Listed below are several helpful, informational and fun websites I often visit or utilize for different purposes. The eleven link sections are followed with a brief description and its relevancy to me (if any). They can be accessed by scrolling the page or clicking below.
| Ron's Communities | | Ron's Photos | | Ron's Blog | | Useful Resources | | Free Downloads |
| Informational | | Government/Justice | | Military | | Education/Schools | | Sports | | Fun Stuff |
To access a site, please click on the icon, banner or orange (hyperlink) lettering. If you have questions or would like to report a broken link, please Contact me. Thank you for visiting my site. Happy web-surfing!
Ron's Communities:
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Broomfield, Colorado is my hometown and current place of residence. Although there were several earlier establishments, Broomfield was incorporated as a City in 1961. It was named after the broomstock wheat fields that were common in the area. Broomfield annexed parts of surrounding Adams, Boulder, Jefferson and Weld County to become its own County in 2001. I visit the City and County website often to see what is transpiring in my community and municipal government. |
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Alamosa, Colorado is my second hometown, where I resided from 1998-2007, graduating high school and college. I look at their website once in awhile to see what is going on with the growing and changing community. Alamosa was established in the mid-to-late 19th century and is Spanish for "Cottonwood," a tree that commonly sits off the nearby Rio Grande River. |
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Milliken, Colorado is the third community I also call home, after working with the Town in 2008 and 2009. Milliken is a close-knit community with many gatherings and frequent communication between residents and Town staff. I built their website and visit it often to see what is going on in Town. Milliken annexed a late 19th trading post, "Hillsboro" in 1910 and grew. The Town was named for a lawyer and railroad pioneer, Judge John D. Milliken. |
Ron's Photos:
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| These are personal and fun photos from different activities and I have been apart of from 2008 to present day. These photos were uploaded to Flickr, a sister company of Yahoo!. | These scenic photos are from numerous trips to the mountains and from different roles allowing me to shoot photos in Milliken, Colorado. These photos were also uploaded to Flickr, a sister company of Yahoo!. |
Ron's Blog:
I started blogging in January of 2010 to have a written record of thoughts, conversations and actions from (municipal) government, playing chess and climbing Colorado's tallest mountains. As it turns out, the site I named "RD" Adventures discusses a wider array of content from different topics and things I find interesting everyday. The different subjects and content discussed are immediate thoughts from these activities and are only published to gain additional insight and perhaps develop a new argument. Again, I made every effort to approach all discussions with an open perspective while examining processes, others' contribution to the discussion and the situation in its entirety before contributing some of my immediate thoughts. Please feel free to Contact me with any questions or additional thoughts on this blog. Again, thank you for taking the time to view this site and blog.
Useful Resources:
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This site is a good reference on broad policy issues Criminal Justice, Culture & Society, Economic Issues, Education, Environment, Government Operations, Health, Social Welfare, and Global Foreign Affairs & National Security. It also is a good reference for policy-related job opportunities. |
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Founded in the mid '90s, Amazon is one of the web's leading retailers for books, music, movies and so much more. When I was in college and graduate school, I saved a great deal of money purchasing books through Amazon. |
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Although its primary focus is finding ways to lead renewable energy in the twenty-first century, the American Solar Society is also helpful linking to companies with (employment) opportunities. I have used this site several times for its job board. |
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This is a good site for news, e-mail and chatting. I primarily use it for chatting purposes. |
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Do you have a file too large to send in an e-mail or something you wish you could share directly with others through a direct link? Well, Box.net allows you to share, manage and access all of your business content online. |
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Want to know something about Colorado's roads or the latest on transportation in the state, this is the place for it. I commonly visit CDOT for road closure information and to find the story on roadside construction in some areas of Colorado. A useful tool for travels. |
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This is another site developed by my brother, offering a one-stop place to download programs (for free) to keep your computer clean and safe from viruses, malware and much more. |
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This is a great site for Colorado non-profit postings, new employment information and finding ways to volunteer in your community. Recently, I have been utilizing this for its job board. |
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Do you ever have difficulty remembering the URL to that one site you need for school, work or just for fun? Well, del.icio.us serves as an online favorites bookmark and can help retrieve those sites from any computer. |
