Samrc

This is an exciting election. Far more so this year than many in the past with the possibility of court challenges, lost ballets, and other potential problems. Of course, living in a state that caused problems last time adds a bit of spice . We've had some sneaky tricks down here (by BOTH sides of the isle) including some recorded phone calls (like those from celebrities usually left on message machines) from a few college kids that said "Remember your voting schedule this year! Registered voters with this party () affilliation votes on Tuesday, while this party () will be voting Wednesday." Naughty Curtis thanks for breaking your own rule for standing in line. Your effort is appreciated by all of us! WE HAVE THE FIRST CHALLENGE.... PENNSYLVANNIA HAS SOME VOTES THAT WILL NOT BE COUNTED UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING DUE TO A RESTRAINING ORDER! Let's hope it's the only one and it does not impact the final results! -Samantha

I believe in getting the voters out to the precincts, but not into scaring or threatening them into going! Too extreme. -Samantha

Our polls are 7am-7pm (if in line at 7pm when polls close, you can still vote even if it takes hours to complete the line). I was in in line at 6:35 this morning and voted at 8:10. There were about 100 folks in line behind me when I left. HIGH TURNOUT!!! -Samantha

Bill, you are totally correct in the law and I am glad you posted it here. And in principal I strongly agree with it. I would fight hard against changes to free speech laws, including if someone tried to pass a bill saying that if you didn't vote you can't complain. Thumbs Up HOWEVER, in real life, it really gets under my skin to hear constant spouting of complaints (whining, as Beth calls it) from people that then turn around and say they refuse to vote, or can't be bothered to vote. I have heard it DAILY from a coworker for the last two years. I support the right to whine, but please do not come in my immediate space and flap gums at me when you aren't willing to try to do anything about it. Go whine to someone else. Yuck! I feel that way even when I have the same complaint as the non-voter! My feelings have gotten much stronger on this over the years, eventually making it my pet-peave. So I have to go back to my earlier statement: I too hope and pray for high turn-out. I have been excited to hear so many people have voted early in this area. -Samantha

Jim, I agree. I have no problem with folks that have opinions that differ from mine on election issues. That's cool. Or even those that have religious objections to the process and will not vote (ex: jehovah witness) as that is one of the freedoms of this country. But to those that just sit on the sidelines because they don't have time, or can't be bothered, etc.... I have very little patience. If a candidate does not fit your criteria but he is a bit closer than the other one, IMHO it is better to vote for the better one as he is more likely to support something you do want. I work with all registered voters except one. She and her husband say that their votes don't matter anyway (Hey do you remember 2000?) and that they do not want to take the time to stand in line. Busy people you know. My response to them is that they have the right to not vote. But then just don't complain to me that the sales tax increased, or that other fees were added in the county, state, etc. If you don't take part in the process, you shouldn't complain! -Samantha

(Applause is heard) Thumbs Up Unfortunately, in many races I have voted against (a party or ideology) rather than for an individual. Shame. But sometimes that's been my only option. But at least I did what I could to speak up. This year it seems the presidential race is polarizing people forcing them to take a stand. Less undecided than in most years based on my own discussions with folks locally and long distance. And yes....tons of emotions invested. -Samantha

As a citizen of this free country it is our responsibility to get informed! We maintain our freedoms through the right to vote. I know that many people are lazy when it comes to this type of thing, but in this day and age, we have so many options to educate ourselves: tv interview (not necessarily ads!) and programs (even most local stations try to discuss the local issues), written press (newspaper and magazines), 24 hour cable news, radio, internet, churches and civic groups, rallies, and so many more. There's no excuse now for not voting on the important topics! In the state of Florida, besides the major races, this year we have some 8 possible amendments to our state constitution. I hate to think that changes that could radically change our state are brought in only by a tiny majority of people. And if you don't vote, you shouldn't be allowed to complain if you don't like the results. Drives me nuts when someone wah wah wah then you find out they didnt' bother to vote..... -Samantha

Agree 100%! In my area (Orange County) not all precincts were clean the last time. There were assorted strange errors made. We use optical scanners also, and we connect the split arrow <--- --- using a black heavy pen. If there are errors on the card (as in filling arrow, voting, for 2 candidates in a particular race) the card is rejected and turned in for a new one. If the card can't be completed properly by the third try, you are done and the vote does not count. In my precinct, when someone messed up 2 cards, I walked with them to the booth and would verbally assist so that the 3rd card was clean. (It is an option that not all clerks choose to do). I REALLY like the system we have here. Besides having the quick computer print-out at the end of the evening, we had actual paper votes to back up the computer. The new touch screens are causing all kinds of problems because there is no documentation to prove the validity of the vote. It will take a lot of time to stand in line to vote this year, but well worth it in my opinion. -Samantha

Nope ....Wasn't even thinking of my little tlx files! From your description, I thought you wanted a gallery of images that have descriptions but not necessarily a shopping cart software. I thought of the free program called GALLERY. http://gallery.menalto.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index Here's a few pages made like you mentioned: http://www.mattsfunhouse.com/gallery/index.php Or another software with a 45 day free trial: http://www.primasoft.com/deluxeprg/catalog_organizer_deluxe.htm But if one of the shopping cart software programs offers a way to turn OFF the shopping cart features, I would think that's a better way to go. -Samantha

Thanks folks. BUT I want MORE votes!!! In 2000 I ran a polling precinct in Florida and was one of the few that got a PERFECT score for no errors. No hanging or dangling chads, no lost ballots etc in my precinct! This is the first major election in 12 years that I have not worked the election in some capacity. Feels VERY strange indeed. -Samantha

