THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com The micro-blog of Chris Molitor Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:35:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Who Cares If Your Website Has Valid CSS or HTML?! http://www.themolitor.com/2010/03/who-cares-if-your-website-has-valid-css-or-html/ http://www.themolitor.com/2010/03/who-cares-if-your-website-has-valid-css-or-html/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:35:35 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3443

We’ve all heard it many times before: “This website has valid CSS and HTML“. My response? Who cares if it’s valid or not?!

The issue

Too many times people confuse having invalid code with having a broken or sub par website. This simply is not true. The W3C markup validation service should only be used to make sure nothing was missed or overlooked. However, if you have INTENTIONALLY used code that doesn’t validate (i.e. currently all CSS3 techniques), your site will not validate. This is fine. You should only be concerned if it doesn’t validate for reasons such as missed closing tags, misspelling of tag names, etc.

Why does this bother me?

100% of the sites I make DO NOT validate… on purpose! There are so many amazing tools at our disposal today, such as CSS3 features like border radius, box shadow, and text shadow to name just a few. These features add so much to the look of a website that it’s almost a sin not to use them to some extent.

Conclusion

Don’t kill yourself if your site doesn’t validate. Just because CSS3 isn’t available on all major browsers (hence why it doesn’t validate) doesn’t mean we should be afraid of using it. As long as what we use “downgrades gracefully” (as they say), anything is fair game.

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2010/03/who-cares-if-your-website-has-valid-css-or-html/feed/ 2 Blackwave Project: Draft Joe http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-draft-joe/ http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-draft-joe/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:37:00 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3439

This WordPress theme features a slideshow and unique CSS sprite system for dates and widget names. Don’t believe me? Check this out.

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-draft-joe/feed/ 0 Blackwave Project: Kathryn Thurman http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-kathryn-thurman/ http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-kathryn-thurman/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:32:44 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3437

This is my latest development project to launch. Theme was designed by the awesome crew at Blackwave Creative, and developed by myself (also with Blackwave Creative).

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2010/02/blackwave-project-kathryn-thurman/feed/ 1 SNL Backstage: Garth and Kat http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/snl-backstage-g/ http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/snl-backstage-g/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:53:08 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3435 Came across this hilarious dress rehearsal version of Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig as Garth and Kat on Weekend Update. I dare you to watch this and not crack up…

Watch the version that actually aired

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/snl-backstage-g/feed/ 0 Unmatched Style Video Review http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/unmatched-style-video-review/ http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/unmatched-style-video-review/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:51:36 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3433

Recently I was asked by Unmatched Style to do a video review of Creattica. I thought this would be a great collaboration since I launched Gallery Galleria and feature both Unmatched Style and Creattica on the site.

Watch the review on Unmatched Style

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2010/01/unmatched-style-video-review/feed/ 0 Gallery Galleria http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/gallery-galleria/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/gallery-galleria/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:58:11 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3427 Gallery Galleria

I launched a new project I call Gallery Galleria. Yes, it’s a gallery of gallery websites.

Gallery Galleria is intended to do two things: (1) provide a directory of great gallery-based websites, and (2) rate the sites based on quality of design and quality of content.

Click the link below to check it out.

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/gallery-galleria/feed/ 1 Video Photoshop Tip: Layer Comps http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/video-photoshop-tip-layer-comps/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/video-photoshop-tip-layer-comps/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:33:52 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3423

This one is a MAJOR time saver when using Photoshop for web design projects!

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/video-photoshop-tip-layer-comps/feed/ 0 WordPress University Premium Theme http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/wordpress-university-premium-theme/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/wordpress-university-premium-theme/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:03:49 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3420 WordPress University Premium Theme

WordPress University let’s you choose the exact colors of your school or business!

Features:

  • UNLIMITED COLOR OPTIONS!!!
  • Featured posts slideshow
  • Tabbed post categories
  • Full PSD
  • Dropdown menu
  • jQuery animations and effects
  • Super easy admin panel
  • Custom widgets for different pages
  • Easy thumbnail images with auto-scaling – no custom fields!
  • Promote your social network!
  • Related pages widget
  • Tooltips – just add a class “tooltips” to links to create your own!
]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/wordpress-university-premium-theme/feed/ 6 Holiday Giveaway: Free Premium WordPress Church Theme http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway-wordpress-church-theme/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway-wordpress-church-theme/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:16:16 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3413 holidaygiveaway

To celebrate the holiday season, I’ll be giving away one free version of the WordPress Church theme worth $27!