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One of the world's most popular sites to buy and sell items through a bidding or "buy now" process. This site is useful for that one item that you may want or need and can get at a discounted rate. In addition, you can do your spring cleaning or clear-out that old garage of yours to make a few extra dollars and have more space. |
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Arguably the world's most popular search engine allowing people to navigate the web, images, maps and so much more in an efficient manner. |
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This is also a good site to purchase items for a great deal. EBay's sister site allows you to make a swift credit/debit card purchases from eBay users around the world. In the past, I have used this site for book and CD purchases. |
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If you are just learning or advanced at HTML and website design, this site is very helpful to learn new codes and to chat with other web developers around the world through forums about your design, problems and thoughts about website development. |
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This is a company I worked with out of Orem, Utah to design and build Milliken's website. This is a growing website development organization offering exceptional and unlimited customer service for site development and general questions. Primarily focused on municipal government, IGov Sites can offer many services to your government or organization. |
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John L. Hunt, CPL & Associates are Energy E-Business Development Consultants specializing in the application of information technology to acquisitions and divestments (A&D) and exploration and production (E&P) of oil & gas assets in due diligence, examination processes and team management. Of particular note, the site boasts John Hunt's Handy Landman Manual, a useful and interactive guide on the business and industry for all (landmen) to utilize. |
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Microsoft Support is useful for all of your basic and detailed questions regarding the use of your PC (Personal Computer). However, time and again, I see so many people who are unfamiliar with keyboard shortcuts and minimizing workplace efficiency as a result of such. This link will direct you to a list of commonly used keyboard shortcuts to not only increase efficiency, but also make the computer much more user-friendly for those PC users. |
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Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) is the perfect place to visit for that quick technical writing correction needing to be made. It is also great for different citation methods including the American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago-(Turabian) Manual, and Modern Language Association (MLA). |
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This is my brother's personal site which discusses sports memorabilia and his hobbies; of particular note, solving the Rubik's Cube. |
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This site serves as a job board to policy positions around the United States and the world. Some of the description information can be accessed for free, but the bulk of it requires a subscription with a username and password. |
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This is a good site to get discounted tickets across seas, particularly for people under 26, students and seniors. STA Travel offers some of the most competitive airfare rates on the net. |
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Yahoo! is also one of the most popular search engines, also offering news, maps, weather, sports and so much more. |
Free Downloads:
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Sometimes you may encounter an online document saved as a PDF file. If your computer does not have a program on it to read, it may be difficult to access. Adobe Reader is a basic viewer and free program to download and use to resolve this issue. |
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Do you ever wonder what is on your computer from the multiple sites you visit and perhaps download? Well, you can find out and clean-up all Internet cookies (a tracking mechanism for visited sites), Internet history and so much more with C-Cleaner. |
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DoPDF is one of the easiest programs to download and use to create PDF documents. Simply download it and when you are ready to convert your document to a PDF file, open your print options (as if you were going to print) and then select the DoPDF print option to get your document. |
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Do you want to learn HTML or web design, but are fearful of all of those codes, formalities and much more? Well, a company called Evrsoft, deigned a program called First Page which teaches you how to do all of this as you go and preview the site you are creating. First Page 2006 is a second edition to the original free package to download. |
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Filezilla is a free FTP (File Transfer Protocol) solution for uploading information onto websites. Both a client and server are available. This is an open source software distributed freely under the GNU General Public License. |
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GIMP is a free image modification program that is similar to Adobe Photoshop. Here you can enlarge, shrink, frame, crop and develop transparent backgrounds to nearly any image. There are many more features that you can utilize as well with just a little practice. |
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Google Earth is arguably the most efficient mapping tool readily accessible and downloadable for free. Here, you can zoom-in on homes and businesses around the world and can access direct street photos in urbanized areas as well. |
