Introduction to OO and the DOM
Modern programming techniques utilize what is called Object Oriented Programming. Objects are basically self contained things that contain other things. They're Objects.
Before you create an object, you have to write a class. A class is simply the piece of code that defines what an object is and what kind of stuff you can do with it. Writing classes are a bit beyond the scope of this section. We'll just go over what an object is and how to use them.
Lets use an analogy. What's an object that everyone can relate to? How about balls? Okay, so a "ball" is an object in real life, and we'll use a "ball" as our object in programming.
Objects are made up of two types of parts: Methods and Properties. Typically, you can access an object's parts using "dot notation". Object.Method() or Object.Property ... not too hard.
A method is just a function that is owned by an object. It can either be something that the object does, or it can be something that can be done to the object.
For our example: You can kick a ball. So if kick() is a method of our ball object, and you wanted to kick the ball, you'd do ball.kick(). Balls can also explode. So, if you wanted to make the ball explode, do ball.explode().
A property is something that describes the object. Or another object that the main object owns. It's important to note that properties are not functions, so you don't put () at the end.
Back to our example: Balls might have a size. So, maybe ball.size might return "big" or "small". Also, balls might have hair. ball.hair would return a hair object.
Hair is another object, so it'd be like a 'sub-object'. Hair would probably have some methods and properties of its own. You might want to pluck one of the hairs off the ball: ball.hair.pluck(); or maybe you want to find out what color the ball's hair is: ball.hair.color might return "blonde" or "black".
So, there's your crash course in object oriented programming. We'll probably go into more details later.
Now, because we're still in the "Output" chapter, you might be wondering what these objects have to do with outputting anything. That's where we get to the DOM or Document Object Model.
Web pages are like one giant object with sub-objects and methods that can be used to manipulate the page and the objects within the page.
The top level, root object is the window. The alert() function we used earlier, is actually a method of the window object. You could, if you wanted to do window.alert("vrimples"); and get the same effect. Window is an exception, however, in that you don't have to write it everytime. It's kind of assumed.
Probably the most important property of the window is the document. Document is everything that is displayed in the window. This is where most of the good stuff goes down.
Document has a method called write(). It writes stuff to the document. Example:
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Webpage</title>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("VRIMPLES");
</script>
</head>
<body>
Balls!
</body>
</html>
Instead of using alert() to output "VRIMPLES", we use document.write() ... Which simply writes out "VRIMPLES" when that line is parsed.
Now, that's a good way to output stuff into a web page using javaScript, but there's another way that I prefer. It's a little more involved, but you can do a lot more with it. The following code is a modified version of our original code, but knowing what you know about objects, I think you can handle it.
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Webpage</title>
</head>
<body>
Balls!
<div id="output"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.getElementById("output").innerHTML = "VRIMPLES";
</script>
</body>
</html>
Here, we're introducing a few new elements. An important thing to remember is that each element is essentially a property or sub-object of document.
The first new thing is the <div> tag. <div> creates a new block element. It stands for "division". Div's are mainly used to create sections of HTML and divide it from other parts. Block elements are separated from the rest of the rendered html, placing a new line above and below that section.
This particular div has two properties that we play with. The first is the "id" property. Here, we're defining it inside the tag itself and, thus, is set as soon as the div is rendered. id makes it much easier to access via javascript.
The <div> is followed by the javascript. Note that we've moved the javascript down, below the <div>. This is because the <div> must be created before we can access it with the javascript. The browser parses the code from top to bottom. If we kept the javascript in the header, the browser would try to access the output <div> before it is created and would return an error. Having the javascript at the end allows it to access the div, now that it's created.
Now, the new line of javascript: document.getElementById("output").innerHTML = "VRIMPLES";
What this says is "use the getElementById method to grab the output div, then set the output div's innerHTML property to "VRIMPLES".
getElementById() is a method of document. For the most part, the pre-defined methods do exactly what the name implies. getElementById() gives you access to the element with the id specified in the parameter list. That's why we needed to specify the id in the tag itself--so that we know what element we're trying to access.
In my opinion, this is the easiest way to access elements. There are other ways to do this, utilizing different functions which "walk the object tree". I like this way, though. It's nice and simple.
