wstaylor.wincustomize.com

POLL Never Works For Me on WC

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:40:13 -0500

Everytime I log into WC and get the poll page it gives me errors on page and I can't vote. I bet many people are experiencing this and that may be why the poll numbers are always so low. Thansk, wstaylor

Microsoft Freebies!

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 16:49:43 -0500

Announcing the release of Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions Source: forums.microsoft.com/msdn "I am proud to announce that today, November 7th 2005, we officially released the downloadable versions of Visual Studio 2005 Express on MSDN and they are free to download for one year!" You can download Visual Studio Express from the links below: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/download/default.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/download/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/download/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualJ/download/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/download/ Visual Studio Express is free for one year "Until November 7, 2006, we are promotionally discounting the downloadable versions of Express to free. This doesn???t mean that the product turns off after a year, but rather that as long as you download the product before November 7, 2006, you can get it for free and you can use it forever." Rewards for Registering The other big news announced at the Visual Studio launch is the availability of the Visual Studio Express DIY Kit, which is a set of benefits you get for registering Express and includes: 250 royalty-free stock photography images from Corbis Free Windows Icons from IconBuffet Free eBooks including: Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition: Build a Web Site Now, Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now!, and Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! 3rd party components from VSIP partners And we have more benefits coming soon Want More Information? Take a tour of the newly revamped Visual Studio Express Edition Web site, read the Frequently Asked Questions, and as always, please tell us what you think :) We hope you enjoy Visual Studio Express as much as we do! Sincerely, The Visual Studio Express Team __________________________________________________________ Get Ready for Visual Studio 2005 with Free* Microsoft E-Learning Courses and Clinics. Source: microsoftelearning.com Whether you are interested in creating Windows forms, building Web applications, implementing Data Access, or finding out about Visual Studio Team System, you can access the E-Learning topic you want, when you want it, and learn at your own pace. Each lesson includes hands-on virtual labs and offline functionality. These courses, valued at $99.00 each won't be free forever, so sign on today. In addition, you may consider taking a free Microsoft Skills Assessment to help you meet your Visual Studio 2005 training goals. You'll receive a learning roadmap with additional skills resources including instructor-led classroom training and books. Take a skills assessment today. For more information, visit the Visual Studio 2005 Learning Resources page. http://msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/learning

Give Your Thoughts and Prayers to Hurricane Victims

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 22:02:18 -0500

TheBigStorm.org Visit http://www.thebigstorm.org now! This site is hosted by me and it is a site where people can post anything they would like to - offer help, give encouragement or ask for help. I am asking that all visitors of skinning sites stop by and post your words of encouragement - and if you have something to offer, please offer it. Go to http://www.thebigstorm.org

Got Time For 21 Questions?

Mon, 22 Aug 2005 02:12:15 -0500

Got Time For 21 Questions? Skinning.net is asking questions and the Community is answering! We have two questionnaires -- one for skinners and one for the skin users. We want to gather as many answers from as many of you as possible. This will help people to better understand who we are and the effect that Customization has had on the members of this ever-growing community. I will be adding new answers from members and skinners as they become available.You???ll want to visit www.skinning.net if you want to learn about the skinners of the community or you want to find out what other members of the customization world are about. Maybe you have more questions or you just want to comment on the answers that were given by others.If you would like to become a part of the list ??? email me at interview@skinning.net -- if you receive an email from me, let us know your answers!

Skinning.net Helps Out Tsunami Victims

Sat, 05 Feb 2005 02:31:34 -0500

On behalf of Skinning.net and Wstaylor.net; My Wife and I have made a contribution of $150.00 to UNICEF for the Tsunami Relief Fund Make your donation here... http://www.unicef.org - Do it NOW ! Post your screenshots here... come on - $20.00 ????

