MacDONALD

Ch 1: Preparing for the Web

MacDonald’s sense of humor eases the tension of new material.  Currently, my 79 year old Father has decided to go back to University.  He has not been since 1983 and got his first computer 5 days ago.  I am his jump point.  It is a delightful and terrifying experience within a five minute span.

The emphasis on the KISS Φ gives me hope.  I prefer simple.  Even so, I had never considered the “Audience – Monitor Resolution.”  If I had not considered that, then how many other things might I neglect?  The ability to reach people is the crux of creating for the Internet.  Creating is fabulous but it necessitates interaction.

Ch 2: Creating Your First Page

In this chapter we are instructed on the “Anatomy of a Web Page” to better our ability to create them.  If am am correct, then large computers (server) communicate with smaller computers (home PC).  All the raw programming is in binary.  The binary is behind what we interact with, the interface.  In web pages, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the accepted language used to format a given web page.  The angle brackets distinguish the tags from other words; when HTML is viewed, the word “center” means center but “<center>” is a cue for the page to center some element for the web page.  XML (eXtensible Markup Language) are the rules to govern the tags and their usage; it helps refine creation but is more strict.  XHTML (eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language)  is a XML with HTML.  Essentially, XHTML is HTML with rules.  I think :) .  It is a bit confusing and reading more has not guaranteed a better answer.

It was good to learn about some specifics for XHTML. For example, the <b> constitutes a tag and the set <b>your text here</b> an element.  Also, the order in which you combine formatting (like bold and italic) does not matter but you must reverse the closing tags.

The section on ” . . . Something to Hide” was amusing.  For years I have been doing the cut, remove, paste, adjust, re-paste, examine, and so on method.  I had no idea there were other non-code aware persons like me doing the same thing.  It is tedious but with short bits of code and a stubborn nature it was how I got by.  The image under the “Information” banner at left was done entirely experimental; my desire for it to be centered (<center>) was tweaked using my old methods.

The end of this chapter gives a XHTML document and web page validation site called www.validome.org but it seems to be a dead link.  If anyone knows where it moved/morphed to, then post in the comments.  It seemed like a novice could use a site like that.

Ch 17

Blogging.  This site I am keeping  up with fairly well.  My previous blog attempt at Blogger is sort of skeletal still.  Not sure what to do with it.  Reading this chapter, I  learned to set my “Posts Displayed” but I still cannot move my “About Me” page to the “Posts Page/Front Page/Current Page/or Tab Bar.”  I would like all my posts to be accessible through the front page; for some reason I cannot make it happen.  Again, any advice is appreciated.

BEAIRD

Preface

When I read the “Weekly Plan” I misinterpreted which book to read chapters 1, 2, and 17 from.  I am further along in this book than necessary.

I can remember those dreadful “Counters.”  My Gods they were epically bad.  I have flashbacks of  large, neon, “Futuristic” green, alien style font counters.  It was horrible.  Beaird’s “Shag carpet” comment is apropos.

Classicism and the Rule of Three are in my nature.   I have never been a fan of flamboyant colors, sizes, quantities, or the like.  Yet, playing it safe is death when it comes to the artistry end of design.  A balance must be struck.  Form and function can be a divine.

WEB SITES

The authors websites were gorgeous but time will tell if they can help me :) .

MacDonald

MacDonalds’ Web site has already lost me a bit.  I get the code but from his text to practice bits I get lost.  The website does not help.

Beaird

Wow, this site is lovely but again commenting now is purely based on aesthetic.

Gimp

Gimp love. Yea GNU!  I have been practicing with DW and learning at a snails pace.  Gimp looks as though it may help.