You are reading this because James is calendar-challenge. Drive-By-Shooting SundaysWednesdays will return to its regularly scheduled slot on Sunday, April 20.
“This one’s tight,” James observed quietly as he screwed on the rifle’s scope. “Hairline view.”
Even tighter than that. He had a narrow line of vision, there were people left and right of the victim, and this job would need precision. Last week’s hit had been easy compared to the distance and length of the shot needed for this job.
Harry glanced up from the pack. “Can you see enough?” He stood, looking down from the building, scrutinizing with narrowed green eyes. “Maybe we should cancel this one.”
But James was already getting into position, his left eye squinting while his right picked out the hit. “No… no.” Right there. “I’ve got him. Don’t breathe,” he added, proof of the difficulty of the shot. He couldn’t afford distractions.
Today’s drive-by consult is for the Strong White Papers, the blog of freelance writer Graham Strong. Here’s a glance at what was live before the hit:
(click to see a bigger image)
The first view of the blog is extremely appealing. The theme is exceptionally clean and minimalist, with plenty of white space and few distractions to the eye. The color theme is a good choice, conveying strength and a lack of need to show off with fancy bling.
The banner font is clear and a perfect size for screen viewing. The three globes don’t really represent anything, though, and carry no meaning to the reader. Replace the globes with the keyboard image and round the corners for smoother appeal.
One problematic may be that the site is so clean that it comes off as a website and not as a blog. It’s not clear that the blog will be updated or that there is continual new information to read and absorb.
Moving up the RSS to be visible above the fold would rectify that nicely. Choosing a more prominent RSS button and adding an email subscription feature would help with subscriber rates as well.
Ah, but wait. There is an email subscription feature – it’s just not clear because it appears above the RSS. Placed as is, it comes off as an option for a periodic newsletter. By switching its placement with a larger RSS button, the problem is easily resolved.
If you remove the keyboard image and the RSS, your “recent posts” feature moves up as well and will be better placed to encourage a click-through. I would add a title to help readers know that these are recent posts, though. The font is also small and difficult to read.
Place the Archives at the bottom of the column and add Archives to your main navigation.
Speaking of navigation, well done. Everything is labeled very clearly and simply. I would, however, remove the Blog from the navigation, as it leads people to believe there is another blog and that they are not on the blog itself.
Place Recent Comments below the Recent Posts. Comment activity is important to display, as it shows your blog is healthy and active.
Remove the tag cloud. That’s outdated and really doesn’t serve much beyond looking pretty.
Place the “Great Blogs” below categories (and thank you for the link!) I would normally recommend removing the blogroll feature completely (you don’t want to drive traffic away), but on the other hand, you only have a few well-chosen blogs there, and that adds to your credibility by making you seem selective about quality.
For the blog posts themselves, I’d break them up a little more. They’re a bit chunky in places and could use with a touch more screen-reading formatting.
Add the Sociables plugin to encourage some Stumbles and Diggs, and also change the label for commenting to say something like “Add your comments” versus “No comments”. It’s more encouraging, because no one likes to be the first to comment on a post with no comments.
Overall, it’s a very fine blog and it’s difficult to pick on one that conveys such quiet confidence. I think you’re definitely on the right track with this.
He’d held his own breath as he squeezed the trigger slowly. He’d had the victim directly in the sights of his scope, the crosshairs giving him one chance. Just one. And such a small chance… If the hit stepped to the left or to the right, he’d miss.
But he hadn’t. Cleanly, he’d dropped his shot and the victim crumpled slowly. Now he sat on the ground, clutching his foot. Just a toe this time, a warning shot.
“Hmph.” James’ head popped up, and he looked down at the victim far below with curiosity. “He didn’t even scream.”
“Some don’t,” Harry remarked, casually reaching to take the sniper rifle from Jamie’s hands. “Besides, it’s just a toe. Nice shot,” he added, glancing down and giving a nod of approval.
Love it? Want more? You got it. Check out our upcoming hit jobs:
April 20 – Chatty DM
April 27 – Bibliophile’s Retreat
May 4 – Blog Badly
May 11 – hire us for your drive-by for only $25, and get your shoot-out within five days. Contact us today, and we’ll do the job. Dirt cheap.
Come on. You know you want to.
