PC Tips...
Posting guidelines has become necessary due to the fact that webmastering eventually becomes very intricate, and folks who offer many good ideas and suggestions need references to what this site is about. I have changed the organization of Grizzly Bear's Den very little since when I first started it. My main goals here are to accommodate most browsers with compatibly formatted files and to provide a unique environment for my visitors. I have many folks approaching me at all levels and extremes. Extremes include doing away with graphics and sounds altogether, to including pages with Java.
Hopefully these guidelines and explanations will help avoid conflicts between myself and those who care enough to try to understand them. For you who eventually read these guidelines, please keep in mind they only apply to my site. They are in no way intended to be a critique about other folks or their sites, If you find any ideas here that you feel make sense, please be my guest to adapt and modify them for your own site organization. Aho!
1. There is no lifeguard on duty. If you have a problem with my pages or materials, please surf or dog-paddle to safety somewhere else. If you feel something is amiss with the files or my codes, please let me know.
2. The "webmaster" of this site will make all rules, policies, guidelines, or whatever you wish to call the means by which I organize this site. Please understand there are few standards on the internet that are recognized by very many folks (except those pertaining to technology limits), since the internet is not regulated very much.
For instance, some folks think loading speed is a big deal here, yet they still use regular modems to surf instead of getting into a T-modem and cable access. Others agree with me that content and individuality is more important. This is why my site, like many other sites, is not connected to a "Web-Ring". Many web rings ultimately try to regulate appearance or overall themes and content of web sites, instead of just doing so with the pages they are linked to.
3. This site will always be centered on serving young and old, new and experienced, and amateurs and professionals. Also, its basis will always be centered on education and entertainment. I guess the buzz word "edutainment" applies. I know most folks will not, or can not read, but I'll always cater to those who do have a reason for having internet connections. Yes, it is about learning.
4. My PC Tip about keeping things simple (see my General Tips page) will always be applied here. From day one I've maintained that I'll only be using HTML. In keeping it simple, many folks who do not have the money, time, or opportunity to upgrade browsers and plug-ins often will still find it easy to surf through this site.
For those who want me to expand and learn the other languages available here, lets not overlook the primary ones such as mathematics and physics. After you become proficient with those, come back and we'll debate the reasons I wish to keep it simple here. Until then, however, keep in mind that using parts of a language other's have devised (instead of learning the language) may set you up to look like the tourists who go to a foreign country and ask a waiter for a cup of dirt with their meal. Maybe I'll change my ways when I finally master HTML.
I know Netscape Communicator 4.0x handles Java faster than some of the files I use HTML to post, but the older versions of Netscape handle it slower if at all. On that, I will not use several different browsers here to "keep up" with what handles what. Many folks let you know what mainstream formats they use by placing a disclaimer on their home page. There are many browser types and versions still being used and provided, Netscape and Internet Explorer are just the most popular ones in this arena.
I will also not buy an estate in many countries to figure out the differences between each country's government. For that matter, very few folks even know what a country's government is about in the first place. I'm sure most governments have an army, a treasury, and a leader. Well, at least an army and a treasury.
5. With exception to awards and a handful of company logos (of the software I use, or affiliations I keep) all images, music, and most phrases here are and always will be original. Not mine, but made by me for you. This is due to how much copyright infringement I've noticed on web sites, and because I can tailor files to this site if I create them myself. I have always maintained that my files are for downloading and sharing (for free) and would feel odd providing files for downloading which were created by other folks. Also, many folks still appreciate originality. In those rare cases where I do use someone else's work, credit to them will be obvious.
6. No advertisements, cookies, add-banners, or other stuff that comes along with "freebies" will be on my pages. In all the internet there are no businesses allowing folks to use them for free. There are many businesses using folks for free, and others that have methods of trading web space for distribution of advertisements. These are not free, they cost your site's visitors and you by all involved having to wade through a lot of unsolicited advertisement e-mail, unsolicited cookies, and by defeating any privacy on your system. Please refer to the "Internet Cookies" page in my collection of PC Tips pages for an explanation about what cookies are and about choices on how to deal with them.
7. No materials considered embarrassing to many folks who visit my pages will appear here. People have enough to gripe at me about, since I have exposed some of my religious beliefs. Besides, this site is about positive things, not negative.
8. My mind is very open to critique, suggestions, and questions. One thing that is generally accepted on the web is for a page to have a typo now and then, or a simular simple glitch. I don't get angry with the large or small critiques about typos, glitches, or any other apparent mistakes (I appreciate the help), though some folks do.
If you wish for something to be available on the internet, however, perhaps you should arrange to upload it to your site's directories and post it on a page of your own. There are exceptions where something is suggested which is in keeping with themes and content. One person suggested I put a link to Galt on here. Galt is a simular company to one I already had a link to, so you'll find a link to Galt on my page titled "The Brick Wall".
9. My home page address will remain the same regardless (at least in the FORESEEABLE future). It is very hard to use bookmarks, find sites, or maintain links to sites, if someone's address keeps changing (especially without notice).
A way of illustrating this is: If you move to another city and don't tell anyone, how are your friends going to deal with this? They can do searches in data bases, appeal to other friends for help, or decide you really didn't care for them to know your new address. Even if you tell everyone to change their telephone speed dialers, address books, etc., that doesn't mean they'll visit.
I've learned the hard way that there is only one generally accepted way to deal with compulsive address changers, since it is so easy to keep one's address on the internet regardless of moves. One simply deletes the link which no longer works.
10. This site will continue to grow slowly, since it is the product of a hobby and not of an obsession or job. Some folks seem to want me to expand my site quickly. Although I am glad they enjoy some of the materials here, I can only devote so much time to this.
11. Please bear with me, but I will not start installing "blinkers" next to new things. This tends to make folks ignore the "old" or established pages that are also being updated from time to time. Blinkers are also a nuisence to many folks with sensitive eyes and sensible brains. Besides, we don't need no stinkin' blinkers!
12.Alan is not a see-all, know-all type of guy. He has opinions and wisdom that he's willing to share if requested to do so. If you read between the lines with a closed mind, I'm sure you'll see something that isn't really here
13.Rule thirteen is reserved for being my good luck charm.