DVD Covers for XP, MCE and Server 2003

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 17:56:03 -0500

Do something with one of those AOL DVD Cases that you are always getting in the mail... Put a Windows DVD Cover on it... Check them out...http://www.skinning.net/files/WinDVDCovers/XPHomeSP2.zipDownload the Home Edition Herehttp://www.skinning.net/files/WinDVDCovers/XPProDVDCovers.zipDownload the Professional Edition Herehttp://www.skinning.net/files/WinDVDCovers/XPMediaCenterEdition2005.zipDownload the Media Center Edition Herehttp://www.skinning.net/files/WinDVDCovers/XPServer2003SP2.zipDownload the Server 2003 Edition Here

Orbicons: The Tutorial

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 06:30:40 -0500

I have made over 100 icons in the past 2 days. They all have the same idea in mind; glass orbs with an image referring to a program inside of the orb. For some reason I cannot stop making these little orbs. Now, I know that some of you are saying - "Orbs are very old..." or "We are tired of seeing orbs..." - but I say, "MAN! I wish I could stop making these things!" This is where this article gets interesting: I am going to share with you just how I made these orb icons, so that you too might try and see whether or not you can stop making them. Yes, this is a tutorial for making Orbicon icons using Photoshop and Icon Developer. I hope it comes in handy for someone. Step one: Open Photoshop and Icon Developer. Step two: Find some image or logo that you would like to use for your icon. If you want to Google search images for the logo that will work as well. I like to use http://www.brandsoftheworld.com to find high resolution EPS (encapsulated post script) images for download. So I am going to use this site to find a logo for www.mozilla.org - the giant red dinosaur ( found here ) - and I am going to download the EPS of it and save it to disk. Step three: Open the EPS file using Photoshop. Should look something like this: Just click OK on this dialog box. Step Four: The next step will be to make the EPS file background transparent. The wonderful Magic Wand in the toolbar of Photoshop. Notice that I have selected the Magic Wand and set the tolerance to (5) and chosen anti-alias and contiguous. Then choose the white area around the mozilla.org dinosaur, and go to select and choose inverse. Push [ ctrl + X ] or go to Edit --> Cut and that will remove the dinosaur from the EPS file. Next go to File --> New and set the background to transparent, click ok to the default size then go to Edit--> Paste and a new image with the red dinosaur will appear, with a transparent background. Step Five: Now to begin making the Orb'd dinosaur. The easiest way I found to do this was to reduce the image size to 128x<128... meaning go to Image-->Image Size - and change the smaller number to 128 (constrain proportions selected)... this case being the height. Your dinosaur dimensions should be 146x128. Now go to Image--> Canvas Size and change that to 2 by 2 inches. The blank area around the dinosaur should be a lot bigger now. Now we will go to Filter--> Distort--> and Spherize. We will increase the slider to 100% and Press OK... then apply it 2 more times, by pressing [ ctrl + F ]. the dinosaur should look somewhat larger and kind of Orb'd. Go to Image--> Trim choose transparent pixels check all of the sides (top, bottom, left, right) and Press OK. Leave that image alone. Step Six: To make the glassy orb: Go to File--> New set background to transparent and make the size 128x128. Then right click the Rectangular Marquee Tool and change it to Elliptical Marquee Tool (Figure1). Set its properties like the way I have them in the screen shot. Then zoom into the blank image (about 500%) and click the top left corner, so that a circle will be selected that touches each side of the square. Keep trying until you have a circle that is as big as the canvas. Change the foreground color to white. and go to the Gradient tool, choose foreground to transparent and then choose the radial gradient. (Figure2) Figure1 - click to zoom Figure2 - click to zoom Then drag the radial gradient tool across the orb from bottom-right to top-left. Then go to Layer--> New and create a new layer. Now select another foreground color - this will be the color of your orb. Drag the Radial Gradient tool from top-left to bottom-right this time. I have chosen Red... Now go to Image and then Canvas and set it to 1x1 inches. Set your zoom back to 100%... Then right click the White to Transparent Layer and choose Blending Options. Choose Drop Shadow and set the Angle to 90... then choose Inner Shadow and uncheck global lighting set its Angle to 120 and set the Size to 30. (Figure3) Figure3 - click to zoom Next add the layer for the light glare on top of the orb. Go to Layer--> New and then with the Elliptical Marquee Tool create an oval shape over the orb... then go to Select--> Transform Selection and move that oval to position and make it the size you feel comfortable with (Figure4). Choose the gradient tool and select white as the foreground color... then drag the linear gradient from top to bottom - you can then move that oval around if you want. (Figure5) Now We Have Our Orb Figure4 - click to zoom Figure5 - click to zoom Step Seven: Add the mozilla.org dinosaur to the icon. Go back to your dinosaur and Press [ ctrl + A ] and then [ ctrl + C] to Copy the dinosaur... then go to your orb and press [ ctrl + P ] to Paste the dinosaur there. Then Free Transform the dinosaur, by Pressing [ ctrl + T ] - set the horizontal and vertical scale to 25% and center the dinosaur in the orb. (Figure6) - Then right click the dinosaur Layer and go to Blending Options - choose Drop Shadow and Press OK. Choose the Dinosaur Layer and set it to 80% Opacity. (Figure7) Figure6 - click to zoom Figure7 - click to zoom Step Eight: Create the Icon. Now go to Image-->Trim... this will make the image back to a smaller size. Then go to File-->Save For Web and choose PNG-24 Then select the Image Size tab and uncheck Constrain Proportions and set the size to 128x128.(Figure8) Then Click Save. Figure8 - click to zoom Now We Have Our 128x128 PNG Step Nine (Optional): Open Icon Developer and choose Convert Image to Icon. Choose ONLY XP Icons and click OK(Figure9). Then go to File-->Save As and name your Icon. Now We Have Our 128x128 Icon Download the Finished ZIP Here... Step Ten (Optional): Zip your *.ICO and *.PNG file together and Upload it to the Misc Icons Section at Wincustomize.com. :) You can see examples of my Orbicons over at http://wstaylor.wincustomize.com - ENJOY !!!

