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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:51:09 GMT
With the release of their new album, I decided that, without a doubt, this article needed to cover Reel Big Fish. Really, it surprised me that they hadn't been covered in the past. So here it is, August: Music Artist Review: Reel Big Fish. Now, if you have never heard a Reel Big Fish song, I suggest you go do it now, you will be in for the experience of a lifetime. Here is a link for your aural enjoyment: Reel Big Fish--Sell Out. Reel Big Fish play a genre which is part of the 'Third Wave' - more commonly referred to as ska-punk (ska-core), and they are occasionally likened musically to Reggae with Reggae. Over the years, as they struggled to become the legendary ska band that they are today, they went through 12 different members, before reaching their current line up of these six: - Aaron Barrett-Guitar/Lead Vocals
- Scott Klopfenstein- Lead Harmonies, Vocal Solos, Trumpet, Guitar, Keyboard
- Derek Gibbs-Bass Player
- Dan Regan-Trombone/Vocals
- Ryland Steen-Drummer
- John Christianson-Trumpet
So, be sure to check out their new album, Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps For Free, which is on sale now - or maybe catch them in concert this summer. I know I will, at the St. Louis show on August 10th.
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:51:47 GMT
Most gamers today know that there are certain genres of games that just haven't had much luck on modern consoles. While many have enjoyed a fairly harmless and uneventful transition to home console gaming, some genres, such as the strategy game, have had a harder time adjusting and sp have developed a home on the PC platform. While there have been noteworthy titles in this genre that have made strong attempts to break into the console market, most have tried to do too much too quickly, or have been mediocre attempts from developers. Maybe the controls are too complicated on consoles or perhaps the audience is too different for success. Whatever the reason, developers and publishers alike are having a hard time expanding their games into multi-platform territory. Genre: Strategy Developer: Firaxis Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii Release Date: Q1 2008, Q4 2008 (Wii only)
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution on the other hand, intends to finally be the game that successfully brings the strategy game genre to the home console. Not intending to rest on his laurels and make a quick buck, Sid Meier has worked with developer Firaxis to ensure that the console versions are the best they can be - by removing negative aspects of the PC versions and by optimizing the gameplay for that of a home console. One may easily begin to worry that in the transition to consoles the core strategic elements, which the Civilization franchise is known for, will simply disappear. While some of the more in-depth management facets are being trimmed (such as pollution and corruption), the overall gameplay is being optimized to appeal to the hardcore and casual console crowds alike. While these optimizations will in the end trim off some of the details that die-hard Civilization fans might object to, the goal is to present the console gamer with an experience that can be highly entertaining while also delivering the full experience in a slightly shorter timeframe. The game will still retain a large amount of playable civilizations - a total of sixteen - and the developers are promising that each one will have its own distinct flavor. Another improvement the developers are making for the console outing is to take advantage of the visual presentation of console games. Each civilization will have similar units and, in most cases, buildings, but each with their own distinguishing details. For example, while Roman soldiers and Egyptian soldiers may appear visually the same at a quick glance, the two units will have different weapons and different shields and various other pieces of equipment that are relevant to their civilization. Although it faces a tremendous challenge by attempting to enter a market that has been, at best, cruel to others of its genre, Civilization Revolution is an ambitious project from developer Firaxis and Sid Meier which is aimed to break into an otherwise empty niche of console gaming. Sid Meier totes this version of the beloved franchise as "how Civilization is supposed to be," and one can only hope he is right. Watch for this game at your favorite retailer at the beginning of next year, or next fall - in the case of the Wii.
