A web development/programming blog providing info, tips, and tricks on programming languages, scripting, Linux, MySQL and more
Posts tagged CSS
jQuery tabbed content switcher
Jun 27th
Eat your heart out Sir Alexander Fleming! While my accidental invention of a jQuery tabbed content switcher may not be up there with penicillin, the pacemaker, and post-it notes, it sure did wonders for my latest web design project.
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CSS Sprites without the CSS (mostly)
Jun 21st
It’s been a while since I blogged. Hopefully I can get back into it on a regular basis now.
I came across an interesting post today titled CSS Sprites w/out Using Background Images. Now obviously I was intrigued as I’ve discussed how to use CSS Sprites before and have really been getting into them lately with some new killer projects I’ve been contracted to do. But this post, I just had to read.
If you read that post, and I suggest you do, you’ll see that the author talks about using Sprites without the use of a CSS Background Image. When I rolled over the examples though, I got a basic sprite functionality. But that’s what he was talking about. Although he mentioned they were just <img /> tags. I just wasn’t seeing it.
Soh Tanaka mentions that the goal was to make it simple for a client who may have multiple affiliate banners to upload and didn’t want his client trying to have to mess with CSS and creating custom classes and code. Good point. The way Soh went about achieving this was simple: Instead of moving the background image of an element, use an <img /> tag with the same sprite image and move the <img /> tag up with negative margins. The theory is identical, the execution is just different.
Instead of setting a background image on the element and doing a
background-position: 0 -182px;on the:hoverSoh does uses an actual <img /> tag and sets amargin-top: -182pxon it (182px was the size of the image, or half of it).
Now as author Chris Heilmann mentioned in the comments, this isn’t the best use of sprites in the world, and kind of defeats the purpose. But the functionality is there and it was something Soh did to make it easier on his client (which we’ve all done) and was just showing the technique for technique’s sake. By the way, Chris authored a fantastic JavaScript/DOM Scripting/AJAX book I have in my Tech Library. It’s definitely worth the read.
Anyways, I just wanted to drop this tip as I stared at it for a while utterly confused and wondering how this tip was any different as all I could see was the same sprite functionality. But, like I said, that’s the point. It still functions the same.
New website launch: OneWordSurveys.com
Oct 19th
Desert Web Designs is pleased to announce the launch of our latest site:
OneWordSurveys.com
The Site
OneWordSurveys.com is a site as simple as it’s concept: Simple (one word) answers to simple questions. The site poses simple questions to users, all with one word answers. Questions like “Soda or Pop?”, “Coke or Pepsi?”, “Biscuits or Muffins?”, and much, much more. The site also provides a means for users to submit their own surveys as well.
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HOLY BRAIN FART BATMAN!!
Jun 2nd
So not all of the posts can be gems. Have you ever had a “brain fart” so bad that you’re almost embarrassed to share it with people? I’ve had quite a few in my life, one of which just occurred. The other that I remember happened in 3rd grade (yes it was that bad I still remember it). For those of you who don’t know what a “brain fart” is:
A brain fart is slang for a special kind of abnormal brain activity which results in human error while performing a repetitive task. More generally, a brain fart can be any task-related forgetfulness, such as forgetting how to hold a fork. Tom Eichele, a neuroscientist at the University of Bergen in Norway, was part of an international team of researchers who identified evidence that the brain fart is detectable in brain scans up to 30 seconds before the mistake is actually made. The researchers suspect the abnormal behavior is the result of the brain attempting to save effort on a task by entering a more restful state. The scientists detailed their findings on 21 April 2008 online in the journal Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences. The scientific term they gave the phenomenon is “maladaptive brain activity change.”
Web design and development books in the Tech Library
May 27th
I’ve always held to the mantra of “Never stop Learning”, especially with Internet technologies and languages. Now there is a lot of free information available on the Internet to help learn these things, but there have been countless books written on a multitude of subjects. I myself have built up quite a collection of print books and ebooks alike on a wide variety of subjects from CSS to SEO, Content Management to VB.NET.
A while back, I started writing book reviews on some of the books that I have read. This didn’t take off quite as I had expected, mainly because I didn’t write all that many reviews, although I have read plenty of my books. My goal is to eventually read and write reviews for all the books that I own, although is quite the undertaking with the number of books that I own.
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Tech Library
May 27th
This page is a list of all the books I have in my own personal ‘tech library’. This page will be updated regularly with new books added, plus links to reviews I have written of those books (if applicable – I hope to have reviews of all the books I own eventually). If you have a book review of a tech book you have written and would like it included in our library, please see our Guest Post page for more information.
Book Review: Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook
May 26th
Book Review for:
Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook
5 out of 5 Stars for Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook
If you’ve read through some of my other posts, or even glanced at my Categories, you’ll know I’m a huge proponent of Web Standards. I also tend to buy my books based on other user reviews, as opposed to critic reviews. I like to get my review directly from the people using the book daily. This book current has a 5 star rating with 45 out of 52 5-star reviews on amazon.com and was a no brainer for me to rank it the same, for reasons I will get into later. This book was written in 2004 and a special addition was just released as well only 2 weeks ago.
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New website launch: FreeAdviceForCharity.com
May 19th
Desert Web Designs is pleased to announce the launch of our latest site:
FreeAdviceForCharity.com
The Site
FreeAdviceForCharity.com is a a site based out of Phoenix, AZ that looks to give back to it’s visitor’s, more than most sites on the internet usually do. The basis behind FreeAdviceForCharity.com is that the sites team of professional financial advisors provide FREE financial advice to it’s visitors and ask nothing in return, aside from a request to donate to Rotary International’s PolioPlus Fund. The Mission Statement of the site is:
FreeAdviceForCharity.com is to provide the best quality advice for individuals regarding various financial needs while at the same time promoting local charities and building a stronger community.
Decrease Your Web Site Load Times Using CSS Sprites
May 15th
I was working on a website recently when I came across an issue I’ve encountered a number of times before, I’ve just never really thought about in depth until just the other night. Here is the question that I posed myself:
Which will result in better web site performance and faster speed: Larger files and fewer server requests? or Smaller files and more server requests?
I posted this question recently at LinkedIn Q&A to get some insight on the topic. I enjoyed all of the answers and was able to take something out of each, and decided to post about a particular topic that was mentioned in a couple posts.
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New website launch: AngelWithCrookedFeet.org
Jul 16th
Desert Web Designs is pleased to announce the launch of our latest site:
AngelWithCrookedFeet.org
The Site
AngelWithCrookedFeet.org is the online home to the Angel With Crooked Feet Foundation providing support, guidance, and counseling to youth and their families who are victims of sexual abuse and more. The Foundation was started by Anthony V. Sarjant Ph.D. of Show Low, Arizona and Gus Koernig of Mesa, Arizona. Together Tony and Gus authored Angel With Crooked Feet which chronicles the life of Tony, born with a club foot to a mother who didn’t want him. Through his years, Tony has suffered through time in and out of hospitals, petty crime, time in a juvenile detention center and later prison, sexual assault, the occult, marital infidelity, alcoholism, and suicide attempts.
It’s a story that proves, again and again, that God never gives up on us, even when we want to give up on ourselves. It is the story I’m telling because I know that reading about my experiences, my ordeals, my challenges, and my victories will help thousands of people, young and old, overcome the challenges in their lives.
