div vs. table Jun 7, 2006
In the world of web design, tables are out and divs are in.  But I don't care; I still use tables.  Why?  Because divs and CSS are close to impossible to conquer.  I would classify myself as someone who can learn things pretty easily, and I've learned many computery things in the past.  One of the reasons I still have a website is because I like to learn new website things.  It's a hobby.  I enjoy it.  But whenever I try to fit in with the cool crowd by trying to use divs, I fall flat on my face and run to my room crying.  Positioning with CSS is an art form.  Why do you think there are a bazillion CSS tutorials out there?  Because it's not easy!  And when it comes down to it, I'd rather do an easy thing that works than a cool thing that requires more effort. 

One of the arguments supporting the use of divs is that styling is much easier to change on the fly with CSS.  But my position is this:  So are tables!  Tables can use id and class attributes just as well as divs.  Plus, with the mass advent of content management systems (such as WordPress), this argument is no longer even an issue.  Websites no longer consist of a bunch of pages that each have their own style and layout.  CMS-based websites consist of theme files that can be easily edited to display data a certain way.  Masses of posts and pages can be stylistically changed with little to no effort at all. 

One of the things I hate the most about divs and CSS is how difficult it would be to redesign my current site with these "languages".  There's so much learning and tweaking involved.  And for what purpose?  To display the same data, the "right" way.  CSS isn't even a real language; it's merely a method of displaying data.  And I've tried it before.  Using containers and min-width to try to make things resizable.  It's just so pointless.  Tables are easy:  width, border, padding, spacing.  No floats or position:relative nonsense. 

Another argument against tables is that tables are meant to display tabular data.  First off, who cares?  I could argue that my site consists of tabular data, seeing that it pulls all its information from a MySQL database.  But besides that, who cares what the method is meant for?  Some people cite the idea that certain browsers may eventually become standards-compliant, thus disabling certain functionality (specifically the use of tables for layout, or something along those lines).  My opinion on that is:  I'll worry about it when it happens.  Seeing that most browsers still have the functionality to display older versions of HTML (from the mid 90s), I'm not worried about a newer browser not being able to display my tables. 

Yet another argument against tables is that they cost more bandwidth.  If that kind of bandwidth is an issue, get a real web host (like Dreamhost, offering 1TB of bandwidth per month).  Or stop using stupid things like spacer GIFs and margin columns.  Tables have spacing and margin attributes; use them. #technology
Moving machines Jun 7, 2006
Arthur Ganson is a kinetic sculptor who makes intricate machines that perform simple little tasks, similar to a Rube Goldberg machine.  His videos show some of his art.  It reminds me of Theo Jansen's creations.  (via Neatorama) #technology
Da Vinci facts Jun 6, 2006
Here are 3 quick facts related to the Da Vinci Code:

1.  The Priory of Sion is a fake organization created in 1956 (not 1099 like the DVC claims is a "fact") by a French guy name Pierre Plantard.  He used forged documents to establish a link to older secret societies. 

2.  The Gospel of Philip was most likely originally written in Greek and later translated to Coptic, which means it didn't have any Aramaic words in it.  The word translated as companion is from the Greek word koinonos, which means a companion or partner, not a spouse. 

3.  If the painting of the Last Supper shows 13 people, and one of them is Jesus and one of them is Mary, why are there only 11 disciples?  One conclusion is that the feminine-looking one can't be Mary; it's John.  Da Vinci also portrayed John the Baptist (different from John the Apostle) as a girly man. 

These 3 facts don't prove anything.  But I wanted to list them here for "posterity".  (What does that mean?  I don't know.) #religion
Kramer Jun 6, 2006
I just enabled the plugin Kramer, which searches Technorati for incoming links to my posts and converts these links to pingbacks.  The first two things (problems) I notice are:  The pingbacks are only recorded when the post is accessed.  In other words, incoming links won't be searched for unless a specific post is viewed.  The other thing is that the post's comment count isn't updated when a pingback is found and added to the database.  Since Technorati doesn't have many incoming links for my site, I might disable this plugin pretty soon. #technology
net2ftp Jun 6, 2006
One of the coolest things about Dreamhost is their use of the web-based FTP client net2ftp.  I've always felt that FTP is one of the most outdated ways of transferring files.  It's quirky, unreliable, and extremely insecure.  But up until now, it's been the only way to get files to my website.  I've tried many different FTP clients (WS_FTP, SmartFTP, FileZilla, etc.) and had successes as well as problems with them all.  Net2ftp is a web based client, which means you don't have to download any software.  The source files are download-able, but they're stored on your server and accessed from there.  The interface is easy to use and has useful features like keyboard shortcuts, java-based uploading (if desired), and zip decompression.  Plus, it uses encrypted passwords and a secure connection.  All in all, it's a great little program that eliminates the need for a locally-installed FTP client. #technology
Weed whacker Jun 5, 2006
When I was a kid, I always hated helping my dad with outside work.  It seemed so pointless and child-labor-ish.  All I wanted to do was run around and play sports and be a kid. 

But then I reached a point where my soul was crushed.  I no longer liked sports, and all I did all day was sit around doing math problems and IM-ing people I didn't want to talk to.  That was called college.  Sometime near the end of my college career, I developed a desire to do something.  Something cool.  Something manly. 

But then once again, my soul died as I lived my days in an air conditioned office and my nights in a relatively spacious and well-priced apartment.  I was cleanly shaven and took showers regularly.  I drank flavored teas and watched the History Channel.  I liked opera and recited poetry (ok, that's a lie). 