I got some good ideas just from reading this that I can go do on mine. This is very helpful,( ones I CAN actually do too!)
Thanks..off I go!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Amazing Mountains
An excellent drive-by, very little blood and no evidence to draw in the authorities…
Actually, I clicked over to Graham’s blog (nice blog, Graham!) and read the latest post, then thought to ask the Men what they thought:
Graham suggests that links to external sites be set to open in a new window. That seems like a good idea – James, Harry, what do you think?
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Brett – Good question. While it used to be the common way to do things to keep people on your blog page, it ended up that many, many people felt annoyed at the sense of having the controls taken over from them. They didn’t like that the blogger essentially decided for them how to view the page.
All our links open in the same window. The disadvantage to that is that if you weren’t finished reading the post before you clicked, you have to remember to click back to finish reading. I personally find it very annoying.
It seems like a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
@ James, as you say, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Perhaps best just to ensure that whatever you write is interesting enough that the reader WILL click the back button after he or she is done at the other link. You guys never have a problem with that as far as I’m concerned
From my own perspective, I sort of cheat a bit with it since I use Firefox. I just click on interesting links with the middle mouse button, to open them in new tabs behind what I’m already reading. Then I can go check them out later.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Thanks James!
As I mentioned when I volunteered for this drive-by, I was relatively happy with my site but of course I’m much more interested in what the average (or, in this case, the above-average…) reader thinks.
I’ll be sure to implement most of those suggestions — I actually made the blog look like the rest of my website on purpose so that people clicking through didn’t think they had been transferred to a new website. I like the look of the globes, and thought they might give a global impression, but you are right, too much of a stretch!
@Brett – thanks for the kind words! As for the “Open in New Window” debate, I have been recommending it to my website clients for years. I’m not a big fan of external links, but if they are necessary then using a new window is the only way to go. For me as a blog reader, I find it much easier to close a window then use the “Back” button to find the blog again. But then everyone has his or her own personal preference, hence the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” conundrum!
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Bloggers: Use “Open in New Window†Feature for Links
@ Graham: you are welcome! As you say, two sides to the coin – perhaps for a typical person used to single document interface browsers, the separate window is a good way to do it. You’ve definitely given some food for thought…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@Brett: I do the same with Firefox. In fact, I think I am a tab addict. But, if I didn’t use Firefox, I think I would prefer that links open in a new window. It gives you the option of going back to the original website without the hassle. That way, there’s no sense of loss when that juicy information you were just reading disappears from your screen.
@Graham: Nice blog, I just subscribed.
@ Jamie: big big tab junkie here too… I often have dozens open *blush* and I don’t know how I could live without it…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Graham- About the globes. they read beautifully if you think of each of them as representing W’s, as in WORLD WIDE WEB–I thought you were brilliant in concept and read it as such immediately. My favorite part actually.
Clue me in, what’s not to like?
The keyboard is there to add specificity and the headline or title is more than clear…now I haven’t read a word of his blog ( yet ), but I am thinking he is all those things you said ( even before you said them) confident , strong, concise and thinks expansively, a bright guy. a visual literate too, who’s writing about things on the web.
I’ll go read what he writes now to see if I am wrong.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
@ Janice: Very nice thought, I hadn’t looked at it that way, but it is genius as an Internet reference.
@Jamie- I thought so too. The recent tag team tagline effort over on copyblogger brought me to groans with the boring redundancy out there for online this, or web that…I wanted to say duh, we know where we are, find a cool visual and be done with it . Then tell me what you are good at no matter where we find you.
Does that make sense?
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
James, did you mean this: “If you remove the keyboard image and the RSS…”? Or was that a typo? I can’t imagine you recommending someone to get rid of RSS…
@ Graham – Great site, I love how simple and minimal it is!
@ Brett, Jamie – And together, we comprise TAA – Tab Addicts Anonymous.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri
@ Allison: I hear you… I think when I last restarted Firefox it was running around 900 MB (ouch) – Firefox 3 is much better at memory management, can’t wait until it is out
TAA members unite!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Allison – You skimmed and scanned – taken out of context of the framing that preceded, it sounds like I’m suggesting the removal of RSS.
But if you read up, I’m suggesting the removal of the RSS button *where it is located now*, thus freeing up space.
