Wednesday 14 May 2008

Why Macs are Scientifically Better than Windows

Reliability.

Filed under:   humor, blogging, software, society, hardware, community, religion
Posted by:   Molly | 6:10 pm | Comments (26)

Monday 5 May 2008

Tracking Pop Culture References about the Web

As many readers are aware, I’m one of the old ladies of the Web, having started in 1993 back when the Web was text-based, accessible and not at all a part of culture much less popular culture.

It surely has been a fascinating experience watching the Web, and the online world in general, infiltrate society in different forms. From the first time I saw a URL advertised on television (1996, I believe, for Subway Sandwiches); read about Web sites in books (”Mary went downstairs to Google for an answer to her lonely heart”); and more recently, references to Twitter on shows such as CSI, I have been in awe of how the Web has become a part of the fabric of our lives.

Sitting here last night watching an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun from 1999, I was tickled beyond pink to hear the character of Dick Solomon quip “I was going to order it off the Internet until I realized there was no such thing as Amazon Dot Crap.” It got me thinking that tracking such references to the Web and Internet in popular culture could be a really fun and revealing adventure.

Got a favorite reference about the online world from a film, book, lyric or other relevant media? Share below!

Filed under:   music, pop culture, film, society, molly asks you, community
Posted by:   Molly | 12:29 pm | Comments (19)

Thursday 24 April 2008

10 Tips to Finding Great Web Design and Development Services

A new type of article from me, looking to help out the IT consumer, something I feel is sorely missing as we as web devs and designers work to achieve. From CIO, check it out!

Here’s the blurb:

Losing tens of thousands of dollars is something we all want to avoid. Yet in today’s confusing world of Web development, it’s a daily occurrence. The problem, as many CIOs learn from being burned, can be solved by gaining a better understanding of what to look for in a Web design and development company, how to ask for it and how to ensure that what you pay for is really what you need.

And the lovely link to the article on CIO.

Enjoy!

Filed under:   professional, standards, software, web design and development, society
Posted by:   Molly | 3:29 pm | Comments (8)

Monday 21 April 2008

Follow You Will You Follow Me?

The overwhelming success of Twitter leaves many of us swirling in its twitertwhirlious wake. I’ve been a member for about a year and half and find it still ranks highest amongst my daily habits.

The Word “Follower”

“I will follow you will follow me” - Phil Collins

I also realize that I am now either a very persuasive cult leader or am being stalked by close to 1,890 people.

To the point, I’m mostly bewildered by the “Follower” concept. Since Twitter has been around, the term “follower” has been applied to thousands upon thousands of people who simply read other people’s Twitter streams.

The word “follower” however, bears a bit more weight and consideration. The simple Twitter interface tells us who is “follower” to our Twitters. You can compare this with who you are “following” and a finely tuned interface will tell you who follows you, leaving all of us confused as to whether leading or following bears more persuasion.

I’ll beg the question

If you are a leader, are you a follower also?

Filed under:   society, molly asks you, community, religion, Twitter, cults of personality
Posted by:   Molly | 6:02 pm | Comments (22)

Tuesday 8 April 2008

My Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

You know you have one. Or twenty.

Admit it.

Unless you live in a rural area, never travel, see few people, and even then . . . many humans have signs of OCD.

Some years ago at SXSW a fantastic group of friends had lunch at P.F. Chang’s and talked about our unique Obsessive Compulsive Disorders.

It was such a funny and enlightening conversation, I’d like to jump-start it here.

Mine? Pillowcase openings must point to the left; I can’t leave an empty cardboard toilet paper roll on whatever that thing is (the roll?) that we put it on. I have to either replace it or leave it empty.

Other than that I’ve only a few inconsistent quirks.

How about you?

Filed under:   humor, pop culture, society, creativity, molly asks you
Posted by:   Molly | 6:50 pm | Comments (56)

Monday 7 April 2008

Design Coding: Rap for The Rest of Us

The very awesome iJustine posted this like ten days ago, but I can’t stop watching it, it’s just that yummy.

Just(in)e case you haven’t seen it, I’m re-sharing it here and hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

BTW, who did this bit of brilliance? Where was it filmed?

Comments are open, I want to know.

