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The Perfect Notebook Case

November 9, 2006

I've been looking for the perfect bag. It can't be just any old thing. I need something big enough to carry my laptop, my lunch, my phone and wallet and keys, assorted manuals, a power adapter, an odd cable or two, a sweater, and a few books. That's a lot to shlep halfway across campus. So I decided it also has to be on wheels.

Letters from Macrebel Camp: Part II

November 4, 2006

October 17 My elation over being able to sneak away from Macrebel camp has started to wear off. Funny, but I never really noticed before how dingy and out-dated Windows looks. Everything seems so flat and gray...and in desperate need of a serious makeover. Today I actually found myself missing the dock with its bright little icons.

Letters from Macrebel Camp: Part I

October 27, 2006

September 29th It's been a rough and exhausting week Ever since reaching Macrebel camp, I've felt like the world has turned upside down. Everyone here is very friendly and helpful, and the landscape is so bright and shiny and...clean. Yet it's not home. I miss my old comfortable habits and familiar ways of doing things. I never appreciated how many tasks I did automatically, without ever having to think about them. How quickly I could perform. Now I have to pause before attempting the smallest function. I still haven't located the backward delete button. Thank god I found the bathrooms...

Keeping Up In Web Design

September 19, 2006

These days the Web is moving faster than most of us can keep up with. Between work and kids and keeping the family boat afloat, I feel like I'm slipping a bit further behind each day. The list of skills I want to acquire or improve on is a long one...and growing: PHP, graphic design, XML, JavaScript, usability testing, project management, Ruby-- You get the idea. I want to master it all. Perferrably now.

Going Over to the MacDark Side

September 6, 2006

They were troubled times--times of strife and turmoil, man against man, browser against browser. Into this chaos of lawlessness, brutality and disregard for web standards, stepped a new contender. Sleek and powerful in a case of shining armor, the champion strode onto the field of battle bearing a new and mighty weapon that made strong Windows men quake and PC women swoon. Parallel, he called it, and fascinated, the people flocked to him... After over 10 years of staunchly defending the ruling party, I am switching sides. Yes, that's right. I'm going over to the macrebels. Don't bother to try to talk me out of it. It's no use. Call me a traitor. Tell me I've been seduced by a handsome case and dubious technology. I've heard it all. My mind's made up. I've put in my order.

Division of Labor in Web Design

September 1, 2006

When I first started working on the web, it was not only possible but common to build an entire website by yourself, from back end to front end. Even promotion. We called ourselves webmasters because we had mastered (or more often, just did) everything. The back end was Javascript or Perl because that's what was available; the front end was table-based HTML; and promotion meant submitting to the 10 or 15 new search engines eager for links.