@ James – No, I knew what you meant, I was just pointing out that it could be misunderstood. It sounds like you are contradicting yourself, even though I know what you mean.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri
@ Allison – You’re making me want more coffee or a drink… and it’s too late for one and too early for the other. DAMN YOU!
@ James: just pretend you’re in a different time zone, and all your problems will be solved
(pick the wine, pick the wine)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Interesting concept, except for the shooting.
Mark Dykeman’s last blog post..Role Model 3.0 – Are You The Latest Generation?
@Brett and Allison: I wonder if there is a 12 step program for Tab Addicts? The newest version of IE uses tabs now too. I guess they stole that from Firefox.-Should get their fingers smacked for that.
@James: Deep breaths my dear, it helps.
@ Jamie: I’ve heard that they make you use the Mosaic browser on Windows 3.1
*shudder*
Yes, Microsoft should be flogged in the public square for IE7, it still doesn’t work properly in my opinion and all they had to do was clone Firefox… will IE8 be better?
We will see.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@James, @Brett, I’m one of those people with strong feelings about links that open in a new window. Basically, I hate when sites do that. I usually have about 6-10 windows open already. When you set the link up to open in same window, the reader can choose for themselves how to view it with greater flexibility (i.e. same window, new window, new tab).
The worst are the sites where every single link launches a new window so you can’t even navigate the site itself without opening a hundred new ones.
Just thought I’d put my two cents in, for whatever they’re worth. But I think it’s best to let the reader decide how to manage their desktop and the links they click. Something to think about.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..How to Spot a Poetry Fraud
@Melissa,
I agree with that comment. I can end up with so many windows open that I get lost.
One of the things I am having to get used to is linking things in my articles on the blog. I really don’t like the idea of anyone going away while they are reading. It seems distracting. A little here and there, but with some, by the time I am done reading I can have several open windows and have gotten led astray and lost the train of thought.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..The Cannoli Tube
Brett,
I personally like links to open in a new window and I do it on my blog… except when it’s a link to another post of mine. I figure you might want both me and whatever else open at the same time, but you don’t want a desktop full of Maximum Customer Experience. Hmm, am I being inconsistent?
I get pretty annoyed when I click a link on someone else’s blog/website and lose what I was reading. My usual assumption is that the person does not know how to fix this in their code.
Graham,
I love how clean the site is. It’s a breath of fresh air. Oh, yes, and all that stuff the hit man said, too (especially get rid of the tag cloud), and do keep that minimalist aesthetic!
James,
You know, fine stuff as usual.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Melissa & Wendi,
Thanks for your thoughts on this, I really wanted to know what different people thought of it. Now having pondered it for a bit, and having heard some feedback from a range of people, I think for myself I’d tend to leave things at the default.
Open in the same window (for people who don’t want a bunch of windows popping up). This also allows someone to choose manually to open the link in a new tab.
The requirement is then on me, as the writer, to ensure that my words are interesting enough to have the reader click the back button to return to my page
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Thanks Allison, Janice, and Jamie (and everyone else — if I missed you, sorry!) for the kind words. I’m thrilled my blog is so well received!
As to the “Open in New Window” — I am also one of those people who do not like the thousands of windows opening with one click. And I certainly do not advocate opening new windows within a website except in unusual circumstances (e.g. providing a print version of the page, etc.)
But I do think that it is important to keep the reader, and this is one method that I believe helps. And as a reader, I find it increases usability — I’d much rather close the link window than go back, back, back to the post. As many have pointed out in this thread, it all comes down to personal preference I guess.
To those with differing preferences, my question is: is opening in a new window grounds for leaving the blog, or is it just that — a personal preference?
~Graham
P.S. I’m not a tab person, though I am trying it out now thanks to all the praise it’s getting!
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Bloggers: Use “Open in New Window†Feature for Links
@Wendi, Hm, the idea of readers going away from my blog to follow a link hasn’t concerned me, probably because of my own read-click habit — I usually read an entire post, then go back and click the links I want to explore further.
@Brett, Yep, if your writing is compelling enough, they will click back to finish reading. That’s a fantastic point!
One concern would be readers who aren’t tech-savvy enough to know how to open links in new windows or tabs. I think the ultimate decision may depend on the readership and how much web surfing expertise they have.
