Pet Talk software upgrade

[Paul]

   We just upgraded the software that runs Pet Talk to UBB version 6. We still have a lot of configuration left to do over the next couple of days (such as changing some of the icons).

[Fuzzy317]

I have just looked at the change a little, and I like it at first glance. :D
I like how your selection of including the signature can be set on or off. Rather than having to remember to turn it on, each post. :cool:

[ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: Fuzzy317 ]

[Pam]

Wow! I am on early in the morning as usual and thought I wasn't quite awake! :D (Love these instant icons!) Count me in as pleased. Then again I am always pleased when I log onto Pet Talk!

[Genia]

OK Paul, you just blew my mind. I worked a night shift, which I don't normally do, to allow someone time off. Because of unexpected events I was at work for about 14 hours. I came to check the site to unwind and I couldn't figure out what was happening! After a little caffeine, my brain started functioning again and I must say I like it! Good job!

[thelmalu99]

Looks great, Paul!! :D

[BandiTank]

I got on it early in the morning and it shocked me! It looks great! Much more creative than before. :D

[margaret]

I like this new look! It will take a few days to get used to it, but I like it. :) Thanks Paul and Karen! :)

[Rottieluver45]

I like the new look it`s really cool!! :)

[Rottieluver45]

I like the new look it`s really cool!! :)

[sammi]

Like the new changes! Will take awhile to get use to.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Wow! Purdy spiffie lookin site :D!

Karen an Paul musta stayed up all nite playin wiffa puterz! :)

[Sudilar]

Thought I was on the German Shepherd Dog site I usually visit! Similar set-up. Lookin' good!
Sue

[wolflady]

Wow! What a change!! I was a bit tired this morning, but when this new screen popped up I was like...woa!! Looks different, but good :) I like the instant icons too :cool:

[Paul]

   We will add more "instant icons" to the ones that come with the software. I know Karen made some of her own.

   Now that we are running the current UBB software, I know there are no color tags (ie [red]) in the standard software. We should add them to the UBB code.

[Karen]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke:
<STRONG>Wow! Purdy spiffie lookin site :D!

Karen an Paul musta stayed up all nite playin wiffa puterz! :)</STRONG>

Paul did stay up all night, but I slept! He does the hard work! :D

[4 feline house]

There's one thing that I always liked that I see is now gone - when you are replying to a post, you can easily refer back to the old posts by scrolling down. I did this alot when I was commenting on several peoples' posts or could not remember a poster's or pet's name that I was going to refer to. Is there a way to get that back or will I have to keep two windows open when I think I might become memory-challenged?

[4 feline house]

HEY!!! Has anyone else noticed we can IM each other now? NEAT!!! :D :D :p :cool: :D http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/blobs/boldyellow.gif

[ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: 4 feline house ]

[AdoreMyDogs]

Actually, 4 feline house (I don't have my name list here at home, only at work) I thought that was true also until this evening. What you do is go to the bottom of the page when you are posting a reply and go to the Pet Talk window on the bottom of the page...you will see a scroll bar on the right and you can scroll down and check out the other posts. That option is still there, it's just shrunk down to an itty bitty size :)

Karen and Paul...the more I look at all the cool new stuff, the more I like the new upgrade! It really is cool!

[karen israel]

Ok...I honestly thought I was going nuttier than usual. You blew my mind. Just when I was learning the tricks of the trade! K9karen forgot her password so KI is filling in......

[Cinder & Smoke]

To: Paul and Karen ~

'Scuse me, Cinder and Smokey, but Dad wants to play with "our" 'puter for a bit...

I don't know if you know it or not, but PetTalk is in good company with the upgrade to this latest and greatest InfoPop BBS software ~ *Firehouse.com* (http://www.firehouse.com),
the *huge* Firefighter's web site, also just switched to this version.

