Traduction française disponible ici (ou en cliquant sur le drapeau français en haut à gauche).
First of all, I apologize for the numerous mistakes left in this translation... Please feel free to send corrections here
Before you start, please don't trust me too much! simon's-family.net isn't a real internet site.
This page's purpose is only intended so that everybody understands the meaning of this family site. It will disappear once everybody understands and/or agrees to the site content and layout.
What is this site used for ?
This site is a family site only. But associated families are accepted as well. Specific sites parts could be created for them. Ask for it here
Purposes
Its intent is first to shorten distance between parents, children and grandchildren or more accurately children, parents and grandparents ! Remembering things is becoming more and more difficult for elders. Tracking family expansion is hard ! Is anybody able to mention firstname of all of his -or her- grandnephews?
Yesterday, we all met face to face. Today, we meet virtually...
Means of communications have improved so much over these past years, so why not use them ? This way, we will not only remember the firstnames, but we'll keep track of pictures of all of our grandnephews ! As long as I receive the correct information, I personally engage myself to keep the site up-to-date, as soon as I receive updated files. Basically, this means receiving digital pictures of a more or less good quality. At last: everybody will be kept informed of any changes occuring around the world quickly in one spot!
How much does it cost ?
Almost nothing... I purchased for one year the domain name "famille-simon.net" and I hosted the site on a Linux server somewhere in the world... In other terms, it means we own our name (!) on the internet world. It also means each of us could get an email address as per "firstname"@famille-simon.net which is much more fun than "anyname"@commercial.com! If you are interested, ask for it here
Security
I have set the level of security so that it's difficult, or not possible, for anyone to import, or even print a large picture from the site (the dias are of no concerns here)! If you succeed, you aren't a beginner... And I want to know about it! If you are concerned about these photos being published on the Internet, we could set a password to access the site. In any cases, let me know here
How it works ?
First of all, the pictures: you send me digital pictures (usual format) from everyone of you. I'll take care of "hover dias" and publish them together with the large pictures. Second, new and updated pictures should be sent to me in order to keep the site alive as much as possible. In my opinion, keeping the same pictures from several years ago even if they are good, are not necessarily of any interests. Also, comments under the pictures are every pictures providers responsability. The ones currently associated to the actual pictures are shown as examples only and should be considered as is.
I don't feel it's a good idea either to have more than twelve pictures per person - furthermore if these pictures do not concern grandchildren... Remember this: the main purpose is to keep track of the grandchildren, not the grandparents or parents! Who wants to remember anyone's weight since it fluctuates so much in time ? One photo per couple should do the job! If you disagree, let me know and I will share this with ... myself, and pronounce an irrevocable decision (are we in democracy? Yes, so I decide myself! - thanks to Marie's "Goûters Philo"!).
Internet limitations
Speed connection is the key factor : image quality means very large files which, in turn, implies an unacceptable loading time. For these same reasons, it does not seem reasonable to have more than twelve different pictures for each grandchild. Evaluate the loading time and the image quality on the georges & regine "branch". To get answers to your questions, it's here
Technically speaking : a bit of computing
The webmaster (can't help it: it's ... myself and I like it!) is using this site to test some developement tricks to improve his knowledge about XHTML & CSS ! If you are interested as am I (I made some internet development for customers paying me as soon as they are satisfy with my job. Feel free to advertise for me. It's free of charge !) and wants to know a bit more just send a message here
The site validation allows anyone to check web compliant standards. It's of no help for most of you, particularly if you are a beginner.
Avoid copy ! Use free softwares.
You could allow other individuals and/or companies grow richer than you, but you are not forced to. For information, the site is not hosted on a Microsoft server ! As well, internet explorer isn't the only browser on the planet ! Get a free browser, powerful, reliable and standards compliant. You could download the english version. Just click the GET FIREFOX shortcut on the bottom left hand corner. Be aware : trying it, it's keeping it !
If using Internet Explorer, a small menu leaves you choosing the page styles (not available on september 18th, 2005, yet) and other options. Your choice will be remembered the next time you'll enter the site (your browser configuration should accept cookies, otherwise... More info here ). While using Firefox, the right settings are automatically included (so the extra menu isn't needed anymore) but are available in the menu View/Page style.
As per today, flickerings are visible with Internet Explorer while hovering diapos. Many thanks to Microsoft to respect the web standards... Until now, no way found to cure this behaviour. If it bothers you, switch to Firefox !
Foreigners: You ! We don't forget...
Hope you'll appreciate the effort done to translate, to the best of my knowledge, the whole site ! If you have reached this, you certainly found by yourself the way to have it in this language... I don't plan on learning new languages in the near future, so please, restrict your family extension's loves to french or english speaking persons! I am getting too old to learn another new language... I might do an exception for swedish, if needs arise: it brings back good memories!
And then
Hovering and clicking grandfather-firstnames (guess whom is not yet) you'll discover most of our family ! Enjoy. As of september 18th, 2005, I am still missing a lot of pictures. So, Tao, the youngest in the family as per today (it's changing so fast) is taking the place of the missing ones. Not true anymore ! All missing picture are now replaced by a sample one.
