Friday, December 20th, 2002
Daring Fireball Projects: SmartyPants is a really cool plugin for MovableType, the CMS that drives this site. The purpose of this plugin is to convert certain standard ASCII items — straight quotes for instance — into their typographically-correct HTML-encoded equivelents. It also works wonders on double dashes (converting them to proper em dashes), and turns triple dots into true ellipsis — or is that ellipsi…
“I give this plugin a ’10’ on a scale of 1 to 9” said a superfluous banter reader who wishes to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons…).
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Thursday, December 5th, 2002
OK, now before you go flaming me about what I’m about to say, just take a few deep breaths and stay calm:
Zeldman’s CSS Rollovers are not a good thing.
Now, this is just my opinion, and as such it may be wrong, or it may simply change at some point in the future — but enough about me, let’s get to the point.
Zeldman has relayed on his site recently that the XHTML2 standard will likely not include the <img> tag, which is why it’s a good idea to find an alternative for displaying images. This is where the CSS rollover/image display code comes into play. Without using the <img> tag, Zeldman’s homepage proudly displays two small banners in the right column, without the use of the <img> tag, nor any JavaScript for the rollover effect.
Here is the problem: it requires more code than just using an <img> tag and some JavaScript.
Zeldman’s code:
<-- HTML Code -->
<div id="banner2"><a id="alban" href="http://www.alistapart.com/" target="eljefe" title="A List Apart, for people who make websites."><span class="alt">A List Apart</span></a></div>
<div id="banner1"><a id="hcban" href="http://www.happycog.com/" target="eljefe" title="Happy Cog Studios. Web design and consulting."><span class="alt">HapXXCJog Studios</span></a></div>
<-- CSS Code -->
#banner1, #banner2 {
margin: 10px 0 0 2px;
padding: 0;
width: 100px;
height: 25px;
}
#banner1 {
/* Opera uses this background for the rollover effect. */
background: url(/i/bans/hc100bano.gif) no-repeat 1px;
}
#banner2 {
/* Opera uses this background for the rollover effect. */
background: url(/i/bans/ala100bano.gif) no-repeat 1px;
}
#hcban, #alban {
display: block;
padding: 0;
border: 1px solid #6cc;
background: url(/i/bans/hc100ban.gif) no-repeat 1px; /* start hiding from macie\*/
background-position: 0px; /* stop hiding */
width: 100px;
height: 25px;
voice-family: "\"}\"";
voice-family: inherit;
width: 98px;
height: 23px;
}
html>body #hcban, html>body #alban{
width: 98px;
height: 23px;
}
#alban {
background-image: url(/i/bans/ala100ban.gif);
}
a#hcban:hover {
background-image: url(/i/bans/hc100bano.gif);
ns- border: 1px solid #cff;
}
a#alban:hover {
background-image: url(/i/bans/ala100bano.gif);
border: 1px solid #cff;
}
.alt {
display: none;
}
In addition, the images are not visible to older browsers. I’ll have to hear a very strong argument against the <img> tag before I can agree that moving away from it entirely is a good thing.
Again, my opinion on the subject is subject to change, and of course I’ll try this method myself to experiment, but for now I’ll vote “No” on the CSS Rollover referendum.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2002
Todd Dominey has a really slick stylesheet switcher on his recently-restyled site (not much changed, mostly the CSS). I’m going to figure it out as my own little homework assignment for JavaScript, since I’m back to learning it again.
I’m thinking of using a stylesheet switcher on an upcoming site, and though I’ve been working with a method documented on ALA, Mr. Dominey’s approach is interesting enough to sidetrack me for a time…
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Tuesday, November 5th, 2002
As is the tradition each year for 25% or so of American citizens, I cast my vote today in the Florida elections. Of primary concern is the race for Governor of the State, but there were 10 pages worth of other, somewhat smaller choices to be made.
Of slightly more interest to me this time however was a man (50-ish) in front of me in the line who refused to sign his name, raising his voice about this free country and that he shouldn’t have to sign his name in order to vote. I’m of two minds about this: I agree with him about the voting process not being completely free, since you are supposed to sign in before you can vote, but I also understand the need to prove each individual vote, should a discrepency arise. If there were to be problems with the vote down to an individual level (and with Florida’s recent election history, I wouldn’t rule anything out right now), there is a strong chance that each voter’s signature would help sort out the problem. Proof that an individual was present can negate claims of fraud, and who knows what else.
Not that I’m so familiar with the election system in this country that I have any basis for my opinion, but that is one of the nice things about this country after all: I can speak my mind, no matter what.
Oh, and the man who wouldn’t sign? They let him vote anyway :-)
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Wednesday, September 11th, 2002
September 11, 2001. Never Forget.
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