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JavaScript is a scripting language used to help make web pages responsive to users, dates, browser differences, etc.
Most pages on this web site (including this one) make use of JavaScript, usually to show the last date the page was revised, but sometimes to display date-specific content or to allow you to open secondary windows with more information if you wish to do so. The "Last Modified" date at the top of this page depends upon JavaScript, for example.
JavaScript has been turned off on your machine, and to make use of some features of the pages on this site you will need to turn it on again. That is usually done through the user options accessible through one of the menu items across the top of the screen.
Microsoft has overreacted to criticism about its "security leaks," and it now sometimes demands explicit permission from a user to view any web site that contains interactive content making use of JavaScript (which was developed by a rival company).
If you are using the most recent version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, you are likely to have a yellowish band with a picture of a keyhole at the left side suddenly appear across the top of the screen with the following intimidating message:
"To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options…"
Your cursor may also have a picture of the keyhole attached to it.
If this happens, you will need to click on the yellow bar. When you do so you will be given the option to "Allow blocked content." Click on it. A dialog box will now appear reading as follows:
"Allowing Blocked content such as script and ActiveX controls may be useful, but active content may also harm your computer.
Are you sure you want to let this file run active content?
Click "yes."
The strip (and the keyhole on the cursor) will vanish and the page will be redisplayed to show the material that was being suppressed.
Please be assured that no page on this site is able to "access your computer."
Once you have granted your permission for one page, my impression is that it applies to the rest of your Internet session. Unfortunately, it apparently does NOT apply to secondary information windows, so every time you click a link that opens a secondry window, you will have to deal with the same Microsoft rigmarole.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
(The problem seems not to occur with other browsers. You may wish to change to Google Chrome, Safari, Foxfire, or Opera until Microsoft becomes a bit less paranoid. All are free, just as IE is. If it is any comfort, I have stopped using IE as a development instrument because this absurd warning is ALWAYS activated when the original page actually resides on the same computer that is displaying it.)
Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript permanently in your web browser.