1) It's possible to do mouse-overs using just CSS. And not just changing a simple background color--actually changing a graphic. It even works in IE (though there are some other issues that make related factors kinda wonky).

2) Another gray hair. This makes 2. One in front of my right ear, and another in my mustache.

3) Internet Explorer sucks ass through a bendy-straw. Okay.... this really wasn't 'discovered' this weekend; it was just rammed down my throat time and time again. I really hate having to compromise on my design and my coding just so that IE come close to doing what every other browser does correctly.

4) Mišic: Remember these four things....

5) I can go a really long time without washing the dishes and not have it bother me.... much. (This is not necessarily an advantageous trait.)

6) No matter how much you may want to otherwise, there are times that you can only sit by and watch.

7) Microwave burritos and scotch? Not that bad.

"It appears that the publisher has blatantly circumvented the rules in order to peddle sexually explicit material to our youth, and they should be held accountable. A company cannot be allowed to profit from deceit."
-- Congressman Fred Upton (R) Michigan.

So, let me get this straight: A video game based on carjacking, eluding police, firing automatic weapons, and commiting general mayhem is okay. But a little hidden sex and it becomes a matter for the US Congress? Shooting cops from a stolen car? That's fine. Sex? That's horrible.

Grrr.

Oh.. and as for the last bit of his comment? What universe does this guy live in?

Let's please remind this man that he comes from a state which has the Big 3 automakers, as well as tobacco farming.

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning a couple nights ago and looked up at the clock. It was 4:04. My first thought was "ERROR: The requested time was not found on this clock."

Can I blame it on the fact that I wasn't really awake?

I spent the morning building a theme for the official Stephthegeek Blog (coming soon). If any of you happened to drop by today, you got a preview of it. I spent about 8 hours getting the general layout and working through quite a few problematic details. Then I passed it on to Steph to do the final tweaks.

One of those tweaks was centering the content--something I didn't do, and didn't (honestly) know how to do. It's far more complicated than just tossing in a "center" tag.

For the past..... almost 4 hours, 3 of us have been working to get the problem resolved. In all honesty, it all came down to one person: Ace. I have a rather good working knowledge of CSS, but Ace pulled out some tricks I've never heard of.

For those of you who haven't tried to work through a technical problem via an online interface (in this case, an IRC chat room), let me say that it's not exactly the best way to deal with problems. Steph and Ace were the primary participants, and I tossed in some info where I could. We are all thousands of miles away from each other. Trying to discuss technical issues when all you have to use is text and webpages is a bit of a challenge. But we worked through it. Okay.... they worked through it and I mostly watched.

Regardless, it's cool to be a part of a collaboration like this. It's rather stunning to think that, on a regular basis, a group of people who have only seen each other a handful of times (one of whom has never met the others face-to-face, as far as I know) can work on projects and actually get things done.

I regularly sit and talk with people who are not only in different states, but in different continents. I think nothing of it. But on ocassion, I think about my parents' generation... how large the world was.

We've come a long way.

Read

Just because I have nothing to say today:

I know you don't read this, but I want to wish you a happy birthday anyway.

May the strong wind fill your sails,
the seas part smoothly at your passing,
and the rocks bow down before your keel.

May the Hand of the Navigator
lay so gently upon the wheel
and guide your Self and your crew
to your soul's True North.

Beautiful
Intelligent
Articulate
Contemplative

Haunted

Whispers and phantoms and fears;
They rule her, occlude her, consume her.

Waves, cycles, and dichotomies.

"The darkness and the light are both alike...
I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

A candle within the shroud
buring with the glory of a thousand suns.

A blanket of doubts masking thin around the soul.

The wick of greatness drinking of the soul of ages.

One flame to withstand the breath of hurricanes
And the fury of whispers.

One soul...
And a thousand paths.

The laughing Buddha
The laughing Christ
The crying angel.

A touch of the Sidhe
A whisper of the Void.

Beauty tempered in pain
Intelligence wrapped in doubt
Voice shrouded in silence
Contemplation hidden by youth.

The stone awaits the Master's hand
to release the beauty trapped within
He does not create
He does not change
He interprets
He frees
That which is waiting
The greatness within

One must lead
The other follow
yet both beside

One Master
One student
yet roles blend as they must
and both grow as they should.

Touched
Touching
Knowing

Beauty.