Consider the following - used to as a link to a different section of a page.

‹a href="#anchor"› The is the link text ‹/a ›

Generally, when linking to another part of the page, you insert an 'anchor tag' where you want to jump to. Like so:

‹a name="anchor"›‹/a›

Here's the point: if have a markeup element with the ID set to say 'anchor', there is no need to add the ‹a› ‹/a› tags. Such as

‹h1 id="anchor"›The Title Blah Blab ‹/h1 ›

The navigation still works. No need to add anything else. The ID is the anchor name. A subtle but powerful point.

This is another example how CSS and the DOM change the coding paradigm within well built pages.

Usually, I from the camp of getting it done as quick as possible. In competent web design, however, this can have implications. The mantra of modern web dev is heavily based in semantics - basically how a page is built through its markup.

When working quick, I take proven trails that sometimes need to be re-thought. Especially from a sementics perspective. Anyways, I alwasys used two (2) ULs floated left and padding to be a two-column effect.

The article suggested a much simpler one-list move. It floats the LIs forty-fifty percent of the UL width. Very simple, very effective.

I often overlook simpler solutions in code. This helps to become more aware of the possibilities - check it out:

ul.button{
list-style-type: none;
width: 550px;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}

ul.button li {
float: left;
width: 40%;
margin: 10px;
border: 1px #000 solid;
padding: 5px;
text-align: center;
background: #f3f3f3;
}

Domain masking is simple - the URL shown in the address bar is a custom URL - like www.grabers.com - but the content of the page is from another URL - such as www.xyz.com. There's all sorts of reasons why this could be useful.

This has been around for along time. But what is a lesser known fact is that search engines will use the meta information in the search listings somehow. I hadn't been aware of that and this fact is important.

According to HostingDude.com, "But masking is even more powerful than this! You can do more than just hide the domain name to which your customers arrive. You can also control the Meta Tags which are read by search engines, so that your new website can be found, ranked, and cataloged under the keywords and description you desire.You can insert a Meta Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords, and these will be passed to any search engine finding your site. This helps create a separate identity for your site from the site to which you're forwarding, and improves your site ranking. "

This is somewhat open to discussion, but nevertheless still relevant as many search engines still rely on the meta information is some way. Jill Whalen at High Rankings gives an excellent perspective on the current state of affairs in this regard

A few posts ago I had mentioned Nick Hoodge's wonderful InDesign Prepress Tips site. I used it to confirm the results I was gettting.

The problem with many two-color jobs - especially for printers using duplicator-class presses - is tight registration. On a newsletter, for instance, factors like 'tail whip', grain direction, and humidity can drive press operators nuts. Plus, many unseasoned graphic artists create designs that work in theory but are almost impossible to print on a printing press. Places where two colors touch each other show gaps, revealing the color of the paper underneath. It compromises the design and quality of any printed piece.

To address this, trapping is used. Basically, where colors touch, one color is widened so it prints over another color. This creates a 'margin of error' that helps offset many of the effects above. It makes it easier to get colors to touch; jobs look better.

In my instance, the printer I'm am working with has a nice Quickmaster, but whines if you push him or his abilities. REMEMBER: A printer will almost never tell you he'll struggle with a job. You're only indication will be when the job comes back and even the samples on top look shitty.

Anyways in pre-flighting the file handoff, I wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be any issues. An area needed to be trapped - so I used Adobe's In-Application trapping along with it's In-Rip Separations feature to print a postscript file.

Distill the postscript and open in Acrobat. Click 'Preview Overprints' and zoom it. Viola! A gauge on the trapping.

The PDF is a composite, but still retains its spot color information. Crackerjack can print the seps...

South by Southwest 05 is a series of conferences covering a range of media - including Interactiive technologies - and holds a yearly conference. The upcoming one is in the second week in March and features conferences and talks by a range of people of who know their stuff.

That type of list really distills down a lot of the talent that is curently out there. How far away am I?

Very interesting

I got to introduce myself with Jerry Meek. He is a young activitist in the party and currently running for State Chair. We had a nice conversation.

