Got a sneak peak at NML (Netomat Markup Language), a new language for the internet that is being developed by Netomat. Netomat Communication System allows users to create animation, add or import sounds along with digital photos and texts. NML is based on XML tags and runs on Java-based platform; therefore, it requires no proprietary plug-in. Although the idea is very interesting, it is still in its very early stage. The company is currently looking for beta testers, sign up!

Snowing

It is snowing in Poughkeepsie, New York. The weather is nice and Vassar Campus is gorgeous. What a lovely Friday!

Form Follows Function,/h2.
Basic approach to web design is form follows function. Whether you’re an artist, print designer or programmer transforming to web design, respect the medium. As Peter-Paul Koch stated, “Misunderstanding the function of a Web site isn’t restricted to designers alone. Techies can have the same problem.” Be sure to read his other great articles from Keep it Simple column.

My office was being repainted and the odor gave me a headache so I took off with Kara and Keisha to Target to get some office decorations. Well, I didn’t get anything because I didn’t know what to get. It was a nice hang out though. By the way, Keisha new layout is so slick and sexy. Talking about sexy, check out President Bush, he is as sexy as a monkey!

Currently reading ActionScipt for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide by Colin Moock.

Film Screening: Sun, 02.09.03, 7pm, Blodgett Auditorium, Vassar College

Trembling Before G-d is documentary film, directed by Sandi Dubowski, about the struggles of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian. Director Sandi Dubowski will lead a Question and Answer discussion following the screening.

2 am in the mornin’
Br-r-ring. Br-r-ring.
Me: hello
Nate: It’s Nate!
Me: What’s up dog?
Nate: What was that song we were jammin’ to in your car?
Me: Huh?
Nate: You know, that Jay-Z joint!
Me: Oh, “Some People Hate Us” some shit like that.
Nate: Oh! alright.
Me: Why?
Nate: Cuz I wanna download it.
Me: You call me up 2 o’clock in the fuckin’ mornin’ just to ask me this?
Nate: Yeah, my bad, dog.
Me: You’re out of your fuckin’ mind, dog.
Nate: I know, “laughhhhh”
Me: Yeah, “laughhhhhhh”
Nate: Alright dog, I ma let you go back to bed.
Me: Alright, later dog.

That’s my boy Nate. I got him hooked on the song called “Some People Hate” by Jay-Z. I love the way Hip Hop beats mixed with Oldie drums on this track. The song is so creative although Jay-Z bit of 2pac’s lyrics a little bit.

“Raw rough and rugged, when addressin’ the mass public.
My attitude is fuck it cause motherfuckers love it” – Jay-Z

“Mama made me rugged, baptised the public.
Now you hard thugs, nigga don’t you love it” – 2pac

Samantha

Spent some time with Samantha over the weekend. She is so full of life. I enjoyed every minute with her. Left behind all my stresses and worries because she made me so happy. She is my motivation and inspiration. Now I understand why people would want to have kids. I miss you so much, kiddie!

The Avant-Garde

Great architectural drawings with a slick Flash interface. The Changing of the Avant-Garde website is clean and organized.

God bless our astronauts. Our condolences go out to families and friends of the seven astronauts died 16 minutes from home.

Toi Di Tim Toi (I am searching within myself)

Love this song performed by Ly Hai. The beat is great and the lyrics reflect my feelings.

“Co nhung toi nghe mua roi that buon, lanh vang goc pho quen minh toi. Toi di tim trong toi, tim trong hoi men cay, mot hinh bong da mai xa tam tay.”

“In the sadness of a rainy night, I am walking alone in a cold city. I am searching within myself, searching in my intoxication, for an appearance that is so far out of reach.” Something like that. It makes more sense in Vietnamese 🙂

It’s time to renew ourselves. Change is good for any of us. Leave behind all the sadness and ring in all the happiness. Best wishes to you and your family for a prosperous and healthy new year.

My daily doses, Zeldman.com, is going through another redesign. The new look is just straight out clean and simple. So far so good!

Web Standards Meetup

On Thursday, Feb 6 at 8:00 pm, there will be a meetup right here in Poughkeepsie NY for designers/developers to discuss web standards. Sounds interesting? Check out the site for more info.

Vassar’s Community Works Campaign

$68,360 has been raised by Vassar’s fund-raising campaign to help local human organizations. Thank you for your open heart. Please continued to support us. Click here to learn more.

After hours of fine tuning, D3studio is finally valid xhtml and css.

Gossip Folks

That little asian girl from Missy Elliott video is so cute. Her attitude is perfect for the video.

Rice Bowl Journals

Member of Rice Bowl Journals.

Here is a good debate on undesign and minimalistic. What more can I say? Less is more. I am crazy about clean and simple design. According to Albert Einstein, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

This is so Wrong

While surfing around htmlgonebad, I came across Tuan Anh parody web site. It bothered me to see people mocking him like that. I respected him for his unique individual. He inspired me during his concert in 1993. At the end of the song, Mot Thoi Mien Vien Xot Xa, he kneeled down and broke into tears. I could feel him. The overall of the song was about how the Vietnamese fled to different countries after the war and how we missed our homeland. At the end he screamed, “thua me, thua me, thua me, que huong minh da chet roi me oi, me oi, me Viet Nam oi…” Translate: “Dear mama, dear mama, dear mama, our homeland is dead, mama. Mama, the mother of Vietnam…” So to whom ever put together that site, please get to know him as a person instead of his appearance. Like we all say “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

The web group went out to the Pub for lunch today. This is the first time our group (Carolyn, Kara, Keisha, Meg and myself) gets to go out together ever since I started working for Vassar. The food and the services were great. Kara, Keisha and I acted a little silly after we had some drinks. It was fun though. I think we should do it more often. Thanks Carolyn (our boss) for treated us.

Latest movies

The latest movies I watched are Gangs of NY, Catch Me If You Can, and 8 Miles. Honestly, I didn’t really like any of them. Especially Gangs of NY, it was horrible. I thought Martin Scorsese and gangster movie are a good combination but not this one. The story line was so predictable and played out. The ending was so disappointed. Decaprio and Diaz were terrible. Daniel Day-Lewis was the only good performer. Next, Catch Me If You Can was not as bad. The paste of the movie was a little bit slow but somewhat funny; however, I loved the opening animation. It was fantastic. The music was great and I loved the way they treated the typography where the lines formed together with the text. Lastly, 8 Miles was alright. Eminem lyrics were the only highlights of the movie. Anyhow, these are just my opinions.