dog or higher

Speaking dates in Japan in June

As mentioned a few weeks back, in a couple of weeks I'll be speaking in Tokyo at a number of events.

I'll be doing two microformats related presentations, as well as a CSS 3 and experimental CSS presentation.

First up, on June 13, I'll be speaking at this vent at Mitsue-Links. It's free, but places are limited, and it will be conducted in a combination of Japanese, and English (which will be translated into Japanese). It's to help celebrate the launch of my microformats book in Japanese!

Then, on June 14th, I'll be speaking at the Apple Store in Ginza, on the experimental CSS you can find in Opera, Mozilla, and of course Safari/Webkit, as well as some aspects of CSS3 which are starting to get more widespread adoption. I'll also be showing off an unreleased version of Style Master 5, which has support for a lot of these features of CSS. "CSS Reloaded" is from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, and free, though places are limited to get there a bit early. It will be in english, but very visual and code oriented, so hopefully very intelligible to those with CSS knowledge.

Finally, the big event is on Saturday June 16th, "SwapSkills for the Happy Web Weekend" (no, I'm not 100% sure what it means either but it is going to rock!)

It's a one day mini-conference, where I'll be speaking both on microformats, and on "the web beyond the desktop". Also on the bill is Michael Smith from the W3C in Japan, who has enourmous experience with mobile applications and the web on mobile platforms. This runs all day, and costs just ¥12,000.

I look forward to meeting up with any readers out there. Also, feel free to leave advice about the most important etiquette issues for me as a non Japanese person, and suggestions of the types of Japanese words and phrases that would be most helpful while there.

Can we please

Retire the ghastly neologism "webinar" and never use it again.

Anyone out there not think it is one of the ugliest words ever?

That is all.

Holiday destination Question

Any thoughts from folks - either from personal experience, or even by reputation?

Skiing holiday - Denver Colorado, or Salt Lake City, Utah?

One constraint is it needs to be a major city, rather than a resort like Aspen - so good/great skiing within an hour by road. Both these locations fit the bill it would seem. So, where would you recommend and why?
Similar cities that are worth a thought?

Thanks in advance

John

On marriage

Pop quiz

In which year did the US Supreme Court hold that a law in the state of Virginia (similar to laws in dozens of states) that provided "a penalty of up to five years in prison and a clause: Those who tried to evade the law by marrying out of state, then returning to Virginia, would be treated the same as those who had married in the state."

OK, give the decade a go. How about the century?

It was 1967. I was one year old then. Sadly, the wmen who, with her husband, brought the action to have these barbaric laws overturned, Mildred Loving, passed away this week.

Meanwhile, in Australia, the Federal Government (you know the one that so many of us were relieved got elected after 11 years of the previous nasty inward looking government) has overturned the Australian Capital Territory's law that would provide for a civil union ceremony for same sex couples. Not a "marriage", simply a ceremony and attendant rights recognizing the relationship

First up - to the government. Shame. And gutless. Where's some leadership on this one. You just lost 85% of your brownie points with me, and doubtless a load of folks like me. You recently held a 2020 Summit, to help develop a vision of Australia in that year. Here's one you missed. There will be same sex marriage in australia by then.

Second up, to them and everyone they are pandering to - just get over it folks. Shift happens, societies evolve, change, and on the whole get better, fairer and more decent.
Why anyone is fussed that two people who love one another wish to have that publicly recognized is frankly baffling. And remember, it was mainstream opinion in many parts of the US (and law in a majority of states) that African America and Caucasian people should not be allowed to marry. In fact,were committing a criminal offence for doing so.

To the churches who are driving this kind of crap - why should my taxes go to you (in the form of tax exemptions for religions, and all kinds of support from the public teat) when you foster, promote, and actually implement discriminatory policies?

Farewell to Mrs Loving. She put it best

"I think marrying who you want is a right no man should have anything to do with"

Amen