The Blog of Frank Spohr

If you ever need to insert the 50 United States of America into a MySQL database, here’s the SQL code to make your life a little easier.  All you’ll need to do is first create a table called states with the fields called id and state_name.

INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Arkansas');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'California');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Colorado');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Connecticut');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Delaware');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'District of Columbia');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Florida');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Georgia');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Hawaii');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Idaho');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Illinois');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Indiana');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Iowa');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Kansas');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Kentucky');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Louisiana');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Maine');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Maryland');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Massachusetts');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Michigan');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Minnesota');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Mississippi');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Missouri');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Montana');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Nebraska');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Nevada');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'New Hampshire');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'New Jersey');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'New Mexico');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'New York');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'North Carolina');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'North Dakota');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Ohio');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Oklahoma');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Oregon');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Pennsylvania');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Rhode Island');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'South Carolina');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'South Dakota');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Tennessee');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Texas');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Utah');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Vermont');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Virginia');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Washington');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'West Virginia');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Wisconsin');
INSERT INTO `states` ( `id` , `state_name`) VALUES (NULL , 'Wyoming');

Enjoy.

Photo by JPhilipson

After many months of neglecting my blog, it is time for me to start actively writing here again.  My current interests are lifestyle design and business automation / optimization, so expect to see posts along those lines.  Every now and then  I will probably write web and tech related articles since those topics make up a large part of my working life right now.  Also, don’t be surprised if I go a little off-topic at times.   I promise it will be fun though!

The latest incarnation of my web site design business, Clicked Studios, launched today.  The new web site features a completely new layout and revised sales copy focusing on goal and user oriented web design.  I’ve also expanded my online marketing services section to better serve the needs of small and medium size businesses around the St. Louis Metro East area.  The free tips section of the web site will probably become the marketing power house of the web site as I release more and more valuable information that businesses can put into action.

Mindset is a very important when it comes to accomplishing your goals.  One of my favorite sayings is “Never Say Die” from the movie “The Goonies”.  A few years back one of my friends gave me a “Never Say Die” patch for my birthday.  I keep it on my computer desk to always remind me while working to never quit going after what I want.  Today I looked at it and wished I had it as my desktop wallpaper.  After searching around on Google for a few minutes with no luck, I decided to make my own version.  I’ve made it available for download below.

Download – Never Say Die Wallpaper – 1280×800

Photo by merlinprincesse

I received the following message after graduating from Webster University this year.  I’ve published it here to share its wisdom.

——————————————
Benjamin Akande, Ph.D. wrote:

I would like to share my Undergraduate Commencement address with you.

Lessons from Humpty
Delivered at the School of Business and Technology
Commencement Exercise

May 10, 2008Dean Benjamin Ola. Akande

AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN AFRICA, I WAS RAISED AND NURTURED WITH NURSERY RHYMES. SOME OF THESE RHYMES WERE MADE UP BY MY PARENTS, WHILE OTHERS WERE UNIVERSAL IN POPULARITY, BUT THERE WAS ONE RHYME THAT STAYED WITH ME ALL MY LIFE. IT’S A STORY OF ONE PERSON’S RISK, ENDURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE. IT’S THE STORY OF HUMPTY DUMPTY, THE ANTHROPOMORPHIC EGG WHO TRIED TO DEFY THE ODDS. ALL OF US CAN RECALL THE RHYME – HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL. HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL. ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN COULDN’T PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN.

Read More >>

My friend Bryan Kress asked me to help him shoot a video for a business conference he’s going to in Chicago. It started off as nothing too serious because it was just supposed to be 30 seconds of him talking about himself. Well, we decided we should take out a few hours on a Sunday afternoon and do it right. Bryan then found out that the video will actually be judged against the other particpants’ videos at the conference. So, far we’ve been getting good reviews from everyone who has watched it. Hopefully we’ll do well at the conference.

Voting will take place at http://getmymessage.blogspot.com. If you like the commercial, a click from you wouldn’t hurt.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video. Be sure to check out Bryan’s Business on the Mound too.

Today, I found that the popular image sharing web site, Flickr, has introduced video hosting.  The flavor of video over there is a little different than what you get at other video sites like YouTube or Vimeo.  Accounts are limited to only 90 second clips.  I believe they are doing this to keep the videos more focused on experiences you capture during day-to-day life similar to the photos a person would be uploading to the web site.

Flickr has a blog post explaining the new video features.  Check it out.