|
Page 2
|
|
This site
specializes in experimentation with frames, JavaScript, animation, sound,
image maps, and whatever else may take Mills's fancy! Whereas the original
Think Mills™ site contains resume pages interlinked with writing and
layout samples and is designed for viewing with even the most basic browser
(assuming that many business PC users may not have had the time to upgrade
their respectively bundled browser), this site is specifically designed
for viewing with Netscape Navigator 3+/4.0-4.05 or Internet Explorer 4+/5+.
(Netscape Navigator/Communicator versions 4.06-4.5 have Java problems that
cause the two applets on this site to function so slowly as to appear to be
either not working at all or frozen.)
Furthermore, although this site will attempt to support both Netscape 3+ and 4+ and IE4+ and IE5+, there is only one Mills at ThinkMills.com, so testing for all versions of both browsers is difficult at best. For best results, on any site, you should probably be using IE4+ or IE5+ or Netscape 4.0 through 4.05. If you find what appears to be a layout or function error, please let Mills know where, what, and your browser and version, and he'll try to fix the problem. (Thanks.) Several layout-test pages are provided to predetermine whether your browser will be able to view material as intended to be seen. Please take a look at these before continuing to the related section(s).
(See the scrollable sidebar to the right for more info!) As can be seen on the scrollable sidebar to the right, there are also selections for the less esoterically inclined (or the esoterically inclined when feeling less esoteric), such as the animated comic strips with sound, a simulated lottery game, a "wheel of future" game, and even a playable piano! These features are and will be updated from time to time when Mills has the time.
(and other explanations) In case anyone is interested, the entire site is constructed using a minimum of specialty Web software. The pages are created with MS-DOS Edit, originally on a 286 upgraded to 486 running Windows 3.1, and now on a faster machine running Windows 98. The art-work is created using Windows's bundled paint programs (both the 3.1, 95, and 98 versions). The bmp conversions and the animation are accomplished using Alchemy Mindworks's relatively inexpensive yet excellent "GIF Construction Set" and "Graphic Workshop." The frame-grabbing software/hardware used for the Poetry Book 2 illustrations is DOS-based on the old 286/486 computer (explaining, perhaps, some of its quality?), and the sound and sound effects are recorded and created mainly with Windows's own sound recorder (with some help from an old Voyetra-bundled program). [Ed. note: As you have probably noticed on earlier pages, some of this software and hardware has been upgraded/replaced since this was originally written.]
And in case you
wonder (and have even bothered reading this far) what some of the icons
mean-- There is more planned for this site in the future, as it is always "under construction." You can also quickly link to the original Think Mills™ web site. The Think Mills™ Web Site No. 1 is designed to give clients and potential clients an immediate view of Mills's writing and training abilities and experience. But, if you're not interested in hiring a writer and/or trainer, there are still various pages of possible interest to nonbusiness viewers, such as the column Man about the House, two children's stories (one complete with two playable songs!), and the punny Mutant Aikido Teenage Hedgehogs™ math puzzles. There are also numerous graphics on various pages (these graphics are also indexed; see the Site 1 Table of Contents). Frame viewers--After you've checked your browser setup, choose from the selections at the right. You can review a brief biographical sketch of Mills's background and experience (plus his picture), choose your area of interest, or go to the overall Table of Contents. As they say, "Enjoy!" Go directly to Table of Contents from
here, too!
|
symbol. In the Book 2 table of contents, this indicates the respective
poem is illustrated with a "Mini-Movie" of the number of frames
listed; next to a graphic in a poem, itself, it indicates that this
illustration is a "Mini-Movie" (and will take some time to
load).