All of the new features are great and not all that hard to get the hang of. But... (there's always gotta be a but...) :rolleyes:

I'd like to offer the following suggestions:

1} I surf from the main PetTalk "master" index page - the one that shows ALL the general forum subjects (all the dog, kat, general topic areas), then click onto a sub-heading (like Dog Rescue), then start in the middle of the Topics based upon my known last visit date and time. I then use the old "go to next newest" which now just says "next" :(, to read my way "up" to the newest or most recently posted topic. Things are cool, works just like the old version, UNTIL you get to the top of the sub-heading and run out of "next newest" topics... The OLD version then went to a drop-down box that listed ALL sub-headings (including the one you were just finishing with) and gave you the ability to move to a different sub or main heading area. The new version "automatically returns" you to the last newest topic you just read &gt;&gt;horrible waste of time&lt;&lt; before you are given a chance (drop-down box) to steer yourself on to another area of interest. The point?? Rather than forcing us back to where we just came from, can the new version present the choice of subject area drop-down box like the old version did??

2} Instant Icons are super neat; but after selecting one, my curson jumps :mad: to the TOP of the message box and starts Overwriting and ERASING the beginning of your (my) carefully created pearls of wisdom and mirth.
Absolute Maximum Bummer :( if you (I) don't catch the jump and keep pounding away on the keys without looking up to see things going away. Not a fun event if you don't see it happening before you've erased a paragraph or two!!!! The "fix" is you (I) have to manually scroll or mouse back down to the bottom of the message window and reposition the cursor after the newly created smilie icon.

3} Instant UBB Code feature: Another neat-o feature, but I think it set the [ and ] brackets incorrectly when I typed in the Firehousc.com address above. I'm not going to correct the possible mistake till I sent this and see what is produced. I thought the "http//" offered by the box that opened would remain - I don't think it did. Here's what is shown in this rough draft before I send it (less the quotes I added below:
"*Firehouse.com* (http://www.firehouse.com)"

4} Posts that use the ""plauder-smilies.de"" site to post fancy smilies are often very slow to load and sometimes "never" finish loading... I see the NetScape 7.46 "progress window" repeat the message "www.plauder-smilies.de contacted, waiting for reply..." many, many, many times while the PetTalk post is trying to load and display a page. I've tried to call up the plauder-smilies site directly several times and had the same thing happen - a looooong wait before the site loads and displays. And sometimes after p-s.de does load, the moving icons don't move.

Well... Now that I've come across as a nasty, junque yard dog having a bad day, allow me to again say the new site look is great. I'm sure these problems are growing pains that can be remedied. Don't loose a lot of sleep over these issues! At least hudreds of the old posts did NOT *vanish* into cyber-space during the upgrade - like happened to Firehouse several upgrades ago :o .

Cinder sez sign my own name - she and Smokey don't want to be involved with my rantings... :eek:

/s/ Phred, "Dad" to the un-mentioned FurKids

[Paul]

To quickly begin to address your excellent message:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;#1 is a problem that should be fixed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;#2 is obviously a bug. This feature works fine on my machine even in Netscape. :) You said you are using Netscape 7.46. However, the highest version available is 6.1. Also, which operating system are you using?

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;#3 worked in your message. However, #3 relies on javascript just like #2. Since #2 does not work on your machine, you will be lucky if #3 works reliably.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;#4 is not a problem with our software. It is probably a problem with the plauder site or the Internet connection between their server and your machine.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I know there is a bug in Netscape 4.76 on the Macintosh which slows then stops the loading of not just graphics but everything. If it is this bug quitting Netscape then re-opening it will fix it. At least then you would know it was the browser software and not the Internet connection.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;My guess is that the plauder server sometimes does not have enough resources to deliver the smilies.

[4 feline house]

Adore-thanks for the tip! I see it now. The more I get used to the new BB the more I like it!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hey Paul ~ Cinners here ~

Dad getz his finnerbonez mixed up when he's poundin onna pawboard ~

I jest looked - we're usin NetScape 4.76; not 7 sumpin :rolleyes:.

#1} Hope you can do a fix!

#2} Is a pain. Our Java stuff werkz purdy well allua time. We can't unnerstand why the liddel blinkie bar keeps jumpin up top?? :confused:

#3} Dad jest thunk it looked phunnie on the message composing screen when he used the Instant URL kliker - looks to me like it werked jest fine! Klikz to Firehouse fer me! :D

#4} Dad agrees the slow load IF there's a buncha plauder-smilies onna page is not your problem; mebee p-s.de will jazz up their puterz...

