Since I've started taking the metro to work, I've garnered a bit of "free time" that I've never had before. At first, I would listen to my mp3 player to help pass the time, but that began to get old really quickly. Also, with certain recurring riff raff going on in close proximity + with the recent reports of electronic theft, I wanted to make sure I had full attention of what was going on around me.
So, I started reading more. I realized that, over time, I would need to refer back to the articles I've read, but couldn't remember where to find it. Because of this, I drafted a blog post with a list of all the articles I've read so far, but after thinking about it some more I decided to create a twitter account that would house all of these articles by posting one link per twitter update.
Monday, November 30th, 2009 marks the third annual International Blue Beanie Day in Support of Web Standards. Show your support to help make the internets a better place.
Your eyes aren't deceiving you. My new tiny amp is as big as the head of my guitar.
I received a $5 gift certificate from being a Rewards member at Best Buy [thank you, Canon 40D] + couldn't think of anything to get. Sure, I could grab a DVD, but I wasn't feeling it. While roaming the store, I ran into this little guy in the Guitar Hero aisle. Unfortunately, it's only compatible with Guitar Hero on the Nintendo DS + Sony PSP, but my original intent wasn't to use it with my GH Nintendo wii. A bit extravagant if you ask me.
So, now I have a little amp for my Strat. Not bad for 8 bucks [the amp costs 12 sans tax]. Isn't it cute? :)
We've all heard it before. Your friend is explaining his really weird dream, going on and on about all this random stuff and right when he gets to the good part it abruptly ends with ". . .and then I woke up."
These 2 critters came to visit me at the studio this afternoon. I haven't ordered anything recently, so I was racking my brain thinking who could have sent these two bulky mystery packages. I haven't even opened them yet! Delayed gratification, you know... Lots of work to do today.
Then, my bro emails me that he + my sis sent belated Christmas gifts my way + wanted to know if I got them yet. I haven't verified what lies behind the corrugated cardboard, but my spidey senses are giving me strong inclinations of what they could potentially be. I think the return addresses by the names of "GameStop" + "Amazon" are dead giveaways though...
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 1 // After months + months of persistent + shamelessly blatant hinting [can I call it 'hinting' even though I cut right to the chase?], the mister just called asking me what version of GuitarHero is compatible with a Mac/PC.
*le sigh*
Important geeky backstory... This is going to sound so superficial, but I am focusing on the mere gesture rather than the outcome. Now, J was very impervious to my numerous sales pitches as to why I want to buy the popular video game for us [he has his counter-reasons, haha]. Since we have been keeping diligent on saving for our first place, we always try to be very good about how + what we spend our money on. But, every now + then I like to splurge on the fun things + somehow I just could not convince him on this one. So, just hearing him tell me that he was at Best Buy tonight asking the sales reps where to find GH World Tour just melts my corazón. Yeh, the version I wanted is "Legends of Rock III" due to the WT computer version not being available yet. "So much for it being a surprise," he said. But, a surprise it was... Even if he didn't end up buying the game.
Who knows why it took Google this long to give Gmail users the option of customizing the default look of their online email interface, but I'm glad they finally came around. They've got all sorts of colour palette themes to please almost every individual as well as more elaborate landscape + illustration themes.
One theme to highlight would be the "Terminal" theme simply because it is an ode to the nerdery + successfully taps into certain users' nostalgia. But, I see it more as a quick 10-second chuckle, + then I'm over it. Because if you actually chose that as your theme you would have the hardest time reading your mail. Unless you enjoy hurting your eyes with #00ff00 type.
With some of the themes like "Mountain", you can also customize by country +/or region. These themes change during the day based on the location information you provide to Gmail to correctly time these changes with your local sunrise, sunset, and/or weather.
Of course, I just had to choose the "Ninja" theme for my interface. I mean, how could I not? While viewing in Ninja theme mode, the star icons are replaced with ninja stars! Ninja stars! Can't go wrong with that.
Quite embarrassing considering folks like apple.com are guilty of this. At least it's an easy fix if we just pay attention to the little details. Plus, who really sets their browser's default bgcolor to anything but white anyway?
In any event, it really should be part of our so-called "best practices" regardless if you think this is a big deal or not. Read more back + forth here.
+++ GROUP INFO_ Underwear showing (web design) Websites that forgot to specify a background color.
It's surprising how many web designers forget to specify a background color. To check for this, set your browser's default background color to magenta, or something equally piquant. Then visit websites. You may be surprised.
This is my journal. I am a full-time interactive designer + freelance photographer with immense love + respect for art, travel, food, technology, + music. Back in 2000, when I first began writing my musings online the content was solely based on my life experiences. Over the years I've meandered from writing on the introspective side + found myself expressing various thoughts, ideas, + interests through photography-inspired posts with little to no narrative. Though, when I tend to think aloud I share them on Twitter. The entry style may have changed, but this site still serves as my chronological journal of random occurrences, introspective or not.
I love{ sketching, design, photography, good typography, XHTML, CSS, constant education, staying current, being with the mister, family, preserving social ties, respect, islands, all things music, plucking guitar strings, sushi, henna mehndi art, photo booths, house hunting, Zumba dance, Body Pump, video games, road trips, rice, spicy food, nature wandering }
Of course, I just had to choose the "Ninja" theme for my interface. I mean, how could I not? While viewing in Ninja theme mode, the star icons are replaced with ninja stars! Ninja stars! Can't go wrong with that.
Feeed me, Seymour. 
