downloads, javascript comments edit

Recently inspired by a trip through Pragmatic Ajax and a look at Phil Haack’s XFN Highlighter Script, I decided to play around with the prototype JavaScript library and create a little pop-up contact information script.

What this allows you to do is specify the contact information for a given person including their name, email address, web site URL, a short description of them, and their Xbox Live Gamertag and have the contact info pop up automatically when you put your cursor over a link describing them.

To use it, you need to add the prototype library and the ContactCard library to the <head /> of your page. Then you define your list of contacts and related information in a separate script and add that - whenever you need to add, remove, or change contact info, you then just modify that separate script.

By adding the CSS class contactcard followed by a period and the ID of the given contact, the ContactCard script will automatically rewrite the page with the popup. If it’s a link, including XFN relationship information will automatically have that added to the contact card:

<a href="/" rel="me" class="contactcard.tillig">Travis Illig</a>

This works on any HTML element, not just links:

<span class="contactcard.tillig">Travis Illig</span>

The script will also automatically find links that have URLs matching those you have defined for contacts and will attach a contact’s card to those links without you having to do anything. (You can disable this behavior if you want.)

Full usage instructions, including how to customize the look of the popup card, are included. Check out the test page that is included for working examples.

Note 8/22/2014: There are better ways to do this with jQuery and Bootstrap now, but I’ve not bothered updating this script. You can still grab it if you like, but it’s totally unsupported.

Download ContactCard 1.2.0

Version History: 1.0.0: First release. 1.1.0: Added support for rendering XFN information for a link without having contact info attached. Fixed positioning bug. 1.2.0: Added option to automatically rewrite links that match the URL for a contact. Enabled by default.

General Ramblings comments edit

I’m a reasonably easy-going person. Reasonably. And I’m all for folks who want to wear comfortable clothing. I, myself, am not a fashion plate by any means, usually opting for the jeans-and-a-screen-print-t-shirt look.

But there is something about flip-flops that I cannot fucking stand.

The slap-slap-slap of your sheer footwear incompetence echoes through my mind as you meander past. And you must meander, because it is impossible - nay, punishment - for you, the flip-flop wearer (or “flopper,” as you might be called), to move with any purpose. Should that happen, not only would the mindset of the laid-back shoe choice be contradicted, but the sheer physical torture of the harder, more frequent slap-slap-slap against the bottoms of your tender, tender feet would become too much to bear.

No, you must meander. Or you must shuffle, which is just as bad. The inability of many floppers to pick up their feet is something that scientific studies should be written on. Perfectly capable human being one day, utter sloth the next. The transformation is inexplicable.

It only makes it worse that people seem to think that flip-flops are a positive fashion statement of late. You know you’ve seen this one - gorgeous woman walking through the mall, a “10” on any scale, shirt that costs more than you make in a week, pants that fit perfectly, hair done up “just so…” And a pair of God damn flip-flops on her feet.

It’s a good thing I’m not single because flip-flops are grounds for instant disqualification. Flip-flops and smoking. In that order. Thank God Jenn doesn’t smoke and won’t wear flip-flops, I’d have to dump her ass like a used Yugo.

In fact, there are only four acceptable times at which you may wear flip-flops:

  1. You’re in the shower at the gym
  2. You’re walking on the beach
  3. You just escaped from jail and had to steal shoes from the closest convenience store
  4. You’re about to get arrested on Cops

All other times - no go. If you’re on the fence, save yourself. There are countless other models of sandal that you can take part in that won’t sacrifice your position in the eyes of humanity. Do not succumb to be a flopper.

gaming, xbox comments edit

When I got my Xbox 360, I also got an Xbox Live Gold account so I could play online with folks. Jenn, too, wanted to play, so she got a Gold account as well. Cool.

Of course, Jenn wants to play at the same time I’m playing, which is neat, even though we don’t work cooperatively for crap. (Ironic?) What that means is we need Xbox 360 games that support multiple people playing online from the same console.

Don’t all of them do that? Actually, it turns out not as many as you’d think do. On classic Xbox, Halo 2 supports two people on the same Xbox logged into Live at the same time (actually, I think it supports up to four on the same Xbox while logged into Live). But which games on Xbox 360?

You’d think Gauntlet would - it supports up to four people in the game, and it doesn’t even need split-screen. Nope - you can either play multiple people on the Xbox or you can play online, but not both at the same time. What about PGR3? Nope - same deal, you get to pick.

Of course, this was pretty disappointing to Jenn, who bought the account specifically to play, and thus far has really only had a chance to get on with Halo 2. (Again, she wants to play with me, and I don’t have two Xbox 360 consoles.)

On an up note, I found a database that is gathering information on which games support this sort of thing. I think this is going to be a huge resource for me: http://www.45six.com/xbox/360games/

As of this writing, I have my choice of Perfect Dark Zero, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, or The Outfit. (Luckily, we own The Outfit and like it, so we now just need to convince our friends to pick it up.)

UPDATE 3/31/08: Looks like Co-Optimus has started a nice listing of co-op games for several systems.

General Ramblings comments edit

Your results:

You are Geordi LaForge

You work well with others and often fix problems quickly. Your romantic relationships are often bungled.

Geordi LaForge

  • Geordi LaForge: 75%
  • Jean-Luc Picard: 70%
  • James T. Kirk (Captain): 65%
  • An Expendable Character (Redshirt): 65%
  • Leonard McCoy (Bones): 60%
  • Spock: 50%
  • Beverly Crusher : 45%
  • Data: 45%
  • Mr. Scott: 40%
  • Will Riker: 40%
  • Deanna Troi: 40%
  • Chekov: 35%
  • Worf: 30%
  • Uhura: 25%
  • Mr. Sulu: 15%

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

General Ramblings comments edit

I’ve been so busy lately, I totally spaced writing up the weekend. It was nice and we did our best to relax, so we intentionally didn’t do too much. As such, I’ll try to keep it short.

Friday night we went out with some friends of ours, Jason, Tracy, and Adam, and had some Mexican food for dinner. After that, we went back to their place and, totally trashed, proceeded to kick their sorry asses at Scene It. I am the KING.

Saturday there was a lot of sleeping. I’ve been pretty stressed out lately and Saturday I think it caught up with me. I got up late and didn’t do a whole lot. Oh, that’s right - Jenn and I got a copy of Halo 2 and we’re playing through cooperatively so she can get her skills up to speed and put the smack down on my dad next time we’re all playing online.

Sunday we went to Fry’s and I bought Burnout Revenge and The Outfit. Both were totally on sale, so I got a pretty good deal. Brought them home, and both are good fun. Entertainment budget well spent.

Monday we took a gaming break and just hung out. We ended up heading to the movies and saw X-Men 3, and I thought it was at least as good as the second one, if not better. I recommend it, and didn’t feel cheated paying full evening price for it.

That’s about it. Got back to work Tuesday, just that much further behind, and now I’m crawling my way through the week, trying not to let The Man get me down, so to speak. We’re moving at quite the breakneck pace trying to get things done, though, and I’m feeling pretty damn burned out. Vacation doesn’t help, either. Something’s gotta give.