PHP 5 Power Programming: Great Online Reading

I've been working on this pet project of mine for some time now. I've been slowly chipping away at it. I'm currently customizing a popular CMS by "sanitizing" some of the coding and mod'ing some of its core components. It's ready to roll, however, I'm not usually satisfied with my work, unless I can validate it against the published works of well known authors of their field.

I've been reading a few books, and have been consulting with official online social forums. However, I haven't really been satisfied until I ran into 2 very specific books. The first, I won't really feature here ("Beginning PHP and PostgreSQL 8: From Novice to Professional ") The second book I've been digging into is "PHP 5 Power Programming".

I'm finding it very useful and easy to apply with very little changes to my current coding. Mostly, I'm finding the security rich features in it quite satiating. (Yes. I know. I could've just said satisfying or filling my hunger.)
One particular reference I found very insightful is on the topic of users (malicious or otherwise) inserting malicious script into forms, or injecting data right into your database. Also mentioned was a common rooky mistake of allowing cross-site script access (or API access.)
from your own site. Although this book was written a couple of years ago, It still very much applies today. For those of us that have been following some of the online trends and threats, we know through Mashable that Reddit was attacked in this very fashion; cross-site scripting.

Of course I did RT (Retweeted) Mashable on thist, and left a comment on their page as well regarding proper "sanitizing" of web applications.

I'm trying to keep it short. Read this book if you are a coder, even if you are a proficient or advanced coder. Obviously Reddit's admins could have used a refresher course.

You can download this book as a free digital version of this (.pdf) @ http://www.computer-books.us/php_2.php

You can purchase your soft cover copy @ Amazon.com: OR just: http://bit.ly/3mfyf5 PHP 5 Power Programming (Paperback) Price: $37.23

For now, this is Jerry Z. going back to my reading and coding.


For those of you on Twitter, you can always follow my tweets and look for my latest.

Lost University - Introduction

LU: Introduction 101 and the launch of ABC's new fan site. More than just an interactive community.

For those that know me (mostly online friends vs. offline friends - funny that), LOST is amongst the top of my favorite shows. I have already begun making many friends from ABC's latest promotional site: LOST University AKA: "LU", or simply visit: http://www.lostuniversity.org/
For a complete listing of all LU courses, click on the "LU" logo. It's comprehensive with fun courses for LOST fans.

At first glance, Lost University or LU appears as a mock site with the sole purpose to lure fans to visit ABC's latest fan site and dazzle them with familiar imagery and the concept of a "University" environment. In fact this is only partially true.

I first signed up on ABC's promotional site: LOST University a couple of months ago under the auspice of an "Open Enrollment" invitation. Sure enough a week or so ago, I received that invitation via email. I navigated directly to LU. Much to my surprise, many had already "pre-registered" and taken their evaluation or placement test or entry exam... the very same day the invitations had been sent out via email.

Not wanting to get behind in the slightest bit, I too took my entry exam. I like to think of myself as a "know-it-all" wanna be of LOST the series. But apparently, after taking my entrance exam, I found out that my knowledge was lacking. Twenty-three questions in all revolving around key characters, peripheral observations of background data, interpretation of symbols or hieroglyphs and a few other things I can't remember. I won't mention my score here, because I'm still too embarrassed over it (between 16 & 18 out of 23 lol).

Shortly after establishing my rank via enrollment testing, I was taken to my "Binder" or preferences, where I uploded my AV and created my very first LU ID Card. I naturally used my online AV (Col. John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) of Stargate Atlantis fame), and also uploaded my personal pic. to personally identify myself. I'm including them here.

After taking my exam, I immediately went into the forums section to meet fellow LOST fans. I was quite surprised at the content and structure that fellow fans had already established for communication. Again, all within an hour or two of ABC's release of invitations to open enrollment.

So far, from what I can tell from reading the EULA and ToS, all course work will only be available through LOST's Season 5 Blu-Ray interactive portal via a BDLive enabled player. Some features will be available via the web portal, However it also appears that LU staff (CarltonCuse) are making an attempt to facilitate members not having Blu Ray equipment or capabilities.