Enjoy:

Design Coding

Your site design is the first thing people see
it should be reflective of you and the industry
easy to look at with a nice navigation
when you can’t find what you want it causes frustration

a clear Call to action to increase the temptation
use appealing graphics they create motivation
if you have animation
use with moderation
cause search engines can’t index the information

display the logos of all your associations
highlight your contact info that’s an obligation
create a clean design you can use some decoration
but to try to prevent any client hesitation

every page that they click should provide and explanation
should be easy to understand like having a conversation
when you design the style go ahead and use your imagination

but make sure you use correct color combinations
do some investigation, look at other organizations
but don’t duplicate or you might face a litigation
design done, congratulations but it’s time to start construction

follow these instructions when you move into production
your photoshop functions then slice that design
do your layout with divs make sure that it’s aligned
please don’t use tables even though they work fine
when it come to indexing they give searches a hard time

make it easy for the spiders to crawl what you provide
remove font type, font color and font size
no background colors, keep your coding real neat

tag your look and feel on a separate style sheet
better results with xml and css
now you making progress, a lil closer to success
describe your doctype so the browser can relate
make sure you do it great or it won’t validate

check in all browsers, I do it directly
gotta make sure that it renders correctly
some use IE, some others use Flock
some use AOL, I use Firefox

title everything including links and images
don’t use italics, use emphasis
don’t use bold, please use strong
if you use bold that’s old and wrong

when you use CSS, you page will load quicker
client satisfied like they eating on a snicker
they stuck on your page like you made it with a sticker
and then they convert now that’s the real kicker
make you a lil richer, your site a lil slicker

design and code right man I hope you get the picture
what I’m telling you is true man it should be a scripture
if it’s built right you’ll be the pick of the litter
everyone will want to follow you like twitter
competition will get bitter and you’ll shine like glitter

if you trying to grow your company will get bigger
design and code right man can you get with it

Filed under:   humor, standards, music, pop culture, software, web design and development, society, creativity, browsers, innovation
Posted by:   Molly | 7:27 pm | Comments (17)

The John Slatin Fund Accessibility Project

For the many people who knew and worked with John Slatin, his passing comes as a deep sorrow. His humor, kindness and always energetic work for Web accessibility are an inspirational cornerstone for all of us working to create a better Web, and ultimately, a better world.

After a long illness, John’s passing has left his family with medical debt. I can’t express the amount of personal rage I have against my wealthy and powerful nation’s inability to provide quality healthcare to its citizens. It is one of my gravest fears that I will leave the same legacy of debt on my loved ones who should be left able to care and comfort one another rather than see their life savings and resources lost during such a difficult time.

This in mind, I was extremely encouraged and moved to hear that a fund to assist with the Slatin family’s needs at this time has been set up. It works like this: Any company or individual who wants an accessibility site review is asked to donate $500.00 to the fund. In return, that company or individual will receive a review performed by top accessibility experts including such impressive names as Wendy Chisholm, James Craig, Marla Erwin, Derek Featherstone, Bruce Lawson, Gez Lemon, Ian Lloyd, Ann McMeekin - the list is literally a who’s who of the finest accessibility practitioners in the world. These experts donate their time to review your site, and in turn, the fund receives the money, which goes directly to the Slatin family to offset their medical debt.

Personally, I will miss John for so many reasons. It’s hard to imagine that he’s even gone, he was one of the most supportive mentors in the last few years of my own professional life. It brings comfort to know that the community has come together in such a positive and productive way to honor him, and his family, for the richness he brought to all he did and everyone he knew.

For more information on the project, please visit The John Slatin Fund Accessibility Project Home Page. There is also a Facebook Page where you can find more information as well as community support.

Filed under:   professional, web design and development, society, announcement, accessibility, community
Posted by:   Molly | 1:13 pm | Comments Off

Saturday 15 March 2008

Your Best Pop, Your Worst

NEEDING TO GET AWAY FROM STANDARDS and browsers and conferences, I’m interested in a conversation about the best and worst pop culture right now.

Whether journalism, fiction, television, film, photography, illustration, diaries or mixes thereof, I really need your help expanding my horizons.

It can only help!

I’ve been watching “Ashes to Ashes” and waiting for a new episode of the “Big Bang Theory.”

What are you following? Reading? Watching? Doing?

Share your worst, your best!

Filed under:   faith(less), humor, blogging, pop culture, poetry & fiction, society, creativity, molly asks you, community, nmby
Posted by:   Molly | 7:23 pm | Comments (71)

Sunday 9 March 2008

A Jewish Girl’s Thoughts on The Seven Deadly Sins

• Lust: Not a sin.
• Gluttony: Not a sin. Unless you don’t share what you have!
• Greed: A sin.
• Sloth: Rest only when weary.
• Wrath: It happens sometimes.
• Envy: Only that the health of our youth is not equivalent to the wisdom of a greater age.
• Pride: a sin only if truly misplaced.