#5} New squalk frum Dad :rolleyes:...
Few times we've tried to jest "Reload" a page wiffa NetScape "Reload" button; screen goes blank, the connection twin screen icon starts blinkin back an forth, progress bar lights up wiffa "Document: Done" message; but the screen sits either completely blank or just fills in the top "PetTalk" header stuff and quits there. The "fix" is to hit the Reload button annuder time and usually the screen fills in purdy quick-like after the second Reload request.
Dad sez that happened on Firehouse.com a lot during some previous BBS upgrades. Their WebMaster wrote back to Dad and said they found some missing ":" (semi-colons) inna option page coding whut caused the random blank screens.

EDIT: Hmmm... The header only, no page content thing just happened when we "sent" this message and the BBS said "Thanks, we're returning you to the topic..." Hard drive did sum spinnin, connection icon did sum blinkin, the PetTalk header filled in ~ then the "Document: Done" appeared but the topic contents never showed up. Dad waited 2 minnits with nuttin happenin, then punched the Reload button ~ the page then popped up purdy quick. Dad jest sez "I dunno...".

We tolded Dad to quit sqwalkin at you an Miz Karen cuz yer jest gettin started wiff this new verzion of the software; but he sez he thinks you guyz wanna know summa these things. Smoke an I a fearful that you'll tell us ta go *bother* sum other poor sole WebMasters and take away our names :eek:.

[ June 29, 2001: Message edited by: Cinder & Smoke ]

[Freckles]

To Cinder and Smoke's Dad. Re: #5. If I understand what you are saying, clicking on the traffic signal stop will instantly load the page. (I use Netscape also) Sometimes the photos aren't there, but the text is.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hi, Miz Joan ~

Dad sez the "traffic signal" usually stops the loading process; but we have to hit the Reload to get anything to happen after a traffic signal "stop".

Dad furgot to look atta " T-Signal" when the last *page didn't fully load* problem happened. We'll try it now ;).

[Cinder & Smoke]

Nutz! It figgures - the page took some hard drive spinnin to pop up, but it came in after the "Thanks for posting..." message without having to hit Reload. :mad:

Just like takin the trakter kar to the Kar Vet - alluz werks fine when yer trying to show the problem! :D

[Cinder & Smoke]

Miz Joan (Freckles) !

Eh, no, not a real E-mail from you...
Just got an instant message e-mail alert for a instant from Auggie...

Read the e-mail alert; clicked on the link which took me to the instant message on the site. Read it and clicked Reply. We sent a reply. Went back to re-read the instant message (cuz we frogot to answer a question) and now the silly site sez "Can't see that message cuz it wasn't addressed to you (us)."
And it's not listed shown on the "Cinder&Smoke" profile page either??

Someday we'll all get the hang of this new version **maybe**! :rolleyes:

As for the blank screen and/or partial loaded page problem - no rhyme nor reason to when it happens - sometimes you get the Whole Page, sometimes it's a Blank... :p

Haven't seen anything good happen if we use the Traffic Light to try and stop things; and it has never encouraged a page to fully load after a pause or hang-up. The only thing that seems to fix a partial blank page is a "Reload".

[K9karen]

HUH? :confused:

[Genia]

Ditto :confused:

[4 feline house]

K9 & G:

Me, too :confused: !

I got lost on Phred's first post! No offense, Phred, not a reflection on you! But I quit using Netscape a LONG time ago because of some of the problems (the ones I could understand) that are mentioned in those posts! Not that IE is that great, but I seem to have a LOT less problems with it.

[Karen]

I've had similar problems with the "just a test ..." topic. I noriced that though Netscape seemed to have given up, the page had not finished loading, so my "reload" button was greyed out. When I hit option-reload, it worked. That is a topic, of course, loaded with "smilies from various sites, and when those sites are slow, our page is going to be even slower because of it.

[Freckles]

I just found a change that surprised me. I email a lot of folks. At the top of each person's post was the email icon and I would click on that to get the address. If there was no email icon, then I knew I couldn't email them.