For more on Social networks and Interactive Media:
[ Read My Blog on social-networks and streaming media ]

For those of you on Twitter, you can always follow my tweets and look for my latest.

I'll have updates on media released for class course work, as well as interesting links for content offered by other fans that are sharing their BDLive enabled player downloaded media. (http://twitter.com/JerryZambrano). Search the following tag: #LOSTUniversity.

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LOST Season 5 BluRay is scheduled to be released on: December 8, 2009

Pre-Order @


Amazon or simply go to http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Complete-Fifth-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B001AQMBJQ

Keep reading fans. Follow the forums at LU, and check back on my Twitter page for up to date released media (non-traditional of course.)

*No Terms of Use/Service or End User License Agreement will be violated on this blog.

Sorry to those of you that hoped otherwise.

;)

Jerry Zambrano (Jaredzusmc @ LU)

nVIDIA ION motherboard Contest

OK. So today, I just happened to visit the nVIDIA website. For those of us that enjoy excellent graphics, hard core graphics acceleration/GPU etc., this is the place to visit every now and then to get updates on the latest break through s.

Interestingly, the first thing I ran into, was their latest contest. (http://www.nvidia.com/ion)

In addition to all of this, I'm supposed to also show the following on my twitter account:

Win the first NVIDIA ION motherboard! Contest rules at www.nvidia.com/ion Retweet and #winanion!

So I figured, let the public know, and have them visit your twitter page.


My Twitter Page. As you can tell, I don't use it very often.

Please visit http://www.nvidia.com/ion for full details.

Follow Up to death of DivX technologies.

My latest Blog is not listed here (for obvious reasons), as it is not a thread meant to supplement any content I have created. Rather my new Blog titled, "Vreel Is It Finally Real.?" can be found at the link provided in the titled and referenced Blog. Should you be unable to view or access the link, here is the plain text version of the URL: http://vreel-is-it-real.blogspot.com/

Please visit my new Blog, and read the follow up on my "The BLOGS and rantings of an Online Observer".

To begin, It is a fresh look at what is or may yet come of Media-Streaming technologies.

Please read, it is worth reading. It (the Blog) should be unbiased in nature, but still my opinion, and ONLY my opinion based on observations I've made while online. Please remember, I have NO affiliations with any person, persons, companies, corporations or entities mentioned therein.

Recomendations:
1. Read my Blog
2. Do your research.

For now, your Observer and author,

Jerry Zambrano.

Market Trends I Missed out on.

I was only less than 15... but had I been raised by an investor or by a stock-broker, I could have had an investment return to retire on.

Now, I'm not one to think in a mundane or very temporal or materialistic way. I'm really the opposite. But I admit... that while money and amassing of personal assets seems to run the world, one has to make a living and be ahead of the bills and family needs.
Here's what I missed out on:

1. An upstart small company (Microsoft) that JUST broke off from a Giant main-stream corporation (IBM).
The company only provided small services.
2. The new company started by selling Publicly their stock at 0.11 a share (11 CENTS A SHARE!!)
3. This was considered, "Penny Stock";
Highly risky and undesirable stock.
4. As we all know, MS (Microsoft) became a super-giant and went from 11 cents a share... to $58.85 a share..!!!
5. Oh, well. I was TOOO young. And who would have thought they would sky-rocket.

In truth. I'm not sure if (today) I would want to be associated with Microsoft as a person and individual. I'd be crazy not to believe or even consider... having been on that ten year hike and flight up the the Huge Market value; Monetization. Retire and concentrate on things I love. Video encoding and publishing (can't can't say that now), travel, understanding the world by visiting and experiencing instead of JUST text books and an occasional 2 or 3 day vacation.

I guess really. This isn't about Market trends... it's really about who I am. But enough with the mushy stuff... (funny that)

Lots of good things happening out there... Also, many stable investments as well.

