About the pages...

The primary purpose of my web site is to provide a collection of my favorite links for my own convenience. It's built for speed - no Flash, no scripts, no fricking Java, no advertising banners, no shopping carts, no animations, no sounds nor music files playing in the background. It's my default home page on my PCs, and easily accessible from other PCs' web connections, like those at work.

It's for me. Me, me, me...

The secondary purpose is for communication with friends and family.

My new pages, while mimicking some of the look and feel of my previous frames-based pages, use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and better table layout instead of frames, and keep graphics to a minimum for faster downloads.

• I prefer my navigation menu on the right side instead of the left:
  
  
  • I'm right-handed;
  • the mouse is on my right;
  • and the browser's vertical scrollbar is on the right.
  
  I think it's a natural for navigation to be on the right.
• 
  
  
• My name in big bold letters is a vanity thing, but instead of making (and downloading) a huge graphic that in the end simply says my name, I'm quite satisfied using text - it downloads quickly but still looks decent.

I liked the way my old pages looked when I first did them a few years ago, but today they look so 1996... I think my current pages are much sharper!

A good CSS-compatible browser should show off a neat trick I use on my pages: rolling the mouse pointer over links highlights it - like a Java rollover - and yet I do NOT use Java rollover tricks to do it! It's a CSS trick - specify A:HOVER background-color to whatever contrasty color you like in the .css file. It's about 3-5 lines total in the .css file, far easier than using Java, IMHO. MSIE 4.0 and later, Opera and Netscape 6 show this.

I like hand-crafting my HTML, so I use HomeSite.

I've tested my pages in the following browsers:

1. Microsoft Internet Explorer v. 5.0, 6.0
   My favorite browser, the default browser on my laptop. The first versions of my pages were tested against IE 5.0.
   
   
2. Netscape Communicator v. 4.61
   Netscape is the standard browser at work, and I do access my pages at work, so I needed to test against Netscape. Had to tweak some things so my pages would display OK.
   
   
3. Opera v. 3.62 beta
   I wondered how Opera would display my pages - the initial pages had problems. Between tweaking for Opera and tweaking for Netscape, I finally got my pages to display well on all three of the above browsers.
   
   
4. NCSA Mosaic v. 3.0
   The first popular browser, but no longer supported. It doesn't support CSS, so I downloaded it to see how it would display my CSS pages - I assume other older browsers would display similarly. I managed to get my right-hand menu bar to display by putting each item in a Table Data cell in each Table Row; all other browsers are OK with putting content in a Table Row. And Mosaic doesn't understand percentage widths! What was once THE web browser, Mosaic looks putrid by today's standards.
   
   
5. AMSD Ariadna v. 1.3
   A freeware browser from Russia - last updated in July 1998, it doesn't support CSS. However, it displays my pages quite nicely - certainly better than Mosaic. (AMSD decided to stop further work on their browser because of the fierce browser competition between Microsoft and Netscape. They're now giving their version 1.3 for free and concentrating on supporting MS Internet Explorer.)
   
   
6. Opera 4 Beta 3
   Link colors obey local settings instead of style sheet settings; otherwise OK.
   
   
7. Netscape 6 Preview Release 1
   This beta browser has better compliance with Cascading Style Sheet standards than Netscape 4.72. One or two display quirks, hopefully will be resolved when finally released.
   
   
8. Opera 5.01, 6, 7
   OK.
   
   
9. Mozilla 1.1 - 1.5
   OK.
   
   
10. Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Preview Release
    OK.
    
    

Bersalona.com's error pages

• 400 - Bad Request
• 401 - Authorization Required
• 403 - Forbidden
• 404 - Wrong Page
• 500 - Internal Server Error

Archived Bulletins

• 2010.07.10 - Changed symbol for CHTRX
• 2010.07.01 - Added links for TDBank
• 2010.06.03 - After 12 years of neglect, finally updated my online resume! Created my "contact" page in the Gazetteer style
• 2009.12.06 - Finished converting my Digressions articles to the Gazetteer format
• 2009.12.03 - Converted Chess20030419.html to Gazetteer
• 2009.11.25 - Converted my "newspaper" page to Gazetteer
• 2009.11.24 - Home and Links tabs now based on Haran's Gazetteer template

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• 2005.12.31 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.12.23 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.10.29 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.09.05 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.05.21 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.02.23 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.02.21 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.02.20 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.02.19 - New Digressions... article. Have added separate links to the Free Cokie! storyline on the home page.
• 2005.02.18 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.02.12 - New Digressions... article
• 2005.01.04 - Removed Plantagenet from Quick links.

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• 2004.12.21 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.11.30 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.11.23 - Prototype web pages for SawyersCreek.org
• 2004.11.22 - On the Email page, removed the comment that I can read my home Email at work. The firewall at work will not let me access an https page with a disallowed port.
• 2004.11.20 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.11.18 - Switching web host from ForceHost to eMax Hosting... done.
• 2004.11.08 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.11.04 - Added links to Bersalona.com error pages in Notes
• 2004.10.31 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.10.10 - Updated the Digressions... article on Mom's PC.
• 2004.10.09 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.09.22 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.09.12 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.06.18 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.03.28 - Added Pearls Before Swine to Quick Links
• 2004.03.22 - Tweaked Digressions... articles to XHTML 1.0 Transitional compliance
• 2004.03.21
  • Tweaks to my web pages and the prototype DelVal USABDA pages for better XHTML Transitional compliance.
  • Menu selections now highlight the entire cell.
• 2004.03.17 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.03.16 - Deleted links to web pages created by MS Excel of Excel charts; charts posted in a Digressions... article.
• 2004.03.13 - Experimental posting of MS Excel charts - graphics with VML (requires MSIE 5.0 or later)
• 2004.02.26 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.02.22 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.02.19 - Deleted FGRIX from list of retirement mutual funds
• 2004.02.15 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.02.14 - Added list of retirement mutual funds, AVLFX, FFFEX, FGRIX and VWNDX, to Quick Links
• 2004.02.10 - Added LLL (L-3 Communications) to list of non-retirement investments
• 2004.02.07 - New Digressions... article
• 2004.01.04 - New Digressions... article