Orbicons: The Tutorial

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 06:15:00 -0500

I have made over 100 icons in the past 2 days.?? They all have the same idea in mind; glass orbs with an image referring to a program inside of the orb.?? For some reason I cannot stop making these little orbs.?? Now, I know that some of you are saying - "Orbs are very old..." or "We are tired of seeing orbs..." - but I say, "MAN! I wish I could stop making these things!" This is where this article gets interesting:?? I am going to share with you just how I made these orb icons, so that you too might try and see whether or not you can stop making them.?? Yes, this is a tutorial for making Orbicon icons using Photoshop and Icon Developer.?? I hope it comes in handy for someone. Step one:?? Open Photoshop and Icon Developer. Step two:?? Find some image or logo that you would like to use for your icon.?? If you want to Google search images for the logo that will work as well.?? I like to use http://www.brandsoftheworld.com to find high resolution EPS (encapsulated post script) images for download.?? So I am going to use this site to find a logo for www.mozilla.org - the giant red dinosaur ( found here ) - and I am going to download the EPS of it and save it to disk. ?? Step three:?? Open the EPS file using Photoshop. Should look something like this:?? Just click OK on this dialog box. ?? ?? Step Four:?? The next step will be to make the EPS file background transparent.?? The wonderful Magic Wand in the toolbar of Photoshop.Notice that I have selected the Magic Wand and set the tolerance to (5) and chosen anti-alias and contiguous. Then choose the white area around the mozilla.org dinosaur, and go to select and choose inverse.?? Push [ ctrl + X ]?? or go to Edit --> Cut and that will remove the dinosaur from the EPS file. Next go to File --> New and set the background to transparent, click ok to the default size then go to Edit--> Paste and a new image with the red dinosaur will appear, with a transparent background. ?? Step Five:?? Now to begin making the Orb'd dinosaur.?? The easiest way I found to do this was to reduce the image size to 128xImage Size - and change the smaller number to 128 (constrain proportions selected)...?? this case being the height.?? Your dinosaur dimensions should be 146x128.?? Now go to Image--> Canvas Size and change that to 2 by 2 inches.?? The blank area around the dinosaur should be a lot bigger now.?? Now we will go to Filter--> Distort--> and Spherize.?? We will increase the slider to 100% and Press OK... then apply it 2 more times, by pressing [ ctrl + F ].?? the dinosaur should look somewhat larger and kind of Orb'd.?? Go to Image--> Trim choose transparent pixels check all of the sides (top, bottom, left, right) and Press OK.?? Leave that image alone. ?? Step Six:?? To make the glassy orb:?? Go to File--> New set background to transparent and make the size 128x128.?? Then right click the Rectangular Marquee Tool and change it to Elliptical Marquee Tool (Figure1).?? Set its properties like the way I have them in the screen shot.?? Then zoom into the blank image (about 500%) and click the top left corner, so that a circle will be selected that touches each side of the square.?? Keep trying until you have a circle that is as big as the canvas.?? Change the foreground color to white. and go to the Gradient tool, choose foreground to transparent and then choose the radial gradient. (Figure2) Figure1 - click to zoom Figure2 - click to zoom ?? Then drag the radial gradient tool across the orb from bottom-right to top-left.?? Then go to Layer--> New and create a new layer.?? Now select another foreground color - this will be the color of your orb. Drag the Radial Gradient tool from top-left to bottom-right this time.?? I have chosen Red...?? Now go to Image and then Canvas and set it to 1x1 inches.?? Set your zoom back to 100%...?? Then right click the White to Transparent Layer and choose Blending Options.?? Choose Drop Shadow and set the Angle to 90... then choose Inner Shadow and uncheck global lighting set its Angle to 120 and set the Size to 30. (Figure3) Figure3 - click to zoom ??Next add the layer for the light glare on top of the orb.?? Go to Layer--> New and then with the Elliptical Marquee Tool create an oval shape over the orb...?? then go to Select--> Transform Selection and move that oval to position and make it the size you feel comfortable with (Figure4).?? Choose the gradient tool and select white as the foreground color...?? then drag the linear gradient from top to bottom - you can then move that oval around if you want. (Figure5) Now We Have Our Orb ?? Figure4 - click to zoom Figure5 - click to zoom ?? Step Seven:?? Add the mozilla.org dinosaur to the icon.?? Go back to your dinosaur and Press [ ctrl + A ] and then [ ctrl + C]?? to Copy the dinosaur... then go to your orb and press [ ctrl + P ] to Paste the dinosaur there.?? Then Free Transform the dinosaur, by Pressing [ ctrl + T ] -?? set the horizontal and vertical scale to 25% and center the dinosaur in the orb. (Figure6) - Then right click the dinosaur Layer and go to Blending Options - choose Drop Shadow and Press OK.?? Choose the Dinosaur Layer and set it to 80% Opacity. (Figure7) Figure6 - click to zoom Figure7 - click to zoom ?? Step Eight:?? Create the Icon.?? Now go to Image-->Trim...?? this will make the image back to a smaller size.?? Then go to File-->Save For Web and choose PNG-24 Then select the Image Size tab and uncheck Constrain Proportions and set the size to 128x128.(Figure8) Then Click Save. Figure8 - click to zoom Now We Have Our 128x128 PNG Step Nine (Optional):?? Open Icon Developer and choose Convert Image to Icon.?? Choose ONLY XP Icons and click OK(Figure9). Then go to File-->Save As and name your Icon.?? Now We Have Our 128x128 Icon Download the Finished ZIP Here... Step Ten (Optional):?? Zip your *.ICO and *.PNG file together and Upload it to the Misc Icons Section at Wincustomize.com. :) You can see examples of my Orbicons over at http://wstaylor.wincustomize.com - ENJOY !!!

Wedding Pictures

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 03:46:17 -0500

Some of you may or may not know that I recently got married... well I have been slacking when it comes to uploading some wedding pictures... so here you go...

WinModify.com - A growing skin site...

