Today is Monday, and it’s Halloween. How creepy and exciting.

At my work place, we’ve all dressed up, and I will reveal my costume when we take pictures. I’d rather talk about it, when you can see it.

My costume has something to do with "computer/tech" stuff. I think it fits me well.

The whole "computer/tech" costume idea got me thinking about cool costumes you could come up with, by just using one area of web development.

For example, let’s say I want to come up with a costume that has to do with CSS. Think I could do it? I think it would be really fun.

How about float: left, and all I day I have to walk around making left turns only. Or somehow I have to shift my body to the left, while I stand.

How about background: red, and I completely cover myself in red.

How about text-decoration: underline, and I have lines all over my body.

How about display: none, and I don’t show up to work, at all! (I like that idea...)

I could think about CSS Halloween costumes, all day. There’s lots of ways to be creative.

Well... today my costume has nothing to do with CSS - but it’s decent. I’ll be posting photos later today.

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Via Todd Dominey, Microsoft to release six new typefaces.

These new typefaces will add some depth to the web developers’ catalog of cross–browser/platform fonts – besides the usual Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman.

After taking a peek at some of the new fonts, I am excited at the new choices that will soon be available.

Although, I am wondering why Microsoft decided to stop at six. I suppose there is only so many Sans–serif fonts that appear radically different. (There’s not, in other words)

Verdana, the King of web Sans–serif, has some issues when it appears above 11 pixels, as Todd mentions. It looks good small, but once it’s enlarged, it tends to appear skinny and malformed – like it needs nourishment, or something.

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My print style sheet has been in effect for quite some time.

For example, try printing this blog entry page, or just "print preview" it.

You’ll notice the elimination of margins, padding, images, and much more. Also, the font is converted to "Times New Roman," which is easier to read, on paper.

Links spelled out

For links contained within an entry (if there are any), I utilize the CSS pseudo–class after, which is applied like so:

#content a:link:after,
#content a:visited:after
{

This will, on paper, spell out each link, in parenthesis, next to the actual link.

Unfortunately, this is only supported in CSS 2, which is not Internet Explorer. The good part is... since IE doesn’t support it – it simply ignores it, which is fine, for now.

If you print this blog entry from IE, the links within the entry will just appear underlined (but you won’t know where they point to).

Why print

I usually tend not to print web pages – although the need does come up, every so often.

If there is a relatively good blog entry at someone’s site, and I am strapped for time, at the given moment – I will quickly print the blog entry (comments included), to absorb somewhere else – perhaps on a beach with a beer.

The point is... computers are often quite limited, in terms of proximity.

I have my cell phone set up to receive email and RSS feeds, so often times I will continue an article on my phone.

However, my phone being so small – it lacks genuine interaction.

Other

I like "testing" other people’s web pages (or blogs), to see if a print style sheet has been set up.

The benefits of setting one up are pretty obvious.

Without a print style sheet, you will get images, columns, and horrible spacing issues. This is not an ideal use of time, paper, or printer ink.

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I've decided my current approach at organizing my RSS feeds in Google Reader is not productive in a world of information overload.

Whereas it's helpful to use tags to "group" similar feeds, the grouping should be based on priority and frequency, rather than purpose or relation.

In other words, feeds should be organized by how "important" they are to you - rather than simply grouping them together because they discuss the same topics, which is how I used to do it.

Instead of creating tags such as "news," "web development," "tech," etc - I've deleted all tags, and re-created only five: "1", "2", "3", "4", and "5".

These five tags indicate priority and frequency. There is a fine balance between the importance of the feed to me, and the frequency of updates. If importance is high, but frequency is also high, that may "collectively" decrease the feed's importance on the 1-5 scale. Typically my most "important" feeds have minimal updates. That's the nice balance I'm looking for.

To me, a "frequently updated feed" means five or more updates per day. This usually only happens with news sites that have content generated by machines. It also occurs on sites with multiple authors. The content can soon become overwhelming to keep up with.

Here is what each tag means:

1. Possible time-sensitive information. I'd like to be alerted as soon as possible. (Frequency of updates: very light.)

2. I'd like to know relatively soon, but it's not terribly urgent. (Frequency of updates: light.)

3. I don't need to know this stuff, but it may be informative or insightful. (Frequency of updates: light to moderate.)

4. There may be interesting content here, but not very urgent or necessary in my daily awareness. (Frequency of updates: moderate to heavy.)

5. I'm just keeping on eye on these feeds. I should probably unsubscribe to these feeds. (Frequency of updates: heavy.)

Using these "rules," you should be able to re-group your feeds based on priority and frequency. I find it much more helpful when deciding which feeds to read first, and which ones I can safely ignore.

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It’s simple. I just want a file, from home, to exist on my PC, here at work.

I have the 151 MB Photoshop CS file on a USB Jump Drive, so all I have to do is save it to the hard drive, and use it.

Simple, right?

Not quite. Many problems have come up. Where should I begin?

First, I tried physical methods:

• My CD–ROM drive is not working, so I can’t bring the file on a CD.
• I am using Windows 98, so my computer will not recognize the USB Jump Drive, so I can’t use a USB Jump Drive.
• My computer at work also has a 100 MB Zip Drive (old school, yeh), but the file I need is 151 MB.

