Justin Ramedia

I have a few friends that occasionally need a very basic web page, but don’t have the time to learn HTML. While I think that it’s a tragedy that more people don’t learn this language (it’s easy enough for kids – start here), I do generally want to help. Since I started freelancing full-time, I don’t have the time I used to so I’m going to give out the little template that I use when I get these requests.

Download template

It’s a great way to learn how HTML and CSS react with each other as well. If you have a full-featured HTML editor, you can see how everything works together to create almost any style you can imagine. I have been using Adobe Dreamweaver since college and that let’s me do pretty much anything, but there are thousands of free and cheap HTML editors like CoffeeCup or First Page to get you started.

Here’s a quick example of two pages that I created in less that 1 minute each using this template. It’s not amazing work, but it’s quick and it works.

So there you go. The next time you want a simple little page, dive in and make it yourself. In the end it will only make you smarter.

Download .zip file

Yesterday I was working away in my office when I saw a grey cat lightly pounce over my fence and amble up to one of the big live oaks in my backyard. He looked amazingly relaxed as he gazed up the tree. After a moment or two he nonchalantly leapt up into the lowest branches and disappeared into the tree.

I didn’t think anything of it, except that cats are cool, until a few minutes later when I saw a squirrel run down the tree. He tried to run away but the cat came out of nowhere and blocked his path. Than the squirrel tried to run back up the tree and the cat lunged at him and knocked him to the ground landing perfectly over his prey. With one bite he had made the squirrel motionless and picked him up and calmly walked to my fence and hopped over back into the woods.

It was the most incredible animal kill I’ve ever seen. Above even the chases on Animal Planet. Clean and quick without a moments pause or hesitation. That cat was a hunter. It also brought to mind the raw and pure elements of nature, although I did feel slightly bad for the squirrel, it was nature at her finest. The strongest and fastest beast lives while her prey does not.

I made a mental note to get outside as much as possible to find more elements of nature to use as inspiration in the things I create and write about. It can be beautiful or horrible, but it never ceases to amaze.