Thu, 02 Dec 2004 05:45:30 -0500

In the ever-growing world of Windows Customization comes a website with real purpose ??? to showcase the work of skinners from all stages of ability. With download sections ranging from fonts to full-blown premium themes; WinModify has it all. If you register to the members section you will open an entire myriad of extra downloads ??? including software, icons, WindowBlinds and other unique downloads. Winmodify.com has everything you will ever need to enjoy your Windows XP interface. Gone are the days of Luna and Bliss ??? Open a new world of choices ??? WinModify.com. A letter from the Administrator of WinModify.com: Dear Skinners & Non-Skinners, My name is Roeland and I have two hobbies - skinning and web-design. I have combined these two hobbies and made a skinning website from scratch called WinModify. I started WinModify in November 2003; we have been growing steadily for over a year. In that year I have been in contact with many skinners and made some really good friends. In the beginning when I started the website I contacted Wstaylor from www.wstaylor.net and www.skinning.net , he helped me a lot, and still does. With all of the friends I have made, I have also received permission from a lot of skinners to host their work on WinModify.com. It is still a small website compared to other big ones, and it may even never be as big as them, however many people compliment the site and I believe it is fair to say that my website would be considered an excellent skinning website. The reason why I???m bringing you this news is because I want to bring my website to the attention of everyone, we still need more permission from great artists, but even more important; we need more people uploading their files to our website and more people active in our forum. Without that our website cannot continue to grow like it has grown in the past year. So why should you come to www.WinModify.com and why upload you ask? 1. You don???t have to be a top-skinner to get your files approved by us. 2. Our website is totally free and has minimal ads without pop-ups. 3. Our website is very easy to navigate and offers a lot more than ???just downloads??? So please be a part of our website and visit/register/upload: http://www.winmodify.com Thanks in advance, Roeland (Admin WM)

9/11 Tribute Movie

Sun, 21 Nov 2004 21:30:49 -0500

I made a 9/11 Tribute movie using Flash 4 about a month after 9/11... I have had it hosted on my site at http://www.wstaylor.net/tribute.htm - but it was a low-quality version... Well, now that bandwidths are higher and I have some space to store it, I though you would all like to have a High Quality *.avi version of it... You can now find it at http://www.wstaylor.net/tribute.htm in 640x480 resolution featuring Linkin Park - I hope you all keep it forever... See ya... :D

Skinning.net - The Community Forum

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:32:45 -0500

TCF ??? The Community Forum www.skinning.net RSS Feed Visit and become a part of "The Community Forum??? Post your thoughts about skinning and share your own ideas. Enjoy the wide range of topics and meet people with common interests??? The Community Forum at skinning.net features hosting by well-known skinners from within The Community! The hosts provide detailed help and tutorials on Stardock???s entire myriad of software as well as other programs. This is a forum for Skinners, by Skinners, for Skinning! Its easy-to-use, php-based interface lets you spend more time skinning and less time wondering where you are on the site. Many experienced skinners and programmers are always hanging around to help out with any problems. Got an idea for a skin but don???t quite know where to go from there? TCF can help. These boards aren???t just for those who skin either, as they include such riveting topics as: Politics! Video Games! Music! Sports! TV! This is the place to talk about whatever you want, and get feedback, assistance, or laughs whatever you need. With a top-notch team of administrators and moderators, you can be sure that whatever is on the site will be clean and great for all ages. For just plain chatting with other skinners, or to get a feel for the real personalities of people from the site, you can always pop over to the #wstaylor irc channel at irc.stardock.com. There is sure to be someone there to talk to, no matter what time it is. That is what???s so great about skinning: It???s Worldwide. The Community Forum at www.skinning.net helps to connect people from everywhere. Come on by and introduce yourself. It would be great to have you! IRC: #wstaylor @ irc.stardock.com"