So, getElementById() gives you access to the element. Basically, the code is substituting "document.getElementById("output")" with "the output div". The javascript now thinks that it's doing 'outputdiv.innerHTML = "VRIMPLES";' Of course, you can't access the 'outputdiv' directly, so this is the next best way.
The output div element has its own set of methods and properties. One of its properties is innerHTML. As you've probably guessed, it contains all the HTML that is inside the element. With this property, you can 'get' and 'set' the inner HTML.
You can set the value of a property by using the '=' operator. It's important to realize that this is really an "equals" operator, it's a "set" operator. Instead of "innerHTML equals VRIMPLES", it's more accurate to say "innerHTML is VRIPMLES" or "innerHTML becomes VRIMPLES".
What we're doing is putting the value of "VRIMPLES" into the innerHTML property of the output div. We'll be using the = operator a lot from now on.
To summarize: Create an empty <div> element with an id of "output". Using the getElementById() method, grab the div with an id of "output" and cram "VRIMPLES" into its innerHTML.
Not so hard, right?
Next time: Variables.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Coding for Complete Noobs: Chapter 2 part 2
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
PhotoDon: Anti-Glare Extrodonaire
I used to have a thing for gadgets. Small, portable electronic devices that can make my life better. I'm not as much a technophile as I once was, but I still keep quite a few.
One common theme for most gadgets is that they all have a display of some sort. Just about every gadget I own has some form of screen to display content. Some screens are big, some screens are small. All screens glare. And glare annoys me.
When I first realized that it was the glare, and not the game, that was frustrating me, I was playing Tetris on my Game Boy Color. Game Boys have notoriously poor screens. Until very recently they were not back-lit, so you can't play them in the dark. You can barely play them in the sun, either, because you have to get it at just the right angle to avoid the glare but have enough light to see the game.
Something must be done. After thinking about how to backlight the thing myself, it occurred to me that other people have probably shared my pain and perhaps a more technically apt modder had already solved the problem. So I went googling.
My search turned up several options for 3rd party Game Boy Advanced front-light kits. These were hard to find, too expensive, or obsolete with the advent of the Game Boy Advanced SP. I researched further until one element of the kit caught my attention.
These kits contained a transparent film that was used to diffuse the light to prevent the front-lights from glaring the screen. This told me two things: 1) Front lighting would cause glare, which is what I'm trying to get rid of and 2) I can get a film that would diffuse the glare.
The googling quickly shifted from "Back-Lighting Game Boy Mods" to "Light Diffusing Film". This turned up lots of results, all giving me exactly what I was looking for. For one reason or another, the site I chose to go with was PhotoDon (http://www.photodon.com). The site itself is a bit amateurish, but these guys are monitor accessory suppliers, not web designers.
Photodon has a large selection of Anti-Glare protective films. There are several different grades of anti-glare-ness and a plethora of pre-cut sizes ranging from $6.50 to about $35. Most of the sizes are for various computer monitors, but they do have several PDA sizes. Of course, there were no "GameBoy Color" pre-cuts, so I would either have to have them cut a custom piece (which they are more than happy to do for an extra cost) or, like most of my other products, just do it myself.
The gameboy screen is very small, so even the smallest of sizes would have to be cut down. I elected to go with the smallest size of the highest anti-glare-ness that I could find. I think it ended up being about $10. I placed the order, paid via Pay-Pal and received my film in a week or so.
They shipped it in a stiff cardboard envelope which kept the film free of creases. They also included a really nice micro-fiber cleaning cloth. These are awesome for removing smudges and fingerprints from just about everything. I use them mainly for cleaning my eye-glasses, but they work good on monitors.
After a few measurings and markings with a sharpie, I clipped out a piece perfect for my GBC. I peeled off the backer and stuck it on. Unfortunately, some dust got trapped between the film and the screen, resulting in bubbles and more aggravation. That's okay, though... I had enough for a second try (and third and fourth if need be). On my second try, I made sure to wipe clean the screen with the provided cloth before applying the film.
With the film applied, I turned on my lamp, reclined my chair and turned on the GameBoy. With the light shining straight on the screen, there was still some glare. A slight tilt to the left and the glare was gone. The light was adequately diffused and the only aggravation was the music as my stack of Tetrominoes grew.
I was elated by this success.
