1 Foot in the Grave

A couple of days ago, my new friend, Nancy, asked me how I posted pictures in my blog - the way the text was wrapped around the images instead of beginning at the bottom edge of the image. I’m glad she asked because it gives me an opportunity to show some of you one of the first things I learned about HTML and CSS.

The method is called a “float.” You would think it might be called a wrap, but no, I didn’t get to be on the naming committee. I’ll describe the method of doing this so that anyone coding an HTML page can do the same. You can use this method in any HTML document, it doesn’t have to be WordPress. There is a shortcut to this method for those using WordPress, so keep reading, I’ll get to it soon. (more…)

“The Mad Modder” was a tag I picked up sometime in 2003. I was known as “Grump” for a long time - not an undeserved nick-name - and in ‘03, I was hanging out a lot in case modding forums. I built the computer you see in the picture (click it to see a larger version) and it impressed someone at CPU Magazine and it was featured in the October 2003 issue and I became the first “Mad Reader Mod.” Of course, the title was derived from my nick-name and a few people in the modding circles began calling me “the mad modder.” I even got the domain name, TheMadModder.com, which at one time had a pretty nice forum - another one of those things I had to give up when I got sick.

But that isn’t what this entry is about. I only mention my case modding because it has been the kind of thing I have enjoyed doing for many years. Oh, not just computer case modding, but modding just about everything. I used to build model cars when I was a kid - customized them and even got published in a model car mag back then. I’ve tried to modify cars, my homes, hell, I even modified the way I pack this damn oxygen tank around - but more on that later. What I am taking the long way around getting to is that I spent the biggest part of this day modifying this website. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone. (more…)

Although I had planned for a long time to start a blog (I think I made my first effort in 1993 or 4), I had never decided on what script to use until just a couple days ago. I was actually looking for something that I could use for a Floor Pro Network so that my members could have their own blogs. I tried a couple things out and even settled on b2evolution. But when I installed that application and was faced with the configuration and other options, I gave WordPress another look.

The installation couldn’t have been much easier - it really does take less than 5 minutes. The options were impressive and simple to set up. I got a couple of plugins and installed a theme I liked and I was up and running. I especially like that it’s all valid code right outa the box. I’m anal about that. The theme I chose has a 1 pixel jog in the background that I can’t seem to fix. I made a comment to the designer on the WordPress Themes page, so I hope it gets resolved.

One thing I didn’t like about the theme (more…)