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• 2003.12.29 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.27 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.18 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.14 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.13 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.07 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.06 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.12.05 - Revamped My Web graphics page, to place the graphics within my current web page template.
• 2003.11.29 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.11.27 - New Digressions... article
• 2003.11.25 - Created my own weblog pages, titled Digressions..., plus HTML and CSS templates for support.
• 2003.11.16 - Edited Friends and Family section in Links page
  • Removed inactive links for: Ren and Arlene DeMarco; Victor Cornejo; Nancy Broz
  • Added Empowering Enterprises at least temporarily
• 2003.05.08 - Removed Quicken.com from Quick Links
• 2003.04.27 - Added page for chess game of 2003.04.19

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• 2002.12.28 - Added new first-time visitors to Visitors' Highlights; all on Christmas Eve
• 2002.10.03 - Added Uncle Ric, Aunt Ofelia, Rose to Visitors' Highlights
• 2002.08.16 - South Guest now has 2P/2B capability
• 2002.07.01 - Modified WWE listing to reflect ticker symbol change.
• 2002.04.19
  • Added WAMCX to list of non-retirement investments
  • Added Fleet HomeLink and Principal Residential Mortgage to Quick Links
• 2002.02.25 - Updated My new house page - 30-day items resolved; decorating ideas
• 2002.02.04 - Created virtual tour page of kitchen
• 2002.02.03 - Created virtual interior tour page of foyer and half walls, though with temporary images (shot on old roll of Kodak Gold 100).
• 2002.01.25 - Deleted Stroud's CWSApps List and PalmPower Magazine from Quick Links.
• 2002.01.20 - Corrected house construction pages
• 2002.01.19
  • Created page for virtual exterior tour of my house
  • Added commentary to My new house page
  • Modified Email page

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• 2001.12.18 - Added commentary to My new house page.
• 2001.12.09 - Restored TBGVX to current investment list. Removed Motley Fool from Quick Links.
• 2001.11.06 - Updated My new house pages, added representative pictures of all slides to date.
• 2001.11.05 - Updated My new house page and expanded to separate pages.
• 2001.11.03 - Updated My new house page. Although I settled on 2001.09.28, I haven't posted all the pictures yet. When time permits I'll revamp the section to separate Phase 1 (construction) and Phase 2 (making the house a home) plus summary pages.
• 2001.06.17 - Updated My new house page with pictures of ducts and shingles, plus update on siding
• 2001.06.11 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.06.10 - Updated My new house page with many pictures and comments
• 2001.06.03 - Updated My new house page with pictures of frame with OSB sheathing
• 2001.06.01 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.31 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.30 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.27 - Updated My new house page with first pictures of the framing
• 2001.05.25 - Updated My new house page with pictures of the foundation and garage floors
• 2001.05.20 - Updated My new house page, with lots of new pictures
• 2001.05.16 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.15 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.13 - Updated My new house page
• 2001.05.11
  • Removed BVALX and WAAEX non-retirement mutual funds.
  • Added My new house

• ---

• 2000.12.15 - Replaced DD with GE
• 2000.11.23 - Happy Thanksgiving! Added and modified a few links.
• 2000.10.25 - Modified WWF  listing since WWF moved from NASDAQ to NYSE.
• 2000.10.21 - Removed MSFT  from list of stocks.
• 2000.10.10
  • Added SaturnFans.com  to Quick Links
  • Added additional candidate links, mostly auto and government.
  • Added a paragraph in Notes describing the link rollover technique I use in my pages.
  • Changed color scheme from "MarkBersalona2000" to "MarkBersalonaDesert".
• 2000.08.30 - Removed  ARTSX  from list of non-retirement mutual funds.
• 2000.07.08 - Added additional links to Financial section of Links page.
• 2000.07.03 - Added DD  to stocks
• 2000.07.01 - Added Motley Fool  and Quicken.com  to Quick Links and grouped the financial links together.
• 2000.06.22 - Added additional links to Financial section of Links page.
• 2000.06.17 - Added links for my stocks in Quick Links
• 2000.06.11
  • Added Financial section in Links page
  • Removed  TBGVX  from list of non-retirement mutual funds.
  • Added Datek Online  to Quick Links
• 2000.04.29 - Added links for my mutual funds in Quick Links.
• 2000.04.21
  • Added, updated and rearranged some links
  • Added sections for Local and Squirrels in Links page
  • Created a new "newspaper"  page from scratch
• 2000.02.26 - Replaced My Stuff section in Links page with Friends and Family section.
• 2000.02.26 - After further HTML tweaking, right-hand menu bar now displays similarly in  MSIE 5.0,  Netscape 4.61 and  Opera 3.62 beta, and the menu bar even displays in  Mosaic 3.0. Removed the redundant horizontal bottom menu bar.
• 2000.02.19 - My new pages no longer use frames but use Cascading Style Sheets