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Embedding media files into web pages have been a challenge for web designers for years. Different platforms default to different MIME types and use different helper applications to play the media. That is the reason why many have gone to using Flash. Flash is installed in 98% of machines that surf the internet. Embedding media in Flash is an easy way of creating one solution for the vast majority of visitors to your site and thereby ensuring a consistent user experience. Still, some prefer not to use Flash, or need multiple versions of a page to support mobile devices that do not support Flash – the iPhone for example.

Below are several resources that may clear things up. While the EMBED tag has been used for years, the W3C recommends the usage of the OBJECT tag.

• W3schools examples… http://www.w3schools.com/media/media_browsersounds.asp
• A List Apart article… http://www.alistapart.com/articles/byebyeembed. Note the date (2006)
• W3C recommendation… http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/struct/objects.html#h-13.3

The following video is intended for my beginning HTML students and has to do with naming, arranging, archiving the semester files and their directory structures.

I was glad to see President Obama showing some recognition, and support,  to community colleges this week. Community Colleges are an affordable way for workers and students to retool in a down economy and are a real treasure in the community.

Peter Nicholas (LA Times), reports that “with unemployment continuing to climb, President Obama on Tuesday unveiled a plan to pump $12 billion into the nation’s community colleges over the next 10 years to help struggling workers prepare for new careers, saying a better-educated workforce was crucial to long-term prosperity.”

“Time and again, when we have placed our bet for the future on education, we have prospered as a result — by tapping the incredible innovative and generative potential of a skilled American workforce,” Obama said.

References

Nicholas, Peter (July 15, 2009). Obama unveils plan to invest in community colleges. LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama15-2009jul15,0,1988173,print.story

Parry, Marc and Fischer Karin (July 17, 2009). How Obama’s $12-Billion Plan Could Change 2-Year Colleges, Chronicle for Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=XqqjcpTwySZQJ32SMyyzfbpP2yVhVyhJ

I purchased a Lightscribe DVD writer to experiment with creating some interesting DVD labels. I work on the Mac platform and normally most hardware/software combinations are simply plug and play. Not so in this case. I sent an email to Lacie seeking help. Their step by step solution fixed the problem. I’m providing it here in the event you are having the same issues.

Symptoms: I was able to write my data to my drive, but when I tried to print using the software that Lacie supplied with the drive, the software would not recognize my drive. I learned that there are four separate files that must be loaded in a particular sequence that the system needs to work. Following is the sequence of steps offered to me by Lacie support that fixed my problem.

Disclaimer: This article is written 7/13/2009. By the time you read this article, the software requirements, their versions, and the links I am providing may have changed or no longer exist. This article is provided as a courtesy to get you in the right direction for further inquiry.

“First, please ensure you are using actual Lightscribe-compatible media and be sure to put the media inside the drive gold-side (label side) down and close the tray before trying to print. If that doesn’t work please follow the instructions below for further assistance.

The following steps fix almost all Lightscribe software-related issues.

Step 1

Download the latest version of the Lightscribe Host Software and LaCie Lightscribe Labeler 1.2 from LaCie.com.   Also, go to Lightscribe’s website to download the latest system software.

Step 2

Find the existing LaCie Lightscribe Labeler in your Applications directory. Drag it to the trash.

Step 3

In the Finder go to /Library/Receipts  (this can be done by double-clicking the Macintosh HD icon, double-clicking Library, then double-clicking Receipts)

Step 4

Delete the two entries that are lightscribe related. There are usually two, but if there are more, delete them anyway. A normal Mac OS install doesn’t have Lightscribe software pre-loaded.

Step 5

Empty the trash.

Step 6

Install the newer Light Scribe Host Software.

Step 7

Install LaCie Lightscribe Labeler 1.2 .

Step 8

Install Lightscribe System Software

Unless your drive is physically broken; this should fix the issue. A test burn should go through without any problems. If you continue having problems try the drive on a second Mac to confirm there are no software issues with your computer. Make sure you are actually using Lightscribe media with the label gold-side down in the drive. You might also check to see if the issue replicates on a second computer and swap out the data cable (USB or FireWire) as well.”

Lightscribe Host Software 1.8.15.1 for Mac
http://www.lacie.com/us/support/drivers/driver.htm?id=10082

Lightscribe Library 1.14.25.1
http://www.lacie.com/us/support/support_manifest.htm?id=10340

LaCie Lightscribe Labeler 1.2 for Mac
http://www.lacie.com/us/support/drivers/driver.htm?id=10061

Lightscribe System Software for Mac
http://www.lightscribe.com/downloadsection/mac/index.aspx?id=813

I’ve been working with my step-son, Craig, on redesigning his web site with Wordpress. You can see the results at http://www.sinisterdesign.net. While you’re there check out his Flash RPG games. He’s a great game designer. I’m sure you enjoy his telepath RPG series.