Oldstyle figures for better statute number legibility

I've been re-evaluating fonts for WebLaws.org, and one issue that caught my eye is the style of the numerals. In running text, these proportional oldstyle numbers (font: Buenard) are perfect: they visually flow with the text. The wide variations in figure height and positioning help the reader unambiguously read the number. But in a vertical navigation bar, … Continue reading Oldstyle figures for better statute number legibility →

Reference text web fonts: ITC vs. URW Baskerville vs. Buenard vs. Caslon

I spent a couple of hours today looking at web fonts for legible reference text. After reading the New York Times experiment finding that Baskerville is "the king of fonts", I thought I'd give it a try, comparing it with a couple of others for legibility. I first researched web fonts that I could test … Continue reading Reference text web fonts: ITC vs. URW Baskerville vs. Buenard vs. Caslon →

If Only California Statutes had Names

I've run into the oddest problem as I add the California Codes to WebLaws.org. The Sections, the actual statutes themselves, are not given any kind of name as they are in other states. Here are the basic burglary statutes of Oregon and California: Oregon: ORS 164.215, Burglary in the Second Degree. California: Penal Code Section … Continue reading If Only California Statutes had Names →

Making the California Laws Easy to Read

I've been doing a lot of work to get the California Codes online, and I now have something to show for it. This is a screenshot of Business & Professions Code Section 22947.4, an anti-spyware statute. (Which is pretty cool; I wonder if Oregon has something similar. Anyone know?) For comparison, here's the original code … Continue reading Making the California Laws Easy to Read →