I do use new windows on rare occasions, like to open a PDF in my portfolio.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..How to Spot a Poetry Fraud
yep Melissa, I am guilty of being that non-tech savvy writer. But heck- hang around here and that can change fast. Having just read Graham’s how to article on the Open Window and seeing how it is done, it seems like it would be easy enough and an option that has merit for the right times and reasons,
I am learning every day here at the Pen Men School. ( Being that I found Graham from here )
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..The Cannoli Tube
@Graham- You’re welcome. I am loving the tabs on Firefox. My default is Safari, but I am being quickly swayed to the tab side. I think it is a personal preference along with a time issue. As long as the content holds me, I’ll click back. I am such a novice though. Now, of course I’ll notice each rascally window as it opens. For me , the links and windows issue is more of a “rhythm of the read” interruption/ accentuation function. How is the reader experiencing the content? Kind of like texture in a scene.
Just some thoughts.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
I prefer links to open in a new page also. I never liked having to switch to making the links open in the same page here.
Everyone, keep in mind that if your content is good enough, you want the reader to SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR RSS. That brings them back OFTEN.
If you focus on how your windows, you’re focusing on keeping the person on the page THAT ONE TIME.
Let’s see – subscriber reader loyal to my blog who always comes back or one reader and his personal preferences….
Hm, hm! Something to think about
@ Graham – I do not unsubscribe to a blog if links don’t open or do open new windows. I may lose my page, as Kelly says, but if it’s in my reader, I can always find it again. I also don’t base my subscription decision on whether links open or not. By the time I’ve read half a post, I already know whether I’ll hit that RSS or not.
James,
Heavens, yes! How your links open is a tweak, not a focus. Am I here now, annoyed or not? Yes. And actually, here it doesn’t annoy me much. I figure you’ve got your reasons… but then I rarely click on links here, because I’m too busy reading the post to follow a footnote.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
She quietly moves that orange icon from its former position in third place, to the top of the page, even though fifty per cent of her subscribers are by email.
It’s a small blog, but it has its ambitions. “Hmph”, grabs more coffee as she grumbles, “Damn techie know it alls,” and goes back to painting.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
@ Janice – That’s what we’re here for
@ James: my apologies for derailing the comments section a bit today, or at least contributing to the derailing
of course what you said is exactly right. You want to have good content of course, and a kick ass theme – and you want people to subscribe to your RSS, to keep them coming back. Subscribe to comments so they will be involved.
The whole window thing is just a minor point of interest that could be set up either way… no matter what, half of the readers will want it the other way
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@James, Just being the devil’s advocate here… but not all sites have RSS. From a design standpoint, new windows can be a serious issue, I think. I have gone to commercial sites and after the third new window opens, I just close them all and find another vendor because I can’t stand the clutter. It’s not so bad with blogs, but on professional commercial sites, it’s unprofessional. Can you imagine if Amazon popped open a new one every time you clicked?
Something to consider… although I know in many ways it’s about personal preference and you can’t please all the people all the time.
Unless you’re James of course
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..How to Spot a Poetry Fraud
@ Melissa – You’ve confused me. Are you saying that RSS is a bad thing or something that should be optional? (I disagree…) And I think I said I’m *down* with opening in new windows. Despite my personal preferences.
Which, of course, I think everyone should cater to
@Melissa: You’re right. On a website I would never dream of having a window open in a new tab, but on a blog, it’s different. To me it’s like reading a book and constantly getting interrupted, not having a bookmark handy and not wanting to dog-ear the page.
gasps at Harry! Tell me you don’t dog-ear books! My Junior High librarian would would make you scrub chairs for months if she caught you!
@Jamie: Paperbacks, yes. Hardcovers and over-sized paperbacks, no, never.
I might be able to live with that. Once I finish reading paperback lately, it looks like it could fall apart at any time. I think they are making them to be a type of disposable books. All the more reason to switch to eBooks.
@James, I’m just saying that not all websites are blogs, something even the bloggiest of bloggers should not forget.
@Harry, I agree, it depends on many factors. Blogs lend themselves better to new window links than commercial sites but still I’m not a fan of the clutter it creates on my desktop. I wouldn’t unsubscribe or write off a blog that used new windows but it does put me off a little bit.
