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This is the Discus discussion board by DiscusWare, LLC. We are currently at version 3.10.2a PRO. If you are interested in running your own copy, you can download a free copy of the non-pro version at DiscusWare, LLC.

It depends on if a topic area has been set up as "public" or "private". If it is public, then yes, anyone can post. If the topic area has been set up as private, then you must have a username in that area in order to post a message.

Simple. It requires javascript. Turn it on.

It is recommended, although not required, that users set up a username for themselves even if they are only using a public topic area. There are a large number of benefits to having a username:

1. Editing a recently (less than 1 hour old) posted message
2. Larger image uploads than with the non-username uploads
3. Email notification of new messages on a top area
4. Email notification to replies to your messages
5. User profile information including a picture of yourself if you wish.
6. Being able to display only the new messages posted since your visit (really great if you read from more than one system)
7. ...and more

So, you want to post a pretty picture to go along with your message. First off, are you using a registered username or just a public access (go here to understand the difference)? There are two different limits based on the type of access. An unregistered public access is limited to 25K and a registered username is limited to 75K (both subject to change without notice). The reason for the difference is that the board could get filled up with “unsavory pictures” if we are not careful. If someone has registered their username to a valid email address (and we will know!), then we grant larger access. In either case, the image must be in either JPG or GIF format, the image must reside on your system and you must be using Netscape 2.0 or better or Internet Explorer 4.0 or better. To submit an image, type in your message and then where you want your image, type:

                        \image{some identifier text}

Then hit “Preview/Post Message”. The next page will ask you to browse your system and let you input the filename. Then click “Upload”. If you have met all the requirements above, you will have successfully posted a picture.

If you cannot meet the above requirements, post the image to your own web site and use \link{URL, text description} to post a link to your picture.

The times given on message posts are in GMT because we are a World Village. The discussion forums are open to more than one time zone, one nation, one continent, and if we can figure out how, more than just the World or even more than just this current Space Time Continuum. Also, as the US Naval Observatory puts it: “Unfortunately, no U.S. Web page can provide official information on world time zones because nations are sovereign powers that can and do change their timekeeping systems as they see fit.” Thus the times need to be in a least common denominator. That of course is GMT (also known as UTC). It is up to the reader to adjust the time for his area on the planet. Those of you reading from another galaxy, you are on your own. For a more detailed understanding of Earth bound time zones, go to: http://www.worldtimezone.com/.

I've detected a potential problem with the software (so what else is new in the world of computers?). If you have an account and you try to edit a post but it says Bad Login when you submit your changes, go to "Edit Profile" and change your password. It can be the same as the previous, and then hit "Save". Try to edit then. If you still get a problem, edit the post from the "Edit Profile" screen. Whenever I've seen the problem, one of these two methods seems to fix the problem.

GIF - A type of graphics image files capable of up to 256 colors. GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format.

GMT - Greenwich Mean Time. Also known as UTC, or Universal Time Coordinaated, but it has nothing to do with the Universe.

JPG - Another type of graphics file. The real acronym is JPEG, but has been accepted as JPG, it stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. JP(E)G images are full-color and black-and-white graphic images. JPEG images and allow for more colors than GIF images and are usually smaller in size. Depending on how the image was stored, they can be a "lossey" format where some data detail is sacrificed for reduced size.

Username - A login identifier name. This is basically the same thing as an account name.

UTC - Stands for Universal Time Coordinated. The international time standard (formerly Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT). Zero hours UTC is midnight in Greenwich England, which is located at 0 degrees longitude. Everything east of Greenwich (up to 180 degrees) is later in time; everything west is earlier.