What’s included?

Here are some of the listed features of this theme:

  • Featured items on the home page
  • “News & Events” and “Pastor’s Blog” on the home page
  • “I’m New” banner to focus on visitors
  • Clean Subpage listings in the sidebar.
  • Tool tips! Just add a “tooltip” class to links to make your own
  • Social bookmarks for sharing posts and articles
  • Promote the church’s RSS, Twitter, and Facebook profile
  • Widget Ready!
  • PSD included!
  • Easy admin control panel
  • Drop Down Menu!
  • Collapsible Widgets!
  • Built-in content slider with auto-image scaling
  • Lots of jQuery goodness ;-)
  • BONUS: I’ll change the logo text for you!

Want a free copy?

To qualify, read the following details…

  • Make a quick tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can use the “Twitter it” link below to get started.
  • Leave a comment with one reason why you would like to win this theme.
  • That’s it! I’ll announce the winner here on December 23rd!

Update:

Congratulations Justin! You won!

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway-wordpress-church-theme/feed/ 13 THE MOLITOR FORUMS http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/the-molitor-forums/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/the-molitor-forums/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:23:29 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3411 THE MOLITOR FORUMS

A while back I started “THE MOLITOR FORUMS” as a way to better offer support to customers from Theme Forest. I recently decided that this would also be a great way to share some WordPress and HTML/CSS tricks I’ve learned. If you’ve got a question, or have answers, visit the forums!

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/the-molitor-forums/feed/ 0 School Sketches http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/school-sketches/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/school-sketches/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:25:47 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3395 I came across some sketches that I thought would be fun to post. Especially since “Beardy” likes Christmas ;-)

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/12/school-sketches/feed/ 0 WordPress Terminator Premium Theme http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-terminator/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-terminator/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:59:03 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3390 WordPress Terminator

WordPress Terminator is a premium WordPress template that was inspired by my original NES days and 80s Sci-Fi movies.

Features:

  • Full PSD
  • Dropdown Menu
  • jQuery animations and effects
  • Image-based Related Posts
  • Super Easy Admin Panel
  • Custom widgets for different pages
  • Easy Thumbnail Images
  • Easily Share Blog Posts
  • Promote Your Social Network!
  • Related Pages widget
  • Dropdown Menu
  • Featured posts
  • Tooltips

Click the “check it out” link below to visit the item page.

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-terminator/feed/ 0 10 Amazingly Cool Twitter Avatars http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/10-amazingly-cool-twitter-avatars/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/10-amazingly-cool-twitter-avatars/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:43:17 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3376 Ape Lad’s (Flikr name) take on the Twitter avatars is very creative.

Be sure to follow the Flickr account for updates… HERE

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/10-amazingly-cool-twitter-avatars/feed/ 0 WordPress Glass Premium Theme http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-glass-theme/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-glass-theme/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:44:26 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3283 WordPress Glass Theme

You can now purchase my personal WordPress theme on Theme Forest for only $25!

Features:

  • Super easy admin panel
  • Drop down menu that scrolls with you
  • Easily Share Blog Posts
  • Built-in login widget
  • Dropdown accordion widgets
  • jQuery animations and effects
  • Easy Thumbnail Images!
  • Image-based Related Posts
  • Tooltips!
  • Promote Your Social Network!

Click the “check it out” link below.

]]> http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/wordpress-glass-theme/feed/ 0 Kirkland in the Fall http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/kirkland-in-the-fall/ http://www.themolitor.com/2009/11/kirkland-in-the-fall/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:50:46 +0000 THE MOLITOR http://www.themolitor.com/?p=3274 Kirkland Marina

Lake Washington in Kirkland

These are some pictures I took in Kirkland, WA. Pictures taken with iPhone using AutoStitch to make panoramas. Click images to enlarge.

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