The Shockbox - aka ICD

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:24:19 -0500

Can you say amazing? This thing is the size of a beeper or a new cell phone... your choice. Made to keep people alive, the ICD will shock your heart and try to stop an irregular heart rythm. I have just had one of these little boxes inserted into my chest about 3 weeks ago. It really wasn't a bad experience, though I wouldn't want anyone to have to go through everything that is involved with getting one. First, you have to be diagnosed with Heart disease; that is no fun at all... Second, you have to encounter an irregular heart rythm that makes you feel dizzy, weak or causes you to pass out; that is no fun either... Thirdly, you have to undergo a variety of studies and tests to rule out what is causing these irregular heart rythms. Finally, if you are found to be "eligable" to recieve an ICD you will not want to hesitate in getting one. The fact that they can offer people like me one of these devices is amazing in and of itself. Before 1985 they would most likely ask that you pray and seek spiritual guidance... An irregular heart rythm can happen at any time and cause SCD (Sudden Cardiac Death) - that is nothing I would want to look forward to, now with this "shockbox" in my chest, I feel more confident about not having to worry about whether or not I will be here tomorrow. This thing can and may someday SAVE MY LIFE. There is a downside... When the ICD shocks, it feels similar to a Donkey kicking you in the chest, or Mike Tyson punching you in the chest... so I have been told. Hopefully I will never have to experience the shock, but if I do, I will know that it is only trying to keep me alive. I am so thankful to medical technology, because without advances like this I would just be a vegetable - thinking "when will it happen?" - I couldn't live like that.

wstaylor's Bad Heart Part 2

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:23:10 -0500

I went to Indianapolis to meet with 2 doctors; Dr. Eric Prystowski of The Care Group Cardiology Center at St. Vincent Hospital, a world class doctor, he is the best electrician in the world. St. Vincent Hospital is rated the #1 Cardiac Hospital in the country by US News Magazine. And... Dr. Mithelish Das of the Krannert Institute of Cardiology at Methodist Hospital, a world class facility; Krannert is the most well known cardiac clinic in the world. Krannert is also part of the Indiana University School of Medicine. They both agreed with my local doctor that I am a "grey-area" candidate for the AICD... Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator... So, I am getting one. This Monday I will be getting a Cardiac Cathetization, aka Heart Cath, to make sure that I don't have any blockage near my heart. That will be an invasive procedure where they will guide caths up the veins in my legs to my heart and release a liquid that will glow on X-Ray machines to see how my blood pumps and how well my heart is pumping it. The Heart Cath will also be the definitive answer as to whether or not my condition could be clot-related. 8 days later I will be going to The Care Group to have the EP study done??? and then??? the AICD procedure. Sounds like a party huh?

