This is the personal website of Vernon Swanepoel....me.
This blog is purely a personal blog and I use it to try things out I might use on more serious sites.
I had fun building it, and I want to make it a fun blog to follow.
I have a strange blend of interests and all of them will show up in what I write on this blog.
My main areas of interest that you can expect me to write about on this site are as follows:
-
Web design
By web design I am refering specifically to the actual crafting in plain text, of beautiful, interesting websites.
This means mainly using CSS along with clever HTML to make pages that look great.
I keep images to a minimum to keep the loading rates of websites down to a minimum.
-
Python
Python programming language. I don't write about Python because I am an expert.
I just love playing with Python, and when I figure out something fun or useful, I'll share it here.
I think that those who are just getting started with Python might benefit from some of the tips I give.
-
Django Web Framework
I write this website, and others, using Django on a shared host environment.
I have learned a lot, and continue to do so, and would love to share with you as I learn.
I buy into a great deal of the Django philosophy, but mostly I like it because they believe that writing Python is fun and so let the developer focus more on Python than on anything else.
-
Birding
I watch birds.
I have spent a great deal of time learning about birds and birding.
Just like web development, I am no expert, but I do have a really keen interest and have fun doing it.
-
Deserts, especially in Namibia
I have a real interest in dry places and especially how ecosystems function in those areas.
I lived in the Sossusvlei area for just short of seven years, and have a special passion for it.
-
Aviation
I'm not a pilot.
Not an ATC either.
I have nothing to do with aviation really, but I have an interest, and might write about it.
If I have money and time, at the same time, I might just get my private pilots license in the future.
If I do, you'll certainly hear about it here.
I am keen on Flight Gear Flight Simulator (and other flight simulator software for computers).
-
Family and Fatherhood
I'm a really serious family man.
I'm not likely to talk about marriage issues and things like that.
What I will talk about is raising kids.
I do a good bit of reading up as I face new challenges, and I might share what I read and experience on the blog.
I will also share simple anecdotal stuff too.
I am a proud dad after all.
-
Namibia & Travel
I run my own travel business in Namibia...a web based travel agency called Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris CC.
I'm not going to talk to much about that stuff, because I have a website called see-namibia.com.
But I might share anecdotal stuff about travel and Namibia.
-
Fitness and health
I keep fit, mainly with strength training.
I keep a log and occasionally do a big job of reading up when I change my workout.
I sort of work out for the love of it as much as to keep healthy.
-
Entrepreneurship
Well, I am starting my own business, and I am bound to talk about it.
-
Personal Leadership
Not in the guru kind of way, more in the tools and trials kind of why.
I'll talk a bit about GTD (aka 'Getting Things Done' by David Allen).
I don't want to preach about the effectiveness of his techniques or to help him become rich.
I just found that what he wrote works for me, and I have structured a lot of how my new company works around GTD methodology.
-
Open source
Open source software, especially Linux (I use Ubuntu 10.04 at the moment), bash, Emacs and all sorts of things.
-
... and stuff like that
Dunes, wildlife, Land Rovers, Guitar, Astronomy...I have a wide range of partly developed interests, and plan to keep it that way.
For me it makes life interesting.
For you it makes my blog...strange, stupid, weird, boring, wild, captivating????
I live in Windhoek, Namibia, with my wife and two young boys.
