Seeing as this is the first blog post I've written in quite some time, it's needless to say that I'm now depressed, as the numbers I'm seeing are very sad. :( Not that I'm making excuses, but this site has definitely taken a back seat to my daughter and my full time job at Google. Hopefully in the near future, I'll be able to show some dedication to this site, and start writing again. In the meantime, go download this app. Regardless of the numbers you see, it's worth the $1.99.

What is Fluid
Fluid is an application that allows you to create SSBs for the sites you frequent. What is an SSB? According to Wikipedia, "A Si te Specific Browser (SSB) is a software application that is dedicated to accessing pages from a single source (site) on a computer network such as the Internet or a private intranet. SSBs typically simplify the more complex functions of a web browser by excluding the menus, toolbars and browser chrome associated with functions that are external to the workings of a single site."

How Does it Work?
In this example, I'm going to show you how to make Gmail a stand-alone application. First, download the free application at fluidapp.com and add it to your applications directory. Once you've done this, open it.

Fluid default view

In the "URL" field, type in the URL you would go to to manage your application. In this case, I would type in "http://www.gmail.com". In the "Name" field, give this application a meaningful name, as this will be the name you'll see in the dock, finder, etc. You can choose a location you'd like for this new application to sit, however, "Applications" is selected by default. This seems like the most logical spot for it, but feel free to put it wherever you like. Now, the "Icon" field is a great feature. You can, by default, select the "Use Website Favicon" option, but I'd recommend against it. Why? Well, favicons are very small (16 x 16 px), and scale terribly in the Dock, Expose, and Finder. So, select the "Other..." feature which will allow you to pick an icon from your computer.

"That's no good" you may say. "I don't have icons an icon for this application." Never fear, Flickr is here. There is a special fluid group on Flickr that will allow you to view and download icon sets specifically made for Fluid. From this group you should be able to find the icon for which you are looking. Once found, save it to your computer, and then go back to Fluid, choose "Other...", find the icon you've just saved, and click "Open". Your done, click "Create", and you've just created a stand alone application that was once a website you had to visit in your browser. You'll get a confirmation message that let's you know you've successfully created a new application, and from here you can either "Reveal in Finder", do nothing by clicking "OK", or launch the application ("Launch Now").

What I like about having my Gmail as a stand alone application is the fact that I am now notified when I have new email. I'm not annoyed with some crazy pop-up every time someone sends me an email. It's subtle and perfect, and functions just like OS X Mail: through the Dock, or when cmd-tab-ing through your open applications (below).

Look! I have 2 new emails!

Since installing Fluid, I've added 5 additional stand-alone applications that would normally be an extra tab in my browser. These apps get used everyday, and are now a permanent part of my dock. Thanks to Fluid, getting stuff done on my Mac got much, much easier.

A great lesson to be learned by this video comes at the 20 minute mark with the discussion on "CSS Sprites". This is a brilliant idea, and extremely simple to implement.

• Office!? We don't need no stinking Office! For those non-windows users out there (which now includes me), you won't need MS Office anymore. Google Docs allows you to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You don't have to download any software either.
• You've been saved. Any document, spreadsheet, or presentation you create is automatically saved. Any changes you make get saved as well without ever having to hit the save button.
• It's polite to share. You can share any document/spreadsheet/presentation with anyone. This is extremely valuable when you are not the only one working on the document.
• Let's talk about this for second. If the person/people you are sharing this document with are viewing it at the same time, you can chat with them in real time about the document. This comes in very handy when making changes that will need to be agreed upon. I honestly didn't think this feature would be too valuable until I used it. It's especially valuable when you are working with spreadsheets. Being able to tell someone to look at Cell 'C16' in the very same window that contains the spreadsheet proves very useful.
• They're Everywhere! If you were working on a document using your work computer and couldn't finish up, there is no need to worry. When you go home, all you have to do is get on your computer and there it is, in your Google Docs repository, just waiting for you to finish working on it.

So if you're a Mac user, or if you like having more freedom with your documents, I highly recommend using Google Docs to manage all you documents. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Do people really care what other people are doing? Why would I waste my time typing out a message explaining what I'm doing?

What's the deal with twitter?

UPDATE (04.27.07): Okay... So I signed up for twitter to see what the deal was. ummm... and ummm... I must ummm... admit, I'm addicted, and I can't even explain why. So, I guess the question in the title of this post is still legit: What's the deal with Twitter? I've been converted www.twitter.com/trick lin

1. If you have the HTML bundle selected, and create a new document, and type 'skel' + Tab, TextEditor will automatically generate an HTML skeleton for you:

   <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
   "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
   <html>
   <head>
   <meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
   <title>Page Title</title>
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/master.css" type="text/css" media="screen" title="no title" charset="utf-8" />
   </head>
   <body>
   </body>
   </html>

2. Type 'Table' + Tab and see what happens
3. Holding down the 'Alt' key, and clicking and dragging your mouse over text will allow you to do column selection.
4. Type 'h1' + Tab, and the h1 open and close will auto-generate. Then begin typing, and based on the content, E-TextEditor will suggest a value for the h1's 'id'.

The list goes on an on. Anyway, I recommend downloading the trial version, and giving it a try. You may find it worth the $35 to own it outright.