A little while later, I noticed a similar glare problem with my Creative Zen Sleek. So, I whipped out what was left of my initial PhotoDon sheet and applied a piect to the screen of my MP3 player. Success.
So much a success, that I decided to replace the screen of my homemade, duct-tape, Zen Sleek case. I had originally used a zip-lock bag for this purpose, but I had enough PhotoDon left to replace the zip-lock, resulting in a sturdier, more protective, and glare-free case.
Since then, I ordered a second sheet. This second sheet was larger, of a lesser anti-glare-ness, and about $20. I decided that the super-anti-glare-ness of the first sheet was a bit overkill, and I felt that this option would give me the biggest bang for my buck.
I've used this second sheet in a number of applications. I re-built my Zen case around a fresh piece of photodon film. I added some to the outer and inner displays of my cellphone -- no more having to squint to see the caller-id in sunlight. And, more recently, I added a piece to my newly acquired PSP.
Let me tell you: This produced is ESSENTIAL to a PSP. PSPs feature a mirror-piano-black finish. The case itself smudges terribly and creates a glare of its own, so you can imagine how the screen would be. The photodon film eliminates the glare, cuts finger-print-cling in half, and protects the screen from scratches. The new Slim PSP 2000 that I have does not have a cover, so the protection is important. My only regret is that I waited a week to add the film -- It's already got a couple of scratches. Not a big deal, though, because I mainly play it using a video link to my TV.
Bottom line: This product is absolutely essential if you have any number of gadgets. In fact, it would be good for any application that requires a reduction in reflective glare, including monitors, tv's, auxiliary displays, watches, and car-radios. You should definitely look into it.
Until next time,
~Ben
Resources:
PhotoDon Glare Reduction and Privacy Protectors: (http://www.photodon.com/)
GameBoy Color on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameBoy_Color)
Tetris on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_DX#Tetris_DX)
PSP Slim on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSP_Slim)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
I Love Music: New Wave
I first heard Against Me! on Mitch Clem's compilation, Liquid Paper Vol. 4. In truth, that compilation really introduced me to a world of new music that would have otherwise gone missed. That was a few years ago. Lots of things transpired between then and now. My record collection has grown significantly, I've graduated college, and I've gotten a real job.
Also, Against Me! signed to a major record label.
Now, I know what you're thinking... "Ben, you're not punx enough to rip on these guys for selling out." That may be true. But I'm not going to rip on them for selling out. I'm going to praise them.
I don't own any other Against Me! albums besides their newest, New Wave. I also would not even own this one had it not been for their selling out. I listen to the radio on my way to work and that's where I heard Thrash Unreal for the first time.
As previously stated, I don't listen to these guys very much at all. When I first heard Thrash Unreal, I mistook the vocals Twisted Sister's Dee Snider. I thought, "Hmmm... This can't be Twisted Sister... Maybe Dee Snider has solo project or something... I had better check this out." I googled the lyrics and was stunned at what I found. Against Me!, the raunchy punk band I heard years before in passing on Liquid Paper vol 4, was getting air play.
So, I ended up getting the album on the strength of that one single alone. I must say, it's pretty bad ass. I think one of the things that confused me initially was the slow tempo. When I think "punk" I think "fast, up tempo". In that respect, it's hard for me to think of New Wave as punk. It's really slow. Really heavy. Which is awesome. It reminds of just some real, old-fashioned hard rock.
As I'm writing this, I'm listening through the album for the first time. I tend to subconsciously try to pull apart songs, singling out tracks, picking out the different instruments. A lot of music I hear, there's a lot of extra backing tracks stuck in there. It's very prominent in solo artist's work (because a single artist can't rightly play all the instruments himself...). On the other hand, I hear a lot of bands that sound kind of hollow because it's not mixed well. From what I can hear in New Wave, it's mixed perfectly. There's two guitars, vocals, a bass and a drum. I'm no expert, but in my opinion, the instruments have been mixed together very well, producing a full bodied sound without sounding over done.
The stand out track, for me, is track 6, Borne On The FM Waves Of The Heart. Simply because there's an extra female vocal track. It mixes things up pretty well. And I like that it's right there in the middle. Nice breath of fresh air. I'm not saying that the album gets monotonous, though. There's a wide variety on there, while not straying far from that root punk sound. The songs are all different enough to not be boring, but are all the same enough to remain a cohesive album. It's something that I would not mind listening to on repeat, unshuffled.