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:52:11 GMT
Yes, yes, I know. A girl touching the gaming column. Unheard of, right? Well, it's all right, I'm not touching anything with blood and guts (though I will admit God of War is pretty damn cool). Instead, I'm going to review Kingdom Hearts 2, the second installment of the sole reason my PS2 ever gets dusted off. This isn't a new game, but I'm sure there are plenty of you who know nothing about it - past its inclusion of Disney characters. What you might not know, however, is that it is not just a Disney game, but instead a teaming of Square Enix and Disney. While you take the role of Sora, a completely new character - though she bears strong resemblance to many of Square's most notable characters (and yet still sporting some seriously large clown shoes), your party also includes both of the well known Disney characters Donald and Goofy. As in the first Kingdom Hearts, you travel through different Disney-themed worlds. Most of the worlds are repeated from the first game and you'll recognize many familiar faces. This second installment is much more fast-paced than the first game - as far as actual gameplay, but still full of cut-scenes that will make you seriously enjoy the use of skip scene (a new and lovable feature in this game). The story is easy to follow, though slightly cliche, but as always, the game system and graphics are flawless. And for those of you who experienced an intense thrill when Sephiroth appeared in the optional bosses last time, prepare yourself for another fun battle: this sexy badass reappears in Kingdom Hearts 2 as well. Though I've heard he is a much easier battle this time around, it's still worth a squeal of delight when his one wing flutters in front of you. Packed with action and intense eye-candy graphics, Kingdom Hearts 2 is a quality sequel to the first Kingdom Hearts and certainly worth playing. Though it is much easier than the first and might be boring for more serious gamers, I'd still give Kingdom Hearts 2 two thumbs up... and I'm anxiously waiting the third installment.
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:53:01 GMT
First, I'll give you the disclaimer. This is an opinion piece. From my point of view, in my little corner of the world, the following artists seem to have cornered the market on influence through traditional art. I've provided here the briefest description of why each artist is a part of this list. Observing their influence in today's art, among other genres such as film and literature, is up to you. I'm merely opening your eyes. It is you who must observe the depth of their influence. Enjoy! Salvador Dali: (1904 – 1989) SpainDali was the eccentric uncle we all wish we had. Present at the birth of the Surrealist Movement, he broke away from the rest of the founders to develop his own approach to surrealism, the Paranoiac-Critical Method. To boil that method down for you, basically he was projecting his subconscious images onto a canvas or a panel with as little outside influence as possible. A rather large percentage of the digital art and photo-manipulations I see these days are surreal in nature - impossible dreams made visible right before our eyes. That’s what the Paranoiac-Critical Method is all about, dreams made real. Possibly Dali's most famous piece, "The Persistence of Memory". "Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire" Dali is well known for his double imagery and optical illusions. Notice the two women in the center of the painting, notice that they also seem to form Voltaire's face in the form of a bust statue. Brian Froud: (1947 - present) EnglandOnce upon a time, Jim Henson had one of his many masterful ideas, and the film “The Dark Crystal” was made. The two main characters of the film are beings called gelflings - elf-like creatures. The female of the species are graced with wings. Froud played a major role in designing the world in which these creatures lived, and the creatures themselves. His work on the film “Labyrinth” is no less brilliant. Froud went on to publish many unique volumes of faerie, troll, and gnome history and lore, among other elusive woodland critters’ stories. The quirky charm and sheer creativeness of those books founded a large following of faerie enthusiasts. Faerie art on merchandise is unavoidable these days. Goth faeries, beautiful and winged sirens with a touch of the mysterious underworld can be found on T-shirts, notebooks, bumper stickers, even floor mats for cars, for crying out loud. Froud was the pioneer, the one that brought the faerie’s secret world to our attention in the first place. I see his influence in all the recently popular faerie artists’ work. "Gwenhwyfar", a typically elaborate faerie portrait by Froud. Faces and creatures inhabit every corner of some of Froud's more ambitious works. Poster for a rumored sequel to "The Dark Crystal". H. R. Giger: (1940 - present) SwitzerlandThis man revolutionized conceptual film design, and he works an airbrush like no man’s business. Does the film “Alien” ring a bell? What about the bleak, desert vision of “Dune”? His talent is on many album covers including, for example, Danzig and the Dead Kennedys. Giger’s also designed musicial equipment - such as the “Gigerstein”, a guitar he created for guitarist Chris Stein, and a provocative microphone stand for Korn’s front man, Jonathan