About this site

The site is designed and built using the remarkable CityDesk Content Management System by Fog Creek Software. It reflects the author's biased and stubborn attitude towards web design. Some of the philosophies behind the design are:

• Use static HTML pages to allow the end-user's browser cache to lower Internet traffic globally, while at the same time ensuring the fastest possible end-user response. Pages with content that has not changed since you last viewed it can be reloaded instantly from your cache instead of being dragged half way across the world bit by bit.
• Pages should be readable in any browser at any resolution using whatever font/size the user chooses. We test with Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6, Mozilla Thunderbird, Off By One, and Lynx to make sure it works.
• Try to adhere to W3C standards by using the W3C HTML Validation Service.
• Verify links using the W3C's Link Checker.
• Minimize load and render times by using standard Javascript and ASCII text wherever possible.
• Optimize all graphics to the lowest possible size, use thumbnails where appropriate, and list the size of huge graphics so the user can make an informed decision before viewing.