If you're a fan of rock, give this album a listen to. If you're protesting it because it's Against Me's debut album on a major label, you're an idiot. The major labels (despite being money hungry carnivores) provide bands with resources and publicity. They may have sold out, but I'm reaping the benefits.
All in all, three thumbs up. But that's just my opinion.
~Ben
Resources:
New Wave at Amazon: (http://www.amazon.com/New-Wave-Against-Me/dp/B000QFCD0Y/)
Against Me! at Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Against_Me%21)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Big News!
Today, I got accepted to the Indiana University School of Infomatics where I can pursue a master's degree in Human Computer Interaction Design. Sounds like a long string of rather impressive words? That's because it is! I've very excited about this. I've been waiting for the past two months to hear back, and it's finally happened.
That means, I should be hearing from Carnegie Mellon in the very near future. Even though Carnegie Mellon is a more prestigious university, I honestly think I would prefer to go to Indiana. What it really comes down to, however, is the almighty dollar. It really depends on which option would be more economically feasible. So I'm holding out to see what CM is going to offer me before I commit.
So, I'm really excited about that.
Also, I've been trying to work on Captain Numbskull lately. Last semester, I spent a great deal of time working on sketches and mock-up layouts. I lost that notebook. So, I've been redrawing all my sketches. I need to do this to see where it is that I'm going. Honestly, this is the hard part. It goes hand-in-hand with the writing. Then I need to transfer those sketches/notes into real pencils. Then the inking and coloring is a cinch. It's coming along...
However, if you have seen my original notebook (I think it was a black UL notebook), please let me know.
So, that's all for now.
~~Ben
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Classic Wisdom: DO IT!
A couple of months into the initial run of Poonheads, I had just moved into my own apartment (and by 'my own', I mean 'with roomates') and things were just kicking into full gear. Maybe a week after that, we took a trip to A-kon in Dallas. I had pretty much gone every year since I was a sophomore in highschool, but this would be the first one the poonheads rocked together. So, when I got back, I drew this up based on our adventure. Ah, what it was to be young and naive!
References this comic: (http://www.poonheads.com/comics/?id=akon)
DO IT!
Boy... let me tell you... A-kon was a blast and this strip here pretty much sums it up fairly well. An alternate title would have been "Poonheads do Dallas" but it's too late now, to change it... Oh well.
A lot of things happened on our trip to Dallas, but when the strip began reached 12 panels, I thought I might have over done it. So I added a 13th panel just for kicks. Some things that I didn't mention in the strip are as follows:
We basically had two rooms: One room was chick type people and the other for non chick type people. In the end, we all ended up staying in the chick room cuz hey... who wants to stay in a room with all guys? That'd be gay... Pillboy crashed under the table in a giant Pillboy burrito. Also it was Seth, who you people don't know, that created our now infamous slogan of "DO IT" in the notorious Brooklyn accent. Whilest giving credit where credit is due... lets not forget to credit Aly for the Whale spooge incident.
At one point in time, I got pissed off because I had to climb 12 flights of stairs only to be greated with a "We don't like you" when I got to my friend's door... so I hung out in the stair well for a while where I met some dude from Antarctic Press.
What else? What else? Sterling cosplayed as Faust from Guilty Gear and did a damn good job of it! Hell yeah! Couldn't see for shit, but he rocked hardcore!
Also, on the way back, one of the cars suffered a blowout and did crazy things on the highway. I wasnt' there because I was in a different car. Pillboy tells me that because the spare tire was flat, they had to go to 6 different gas stations to find a working air pump before they could fix it. Crazy!
Now on to a play by play of the comic:
This would be the first comic that I've drawn in quite some time, so that art, as a whole isn't quite up to par, but there are some panels that I'm actually very happy with.
The first panel is just kind of a set up for the chaos to come.
Second Panel: On thursday, while I waited for everyone else to arrive, I rode the escalators up and down over and over, and eventually got KICKED OFF THE ESCALTORS.... After that... we repeatedly got scolded by A-kon security to "not clump in front of the escalators". So we would yell at everyone who was standing around: "NO CLUMPING". We can be such asses...
Third panel: This totally happened, and we are so hardcore.