Davis. Giger’s influence is most notable in today’s science fiction films. His style and signature are stamped all over some of the sleeker, more elaborate grim-futuristic film endeavors. "Spell II" by Giger loses something in the translation from the vast airbrush work to a condensed message board pic, but the excellence is still evident. "Gigerstein." Jonathan Davis groping his much coveted Giger microphone stand. Leonardo da Vinci: (1452 - 1519) ItalyTHE Renaissance man. Da Vinci’s resume includes scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, and writer. He explored every avenue of discovery. His accurate portrayal of humans in both the physical and emotional aspects succeeded in setting an excellent standard for reverent religious works, though his own reverence for religion has been known to get called into question from time to time. All artists trained in the traditional arts are taught to understand the many layers of human anatomy. This ensures natural looking paintings - preventing awkward poses and disproportionate subjects. Da Vinci’s own studies in anatomy are masterpieces unto themselves - spelling out for generations to come the secret to convincing, and even moving, human subjects. Da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks". Da Vinci did many intensive studies on the anatomy of, not just man, but animals and embryos as well, as the above examples show. Vincent van Gogh: (1853 – 1890) NetherlandsVan Gogh is the original emo-kid, right down to the cutting…though I don’t hear much about teens cutting off their own ears these days. He struggled with madness and lack of self-confidence. Most of his more famous works were feverishly produced during a three year period in which he attacked his painting surfaces with intensity, odd color combinations and the most unique of impressionistic skill. In spite of the prolific nature of his work, van Gogh only sold one piece during his short lifetime. His most famous work, “The Starry Night”, was actually painted over by the artist himself, but was thankfully discovered and restored. Van Gogh is the quintessential erratically moody, starving artist. All clichés are modeled after him. He is the formula when telling the typical emotionally unpredictable starving artist’s tale. Van Gogh's "Skull with a Burning Cigarette". His outlook on life was bleak, and it showed in his work. One of many, many self portraits. His facial expression is invariably the same in them all. Tune in next month for Ten Most Influential Traditional Artists: Part Two.Sources for information and pictures: www.Wikipedia.comwww.vangoghgallery.comwww.HRGiger.comwww.blondie.netwww.search.comwww.allposters.comwww.imdb.comwww.artchive.comwww.geekroar.comwww.wpclipart.comwww.salvadordalimuseum.org
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:54:16 GMT
Something we often forget about when walking through a rough area and noticing the tags that adorn the walls, that graffiti can actually be art. When thought has gone into it, a simple word or name can be transformed into a beautiful design, or a dilapidated wall can become a canvas for a landscape. The amount of talent it takes to create such detailed images with just a can of spray paint and sometimes a stencil can amaze you. Though it is a shame that, in most cases, this wondrous art form is brought down by those who just want to "tag" their name onto every street lamp or brick they can find. Ignoring these "wannabes", we can but hope that at least some of the artistic works are left to stand in all their glory. Enjoy the following selection of tags and murals:
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:55:39 GMT
Name: Jarvis Age: 16 Interests: Art, music, photography, hanging out w/ friends Portfolio Site: izilla.deviantart.comWhat originally got you interested into designing? Was it a friend, or were you always fascinated by the profession?I have always enjoyed art for the most part. So that definately had an impact on my digital art. But I originally got into digital art via Proboards. A while ago, I was looking for a free message board system to make a forum for me and my friends because it wasn't all too convenient to use instant messenger for some things. So soon, I got into the whole customizing your Proboard thing and that ultimately led me into designing and digital art. When I was little, I was never interested in art as even a possible profession. I'm still not really considering it as a profession but I definately want to continue with it in the future, maybe make it more than a hobby. What gives you the inspiration to design a piece? Is it what you are feeling at the time or the mood you are in?Whenever I'm designing, I'm usually doing spur of the moment kind of things. I usually never have most things planned out, though I usually do know what kind of feeling I want the piece to have. That's mostly from what's happening around me and how I'm feeling. I also get alot of inspiration from various stock photos. Going through stock galleries give me loads of ideas and inspiration for pieces. Music gives me lots of inspiration as well. I don't put much the literal meanings of the songs I'm inspired by in my pieces but the mood and things like that are there. What advice would you offer to aspiring artists?To get better, there's only one thing you can really do, practice. Sounds old school and lame but it's really the