Then today I recognized some names (which previously didn't show the email icon) with the email icon. Great! Now I could email them. But clicking the icon said the address was not available. Well, I'm hoping there was a good reason to always include that icon, even if it isn't used. Can I attach to a Personal Message?

I'm familiar with the buddy list, but what is "add to your ignore list"?

I like seeing the latest new member with their number.

I hadn't realized I was member 20.

Thanks for a great site.

[Karen]

As in most systems "Administrator" is member number 1!

[Freckles]

At the bottom of the person's profile are the words "add to your ignore list". What does that mean?

[Logan]

I'm thinking that your answer is that you could check that spot, Joan, and then not receive any private messages from that person. I may be wrong. This is just a guess! So far, I have no one that I would like to ignore!! :eek:

[Fuzzy317]

Information about the ignore or buddy list in on the faq (http://PetoftheDay.com/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=faq) page. Both lists can be viewed/edited when you go to the my profile (http://PetoftheDay.com/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=my_profile) page.

[Freckles]

If I send a private message to someone, and they have already chosen not to accept any private messages, will I be notified? I have two messages out in limbo right now.

[delidog]

spencer the lion...are you out there....i need your help again....please go to dog rescue and see update on boomer and precious...any advise????? thanks,the deli dog

[4 feline house]

I changed mine after Ruthie and I spoke about this. All this time I thought it was my teenage son visiting porn sites, even though he repeatedly denied it and even though he certainly wouldn't be posting my email address if he were. Although an equal number of unsolicited emails are not pornographic, I still do not want them. I don't fly so I don't care about milage points, I don't need my credit repaired, I already have an investment firm I trust, etc. Even though I have a junk mail folder, this is still highly irritating to me, and I still have to take the time to delete them. Besides, the porno ones are exceedingly offensive, as the subject is usually filled with words I wouldn't repeat to my closest friend. I can get caller ID and call blocker for my phone, but I resent having to pay a relatively large sum of money for a computer and a DSL line only to spend time deleting filth off my computer that someone else has put there. This is the only board I visit in which the actual email address is visible, so after hearing Ruthie voice the same complaint I began thinking it was not coincidental. Also, like most people, I have several email addresses, but the one posted here was the only one getting 10-20 porn mails a day - one day there were over 1,000!!!! It occurred to me that with the addition of the private messaging capability, I don't need to be "cut off" from my Pettalk and potential Pettalk freinds just because choose not to have my email address public.

[Logan]

I have been a member here for over a year. I have never gotten any unsolicited or pornographic emails (and I don't want any either) and my email address has always been and is currently public. And I am certainly visible in all areas of the site. I feel like if it had to do with Pet Talk, it would be happening to all of us with public email addresses. So maybe your problem is coming from a different place like an accidental checking of a block on a website or an email.

My daughter accidently viewed a link once from the Flow-go folks. You have to read carefully when you get a link to that site, because the first one you click will sign you up for all sorts of newsletter and advertisements. My ten year old was getting credit card applications! That's a scarey thought.

[ August 18, 2001: Message edited by: Logan ]

[TheAntiPam]

Regarding the unwanted emails - another source of junk mail is the automated senders that some senders use. Once they know the "@asdf.com" part of anyone's address, they have a program that just tries one name after another, like [email protected], [email protected] etc. They don't pay "postage" for those that don't get delivered, so they don't care how many are invalid.

Also, regardless of the "privacy policy" on web sites, many privately maintained sites share addresses with others. It only takes one time...and it might be months before your email troubles stop. :mad:

You probably will never know why you are getting the junk mail... The timing of signing up with PetTalk and getting junk is probably just a coincidence. Unfortunately it is a peril of this amazing tool - The Internet!

[4 feline house]

Anti-Pam-

I always thought it was just one of those automatic ones addressers, too, that just mathematically makes up any combination of letters and then adds the more common @ domains. But when Ruthie mentioned it, too, I started wondering. I thought then it was one of those outfits that goes on bulletin boards trolling for email addresses. But if no one else is getting them, it probably is just coincidence.

