Gettin' fancy.......

(posted by Ken)
Most of these features are basic, you have probably seen them in other programs. Especially the text ones, you can just poke around...you can't do too much damage.
The function (to the extreme right with a long arrow pointing at it from the right )"editing html", is where the REALLY FANCY functions are hiding. You can add noises (yes, even bells and whistles), moving text, avatars, everything you've ever seen on other sites. But for now, stay away. I will teach you in due time.

Take a peek by clicking if you want, but don't change anything. Go back to compose if you get scared. What you see, unless it's a blank page, is called HTML. It is HyperText Markup Language. Like any language, some people understand it, some don't. These:<> are called tags. Look on any webpage, and click on the dropdown menu "view", then "source". You will see the same strange language. For example, by sandwiching any word with and you have just turned that middle word into bold type.

[interesting observation: I know that this preceding sentence did not make sense. This is because I tried to use tags preceding and following the word "and" to show you how to turn it into bold type (there are 2 ways to do this, one is to use the button with a letter b for an icon, and the other way is to type in the html language with these things"<"+">"), but the computer thinks that it's an actual command. So I know it sounds dumb and mysterious, but don't use these:"<"+">"]

That's how they used to make websites, but now they spoonfeed us with sites like this. Once you become computer geeks, you can learn to easily rip off cool functions by stealing the code by just copying and pasting.

One of these cool functions is a link, which I will teach you now, since it is provided by a handy button already, you don't have to know html.
This is a link. You know it is because it is green and underlined, and when you move your mouse over it, the cursor turns into a hand. It is clickable, so go on, try clicking it. To get back, just hit the back button. Sorry, it may not work so good for those of you with dialup. It takes you to a funny video about smart animals. (Incidentally, Emily, it is the one that I told Joey that I would send.) Don't worry, the website is clean in it's default form because there are parental controls, but I do not recommend you leave the kids unattended to watch other videos, because it is addictive, and also because it is possible to disable the parental controls.

How do you do it? First you find a website that you want to link to....say hotmail, whatever you want. Then you highlight a word or a picture. While it is still highlighted you click on the link icon. You will get a dialogue box, into which you paste your address. THAT'S IT. You "publish post" (the orange button at the bottom), when you are done.

Ok. I may have overwhelmed some you guys. Sorry, I am really getting off on this. I could have been a good teacher, no? Maybe stick to pictures and text for now. I was just trying to de-mystify some of the magic.

The graphics and pictures I pre-made in Photoshop. There doesn't seem to be a "crayon" or drawing or colouring option on this site.

Oh, I should mention: some functions, like the spellcheck works as a pop up window. If you have a pop up destroyer, it needs to be disabled first. I know...mumbo jumbo, right Emily? I guess the simplest of rules applies...if it doesn't work, don't stress about it.


But I can't emphasize enough....YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY IT.
GOOD LUCK!!!!