I also got to finally meet Lorrin Freeman, Wake County Chair. We had been emailed back and fourth about the voter DB I helped them with. She told me they've already used it a few times. It was good to make the connection.

Looking at the many elected officials that were there, it was interesting at the dearth of young office holders. I think there was only two people under forty.

The only sorry part of the whole event was the Silent Auction - it set me back some.

After the party, I checked my mail and received the precint organized meeting info. If I can find the time, maybe I'll check it out.

The tool is called Nichebot and allow you to find keyword niches that can be used in building traffic on a website. These types of things were once the realm of WordTracker exclusively...it's nice to see that tools as powerful as this can be playee with without much risk.

Generally, adhereing to strict standards-compliance principles when building sites these days takes time and testing. And a lot of it. I'm constantly seeking ways to refine and reduce the effort in getting something to look good quickly.

I've known about sprites for awhile, but never needed to use them. But the site's interface came from an outside deisgner, and I was committed to implementing in using standards.

To deal with the main navigation, I decided to rely on sprites to drive the interactivity. In essence, a sprite is a box - a hollow box of sorts - that is used as a template to show things in. With CSS, simple manuevers allow you to alter the content of what's in the box (its position, for example) in response to user behavior. The box can hold an image that is much larger than its opening.

What used to take either tons of slicing and messy javascript can now be accomplished very cleanly.

Many windows users use Outlook Express on the desktop to send and receive emails. Since I am currently running a somewhat antiquated machine - a Win 98SE box - this might come in handy for users still stuck on that platform.

For Outlook Express 5

Go to: Windows/Application_Data/Indentities/{whatEverNumber}/MicrosoftOutlookExpress/. Thats the folder that houses everything.

A quick investigation on how more modern versions of Outlook operate have yielded the same. Local Settings/Application_Data/.... So it basically the same.

What I do is use webmail. After awhile - when its gets 'full - I download into Outlook. Then it can be archived forever if needed.

I've found myself going through emails from 2002. If I took the time t o hook up my old hard drive, I'd have 3 years worth of email.

For what you ask? Posterity.

The County of Erie is in dire straits right now - needing over $100M in 'new' revenue to patch a budget gap. County Executive Giambra proposed a sales tax increase, which would have brought the local levy to 9.25%. It failed legislative approval after months of wrangling.

Because of this, three people I know are seeing layoffs. In sum, the County will probably layoff about 1,200 people. My brother, sister and my friend Mark will all be pink-slipped.

Who knows how long the furlough will last. Estimates center on June of this year. No matter how long, its tough.

It seems that by the year Buffalo and WNY are getting in worse shape economically. No jobs. Bankrupt or near bankrupt governments. It's a real shame. A lot of people are caught in the middle.

On the flip side, though, is that change needs to come sometime. Sooner rather than later is always a popular, pragmatic approach. This situation is a result of years of bloat, overspending and spending on the ifcome.

It's sad. The County Executive came into office much like a white knight, bringing new energy, promises of smaller government and a couple of new ideas.

Nothing has panned out. Government is larger. Ideas has been largely a lot of hot air, and energy is gridlocked the legislature and the region's unwillingness to take risks.

In light of this, I encouraged my friend Mark to seek greener pastures. Now would be the perfect time. I'll keep you posted on what happens on that front.

Time will tell what will happen to everyone else. Of course hind sight is always 20/20, but did I time it right when I relocated..

Below is a listing of my notes from the talk. I think the group enjoyed it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Just yesterday, the FTC reported that identity theft rose over 15 percent last year. They reported that over half a billion dollars lost due to this type of theft and other frauds. Identity was top on the list

Consider some statistics for 2003:
Est Victims of identity theft in 2004: 9.3 million
Average amount of money spent to clear thefts: $1,495
Number of hours victims spent recovering from identity theft: 600
Average number of credit card applications through identity theft: 8.4

Talk Into
First - (How)
Next - (Prevent)
After - (What if Victim)
Finally (Consumer Protection Week)

How Does it Happen

Show of Hands
Bits and Pieces that identify us
Theives - hook or by crook - obtain these facts
Turn the into fiction

