Kenja's Newsletter & Updates

Hello everybody

First let me welcome all new-comers to the list, for Stationery, Desktop Themes and for the Newsletter. I hope you enjoy the updates and stay with us for a long time.

This weeks newsletter is a "double-issue", as it will be the only one for this month. I am going on a trip and will not return in time for next issue's due date. You will receive the next newsletter in the first week of October. Thanks for your patients and have a safe holiday.

The Gift for this issue is a Stationery with scrolling background, a marquee with a special message and a midi. You may change the words of the marquee and/or the midi, if you know how. A word of caution on that last statement: The operative words here are "if you know how". If you do not know how to change them, please do not email me for instructions, instead refer to previous newsletters for tutorials on HTMl and/or how to make Stationery!

If you use Outlook 98 (upgrade for Outlook as part of Office 97) in conjunction with Internet Explorer 5.0, then you also need to install the OE5 version and not the OE4 version.

Please make note that the gift is only for actual subscribers to this newsletter and not for visitors to the archive copies based on the net. Gifts from the last newsletter have been removed and the new ones are now in effect.

Wallpaper & Theme News:

The Wallpaper sections have finally received their new additions, 20 in all and a new page added for the Miscellaneous 2 section. I spend the last two weeks creating new wallpaper, ranging from "It's A Bug's Life", Abstract, SciFi related to Halloween wallpaper. Most wallpaper is in 800x600 screen settings, unless otherwise noted. Sorry, but there are no new Screensavers at this point... I just have not had time yet. *smile*

Theme News:

While making the wallpaper, I also created and added 4 new themes to Kenja's Theme Creations, effecting the following sections:

• Animals - "Forever Friends" (Dog & Cat Theme with mellow sounds)
• Fantasy - "Jazzer Cat Band" (Cartoon Cat Band with Jazz music)
• Bryce/SciFi - "Creation Pond" (Dolphins in Watery Fantasy surroundings)
• Holidays - "Trick Or Treat" (cute Halloween Theme also safe for small children)

Other Site Related News:

Talking about Native Themes... I had a lot of people inquire about some of the music used in the Native American themes, and where to get it. So, to make things a little easier for everyone, I have created a new section called Kenja's Music Shop in association with Amazon. The Music Shop offers Music on CD & Tape, Books, Videos and also various other items. Currently there is only the Native American Music Shop, with a Christmas, Fantasy and SciFi Shop to follow soon.

Kenja's Gift Shop offers Gift items, such as Glass & Crystal Figurines, Fine Jewellery, Clocks, Sports items, Porcelain, Toys, Garden Accessories, and much more. Stop by to browse, or get a head start on your Christmas shopping with 20% discount over retail prices.

HTML Related Programs & Sites:

If you built a website or a homepage, then you also need a place to display it on the Internet. In most cases your ISP (Internet Service Provider) gives you some space for your homepage, but mostly only about 5 MB or so. In the event that you got carried away with building a website and need more space and/or you went through all the trouble of acquiring your own domain, then you should check with a few places first to keep all your options open.

• For a large, searchable database of free web space (Xoom and Geocities are probably the most popular) check with Free WebSpace first. They keep up with all the available free space on the Internet, complete with some reviews, the amount of space, reliability and even if they offer anything extra.

• You want it to appear as though you have a paid domain or you are just tired of long URL's, then you might want to go to Rename.net to pick up a new shorter URL. This place is basically a free URL forwarding service. Your original URL stays the same, but visually it changes. Here is an example, say that your old URL looks as follows "http://www.yourserver.com/members/yourname/directory/" then your new URL would maybe look like this instead: "http://download.at/kenjas" when in fact the actual URL stays the same. The draw-back to services like this is, that it can slow down the loading of your homepages, as the browser is being re-directed a few times (taking a few more "Hops" then normally)... but hey it's free and some think it's worth it.

• Should your own a domain or are thinking about getting one, you will end up paying for the hosting service, and in that case I would suggest you check with HostSpot. They have a large searchable database of Hosts around the World. You can search to include any detail (i.e. size, cost, FTP, CGI support etc.), just browse the whole database all at once, or even just inquire about certain hosts you may have heard about.

