molly.com
Tuesday 26 July 2005
Props to Ethan, Yo.
I BEGAN WORK TODAY with a good coffee and an interview over at Digital Web Magazine featuring none other than one of my very favorite people, Ethan Marcotte.
Now, it’s not that my name is mentioned in the interview about sixteen times, or that reading Ethan is such a funny experience that coffee will be spewed and it’s not that Ethan has the coolest ‘fro this side of white (well maybe next to mine). It’s not even that Ethan and pals Christopher Schmitt, Dunstan Orchard, Mark Trammell and Todd Dominey are promoting their new book, Professional CSS, which I just happened to tech edit.
What it is? Ethan is simply one of the coolest people walking planet earth. And now I’m going to embarrass him completely and tell you a few reasons why.
I became close with Ethan via WaSP, where he worked with an enthusiasm and drive that stands out among a group of people well-known for significant contributions to the standards effort. We worked closely on a number of projects, and in that time I was exposed to Ethan’s “endless good cheer” (can I quote myself?).
A few visits to his neck of the woods put us face to face enjoying good beer and better laughs, forging an excellent friendship. When Douglas Bowman couldn’t make a planned co-keynote at Web Design World Boston, Ethan valiantly stepped in. He was really nervous, saying “Molly, let’s just go to the bar and slam like 8 beers - oh my god is that Zeldman?” Which of course it was, and Ethan had never met Jeffrey. So five minutes before our presentation to some 400 people, Ethan is now visibly shaking. But once up there on stage, he not only proved himself an excellent presenter, but made conference history by using the term “Pimp my own Kool-Aid” completely naturally within a sentence, a phrase which I have stolen and flaunted shamelessly for laughs many times since.
Working on Professional CSS, I could always tell when I was editing a chapter of Ethan’s. Having degrees in English Lit can do wonders for writing style, and Ethan’s got it. He’s a fantastic writer, and I hope he’ll do more of it book-wise. He has a lot to contribute that way, I think. And finally, as the interview points out, it’s not necessarily Ethan’s work for standards that make him noteworthy. Just a few days ago I posted on the intersection of the personal and professional on blogs. I have long enjoyed Ethan’s blog, Sidesh0w, primarily because of Ethan’s personal writings.
Well, this is a gushing post, and it’s meant as such. I get to play fanbois (okay fangirl, but somehow that word doesn’t look as cool) sometimes too, and Ethan Marcotte is definitely in my pantheon of stars.
Filed under: professional, standards, web design and development, WaSP
Posted by: Molly | 7:59 am |
July 26th, 2005 at 8:00 am
Molly for President of the Ethan Marcotte Fan Club.
(but only if I get to be treasurer)
July 26th, 2005 at 8:18 am
I’ll be secretary. It’s great to see Ethan getting deserved mad props. Yo.
July 26th, 2005 at 8:30 am
You three are jerks. Big, loveable, amazing jerks to whom I owe a few dozen beers each.
You rock mightily.
(Molly, the polaroids are in the mail. *grin*)
July 26th, 2005 at 10:23 am
Colourful description of the nervous moments for Ethan at the Conference…(I’m wondering if I’d be the same with Zeldman in the wings?) - this is a nice fan-post from you Molly (rare)…and I can almost imagine Ethan (who I have never even seen) wrinkling up his nose in the embarrassment of such gushing…err….compliments.
Well done to Ethan for using the ‘pimp’ line in a presentation (I’d fail miserably at that…but then again - I’m English: it just wouldn’t sound right!)
Just saying…of course - I’ve never met any of you, so my views might seem a bit trivial in context.
July 26th, 2005 at 10:42 am
Crazy people. And thanks for those polaroids back, Ethan. But you still owe me those beers
Matt: Jeffrey wasn’t just in the wings, he sat right smack in front of us during our presentation, smiling and nodding the entire time. Didn’t phase this ol’ veteran, whose known Jeffrey a long time and knows how supportive a guy he is. But it was definitely a bit daunting at first for Ethan. And hey, you’ve got plenty of countrymates that could use the word “pimp” in a presentation. Trust me, after the @media wordplay meme, I’ve seen this in action
July 26th, 2005 at 10:47 am
He wasn’t so much “smiling” as “intimidating the crap out of lil’ ol’ starstruck Ethan.”
Still, ’twas one hell of an experience.
July 26th, 2005 at 10:54 am
:::waiting by Molly’s mailbox to intercept Polaroids:::
July 26th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
#Laughs #
Thanks Molly…maybe I’ll drop ‘pimp’ into presentations more ofton from now on!
(Pity I couldn’t make it along to @media 05….maybe @media 06?)
Yeah, I’m sure Jeffrey was cool with the whole thing…poor Ethan a bundle of edgy nerves.
Ethan: Sounds like you passed the grade fine though…and you’ll remember that moment forever. I’m impressed either way: because it’s unlikely I’ll find myself presenting in front of the web-design community even once.
July 26th, 2005 at 12:21 pm
keith: (whispers) …”Remember, if they ask: say you were a cleaner…and you’ve never been to Cuba!”
July 26th, 2005 at 6:03 pm
Ethan: don’t send those beers by mail! Just a heads up that it won’t go over well by the mailman
Molly: don’t you know better than to sip coffee while reading Ethantastical stuff?
August 7th, 2005 at 2:59 pm
I’m not “the Ethan” but I am Ethan, does that mean I’m a cool guy too?
August 7th, 2005 at 7:58 pm
Ethan “The Other Ethan” : why yes, of course