"Mozilla - Firefox Versus Internet Explorer" How Does Your Website Fare?

Three years ago when I decided to create a website I decided to use Microsoft "Publisher", which is an old "dinosaur" to create my website. I had been using "Publisher" for years and thought - "why not?" It used Internet Explorer as its browser and I would be using FTP to update my website so it was a good fit.



Back then "Publisher" had a LOT of coding issues and was not the optimum for coding finesse. However, I was familiar with the program and could easily update and maintain my website myself which was appealing to me. After I created my Linda Walsh Originals website I soon learned that it wasn't being read properly by some of the other browsers such as Mozilla - Firefox.

At the time I only used Internet Explorer and AOL, which used Internet Explorer as their browser. My website was FINE there so I asked some of my friends who had a problem with their browsers what was showing when they went to my website. The answer was as varied as the various browsers.

So, I decided to use my GoDaddy.com website hosting statistics to see how much of my website traffic was for browsers other than Internet Explorer. At that time 98% of my traffic was by Internet Explorer with close to 1% for Mozilla - Firefox. The other 1% was made up of several smaller browsers. I decided that less than 1% was not something I had to immediately address.

When I decided to update my website I was hoping that Publisher 2007 would contain more standardized coding and, hopefully, solve the browser distortion problem. To my delight it did and solved most of the Mozila - Firefox distortion problems.

So, I decided to check my browser statistics to see if more of my traffic was coming from Mozilla - Firefox these days and whether it would be worthwhile to spend the time to fix both my Linda Walsh Originals and Linda Walsh Originals Dolls websites which had been created in Publisher.

To my surprise 86% of my traffic was coming from Internet Explorer now and 12% was now coming from Mozilla - Firefox. The remaining 2% was coming from several much smaller browsers. In evaluating the statistics I thought that 12% now was way too much of a customer base to be missing so I decided to spend the time to fix both of my websites and I'm happy to report that I no longer have a browser distortion problem with Mozilla - Firefox in either website. In fact, none of my website and blogs have a browser distortion problem.

I recently switched to Mozilla - Firefox myself because I was having a horrendous time with Internet Explorer 7.0. It was SLOW as molasses, was freezing during printing from my blogs, and causing a multitude of other issues. After using Internet Explorer exclusively for over 30 years I'd had enough and made the switch. I'm happy to report that Mozilla - Firefox does have a few problems, but I haven't been happier. It works like a charm and ALL my websites and blogs are FINE and load exactly as I want them to.

So, why am I telling you this? Well, if you are a small business website owner or blogger you might want to check your website and blog to see if Mozilla - Firefox is displaying properly. If my percent of website traffic from Mozilla - Firefox is par for the course then 12% of a customer base is WAY TOO MUCH to be losing.

Plus, if you are a blogger and have deviated from some of the standard blog providers templates you might want to consider checking your blog. In checking the blogs of several of my blogging friends who have gone to 3-column templates I have noticed that they aren't displaying properly.

For now I'm happy with Mozilla - Firefox. Happy browsing.

A Lousy Head Cold Can't Stifle Creativity!

I have been fighting a lousy head cold for about a week and a half now. I really shouldn't complain as I rarely get sick - maybe once every five years or so but, when I do I inevitably get a cough that just won't quit.

Unfortunately, I gave my head cold to my wonderful husband. He doesn't get a cough. Instead he always gets a sinus infection - which is worse and, for which, he needs to visit the doctor. That's what he'll be doing tomorrow.

So, I've been off the computer for about a week and a half just sitting in a chair or laying on the sofa - coughing my fool head off. However, and I know other crafters will know what I mean when I say this - that didn't stop or stifle my creativity. Oh, no! Just the opposite. Creativity doesn't sit still! Cough! Cough!

Not only do I need to cough, but I need to be making something while I am. I can't just resign myself to sitting and relaxing. Oh, NO! I have to be productive while I'm sick. Cough! Cough! Achoo!

I figured that since I wasn't going anywhere I'd kill two birds with one stone and get a few of my UFO's or craft kits that have been on the back burner for a few years done.

So, I dragged out 4 punch needle kits that I bought during a trip to Sturbridge with my Mom several years ago and decided that now was as good a time as any to teach myself how to punch needle.

Well, 4 kits later I have to tell you that I loved it. The main reason was that I loved being able to finish a kit in one day. Unlike other needlepoint kits that can take weeks or months to finish, the punch needle is so small it lends itself to being completed in a day or less. It was wonderful, and very relaxing - every other cough or so.

And, I also dragged out some needle felting kits that I also had bought on that same shopping trip. I do have to admit that was a great shopping day. Sometimes you find what you want and sometime you don't. I certainly did that day.

In any event, I had 6 needle felting kits I had bought so I decided to do an easy snowman and was thrilled with the way it turned out. The remaining 5 kits should be easy enough to put together and will make GREAT Christmas gifts.

I'll have to frame my punch needle masterpieces and when I do I'll post a picture of them. They, too will make GREAT Christmas gifts.

I'll take pictures of the needle felting when I'm done as well so you can see what I managed to accomplish while coughing my fool head off.

There must be something wrong with me. I can't just sit and relax and get over a cold. Oh, No! I have to be creative while coughing. There's got to be a name for that!

There is - I'm a CRAFTER!

Cough! Cough! Achoo! Cough! Cough!

Knit one purl two! Cough! Cough!