UPDATE - 5/10
It has come to my attention that my co-worker actually uses a modified version of TiddlyWiki called GTDTiddlyWiki.

GTD Tiddly Wiki is a GettingThingsDone adaptation by NathanBowers of JeremyRuston's Open Source TiddlyWiki. The purpose of GTD Tiddly Wiki is to give users a single repository for their GTD lists and support materials so they can create/edit lists, and then print directly to 3x5 cards for use with the HipsterPDA. -- shared.snapgrid.com

***

I noticed a co-worker always entering things into some HTML interface every day. Finally, I had to find out just what this tool was. It turns out, that this tool was what he uses to organize his day. He uses it as his personal To Do list. I know that just knowing this, won't amaze you. The cool thing about this tool, is that all that is involved is a single '.html' file. That's right, he manages his personal life using a single '.html' file.

What? A Single HTML File?

A guy named Jeremy Ruston developed a cool tool called "TiddlyWiki", and it's made and functions completely off of JavaScript and HTML contained in one '.html' file. All you have to do is go to TiddlyWiki, and download this '.html' file and you can get started. Once opened in a browser (preferably Firefox), you can add to it whatever you please. Take a look at what I was able to do in about 2 minutes.

Out of the box, TiddlyWiki offers:

• Browsable with the vast majority of modern desktop browsers on Windows, Macintosh and Linux and including the Nokia770
• Ability to SaveChanges on FireFox under Windows or OS X, InternetExplorer under Windows and Safari and Camino under OS X
• Rich formatting including MonospacedText, ExtendedFormatting, NonWikiWordLinks, WikiWordEscape, PrettyLinks, SubHeadings, BulletPoints, NumberedBulletPoints, Tables, BlockQuotes, HorizontalRules and the ability to use a CustomCssClass.
• Various InterfaceOptions, including the ability to GenerateAnRssFeed, SaveBackups and AutoSave
• KeyboardShortcuts so you can finish editing a tiddler with Control-Enter or abandon it with Escape
• InlineHTML
• ...EmbeddedImages:
• Macros providing rich interactive features, including Sparklines and Gradients
• a flexible OpenSourceLicense
• a liquid CSS layout that can be customised with a CustomStyleSheet
• Extensive StartupParameters to control the behaviour of TiddlyWiki through specially crafted URLs

The Community around TiddlyWiki has extended this basic functionality with a wide range of Plugins and TiddlyWikiAdaptations. -- Jeremy Ruston, www.tiddlywiki.com

Some of the nice features include:

• Ability to add multiple websites (5 total)
  • Ability to Add Multiple Users to View Reports (per website)
• Geo Map Overly report (I've had visitors from Australia, Paris, & Athens)
• Overall Keyword Conversion report
• Web Design Parameter reports
  • What are the common browsers used to view your site
  • What are the common screen resolutions used
  • What OSs are being used

Overall, I'd say it was worth the wait (considering it's free). It's just great to see if people visit your site, and if so, where do they go. Thanks Google, yet another amazing product you've created.

Q: I'm going to my fiancé's parents' condo. Any ideas for a good gift to give them for hosting me?

A: Best Answer - Chosen By Voters
The plant is a thoughtful idea if they like plants. Some people don't want them because you're basically giving them something else to take care of.
Unless they're Jehovah's witnesses or they or your fiance is a recovering alcoholic, a fabulous bottle of wine has never hurt as a gift. Good liquor is always well-received, but giving them a bottle of Scotch if you don't them too well might be presuming too much. If you can find out what type they like from the fiance, that couldn't hurt either. Good luck!

This question is very pertinent, considering many people will be visiting their significant other's family over the holidays. This site is a great way to get ideas from others who have dealt with similiar situations. Maybe I'll pick up a bottle of Merlot to take to the in-laws this holiday season.

My Question:
What is a good $15 to $30 bottle of red wine?

I can't wait to see what the yahoo answers community has to say.

How It Happened
The recipe called for 2 cups of water and 2/3 cup of milk. So, I grabbed a measuring cup, and the gallon of milk and starting pouring. When I finished pouring, I realized just how simple this normally annoying task was. I undertand this statment seems silly. How could a liquid measuring cup have such a profound effect on me?

Why Am I Making Such A Big Deal About This?
As an interface designer, it should be your number one goal to create an interface that is easy to use. Most often, that means keeping it simple. This is exactly what the good people at Oxo International have done. They've created something easy to use, while implementing a simple solution. They realized that there was something wrong with the way the measuring cups of the past were designed. People used to have to either a.) hold the measuring cup at eye level in one hand, while holding their milk above their heads with in the other, or b.) bend down so their eyes were at counter level, while holding their milk above their heads, or c.) pour the milk and make a guess as to whether or not it filled the cup to the correct amount.

Easy to Use, Simple Solution
Why was my task last nigt of mearsuing the correct amount of milk so simple, you ask? Because the intelligent people at Oxo have created the best liquid measuring device known to mankind: the "Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup". By angling the measuring device, and allowing you to read it from above, guess work and body contortion are no longer needed to pour the right amount. They've taken a flawed device that people had to learn to deal with, and fixed it. And the solution was simple.

As designers, I feel that we can all learn from this example. Sometimes making something the best, just involves a simple solution.