I dog-eared all through my childhood. Right up until I started my bookmark collection
Now, if I don’t have a bookmark handy, I always lay the book flat, opened to the page I left off reading, face down.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..How to Spot a Poetry Fraud
@Jamie Same here. The paper quality seems like it would quickly disolve with one drop in the bathtub.
@Harry Curious. Why do over-sized paperbacks rate more than regular sized?
James,
I plan to derail the comments again for a moment, but I think I have earned it through my love and devotion. Go back to MCE now, because I am worried that our affair may be brief. I know I can’t see you, but I had no idea you couldn’t see. It may cause problems in the dark.
Or maybe not.
Right back at ya with the kisses (how many people will click to see what on earth this is about? Hehehe).
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@Melissa: I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because it’s hardcover sized? ‘Cause it’s more expensive than a smaller paperback?
@ Kelly – Tag, sweetness. You’re it. As for fumbling in the dark, isn’t that part of the fun?
@Harry I wondered because they’re a peeve of mine. I’ve never liked reading hardcover books, because they’re to bulky and damn hard to get comfortable with. Now (just to irk me I’m sure) everything seems to be moving to the larger paperback format, and I don’t see the benefit in that.
@ Nicole – They’re good for aging eyes. They’re bad for the wallet. Hardover? You can get them cheap when the paperback comes out. Dog ears all the way. No bookmarks here (I lose them).
@Nicole: So sorry, I got the wrong @. It’s been a long day.
I just… there’s not much to say right now. I think I left my fan in Harry’s living room. Help!
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Kelly – Forgive me. I feel very victorious at the moment. And smug. And I’m smirking. Truly, forgive me. It’s in my nature.
Hands the flustered Kelly an industrial fan..
Hello all. Sorry I don’t have much to add to the post, but I sure am enjoying reading all the comments. I love the discussions here.
John Hoff’s last blog post..How To Answer Questions As An Entrepreneur
@James I’m with you. There’s never a bookmark within reach when I need one. Besides, I keep just about every book I read, so it’s not as if I’m pawning my dog-eared copies off on the unsuspecting masses.
@Harry Quite all right sir. Give yourself a break.
James,
I was very busy being in lust with an untucked red t-shirt. You couldn’t just leave it alone?
Wait, is the victory about what I just responded over at elsewhere, or about making someone’s cheeks turn red who can’t even see you? Delicious.
Funny having two conversations going on at once. Dizzying… fan is not helping.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@James: You may have won the battle, but the war still rages. It won’t be a victory until we hear Kelly singing the praises of WP.
@ Nicole: I have a weird habit of remembering the page number I left off on. No bookmarks, no dog-eared pages, not even the flat open book.
@John: Welcome! The discussions are interesting around here, aren’t they?
La-la-la.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Kelly,
If you think you are confused, you should be sitting on the sidelines trying to keep up.
You two have lost me for sure. Has the drinking started already tonight?
Cause if not, I’m heading downstairs to start my own… I can’t follow this sober.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..The Cannoli Tube
@Jamie I bow down to you! I can’t remember my phone number sometimes.
@ Wendi, I think the drinking started hours ago (James on Twitter with his Shiraz, and I had a Steinlager about 90 minutes ago… mmm, could use another)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Wendi,
Visit my latest post. It won’t help much, but it will publicize a certain Man’s current love. Maybe I can wear a big M, like on a varsity sweater.
Apparently, he’s fickle. And he’s piqued that I’m constant to TypePad, which I’m not really. I’m just at a loss.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
I have had about 2 pots of coffee today, and it ain’t decaf either. But at least its not that jet fuel James drinks!
@ Wendi – It is our job to convert hits to action. We are paid to do such shameless tasks. I’m afraid that Kelly is – unfortunately – a very tough sell. The lady doth protest too much… (Is that how it goes, Kelly?)
@ Kelly – Did you expect anything less than fickle from me? But truly, all I need to hear is, “I give up. Do what you will.”
@ Jamie – Thicker than diesel on a cold January. Mmmm
In the dark, or at the blog, fickle boy?
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Brett – You and I both. The more the merrier, and I believe this applies to alcohol.
@ John – JOHN!!! How’s the family?
@ Kelly – You’re going to get me into trouble.
@ Harry – I’m biting my tongue. I really am. If I slip, it’s HER fault.
@James: I said it before and I’ll say it again; I am not responsible for anything from this point on. Even the VoR has his limits.
