Entries from September 2004

Procrastination.I live in a world of ideas, but I really need to start translating some of these ideas into reality. Currently I am obstructed by my very own plan B, or my “fall back” job. Whatever its name, it is blocking plan A.A friend laughs when I tell him the only ... Read full entry

Makara Beach, near Wellington (the capital of New Zealand) is no idyllic holiday resort type of beach. Instead of pure golden sand, the beach is lined with pebbles, rocks, tree branches, and masses of seaweed. Sure you can sunbath here, just not in the cocktail comfort of a South Pacific island tourist attraction.Makara’s ruggedness is very much its charm ... Read full entry

W3Planet: about standards compliant websites, for standards compliant websites, by standards compliant websites.Rather than a listing of websites that use validating XHTML and CSS, this is a directory of weblogs that cover issues of interest to designers and developers using web standards.I expect though your weblog would need to be standards compliant ... Read full entry

For designers looking to list their standards compliant portfolios and web work, W3 Compliant Sites, is the place to go.Once again standards compliant work is required to get you through the door. Though I can’t find any direct information, I have the feeling this is an Australian project promoting the use of web standards.

Posted in the news box of Australian INfront itself, a link to an article by Joe Clark lamenting the fact many design portals and community sites are not standards compliant.Joe names INfront as one example. One of many, it should be noted. While I would never criticise INFront (hey, I was once a founding ... Read full entry

It almost seems there is an obsession with flood-lighting objects in Sydney. While buildings, monuments, and various tourist attractions are favourites for this illuminating trend, I wonder who would flood-light a tree?This tree on the campus at UNSW has been deemed worthy a place in the lime light. Just why, I have no idea. Perhaps the ... Read full entry

Something weird is happening out on the boundary, or Kuiper Belt, of our solar system, where space probes Pioneers 10 and 11 have now made their way. Both deep space probes, launched over thirty years ago, traversed the inner region of the solar system almost exactly according to plan.Since passing beyond the orbit of outermost planet Pluto, events have taken an ... Read full entry

Ever wonder where the work day goes? Ever feel there is never enough time to do anything? You’re not alone. We’re now spending ever more time writing and replying to email at work.Email, once simply a marvel of modern technology, is rapidly becoming a frankenbeast that dominates our blinking moments. It’s like milking a cow. If you don’t clean out your ... Read full entry

My Bank™ who shall remain nameless is on the revenue trail again. As usual. And who can blame them? Profits of hundreds of millions of dollars just don’t cut it with the shareholders anymore, so new ways have to be found to boost the bottom line.Cutting services, closing branches, and charging exorbitant rates of interest on credit cards lead to fantastic income streams but more could really be done. Do ... Read full entry

Today marks the Internet’s 35th birthday. For on this day all those years ago, two huge computers were connected by a cable with the aim of transferring data between them.While it sounds more a LAN to me, I’m sure someone would know why this thirty five year old event was dubbed the ’net instead.Regardless, despite being with us all this time, researchers say the Internet very much ... Read full entry