Logan - I know what you mean about that Flow-Go stuff - sign up for one newsletter and next thing you know your mail box is crammed with "special offers"! I finally had to unsubscribe to the newsletter and block future mail!

One time an unsolicited copy of TV Guide came, along with a bill thanking me for my order! I don't watch enough TV to warrant subscribing to TV Guide, and the few times I need to know what's on I can check the newspaper. I think that was from that Flow-Go thing too! In fact, I would blame all the junk email on them, except they started before that.

The only other newsletters I get are from places that I trust, like Internet for Christians. But who knows, maybe IFC is selling my email address to someone who wants to send me naked pictures of Cindy Crawford! Ha ha!

Anyway, thanks everyone, for letting me know it's not everyone here having that problem.

[TheAntiPam]

Just one more comment about unwanted email: You might notice that the sender's address ends with something other than .com or .net. If it is a 2-letter combination, for instance .uk or .de, it is coming from a Non-USA country. Even if it is written in English, they may not have the same restrictions or email "manners".

And quite honestly, there are plenty of people from all countries who don't really care if you want to hear from them. It is their job to send out advertising, regardless... Sometimes asking to be unsubscribed does not even help. :mad:

You can also report abusive or unwanted x-rated mail to your Internet provider. In some cases of abuse, the provider will stop ALL email from a sender.

Ok, I'll stay off my soapbox - for a while anyway! Here's hoping our mailboxes are filled with sweet thoughts and loving fur faces from friends! :)

[Albea]

I must say also that I never got any abnoxious e-mail because the address is in my profile at POTD. I don't know if it is because I have Spaminator from Earthlink and Netbarrier with a firewall. I heard that if you have DSL service, it is more likely that you will get spam because the computer is connected all the time. Maybe the experts in the field can say whether or not this is true. :confused:

[4 feline house]

Albea-I think you're thinking of hackers. The IP address is static. Also, we don't leave our computer on all the time. I'm really not sure where the thinking "all the time connected" started, because I connect and disconnect and turn my computer on and off when needed, just like anyone using voice phone lines, cable, etc. Lastly, since I use hotmail, my computer doesn't even enter into the equation. My ISP email address never gets spam - and now that I think of it, it probably works just like hotmail because I still have to "sign on" to get my email. So, anyway, I don't think it's because of the DSL line. But I'm not an expert, either! Incidentally, between my son and me, we have 8 email addresses, and this is the only one getting spam. I'm sure I have given out my email address somewhere, and it has been sold, resold, and sold again. I have not seen Ruthie (roopooroo) since she started this thread, but we both used to work at the same place. Neither one of us do now. But I remember that when signing up for various benenfits, there were blanks for email address. Never dreaming that giving Aetna, VALIC, etc my email address would be dangerous, I gave it. Now the spam. I'll bet Ruthie did, too, and that's how all this got started. It really won't be that big of a deal now. I have an email filter, too, but I still checked it daily to make sure someone I had never corresponded with wasn't sending me and email for the first time - specifically, someone at Pettalk! But with the pm, and with my email address no longer on my profile, that won't be happening, so I can now just ignore the junk mail folder and the items will be deleted without me ever having to look at them.

[ August 19, 2001: Message edited by: 4 feline house ]

[mruffruff]

I don't know how to put this delicately, so I'll just blurt it out. Your name could be translated to invite porn users. Could it be that?

[Karen]

I can state that, before we even started Pet of the Day, I have always received plenty of spam. All it takes is one company getting and releasing your email address, and it gets sold forever by bulk email companies - I often get offers to sell me "15 million sure-fire email addresses!" Why they think I'd want to annoy others like they annoy me is unfathomable!

We have never sold our users email addresses to anyone.

Users of "free" email programs, or big companies like AOL, are particularly susceptible. If you REALLY hate getting them, you'd have to change your email address and NEVER give it to anyone but friends, and never post it anywhere in a newsgroup or on a website. If you're on AOL, you can block all non-AOL mail, but then any message I sent you, for example, would also be blocked!

