Archive for the 'Technical' Category

Murach’s SQL Server 2008 for Developers

Murach’s SQL Server 2008 for Developers by Bryan Syverson and Joel Murach $52.50 from Mike Murach & Associates When I started my current job, I didn’t know much about databases in general, or SQL in particular; I took the usual databases class in college and taught Access for a few semesters, but that’s about it. [...]

The Manga Guide to Databases

The Manga Guide to Databases by Mana Takahashi Illustrated by Shoko Azuma $19.95 from No Starch Press This book has either a minor plot hole or a lying fairy, but I’m not sure which. Since my job now requires that I use databases, I’ve been learning the basics of SQL; I have several excellent, yet [...]

My New iPad

My New iPad: A User’s Guide by Wallace Wang Published by No Starch Press (an imprint of O’Reilly Media) List $24.95, $15.44 from Amazon, $9.99 Kindle edition For many people, the iPad is the most complex electronic device they’ll ever own. Neither buying nor using it requires a computer (although rearranging your icons is a [...]

The Linux Programming Interface

The Linux Programming Interface A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook by Michael Kerrisk, published by No Starch Press (an imprint of O’Reilly Media) As someone with several degrees in computer science, I’ve used Linux quite a bit; it’s my preferred environment for doing C++ programming. However, I’ve never formally studied the operating system; rather, [...]

HTML 4 & 5: The Complete Reference

HTML 4 & 5: The Complete Reference (iPhone/iPad universal app) by O’Reilly $1.99 from the app store Ever since I got my ipod touch, I’ve been a fan of O’Reilly’s ebook apps. For only $4.99, you get a technical book that would normally cost over $30 for the ebook version and over $50 in paperback. [...]

Google Analytics

Google Analytics by Justin Cutroni $29.99 from O’Reilly Media I own a number of websites; there are actually close to a dozen that I’m at least semi-actively working on. Many of them are monetized with Google Adsense, so I would naturally like to find out how people are finding my site so I can optimize [...]

Why Photographs Work

Why Photographs Work; 52 Great Images: Who Made Them, What Makes Them Special and Why By George Barr, published by rockynook $39.95 retail I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like…or more accurately, what I don’t like. Photo books tend to be created either around a theme, or to showcase the [...]

The Wild Side of Photography

The Wild Side of Photography: Unconventional and Creative Techniques for the Courageous Photographer by Cyrill Harnischmacher $29.95 from Rocky Nook My tastes in photography are generally pretty simple: I like photographing landscapes, and I like very sharp images. I have no real interest in taking blurry images and have never coveted a lensbaby. So this [...]

HTML5: Up and Running

HTML5: Up and Running by Mark Pilgrim $29.99 from O’Reilly Media It might surprise you to know that every major browser, including Internet Explorer, currently supports some elements of HTML5. Unless you’re obsessed with web standards, though, you’ve probably been waiting on the HTML5 books to release before fully diving in. Wait no more! I [...]

Build Your Own Wicked WordPress Themes

Build Your Own Wicked WordPress Themes $39.95 from Sitepoint (an imprint of O’Reilly) I’ve been looking to get into designing WordPress themes, so I’ve been browsing through a number of WordPress books lately. They’ve generally tended to call into two types: “here’s how to make a post” and “here’s how all the PHP in WordPress [...]