Writer’s Block

I regret everyday that passes that I do not write here. Blogging has a natural calming effect, I think, as I spill my thoughts into the browser for all to see. I can give excuse after excuse for not writing more, but I guess it comes back to how much I have actually been doing of late: not much. I read, I work, and I play, but unlike my days in school, I am far, far less occupied. Case in point: I just watched the latest episode of Stargate Atlantis at seven in the morning.

My work on the new Department of Chemistry web site is nearly wrapped up (but still not live), as I have verified compatibility of the CSS with Windows Internet Explorer v5, v5.5, and v6. Still, looking at sites in that browser regardless of version is disheartening. I know that despite all my efforts to make the site as compatible as possible and as rock-solid a design as I could muster up, those experiencing it with Internet Explorer will suffer. Those users do not suffer for my work, but they suffer with all the web as Windows IE(Internet Explorer) falls farther and farther behind the compatibility curve with new web standards. Viewing the new site with Mac OS X’s Safari or Mozilla’s Firefox is pure joy, knowing exactly what to expect and why (from a web designer’s perspective). Despite such knowledge, I am quite proud of the new design and believe it will age well.

As I look out the window on this cold and frosty morning, I see trees blanketed in white and bulges in the landscape where cars remain abandoned on the street below. The sight is mystical, with the suns rays glistening on the ice as the day awakens. This tranquility, however, will not last: the car owners will have awaken soon to unbury their vehicles and the shining vista before me will melt away as quickly as it appeared last night. And Reno moves on.

Today is Tuesday, or more precisely the second Tuesday of the new year: Steve Job’s Macworld Keynote, an annual tradition of sorts. All-a-blogger in this blogosphere that has any Mac affinity will certainly be writing and reporting as the new gems are revealed. Naturally, there will be disappointment among some as their perfect product never materializes rises from the podium on stage after the coveted saying, “Oh, and one more thing…” Still, as Apple’s product line stagnates with each new day, Januaries offer a rebirth (sometimes) to this favorite of fruit companies as new gizmos and software hit the shelves (after some delay, usually). All eyes will be on the keynote hall at Moscone Center in San Francisco in forty-five minutes. I know mine will be.

(Actually, Apple has opted not to spend horrendous amounts of money to webcast this event, so I’ll be watching figuratively as I find live updates from news outlets.)