Not-so-simple Bits

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Dan Cederholm’s book Web Standards Solutions is definitely not for beginners. He hits the ground running, right from the first chapter, jumping into full CSS syntax with tips and tricks for styling lists and headers; not much in the way of “getting started” or “style basics.”

For advanced users, it’s an excellent reference to extend existing markup knowledge in different creative and technical directions. This book recommends standards-based markup practices to achieve various results within different contexts, from simple padding and floating to Fahrner Image Replacement. Much of the content is rehashed and rearranged from the Simplequiz, which is a great way to contrast current presentational “tag soup” conventions with proper structural markup. So far it’s all been stuff that I already know and use in my day-to-day design, but I’m seeing a few things in later chapters which should pose both unique solutions to as-yet-unmet CSS design challenges.

Don’t start with this if you want a starter’s XHTML/CSS manual or a comprehensive syntax guide. If CSS isn’t like a second language to you yet, you’ll probably want to read Web Standards Solutions with a couple of cheat sheets close by. And of course, the easiest way to learn is to do: fire up a text editor and a [real] browser and hammer out that code as you read about it. The sooner you’re out of the tag soup, the better.

Friendster Testimonials

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I don’t use Friendster anymore, so I cancelled my account. The testimonials were worth saving though, so I’m recording them here for posterity:

Angie, 10/31/2003: Had a secret crush on him for a few minutes during our ORSEM even if he badly needed a haircut then. And I will forever remember him for the first (and only) person to use “pulchritude” for my description (eternally grateful i still am, pau). Hilarious Sean Connery impressions. Mean roller-blading skills. Unfortunate Barry Manillow resemblance. Famous Block & White Ad. More known for his wit and intelligence… but people should also be famous for his heart! Miss ya, ordo.

Toni, 09/29/2003: Rollerblades. Star Trek. Barry Manilow. Photography. Incredibly smart. Cats. The Pioneer Blogger of LHC. How Now Brownpau. Sketches of Human-like cats (or cat-like humans?) in our college logbook. These are some of the things I remember about you. Hope you can come home soon and hang out with LHC so we can reminisce some more. We miss you, Ordo. :)

VicManlapaz, 09/25/2003: The Man.. The Legend..! Ladies and Gentlemen.. Barry Manilow! Who’s the man???! :) Good to see you again in cyberspace pal!

Raffy, 09/23/2003: Pau and I were schoolmates in highschool, classmates in college, workmates in hell, and even here I still can’t get rid of him! Hehe. My Washingtonian buddy has been my web guru, my spiritual stonewall, and one of my closest friends that I don’t get to speak to except through e-mail and blogging. I’m happy that I have a friend who I can relate to on so many levels. Pau, you’re my hero. (mustn’t…cry…)

Kage, 09/22/2003: There may be three Ordos in the history of the Ateneo… but I do think that we lucked out and got the pick of the litter! Silently sentimental, subtly quirky and smoothly verbose… Paulo inline skated his way into our lives. Gr8 98 would not have been the same without our resident Guidon boy and Star Trek fan.

Rowie, 09/18/2003: Paulo (or Ordo, as I still call him) is one of the most endearing, lovable people I know. His heart is kind and gentle, his intellect and creativity are estimable. Miss you, Paulo! But I’m happy to know you’re happy in the U.S. So … while we’re getting all nostalgic about college here … I have to ask: whatever became of those roller blades? ;)

Jay, 09/18/2003: Personally Ganns, I liked him better in “Somewhere Down the Road.” ORDO!!! US based huh? So that’s where you’ve been keeping yourself! I remember Paulo’s sardonic wit and deadpan humor and…awww, who am I kidding…AT THE COPA…COPACOBANA!!!! THE HOTTEST SPOT NORTH OF HAVANA!!! Everybody jump in! COPA…COPACOBANAAAAHHH!!!

Ganns, 09/18/2003: I’ve known Pau as a solid, grounded individual who loves with all his heart and lives for his God. I totally love the quality of his work, and know that someday, we, his friends, will watch him proudly as he claims some award for his many talents. Oh, and he rocks when he dishes out, “her name was Lola…”

SnotRokit, 08/02/2003: paulo has to be one of the nicest people that i have met. he’ll help with anything that he can, and i don’t think i ever saw him get mad at anything. paulo rocks.

