CSS Box Model

I still consider myself a CSS newbie, which is fine, I’m still learning. I subscribe to a number of CSS Weblogs and I run across the term Box Model alot. The idea of the css box model can be hard to grasp and I’ve run across examples that confuse me more than help me to understand. I stumbled upon the best explanation I’ve seen so far today while reading The CSS Weblog. RedMelon.net has a flash example that clearly shows how the box model works. Even my mother could understand it. Nothing against you mom, love ya!

Box Model Explanation [via CSS Weblog]

40 Free CSS Layouts

Alessandro Fulciniti of html.it has posted 40 Free CSS Layouts for download. Alessandro seems to have covered pretty much every type of layout you could want. From 3 column percentage widths to 2 column fixed widths, he’s got you covered.

Alessandro Fulciniti writes about the compatability:

All layouts use valid markup and CSS, and have been tested successfully on Internet Explorer/win 5.0, 5.5, 6 and beta 2 preview of version 7; Opera 8.5, Firefox 1.5 and Safari 2.

These are definitely worth downloading. Be it for your next layout or learning the principles of negative margins and any order columns,
All layouts are done with minimal markup also:

<div id="container">
  <div id="header">Header</div>
  <div id="wrapper">
    <div id="content">Content</div>
  </div>
  <div id="navigation">Navigation</div>
  <div id="extra">Extra stuff</div>
  <div id="footer">Footer</div>
</div>

Definitely something you should keep in your Web Designer’s Tool Belt.
40 Free CSS Layouts

Levels of CSS knowledge

Emil Stenström of Friendly Bit has an interesting article entitled “Levels of CSS knowledge”. Emil breaks down knowledge of CSS into levels of expertise. I see myself as a level 5 with some major room to improve. Although too many times do I find myself replacing tables with div tags. Like I said, room to improve. What CSS knowledge level are you?

Levels of CSS knowledge [via 456 Berea Street]

Some Great Material

First off, please accept my humblest apologies for neglecting this blog. It was never my intention to go this long without posting something. In my defense, I’ve been super busy redesigning a client’s website and cleaning up my resume for a job opening at Washington State University. I know, it’s still no excuse.

I haven’t come across anything worth devoting an entire post to lately. So I thought I’d just throw up a few quick links to some excellent reading material I’ve come across this week:

• Getting Started with AJAX
• Evaluating Website Accessibility Part 1, Background and Preparation
• Flywheels, Kinetic Energy, and Friction