MikeJD

Last I heard, we were a global community - so there really shouldn't be many 'odd' hours, and the sun should never set on dz.com. Having said that, I'd be interested to see the hit rates at different times. I get noticeably slow response here at around 1300 UK time (0800 EST), but how much of that is site-specific I wouldn't know.

The poll options work if all you want to do is fly around. But if you also want to shoot stuff down or blow stuff up - and who doesn't? - then check out the IL-2 Sturmovik series. The latest incarnation ('1946') came out earlier this year, and it still looks and sounds fantastic for a game that first appeared quite a few years ago. If you're not into death and destruction, you can turn off all enemies and just fly around in a huge variety of vintage combat aircraft enjoying the view. Or you can add some enemy aces into the mix (in which case, you'll probably also get to do some parachuting!) Rounds only, I'm afraid. It is World War II, after all. Edited to add: Sorry, this doesn't help you buy a present for your friend. I just wanted to plug IL-2 because I love it!

That's about as convincing as all the people who rejoice at getting an extra hour in bed the night the clocks change.

I don't suppose they feel too comfortable around you!

Jumping in the UK isn't like jumping at, oh, Eloy - but it can be great. I don't know Old Buck (which you list in your profile) so can't comment on it, but if you haven't travelled around then give it a go. You might be inspired!

That would be 'Cellar door'. Although I think 'Anyone want to go on a tracking dive?' is right up there with it. Or, instead of 'Cellar door', how about just 'Door!'?

Give it to any child you dislike and tell him/ her it's a pocket calculator.

Halloween is much bigger in the States than it is in the UK - and it seems like anything goes with the fancy dress, whereas us Brits tend to stick to spooky themes. I always think the serial killer John Doe, from Se7en, would be a good one - orange prison overalls, manacles, bloodied bandages on your fingertips and a sealed cardboard box (preferably containing a mannequin's head in a blonde wig). But then I've already got Kevin Spacey's 'hair', so it depends how you'd feel about shaving your head! And again, that costume would work best at a horror-themed party. It might just be a bit too obscure at a party where Dr Pepper is also an option.

Apparently he left flowers on the shoulder of the statue as a mark of respect, but even so I guess many people saw this as some kind of desecration - and I don't suppose the suggestion that he was in fact 'PCA'd by Jesus' will help at all.

Number one, Teleporter. As I (probably mis-)understand it, even when they can transport human beings what they'll actually be doing is destroying you and creating a perfect physical copy at the new location. So maybe there are added benefits - can the new you actually be held accountable for what the old you did just a few seconds earlier? Or was that actually someone else who did those things?

I like movies that credit you with intelligence. Memento, The Usual Suspects, Se7en - all thrilling and smart. I thought Children of Men, although clunky in places, was still astonishing. I can watch Raising Arizona endlessly and still laugh out loud - it's about time Nic Cage did some more out-and-out comedy. And I saw Jaws again recently, for the first time in a long time. If not for the rubber shark I'd call that movie perfection - the script, the cast, the music, the direction, the editing, the atmosphere. I think maybe it was the first real blockbuster, and it's had a huge influence on pop culture. 30-odd years on most of the recent dumbed down 'event' movies can't hold a candle to it.

At least those ABBA tickets were limited. These days we stay up all night to get hold of a new book that we could stroll up and buy the following day when the queues have gone.

[gripe mode] I find it hard to watch much (UK) TV now - especially the really hyped stuff - without feeling my intelligence is being insulted. Most of what's on is cheaply made, cynical formula nonsense and it only makes it worse being continually told, look what we made to entertain you and complete your life. Isn't it great? I guess at least when it comes to drama, somebody has to actually write it and spend a little money on it. Oh, there's also a proposal now to increase the amount of advertising during UK programming, which would mean moving closer to the American format where the first ad break comes straight after the opening credits. [/gripe mode]

I'm relatively new to ActionScript, but this is what it looks like to me: The gotoAndPlay function is referring to a particular frame of the scroller movie (by the frame's label, "s1", which you'd be able to see in the Property Inspector if you open the scroller object). I'd guess the scroller comprises a single frame or group of frames for each different popup that you want to display - but since in your code example the frame label value is hard-coded as "s1", it'll always play the same section. Presumably the template suppliers are expecting you to customise the code and attach a different version to each link on your main page. So for example one version would refer to "s1", another to "s2" and so on. Then, so long as you've got different content on those frames of the scroller movie, you should see a different popup with every link. Hope that helps. If not, I'd recommended you try a dedicated Flash forum. The community section at keyframer.com is pretty helpful. Edited to add: if you open the scroller object, you'll be able to see easily which frames have labels attached because they're marked with a little red flag in the timeline. If you need to add more labels, just select the appropriate frame and enter the label name in the Propery Inspector.

But thanks to Johnny Depp, talking like a pirate = talking like Keith Richards, doesn't it?

i'm gonna say too nasal plus synthesized - doesnt work One of the effects used on his voice is Autotune or something similar. It's designed to put performances (usually singing) into tune by moving the notes from the original recording to the nearest actual semitone. It's all over pop records these days, but with more subtle settings so it's not obvious, and you're fooled into thinking that the record company's latest pretty boy or girl can actually carry a tune . With this they've deliberately used it aggressively to make it a novelty effect - that funny synthetic warble is the result of him starting to sing the note and the software immediately pulling it into tune. You can hear it on quite a few other songs from the last few years as well. Remember the Cher track, Believe? That was the first well-known song to use that technique - in fact it's commonly known as the Cher effect. I don't like the song but I thought it was actually refreshing to see on the video an artist who doesn't fit the mould.

Thanks for the heads-up, but that thread tells you more about human nature than about Zune reliability. I looked at the first few pages but then got weary of the inevitable 'my-gadget-is-cool-and-your-gadget-sucks' sniping. It's mainly a platform for Microsoft and Apple consumers to trade insults. This is something I'll never understand - if I'm happy with my choice and you're happy with yours, why would either of us take it personally that the other one chose differently? Aren't people weird? (Not directed at the posters on this thread)!

Skydiving helmet design is a trade-off too - if they were as effective as, say, motorcycle helmets they'd be too heavy and bulky for people to want to wear. I don't expect any real protection from my full-face - it's mainly for keeping the cold and the wind out, and my audible in!

That's priceless - especially for a coach, which presumably might be taken abroad. Someone hasn't done their research...

Funny that it's always other people who are stupid. So really, there should be no stupid people.

Don't know it, but it sounds like something cheesy from the 80's.

Picture 3 (of the initial set) is the giveaway, I reckon. If that was a full-scale aircraft I'd say it was being flown pretty carelessly!

I have 'Resting Leg Syndrome'. Makes me sit on my behind all day.

Don't know, but if so you'd better make the most of it: because according to the BPA medical form, YOU'RE GROUNDED!

If that had been my car I'd have just cleared the windows and mirrors and then gone for a drive. Faster the better.