truth. And don't go into a piece with a solid idea of what you're going to do, it's much more fun if you only have a slight idea of what you're going to do and just go with the flow. Also, on the more technical side, when you think you need to make a new layer, do make a new layer. It'll make it alot easier on yourself later. What piece are you most proud of and why?Revolution 8 because I think it's my best work so far. The use of color in this one is the best I've done for this piece and I kinda like the quirky ways I ended up using the stocks. Plus there's a bit of Illustrator stuff thrown in there as well. What do you plan to do in the future graphics wise?I dunno. For now it will remain a hobby, though I have done various free lance jobs. Designers don't make much money and I'm that kind of person who worries about those things. I'm probably gonna major in a type of business in the future and recently, I was thinking of doing a double major in Applied Art and Design so I can hopefully have a hobby become part of a job. But the major is not offered at too many big colleges, just mostly at small liberal art colleges, which I don't really want to go to. Columbia has both so I'll probably end up applying there. I'll have to do a bit more research about all this though. What is your favorite program to use? What is so um good about it?Hm, hard choice but I'll have to say Photoshop, simply because it has so many capabilities and that so much can be done with it. I love using Illustrator as well but I wouldn't have anything done without Photoshop. What did you have for dinner last night?Steak at a San Diego steakhouse. Just got back from vacation today. However, I wasn't at Comic Con. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out. Any final comments?Thanks for the chance to be interviewed.
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:56:20 GMT
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:57:43 GMT
In this article I'm going to talk about certain influential photographers of the 20th and 21th century. These photographers were respected and recognized during their times, and they definitely deserve at least just a little bit of our respect. Duane MichalsDuane Michals(b.February 18, 1932) is an American self-taught photographer. His work is noted for its innovation and artistry, and his style often features photo-sequences and incorporation of text to examine emotion and philosophy - resulting in a work that's different from the others of his time. A large amount of his work focuses on issues faced by the gay community - such as AIDS. Images from Wikipedia. Annie LeibovitzAnnie Leibovitz(b.October 2, 1949) is an American portrait photographer. Her works are marked by a style in which there is a particularly close collaboration between the photographer and the subject. She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. She became involved with the Rolling Stone magazine in 1970, and remained with the magazine until 1983. Images from Wikipedia. Henri Cartier-BressonHenri Cartier-Bresson(August 22, 1908 – August 3, 2004) was a French photographer and is considered to be the father of modern photojournalism, as well a master of candid photography. He was also an early adopter of 35mm format. He helped develop the "street photography" style that has influenced the generations of photographers that followed (Wikipedia homepage, 2007). He was originally a painter and his ambition was to unify the Cubists' approach to reality with classical artistic forms. In 1933, however, he was inspired by a photograph by Martin Munkácsi called Three Boys at Lake Tanganyika, and that made him decide to pursue photography. Images from Wikipedia. Martin MunkácsiMartin Munkácsi(May 18, 1896 - July 13, 1963) was an Hungarian photographer who worked in Germany, and the United States. He specialized in sports, and at that time sports action photography could only be done in bright light outdoors; Munkásci's innovation was to make sports photographs as meticulously composed action photographs, which required both artistic and technical skill. He also photographed the handover of Germany from President Paul von Hindenburg to Adolf Hitler. In later years, he moved to United States and signed on with Harper's Bazaar - a top fashion magazine. Instead of the usual studio shoots of his time, he often left the studios to shoot outdoors, on the beach, on farms and fields, and once at an airport. This is "Three Boys at Lake Tanganyika". Edward WestonEdward Weston (March 24, 1886 - January 1, 1958) was an American photographer, and co-founder of Group f/64. Most of his work was done using an 8 by 10 inch view camera (Wikipedia homepage, 2007). He was born in Highland Park, Illinois, and received his first camera for his 16th birthday - a Kodak Bull's Eye #2. He met with quick success, and the Chicago Art Institute exhibited his photographs a year later, in 1903. In 1932, he co-founded Group f/64 with Ansel Adams, Willard Van Dyke and others. The term f/64 referred to the smallest aperture setting on a large format camera, which secured maximum depth of field, making a photograph appear evenly sharp from foreground to background. This corresponded to the philosophy of straight photography that the group espoused in response to the pictorialist methods that were still in fashion at the time (Wikipedia homepage, 2007). Images from Wikipedia.
