Bigger, Clearer Pictures, Yayyy!

My journal pictures have been crappy since 2006.  They look great when I take them in-game.  They look great when I post them on different forums, but when I post them here...they turn out horrible.  I hated the jagged edges and the compressed, fuzzy look...you guys know what I'm talking about!  I've asked around but never really got a definitive answer as to what to do.  Maybe I'm the only one that didn't know this, I don't know...LOL!

I think I was posting my pics the wrong way to begin with.  I've been using the Edit HTML tab, and using an IMG code that included a code for whatever height/width numbers I wanted to use.

I was inspired by Sullivan, who I think was experiencing a similar issue in the past with the look of her pics, and now they look fantastic!  I got up this morning, determined to make a change!  ....And today, I found the answer!  And I can't tell you how HAPPY I am!

So for those of you out there, who want bigger, clearer pics...(even if you don't want them as big as mine are...try this and play around with the sizes.)

Here's what I did, and I use Photobucket (free). I also use the updated Editor in Blogger (You can change this under "Settings"):

1.  I changed my Blogger template from "Denim" to "Stretch Denim".  (Everyone I asked before told me to use to Denim, and when I changed to Denim, I still could never get my pics clearer...they must've forgotten to say Stretch.  I tried it today on a whim.)

2.  Go to your Photobucket or whatever picture host you use, and copy the "Direct Link" of your picture.

3.  Under the Compose tab when making a new post, you'll see a picture icon that says, "Insert Image". Click it and choose "Web Address (URL)"

4.  Paste the Direct Link into the Web Address (URL).  You'll see your picture show up in the box, and hit OK.

5.  Now choose "Original Size" and "Center" should already be chosen.  (The Original size for my pics is the standard 600 x 450.)

That's it!

If you have a post that's already been published, and you want to change your pics...like I've been doing all day.  Then:

1.  Edit your post.

2.   Click the Compose tab and click on your photo, and 'remove'.

3.  Find your photo in Photobucket, copy the Direct Link.

4.  Paste it in the Web Address (URL) box, the photo pops up...hit OK.

5.  And again, choose "Original Size" or whatever size you want to use.

You can play around with the sizes.  There's small, medium, large, and extra large sizes too. 

I hope this helps somebody that had the same questions I had.

--green

Tax Collection - April 2008

Trenton VanHouten, Tax Accessor, is 25.  (If you'd like to read how taxes are collected in The Hills, please read Nick Michels' Business Advisor Notes for Round 2006 - September 2007.)

***
It's that time of simyear when all Sims must pay 'The Man'.  The tax man, that is...and Trenton knew it was going to be a long night.  Most Sims wouldn't be able to get by his office until the evening time; after work.  He made sure he had plenty of rest and spent some play time with his daughter, True.  He left her in the care of his brothers while he worked in the small office that was built next to the main house.

He was not looking forward to the endless complaints and unnecessary whining Sims would make about having to fork over their hard-earned cash.  He knew that most of these families would have to take out loans to pay him today.  He felt bad for them, but on the otherhand, Trenton knew that he and his brothers would shell out more in taxes than anyone else in Simmington Hills.  So he really didn't want to hear the whining and complaining.  Everybody has to pay up.  Only the Mayor and his family are excluded from paying property taxes.

CSMasters - April 2008

Cameron Masters is 52, Stacy Masters is 46, Tyisha is 14, and Tyrone is 6.  Prince Cunningham, is their cat.

It was hard for Stacy to get back on track after losing her baby. 

Of course, it would be hard for anyone to deal with; especially having only two months left before the baby would've been born.

DNA Drama - March 2008

Dr. Trinity Dalton is 52, Lt. Tomika Cunningham is 52, Mayor Sabien Cunningham, Sr. is 52, Ray Wilsonoff is 33, Lydia Wilsonoff is 33 and Rashid Cunningham is 18.

"Hi, Trin'.  How are you?  Rough morning, wasn't it?!"  Tomika hugged her old friend tightly; glad that the robbery at the Dalton home wasn't more dangerous than it turned out to be.