Graphic Programs:

The programs and filters you use to create your own graphics can make or break you. I don't care how great a program is (PSP 5.x or Adobe Photoshop 5.x are both great on their own), but they get even better with the right filters and add-ons. In the next few newsletters I will list sites where they offer Tips, Tutors, Masks, Tubes, free Filters etc. for most popular programs.

• To start with, I found a site called Action FX. Actions are used in Adobe Photoshop 4 and 5. They are very convenient by letting you apply a whole series of layers and/or effects to a graphic and/or text with a push of one button. This site explains in detail what Actions are, how to use them and best of all, Actions are free for download. Action FX also has Brushes (can also be used in PSP 5.x and above), Graphics, Fonts and links to free Filters (may also work for programs like PSP, MS Image Composer, etc).

• One of my favorite graphics programs is called MS Image Composer (this is the Beta version 1.5). I use it almost daily, as it has a lot of neat features and you can also use the same filters as you do in PSP and/or Photoshop. Though I found if you have too many filters(50+ MB worth qualifies as too many *smile*) it may lock up your PC, however filters from other programs (in other directories) used in moderation will do just fine *smile* MS Image Composer is user friendly and there is no need for a bunch of manuals. Great program and I surely wouldn't know what to do without it.

• ICQ has got to be one of the most popular programs for chatting with friends, and exchanging files etc. As of late people are into making skins for ICQ. I have had a few requests for that too, but just don't have the time to get into making them too. If you would like to learn how to make your own skins for ICQ, go to AntsPants (look for the "ICQ+ Help" link in the left side menu), which offers a great step by step and detailed tutorial. He also offers free skins, graphics, download links for ICQ Plus, and various other links.

Free Software Sites:

New programs are always fun and especially if they are offered at a good price... free is an excellent price! *smile* The following sites offer mostly freeware with various programs and are definitely worth a visit.

• By pure accident I found out that ZDnet offers what they call The Daily Double. Programs offered here are not always free, but what I like about it is their idea of offering one Practical program and one Playful program on the same page for download. *smile*

• If truly free is more your speed, then check out the software at Jeff Guy's Programs. He offers a variety of free programs, including one that is called "Subliminal Messages". This program shows subliminal messages (of your choice) while you work on your computer! The messages are constructed in such a way to help you gain wealth, lose weight, or improve self esteem. I have not tried this program myself, but it most certainly sounds interesting. I guess some folks could get some weird and/or wild ideas for the use of this program... as you can see, something must have just flashed through my head. *smile*

• Another small site but worth a visit is Hecnor Software. He offers also a small variety of free programs, ranging from an educational Math Quiz to a Tetris game.

Music & Entertainment:

• I spend most of my time at a computer and so listening to music is sometimes a preferable choice over watching TV. LiveWire offers a free alternative to listening to over 2000 radio stations world wide while you work on your computer.

• A lot of people I are getting into those video cameras for the computer. Personally I like my privacy and am not into that sort of stuff. However some people want to see how others are living and others want to share... and with this new technology makes it possible. To watch other people from around the globe, who set up cameras on their computers, check out Camrades

• This next free program is called PMS...and no it's not what you are thinking *smile*, it stands for "Pluckit MP3 Studio". PMS comes with a built in MP3 Player and also lets you make searches of MP3 files in Newsgroups by either name of the artist or by name of the song. You can rest assured that you will only get search results on MP3 files that are actually there, unlike what you may get by just searching the net with search engines.

(Not) On the Lighter Side of Life:

Someone sent me the following story in the e-mail a while back and I liked it so much, I thought you might like to read it as well. This is not Humor, but a very sad story we can all learn from! So get the tissues out before you proceed (trust me... you will need them), because this is a real heart wrenching story. *sniff*

The Integrity of "Ugly"

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him, up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbour's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling.

It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.
Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear.

I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye toward me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful.

He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

The Finishing Touches:

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter, found lots of useful information and learned something. Remember that the next newsletter will not be published until the first week in October. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to e-mail me.

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