@ James: I’ll be joining you for another round in about 2 hours, once I’ve taken care of a couple of things that don’t mix with beer…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
James,
Here. Have a fan. Go say something sensible to me elsewhere.
Harry,
He started it!
(Can’t upset the VoR.)
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Brett’s things that don’t mix with beer: Nukes and kids.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Kelly: add to that list, talking to your mother-in-law, having sex with someone for the first time, emailing your boss, emailing your clients, and coloring your hair at home.
Jamie, LOL!
Brett is not doing any of #2 on your list…
However, when I am, champagne goes fine.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Kelly: I wish that everyone *else* where I work would get the memo that says nukes & beer don’t mix
And, LOL at your reply to Jamie… but if I have so much alcohol that I can’t see straight and my wife looks like someone else, where would that leave me?
(other than sleeping on the couch, that is…)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
makes note to self: “nukes and beer don’t mix”. Got it!
@ Jamie: not unless you want your atoms to mix too
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@James – family is doing great, thanks for asking. Ethan (our new born) is doing well and so is Lindsey, though we have another doctor’s visit tomorrow.
Sorry I haven’t been around much, it’s been a long day and the kids have been doing their best to not let me work. Anyone ever experience that?
Been keeping up on the comments in here, though. Good stuff.
@Harry and Kelly – I’m buying Kelly a WP t-shirt! It will happen one day, Kelly . . . you will be converted to WP.
One day.
John Hoff’s last blog post..How To Answer Questions As An Entrepreneur
@ Brett, is that what happened to Homer Simpson?
@ Jamie:
Funny you mention that…
(I used to be the production supervisor of the facility that makes about 60 percent of the world’s medical isotopes, Mo-99 in particular. It really does glow, but you have to put the lights down low to see it.)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Brett, so medial isotopes are used in making what.?… CAT scan dyes and such?
You Twitter fans will appreciate this: http://svextra.com/blogs/gmsv/2008/04/hold_on_officer_i_believe_im_entitled_to_one_tweet_first.html
@ Jamie: that’s right. Mo-99 decays into Tc-99m, which can be injected into people for radiotracing. We also purified the Xe-133 (a byproduct of Mo-99 production) which is used for lung scans.
(how’s *that* for an off-topic post?)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Brett – Way way back in the comment stream, you were talking about FF3… great, but I can’t sign into damned Yahoo! on it! Have to open Safari to do any Shine-ing.
@ James – Sorry! Did you ever get your coffee… or a drink?
@ The link opening in a new window discussion – I usually use command-click to open links in a new tab in the background, so it annoys the heck out of me if a site forces me to look at them immediately instead of going in the background. Not like that’s relevant anymore, but heck…
@ Jamie – I’m with you on the page remembering thing. I can never find a bookmark when I need one, and I don’t much like dog-earing pages either!
@ James – So wait, now I’m confused. By subscribe to comments, you mean an email subscribe? Not a feed? Crap I think I got everything all turned around.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri
This is what happens after 9PM,
We fllitter where the conversation and the alcohol leads.
That gives me new appreciation for the fact that a large percentage of patients are allergic to contrast dyes, no wonder!
@ James – That last bit was in reference to what you said over at Kelly’s.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri
@ Allison: hmm, did not know that… well, that’s probably a deal-breaker for you then
maybe when it goes “gold”
@ Jamie: I’m not sure what would cause that, I’d imagine the Tc-99m solution is some kind of saline-based one (but I’m not sure, we didn’t do that part of the process)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
You know, it’s not that I cannot see the Wonders of WordPress, folks, it’s just that I can see the nightmares of The Switch.
Okay, so when I did my research last year, it would have been nice if I were already the object of James’ love and attention so that I would never have gone the Way of the Evil Blue LilyPad. Failing that, I think I make things mighty accommodating over at “my place,” and for my clients/ prospects, who are far less techy than y’all, it ain’t no big thang.
I admit it, I want to be able to do it myself (cheap and proud and don’t like to be defeated by code), and I admit it, it looks too bloody difficult. Too many things seem to go wrong for others. I have been thinking that when I’m up in NYS this summer I might try to figure it out. Maybe. Ugh.
Flail me now.
Sorry about being so horribly OT. Did I do this? Oh, no wait, I didn’t.