wstaylor's Bad Heart Part 1

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:03:55 -0500

It had been 3 months since my AWESOME honeymoon, where I started feeling the symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure *1. I was having trouble breathing and a "raspy or gurgling" sound was coming from my lungs. I thought it was just bronchitis or some kind of flu, little did I know that my body was trying to tell me something very serious was going on. When my wife and I returned home from our honeymoon I decided to go to the Prompt Care Center (which is an immediate treatment center, but not the emergency room) to be checked out by a Doctor. At that point my symptoms were not bad enough to warrant a chest X-Ray; I had shortness of breath and a bad cough. The young girl that was fresh out of medical school and pregnant gave me medicine for bronchitis and some cough syrup. That actually helped???. helped to cover up what was really wrong. About a week after the medicine ran out I redeveloped the same hacking cough and the raspy sound in my lungs. I would cough and cough but nothing would come up. On Tuesday the 10th of August, I woke up and took a deep breath, only to be stopped by a sharp pain in my chest. I had to go to work and thought that I could just make an appointment to go see the doctor the following day. Throughout the day however, the pain in my chest was getting worse and I was becoming very short of breath. By about 4:00 pm I was becoming pale, sick to my stomach and gasping for air, with a very strong pain in my chest. This time when I made it to the Prompt Care Center I was really fighting for air, and the doctor sent me directly for chest X-Rays. The chest X-Rays showed that my heart was enlarged about 1 ?? the size of a normal heart, and that fluid had built up around my lungs and heart. I was immediately sent to the hospital for direct admittance into the emergency room.I received an ultra-sound and an EKG to try and determine why my heart was so large. Later that night the cardiologist that was on-call, Dr. Louis J Calli came in and gave me another more advanced ultra-sound. He found that my heart was actually pumping at about 50% of what it should be, and that a valve in my heart was leaking which is called Mitral Valve Regurgitation *2.The condition, which I have been diagnosed with, is Cardiomyopathy *3. My dad suffers the same type of Heart Disease and I have been handed this problem through heredity. However, my heart disease has led me down a slightly different path; As a result of Cardiomyopathy I have developed an Arrhythmia known as VT or Ventricular Tachycardia *4, which I was diagnosed with last week through a T-Wave Alter-Nan study, this shows that my heart is at a high risk of suffering an irregular heart rhythm that could exceed 300 bpm and send me into cardiac arrest.I have been a bit depressed about the whole thing, having to learn all of these things and having to find out that I am in danger of a heart attack. My wonderful wife has become certified to perform CPR, without her love and support I really would not want to go through all of this, emotionally. On October the 4th I will be visiting St Vincent Hospital???s Care Group Cardiology to have what is known as an EP study, where my heart will be probed through catheterization to try and make it go into one of these life threatening Arrhythmias??? If it does I will be getting an AICD (Automatic Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator)???. If my heart does not go into the Arrhythmia then I will just have to hope that it never does...So in case you were wondering??? there you go??? if you have any questions feel free to ask me??? :D *1 Congestive Heart Failure: The term "heart failure" sounds pretty scary ??? as if the heart has "failed" or stopped beating. Actually, the term means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it should be. Usually the heart has been weakened over time by an underlying problem, such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure, a defect in its muscular walls or valves, or some other medical condition. Your body depends on the heart's pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood. That supplies all the body's cells with nourishment so the body can function normally. In people with heart failure, the body doesn't get enough blood. As a result, they tend to feel weak, fatigued or short of breath. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, carrying groceries and doing yard work can become quite difficult. How common is congestive heart failure? About 5 million Americans are living with this condition, with 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Congestive heart failure affects people of all ages. However, it's more common among older people. Therefore, as the older population grows over the next few decades, so will the number of people living with congestive heart failure or caring for a loved one who has it. Can it be cured? Heart failure is a serious condition, and there's usually no cure. But we deliberately use the phrase "living with heart failure" because that's what people who have it learn to do. In most cases, taking medications and making healthy changes in habits such as diet and exercise can manage heart failure. The help of families and friends can be beneficial, too. These changes are often the key to leading a full, enjoyable life. Source: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1593 *2 Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Your heart ??? a muscular pump in your chest ??? has four valves, which open and close to keep blood flowing in the proper direction through your heart. The mitral valve connects the heart's upper-left chamber (atrium) to the heart's lower-left chamber (ventricle).Mitral valve regurgitation, or mitral regurgitation, is a condition in which the mitral valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward in your heart. When the mitral valve doesn't function properly, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or incompetence. The condition can leave you fatigued and short of breath. Treatment depends on the severity and progression of your condition and signs and symptoms. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Left unchecked, severe mitral regurgitation can lead to congestive heart failure or serious heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias). *3 Dilated Cardiomyopathy: refers to overall enlargement (dilatation) of the heart chambers, especially the ventricles. Although this enlargement is a key part of dilated Cardiomyopathy, it is not the initial problem but rather the hearts own response to a weakness of heart muscle and poor pumping ability. The weakness of the heart muscle in this condition is generalized ("global"); all parts of the myocardium are affected about equally. Enlargement of the heart is the heart's way of trying to compensate for the weakness of its muscle. If the heart muscle is weak, it is unable to pump out the same portion of blood that it could at normal strength. Source: http://www.healthcentral.com/library/librarycontent.cfm?id=700*4 Ventricular Tachycardia is an arrhythmia that originates in the pumping chambers, or the ventricles. It is usually seen in patients who have damaged ventricular chambers, frequently in the aftermath of a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Scar tissue in the ventricles will alter many local electrical properties and set up conditions favorable to formation of a local electrical circuit. Under specific circumstances, the circuit can be activated leading to a rapid arrhythmia arising from a single spot within the pumping chambers. Because this is more rapid than the heart's natural electrical activity, it takes over the heartbeat for the duration of the arrhythmia. Because it is so rapid, and is occurring in a damaged heart, and because the electrical sequence does not follow the normal pattern, the heart may not function properly or efficiently and low blood pressure may result. In its most extreme form, ventricular Tachycardia can lead to fatal consequences. This is a potentially dangerous arrhythmia that almost always requires therapy. In some patients, ventricular Tachycardia may occur when there is no structural heart disease. This "idiopathic" form often arises from the right ventricle and less often from the left ventricle. These arrhythmias are less dangerous, but also often require therapy. Source: http://www.arrhythmia.org/general/whatis/vent-tach.html

