about the month contests....
do they have to be made within that month? I am interested in at least entering a contest when my map matches the requirements of the contest, but i am pretty new at map making, so i am extremely slow. Can i just make a map, then submit it for a contest when the contest describes the type of map that i have, or does it have to be made within that month time limit. If so, how would the "judges" know when it was made?
By the rules of the contest, the work on the map must be done within the month in question. The idea is to reveal the idea/theme and everyone set to work.
This is purely enforced on the honor system, as the community -- which is to say "the judges" -- have no way to know whether or not you worked on this before the contest.
And from your description the contests may not fit your design style, in terms of speed. Some people enjoy polishing everything to perfection before release, others get a kick out of a set theme and a time limit. If you release a good map outside a map contest, it will not be forgotten.
ok, i guess that makes sense. cool 
I was kinda wondering that myself, I've been working on my map that has a few new ideas (I hope) for about a month or two now. But, on the off chance my map is actually a winner, I'd rather see the prizes go to people who might actually need them. I'd only enter the contest for visibility and praise, not for money or prizes.
Does anyone really need a new graphics card?
Yes. anybody that doesnt atleast have what I've got, which is a Geforce 8800 GTS.
I have an XFX OC 8800GT Alpha dog edition...good enough or not?
I DO need a new graphics card. Right now I have a Geforce 5200FX, so I can't play any game (excluding HL2) on higher than lowest. And I usually only get somewhere around 20fps, 30 max.
And that makes me sad 
well a new graphics card will be not helping much if your system is not good enough.
I'm austrian
I beg to differ.
