Matthew J Richards - Freelance Web Developer North Wales

Whilst working on my latest project, a web portal for an e-learning environment, I was presented with the issue of screen flicker in IE6 for elements using CSS to specify a background image.

Whilst this may be annoying, irritating or just plain ugly to some. For others, particularily those with epilepsy, it could be potentially life threatening.

Being a strong believer in the web being for everyone I set out to fix this issue. A quick google brought up some promising results. Dean Edwards' blog provided me with all the information I required whilst providing some humour based light entertainment at the same time.

this is a browser problem not a server problem. Unfortunately the only way to fix it is by configuring your server.

Luckily I'm a Linux kind-a-guy so setting up Apache took no more than a couple of minutes, a quick reboot of the server and everything was sorted.

Dean also mentions in his blog that there's now a Javascript alternative. However, I tried this solution with out success.

So in summary, for those Apache users like me who want to prevent flickering in IE6 but can't be arsed to read the whole of this blog article.....

Either add to or uncomment the following line to your httpd.conf

LoadModule expires_module modules/mod_expires.so

Then, in either your httpd.conf or a relevant .htaccess file add the following:

1. #this stops screen flicker in IE
2. BrowserMatch "MSIE" brokenvary=1
3. BrowserMatch "Mozilla/4.[0-9]{2}" brokenvary=1
4. BrowserMatch "Opera" !brokenvary
5. SetEnvIf brokenvary 1 force-no-vary
6.  
7. ExpiresActive On
8. ExpiresDefault A18000
9. ExpiresByType image/gif A2592000
10. ExpiresByType image/jpeg A2592000
11. ExpiresByType image/png A2592000

Restart Apache. Voila.

If you're stuck with IIS, check this out

For those in the dark, here is a simple procedure for center aligning a UL within a floating DIV.

Update:

My last example was crap. Here's a much leaner approach courtesy of Trovster via a comment to this article (which I accidentally deleted whilst de-spamming typo)

Using a web site 'footer' as an example application here's the code:

HTML:

1. <div id='footer'>
2.   <ul>
3.     <li>Item 1</li>
4.     <li>Item 2</li>
5.     <li>Item 3</li>
6.    </ul>
7. </div>

CSS:

1. #footer { text-align: center; }
2. #footer ul { display: inline; }

It's so simple it doesn't really need explaining but for the benefit of those with little or no experience in CSS here goes...

1. Wrap your list UL, OL or DL will do (I've not actually tested DL) with a DIV
2. Give your DIV a CSS text-align: property of center
3. Give your list a CSS display: property of inline

Simple!

Don't you just hate bank charges?

If you're one of the unlucky ones, who like me regularily get fleeced by the bank you might be interested in this "technique".

According this article on the BBC Money web site you may be able to claim up to 6 years worth of bank charges by filling in the blanks of the following template and sending it off to your bank by recorded mail:

[Your Address]

[Date]

[Your Bank Branch's Address]

Dear Sir/Madam

Regarding: [Your Account Number. Your Sort Code.]

Due to recent media coverage on bank charges I now believe that you, [your bank's name] have been charging me charges that are contrary to the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. Schedule 2 (e) of the said regulations gives a non-complete list of terms, which may be regarded as unfair, such as a term that requires me as a consumer who fails in his obligation, to pay a disproportionately high sum in compensation.

I believe that your charges are disproportionately high and therefore they are contrary to the Unfair Terms in Consumer Regulations 1999. In addition I believe that your charges are a Penalty. Penalty charges are irrecoverable at common law. The precedent for this was Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor co Ltd [1915] AC 79 along with Murray v. Leisure play [2005] EWCA Civ 963. It was held that a contractual party can only recover damages for an actual loss or liquidated losses. It is clear that your charges do not reflect any actual and or real loss.

Furthermore if you fail to comply with this letter, I request without further notice a breakdown and proof of all costs involved, in regards to your actual or liquidated losses involved in any breach of contract to which these charges relate with yourselves, and that these charges reflect your true costs in relation to the said charges, and are proportionate to the charges levied on my account as defined in Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. Schedule 2 (e). Therefore I require you to refund me a total of £[XXX.XX], representing the total, unlawful amount charged during the last 6 years. I hereby give you 14 days to refund the charges back on to my account. For the avoidance of doubt, if this is not done within 14 days, I will commence my claim in the courts without further warning. This action will inevitably involve you in additional costs. I also hereby request a detailed report of which clause in your terms and conditions each charge has been applied against.

Yours sincerely,

[Sign here]

[Print your name here]

So How does it Work?

Basically, the way it works is by putting the bank into an uncomfortable position. Banks mostly wish to avoid confrontation, and would much happier settle a (relativley) small fee out of court as to avoid the risk of losing, case law coming into play and having to shell out a forkload.

If you like me are an HSBC customer, all of your statements for the last few years atleast are available through internet banking, how convienient.

I've not yet tried this but it is on my to-do list.

I'll keep you posted.