Since I am already stretched to write enough content for here, and GeekDad, I have decided to re-purpose lr2.com as a short url site.  I realize there are a lot of sites out there that do this, but I think there is room for one more.  It should run nearly maintenance free, and eventually provide enough network traffic and ad views to help pay for my web hosting.

So if you need some URLs shortened, give it a shot, and feel free to use them in your emails, IMs, and blog posts.

A humorous look at Why, What, and How to test. Why we should test our web applications. What part of the applications need testing. How to steer development to help with testing. How to use free testing tools to make your applications rock a step or two above the competition. Dual presentation with Mark Morga.

Mark‘s and my panel suggestion for SXSW 2008 is up for vote on the new and improved panel picker.  If you have a moment and don’t mind registering, please go rank your favorite panel ideas.  If enough technical people sign up and vote I think we’ll have a reasonable chance at being selected.

We’ll have more to post about in the very near future as we get the Testing Two-Step site up and running.

I launched LOLCatGenerator.com earlier this week and the growth rate is crazy. So far I’ve got just over 200 cat pictures up and ready for captions.

More features should follow this weekend and next week as I get time to work on them.

Beautiful Python: The programming language that taught me how to love again

Very interesting take on someone’s progression from programming in C++ through Perl to Python.

Over the last year or so, there’s been a lot of talk about grid systems and using column grids for website layouts. Mark gave us a lesson plan, Khoi gave us a case study and Cameron gave us a toolkit. The message is clear: we have the browser support, the know-how, and the tools we need to create consistent multi-column grid layouts on the web.

Some good tips and resources for grid layout at A List Apart. Now I just need to find the time to fix this layout.

When building a web application, start with the no frills set. Be sure everything works and then offer a slightly dressed up version. Cool colors, better layout, and nicer fonts appeal to a lot of people but might hinder a screen reader or phone browser. Be sure they aren’t required for a usable experience. Lastly add the whiz-bang items like ajax, javascript form validation and animations. Again, be sure they don’t get in the way and that they aren’t required.

Usability and accessibility is key. It won’t matter how pretty your site is if people can’t use it they won’t.

Aaron Gustafson Sr Web designer/Developer, Easy! Designs LLC
Sarah Nelson Design Strategist, Adaptive Path

Grids are Good! Yes, they are. Mark Boulton and Khoi Vinh did a great job of explaining how to layout a web page on a grid. They explained the constraint of the browser width, ad unit sizes, and ways to split the page up into multiple columns and bring those columns together as needed for the design.

Mark Boulton Owner, Mark Boulton Design
Khoi Vinh Design Dir, The New York Times