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In This Issue...
Well, the site redesign is proceeding right on schedule. (Yes, I am surprised, too!) It looks to be a great improvement over the current design. I expect it to be up within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out. I'll probably send a note out when the update occurs. I updated the main page with a brief tribute regarding recent events here in the US. The feedback has been very positive. Check it out here. The hosting services should be up this week (finally.) I got tired of waiting for IBill to get its act together, so I did the unthinkable. I went with PayPal. Surprisingly enough, it was the best decision I've made in quite some time. I'll explain more later. Enough of the boring stuff, let's move on! :-) Color Those Dang Scrollbars! You know, it's strange. Of all the "how-to" questions I receive in my email each week, the one I seem to receive the most is actually one of the most useless, purely aesthetic design questions: "How do I color the scrollbar?" Well, the answer, fortunately, is also very simple. Ignore Javascript. Forget PHP or ASP. Let's keep it simple with a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS). Before I begin, let me note that the effect explained in this tutorial will only be visible from within Internet Explorer 5.0 or above. However, it will not affect the way other browsers use your web page since most simply pass it over. That said, let's look at the script:
This is actually one of two ways to change the color. The second method actually calls for you to go through an change each color on the bar. I chose this method because it simplifies everything down to a single base color. Internet Explorer does the rest. Simply paste the hex code for the color you want to use, copy it into the <head> tag of your page source and voilà! You have your colored scrolls! Kind of a cheap script, you say? Well, look at the long version for a moment: <STYLE> Now, imagine having to adjust all of those properties over the course of several web sites. Believe me. Take the shorthand whenever you can! :-) Are you wanting something a little more in-depth? Send me your suggestions for future tips here! Censorship Rears It's Ugly Head (Again!) Well, it seems Harry Potter is making the news for more than his upcoming new movie. Truth is, the poor lad can barely keep his hands clean before another activist group slings mud. Recently, libraries in Texas and Florida have been struck to either remove or limit access to the books of the Harry Potter series. Citing separation of Church and State, activists have to some extent succeeded in these attempts. Galveston, TX now requires a parental permission slip to be on record before allowing students access. Equally, Jacksonville, FL has ceased it's successful reading campaign that included passing out discount coupons for books in the series. What's the problem? Matthew Staver, founder of the Liberty Counsel, puts it this way: "Witchcraft is a religion and that certificate of witchcraft endorsed a particular religion in violation of the First Amendment establishment clause." All good and well, right? I mean, Wicca is an established religion and Wicca DOES practice witchcraft. Can't we then say inversely that Harry Potter, who also practices witchcraft, promotes Wicca? Seems to almost make some logical sense, right? The problem, of course, is that Harry Potter does not practice Wicca. In fact, Harry's brand of witchcraft cannot be factually tied to any particular religion or sect anywhere throughout the world. It is fantasy and is considered so even by Wiccans. Also, it is important to note that witchcraft itself is not a religion per se. Sure, some religious groups practice it as part of their belief system, but to most, it is no more a religion than it is for one to be a vegetarian. It is their way of life. Will we be pulling the Vegan Cookbooks from the shelves as well? Truth is, this battle has little or nothing to do with the Separation issue. Upon a little thought and research, the ties between Harry Potter and any organized religion are thin at best. Instead, this is an issue of new thought encroaching on old beliefs. These groups seek to preserve their own belief system so they attempt to shut out any others. Where is the Separation there? Next thing you know, they'll say "Huck Finn" promotes racism and Judy Blume supports a lesbian lifestyle. Oh yeah... ------ Feel free to comment on this editorial either via email ( joe_on_the_go@avg-joe.com ) or on my forum ( http://forum.avg-joe.com ) Well, that's it for this time, Kiddies! I hope you enjoyed yourself and found at least some of this information useful. Again, all comments are welcome! See you next time! Take care! |