Filed under:   faith(less), humor, poetry & fiction, society, religion
Posted by:   Molly | 10:49 pm | Comments (48)

Monday 3 March 2008

Celebrate, C’mon! IE8 Standards Mode To Be Default

By now you’ve likely read about the big news regarding Microsoft’s commitment to a more interoperable Web, starting with the very good news that standards mode in IE8 will now ship as default.

I’m off to MIX08 tomorrow, and will be attending the keynotes as well as developer discussions on IE8 and additional events surrounding Microsoft’s agenda moving forward. I’ll post more as I’m able.

In the meantime, I just want to shout out a thanks for all the hard work it took this year to keep the IE8 conversation open and alive. We’ve been through some bumpy times, and I for one know that people on the inside of Microsoft faced an enormous amount of pressure in trying to keep that conversation in the public eye.

To all who worked so very hard from both the inside and outside, I toast your dedication, your willingness to challenge what would otherwise be the status quo, and I think it’s really worth taking a celebratory moment to realize that at least for now, the community voice can, and does, truly make a difference.

Filed under:   professional, policies, standards, software, web design and development, society, w3c, conferences, announcement, browsers, microsoft, community
Posted by:   Molly | 10:13 pm | Comments (47)

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Interview: Roger & Molly: Webstock New Zealand

I like this interview! It runs a bit long but Roger made me feel so welcome it just came out as a spontaneous chat.

Anyone willing to do text transcript, holler. I’d like to make one available!

Thank you, Roger, for a great interview.

Enjoy, comment, bitch etc. below:

Filed under:   professional, humor, standards, software, web design and development, travel, food and drink, society, w3c, conferences, announcement, creativity, browsers, microsoft, ie7, innovation, whatwg, community
Posted by:   Molly | 8:12 am | Comments (39)

Wednesday 20 February 2008

There’s No Place Like Home

It’s been said that “home is where the heart is.” Well, this heart has been very blessed, because I’ve found heart in so many places, and with so many people.

Tonight I get on the plane that will take me to the plane that will take me to the other plane that will bring me to my physical home in Tucson, Arizona. I’m looking forward to seeing my cat Honey as well as all my friends and loved ones there.

But as I sit here in Cairns, Australia, nearing the end of a month-long journey throughout the southern hemisphere, I’m deeply moved to know that the Aquarian age of ideals has, while always shaped me, proven out in real life.

I feel a true part of the family of humankind, and a part of this beautiful earth that I am so fortunate to travel and experience.

So, it is with my sincerest thanks and all my love to each and every person, and with regard to each and every place, to have helped me find out this amazing fact: There truly is no place like home.

How lucky I am to have found out what that really means. How grateful I am that you have shown me.

Filed under:   travel, society, family, community
Posted by:   Molly | 9:24 pm | Comments (28)

Monday 18 February 2008

Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History

Guess I’m going down in those history books, because I am scandalous!

What fun! I love the fact that Matt (the fellow whose shirt I unbuttoned the top two buttons of) used to “smuggle” my books into class. In the sixth form, no less! Oh, the irony.

Filed under:   humor, blogging, pop culture, web design and development, travel, blog slut, food and drink, society, conferences
Posted by:   Molly | 7:25 pm | Comments (19)

Sunday 17 February 2008

Happiness is Sexy

As a depressive, I’ve always found the people I get involved with during the dark times end up being my worst mistakes.

But happiness, I’m sure, is sexy. I see a plain person frown, and that’s just a plain person frowning. I see any person, no matter their physical being, alive with happiness, and that is very appealing.

Happiness is sexy. I may not always be able to be happy, or sexy, but damned if I don’t love being both.

What do you think?

Filed under:   blogging, pop culture, blog slut, society, molly asks you, community
Posted by:   Molly | 3:23 am | Comments (40)

Friday 15 February 2008

I Wish It Were Webstock Every Day

What a fantastic experience here in Wellington, New Zealand.

Content, personalities, activities, food, drink, entertainment were all exceptional due to the hard work of the awesome Tash and her crew of equally awesome folk.

I want to shout out a thanks to this wonderful group, who work, for free, to pull Webstock off.

This is the finest event I’ve been to in quite some time.

Webstock restores my faith that not everyone involved in conference organizing is concerned with profits these days, and in fact people, and the passions of our industry are still going strong.

My very personal thanks and endless tons of love for all involved in this fantastic and very special event.

Filed under:   professional, web design and development, society, conferences, community
Posted by:   Molly | 9:49 pm | Comments (21)