Let's get semantical.
For the new year, I've reworked the html and file structure of the site. Things might not look very different, but I redefined the code structure a little more semantically. What does "define the code structure more semantically" mean? To me, it means inclosing the data in html tags that define the data's structure. This, for instance is a paragraph beneath a tertiary header that is part of an ordered list which is beneath the primary header.
Whether this is good or bad, it's hard to say. But I felt so proud of myself after abandoning the use of tables for layout, that I needed to get rid of undefined divs to renew that righteous purist high. The menu (top, left, or right depending on stylesheet) is now a definition list (the links define different navigation choices) and the footer is now a paragraph (very short). Yeah, I know, those choices are a little questionable semantically, but they make me happy and that's the important thing here.
The file system is now mainly organized by year and month, hopefully it will be robust enough to survive my transition to data based publishing and php. Speaking of which, I still haven't developed the comment script so if you want to make this a two way discussion, email me or link. I have, however, gotten closer. I made a little script for the grackle site that will cycle through scans of pages typed at their shows and a safety first form mail script for the lonestar site. I'm still no php 31337 H4XOR, but it's definitely learnable.
Thanks to Tantek Çelik
for the inspiration on the permanent
hyperlinks, in<div>inity,
and file structuring. There are several entries on his site that helped
me focus my thoughts. I'm also a big fan of the study
of regular polygons. And thanks to the w3c
for all its not entirely
unintelligible definitions in the links of the first two paragraphs.
Turn
me into a token with your analysis of needs.
Over the next few days I'll be conducting an email interview with my good friend Rob about his token trade applet. Rob wrote this program as part of his master's thesis for the school of architectural studies at UT Austin. Here is the first installment:
[W]e might as well start the email interview about your tokentrade applet. What I was thinking about is working with three main themes/topics of discussion beginning generally and then focusing as we go. If you're answers make me happy, I'll turn pink and smile then send you some more questions. The three general questions I have are: how does it work, what does it do, and what does it mean?
- I don't need the extreme programming details but give me an overview of the system. What I'm most curious about are the computational equivalents of the psychological terms such as "happiness", "satisfaction", and "fairness". Also I'd like to know how the three needs are related to a cell's context, for example how does fairness relate to legitimacy/approval.
- What are some interesting results you've found and experiments you'd like to try? What's the highest Ω you've gotten and what were the conditions that led to it (I've had pretty entertainingly complex results by choking off a thriving civilization ... evil laugh).
- There is something about the interface that really lends itself to metaphor (see above) -- particularly the third display with all the fat smiling whities. Explain the basis of what it's intended to model and how well you think it accomplishes that. What other interpretations have occurred to you?
So that's the first iteration, do with it what you will and feel free to send questions back at me or ask for clarification. We'll see how long it lasts, but I'm shooting for three back and forths. Of course that's subject to a fairness test.
The new gRaCKle mUNdy site
came up this evening featuring Sammy the grackle. We also posted a huge picture taken by Pintao, riding around in Erik's car last summer. The shows will be traveling around this month as the 811 is sadly no more. For specific dates check out the info page. This monday it will be at Café Revolución in the Cabeza de Piedras Studio, 527 El Paso. If I can get together with Erik this weekend, I might deputise on bass. I'm feeling the need for a little debris.
