big props to the Lord for the time off work, and big props to my boy jae choi for introducing me to movable type. This software was really what introduced me to CSS on a usable level. It also got me thinking about software again, and getting down to writing it for the fun of it. It introduced me to a grip of people who dig software development, design, and both even. It’s difficult to be up here in South Bend where you find none of that. The only thing that’s near close to this experience is when i started working for Blue Martini some years ago, and got to work with just sooo many people who actually understood HTTP and the workings of the Web, deeply. It was just trippy, after being the “top dawg” at my little company (no link–RIP:), and moving into an arena where there are Real Live experts around, and you can interact with them. What I picked up at that company was another stone in the foundation of my knowledge.

I’ve gained much knowledge on things CSS and web standards (and logical reasons why they matter even with valid business reasons this time around!) in my short span of time blogging, through a lot of the folk in the technical/creative blogsphere, and it’s been good for me, since i spend most of my hours doing coding that only slightly involves presentation (although i managed to slip a little bit of presentation smarts in for a successful demo). I even reunited with an old love–mozilla, my now primary browser (can your browser do tabs?).

Learning more about web standards has even helped in my coding though. One example is that i’ve picked up on using XML for practical purposes, and now it’s “just a thang” now, to consider using XML for an implementation–as opposed to a “oh man now i got to learn such and thus will i have time i’m not sure if i can do it”. Then again, that’s the beauty of using web standards. Implementation is actually easier now, so i can focus on being creative.

Thank God for MT and an extended vacation!!! Thank God for paying work though, as well :D