“Liquid Layout”. I picked up the term a few years ago from a tutorial by Lance Arthur of Glassdog.com. Liquid layout describes a website with a variable width, depending on how big your browser window (and screen) is. For example, open CNN.com, close the annoying popup window that asks you what continent you are from (!?!), and then try stretching and squishing the size of your browser window. Notice how the content of the site stays the same width regardless of the browser width. Now try Search.com. Notice how the content stretches and squishes to fit your window without introducing a horizontal scroll bar.

Who cares? Very few people, apparently. I do. A good liquid layout ensures a good visual experience for users on a wide variety of screen sizes. It’s harder to do for the designer and involves some sacrifices and limitations, but some of the best design comes from within strict constraints.

Imagine a print designer who claimed that to truly see his masterpiece coffee table book at its best you had to look at it in natural light and with 20/20 eyesight.

“Colors look a little washed out and the type is small.”
“Fluorescents won’t do. I designed it to be seen in the light of nature. Maybe you need glasses.”
“Fuck you.”

Expecting someone to change their computer configuration (particularly screen size) is like expecting people to buy a new car to go to the drive-in. Rather than clinging desperately to control of each and every pixel with white knuckles, web designers should embrace the openness of the web.

For those web developers who struggle with browser incompatibilities and nested tables for the perfect liquid layout, I appreciate it (for what it’s worth). Below are a few examples of fine liquid layouts I’ve come across. If you know of a good liquid layout let me know (steven@actsofvolition.com).

• Blogger.com – One of the best I’ve seen. Designed by Derek Powazek of Powazek.com (currently a k10k news contributor).
   
• Amazon.com – Kings of the useable web. Their related products features are frighteningly effective. One of the few major sites that still works at a 640 by 480 resolution.
   
• Search.com – One of Cnet’s few remaining liquid layouts (along with Cnet.com). R.I.P. Gamecenter.com and the formerly liquid News.com.
   
• Sapient – Monster web shop. Creativity and originality on an assembly line (they must use macs). Nicely liquid pages, although they start quite wide (defeating the purpose somewhat).
   
• Slashdot – Ugly but distinctive. Coders must think designing with white space is like writing inefficient code.
   
• Send me more: steven@actsofvolition.com

I was idly looking up information on my old pal Woody Harrelson the other day, and I was saddened to see the lack of love on the site which bears his name.

You see, I met Woody on an Air Canada flight from Winnipeg to Montreal. I bumped into him so I said, “Excuse me”. To which he responded, “Sorry!”.

A Natural Born Killer just apologized to me. LARRY FLYNT apologized to me!

I digress.

This amazingly humble man deserves a nicer site. I wanted to know more about the man who can’t jump because of the pigment in his skin. I was sadly disappointed to only learn about his education and his birthday.

This is fucking weak guys, fucking weak. Let’s show some genuine respect and love for the hand that feeds us films of side-splitting hilarity.

You people make me sick.

I was on Microsoft’s netmeeting last night during the vanishing hour. I started to chat with somebody claiming to be a 22/f cheerleader/nursing student. I saved a capture of this so-called nursing student. Crazy nuts.

I like the sleepy mornings; the sleepy afternoons. When your eyelids are difficult sandbags to lift. When the only things your senses understand is a familiar tired warmth, and that somewhere nearby there is coffee.

Daylight savings time is a nice reminder of how our clock and calendar are somewhat arbitrary artificial contructions.

Remember that next time you’re late for work.

Zeldman links to Forget Magazine.

I am jealous. Enjoy your stats boys.

A song, movie, and TV show you should enjoy:

song:

Westray by Weeping Tile (now of Sarah Harmer fame)
 

movie:

The Truman Show. Watch it again, for the first time.
 

show:

The episode of Northern Exposure where Chris Stevens, the host of KBHR builds a giant catapault to fling a live cow (it’s art).

If the media companies weren’t busy peeing their collective pants, I would have some way of linking you to these fine works. As it stands right now, you couldn’t even go find these gems even if you were willing to pay for them. Let’s wait and see if capitalism works it out.

The local telephone company defines happiness on their bill envelopes. View a larger image of the envelope »

And I say: “coolin’.”

“What’s Up Fatlip?” by Fatlip, formerly of hiphop group The Pharcyde is currently my choice for song of the year. It’s the saddest funny song I’ve heard in a while and it’s got a chorus you’ll be humming to yourself as you strut down the street (rocking a diaper or not).

Also: Some days more than others.