Semantic Web Markup for Blogs

Personified has posted an interesting blog post about using correct markup with your blog. Honestly, I still need to go through mine (created with Rapidweaver) and see where it stands. He makes some great points and is obviously basing this all around search engine optimization (SEO). If that's your thing (making money, easy to search), then you might want to check it out. I don't completely agree with everything he says but it's a great place to start.

Read on here.

NFL DRAFT: Vikings Take Peterson

Ok, ok ok. So, this is my personal blog, people. I'll be posting a ton of random stuff here for my own recollection and, sometimes, sheer joy. get used to it.

Adrian Peterson (RB) was drafted today by the Minnesota Vikings. He's a very explosive player and I'm excited to see what he can do when the season gets going. I honestly see this move as a great test of our coaching staff. He's such a passionate, athletic and competitive player... If he gets off to a slow start or changes his demeanor at all it will once and for all prove that our coaches suck and are control freaks. If they give him room and let him do his thing it will finally prove that the coaches are just that, coaches who actually let their talent be talented.

Time will tell! Now lets get a solid receiver (or three)!

Web Designer Resources

If you design web sites for a living you most likely have a boat load of bookmarks for code clippings, icons, color schemes and more. It gets to be a bit insane managing all those bookmarks and no matter how good you are at it, it's still not easy remembering where they all are and getting to the page you want.

In steps a couple web sites that have done the leg work for you. Bookmark these two links and make your life that much easier. Heck, the reason I'm posting it here is so I can keep an eye on it!

Enjoy!

Tools for Web Designers
Web Developers Handbook 2.0

Google PageRank: A Guide

Getting your web site high in the search engine's usually starts by, well, doing all the wrong things and then wondering why Google doesn't even think you exist. Well, you can search all over the place (probably using Google) to figure out all the ins and outs of search engine optimization (SEO) and Google's PageRank. "PageRank?", you say? If you don't know what that is you may want to hit searchengineland.com as they have come up with a very informative guide for webmasters that should help.

Check it out!

A Guide to CSS Support in Email

If you're looking to create rich, HTML email newsletters or adverts, you're probably run into a few issues to say the least. Thankfully, Leopards Mail application will make this process a lot easier (via templates at the moment) but what can you do to make your life easier in the meantime? Well, the first step will be to understand the differences and limitations of each of the email clients out there. This guide is a great place to start learning more about the clients as well as using CSS to style your emails. Of course, not all clients will allow full CSS support so pay attention!

Check out the guide here.

Released: CSSEdit 2.5

MacRabbit today released an update to my favorite CSS editor CSSEdit! They cranked it up to version 2.5 and with it came a slew of new features, namely a tabbed interface! I know that doesn't sound like much but trust me, it sure speeds up the workflow! Of course, they've also added and updated a few more features like x-ray for simple, visual editing of stylesheets, milestones for CSS experimentation and even a Select Builder for helping you, well build selects!

All in all, it's still THE best CSS editor out there, especially for creating Rapidweaver themes. Even with Coda released from Panic. I'm always a fan of a simple application that does one thing and does it well (especially if it's making my life easier)!

Download a copy today!

Wanted: A New Watch

A new watch seems to have landed in the UK at Red5 and I'd love to check it out. It's not as sleek as some watches I've seen but I'm dying for a very slim watch that doesn't require He-Man wrists to wear it. The idea of a white watch is also growing on me a bit. Seems clean (and matches my iPod). There are some great Fossil Stark watches out there I like as well.

From the site: "The Pixel Watch from ODM is one of the coolest watches we’ve seen in ages. The Pixel Watch uses an EL (Electro Luminescent) band, and translucent casing to produce an unusual and contemporary design. On the hour every hour, between 9pm and 3am there is an on screen animation and scrolling pattern."

Some of the Fossil watches I'm taking an interest in:
Anadigi , Negative Display, L.E.D. Digital, O-ring Digi, Cross Digi-White, Mesh Black IP

I'm always in the mood for a cool watch! Anyone want to share their favorites?

