February 9, 2001
10:43A
ROAMING

If you're an Amazon.com customer, see the web trick on Useit.com. Months ago when I quit going to Amazon.com, I asked that my customer info be deleted as well as my account. Looks like they still have it, or the info's in my cookie.

In Jakob's own words,

...I have predicted for some time that stand-alone websites would disintegrate as the basic unit of Web use. This payment system is another nail in the coffin for website structural integrity.

Another nail he doesn't hesitate to hammer in himself.

More on Amazon from Dan Gillmor.

Web site discrimination for Mac Users, Jim makes a good point:

Would a store turn away 5% of the people who approached its entrance simply because of the vehicle they used to get there? Supporting multiple Web platforms may require more testing and development time, but the investment pays back--especially in the Mac world, where users are eager to spread the word about Mac-friendly discoveries.

This article leads to another good site, iReview: What's good on the web and what should be better. Mac friendly sites.

NUblog's CNN: Stop Making Sense!.

Hard drive snooping.

Justin Fox's process in creating a magazine cover.

A good cause.

Hard-core Christainity?

I've had the urge to leave the building for short periods of time. Which means I've been to the movies: Cast Away (glad the ending wasn't neat and tidy), Shadow of the Vampire (Willem Defoe plays an interesting Max Schreck), and Chocolat (don't go if you're on a diet). Also saw Traffic last weekend. The absolute best thing was Benicio Del Toro.

I've even gone to the library. I really like their online services: book search, reserve a book, check my account, and even renew a book I already have checked out. Cool.

It's about that time again. Honey and I are going to co-DM a 2-parter in my land. Our rowdy bunch of hack 'n slashers (84/98) have been together roughly for 20 years. Heartless DM that I am, in all that time no one has risen above 5th level. And I don't hesitate to do party kills if they do really stupid things (fireball in a narrow tunnel...hello). Which is another reason that no one rises above 5th level.

BTW, Terry, hurry up and get out of the hospital. Your dog needs you, man.

February 8, 2001
9:44A
KNOCKING

In my valley of winter, spring knocks at my door. 'Small' things like blooming plum trees make me smile.

Joanne Eglash, SV Webgrrl, has a new article, As Dot-coms Die, Employees Cope.

I've been putting together my first print portfolio. Revisited the tips from another SV Webgrrl, Maureen Nelson. As I'm not enjoying the process, I've decided to view it as an art project. Makes it a little more palatable and maybe I can make it fun.

How to write HTML forms, I'm always forgetting.

Good article: Empowering users through user-centered web design. I was almost put off by the abundance of Herr Jakob references, and words like 'engineering', but Dey makes some good points like "Design is necessarily a creative process, but user-centred design dictates that the creative process should employ engineering, or problem-solving principles."

"Design decisions are based on what works best for users. They are not determined by marketing imperatives, organisational politics, or based on the aesthetic preferences of the chief executive officer."

In an ideal world. But it can be a goal you can strive for. In a world where you can control only the things you can control, striving is important.

For you MacHeads, a contribution from Mark, Three Macs: Share Your Internet Connection.

February 6, 2001
12:01P
SUBVERSION

Here's real subversion for you, I've finished the redesign of Smokin' Hotties. Mu-haha! Re-visiting my ideas of porn videos for *her* has left me all smiley-faced for some odd reason.

Because About.com is now requiring Adult Check in their sexuality areas (I can't even get access), I've sent an email requesting that my links be removed. I keep my Heartless area banner-free, pop-up free, age-checker free, and no spam ma'am. I like to visit sites that are that way too.

re: Spam. My spam has increased by at least 300% since I started including my email addy at the bottom of this page. Will now go back to the alternative method of contact.

Pro-lifers infringe on Dr. Seuss. Widow takes action. Thanks, Tari!

Guy Kawasaki believes Apple will survive.

If operating systems ran airlines, posted on The Motley Fool.

CodeBitch's I say Pooh to 2 by 2 by 2. Why getting your page to look the same in every browser is damned near impossible and still be standards compliant and accessible.

Are you gonna buy into Amazon's latest mo money campaign, The Honor System? Are they gonna patent that idea too? BTW Digitrends.net seems to think Amazon will be one of the 8 E-Tailers Most Likely to Survive.

Oh, and speaking of patents, the coming digital patent disaster.

p.s. A zig-zag little breadcrumb trail: Jeffrey > Webchick's "A Plan for All Seasons" > Media.org... Makiko Itoh's Breaking out of the Cube > Wise Woman Wendy Peck's Memorandum of Understanding > About Prodok Engineering.

February 2, 2001
1:47P
UNREADABLE

An appeal to PC Web Designers: please stop using font-size: 8pt;. It is totally unreadable on Macs and you don't let us have the option of making it larger from our browsers (override fonts, changing to 96 dpi, and lowering monitor resolution doesn't do it either). "Thatbitch.com: You can hate me now" sounds intriguing, but I'm not gonna read source code to see the content of a site.

I can't bring myself to link to a site that I can't read no matter how good the content. Again, I am made aware of what visually impaired people must go through when trying to read webpages, and the frustration they must feel when trying to adjust the font size in the browser and still can't read a page. And just when I thought I had rationalized my way into it was okay to use pixels in my CSS. Okay, I repent, back to ems. Mea culpa.

Here are some sites that are readable:

I've noticed that About.com now requires Adult Check to go to some of their sex areas. Looks like some of the guides are resigning because of this.

Lube job: makin it smooooth.

You better hide your naughty bits with Robertson and Falwell running the Justice Department courtesy of Ashcrap.

In a similar vein from Nerve, Kiss My Ashcroft.

Nice photos from her POV, Digitalgirly.

For gosh sakes ladies, don't put your underwire bras in the washing machine.

From Good Vibrations and just in time for Valentine's Day: Pamper Your Valentine. Better than Calgon.

Lego Porn: not only pictures but a plot too.

I hate to break it to all you American men, but U.S. Penis Comes Up Short in Size Survey. Accidentally found odd stories from Yahoo.

For your worldwide sex news, go here.

February 2, 2001
3:57A
SLEEPLESS IN SUNNYVALE

I check my site stats once a month. Have since 1997. In January, I passed the 150,000 pageviews in one month mark. I'd be flattered if I thought they came for the good stuff, but, no, the majority fall in when they put the word 'penis' into a search engine. When I look at the referral logs, I'm amazed, but not really, at the wide and not-so-wide variety of keyword combinations involving penis.

And then there was one. Sign of the times.

The results of the 2001 bloggies.

Great personal story from Joshua Davis (can't view in NN6).

I knew you'd want to know: the story behind the Yahoo/Google dumb motherfucker rankings.

Back to bed...