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Are you looking for an easy way to send a significant amount of files? Well, JZip can assist. With a free download, you can create, open and extract Zip, TAR, GZip and 7-Zip files. You can also open and extract from RAR and ISO. |
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Picasa is another program by Google which allows people to view, organize and edit photos. When downloading, the program can access and read all of the photo files on your computer and organize them within. |
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Do you ever wish that all of your instant messengers could be accessible in the same place? Well now they can with Pidgin, where you can have your contacts from popular messaging sites, MSN, AOL, GTalk and ICQ in one place to chat. |
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Pixresizer is an easy program to download and utilize with picture conversions and re-sizing. You have the capability to upload one or multiple files to a folder (of your choosing) and then change the Pixresizer settings to convert the photo (extension and/or size) and output it to another folder (of your choosing). |
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Free telephone calling is here! With a speaker output system on your computer, you can download Skype and call people nationally and internationally. With today's developing global economy, Skype is the recent phenomenon in a world that is coming closer together through various communication mechanisms. By doing a small e-mail contact check, you would be surprised at how many of your family and friends are already using it. |
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Are you looking for that computer medium to organize your music and media files? Well, Winamp can do just that and offer an easy way for you to work within other programs and manage the content you are listening/watching on Winamp. |
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YuuGuu is one of the most efficient methods to do instant web-conferencing, online meetings and collaborate. If you have Skype, you can connect and speak through your Skype account as well. You also have the capability to screen share and allow the other user to utilize your cursor and make actions on your screen directly from theirs. |
Informational:
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14ers.com is arguably the most useful site to getting to know Colorado's tallest mountains, previous hikes and recommendations for future hikes. The site allows you to understand the hike's difficulty on a 1-5 scale (1 being very durable and 5 being immensely difficult and could require additional climbing gear). You can see numerous photos of the mountain summits and learn about different trails as well. |
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The Auraria Campus Library offers a list of widely used research databases. For most of these, you have to be registered on campus through the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State College or Community College of Denver. Although most of these are inaccessbile to most people, the list can be helpful for library inquiries at other institutions or community libraries. |
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The British Broadcasting Company, better known as the BBC offers news weather and sports from around the world. In today's often skeptical media in the United States, the BBC is an alternative to news coverage (particularly with politics) that views all sides of stories from an outside perspective. |
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Brainy Quote is a fun site to visit for a little tidbit of information, often insightful, humorous or with historic relevance. Quotes are divided into several sections and you can learn what your favorite person from history or today celebrity has said that may change your day. |
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The Broomfield Enterprise is my hometown newspaper out of Broomfield, Colorado, offering the latest local news in the City and County, Sports, Schooling and tidbits on state and national news. |
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The Cable News Network, better known as CNN is providing news, politics, sports and weather to the United States and the world. With one of the largest viewing and reading audiences in the world, CNN offers different programs and interactive activities for people to utilize and enhance discussion. |
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The Daily Camera is a newspaper providing news to the greater Boulder area. It often has news about and within the City and County, Colorado University, sports and politics. |
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The Denver Post is Colorado's newpaper , providing news to the state and those across the Front Range in smaller populated states. |
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The Discovery Channel is offered on most cable/dish programs in the United States, offering programs and information on life developments, home and vehicle improvement and experimental observations. |
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ESPN is one of the largest sports media outlets in the world, covering all of the world's popular sports and those also less talked about. Here, you can read about (career) statistics, standings and watch the latest reports on video. |
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Google Book Search allows you to look at previews to numerous books. These have been selected from numerous places including universities in an effort to make reading materials much more accessible in the information age. This is the perfect place to begin your search for that lengthy research paper you need to write. |
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Google Scholar also allows you to read scanned publications from around the world. Often, you can find the article in a PDF format, which is easily accessible, but in most cases, you need to subscribe to the provider's site (which can cost money) to access that article and related ones. Google Scholar is a perfect tool to test the waters and get some basic background information on topics. |