Spam is the thorn in the rosebush of the Internet. The quickest thing to do is "delete and move on," I've found. And we have "Internet via cable" which means that whenever my computer is on, I'm connected to the Internet. It has not increased the percentage of junk mail I get, I just get it faster than if I had a modem dial-up.

But hey, in my email, I get all the pet nominations - one pet picture makes up for 100 awful spams, and the percentage is way less than that! :) :) :)

[AmberLee]

This might just be net-lore, but several of my friends vouch for it's accuracy...

Apparently there are some companies that collect e-mail addresses that are returned to them with 'reject/remove' messages. They don't resend to them, but do sell them to other companies! :mad: Since I've learned this I just hit 'delete' rather than sending a 'remove' response. It might be coincidence, but my spam receipt is down slightly.

Note: I do get spam on all my accounts to some extent, but the main one that gets it is one not posted here (my WORK account, arrrrgh!).

[Albea]

Another question for the experts!
I have my "preferences" set in such a way that cookies go back only to the sites I visit. May this be the reason why I don't get spam? Not that I'm complaining about it ;) I just wonder if that could be a way to reduce spam. Sorry if this sounds silly, but asking questions is a good way to learn ;)

[4 feline house]

mruffruff-well, maybe, but all my email addresses are my first and second initial with my full last name plus the domain name, and only the one is spammed. All my life I've never heard of anyone snickering over my name, maybe there is some double entendre in it, but I certainly don't see it and can't figure it out. Sometimes people laugh at my three initials because it can remind you of "legs", but with my last name instead of initial I don't think even that's obvious. But, who knows, maybe there's some new slang out there that makes my name nasty now! Hehe! :o

[AvaJoy]

I, too, have Earthlink's Spaminator and it is doing a wonderful job of snagging most of the spam! :)

Albea, I was wondering how you set your browser to accept cookies ONLY from sites you have visited . . . normally I disable ALL cookies, but have to remember to enable cookies in order to post on POTD with this new format . . . no biggie, now that I'm used to it.

Speaking of the new format, I wish there was a way I could tell at a glance what topics I have posted to, and if there were any replies since my post. Showing what topics I have merely visited is not as important; I may not have posted to them. Maybe I am missing something, and there already is an indicator of this sort?

I agree with Spencer; hiding our email addresses from public view is a worthy consideration. In the meantime, I will make mine private (if I can) to offset the possible predicament that 4 Feline has been experiencing. Spam Stinks! :mad:

[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: AvaJoy ]

[4 feline house]

Exactly how does Spaminator work, and does Earthlink have to be your ISP to be able to use it? In other words, is it only usable on your @earthlink (or whatever) mail? Hotmail has what they call inbox protector, but it's fallible in that you tell it what email addresses you do want to receive mail from. Therefore, if there is a possibility that you will be getting email from anyone whose email address you do not know, such as anyone on this site who might be sending me an email for the first time, or when I was still looking for a job, someone responding to my resume. That means I still have to check the junk mail folder to make sure I'm not accidenlty deleting mail I would like to get. But I'm no longer looking for a job, and the board now has the private message, so like I said a few posts back, it's not really going to be a big deal in the future.

Also - how in the world could you get a cookie from a site you've never visited? Maybe I'm not understanding what y'all mean there.

[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: 4 feline house ]

[Freckles]

I have Netscape Communicator 4.78. In Messenger, preferences, advanced, is where I set cookies to "accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server". Other options are; "accept all cookies", "disable cookies", Warn me before accepting a cookie". Leah, if you have the "warn me" option, that might help show where the cookies come from.
When Earthlink merged with Mindspring, Spaminator came with it. It collects most of my spam, estimate 20 a week, but not all of it. Never stopped a message I wanted.
In Messenger,edit,Message filters, I set up two filters. If the message "contains" my email address, it goes in one folder. If it "doesn't contain" my email address it goes in my "Supertrash" folder. (I couldn't find "doesn't" in trying to setup on Internet Explorer.) It's a little more complicated than that to set up, but worth it to me. Weekly Supertrash averages three spam and one I want to keep.That's easy to sort.
Paul and Karen, sorry we kind of digressed from the original topic.

