Review by Faltered Heart Reviews
I'm quite happy with this review, even though there were a few issues I didn't agree with. Its main merit is most definitely its thorough check. I really need to do a bit of updating on some pages.
Very simplistic layout. The style is strikingly similar to Wordpress templates, not that it is a bad thing. The layout image is unique. The navigation field is also very original. I have never seen something like it.
Presentation:
I like the layout. Simple yet different. I'm not sure if I am too fond of the font you used for the title. The colour is nice, and the added drop shadow is also a nice touch, but the style is a little off. The long stem of the 'd' and the trail of the 's' characters, and the clean crisp strokes give the font style a horror-ish feel. Perhaps it could also mean that I have been watching too many horror movies lately.
My initial intention was to use a somewhat sloppy, but still organized style. Now that you mention it though... still: I like it, so it stays.
Your format of the blog and navigation is very clean and organized. Your index page is not overwhelmed by entries that are months old (you'll be surprised at how many people do that). The copyright statement at the bottom, you are missing a space after 'apply'. The links to validation is better linked to a new browser; that way, visitors are not taken away from your site when they accidentally click on the link. That rarely happens but I recommend it as a precaution since the links are not internal site links. This applies to all other external links such as the link to your hostess and tracker. You might also want to check over your HTML and CSS coding, there is one small error according to the validation pages.
Error fixed, forgot to close a <li> tag. I'm actually thinking of removing every target="_blank" attribute from the links, as XHTML strict doesn't validate it. Plus every browser lets visitors open a link in a new window if they choose to do so.
Regarding your layout image, there is one inconsistency. You might see that there is a one pixel white border on the left side next to the hand, but that changes abruptly to pink when the hand starts to fade. The hand seems to be faded a little early too. Since the overlarge shadow of the clock in the background doesn’t fade until it reaches closer to your navigation links, the same should be applied to the hand.
As for the jellybean-shaped field for your calendar, there is a small piece missing at the top, along with the entire left side. The latter is not as noticeable but the top certainly stands out.
Yes, I saw that, but I never managed to fix it properly. I'll try again, when I have more patience =P
HTML-wise, everything looks good but there are small clean-up errors in your CSS. For starters, rather than listing margin-left, margin-top, margin-right so many times, simplify it with margin: top right bottom left. Example: margin: 0 10px 5px 0. The same goes for padding attributes too. There is no reason for you to include background-attachment: fixed; in your body. You already defined the colour, image, image placement and repeating options in the line above. To have the 'fixed' attachment won't do anything. As a matter of fact, since you aligned the background image to the bottom, when I press full screen, the background moves to the bottom of the screen. That's not exactly 'fixed'.
It's not an error. Both ways are correct. I chose mine, because I see things easier, when they need to be changed. The background is fixed during scrolling, not when the browser size changes.
With text, unless you specify a background colour, the default will be set at transparent so you can delete background: transparent; from your ’strong’ definition. Again, you can simplify your attributes by stringing all the relevant attributes together as one. For example:
background-color: #ffffff;
background-image: url('revop.jpg');
background-repeat: no-repeat;
will be rewritten as background: #ffffff url('revop.jpg') no-repeat. You apply that to certain definition, but for others, you arrange it differently. It seems as though there were two people writing this style sheet.
I was trying to see if I could lessen the warnings, so that's why there are different 'styles' (it didn't work, btw). Same with the transparent background. As for the coding style, see above.
Content:
You have what is normally found on a blog: blog entry, calendar, links, and host link. Nothing out of place but those links under 'Daily Digest' should open in a new window browser. Sometimes people get curious from a site title and click on it, but you don’t want them to leave your site just yet.
Right-click on link and choose new window/tab, if you feel like it.
Profile of Culprit
I like the format with the 'You are visiting' heading at the top, and internal page links when your page runs too long. A very good idea. FACTS: you're missing a space between 'sport(to practice)'. SELF DESCRIPTION: There is a small error in the first sentence of your fourth paragraph. It should read as "I learn fast, especially if I the subject I have to learn." The first sentence to paragraph seven doesn’t make sense. You’re missing something in "therefore I've taken read such things". I like how you laid out your APPEARANCEs. The thumbnail, location and description helps. OF FORGOTTEN BLOGS: 'imoral' is spelt wrong in the paragraph about your views on abortion.
That happens when you change things for the 50th time, and forget to proofread it.
An interesting explanation of why you add content to your page. Although I understand why people keep telling others to add more content and such, it is non-sense. After all, personal sites are about the webmaster/webmistress, and they get to choose what they want on it. If visitors find it boring and prefer not coming back, that is their problem, not yours. But these pages served its purpose, it humoured me especially your sandy beach experience. There is a reason why I only go to a beach in summer clothes or a swimsuit.
If you go on-line, then don't waste the space given. Make your site interesting, or give it up.
You certainly quoted a long excerpt from THIEF OF TIME. Before going into the excerpt and main theme of the story, it would be nice to write a brief summary of the novel. At least then, I would sort of understand what I am reading.
Two reasons: 1) complicated storyline; 2) the quotes are generally not important to the storyline.
Bribery
I really enjoy reading your articles, especially the ones about WPR. You speak pretty much on the behalf of most WPR. I sure hope you also have these articles accessible at the WPR where you review. They are certainly beneficial to web designers in general. With THE CONTENT article, I disagree with using creativity with the 'currently' content that most people have on their blog. Mind you, I agree that eating chips is not very creative, but if that is what they are currently doing, why should they have to think twice about it? Or do you mean another way to express 'chips' such as 'fried potato slices'? When people are blogging, they are usually expressing personal opinions on specific matters, experiences or how their day went. They are under no obligation to make it interesting for viewers.
The point should have been: if you want an opinion, DO have something worthwhile criticizing.
With the example your provided, the difference between the two paragraphs is: Paragraph 1) The blogger is expressing their experience in the simplistic way they know how (and maybe perhaps not very mature with the cap locks and squeal); and paragraph 2) It sounds like you are either trying to write a story or an essay. Unless you are prone to writing scholarly (like you are), most people don't write like that with fine details and extra adjectives. And I am by no means insulting the way you write, I really like the intellectual working of the mind behind it. But there is a difference between scholarly and interesting.
Not a good example, and you're not the first person to misunderstand things. I'll have to rephrase things.
The following pages have an error in your content width and alignment (the blog content area is larger than the width of your layout): The Content, Why Won't It Work?, Installing and Configuring Apache, Writing an Essay.
*murders Internet Explorer* Thanks, fixed. Well... sort of, now the bullets and numbers for the lists don't show up in Internet Explorer.
Professional Slang
SITE HISTORY: a very long and thorough history of how you came about web designing. However, there is no need for you to link to your sites hosted at Geocities and Freewebs, since both pages have a 'moved' link to direct to this specific web page. You also need to update the link for Incense Graphics because it is no longer online. The link provided in version 2 of your PAST LAYOUTS links to the internal section of version 2. I am not sure if this is intended or not. You might want to check out the links to the REVIEW sites as well because most of them have not been updated in half a year. Given the odds, I'd say they are closed.
Those pages need to be updated. As long as the review sites are online, I'll provide a link to them.
Places Frequented
All is well but I notice that your LINK ME buttons are of your previous layout theme.
I suck at making buttons and avatars. So I take a long time to make them... if ever.
Final Statement:
One thing that I can't help but notice is your frequent usage of 'oh-so [professionally]' statements. It is one of those things that categorize you. All in all, your personal site is very original and insightful. I have learned quite a bit from my short visit, and have been enlightened by your many articles.
I like using that statement =P