Rapidweaver Themes

A few people have sent in requests for the Rapidweaver theme I use on this site. I appreciate the positive feedback I'm getting on this site and the Rapidweaver theme I use for it. I do plan on releasing the theme for Rapidweaver in one form or another very soon. If anyone has any special requests or questions on future themes, please don't hesitate to send them my way!

Panic Release Coda

Panic, Inc. (one of my favorite software companies) released a brand new application today called Coda. It makes sense that after their award-winning application Transmit they would follow it up with an excellent editing tool geared towards the developer. Not only does it have excellent eye candy with a beautiful interface but it also has a solid user interface that really lets you work more effeciently with web sites. Speaking of editing web sites, you can do that on any local sites OR remote sites as Coda imports your Transmit favorites!

It's the first release of Coda but it looks very promising with tons of unique features and a great company behind it! Download a demo copy here!

Theatrical Release: Hot Fuzz

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He’s so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel’s superiors send him to a place where his talents won’t be quite so embarrassing — the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), a huge action movie fan. As a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny’s dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality.

View the trailer in HD

Flickr Export Updated

Connected Flow today updated their plug-ins for iPhoto and Aperture that allow you to upload your images directly to the photo sharing site (my favorite) Flickr. The great news? They've released a plug-in for Aperture that is FREE. That's right, it costs nothing. Of course, they still offer a paid version with a few more features like image replacement (cool) and geotagging (more cool) but it only costs about $27 for Aperture or $23 for iPhoto.

I highly recommend all of their plug-ins as they really make photo sharing that much easier. And, if you're not a Flickr member yet.... why not? Excellent resource for any photographer as you get great feedback of your images, the ability to integrate your photos into most sites (like I did above) and, not to mention it's a great resource for inspiration!

Check out flickr here
Check out the plug-ins here

Finally Home

The flight was actually pretty cool. The movie was "Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith. I grabbed some snacks (Combo's & Swedish Fish) and was prepared to ask for two of those little cups of ice with Coke. You know, those cups are like the size of two dixie cups and they pack 'em full of ice so you never get too much actual liquid. And, with Combo's it's gotta be Coke so I asked if it was ok if I had to of their miniature drinks. They said sure and handed over two CANS of Coke and two of those miniature drink glasses filled with ice at no additional charge. Great, right? Well, then I had to go to the bathroom right when the movie ended with the rest of the plane. :-p

I woke up this morning realizing I have no car (at the folks) and ache all over. I feel like I played a soccer tourney for a week in Blaine or something. Even the palms of my hands hurt, go figure. Hopefully, since it's gorgeous outside, I'll be able to get out and grab some shots and relax a bit. Not move much. I'll leave the cleaning and catching up until tomorrow.

Tonight I've got a "going away" party for an Apple employee (who also works at my day job with me). Funny to have a going away party for someone who I never worked with at one job, yet work everyday with (and sit across from) at another job.


For all you Rapidweaver users out there wondering what the heck is going on, I'll hopefully make that quite clear in the days to come! Thanks again!

- Jay

Last Day in Las Vegas!

Last night was fun even though I passed out for three hours. I think my allergies and sinuses are just getting the best of me down here. It is really dusty.....

Chris and I headed down to the Final Cut Pro party but it was pretty lame at first so we went out to eat at Orchid again. Great beef tenderloin and service. I love that they give you a hot washcloth when you sit down. Feels great after being on the floor talking to people all day. After dinner we headed back to the party and got to see Walter Murch talk for about two hours. Very interesting guy even though he has such a dry delivery (or is it his voice?). I learned a lot and got a kick out of hanging out with all these editors from around the world. Fun stuff.

After the party, most of the guys were going to get some drinks or something and I just headed back. It was after midnight at this point so I didn't feel like such a wet blanket. When I got back to the hotel I started watching a movie on my laptop but fell instantly asleep instead. Woke up enough to close the laptop and put it on the floor before Chris got back later that night.

Ok, I think I better download a couple shots or go shoot some more! It's going to be a bit nuts carrying all my gear down to the Convention Center and then making a mad dash to the airport tonight. Wish me luck!!!