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:58:09 GMT
So, it's Photography Tips of the Month again. Before I begin the article, I must say this (even though I've said it a whole lot of times vefore)- tips may help you, but the best help you can get is from yourself! Taking photos - and learning from mistakes - beats any tip others may be able to give you. That said...let's start! This month, I will be touching more on the technical side of photography. All the world's best scenery won't help if you don't understand the inner workings of your camera! The areas I'm going to touch on in this article are; the Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure and ISO Setting. - Aperture
The aperture is simply an adjustable hole in the lens which allows light onto the sensor. Adjusting the hole (making it smaller or larger) allows more, or less, light in. Other than this it is also important to note that the bigger the aperture is, the smaller the depth of focus would be.
So where do I check the aperture, you ask? Look at your camera, and look at a number like this: f/2.8 . This is the aperture. Note that the smaller the f-number is, the bigger the aperture is. Hence the f-number f/2.8 has a bigger aperture than the f-number f/5.
To compare the difference of apertures, take a look at this two photos:
This is a photo taken at f/5. This is a photo taken at f/32. Images from Wikipedia. From the images above you can see that at f/5, only the flower is in focus. While in f/32 both the flower and the background are in focus.
- Shutter Speed
The shutter speed is how long the shutter remains open - allowing light to enter. A slower shutter speed would allow more time for light to enter - resulting in a brighter (or more exposed - explained later) photograph. A faster shutter speed allows less time for light to enter, resulting in a darker (or less exposed - also explained later) photograph.
Hence controlling both the shutter speed and the aperture allows you to control the exposure.
- Exposure
Exposure simply refers to total amount of light you allow through your camera and into the image sensor to record your photograph. An overexposed photograph would result in "blown highlights". That is, the bright portions of the photograph would appear too bright. An underexposed photograph would result in a dark-looking one.
Hence, getting the proper exposure would ensure that your photograph looks just the way it is. Of course, there are photographers who purposely overexpose, or underexpose, their photographs - for effect.
And lastly...
- ISO Setting
Simply put, the ISO Speed is how sensitive the sensor is to light. A high ISO setting would allow you to use a faster shutter speed, but result in more noise in the photograph. A low ISO setting would result in a clearer and sharper photograph, but limits you to a slower shutter speed.
Hence, striking a balance between the ISO Speed, Aperture and Shutter Speed is an art by itself. The best way for you to get familiar with them is, of course, to start taking photos and experimenting! So what are you waiting for? Till next month!