Fourth panel: Yeah... We met Fred Gallagher who said we could use our flyer. It shows Danzig beating up Piro from Megatokyo. First of all. I LIKE Megatokyo... so quit bitching. It was a joke... Even FRED got that... but all you damned whinny MT people are all like, "This is a flyer of my favorite webcomic character getting his ass kicked... it's so not cool... I think I'm gonna go cry..." IT'S A FUCKING JOKE! COME ON PEOPLE! Christ! Fred was okay with it! You fuckers should be okay with it, too! We tried to hand out the flyers in the Megatokyo line and all the MT fans are WAY too touchy... Anyways. When we met up with Fred, we were in costume, so it's a bit not real... but you know.. that's pretty much how it happened...
Fifth Panel: We had a LONG conversation about whale spooge in a hotel room one evening. So the ocean is salty. Because of whale spooge. And if you drink it, you get whale dick, which causes your dick to swell up to the size of a VW beatle. Also, you ejaculate enough semen to fill a swimming pool. And when I let loose my Whale mating call, Pillboy thought he heard a whale cream its panties... So if ever you see me out in a boat... I'm probably trying to score with a whale...
Sixth Panel: Pillboy Cosplayed as Pyramid head and rocked hardcore. He kept talking about doing the thing that is described in the comic here... And then we met the leaf chick... The leaf chick is a chick that was wearing leafs... that's it. She was hot. Unfortunately, she was probably under age. But since we didnt' score with her, there's no problems there, right? Anyways, we gave here and here friend, the towel chick, a poonheads flyer. Pyramid Head never actually went bananas... but it's a funny story for a comic strip. And Leaf chick... if you're reading this, and you happen to be over 18... Drop me a line ;D
Seventh Panel: Using Seth's brilliant slogan... Pillboy, Joey and my brother, set out with our flyers and harassed everyone in sight. In a false New Yorkian accent, these three brave men met new people and annoyed them to death, driving my web hits up at least 3 fold. Anyone who actually came to this site because of this campaign must be crazy, and I would like to talk to them in person. Anyways... Along with the help of all the chicks in our party, they soon gave out all of our original 500 flyers, so we were forced to make an additional 160 flyers in the business center of the hotel. The chick there was really nice and helpful and not a bad looker, either. She, also, should feel free to drop me a line if she reads this ;D
Eighth Panel: We have furries... and we have people with signs... I hate them both... Then we have me with this pomade crap in my hair... so then chicks attack my hair and say I should fro it up... which I do. Then they say that it looks like I just got laid... The security gaurds already think my Poon (which is only tang and water) is alcoholic... Man... the implications of this strip are just... there are so many, and all of them would be accurate.
Nineth Panel:Someone had this brilliant idea to play Twister in the middle of the hallway... so after we got booted from the lobby, we went and played in the hallway in front of the room... Well, after a while, someone filed a complaint, and Mr. Security gaurd came up to see what was the matter. Everyone ran into the room and left Tatum to fend for herself. Of course dipshit (Joey) was still yelling "DO IT" at the security gaurd who was fairly cool about the whole thing who just told us to quite down instead of kicking us out and "STOP CLUMPING" like the kon staff would have.
Tenth Panel: Fairly self explainatory... except that the ONE piece of hentai that Sterling actually bought didn't actually contain any actual naughty pictures once he got into the shrink wrap... Irony? I think so. I just thought it made for a funny panel. We were all talking about what we would do when we finally found the Hentai booth, whilest we were on our "quest for porn".
Eleventh Panel: At one point in time, we thought about staging a publicity stunt near the Rocky Horror line in which Pillboy's pants would get stolen and flyers would fly out... but then we though he might get kicked out... So instead we went back up to the room and something similar to this happened.
Twelveth Panel: One guy doubted my ability to deliver explosions... HA!
Thirteenth Panel: Zabak... Well... he's Zabak... Zabak was all over the place. He tried to sell us, he passed out flyers, he danced, he even got strangled by that chick from Kill Bill... I have a feeling you'll be seeing more of Zabak in the future...
Now... Other stuff:
A couple of people wanted me to post links to their sites... Now if these guys don't link back to me, I'm gonna be severely pissed...
mtekbeta.com
www.starcrossd.net
There... you can't say I'm a bad guy... for a minute there I was seriously thinking about just saying Fuck it and forgetting about them... But that would be be something only a complete ass monger would do.
