02.27.07
How to Grok Web Standards
There have been some great articles recently on A List Apart, especially this one (which also defines the word “grok”). A lot of what author Craig Cook says here echoes my philosophy toward designing. It’s important for your code to be as standards-compliant for myriad reasons, outlined in that article, as well as this other article.
But Cook’s piece here really touches more broadly on what I’ve learned as a designer: a designer (web or print) must be a writer, engineer, and artist, and in that order. If any of these elements are lacking, then the end result will be at least partially unrealized. The key here is that each of these disciplines is distinct in the way it goes about creatively problem-solving. The message must come first. The way the design is put together must be functional for the end viewer. And finally it must be visually appealing. These principles are universal to any medium.
02.24.07
Persecution of Julie Amero
Okay, people, this one is important. A substitute teacher in Connecticut was recently convicted of 4 felonies because of uncontrolled “naughty” popups on the (very unsecured) classroom computer. This is an outrage. It’s outrageous. I’m outraged. Her husband has started an official blog with an opportunity to donate to their cause: http://julieamer.blogspot.com/ Basically they have a lot of legal fees and need to pay bills.
And on top of the ridiculously unfair trial, she miscarried due to the stress, after battling infertility.
See also: update from Download Squad, Sunbelt Software Blog (security firm that has taken up the cause).
Respond as your heart deems appropriate.
02.22.07
I got a MacBook Pro!!!
aw yeah… it’s not actually mine, it belongs to my work, but it’s sweet. Luxurious. Nice.
I’ve been deputized!
Recently, I helped a member of a clandestine law enforcement agency with a small matter at one of my offices. He was a very nice man, and, since I was helpful, he gave me a small pin with the agency’s logo on it and said “Here, I’ll deputize you…”
One of my office-mates, who shall also remain nameless, said “Well, congratulations, Barney!”
The pin is on my laptop bag now. And I feel very special.
A leap of Faith
[note: I wrote this around the 16th, but didn't publish 'til today.]
James 2:14-26. Hebrews 11. Faith.
It really annoys me when people talk about faith as a belief system. (“I have faith- I believe in God.” “I participate in my faith- I go to church.”)
People, faith is obvious when you see it. It’s not a matter of whether you share your faith with others. If you have faith, you don’t have a choice- it’s apparent to those around you. Faith has to do about caring for others, but only to the extent that it’s an act of obedience. People with no faith can be some of the kindest, givingest people in the world. Faith is not believing ideals and such; no, faith is trust, and when you trust someone, you take actions to prove it. There’s just no way around that.
02.13.07
Expect the Unexpected
God loves to surprise us. Try, just try to constrain Him, and He’ll surprise you; He’ll break out like a jack-in-a-box. I think it’s good to imitate our creator in this way and break out of our self-imposed restraints, as well as others’ expectations.
I remember a workshop I attended on speaking to groups about God, by Steve Bush. He said one of his keys to getting the message across was the element of surprise- in his messages, he thinks of what everyone expects him to say on a given subject, and then figure out a way to say the opposite. For example, if you’re speaking in church about sex, people expect you to say something frumpy like, “Sex is bad. Your desires are evil.” So you come out saying that “Sex is good. It’s good that you want to have sex.”
It’s important to have this element of surprise, of actively looking for ways to go against expectations, in our lives. And right now I want to focus on how this works in music – specifically leading times of musical worship.
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