Aaron, 06/16/2003: Paulo is the kindest, warmest, bravest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life, and even now I feel that way – this minute

Steph, 06/03/2003: paulo does great sean connery, star trek, and redneck impressions. i can’t think of anyone on earth that i would rather share a computer with than this guy. and ladies…this guy is a true gentleman (remember what those are?). steph says paulo rocks!

Jesper, 06/02/2003: I tell you, it was Paulo who really introduced me to weblogging. Lynch him, not me.

rajan, 05/30/2003: paulo fixed my website! for that, i’m eternally grateful, or at least grateful up until my next trip to Arby’s.

Suborbit, Saturn, and Mars

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It sure has been an exciting year for space news, and things are just getting better and better:

  • SpaceshipOne has made Earth’s first manned private suborbital spaceflight, paving the way for future space travel outside the government’s space program. The “X-Prize” is not won yet, however, until the craft is able to lift off with three people aboard, attain suborbit, land safely, and do it again in two weeks. Problems in flight may delay that prize attempt.
  • Meanwhile, over Saturn, Cassini has flown by the icy moon Phoebe, and in two days will pass through Saturn’s ring plane as it falls into orbit around the majestic gas giant, there to stay for a four year tour. I’m especially looking forward to December, when the orbiter drops ESA’s “Huygens” probe into the thick, murky atmosphere of Titan, Saturn’s most enigmatic moon.
  • Mars Rover Opportunity slowly descends into Endurance Crater, at risk of never being able to come out again; but the geologic data that should emerge from those steep, blueberry-strewn slopes should be well worth it.
  • Spirit, at the base of the Columbia Hills, examines a strangely shaped rock dubbed “Pot of Gold,” which, to my completely untrained eye looks like a frozen lava splatter, or sand fused by lightning.

Fancy Schmancy

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Conrado de Quiros, who I thought had better analytical skills than that, falls for the poor revisionist history of The Da Vinci Code; hook, line, and sinker.

“I was afraid it would damage my faith,” a Couples for Christ member told him. Hah. Small chance that a piece of garbage like Da Vinci Code could damage one’s properly informed faith, any more than Left Behind could turn me into a pretrib dispensational premillenialist.

Bananaphone

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Ring > ring > ring > ring > AAAGGHHH PLEASE MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP.

(Caveat: blood and swearing in the last one.)

Theodore Roosevelt Island

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That was a nice Saturday: bright, sunny, and breezy. Perfect day to explore Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Photos of Theodore Roosevelt Island.For un-automobile’d walking folk such as I, the easiest way to the island is via a bridge near the Rosslyn Metro. From the Metro exit (after turning around from the escalators), cross the street and the little plaza and go left — that is, north. Follow N Lynn St, crossing over Route 66, until the intersection with the Potomac Heritage Trail. Go right, cross the bridge over the GW Memorial Parkway, and you will arrive at a parking lot, from where a little footbridge spans the river to the island.

Delightful little island, right in the middle of the Potomac river. It’s heavily wooded, with three major trails — the Wood Trail, the Upland Trail, and the boardwalked Swamp Trail — converging on a Memorial Plaza with a bronze statue of Teddy himself, right arm defiantly raised. (All that’s missing is a big stick.) Ringing the plaza are four monolithic tablets inscribed with quotes from Roosevelt on nature, manhood, youth, and the state.

Wildlife is small but varied: all I saw was squirrels, but a passing couple said they had seen a raccoon and a fox. At the south swamp I paused to watch a huge blue heron stalk through the muddy shallows catching fish, while three turtles ducked in and out of the water around it. There were several people on the trails, many walking dogs, but tourist volume for a weekend afternoon was nowhere near as bad as it gets on The National Mall. But for the noise of far-off firetruck sirens and airplanes taking off from National Airport, one could almost forget he was still in the city. A wonderful little haven; I’ll be returning there a lot, I think.