TCF ??? The Community Forum

Wed, 10 Nov 2004 21:02:06 -0500

TCF ??? The Community Forumwww.skinning.netVisit http://www.skinning.net and become a part of "The Community Forum???Post your thoughts about skinning and share your own ideas. Enjoy the wide range of topics and meet people with common interests???The Community Forum at www.skinning.net features hosting by well-known skinners from within The Community! The hosts provide detailed help and tutorials on Stardock???s entire myriad of software as well as other programs.This is a forum for Skinners, by Skinners, for Skinning! Its easy-to-use, php-based interface lets you spend more time skinning and less time wondering where you are on the site. Many experienced skinners and programmers are always hanging around to help out with any problems. Got an idea for a skin but don???t quite know where to go from there? TCF can help. These boards aren???t just for those who skin either, as they include such riveting topics as: Politics! Video Games! Music! Sports! TV! This is the place to talk about whatever you want, and get feedback, assistance, or laughs whatever you need. With a top-notch team of administrators and moderators, you can be sure that whatever is on the site will be clean and great for all ages.For just plain chatting with other skinners, or to get a feel for the real personalities of people from the site, you can always pop over to the #wstaylor irc channel at irc.stardock.com. There is sure to be someone there to talk to, no matter what time it is. That is what???s so great about skinning: It???s Worldwide. The Community Forum at wwww.skinning.net helps to connect people from everywhere.Come on by and introduce yourself. It would be great to have you!Site: http://www.skinning.netIRC: #wstaylor @ irc.stardock.com

I'm Here !!!

Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:18:33 -0500

Okay, I promise that when I have time, I will update this site as much as humanly possible... :) ummm... sorry, thats all for right now... Hope I can edit this Welcome article at a later date.... ???

???The Community Forum???

Sat, 08 May 2004 16:52:46 -0500

???The Community Forum??? .: http://forum.wstaylor.net :. In search for a more complete skinning experience, designer wstaylor set out on a quest embarked by few, if any??? To make a forum for Skinners, by Skinners, for Skinning! Its easy-to-use, php-based interface lets you spend more time skinning and less time wondering where you are on the site. Many experienced skinners and programmers are always hanging around to help out with any problems. Got an idea for a skin but don???t quite know where to go from there? We can help. However, since this has done before, wstaylor wanted more! His new forums at wstaylor.net feature hosting by well known skinners from within The Community! The hosts provide detailed help and tutorials on Stardock???s entire myriad of software as well as other programs. These boards aren???t just for those who skin either, as they include such riveting topics as: Politics! Video Games! Music! Sports! TV! This is the place to talk about whatever you want, and get feedback, assistance, or laughs; whatever you need. With a top-notch team of administrators and moderators, you can be sure that whatever is on the site will be clean and great for all ages. For just plain chatting with other skinners, or to get a feel for the real personalities of people from the site, you can always pop over to the #wstaylor irc channel at irc.stardock.com. There is sure to be someone there to talk to, no matter what time it is. That is what???s so great about skinning: It???s Worldwide. The Community Forum at wstaylor.net helps to connect people from everywhere. Come on by and introduce yourself. It would be great to have you! Site: http://www.wstaylor.net Forum: http://forum.wstaylor.net IRC: #wstaylor @ irc.stardock.com