And in other news... I'm tired and 2 out of 3 Poonheads agree that card games suck donkey dicks*.
* The third Poonhead was not polled on this topic.
~Ben
BTW: This year will probably be the first time we don't go to a-kon. I guess a little part of me is disappointed, but it hasn't been quite as fun the past couple of years as the Poonheads have grown, matured, and acquired diversified tastes. We've just got better things to do, I supposed.
Monday, March 3, 2008
I Love Music: Hold on Tight
It's that time again. I've got another song stuck in my head, and you get to reap the benefits (if you can call it that).
Today's earworm comes courtesy of The Electric Light Orchestra. ELO is probably best known for singles such as "Don't Bring Me Down", "Do Ya", and a cover of "Roll Over Beethoven". I'd heard the name before, but only recently got into them after hearing "Twilight" used as the opening for the cult Japanese Drama, Densha Otoko.
I purchased "Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra" to appease my craving. The problem is that ELO's music is very diverse. What I wanted was more "Twilight". And after learning that Twilight was part of larger entity that was the concept album titled "Time", I just had to own it.
"Time" is a great album. While no two songs on the album sound much alike, they are similar enough to form a cohesive being. And also, it's got a bunch of really catchy songs. Like "Hold On Tight".
So, without further adieu, "Hold on Tight" by Electric Light Orchestra.
~Ben
Resources:
ELO on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELO)
Time at Amazon: (http://www.amazon.com/Time-Electric-Light-Orchestra/dp/B00005KHEV)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Everyday Wisdom: Ingrown Toenails
Let me preface this bit of wisdom with this: I have problems. Mental and physical problems. Just like every human being on Earth. But that's okay. You just have to trudge through it. It's part of life. You deal with it and roll with the punches. After a while you get used to the pain and don't even notice it anymore.
Unless you're talking about ingrown toenails.
I've suffered from ingrown toenails sporadically through out my life. As anyone who has every had said affliction will tell you, this probably has the highest pain-to-severity ratio that there is. Also chewing on tin-foil. But that is neither here nor there.
For as long as I can remember, I've always dealt with my toes in the same manor. During normal foot and toe maintenance (clipping of toenails), I would inevitably cut a toenail too short. Instead of growing out, away from the foot, the toenail would grow back out towards the sides. This would cause the toenail to cut into the edge of my toe.
To deal with this problem, I would use a pair of forceps, a pocket knife, and pair of nail clippers to dig out the portion of nail that was cutting into my toe. This was painful. It would relieve the pressure for a time, but would always get infected, leading to a month or so of this "dig and wait" routine.
One day, it got so bad that I went to the doctor. I was hoping that she would anesthetize the area, and use somewhat sterilized instruments to remove the portion of the nail and perhaps cauterize the cuticle so that the nail doesn't grow back on the edges. Of course, that's not what she did.
She told me, "I can just remove the nail, but it will grow back and probably keep getting ingrown. The only long term solution is to cut a notch in your toenail to relieve the pressure until the corners have a chance to grow out."
In my infinite wisdom I thought this sounded like a load of crap, but I'll try just about anything once. And I did. And it worked.
The notch immediately relieved the pressure. I was able to walk home without the excruciating pain shooting from my toes. It was bliss.
Below, is a crudely drawn diagram made in MSPaint. The blue lines represent the direction of force/pressure. The "BAD" side shows that the pressure goes out and around, causing the nail to dig into the edges. The right or "GOOD" side, show that with the notch, the pressure is directed towards the notch and away from the edges, relieving the discomfort.
To this day, I keep my toenails notched. Just in case. I figure it can't do any harm. Except occasionally I'll scratch up my leg when I'm asleep at night if I don't smooth it out. And sometimes it'll snag my sock. But both are small prices to pay to relieve one physical ailment that literally cripples me from time to time.
I hope this was helpful. Had I known of this remedy 10 years ago, those ten years would have been a lot less painful.
~~Ben
Resources:
Anatomy of a Toe Nail: (http://thefootblog.org/2006/10/20/anatomy-of-a-toe-nail/)
Ingrown Toenails on Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrown_toenail)
Regular Toenails: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toenail)