Love you!
Jay

Day Three

Apparently there is a Final Cut Pro Users Group (FCPUG) meeting tonight here in the Venetian that is supposed to be pretty huge. Apple is presenting along with a few other companies. I was told it's all a front for a cash bar or something but it would still be good to hob-nob with the FCPUG down here and the other pro's and engineers before I take off.

Tomorrow is going to be tight and I won't have time to update this site. I'll be up in the am to take a final shot here and there of Vegas and the show then off to my last shift on the floor and off to catch my flight at 6:30 pm. Lindsay (right?) will be picking me up at 11:30 pm (CST) and I believe I will sleep and stay in bed until the following Monday. Ugh.

I've had a blast so far, I really have but it's been extremely exhausting. I've learned so much and really want to be back in the video production world again. Apple, once again, not only makes it easier to accomplish well designed productions but also inspires you along the way. But I just can't wait to get home! Love you guys!!!

- Jay

Day Two

After my 8 am to 1:30 pm shift I was able to catch a couple of the free Apple classes on the other new software they announced. I even got to catch a special one hour training on editing a movie by Walter Murch, an Academy Award winning editor who's done the editing and sound design for The Godfather, Cold Mountain, Jarhead and many more feature films. So many movies under this guys belt it's hard to remember them all. Great experience. I did take some shots but I'm just beat tonight and will get them together tomorrow night.

Chris, my roommate down here and friend from Creative Training, taught me how to play craps tonight! HA! It was fun to learn and I even won some cash.... at first. :-P Don't worry, when it was all said and done I had lost $10 playing craps after playing/watching for about 90 minutes. It was fun but I'm just not a gambler and never will be. Fun to learn and watch though, now that I know what's going on. That's enough of that for me, though (don't worry dad). :-p

Love you all and miss you guys!!! -Jay

Day One

All in all, it's been a blast so far and a great learning experience. I worked this afternoon from noon to 6. The next two days I'll be working the morning sessions and I'm hoping to catch some of the training classes that Apple is putting on for the entire Studio sweet. We'll see if I'll get to do that as it's a bit insane to get into those classes. They open the floor around 9 am and people literally run to the booth to sign up for the classes that day. Wish me luck!

It was such a long day today, as soon as we got back we grabbed some quick food then came up to the hotel room to relax for a bit. It's about 8:30 right now and we're thinking of going down and hitting the casino or something. I'm really not a club guy or a gambling person so, yea, Vegas just isn't me. It's strange but proves how boring and lame I really am. :-p

Hope all is well! -Jay

Live! From Las Vegas! It's NAB 2007!

The first place we hit was the Ballagio's buffet. At $38 it's a bit pricey but we get a nice daily allowance from Apple for food and travel. Plus, it was worth it. That's about all I did the first night I was here as Sunday ended up being a very. long. day.

Training went from 7 am until 6 pm but great announcements by Apple really made the day go by fast. I got to meet some Apple engineers as well as the voice behind my favorite software training offered by Ripple Training. It was pretty amazing to be around such talented people. Plus, each of the Apple workers (Creatives) are amazing and totally beyond me in their geek factor. I'm really looking forward to learning a lot about the whole production world. I really feel like I want to get back into it again!

Well, I'm off to breakfast with Chris, hopefully at some overpriced buffet then off to work the booth! Hopefully I'll update more (and get this site on newending.com) soon!

Love and miss everyone! - Jay

Getting Ready for NAB

I'm taking Friday off to make sure I know everything there is to know about Soundtrack as that's the booth I'll be at. If you wanna stop by and look for me, I'll be the skinny guy with short hair and a ninja posed picture on my Apple badge. A whole week in Vegas, I should have a ton of shots to show you guys when I get back!

Updates Coming

If you want to see any specific Rapidweaver themes, please drop me a line so I know what you guys and gals are looking for in a web site theme. There are some very exciting things going on this year in the Rapidweaver community and I really hope to be a part of it.

Thanks again for everyone's time and patience and for stopping by!

- Jay