Next, I tried virtual methods:

• My Windows 98 PC has a problem while trying to connect to our network server. It keeps prompting for a password, even though there is no password known to anyone here. Unfortunately, I am one of the only ones still using Windows 98 (not by choice, heavens no), and everyone else has 2000 or XP, which gives them no trouble when connecting to the server.
• My iDisk account with .Mac is slower than ever. For example, I arrived at work this morning at 7:30 AM, and started to upload the file (on a different computer) to my iDisk account. At 11:45 AM, it was finally done uploading. Now... I have to DOWNLOAD it onto MY machine, which will take another four hours.

And all I need is Photoshop CS, so I can continue with my work.

I guess that’s too much to ask. Wednesday has been a complete waste.

UPDATE (02/23/2005; 12:26 PM PDT): Photoshop CS won’t even run on Windows 98. In fact, the only Photoshop that I could (safely) install on my PC here is version 6. I should have read the system requirements first.

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As seen over at MacMinute and Jeremy Zawodny’s blog – Yahoo! has acquired Flickr.

This is very interesting.

Flickr does with images what blogs do with words. And Flickr includes blogging features, to make it very appealing to a wide range of audiences.

I think Flickr is a perfect fit at Yahoo. I can’t wait to see how Yahoo! integrates the application into their own interface.

It’s gonna be very cool.

Matthew Linderman talks some more about Flickr.

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"Send it to my phone as soon as you find it!" - Television show 24

"Can I beam you an image?" - Television show Bones

If you watch any current TV shows or movies (I'm thinking along the lines of 24 and Bones), you may notice telecommunication is a huge aspect. If it weren't for cell phones, I don't think 24 would be as effective as it is. It's pretty much how they communicate in every realm.

Even more importantly, they use their cell devices as transmitters for media - such as images, documents, and much more.

Did you ever stop to think how they are doing this?

Is it even possible to transmit images as quickly as Jack Bauer receives them? Or is that some government-classified technology they are using? (It can't be, because the terrorists in 24 are using it too.)

Last time I checked, sending and receiving photos and documents from my Blackberry isn't as "easy" as it's portrayed on the big screen.

For the record, it's relatively easy to send photos between two phones, provided the cell carrier is the same - but that assumes that one end has a "camera phone," and we all know the resolution on those things is not great yet.

Jack Bauer, for example, sends and receives photos and documents to and from his tiny cellphone, to CTU's mainframe computers.

Is CTU emailing directly to Bauer's cell phone? If so, don't you think it would take a little longer for Bauer to retrieve those high-res images, especially over a cellular connection?

And Bauer using his phone to send pictures to CTU... specifically high-res pictures that CTU can ascertain poignant details from, is somewhat unbelievable.

It all just happens too fast. Sometimes I think I am watching a Sci-Fi/Drama, rather than just a Drama.

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For ergonomic reasons, I use a Wacom graphics tablet, instead of a standard mouse, while using the computer. This is to help avoid nasty RSI's in my wrist or forearm.

I love Wacom's products, and currently own two tablets - one for work, and one for home.

One problem I've noticed with Wacom's standard graphics tablets is the pens that come with each tablet. They often wear-out quickly, and are very easy to lose.

You'd think this wouldn't be a problem, since Wacom sells replacement parts, including pens, for all of their tablet products.

The problem is I've tried purchasing two new replacement pens - neither of which work with either tablet I own. You'd think the pens would work with any tablet, but no. You have to buy tablet-specific pens - whichever one is made for your tablet.

I just wish they'd make things simple, and allow all pens to work with any tablet.

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I've always been intrigued with mobile chat applications - a recent addition being Meebo.com's interface for the iPhone. For one, mobile chat adds to the opacity of always being connected. At a bar sipping drinks, I can still be "online" and available to chat. Or, in the professional world, it goes without saying that being connected and reachable, outside of the office, can be beneficial.

But the most lucrative feature of instant-message is that it's completely free. It doesn't cost to send or receive, unlike SMS, which is usually priced per message by most wireless providers.

In situations where I can use instant-message, I will always choose that over SMS. I even discussed using Twitter to save on SMS charges.

The drawback to using instant-messaging on mobile devices is that it relies on your phones data plan, which is usually sporadic coverage with most cell providers. SMS, on the other hand, uses a different protocol, and is much more reliable.

More drawbacks than benefits

Instant-messaging on wireless devices is relatively new, and can be extremely buggy in many situations. There are typically two methods of using instant-message on a mobile device:

• Built-in application, such as AOL instant messenger.
• Browser-based alternatives, such as Meebo.com.

I've noticed the AOL clients work better than the browser-based apps. Meebo's iPhone-customized app is very buggy, and hardly holds it's connection.

The most glaring problem with these apps is that brief interruption when you log off instant message from your computer, and log on from your mobile device. I have yet to find a service that seamlessly migrates from one client to another, without ever "appearing" offline.

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I am heading out to U.S. Cellular Field, for the Sox game this afternoon.

This is a slight change for me, as I haven’t been to the "ballpark on the south side" in a number of years. I typically go the "north side" ballpark, at Wrigley Field.

This will be fun, though. I am not a Sox fan, at heart, but my friend Pat is. It will be great to see a first-place team, competing for the playoffs.

Expect a lot of photos - it’s not often that I go to this park, so I’ll be taking advantage.

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