In the most recent project I’ve started I decided that I wanted to try implementing a reset style sheet. There’s been a bit of discussion about them lately around the web, such as over at meyerweb. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now, and I’ve finally kicked myself enough times to do it.

The simple reasoning for using a reset style sheet is that the engines that power our many different browsers all have a different set of default styles. <h1>, <ul>, <p>, etc. all carry different default values for margin, padding, font-size and their various other attributes. Using the reset style sheet to set these values to zero will force me to define them in my main style sheet and give me a more uniform presentation across browsers.

It may require just a little more work than usual and will most likely be transparent to the regular user, but I think the level of detail it will force me to control will provide a much better overall presentation and experience for all users whether they know it or not.

The great people from A List Apart have taken it upon themselves to introduce their first annual Web Design Survey. This survey is not just for designers, it is for anyone who has a hand in the production of web sites. I am really interested in seeing the results of this; I think it will fill a lot of unknowns about the type of people overall that work within our profession.

Last Tuesday I received a new book in the mail, Getting Real — The smarter, faster, easier way to build a successful web application. Getting Real is written by 37signals, the company responsible for BaseCamp, the lovely project management application that we use continuously at work. What is Getting Real you ask?

Getting Real is about skipping all the stuff that represents real (charts, graphs, boxes, arrows, schematics, wireframes, etc.) and actually building the real thing.

Getting real is less. Less mass, less software, less features, less paperwork, less of everything that’s not essential (and most of what you think is essential actually isn’t).

Getting Real is staying small and being agile.

Getting Real starts with the interface, the real screens that people are going to use. It begins with what the customer actually experiences and builds backwards from there. This lets you get the interface right before you get the software wrong.

Getting Real is about iterations and lowering the cost of change. Getting Real is all about launching, tweaking, and constantly improving which makes it a perfect approach for web-based software.

Getting Real delivers just what customers need and eliminates anything they don’t.

The book is laid out in a very simple structure, which makes it even more enjoyable and easy to read. I was able to finish the book the same evening as the day I received it, which is a pretty large feat as I am not the fastest reader in the world.

As I read through the descriptions of their processes and philosophies throughout each chapter I felt a real connection with their insights and reasoning. Though not every method they described would work with every project or client type I encounter, the majority of their tactics are ones that I would love to see in action. Some were things already used in my workplace, but some were sadly the exact opposite. These points that were extremely different are where I think I took the most from the book. It has instilled some great guidance and true inspiration in how I analyze work on both a personal and team level. I can’t say that I read a ton of professional books, but this one definitely has earned my mark of approval.

The book is available to read online for Free, you can purchase a PDF version of it for $19 or you can get a paperback copy for $29. I purchased the paperback copy because I find it much easier for me to read a hard copy rather than from a screen. This is also a book I will gladly keep in my collection and will eventually want to re-read. I’ve already began passing it on to co-workers with hopes of inspiring them to want to GET REAL.

The NFL released the full 2007 Schedule this week. Some good news for us Bengals fans and even better news for season ticket holders such as myself, the first 2 home games are on Monday Night Football on ESPN! It isn’t all good news, here’s the sour to go along with the sweet:

Three of the first four games are against division winners, the bye week comes after only the fourth week, two of the three longest trips (San Francisco and Miami) come in the team’s tough month of December, and Henry misses four playoff teams and three division games.

For you Google Calender or iCal users out there you can subscribe to my Who Dey! calender feed to keep track of opponents, gametimes, and TV listings from week to week. Just click the button below to subscribe.