Largely lost wallets
People you know
Corrupt Employees
Hackers
Spyware
Garbage
Phishing

Prevention

1) Get copies of your credits reports
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- 1 free per year
- Quick Discovery is huge

2) Be guarded with your info
- Don't carry info
* most frequently reported source was a lost/stolen wallet
- Ask before revealing your social

3) Pay attention to billing cycles for your accounts
- your mail
- Use electronic monitoring of accounts:
BetterBus Bureau recommends:
-fast
-constant


4) Secure your computer / Buy A Shedder / Receipts
- Secure Certificate
- DSL/Firewall
- Vigilent with email
- Phishing

What if a victim
0) Close Accounts

1) Contact 3 Credit Bureas
- TransUnion
- Equifax
- Experian

2) Fraud Alert placed on your credit accounts

2) Contact the Police department
- report
- documentation

3) Identity Theft Affidivit
-often overlooked

National Consumer Protection Week

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm beginning to work through the workflow of the portfolio.
For example, below would be sample entry in the Brochures category:

The EHR Roadshow Brochure
Promotional brochure for educational workshop. 8½ x 11, 4/4, trifold. Complete copywriting, production and prepress.

I'm thinking of a blog with mulitple catagories. These would be:

• Corporate Identity


• Tickets & Invitations


• Websites


• Newsletters/Publications


• Direct Mail


• Signage


• Promotional Products


• Database Applications


• Press Releases, White Papers

I post this in response to today's CNN article on the growing junk email problem, titled Study: Spam costing companies $22 billion a year. Essentially a survey of 1,000 US adults were conducted and the results were startling.

What I found interesting was the fact that a good number of people actually read some spam messages to 'just see what they say'. This is a bad idea. Many of these emails can contain code that allows the sender to snoop on the recipient. Although there's little that can be done programmatically, it does give them an idea on who reading. Because of this, they send the viewer more. Key point: curiosity killed the cat - just delete junk mail.

Another thing that I pointed out was the fact the spammers can send mail into a domain without it needing to be addressed to an actual address. All Grabermedia accounts send this email in the trash automatically, but this can reconfigured. Look into this setting. (Cpanel/email manager/default address).

Email spiders and/or bots that troll the web looking to harvest email addresses are also a huge spam source. Computer program visit sites, harvest email addresses and leave. Those emails are put on a list and you get spam. This can be guarded against by either limiting the number of email addresses published on your site (a bad idea in my opinion) or via an excellent tool I found that encodes the addresses. Using this tool, the robots get confused and harvest nothing.

The excellent encoding tool is provided by Raleigh-based Automatic Labs and is a free service. Basically you can take the address and input it into their form and out comes the code to encode it. You place that code in your webpage. I use this tool a lot.

Basically spam sucks but there are ways to keep it in check. You'll never eliminate it.

Nick Hodge, an Adobe Engineer of some sort, has published an excellent series of short articles related to InDesign, titled Adobe InDesign Prepress Techniques. He describes a variety of pdf-centric moves with the program that I felt warranted linking.

Immediately I've incorporated some of the moves. A recent flury of printing projects at work has had me sending a bunch of different jobs. One job - sent to Montana - utilized InDesign's transparency feature. At first, even our brand new color copier couldn't rip it. After following some of Hodge's tips, things were better.

Stumped, I followed the print-postscript-distill workflow and had better results. Interestingly, however, the gigantic printer completing the job hadn't known about the trick that allowed the job to print. They said they had a number of workarounds. (Namely assigning elements to different layers and playing out sequentially.) Although this gets there, who wants to sent the original application files? Not me...

I sent the link to a friend and we got to chatting about it. His take was that why should you complicate the layout file, just do it in photoshop and tiff export. First - speeed. Second - adaptability.

Layout files - when being developed - change. You constantly have the toggle between PS and your layout. Change. Save. Reimport. Your guessing where composites really need to be. Because of these two factors transparency has benefits.

It seems however, just like pdf, operator training in distilling the file the right way is the biggest hurdle. Hodge's series is a step in the right direction..

Read them and save yourself time and headaches.