Internet stuff

Do you use Google? I bet you do! I bet you use more than one Google service regularly. I do. I use blogger (duh), Gmail, the search engine, their calendar, etc. etc. etc.

Haven't you ever wondered what they could do with that information? I have, but I figured that Google would probably keep a secret. That was until I read this article.

Google has also launched it's own 'mini-office': Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Give up more of your information!

There are also concerns about the way hackers will be able to exploit not only Google's information, but also the code which Google has made available and it's numerous APIs. Read more.

I've recently been thinking more and more about web design as a career direction. As a result, I've been brushing up on my skills and trying to expand them, as well as trying to keep up with new industry developments.

The main focus lately in web design (apart from Web 2.0) has been on web standards. Why? Well, there's a very good reason for that. It makes sure that your website is usable by the greatest number of people. It means that your information can be accessed by absolutely everyone, no matter what system they are using, or even if they are disabled.

Now, the ultimate purpose of design is to communicate. Thus, in general, that which comminucates more effectively would be considered better design. This would make me think that web standards are good design. Yet there are many web designers that simply don't give a shit. This is very bad, mainly because the bad design on the code side will usually not be seen by the client. He sees a nice polished page. But along comes Sally, who is blind and uses a screen reader. Maybe the designer used layout tables and the order of the page makes no sense to her. Maybe he didn't provide alternate text for images. She'll care.

One area in which I know I lack most skills in terms of web design is the visual aspect. I'm pretty comfortable with the code, if a bit rusty at times. But I never took Art, or learned any of that visual stuff.

So I picked up a set of books at the bookstore, called The Non-Designer's Collection, which included a basic design book, a basic typography book, and a basic web design book. They are fucking crap. The design book and the type book, are OK, I guess, but I've seen better books on both subjects which were cheaper. The web design book advocates many web design mistakes when it comes to standards. Waaay too many. It seems like she didn't know about the web standards or their importance at all. Which tells me that someone didn't do an ounce of research. The author's name is Robin Williams (no, not the comedian). Never. Buy. Anything. Written. By. Her. Or peach-pit press, the publisher. I can say this because of the shameless synergetic marketing they applied in their books. This fucking annoys the crap out of me. And she calls herself a professional. Supposed to be a multi-award-winning author. What in god's oft-mis-used name were all those judges smokin'?

Oh, and just for good measure: here is a nice article on the Patriot Act, and how it's being applied in America. I think it's a bit on the wrong side of bat-shit insane, but that's me...

Also, Bush is apparently refusing talks with North Korea. Oh, wait sorry, direct talks with North Korea. He thinks the impact would be stonger if more countries confront Kimmy together. The Bully needs his Gang. Those that are still left anyway. "Tony?"

It's OK for America to have nukes, they used the first one. They were there first dammit! Guess who'll get the moon in the end? But not North Korea. I wonder if Bush thinks they'll really give a shit about him if they are willing to defy China, who are waaay more likely to give them a proper roughing-up.

Bush is the one who seems (in the west) to have the biggest problem with nukes in North Korea (he should be more worried about Iran, if you ask me), yet he won't jave talks with them and wants someone else to do it for him. He's a fucking hypocrite. He says he believes that the commander-in-chief should have exhausted all regular diplomatic avenues or someshit, before committing their troops. I think Mr. Bush is going to jump the gun unless they sedate the guy. When will presidents stop taking amphetamines? Don't they ever learn?