Laravel API Resources + JSON API Spec

API Resources are a new feature in Laravel 5.5 to convert objects to JSON responses. Here’s how to write API Resources that follow JSON API spec […]

Reduce Validation Bloat in Laravel Controllers

In Laravel or Lumen, I’ve often noticed that a significant portion of my controllers can be validation calls. To solve this, I moved validation rules to a config file. By doing so, you can often simplify validation to just a single line of code […]

Given Tree: A Social Network for Charity Projects

Features of the Website We certify charities. Certification is based on 3 areas of accountability; philosophy & approach, financial health, and performance. A ‘Given Tree Certification’ holds charities accountable for using best practices, showing transparency with financials and reporting on how funds are spent and projects are progressing. Charities post updates/photos/video so donors can see how their […]

I’m Joining the Team at gdgt!

What is gdgt? Wait, you haven’t heard of gdgt.com? One cool thing about joining gdgt (pronounced “gadget”) is that most of my friends have already heard of it. It’s a social network for consumer electronics; a place where people can create lists of the gadgets they have/had/want, and find out more about those gadgets. With […]

Amazing Photos from PEITAC Strategy 2015

My sister Sheri-Lee McKenna recently helped publish a magazine with some breath-taking visuals of PEI for Prince Edward Island Tourism Advisory Council’s (PEITAC) new tourism strategy – Strategy 2015. Check out the rest of the visuals and the entire magazine at www.peitac.com/2015.

Donating my 23rd Birthday to Charity:Water

This year, I’m giving my birthday up. I’m turning 23 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I’m asking for $23 or more (or less, even just $5 because every donation counts!) from everyone I know. It’s not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater wells for people in […]

4th of July Time-lapse

Here’s my first attempt at a time-lapse video. It’s of the fireworks display at the 2010 Foster City, CA 4th of July celebrations. Shot on a Flip Mino HD from the 8th floor of the Parkside Towers building. There’s 20 minutes of footage speed up to 4x normal speed to create a 5 minute video. The video was edited using the open source video editor OpenShot. The song is titled The Storm Begins by Jennifer Haines and adds a nice effect to the video. Overall I’m quite happy with how it turned out, I hope you enjoy.

Bidding Farewell to Halo 2

The end of a gaming era. Six years ago, Bungie showed off Halo 2 for the very first time. Let’s see… 2003, that would make me 15! In February 2010, Microsoft had announced that they would be dropping online support for the multiplayer aspect of Halo 2 and that day finally arrived on April 15, […]

Olympic Torch Ceremony Halifax

The Olympic torch in Halifax on November 18, 2009. A couple of my friends and I were there for the passing of the torch in front of Dalhousie University Sexton Campus Gym. Nova Scotia native NHL star Sydney Crosby carried the torch & passed it on to Sarah Conrad; Halifax Olympian snowboarder who ran it […]