Apparently this is old news. Two-year-old news. I’m working on an iPhone-optimized website for a client and this was a big help, so I thought I’d pass it on. It all starts with CSS3 (Safari 3/webkit only):

 -webkit-border-image

Launchpad HQ:

So for example, the image to the right is an original image from the iPhone. Its width is 29px. That breaks down to there being 14px on the left and right, defining the rounded corners and a 1px sliver which is the body of the button. So, in theory, if you were able to keep the left and right sides of the button stationary while expanding the 1px center piece, this would create a horizontally-scalable button with only one image.

But alas, how would we do this using only CSS? Well, I started digging around Safari’s ‘-webkit’ innards, and was able to to use the -webkit-border-image to accomplish exactly what I wanted.

This goes very nicely with the iPhone GUI PSD.

When Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off (some time next week), East Coast residents will be able to see the shuttle in flight.

Weather permitting, a night launch of the space shuttle is typically visible from much of the East Coast. The most dramatic view is from inside the yellow circle. But within the red circle, skywatchers may see very bright, pulsating, fast-moving object that resembles the brightest stars in the sky from 3 to 8 minutes after launch. For viewers near the edges of the circles, however, the shuttle will hug the horizon, so an unobstructed view is needed.

(via)

This iPod Shuffle is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. Pretty soon it’s going to be so small, people won’t even know they’re carrying it.

It reminds of that great Seinfeld episode, “The Slicer“.

[Elaine's hallway. Kramer and Elaine are sizing the space under the door.]

Kramer: I think we are looking half a millimeter.

Elaine: Can it cut that thin?

Kramer: Oh, I’ve cut slices so thin, I couldn’t even see them.

Elaine: How did you know you cut it?

Kramer: Well, I guess I just assumed.

Elaine: Hold on kitty, dinner’s coming.

Kramer: Yeah, that’s a hall of famer.

The Big Picture:

As winter begins to wind down, we are still in the middle of sled dog racing season. The Iditarod in Alaska had its ceremonial start in Anchorage last Saturday (the 7th), the Yukon Quest race from Canada’s Yukon Territory to Alaska took place back in mid-February, and the Can-Am Crown races were held in Maine only a couple of weeks ago. The most well-known of the races, the Iditarod Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, covers 1,868 km (1,161 mi), and takes anywhere from 8 to 12 days for mushers and their teams of 16 dogs to complete. Collected here are several photos from recent sled dog races and training sessions around the Northern Hemisphere. (28 photos total)

Three easy steps: Grab a coffee, set aside 15 minutes, and do this.