Blog posts, poetry, and personal reflections in English and Spanish.https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/en-ushttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2017/07/map-of-national-blue-ribbon-schools/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2017/07/map-of-national-blue-ribbon-schools/A map of National Blue Ribbon schools in Michigan as of 2017. This map is publicly available and open to contributions.Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:19:11 GMTBlogCollegeSocietyPlacesAmericaGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2017/07/life-with-disabilities-discrimination-with-caregivers/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2017/07/life-with-disabilities-discrimination-with-caregivers/Some obstacles are sometimes shameful, others are enraging: wanting to charge a full fee for a caregiver was akin to charging for a wheelchair, a service animal, or a similar assistive device.Wed, 05 Jul 2017 20:51:42 GMTBlogSocietySocial JusticeGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2013/12/fast-web-app-server-cms-cloud/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2013/12/fast-web-app-server-cms-cloud/I am trying to start an open source GPL project, in Lua or C++, with these main goals: speed/performance, security, ease of development, and being embeddable. It would provide a CMS, forum, and cloud solution.Fri, 20 Dec 2013 18:40:12 GMTComputersProgrammingWeb DevelopmentGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/03/friendly-slug-custom-field-for-dotcms/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/03/friendly-slug-custom-field-for-dotcms/This article explains how to create a slug field in dotCMS that can be used as an SEO-friendly URL. This custom field script also makes each slug unique.Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:29:13 GMTBlogComputersWeb DevelopmentGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/02/i-give-you-thanks/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/02/i-give-you-thanks/A prayer of gratitude to God for hearing my voice crying out all alone in the dark, and sending me not only light, but also the company of the most wonderful woman: April Turek.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:46:52 GMTPoetryFeelingsFrustrationHappinessHopeLonelinessLovePainSadnessPeopleRelationshipsRomancePhilosophyLifeReligionSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/worship-symposium-week-is-here/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/worship-symposium-week-is-here/I spent countless hours writing Velocity code and hacking up some Lucene queries in dotCMS for the website, but this was only a needle in the haystack of preparations needed to make an 1800-people, 40-country+ event go smoothly...Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:55:37 GMTBlogComputersWeb DevelopmentPersonalCollegeFriendshipWorkPhilosophyReligionSpiritualSocietyCultureFoodPeaceSocial JusticeGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/my-us-coast-guard-auxiliary-induction/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/my-us-coast-guard-auxiliary-induction/I have so many stories to tell about the Auxiliary, and tonight, they all become a little more official! I never before felt so proud to wear my Operational Dress Uniform (ODU)...Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:05:08 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalFriendshipFunTravelSocietyHumanitarianGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/if-my-love-is-not-enough/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2012/01/if-my-love-is-not-enough/Know that I have searched the Earth to find you, to find your love; and that I will tear the Heavens apart, if that is what it takes to be with you... But if you are not willing to receive my unconditional, everlasting love...Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:29:20 GMTPoetryFeelingsLovePeopleRelationshipsGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/yes-i-did/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/yes-i-did/A poem about what being in love is about. Did I love you? Did I ever love the joy of your company, the melody of your voice, your contagious smile, your forgiving heart?Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:39:08 GMTPoetryFeelingsLovePeopleRelationshipsRomanceGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/bulletproof-fun-volunteering-at-coast-guard-station-muskegon/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/bulletproof-fun-volunteering-at-coast-guard-station-muskegon/Besides training and fellowship, I had the chance to join the Coast Guard on a patrol, escorting a passenger vessel in the fog, and received lookout training in the most miserable viewing conditions imaginable. It was fun! :)Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:07:15 GMTBlogOutdoorsNatureSocietyFreedomHumanitarianGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/this-captain-is-dead/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/09/this-captain-is-dead/A poem about how a mariner's relationship with his loved one is falling apart due his love for the sea, and her desire for a different lifestyle on his part. His dreams, she dreaded. His life, she shredded. His dreams sank....Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:30:30 GMTPoetryFeelingsLovePainSadnessOceansPeopleRelationshipsPhilosophyLifeSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/08/the-captain-diaries-august-13-2011/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/08/the-captain-diaries-august-13-2011/"God, please look after her," I prayed. "And please God, o please God, let me come back safe to her: allow me to see my love..."Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:57:30 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalCollegeLoveDeathSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/07/searching-through-widget-code-in-dotcms/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/07/searching-through-widget-code-in-dotcms/Widgets in dotCMS are nothing more than a special content structure. As a structure, everything in a widget, even the HTML and Velocity code, is stored in a field in the database, which means the code is in fact searchable.Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:08:43 GMTBlogComputersWeb DevelopmentGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/06/youre-not-dreaming/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/06/youre-not-dreaming/She still couldn't believe it. It was still hard for me to process it as well. "You're not dreaming," I said once again. "This is real. This is happening." She hugged me once again, as our hearts shared the taste of a miracle...Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:53:27 GMTBlogPersonalRelationshipsPhilosophyReligionSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/your-miracle-tomorrow/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/your-miracle-tomorrow/This poem is about reminding those who expect to be healed by the power of God to actually thank Him when this happens.Tue, 31 May 2011 03:09:00 GMTPoetryPeoplePhilosophyReligionSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/i-still-remember/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/i-still-remember/A poem about an adorable, cute, playful little kitten whom I met at the Humane Society of West Michigan.Tue, 31 May 2011 02:38:19 GMTPoetryCausesFreedomFeelingsSadnessGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/i-was-afraid/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/i-was-afraid/A poem about being afraid of commitment, but changing my mind after meeting someone very special -- the ONE I want to be with for the rest of my life.Mon, 23 May 2011 02:13:48 GMTPoetryFeelingsLovePeopleRelationshipsRomanceGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/the-captain-diaries-may-22-2011/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/the-captain-diaries-may-22-2011/As I stood in that vessel, balancing my body and supporting myself by pressing my legs against the engine room and the deck, I held in my hand not just a line, not just a maritime tool, but also the answer to all my questions....Sun, 22 May 2011 13:28:17 GMTBlogOutdoorsNaturePersonalCollegeFamilyRelationshipsTravelWorkPhilosophyLifeGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/tonight-at-the-dance-studio/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/tonight-at-the-dance-studio/A poem about dancing with my girlfriend, and how this made me realize how happy she makes me.Sun, 22 May 2011 02:44:48 GMTPoetryFeelingsHappinessLovePeopleRelationshipsRomanceGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/boat-camp-weekend/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/05/boat-camp-weekend/Throwing a heaving line to another boat or a floating dummy in a rocking boat is also harder than it sounds. But, after the 5th try or so, I was able to do both, and I only hit the dummy on the head once! :)Mon, 16 May 2011 15:31:39 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalFunSocietyHumanitarianGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/to-leave-you-for-a-mission/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/to-leave-you-for-a-mission/A poem about the pain of having to leave a loved one for an overseas mission.Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:06:23 GMTPoetryCausesWarFeelingsLoveNostalgiaOceansPeopleRelationshipsGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/with-regret-in-the-air/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/with-regret-in-the-air/You were still the innocent, fun, good-hearted pretty girl who loves to dance and has more faith in God than the whole world. But those cowardly friends of yours who looked the other way, they didn't know you like I did.Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:04:07 GMTBlogPersonalFriendshipLoveRelationshipsRomancePhilosophyLifeSocietySocial JusticeGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/marlinespike-at-coast-guard-muskegon/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/marlinespike-at-coast-guard-muskegon/We headed outside, into the cold rain, and went aboard one of the Coast Guard boats. Rick showed us how to toss a line, but he forgot to do the most important thing: tie the other end to the boat. :) So there it went, flying away!Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:23:24 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalFunGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/the-captain-diaries-april-10-2011/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/the-captain-diaries-april-10-2011/...Addressed me as, "Cadet Mongefranco." "Cadet?" I thought. "Wow, that has a nice ring to it!" I felt liberated and invigorated. My life was finally catching up with my future, but this time in real life, not just in my dreams.Sun, 10 Apr 2011 04:31:59 GMTBlogPersonalCollegeTravelWorkPhilosophyLifeSpiritualGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/will-the-sun-shine-tomorrow/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/04/will-the-sun-shine-tomorrow/A poem about trying to figure out my feelings, conflicted by the past and an uncertain future. It's never easy, no To feel so confused To really never know Just what the hell it is That I keep feeling for you...Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:25:58 GMTPoetryFeelingsLovePeopleFriendshipRelationshipsGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/the-captain-diaries-march-31-2010/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/the-captain-diaries-march-31-2010/I can read all the exam preparation books and take all the practice tests in existence, but in the end, speaking English as a second language is my innate disadvantage. I just don't have the vocabulary that other Americans...Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:18:04 GMTBlogPersonalGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/the-captain-diaries-march-29-2011/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/the-captain-diaries-march-29-2011/"Are you absolutely certain that this is what you want to do?" Perhaps I could. But it would require my absolute devotion, enduring financial hardship, and making school my life for three long years. Could I really do it?Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:27:53 GMTBlogComputersProgrammingOutdoorsPersonalCollegeTravelWorkPhilosophyLifeSocietyHumanitarianTechnologyGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/secret-agent-all-right/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/secret-agent-all-right/In a relationship, people often lie to hide things from their past that they think may scare the other person away. This is a poem about doing just that... Call me a secret agent, that's all right with me, just don't look into it.Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:05:50 GMTPoetryPeopleRelationshipsGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/contemplating-an-icon/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/03/contemplating-an-icon/A poem about starring at a picture, missing someone. He watches the delusion of her face. He admires the splendor of her body, and is drawn into her duple grace. He stares into her alluring eyes, and can't take his mind away...Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:49:20 GMTPoetryFeelingsLoveNostalgiaSadnessGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/fireworks-at-the-dock/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/fireworks-at-the-dock/Brian brought a bag full of these flares, so we all had some fun shooting them over the channel -- even some of the Coasties joined in the fun! Everyone thought I had way too much fun with these flares, but hey...Sun, 27 Feb 2011 05:04:08 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalFunSocietyHumanitarianGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/living-in-a-fantasy/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/living-in-a-fantasy/A poem about falling in love and living in a fantasy as a result.Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:29:41 GMTPoetryFeelingsLoveGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/coastie-the-robot/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/coastie-the-robot/My highlight of the show was the training that occurred on the second floor: Coastie operator training. Coastie is a 45-inch robot shaped like a cartoon-character boat that talks to the kids about water safety.Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:55:56 GMTBlogPersonalFunSocietyHumanitarianTechnologyRoboticsGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/my-first-adventure-at-the-coast-guard-auxiliary/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/my-first-adventure-at-the-coast-guard-auxiliary/I joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary last month. Just last Saturday, I was invited to participate in the first of many boat crew classes... at the Muskegon Coast Guard station! We brought lunch for the "coasties"...Sun, 20 Feb 2011 02:34:40 GMTBlogOutdoorsPersonalSocietyHumanitarianGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/yes-there-is-hope-still/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/02/yes-there-is-hope-still/A poem about a young woman fighting for her life and working hard for a full recovery after being involved in an almost fatal car accident, and how my feelings for her might be re-surfacing.Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:44:33 GMTPoetryFeelingsHopeLovePeopleGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/01/it-keeps-calling-me/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/01/it-keeps-calling-me/I can run. I can try to escape. I can look away, turn the music up, and try to bury myself in work or play. But it's all futile, for the oceans keep calling me, like a nagging voice in the back of my head.Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:04:33 GMTPoetryFeelingsNatureOceansGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/01/a-great-first-day/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2011/01/a-great-first-day/Today was my first day at Two Men and a Truck home office (headquarters) in Lansing, Michigan. My first impression was quite positive -- everyone treated me like I was part of a big family.Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:33:16 GMTBlogPersonalWorkGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/wonderful-internet-a-christmas-story/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/wonderful-internet-a-christmas-story/I got to see my nieces and nephews open their presents (and break the first one of the night!). It was so very exciting... it was almost like being there with them! This completely opens the doors for future family gatherings.Sat, 25 Dec 2010 07:44:22 GMTBlogComputersPersonalFamilySocietyCultureTechnologyGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/how-can-i-say-a-word/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/how-can-i-say-a-word/Sometimes, being in love is so obvious that no words are needed to express one's deepest feelings.Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:18:42 GMTPoetryFeelingsFrustrationLonelinessLovePeopleRomanceGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/dreams-unveiled-robotics-fbi-and-noaa-corps/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/12/dreams-unveiled-robotics-fbi-and-noaa-corps/So, what was the first thing I did? Well, I walked out of that ceremony with my naturalization certificate in hand and headed straight home to fill out the most important applications of my life: FBI and NOAA Corps.Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:32:41 GMTBlogProgrammingInformation SecurityPersonalCollegeTravelWorkPhilosophyLifeSocietyFreedomPeaceWarTechnologyElectronicsRoboticsScienceGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/11/list-of-mime-types/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/11/list-of-mime-types/This article is a compilation of common MIME types and their corresponding file extensions. Unlike MIME type lists commonly used in Apache and IIS, this list includes the now-popular Open Document Formats.Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:20:14 GMTBlogComputersWeb DevelopmentGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/11/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-friends/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/11/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-friends/So long, OakPages. So long, Elgg development, and so long, OakPages followers from over 150 countries. It's been great, but now it is time to say good bye.Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:00:17 GMTBlogBusinessComputersWeb DevelopmentPersonalFriendshipGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/unfearing/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/unfearing/This poem is about my life-transforming week-long kayaking trip in the North Channel with some Calvin College students for Wilderness Orientation. I wrote it while atop a cliff where we went rock climbing.Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:30:23 GMTPoetryFeelingsHappinessNatureLakesMountainsRiversPeopleFriendshipPhilosophyBeautyLifeSpiritualPlacesAmericaGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/white-sky/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/white-sky/A poem about the astonishing sky viewed from the North Channel in Ontario, Canada. I wrote this poem during my week-long kayaking trip in the North Channel with some Calvin College students for Wilderness Orientation.Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:00:38 GMTPoetryNatureLakesRiversPhilosophyBeautySpiritualPlacesAmericaGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/infinimight-com-is-up-and-running/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/08/infinimight-com-is-up-and-running/I have installed simple WordPress sites before, but I never had a chance to dig into the technicalities, plug-in writing, admin tricks, SEO optimization and such -- until now. It was fun!Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:38:33 GMTBlogBusinessComputersWeb DevelopmentTravelWorkGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/07/music-of-guatemala/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/07/music-of-guatemala/Guatemalan classical and folk music is probably not like anything you've heard before. Although there has been considerable Western influence from Spain, and modern popular music is much like popular styles in the U. S., Guatemalan music makes use of several native instruments....Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:59:22 GMTBlogSocietyMusicGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/06/backpacking-coyotes-and-no-drinking-water-how-fun/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/06/backpacking-coyotes-and-no-drinking-water-how-fun/I breath clean air, feel the crystalline waters that are now so uncommon in Lake Michigan, watch eagles soaring around the sunset, and am wonderfully close to be eaten by a coyote. What?!Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:34:01 GMTBlogOutdoorsBackpackingPersonalGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/edit-pdf-files-with-open-office/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/edit-pdf-files-with-open-office/Here's how it works: The extension allows importing PDF files into OpenOffice Draw or OpenOffice Writer. It will even recognize text, which allows for editing or for copying the document's text format to add text boxes elsewhere that look like the rest of the document.Fri, 21 May 2010 22:08:39 GMTBlogComputersProgrammingGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/back-to-work-it-is/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/back-to-work-it-is/The good thing is that I've been getting excellent grades so far, probably because I have time to study and do homework. Plus, it helps that I love every single one of my classes!!Fri, 21 May 2010 03:35:58 GMTBlogPersonalCollegeWorkGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/egyptian-pyramid-virtual-tours/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/05/egyptian-pyramid-virtual-tours/I ran across a couple of fun sites that provide virtual tours of Egyptian pyramids, including: King Khunfu's chamber, Khufu's pyramid, Khafre pyramid, and the Sphynx.Tue, 11 May 2010 19:34:54 GMTBlogCollegeSocietyHistoryGabriel Mongefrancohttps://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/04/my-last-day-my-first-day/https://gabriel.mongefranco.com/2010/04/my-last-day-my-first-day/Most of all, however, I am going to miss the leaders in particular who have been my mentors and inspiration: Daniel, Mary, Lloyd, Paul, Mitch and JR. Quite honestly, I would not have made it this far without them.Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:52:24 GMTBlogPersonalFriendshipWorkGabriel Mongefranco