You know what is silly? People that are a huge fan of some sports team…and the feel they have to prove to everyone constantly that they are the biggest fan of that team.

You know the type, everything the own has some team’s logo on it. Every conversation you have with this person is centered on the latest game. When this person’s team loses, they are depressed until the next win. The list of traits could go on and on.

The hard core fan wants the team to win more than the players. At least, it seems that way. For example, look at how many soccer fans go crazy and riot in the stands as the calm players watch from the field of play. Or, the little-league parents that get out of control while the innocent child is watching with bat in hand ashamed to claim the guy in handcuffs is their dad. Or, in rencet events, at a Greek women’s volleyball game where a fan was killed in a riot. The Greek government suspended play in all professional team sports for two weeks all because people could not understand that it was “just a game”.

I’m a fair-weather fan and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I cheer for the Jazz only if they are doing well. I like BYU over Utah only if they are having a better season. If one of the teams in Utah wins a game, I’m a fan…that way I’ll never be disappointed if a team loses.

I could never be a fan just to lay claim upon a team and thereby be labeled “fan”. For some people it is their whole identity. Everything in their own little jock-strapped world revolves around wins and loses. They are like offices workers that have to have “their” Coke…they carry around a mug with them everywhere they go because it is “their” drink like it is a part of them. Like a third arm or leg.

Perhaps that is why the fan needs to be a fan: So that they can feel like they are apart of something. Something bigger than just the mug third-arm. Me, I’m just a fair-weather fan…and there is nothing wrong with it.

I’m a fan of basketball. Yeah, I have teams I might like over others but if a favorite loses…who cares, it was fun to watch the game. Life goes on and there will be other games to watch.

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Here is a simple little form validation thing I came up with. This simple little Flash form can validate a few things: a number from 0 to 10; an email address; a combo box selection; a list box selection. Feel free to use it as you need.

http://www.smithmediafusion.com/validate.fla
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/validate.swf

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So check this out. I know you’ve been trying to load CSS and HTML into Flash. Here is how you do it with just a little actionscript in Flash to make it work.

You need a dynamic text box on your stage (name it textBox) and a UIScroller component. Make sure you set the text box to html and multiline.

Next, slap this actionscript on to frame 1 of the main timeline:

textBox.html = true;
var format = new TextField.StyleSheet();
//path to the css file
var path = "press.css";
var myVars:LoadVars = new LoadVars();
// Define onData handler and load text to be displayed.
myVars.onData = function(myStr:String):Void {
if (myStr != undefined) {
var quick = myStr;
format.load(path);
format.onLoad = function(loaded) {
if (loaded) {
textBox.styleSheet = format;
textBox.text = myStr;
} else {
//throw an error if we cannot find the css file
textBox.text = "Error loading CSS file!";
}
};
} else {
trace("Unable to load text file.");
}
};
function loadArticle() {
myVars.load("testarticle.htm");
}
//load it
loadArticle();

OK, now…as you can see I’m loading a external css file and an htm file.
They are here:
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/press.css
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/testarticle.htm

So what this does is, take the htm file, stlye it according to the css file and, then, display it in our Flash file.
Pretty rad huh…here is a sample:

Links to the Flash files:
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/css-in-flash.swf
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/css-in-flash.fla

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So check this out. Here is a run down as of March 09 of the best and worst teams and divisions in the NBA.

Atlantic Division:
1. TOR 33-29
2. NJN 28-33
3. NYK 28-34
4. PHI 23-38
5. BOS 17-43
——————–
Total: 129-177 .421

Central Division
1. DET 37-22
2. CLE 36-25
3. CHI 36-28
4. IND 29-31
5. MIL 23-39
——————–
Total: 161-145 .526

Southeast Division
1. WAS 34-26
2. MIA 31-29
3. ORL 29-34
4. ATL 23-39
5. CHA 22-40
——————–
Total: 13 -168 .452

Southwest Division
1. DAL 51-9
2. SAS 44-18
3. HOU 37-24
4. NOR 28-33
5. MEM 15-47
——————–
Total: 175-131 .571

Northwest Division
1. UTH 42-19
2. DEN 29-30
3. MIN 27-33
4. POR 25-36
5. SEA 25-36
——————–
Total: 148-154 .490

Pacific Division
1. PHO 47-14
2. LAL 33-29
3. LAC 29-31
4. SAC 28-33
5. GSW 28-35
——————–
Total: 165-142 .537

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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61705

How to reset iPod
Learn how to reset or restart iPod following a freeze. Tip: Check out this helpful movie too.

If you have an iPod shuffle, click here for reset steps.

Important: If your iPod is frozen or won’t turn on, it may be because iPod is paused or the Hold switch is in the locked position. If so, a lock symbol appears on the screen. Slide the Hold switch to the unlocked position and check the screen.

If you are using your iPod as a hard drive (disk mode), it is normal for “do not disconnect” to remain on the screen until you are ready to eject the iPod in iTunes or from the Mac OS. To avoid having the iPod freeze learn how to eject and disconnect iPod from your computer.

If your iPod is frozen or won’t turn on, the steps to reset it vary by model. You can easily tell which iPod model you have if you’re not sure.

To reset an iPod with a Click Wheel, including:
Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video)
iPod nano (Second Generation)
iPod nano
iPod with color display (iPod photo)
iPod (Click Wheel)
iPod mini
iPod mini (Second Generation)

Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)

Press and hold the Menu and Center (Select) buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.
Tip: If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn’t set to go to sleep.
To reset iPod, iPod (scroll wheel), iPod (touch wheel), and iPod (dock connector)

Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)

Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons simultaneously until the Apple/iPod logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn’t set to go to sleep.

If you are still unable to reset your iPod, use only one finger from one hand to press the Center (Select) button, and one finger from the other hand to press the Menu button.

When you reset iPod all your music and files are saved, but some customized settings may be lost. Date and time is preserved (unless the iPod reset itself because it had no power and then was reconnected to power). Other customized settings, such as Bookmarks, On-The-Go Playlists, Shuffle, Backlight timer, and so forth are preserved from the last time the hard drive turned on.

iPod not responding
If your iPod does not respond to these steps, see additional steps in the “iPod troubleshooting basics and service FAQ”.

Additional Information
Apple releases new versions of the iPod Software Update application from time to time. These later versions may include new functions or improvements to existing features. Learn about updating iPod’s software.

To return iPod to its original factory settings, use the iPod Software Updater utility to restore iPod.

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This from Adobe on Creative Suite 3

/*The wait is nearly over! We can now confirm that Adobe Creative Suite 3 will be announced March 27, 2007. The company is celebrating the launch at an event in New York City that will be webcast live at 3:30pm ET. During the webcast, Adobe will reveal the features and suite configurations that make this the largest software release in Adobe’s 25 year history.

Details on how to view the webcast will be available on Adobe.com later this week.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are announcing Creative Suite 3 on March 27th. However, the software will not ship until later in Spring 2007.

*/
http://blogs.adobe.com/creativesolutionspr/2007/03/adobe_creative_suite_3_to_be_a_1.html

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