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 5:59:54 GMT
Name: John Roddy, a.k.a. Scorpian ($©Ø®Þ!@Ω™) Age: 17.5 Interests: Exploring the technological world Website: Roddy Innovations You probably are expecting this, but what originally got you into coding?Well gray, I'd have to say that it was that time in my computer applications class when I was required to learn HTML. Since then, I wanted to expand my knowledge of the Internet world. At around that time, I was slowly learning the process of building a computer. I then used that computer (which is the one I'm using now) to complete my knowledge of HTML, and explore new languages. At first, did you encounter any obstacles that made it hard for you to learn various languages? How did you push yourself through those?Mainly the fact that I'm a procrastinator. More details on that tomorrow. How many languages are you fluent in?If you're referring to coding languages, there are quite a few. I am completely knowledgeable in HTML & CSS. I consider myself to have mastered (not completely, but for the most part) JavaScript & ActionScript. Then, of course, I'm in the process of learning PHP & MySQL, which I'm slowly mastering. I’m soo jealous. I know many people like myself wish they knew how to code like you. What advice would you give to someone interested in learning this profession?Google is your friend. The Internet is your homie. Search for good tutorials, and read them. Make simple websites/scripts by yourself, and then improve them. Ask for opinions on how you can make them better from people you know to be better. That's how I got where I am now. Trial & Error is the only way to learn scripting/coding languages. Just keep trying until you can master it. Also, look at other people's coding frequently. See if you can understand how it does what it's made to do. What script are you most proud of? Why?I'd have to say the coding done on my website. It's the most advanced XHTML layout and best PHP coding that I've done. It works almost flawlessly with my MySQL databases, and is fully dynamic. That is quite a good website you have made. The look is very professional. Something unique about you is you that are also a graphics designer. Some people might say 'well most coders can make a sig'. But, Scorpian is a very accomplished. Many of his skins are currently being used on hundreds of forums - as well as many of his codes. How do you balance these two hobbies?Well, first off, I cannot make sigs. That's the one thing that all designers can make, and I just can't do it. >.< I guess that makes me unique. I mainly work with interfaces and designs that have a purpose other than amusement. Why, just now, I finished a windows media player skin. Anyways, to answer your question, I just never do both of them together. One day, I will be focussed on designing. The next, I may still be on design, or maybe focussed on coding. It's a strange process that I can't predict. I'm either set to do one, or the other. If I try and do both without a good night's sleep in-between, one or both of them will be... let's just say FUBAR. (F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition) What is your favorite activity to do in Texas?Well, for all you hick wanna-be's out there, I'd like to make this point very clear: cowboys & Texas do not mix like you think they do! I see maybe one ranch/rancher every 3 years, max. So for those of you who thought I was a cowboy or something just because I live in Texas, go have your lobotomy completed, please. Anyways, as I'm sure you all know, I am a full-time licensed nerd. My favorite activities involve anything tech-related. I like to look into technology related items. For example, I am a gamer. I like to look into the newest games, play 'em, and review 'em. I also like to look into improving my system. It's a little out of date now, but only because I'm waiting until September to upgrade it. After all, that's when AMD releases their quad-cores. Are there any coders you look up to, or, who was your inspiration when you first became a coder?I mainly work by "This guy is better than me. I shall fix that.". I don't look up to anybody, to speak the truth. I do ask for help, though. Chris, for example, has always been willing to help me out. I'm not afraid to admit that he's better than me. He's not a dick, which is all that counts. He actually helps me when I'm stuck rather than saying I suck... well, ok, he does that too, but not in a mean way. Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. It was a very interesting interview. Any final comments?
Don't drink and drive, kids. It's an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing. You might spill your beer! Then you'd ruin your good clothes, not to mention your seats. Explain that to the insurance company! Alright. Later! =)
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Post by The Herald on Aug 2, 2007 6:00:36 GMT
I believe that a stat counter is a necessity for all Webmaster. They serve very important purposes - especially when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Some of you may be familiar with a 'hit counter'. It’s the little number roll usually at the bottom of a forum that tracks every unique and/or page hit. A stat counter is the same, just a bit more advanced. The website I recommend for a good stat counter is: StatCounter.com. Make sense? I can name thousands of forums that use this counter. What’s so “advanced” about this program is that it provides several important details which will help you to improve your forum’s traffic and hit rate. For instance, if someone is on Google searching for “how to make a sig” and they click a link that leads them to your forum, then Stat Counter will pick that up and store it in a log. You can then use this information to create a meta-tag and improve your page rank (PR). Other numbers the counter tracks are; returning visitors, unique hits, and page loads. The component that makes Stat Counter my favorite, is it is free! No money at all. You don’t even need to put an affiliate banner to their site on your forum if you don’t want to. Plus, you can make the hit counter invisible so it doesn’t ruin your forum design. Below is an example of what the page looks like (I recently added it, so its not complete). You can have multiple forums on there too. It is very well organized. So, anyone wishing to improve their site hit count or their forum in general should definitely get a Stat Counter. For more info visit www.statcounter.com/help. =)
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