10.24.01

Novell GroupWise

Posted in General at 3 pm

Novell GroupWise is a total interface nightmare. The Interface Mafia would have a hayday with it. This thing has this ‘Include Your Signature’ dialog box with a [x] check box that activates or deactivates the signature area. The actual buttons are Yes or No, but this odd checkbox just hangs out, doing nothing.

Should I even mention how, recently, the dialog boxes have started showing up in three different places on screen? Top Center, Middle Center, Bottom Center. To finish sending a piece of mail, I now hit 3 different confirmation buttons, in the upper left of a dialog, one in the lower right of a second dialog and one in the lower center of the third.

It’s nuts! I hate Groupwise!

10.20.01

Layers with Simple HTML

Posted in General at 5 pm

I’ve been working up an article that encapsulates how I’ve used tables and simple HTML to produce layered effects and flexible layouts. I still need to do more proofreading and maybe add some more examples, but I’d love to get some feedback on it.

It’s more geared towards intermediate HTML developers, though there are are a number of techniques that I think are pretty unique to how I’ve used images on my sites.

I’d love to hear any comments or critiques on the article. It’s in my WebDev section, though it’s not linked anywhere but here. Layers With Simple HTML.

10.18.01

Last day to read

Posted in General at 10 am

It’s the last day to read my article on A List Apart. Enjoy it while it lasts… :)

I’ve gotten a couple of notes on it that have been very nice. I’ve also been pretty vigilant in watching the discussion board, though there hasn’t been much activity there, either. It wasn’t a very controversial topic, so I guess it didn’t bring out much typing.

Next time, I’ll write about why everyone should still use tables for layout. That ought to raise some hackles…

10.12.01

Afghan Humor

Posted in General at 5 pm

Ah yes, America responds in many different ways to cope with issues and situations. Office humor is one of these. The following was passed around today:

Afghan TV Guide Listings
The Fall Season

MONDAYS:
8:00 – “Husseinfeld”
8:30 – “Mad About Everything”
9:00 – “Suddenly Sanctions”
9:30 – “The Brian Benben Bin Laden Show”
10:00 – “Allah McBeal”

TUESDAYS:
8:00 – “Wheel of Terror and Fortune”
8:30 – “The Price is Right If Usama Says Its Right”
9:00 – “Children Are Forbidden From Saying The Darndest Things”
9:30 – “Afghanistan’s Wackiest Public Execution Bloopers”
10:00 – “Buffy The Yankee Imperialist Dog Slayer”

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00 – “U.S. Military Secrets Revealed”
8:30 – “When the Northern Alliance Attacks”
9:00 – “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pita Bread”
9:30 – “Just Shoot Everyone”
10:00 – “Veilwatch”

THURSDAYS:
8:00 – “Matima Loves Chachi”
8:30 – “M*U*S*T*A*S*H”
9:00 – “Veronicas Closet Full of Long Black Shapeless Dresses and Veils”
9:30 – “My Two Baghdads”
10:00 – “Diagnosis: Heresy”

FRIDAYS:
8:00 – “Judge Laden”
8:30 – “Funniest Super 8 Home Movies”
9:00 – “Captured Taliban Double Agents Say the Darndest Things”
9:30 – “Achmed’s Creek”
10:00 – “No-witness News”

10.11.01

Health and Exercise: Mental, Physical, Virtual

Posted in General at 4 pm

The never ending battle with my inbox has reaced a new low or high depending on how you count. After getting through 15 mails last night, I’ve still got 160 some odd to go. Bleh.

However, some good stuff is going on. I’ve been using the exercise bike again, something that had been relegated to the spare room for quite a while. I’ve now pulled it out and have been listening to headphones while riding. Works pretty well, biking for 20 minutes, and then going for a 20 minute walk. However, I really should figure out a good routine and stick to it.

More good stuff. My class for the term has started, in fact we’re through the second class this week. I’m quite happy with where it’s going. However I’m frustrated with the fact that so many of the articles that I’ve wanted to hand out are somewhat out dated. There just hasn’t been a lot of articles written in regards to the basics of using graphics in Y2K+1 browsers.

Speaking of articles, my article on the Flash Aesthetic will be published tonight at midnight by A List Apart. Expect to see the proper link here tomorrow. This is the article based on the talk that I gave at the Macromedia Daze event.

10.06.01

It's like an iFever

Posted in General at 2 pm

I’ve decided that I want to get an iBook. A small, portable version of my desktop that I can have around in the apartment and elsewhere. It needs an AirPort card, but I’m not sure if I need the CD-RW/DVD combo drive. We’ve got a CD-R burner that works just fine, and it’s Firewire based so I can use it with the iBook. I really think the DVD is the only drive I need.

From what I’ve heard, MacOS X runs just fine on it, which is great, because that was the one thing holding me back. Especially now that 10.1 is available, I feel a lot more comfortable with the choice. I expect that there will be a speed bump of some sort by the time I’m ready to buy it. The 6 month mark is about the time the first rev of a product comes out from Apple. It was introduced May 7, so the rev should be at the end of the year, perhaps at MacWorld SF.

I’m anticipating it. I really want this.

Man, I don’t get paid for my class until December and I already know how I want to spend it: A new top for Viva, and an iBook.

10.03.01

Silly Joke of the day

Posted in General at 11 pm

Q: What do you call a hairy elephant that predicts the future?

A: Mastadamus!