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The History Channel is also available on most cable/dish programs and offers information on yesterday and its current relevancy. On a personal note, I really enjoy the Modern Marvels show, which describes the evolution of some of today's most intriguing components to mainstream society. Many of these episodes can be viewed in their entirety with limited commercial interruption on the History Channel's website. |
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The Internet Movie Database is an excellent place to reference to for movies, actors/actresses, directors, and much more from yesterday, today and tomorrow. |
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The Johnstown Breeze is Johnstown's and Milliken's local newspaper and one I look at every once in awhile to see what is occurring in the area and with Milliken. |
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MaxPreps is a CBS Sports' sister site that follows high school sporting events across the United States. Sometimes (scheduling) information can be a little sketchy, but for the purpose of trying to cover every high school in the nation, this site is very accurate. |
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The Public Broadcasting System was developed from the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and was launched in 1970. PBS was created to develop diversified newscasts in the United States. Today, the non-profit public broadcasting television service has 354 member television stations in the United States, holding collective ownership. Operations are largely funded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. |
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This is my friend Jesse's blog on various societal struggles and making the world a better place. This blog truthfully covers a great deal of information that can be referenced to in the future. |
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Stumble Upon almost serves as a unique search engine to find sites online that may interest you, based on what you mark as an interest through a brief survey and an account set-up. |
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The Valley Courier is the newspaper of Alamosa, Colorado and the surrounding San Luis Valley. I often read this to see what is taking place in the City and surrounding area I called home for nine years. |
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Wikipedia is arguably the world's largest online encyclopedia and is being updated with information from people across the world. This is an excellent site to get a quick reference from, but is not advised for lengthy or scholarly research. |
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Yahoo! Sports is the favorite site of my brothers and I for sports coverage. Its content is easily accessible at all Internet speeds and the information is accurate. Most of the information within articles and streamed in videos comes from the Associated Press. |
Government/Justice:
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The following icons will direct you to a website directly related with the state or serves as a guide to municipalities within.
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Military:
The following icons will direct you to informational sites to different branches of the United States military.
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Education/Schools:
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The United States Department of Education serves as a resource to state departments and is also where one can view recent policy and how the recent stimulus bill is going to affect students and classrooms. Accountability measures (often in the form of standards) also begin here and are trickled-down to the states. |
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The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is a valuable office and resource to more than 800,000 students from pre-school through twelfth grade. The CDE is also a resource for adult education and state libraries, with this site serving more than forty CDE offices. |
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The Colorado Education Association is an organization that has been around for over 130 years, promoting quality public education and advocating professional interests of public education employees. |
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While writing my Master's Capstone Project, this website was incredibly helpful and very insightful for stronger Colorado communities. Colorado is one of few states that has this type of an organization and it is important to build stronger neighborhoods, communities and a civil society. The Colorado Civic Canopy aims at these large objectives through community dialogues, collaborative projects and greater communication (techniques). This website is trongly recommended for those working in or wanting to find ways to improve their community. |
Below is a list of the schools I attended, their location, level of study and years attended.
 University of Colorado Denver Denver, Colorado Graduate School (2007-2010) |  Adams State College Alamosa, Colorado Undergraduate Studies (2003-2007) |
 Alamosa High School Alamosa, Colorado High School (1999-2003) |  Ortega Middle School Alamosa, Colorado 8th Grade (1998-1999) |  Mandalay Middle School Westminster, Colorado 7th Grade (1997-1998) |
 Ryan Elementary School Formerly: Jochem Elementary School Westminster, Colorado Ryan: 4th-6th Grade (1994-1997) Jochem: 1st-3rd Grade (1991-1994) |  Birch Elementary School Broomfield, Colorado Kindergarten (1989-1991) |  Kohl Kottage Broomfield, Colorado Preschool (1988) |
Below is a list of schools I have some other relationship to or am interested in.
