pretty do whatever your skill and comfort level allow.  With a freeride bike you can do some “downhilling”, then some trick dirt jumps, some obsticles and still be able to pedal around the park or mountain that you’re at, unlike a downhill bike which is much too heavy to do comfortably.  Here is a link to a good article describing in more detail the Freeride bike.

Creating forms using JotForm

As part of an assignment for a course I’m taking I was required to add a form page to the webpage I’ve been building since the beginning of the course.   It’s just a basic form asking whomever to rate the site, whether or not they would like to hear back from me etc…, and also to create a form of our own, written using HTML, both were surprisingly easy, especially using JotForm.  JotForm.com is a website that allows you to create semi-custom forms then embed the form you created to your site.  Additionally, the assignment was to provide some feedback about my site, from the feedback I received from the form I created.  Sadly I only had two responses to my form, however they were both positive, so I’m going to take that as my site is working and as streamlined as Amazon.com, NOT!   As you may have noticed from my previous blog posts, I’m not a big talker or writer as it were.  So I’m signing off for now, but stay tuned for the next installment of the still unofficially named “types of mountain bikes”!

The Down Hill bike

The next installment in my "types of mountain bikes", still working on a better name, is the Down Hill (DH) mountain bike.  The DH bike is the most robust type of bike, it has the most suspension travel, biggest brakes, and toughest frame.  A DH bike is pretty much a dirtbike minus the motor.  DH'ing is usually done on a mountain where you can use the ski lift to take you and your bike to the top, but it can obviously be done anywhere, because of the weight and geometry of DH bikes people generally aren't going to want to actually pedal them for very long distances.  Below is an article if found here that provides a great description.  That's it...for now.... 

”For those who ride on downhill slopes and tracks, a downhill mountain bike is the best way to go. They are built to work efficiently for speedy mountain descents with its bigger tires and heavier weight. The full suspension bicycle works well on steep trails and works up to an advantage in terms of gear durability and stability. These usually have disc brakes and a chain guide to protect the ride from accidental chain deraillment. Features of this ride usually includes 7 to 10 inches of suspension in the rear, with strong frames with head angles slack at about 63 degrees. These are ideal only for downhill riding in trails and courses."

The Cross Country Bike or (XC)

In continuing with my current mountain biking topic of defining the differant types of rigs available, this week I will be describing the Cross Country or XC bike. The XC bike is a ligher weight bike not designed for large drops or jumps but mainly for reduced weight. The purpuse of a XC is for longer rides over relative light terrain, tarmack, fire roads, and the occational down tree or rock. XC bikes are most commonly found multi-disipline and obviously cross country races as well as the recreational mounation biker. Below is a more "offical" description that I found here.

"Cross country (XC) mountain bikes are designed primarily around the discipline of cross country racing. Cross country racing with its emphasis on climbing as well as speed and endurance demands bikes that are both lightweight and efficient. In the 1980s and early 1990s XC mountain bikes typically consisted of a lightweight steel hardtail frame with rigid forks. Throughout the 1990s XC bikes evolved to incorporate lightweight aluminium frames and short travel (65 to 110mm) front suspension forks. Recently full suspension designs have become more prevalent, the use of advanced carbon fiber composites has allowed bike designers to produce full suspension designs under 10 kg. Full suspension bikes such as the Specialized Epic and the Mérida Ninety Two have been successfully used to win the World Cross Country Championships. The geometry of Cross Country bikes favours climbing ability and fast responses over descending and stability and as a result typical head angles are 70-71o Although intended for off-road use, Cross Country mountain bikes with their emphasis on lightweight construction are not designed for use on the most steep or severe terrain."

Death and Taxes (my experience with Turbo Tax)

Turbo Tax for those who haven’t heard of or used it before is a State and Federal tax filing software.  I’ve been using the software for the last four years and find it very intuitive and efficient.  I prefer doing my own taxes to save a little time and money and as my finances aren’t they complex I’m comfortable doing them myself.  Even prior to being able to complete your taxes online I would complete the paper tax form available at the Post Office and mail them; that’s when my finances were REALLY not complicated though.  I think Turbo Tax is great because it literally walks you through each step.  Starting by having you fill in what’s in box 1 of your W-2 and box 2 etc… then asking if you have any other W-2s to add.  Once that complete you’re asked in plain English questions about deductions, contributions, 401Ks and anything else you may have.  During the entire process there’s a running total at the top of the program telling you what your return, or what you owe, as you enter your information.  Another great feature is that because the program is online, I can start completing my tax form at work when I receive my W-2 and finish them at home or where ever as I receive new tax information.  Also, it provides an online backup of your takxes should you loose your hard copies. If you’re comfortable with number and want to save a little money or just want to see if what Turbo Tax comes up with is the same as your accountant I say give it a try

The All Mountain bike

I wanted to share with whomever’s reading the definitions of the different types of mountain bike.  I’ll start off with my personal favorite type; the All-Mountain, mountain bike.  I found the perfect definition and have it listed below:

The orignial article  

“All mountain mountain bikes, also known as trailbikes are the workhorse category of mountain bikes. An all mountain bike is a mountain bike built to handle almost everything a mountain biker will run into on a full day of riding.

The all mountain category consists mostly of bikes with about 4 to 6 inches (100 to 160 millimeters) of travel. While they are designed to climb hills very efficiently, they are generally heavier and a bit more stout than the typical cross county mountain bike. They can handle a lot rougher terrain as well.

Trail bikes are what most people should be riding. They are an excellent balance between efficiency, comfort, and control. All mountain mountain bikes are light and efficient enough to get you to the top of the hill, have soft enough squish in the suspension to keep you isolated from rough terrain, and have enough travel to suck up the bigger hits that can leave a cross country racer tasting the dirt.”

HTML webpage design...

Two weeks ago as an assignment for the Exploring the Internet course Im taking we had to add some style to our web pages.  First I want to say that I’m enjoying the HTML webpage design process.  I’ve just been using MS Notepad to write the code but I think it would be worth it to get a program for future use.  I’m not a big talker so actually adding written content to the page is a hassle, as is this, but the designing part is fun.  I’ve taken C+ programming and thought beforehand that I would enjoy it, boy was I wrong!  Took an intro class to the UNIX OS, while it wasn’t as bad as C+, again, wrong!  So when we started doing HTML in this course I figured, here we go again, but it’s quite the opposite.