The following entries were made in the “October, 2007” time-frame.
Archive for “October, 2007”
It Happened in 1972
JackP came up with the idea of some people publishing a Halloween story. This is mine. I hope you enjoy it. I actually did some light research for this one.
Fear can live and breathe if you give it life in your mind. The longer you think about it and the more you believe in it, the larger it grows and the more real it becomes. That’s what happened in the little town of Grant Heights, to a little boy named Bobby. It was October 31st, 1972. Halloween.
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Small Comment Boxes Need to Grow Up
Call it a pet peeve if you like, but the small comment textareas I see on some blogs are far too small for proper writing and editing. I feel a size of 350 by 150 pixels is about the absolute smallest I care to write in unless I have only a few remarks. Anything smaller is really too difficult to use if I am composing a more in-depth response. A too-small comments box restricts me to four options: to forgo commenting altogether; to struggle through it; to hold back on my comment; or to compose it in a separate program then copy and paste it into the itty-bitty textarea provided by the blogger. I actually prefer none of these.
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How Many Buttons Do You Use?
I have several remote controls throughout my house. Televisions, cable boxes, a DVD player, satellite radio, air conditioner, and more. It’s crazy. They’re all over the place (maybe I need a holster with a universal remote). Most have a multitude of buttons. This thought occurred to me the other day: All those buttons, yet I only use four, or seven, or ten — a fraction of what’s available — I have to wonder, is this an indication of poor design, or is it just me while the rest of the world uses these devices to their maximum potential.
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Using the Break Element Properly
As it concerns the break element, there are four basic thoughts people will have: First there are those who say it should never be used on a web page because it is a “presentational element” that has no semantic value; Others say using it carefully is okay, and that it does have some semantic value; Then there are those who say it is used to make paragraph-looking blocks of text on a web page and aren’t really familiar this whole smantik thing; And the last group will be quite familiar with it — “Everyone knows The Break Element is that movie with Bruce Willis… right?”
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Web Site Planning 101
So, you want to have a web site. Hmm. Now what? Do you have the basics of web organization and size? Do you understand the way a web site works in terms of web-specific features? Linking for example, this is something you can now do. It needs to be considered. Have you? I find that many people know that they want a web site, but they really don’t know where to begin. Thus, I offer this article.
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The Coder
Hey, don’t laugh… this could have been you! Coding’s dangerous.
Sure, you may think coding is all glamor, parties, and chicks, but this story will reveal the dark side.
With his coffee consumed and the sun up, The Coder began to work. Today’s project was a script. A rather involved script he had been putting off for more than a week. The Coder knew he’d be at it all day and probably into the night, but it had to be done — there was no more putting it off, even if he had to spend the entire night in his office as he had done so many times in the past. Stopping midway through it, he knew, would be a mistake. His logic back-trail would evaporate.
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That Evil Accessibility Word
Forgive me if I sound blue. I have been beaten up a twice in the span of seven days. Not physically, mind you, but my concerns about web accessibility were dismissed and it’s discouraging. The word accessibility, I have learned, simply does not sell very well and may be summarily rejected. Bring up the word and ears close with an audible snap. It’s distressing. You’re probably wondering what I mean by “beaten up” at this point so let me explain by backing up a bit and telling you about two situations.
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