What you are reading here marks the latest iteration in a journey that began over fifty years ago. During that time, I have had two pursuits -- building things and creating art. There will be all sorts of interesting stories in the entries that follow.

This journal is a new format for the TLC Systems web site. The site has been languishing for some years and it's time to bring it into the 21st Century. I am switching it to a journal format so that I can write more frequently.

The items that were featured on the old web site are now incorporated into the new site's sidebar. The documents are at least ten years old, and I considered re-writing them. I may get around to it some time in the future, but for now I'll probably touch them up a little so that they look a little better in your browser. There's still a lot in them that's worth reading.

But before getting started, there's a little matter that I'd like to clear up. It's the name.

About 12 years ago, I started writing about web site design. Eventually this grew into a rather long document. For a title, I chose "Art and the Zen of Web Sites." This has become a famous document on the web, with many links pointing to it.

When referencing the document, a number of links tried to correct what they saw as an error, helpfully changing the title to "Zen and the Art of Web Sites," or the simpler "The Zen of Web Sites." I've gotten a number of emails asking about the title. So I figure it's time to explain why I chose it.

1. The "Zen and/in the Art of" thing had been way overdone. Starting with "Zen in the Art of Archery," followed by "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Enough, already, time for something new.

2. I felt that art and a Zen-like approach were the key to web site design, as well as many other endeavors.

3. Supposing that you had to title a treatise that might one day find itself on an alphabetical list. Would you start the title with an A or a Z?

Copyright 1958-2008 Tony Karp