[Insert emoticon of choice here so it's clear that I'm okay with the ribbing, just trying to 'splain a bit. How about a wink?]
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Brett – Well, I use it for everything else, I’m actually on it right now! I just can’t wait until they fix that part. I have an old Earthlink email account, and for the longest time FF3 wouldn’t make the new emails bold, so I could never tell which were new! Luckily that was fixed, so I’m hoping the next update will fix the Yahoo! problem.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri
@everybody- glowing Mo-99 , nukes, beers, sex with someone for the first time. drinks or no ? WP/typepad smackdown…yep wednesday night at MwP
Leave for a few hours, drink a couple glasses of Cab, come back and it’s like being in the middle of a Tim Dorsey novel. Scooch over Kelly and hand me some champagne.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
The lady Pommery, always available. Heady scent, oh-so intoxicating, and not too bank-breaking.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Janice, I know what you mean, I blinked, went to dinner and it took two glasses of wine to catch up…
Shameless.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..The Cannoli Tube
@Wendi and Kelly- can we get Prine Alain to serve the lady Pommery?
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E3DF113BF934A35750C0A9679C8B63
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
That would Prince Alain..non non I only had two two glasses of cabernet. Really.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
So did anyone ever explain why there was a drive by on Wednesday? Are there going to be random Website shootings from now on?
Because James thinks it’s tomorrow, or an hour ago, or Sunday, depending.
I think he stepped on his own feet and posted the wrong thing on Sunday, yes?
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Must be that ADD thing. I can relate.
Oui. I screwed up my days. “You are reading this because James is calendar-challenge. Drive-By-Shooting Sundays will return to its regularly scheduled slot on Sunday, April 20.”
@ Janice – Le Roi Chartrand. Alain peux garder le titre de Prince
@ Kelly –
It’s not that I don’t know the value of sleep, it’s just that I know the nightmares that await me. But sleep I do, nightmares I have, and while I may wake in a cold sweat from time to time, I am a better person for resolving the fears I create in my own mind.
Le dauphin is too old for me (hope I got that right without babelfish). Get me Harry & those jeans from Saturday.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Thanks for the clarification James. The coffee has worn off and dropped me like a brick. Blasted evil brew
*off to babelfish for titre, I got the rest*
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Allison: it is pretty awesome, isn’t it! Well, I expect it will be sorted out eventually… maybe in time for my Mac when it arrives
@ Janice: it’s a great deal… we get to drink and chat about all kinds of stuff not even related to the post!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Brett: I’m shopping for a new laptop myself.( I am petrified of getting Vista though) I have narrowed it to Sony, Toshiba or Apple. Any suggestions?
Jamie,
MACBOOK PRO.
‘Nuff said.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Kelly, does yours run on Windows?
@ Jamie – DELL. Win XP. And save the freakin’ money to put the rest in your pocket. Unless it’s gift money. If that’s the case, go with a Mac.
@ Jamie,
Kelly sort of answered it for me
(right on Kelly) if you think you could use all of the features of a MacBook Pro it would be a great machine for you. Even a standard MacBook would be good. You can always install Windows on it if need be, or run it via virtualization (I’ll do a post on this in a couple of weeks).
The Sony and Toshiba stuff would be good too (my father-in-law swears by Sony, and he’s never had trouble). I had good luck with Toshiba in business before. Lenovo is also good.
Vista is quite usable if different from XP. I’ve been using it here for well over a year and it does the trick.
My suggestion also would be to go to a shop and have a look at the actual machines. Type on them. Look at the displays from different angles, see how they look under the lights. You can get honest reviews at http://www.notebookreview.com/ as well.
Good luck and have fun!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ Jamie: James is right of course, too – this machine is a Dell, my wife has a Dell and they work as advertised. Really just depends on what you need, or if you got some gift money
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
@ James- Hail Rex is a familiar refrain to me. Alas, Alain It is a only a Prince you will be. Hail Rex Chartrand… but you have to wear the gold slippers.
http://www.rexorganization.com/
@ Brett- yeah, amazing. She pours more cab. I have to tell Dorsey about the glowing Mo 99, I just keep thinking Serge would use it as mood lighting:)
@ Kelly- old? I did not see his age, diagonal reader here…it was the jaunty yellow scarf , his elan., his domain de la champagne…
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
Ahh, an evening of playing with laptops, my idea of a GREAT time. James swears by his no-bells-and-whistles computers. I have a Dell now that I abhor, it has given me grief from day one and is awaiting yet a third hard drive in less than 2 years.
