Recently I created a template for an eBay store for a client who also happens to be a friend. The eBay store is called Hitch and Tow and they sell hitch products and accessories on eBay. This project was a learning experience because of all the complexity involved with hooking into eBay and that user interface.

The part of the eBay selling template I created can be found by clicking on a live auction item and then scrolling down to the actual description area of the page (You will see the Hitch and Tow header in green). We also reused the template header and modified it a bit for the store header.

It was pretty challenging because you have to code for an environment that you control very little of the elements except for the template iteself, so to test it you have to actually make an auction live to see what will happen.

It also had to work within the eBay bulk program Turbo Lister, which was an additional hurdle, but it can be done. You also have to train the end user on how to work within the HTML of the template. I'm glad it finally worked out so well for my client that he currently uses it for over 200 listings and that total is growing.

I recently had to modify an online slide show for a site I was working on and had the pleasure of working with a shareware program called Slide Show Pro.

This software has a Flash based (.swf file) player that interacts with a standard XML file and a folder of images to create a very classy looking player that can be easily modified by the user.

I liked it so much I went and purchased the Flash version yesterday for the reasonable price of $29. It was easy to purchase with my PayPal balance or you can use a credit card.

You install it into Flash and then it is available as a component from within Flash. You just drag an instance of the player onto the stage and size it how you want. There are dozens of options available to customize the player via a simple drop down menu interface and the changes show up live on the stage.

Making a folder of images interact with the player and the XML file is super easy and they have video help and instructions for the whole operation. You don't even have to re-size the images before making it because the player adjusts all the images to the size of player you set.

I really love this program. Please check out the site and try the demo if you want to play around without committing to the $29 price.

I have already used it today on a site I am designing and it saved me many hours that I would have spent setting up a gallery by hand.

If you try one yourself, give me a link to the player so we can check out your example.

So I guess my mission has changed a bit since I took a position at The University of Texas at Dallas.

I started there on December 3rd and am now employed full time doing what I love to do - Web Design!

I'm working in a team environment with a team leader and 5 other coders in the Web Services Department. There are various skill levels represented and each member has their little niche that they excel in.

I (don't laugh) have a Dell laptop that I use in tandem with my Apple Powerbook G4 paired with (2) 19" Dell monitors. Each machine has a 19" to extend the desktop, so it's a sweet setup.

I have dived in and am involved already in 2 major projects as well as having just worked on the Fall 2008 Graduation this past weekend.

The school is on break until Jan. 5th, so I don't go back until then. While I am on break I have started a major re-design job for the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation's website.

I will continue to help my freelance clients finish up the sites I was working on. Then I will take on freelance jobs as I have time available, with the ok of the University.

The opportunity came from a job ad I answered on Craigslist while I was in San Antonio working from the hotel. The benefits are really good and the people I am working with are really nice.

[The Emily Morgan Hotel right next to the Alamo]

Well, my intentions to get a lot of work done was there, however the WiFi was not.

Let's just call this test #2 of working freelance remotely.

I just spent 3 days in San Antonio, TX with my wife for a work conference she was attending. I was going to get a lot of freelance web design work done from the hotel during the 3 days while she was off learning about new things going on with cities and municipalities at the Texas Municipal League Conference.

Enter crappy WiFi service at the Emily Morgan 4 star hotel we were at. The suite we had was big and beautiful with the Alamo just across the street. If only I had been able to get some work done!

From 1-2 bars out of 4 bars to 0 bars (most of the time the service was just not even there) it was very frustrating.

The first day I was only able to get about 15 minutes of actual work done. The hotel staff were total ding-dongs...useless at helping. I called the company that provided the WiFi service (they were in Georgia) and they got it back for 10 minutes for it only to drop off again.

They tried to tell me that someone in the hotel was using all the bandwidth and that was the reason for my lack of a good signal. Hah! Call that the answer they give customers as a stock answer. I had no signal at all, not a weak one.

The second day I just grabbed my trusty Apple Powerbook laptop and walked along the river until I found a very nice little spot in another hotel on the riverwalk that had free WiFi, a nice quiet table with plug and even a coffee/tea/soda station right next to me. I spent the afternoon here and was very happy and actually got work done.

We will stay at that hotel next time in San Antonio.

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FreshBooks, the online billing service for freelancers and small business people has gotten a really nice interview on Fox Business News. The interview was with the President and founder Mike McDerment.

I did a review of FreshBooks, which I use to do invoicing and billing for my freelance web design clients.

I can't tell you how much time it saves me dealing with the money side of this business. Well worth the $9.80/month I pay for my subscription.

Way to go FreshBooks. I really love this company and am glad to see them get some high profile press.

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