Here are a little of my rantings as an Online Observer:
1. Common medals, minerals and alloys, are for the most part, very stable and good investment, with slow returns. (SAFE) --- Something I learned from my cousin from Austin Texas. (works for a major electronics/computing Corporation)

2. Already existing technologies (oh, that means investments in Technologies portion of the Market; Go NASDAQ) merging with Corporations or creating new competitive but leading standards and innovations.
a. This will be pricy, they (Corporations) already exist and are amongst the leaders of their industry.
b. Look at current events in regards to these Large Technolegies and how these events affect economy, demand and public presentation.

Now... My picks for this year (Not as any specialist or analyst or broker, just the Online-Observer) I spend a lot of time online in professional communities and online news/events reading, et. al. Now, my picks. (In descending order)

1. CISCO* (Over a protracted period of time will actually (in my Observer Opinion) be a better investment.) They are and will be leading the new Internet standards: IPv6 vs IPv4.*

2. RCA An existing technology, and owned by SONY BMG. Not the most sophisticated technology, but a very highly popular product. They are continuing to partner up with much larger companies/corporations to increase their alredy huge exposure AND interoperability with these larger companies/corporations.

3. PANASONIC You make up your own choice on this one. Lots of going ons within their corporation. They too are strategically partnering up, not with larger companies/corporations, but rather multiple smaller and upstart companies. Good tactic. Will a tree branch bundled up with sticks withstand the competition of a larger tree-limb..??

4. SONY Corporate Technologies. Yes. I know. They are already a HUGE and a highly priced share/stock public exchange. Most will not be able to afford to buy in. The time, to very expensively, "BUY, BUY, BUY" has come and gone; About 8mo - 1yr ago. With their release of Blue-Ray technology... holding 25-40GB of Hi, Hi resolution (720p-1080i, 1080p); No other competing industry company/corporation, were able to come close. Certainly not Microsoft's supported and ventured technology of HD. Microsoft bit the bullet on this one (HD investment). Sony's Blue-Ray has blown its competition out of the way. Blue-Ray is still highly priced, but will decrease in price to create a demand and then supply in HUGE amounts to the general public. That strategy alone, of being the only emerged standardized technology, opening its marketability will pay off. Again, only if you can afford its already highly monetized value. As has been seen by my observations (non-professional), Sony too is partnering up (without needing to) with other smaller companies/corporations to increase its already viability and interoperability and thus completely integrating and creating compatible technology; It's Blue-Ray. Some of these companies/corporations, I have already listed. Others are some of the smaller companies that are partnering up with those previously mentioned technology corporations. Blue-Ray is definitely here to stay. But we already knew that. Current Investors and stock-holders, tighten your seat-belts. Your Fun ride is about to get funner. For those of us that cannot buy into SONY, we'll just have to sit back and watch, and say: "Yep. We knew it was gonna happen, and sure is nice to see it and go SONY standard."

My last thought, and my Pick for the day:
1. LiveUniverse. An already known corporation, but one that is rapidly gaining increased momentum in Online Communities and Online Video Sharing communities as a provider and owner. In an industry where it has been said, Online content providers lack a Business,It has very quickly become a leader, and is very quickly becoming the standard for the Online community and Industry. It is also innovatively and obviously standardizing a Business model for online communities, content providers, streaming media and content delivery systems.

Until my next completed online observations, this is the Online-Observer bidding good night to ANY reader out there... hmmm no standard for me.

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*This will really pay off in a protracted period of time. The time for IPv6 as a global Internet-Adressing schematic and standard, is no longer in the theoritical. Japan, parts of Europe and as of recent (not publicized, but public sector if one wants to do the research), the US Military.
a. Short end of it: The world is already starting to run out of IP addresses. It's a physical fact that we (The Modern World and IP users) will run out of IP allocation in the very near future. Unacceptable. Companies, Corporations and individuals will no longer be able to get on the internet without sharing their address with over several hundred or thousand users with little connectivity.

The world in general, WILL and is migrating towards IPv6. CISCO will have to, and IS producing physical network topology and equipment to assign IPv6 addresses; And mapping COMPLETELY, and almost exclusively supporting the new standards being migrating to. Thats a Fact. So... If you can afford it, and can ride their current roller-coaster of market value, the investment WILL pay-off within the next 5-10 yrs. Industry Standard by then.

**