[Albea]

Thank you Freckles for answering the question about Spaminator and "cookies" and yes, you have to subscribe to Earthlink to get that service. I've done the same thing about "cookies." only the ones that are returned to the site I visit are accepted. If some of you can't do that, it may be time to change from Microsoft Explorer to Netscape ;) I don't know how you can get cookies from sites you don't visit, but you do, believe me :mad: That's why I changed the preferences in my browser.

[AvaJoy]

4 Feline ~ Maybe mruffruff was going on the premise that "Feline House" was your email address . . . if so, I can see the porn potential since the term "cat house" used to be slang for bordello or house of ill repute. :eek: But that was back in the old days and probably outdated, so it would be a stretch. I had to chuckle, though!

I guess that being MIE users, we don't have the cookie flexibility that Netscape offers. Someone else already answered this, but yes; Spaminator is exclusive to Earthlink, which I regard as a fine ISP without all the annoying bells and whistles to wade through. I am quite content with their no nonsense format. :)

[Freckles]

I tried v6. It had some nice features, but it looked and acted too much like Internet Explorer. There were some things missing, like printer page formatting, etc., so I went back to 4.xx. Maybe v6 is better now.

[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: Freckles ]

[Freckles]

Will SEARCH be returning soon? I use it a lot.

[Karen]

Freckles, I just emailed you on that topic ...

[4 feline house]

NO SEARCH!!! I didn't notice! I just used it a few days ago! Is it coming back?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Maybe Karen could post and tell us all what's up (or down :() with the search feature?

But there IS another way to find things on Pet Talk, IF you know who posted the article you're looking for:

Find any posting the person has made; it does not have to be a very current posting. Go to the posting, made by the author you're interested in, and click on that author's profile button. Just above the author's Profile Box is a click line saying "View Recent Posts / Send New Private Message".

Now *click* on the words View Recent Posts. You'll be presented with a listing of That Author's 50 most recent posts; arranged top to bottom, most recent on top, oldest at the bottom. The post titles are all *clickable* - and give a number indicating how far down from the top of that subject your author's reply is. If it says "Post #0" it means your author was the originator of that subject. Click on a post title and you'll be taken to that post; scroll down the indicated number of replys, and Oh, Wow! you've arrived at that author's post.

Sounds a lot more complicated than it is - try it for yourself. If you can't remember where you've left all your own pearls of wisdom on the board, you can find your own posts the same way. Just start with something you've written or replied to and click on the Profile button on your own post. Note: the "my profile" button at the very top of a page is NOT the one to use.

I'd better quit before I confuse myself! :rolleyes: /s/ Phred, the Kidz "Dad"

[AmberLee]

Dear Phred,

Thank you for that explanation of how to find ? (uh, memory lapse here, 'most recent messages', maybe??) I'd seen others reference this and was intrigued, but couldn't figure out how to access it. Thank you!

AL and the furbabies

[4 feline house]

Yes, Phred, I have found that feature useful in the past, too, but find search to be much more useful because there is no way I can remember who posted to a subject, say, six months ago. I can't even alway remember if I posted to it. And if it is a six month old post, chances are it won't show up in the "last 50 posts". But, oh well, I can certainly live without it.

If there was one feature I would nix, it would be that useless, irritating "this message was edited by soandso on Feb. 31, 1903", not the search! :D :rolleyes:

[Freckles]

Don't you dare remove "message edited by"...
I work with Dog/general/ Name/PetsList and Cat/General/Stealing another idea.. I ask people to edit their original posts, not add new posts with additional information. (sometimes this works, sometimes not).When I'm ready to start revising the list, I go to one of the topics, go to Netscape, edit, find, and type in "message edited by". Then I just F3 my way down, and it stops at that phrase. I then check to see if it's a new date. If so, I check what changes have been made since my last revision. Love this feature. Incidentally, if you ARE editing, it's ok to delete all those "edited by" lines. When you are finished, there will always be one new Message edited line, but, I agree, the multi "edited lines" are wasted space and make it appear you keep changing your mind. (Remember, I can only edit my own posts, so you can see where, and why, I learned this technique).