 Broomfield High School Broomfield, Colorado Most of my family attended school here. My uncle and I watch and follow Broomfield football and basketball here in the fall and winter. I possibly would of attended BHS, had our family stayed in this area. |  Standley Lake High School Westminster, Colorado There is also a good possibility my brothers and I would of attended school here. Many neighbors and friends we grew-up with graduated from this school. |  Roosevelt High School Johnstown, Colorado As a result of my work in Milliken, Colorado, small relationship with the school and residents I know who are affiliated with it; RHS will also hold a special place with me. |
 Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado Currently, I have one brother who graduated from Mines in 2008 and another one who will do so a year from now. As a result, I also have met and made many friends with other students in the school and am familiar with its programs and activities. |  University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado I have more of a working relationship with the University. In 2009, I worked with their Career Services Center and one of the school's professors to get an Intern for Milliken's history book writing and a Practicum Student for Milliken's Centennial Celebration planning. |  Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado My association with this University is also a working relationship, mainly working with Milliken's Community Development Department to help develop the Town's Comprehensive Plan. |
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I first learned of the University of Notre Dame like many people...through its football program. I have been a fan of Notre Dame football since 1992 when I watched my first game with my grandfather. He gave me his opinion on the school and I did some research on it when I was of age to apply. Recently, I found a graduate program in Political Science offering expansive (research) opportunities that apply to many of society's struggles. Although I am not immediately ready to apply to the Program, these opportunities are something I am interested in for the future. |
Sports:
 National Collegiate Athletic Association |  National Football League |  Major League Baseball |  National Basketball Association |  National Hockey League |  Major League Soccer |  National Lacrosse League |  Major League Lacrosse |
Below are my favorite college sports (specifically football and basketball) programs and the year I became a fan.
 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1992 | Colorado Buffaloes 1994 | Adams State Grizzlies 2003 |
Here are Colorado sports franchises I have followed and been a fan of since I was real young. Each icon is followed by the name of the team and the year I became a fan.
 Denver Broncos 1992 |  Colorado Rockies 1993 |  Denver Nuggets 1992 |  Colorado Avalanche 1996 |  Colorado Rapids 1996 |  Colorado Mammoth 2003 |  Denver Outlaws 2008 |
Below is a list of my favorite teams from Minnesota and the year I became a fan. I am also a fan of and follow Minnesota sports because of the large family I have there.
 Minnesota Vikings 1996 |  Minnesota Twins 2000 |  Minnesota Timberwolves 1999 |  Minnesota Wild 2002 |
Fun Stuff:
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This is definitely a website one could waste a significant amount of time on. Many candy companies pay to advertise on these virtual billiard tables, golf courses, baseball diamonds and so much more, while you enjoy a day with various games. |
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Are you in a jam because you cannot watch your favorite team(s) play and need to be elsewhere? Well, ESPN 3, formerly ESPN 360 plays many of the games right from the Internet. Often you can catch-up on replays as well. |
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This is arguably one of the neatest sites I have ever stumbled across. Grooveshark has millions of your favorite songs cataloged and you can build a favorite's list to enjoy them from any computer for free. The concept of this site and the service it offers is absolutely brilliant! |
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Arguably the easiest and most convenient way to watch a movie in the twenty-first century is through Netflix. By creating an account, you can watch or order an infinite number of movies each month for only $9. |
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Interested in speed solving the Rubik's Cube or other puzzles? Speedsolving.com is the place to go and discuss your newest puzzle or obstacle with. This is another site built and maintained by my brother. |
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Sporcle is one of my favorite sites to check-in on for that latest trivia task. This is a site that has many types of visual, audio and reading trivia in mathematics, science, history, languages and entertainment. |
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This site is not as popular as YouTube, but I would highly recommend for uploading and providing a link to a video with mainstream (popular) audio affiliated with it. YouTube has developed a more strict policy on videos streaming that content. |
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Arguably the most popular video-streaming site on the net. YouTube allows you to upload and listen to millions of videos from users around the world. |