Rick, have you considered using GALLERY for a catalog if you don't want to have shopping cart along with it, only the images and description? -Samantha

My mother doesn't bother to change her clock in the car or kitchen. They are right 1/2 the year and knows mentally to adjust the other 1/2. That's fine for her, but everyone else has paniced because they forget her method and believe they are running an hour late! -Samantha

And if you have any scripts on your site that display the time at YOUR location instead of the time at the visitor's location, that script will also need to be updated. (Example, at the bottom of my home page it gives the time in Orlando Florida, regardless of where the visitor is from - That script will have to wait until I am home to update it). My kitties have an internal clock that is NOT related to our time. Have yet to find a way to reset it. At least in the spring, I get the sleepy eyed look from my critters when I spring forward and have to wake up an hour earlier. They look at me like what are you doing up? Are you feeling ok???? -Samantha

In Paint Shop Pro (PSP) you can change the resolution of an image, increasing the dpi for better printing. But, as has been said before, it does not make it a high quality image! You can always reduce the quality of an image, but can not increase the quality. The more pixels (dots per inch) the better the image, especially for printing. By changing an image from 100 dpi to 300 dpi, you are not adding more detail, only expanding the same pixels, adding more of the same colors. FYI: 72 dpi is the usual resolution for website graphics but is far too grainy for printing. For decent printing you should have at minimum 300 dpi. -Samantha

By the way, if you don't want to spend for PhotoShop, the next best photo program (have used both) would be Paint Shop Pro from Jasc and is far less expensive but gives nice results. Not as many filters, but still has terrific layering and other effects. Also a bit easier to learn for newbies and again like Photoshop, there are TONS of tutorials, user groups, etc to assist with the use. Some versions of PSP (Paint Shop Pro) come with their Animation Shop 3 bundled together so you can create animated gif images for banners, ads, etc. -Samantha

The 2nd is my birthday. It is also election day. Please give me a great birthday gift (been a rough year!). All I ask is that you VOTE on my birthday! It's a wonderful privilege to choose our leaders. It is really necessary that we ALL speak our minds by voting, not just a few folks that find time in their busy day. -Samantha

Yup. That color selector is great! Comes up with some lovely combinations. BTW, since you use CSB for some web building, I have two simple color pages that may be helpful: - you may want to match CSB color palette so the hex# have been identified here: http://www.samisite.com/color/ - if you want to see the CSB colors on different BACKGROUND colors there's another page to help choose backgrounds: http://www.samisite.com/color/changecolor.htm -Samantha

I went away for a few days, come back to find you have become a moderator! WOW! Congratuations Thomas. I am so happy for you! best news I have heard in a week! -Samantha

If you have the images stored in a folder on your site, those images can be called in the code from anywhere in the site and you should not have to make separate images for each subdirectory unless you choose to have different colors, looks, etc. When I have made rollovers (by hand and with photo programs-easier/faster), I find it easier to edit links, etc if you follow the standard grid formatting 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, etc, with the image states stored together. -Samantha

Yes Thomas, there is a SunTrust. SunTrust IS a real bank, mainly in the south and eastern part of the USA. They were 2 big banks that merged. Most notably the one bank, Trust Bank of Georgia, holds quite a bit of ORIGINAL COCA COLA stock. They helped to finance the original venture. Not a bad investment huh? I worked for Sun Bank (the other bank) then SunTrust for 17 years before deciding I am not a banker, or insurance person Slow learner I guess. I love my current job (been there more than 4 years) and so glad I left the bank! -Samantha

About a month ago, my neighbor clicked through and logged on to her SunTrust checking and savings accounts, even put in her drivers license number and full street address. Then 20 minutes later came over to my house and told me about having to reverify her information and to watch for problems with my account too. Shocked, I explained the scam while we contacted Suntrust. All accounts were frozen and moved to new numbers, her logon and password were updated too. I had her contact all her credit card companies (since the accounts were on autopay in her SunTrust online banking) and they all issued new account numbers and cards. She was in tears and her husband wanted her to toss the computer out for all the aggravation with it lately. So far, no damage Thumbs Up , but wow! what a scare! Since they have her drivers license, there may still be a problem down the road... There must be a special place in HELL for phishers, scammers, spammers and the like for causing such havoc! My instruction to her was that if any of her banking/financial/creditors/insurance, etc institutions contact her via email, read it. Print if she wants. Then close the email. Close ALL programs and then go out to the website and login like normal. If they really want you to update something, the website will let you know when you enter your account. NEVER click a link in an email! Period. -Samantha

Yup.... I see that I still had that in there from testing other options. Thanks for finding it Bruce! I think it's the best option so far and no space at the bottom. Hope it's given a try! -Samantha

How about using the BORDER setting in your iframe code to create a tight 10px border around the iframe? This looks quite nice: The top image is yours, sitting directly on the iframe border, looking like it is all one piece. I also added a name to the iframe. Good habit to be in and necessary if you want to have more than one on a page, or link to the iframe. -Samantha (edited code as bruce mentioned for anyone else interested!)

I also have the upside-down on my machine, but my favorite is the one that you see what your computer looks like underwater....the screen gets watery and shimmery. Very cool gag. Another one I used to have asked if you wanted to access your built in cup holder, then opened your CD drawer. Unfortunately, that one got wiped from my machine by a virus detection software. -Samantha

I tried a fake subdirectory on my site: www.samisite.com/nope/test.htm and I get my 404 But when I put it in as a subdomain: nope.samisite.com/test.htm I get page can not be displayed (Cannot find server or DNS Error) -Samantha