June 22, 2007 - Comments Off on SEO: Separating Truth from Dirty Lies! Presentation
As requested, the Keynote presentation from last night’s NYC Web Standards Meetup in PDF format: SEO: Separating Truth from Dirty Lies! Thanks to everyone who made it; we had a great time!
June 20, 2007 - Comments Off on New York Web Standards Meetup Group
There's still room for one more!
The New York Web Standards Meetup Group will be meeting at theMechanism on 21 June 2007 at 7:00 pm to discuss search engine optimization [SEO]: separating truth from dirty lies!
Finding yourself working with so-called “SEO companies” and wondering why they exist in a world of Standards markup? Are you looking for ways to improve your Search Engine Rankings?
Founder and Creative Director at theMechanism, Dave Fletcher and Lead Programmer at theMechanism, Jeffrey Barke, will offer their thoughts about Search Engine Optimization with examples of good markup and directory structures, as well as things to look out for when dealing with so-called SEO Companies & Experts.
After the talk, we will open the floor to a monthly design critique. We encourage attendees to bring current or past projects they feel comfortable showing to get collective input from the group, as well as discuss topics and desired presenters for future Web Standards meetings.
There is no fee—and beverages as usual—will be provided. RSVP now!
21 June 2007 . 7:00 pm
theMechanism|eEmerge
440 9th Avenue 8th Floor
New York, NY 10001 [map]
Please contact us if you’d like to present at the July or August meetup.
Anyone who flies inside what I’ve come to refer to as “mechanically–challenged, winged space parrots” – even semi-regularly – knows that the entire process of getting from “Point A” to “Point B” usually includes several points in-between and continues to devolve into a painfully demanding & hebetudinous operation. Whether getting to the airport only to experience the blitzkrieg of hundreds of hostile travelers trying to reach their destinations before anyone else; to the poorly designed automatic check-in kiosks; to worrying whether or not your regulation size bag will be squeezable into an undersized compartment above your head or forced below the plane because there simply are too many knuckleheads and not enough room. Worrying about whether or not you can bring a dollop of soap in a baggy, for fear that you'll be forcefully held at gunpoint by security guards and trained attack wolves, makes the overall trip a consistently wearisome panic attack waiting to happen.
Thankfully, much like an Advil, cheerfully delivered by an enchanting Koala bear, Qantas Airlines is showing the obscenely wealthy that those headaches are over.
While on layover in Sydney or Melbourne, you me and the rest of the weariest travelers can merely dream of relaxing in luxury, nestled within the new Marc Newson-designed Qantas First Class Lounges. Designed like the futuristic lair of The Jetsons or James Bond, these fantastically designed chill-out spaces sport individual marble-lined shower suites, Payot cosmetics and Kevin Murphy hair products, as well as a library stocked with best selling books, magazines, newspapers and board games – all free for the price of a first class ticket. There's also an "˜entertainment zone' with plasma TVs and Sony play stations. A trip from Melbourne to Budapest will knock you back a little more than $14,000. Once again, great design becomes limited to only the people who can afford it.
But, for even that price, they are quite breathtaking, and give the “filthiest of the rich” an experience they are, I'm quite certain, already very used to: facials, internet, marble showers and plausibly, off-duty attack wolves that apply and lick perfectly posh and pedicured feet with all of the skin moisturizer and lotions airport security confiscated from my suitcase at the security check.
May 23, 2007 - Comments Off on Sue me, I win
According to this report from News of the World, Ann Summers (Google it...) has released a “naughty thing” for the iPod, called an iGasm. The interesting point here is that Apple isn't denouncing the device itself. They are threatening to sue over the ads. By the looks of the press, traffic (and most likely warm, hard cash) that Ann Summers is reaping from the immediate backlash, this iPod-toting Neanderthal wonders what type of message this sends to young designers for seeking originality in your final branding solutions.
Surely (if this becomes a successful product, which you know it will...), the debate goes on for stressing the power of originality in our fine profession vs. the incessant lust for controversy to create profitability in new product launches. If this sort of stress gets to you consider getting a natural stress relief supplement. Lawsuits are expensive, unpredictable and stressful. Unfortunately, sometimes they are unavoidable. Whether you were injured because of someone else's negligence, wrongfully terminated from your job, or need to enforce a contract, you may need to start a lawsuit to protect your rights.
Often the first clue you have that you're being sued is when you receive a summons. Many physicians describe their initial reaction as one of shock, disbelief or denial. Intense distress follows, including feelings of depression, anger and physical illness, and usually lasts about two weeks.
Sue me, I win? Perhaps, but definitely you might want to take in to consideration what you just learned.
May 14, 2007 - Comments Off on WordTube Exploit
May 10, 2007 - Comments Off on Be Counted
It’s true—the survey’s been up since 24 April, but we finally participated in A List Apart’s 2007 Web Design Survey and we think you should too. ALA wants some statistical data about web workers and in return they offer a free ticket to An Event Apart event, an Apple 30GB video iPod, an Event Apart jump drive, or a A List Apart T-Shirt. The survey closes 22 May.
May 9, 2007 - Comments Off on Call to Action: Help Keep Accessibility and Semantics in HTML
May 9, 2007 - Comments Off on New York Web Standards Meetup Group