And then it happened.  I walked into the American dream:  Land ownership.  Every event in our nation's history has occurred for this sole purpose, and now I was a member of this elite group. 

And then came the real benefit of land ownership:  Land modification.  After buying billions of dollars worth of power tools from Home Depot, I set to work on what would become the manliest, coolest thing I never would have thought of on my own.  Don't like that stump?  Chop it to death!  That hole is in the way?  Dig some dirt and fill it in!  Don't want poison ivy growing all over the trees?  Rip it down! 

But by far, my most favorite thing to do is use the weed whacker.  Yeah sure mowing the lawn is fun.  But there's just something amazing about being able to control a pair of wildly swinging strings that bring death and destruction wherever they go.  And all this power is at the tip of my index finger.  To feel that little engine roar; to smell the exhaust; to propel grass and leaf clippings all over my face.  It's my dream come true. #psychology
Brief thoughts on marriage Jun 5, 2006
I've been having a series of unrelated and incomplete thoughts lately.  Here are a few about marriage: 

I mentioned recently that marriage is a one-time thing for me.  I think that if I treated it as anything other than a one-time thing, I'd be going about it all wrong.  I don't think a person can enter a "permanent" and/or "life-long" relationship with the idea in the back of their head that says, "Hey, if it doesn't work out, I'll just end it.  I'll just move on; maybe find a new person."  I don't think there should be an escape clause in marriage.  Either you're in or your out.  Otherwise, you shouldn't even be thinking about it.  A prenuptial agreement?  Ridiculous.  I know it's meant to protect both parties and prevent financial ruin, but how can two people make a break-up agreement before they enter into such an important relationship?  I'm sure some marriages have worked in spite of the pre-nup, but with that idea in the back of their minds, the two people always know they have a way out. 

I'm guessing that a lot of people who think about marriage think about it as a one-time thing.  They envision their relationship lasting forever and surviving all kinds of problems and surprises.  To think otherwise would be an admission of potential failure.  Nobody wants to do that.  I don't think anybody actually wants to get divorced.  It's not really a desirable thing to do.  So I don't really think I'm a revolutionary thinker in this matter.  [End of incomplete thought #1]

My other thought on marriage is that moving in together is a bigger commitment/change/struggle than getting married.  And I think it's because of the volatile nature of it all.  In a dating relationship, the other person can leave at will.  They hardly even need a reason.  In marriage, it's usually a little more involved.  You made a legal commitment in front of God, family, and friends.  Your bank account, credit score, credit cards, bills, possessions, and debts are joined together with another person.  If a partner "just left", the other partner would track them down and kill force persuade them to reconsider. So basically, there's quite a bit more permanence and reliability in marriage.  It's dependable and safe.  After you get married and move in together, there isn't much pressure.  You're already "yoked".  But with living together before marriage, it seems almost like a tryout.  Will you measure up?  Will you fart in your sleep?  Will you drive the other person away with your strange personal habits?  It's definitely a gamble.  And instead of falling back on the whole "Hey we're married; we need to work this out" thing, you can just up and leave.  [End of incomplete thought #2]

The problem with these thoughts is that I'm a 24-year-old "kid" who's been married for less than 2 years.  Who the heck am I to form opinions about such big things?  But despite my lack of experience and wisdom in this area, I feel pretty strongly about my opinions. #lifestyle
Sidewalks Jun 2, 2006
I drive around a lot.  And ever since I moved to a slightly more heavily-populated area than Hampton Township (holler), I see a lot of sidewalks.  Sidewalks are great because they enable people to walk or bike without being in the road and in the way of speeding cars.  In Hampton (and much of Sussex County), ditches and wide shoulders are used instead of sidewalks.  This means that cars either have to swerve, or pedestrians have to dive into some brush. 

In light of this information, I have a little announcement for walkers and bike riders:  USE THE SIDEWALK!  It's there for a reason:  So I don't have to slow down or swerve into another lane to avoid hitting you.  And though I'd like to hit some people for their lack of regard for larger and faster moving objects, I refrain because I'm aware of the damage it'll cause my car (and I don't really want to kill anyone).  I know that sidewalks can be a little bumpy, and sometimes they might go up and down when they cross a driveway, but maybe you pedestrians can take a little hit.  Take one for the team.  I know it's uncomfortable and inconvenient and totally against your way of life, but do something for someone other than yourselves.  Get off the road.  Use the sidewalk. #travel
Pi Pie Jun 2, 2006
The Pi Pie pictured below is a cherry pie with a cutout of the mathematical symbol pi in the center and the first 23 digits engraved around the crust (some of the 5s and 2s are backwards).  It was made on Pi Day, which is March 14 (3/14). Flickr has more pictures of Pi Pies.  Finally!  Another entry in the math category!  (via Neatorama)
#math
Grammar my way Jun 1, 2006
I learned how to write in junior high and high school.  Years of repetitive English classes drilled rules and patterns into my head.  But there were a few things I was never comfortable with, so I break some major rules pretty often: 

1.  Prepositions ending sentences.  "Prepositions:  What are they good for?" is a perfect example of why I don't like that rule.  I speak this way in normal, everyday conversation, so prepositions will appear at the ends of sentences in my writing. 

2.  Commas separating groups of things.  There should be a comma before the "and" if you have a first thing, a second thing, and a third thing.  The rules say it can be done either way; I think it's either my way or the wrong way. 

3.  Punctuation within quotations.  Did I say, "Shut up?"  Or did I say, "Shut up"?  I think I said the latter, and even though it breaks major punctuation/grammar rules, that's the way I do it.  I also might use punctuation in the quotation and outside as well:  I used to say, "Shut up jerks!". #language