"Rough isn't the word.  It took me forever to get out of my driveway...all the cops snooping around for more evidence and SimCity reporters preparing their stories for the morning news.  But hey...we're doing fine.  The twins are a little shaken up, but otherwise, we'll make it." Dr. Trinity Dalton said with a trembling smile.  She was more daunted by the conversation she was about to have with the Cunninghams, than by the disrupted home invasion she encountered this morning.

CDBlair - March 2008

Chance is 29, Donna is 29, Emely is 9.

Chance and Donna Blair met at a football game in highschool almost 11 simyears ago. Separate highschools...opposing teams. Donna was a cheerleader and Chance was just some goofball student from the rival school making wolf whistles at her from the stands. She could hear him calling her name from the other side of the field.  Somebody had given him a megaphone.  Maybe this was the same guy who'd been trying to get her phone number, basically stalking her.  She remembered thinking, "Who is that creep?!" 

Mommies To Be - March 2008

I wanted to post the beautiful, glowing pictures of these Moms to Be to show you how they are doing, pregnancy-wise.  After a look at my calendar, I realized we won't see but one of these ladies in a journal update for the birth, and the others not until well after their babies are born.  (I will probably do mini-updates on the births, though.)

Erline Valdes, 3rd Trimester

Kimberly Spencer, 2nd Trimester

Lydia Wilsonoff, 2nd Trimester

Stacy Masters, 2nd Trimester

Viv Everett, 2nd Trimester

Calendar - Round 2008

This hood's current Simdays are (Simdays 26-27).   This Round lasts from March 2008 to February 2010.

2008

Community Events are highlighted in yellow.  Marisa Bendett handles all event planning, please contact her at simmingtonhills@yahoo.com if you would like to schedule an event.

Spring 2008

(Simday 26)

March:

CDBlair

*Mini-Update* DNA Drama 

*Spring Planting at Spencer Farm*

April:

CSMasters

*TVanHouten Tax Season*

*CPS/CPE School Updates*

May:

KARaphael

*Mini-Update*  Are You My Daddy?

*Spring Harvest at Spencer Farm*

Summer 2008

June:

ANBachelor

Mega Mini Updates: (listed below)

*June Internship: Work and Play*

*CPS Class of 2008 Graduation*

*Aerial Bionic Band, from Apple Valley, performs!!*

Coming of Age...Celebrate Life!

July:

*SSU Update, (Sims State Univ.), Freshman year, 1st semester* - special summer session; boys left early for college.

*July Internship: Work*

Coming of Age...Celebrate Life! (July/August)

August:

Coming of Age...Celebrate Life! (July/August)

*August Internship: Work*

KKLy

Fall 2008

September:

NHMichels

*Fall Harvest at Spencer Farm*

October:

DPaisey

November:

AVDiaz

*CPS/CPE Fall School Update*

*SSU Update, (Sims State Univ.), Freshman year, 2nd semester*

Winter 2008-09

December:

MCarmichael

January (2009):

TVanHouten

February (2009):

*Mini-Update*

*SSU Spring Break*

The remainder of 2009's calendar is on the next page (Read More).

ROS for Round 2008

One thing I looked forward to with this new time relevance, was posting random events at the beginning of each round. 

However, I'm not ready for what I rolled...I used the ROS Excel Sheet Apple Valley sent me a long time ago.  She created it to automatically give the scenario, the Sim it's going to happen to, and the number of times something might be needed.  (Thanks Starr!) 

The good news is that several new families are moving into the hood this round!  So, I will have 21 households total.  I figured 30% of those households need some kind of random occurrence happen to them.  That's how I came up with 6.  (21 x 30%).

I know that once I post it here, it's in stone...so here it goes!  *sniff*  Be on the lookout in each update!

1.  Death by Hail (Nedra Bachelor)
2.  Unexpected Pregnancy
3.  Kidnapped!
4.  Graduate with honors from your socializing class!  Gain 9 new friends.
5.  Death by Illness 
6.  Being Blackmailed

Two deaths my first time out...I don't know how I'm going do this.