Thanks for the advice, I value your opinions. Business has been really good so far this year, but I do have a chunk of that *gift money* coming, so its a toss up. Either way, it’s a great tax write off, right?
If Le Roi pours the champers, I get to see him finally, right?
Philly’s the third star on the right, then straight on ’til morning, darlin’. (Second star gets you to Neverland.) I promise I won’t put the pix up on my Flickr account.
I had something to say about nightmares but I’ve decided to let it go.
Jamie,
Must I be serious? No, it doesn’t. For testing and such I keep PCs around. There are various ways to do Windows on the Mac but I don’t. Why muck with a beautiful interface?
Oh, yeah, and James is rather dull about the save-your-money thing, but since it’s his blog, there’s something to it.
Janice,
I scoped him out elsewhere, but the pix tell the story. I’m still young, James told me so.
…his titre, his dough…
…his access to my favorite lady…
…who cares if he’s too old to see our kids graduate?
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Jamie: bad luck for you with your Dell. This one’s been going well for about 2 years, and my wife’s lasted for 4. I did have to replace the hard drive once, but that’s what happens when you drop a running laptop from waist height I guess
Call me a sucker for gimmicks, but one thing I wish everyone else would copy is that keyboard backlight from the Pro and the Air… quite practical actually
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Brett,
That is my absolute favorite thing. You can type during a presentation w/o having to be the guy struggling to get near a crack in the window blinds to see the keyboard.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Kelly,
I’m sold on it too. Perfect little feature…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..focus on writing – part 1 – back to the future.
Kelly – I’m thinking if the King is pouring it should be Veuve Cliquot Grand Dame or a little Dom. After all he has saved all these lovely pennies from walking away from the lovely MAC…. and I was merely suggesting buffet avec Alain….next to the galllant and shirtlessly creative Harry , no, he would not have a chance.
@ Jamie- you are not serious, playing with laptops, a GREAT evening? that was sarcasm , yes?
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
Janice,
I defer to your judgement. Let the Man With the Pen break the bank, indeed.
I almost said, what’s wrong with that, I like playing with my… then I couldn’t finish typing. Ahem.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
@ Janice, nope, dead serious. I’m a techno-geek at heart.
I was just looking at the backlit keyboard online. Pretty sweet! Does the AirBook not have a disk drive?
Jamie,
Correct, it does not. It has this wild ability to be able to pull anything from the air (programs, etc.)—you install them from your other computers (even PCs), or of course these days, you can get so much right off the web. That’s pretty cool, but for most folks a bit too avant garde. Pretty much guaranteed to be a second computer, not a sole computer.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Chuckling…..oops… I see how easily….ahem…. Unintentional double entendre, my bad.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
@Kelly: OK, that I have got to see! I am definitely scheduling a trip to Columbus next weekend!
Thanks for letting me pick your collective brains!
@ Jamie- gotta love ya then. I ‘m technically challenged, what would I do without teckno-geeksters? But I admittedly lust after the Mac Air…shhhh. Don’t tell the guys.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
Janice,
It’s the way my brain is wired.
Methinks Le Roi has gone to Le Bed, wisely. If I don’t do something similar, it will be tough to put Le Kid in Le Minivan tomorrow.
The Men lust after Macs, too. They’re just trying to be all practical and sensible.
Jamie,
Glad I can convert somebody around here. MWP were having all the fun hacking at my steely Capricorn reserve.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: Unapproachably Great
Yes, Mr. Chartrand said his coffee dropped him like a brick too and he was heading to bed. He’ll most likely be his bright and perky self at 6 AM tomorrow.
@Kelly: Diversity is great and ! I like your steely reserve intact. Don’t let them gang up on you. ;P
@Jamie and Kelly- Bon Nuit .
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Vegas Wedding
Sweet Dreams.. I should carry the baby up to bed and call it a night myself.
@ Jamie – I’m a little late in the game, but Apple! Apple! Apple!
I had a Dell and hated it, got my Macbook and love it! True though, it is expensive.
Allison’s last blog post..Tuna Nigiri