Theme development

Is there an easy way to do this? I found the book page for converting Xtemplate to PHPTemplate, but how would I do this with a pure php/css theme like chameleon? I need to be able to theme flexinode parts (namely, remove the labels from the content) and it looks like the best way to do this is through PHPTemplate. Any ideas?

I don't know why but I cannot get these links to shop up after creating a book. Is there some type of code I need to use in order for these links to appear?

Thanks!

I have just installed the voting module and set up the database and it doesn't seem to be working. If I check the settings of it I have it to display above the node, but when I go and view a node I do not see the voting system. Any ideas?

Thank you!

how do i setup the themes i download

I have been trying to change the fromnt design of this theme and i can not find where the logo is controlled

i searched all the files in chameleon folder and i didnt figure out how the logo is controlled
i have few questions

1. i see 3 css files - style.css, common.css and in folder marvin another style.css. Why are there 3 files and which one to change.

2. is it possible to change the picture type from png to jpeg, because jpeg needs much less kb for pictures
why is drupal using png files

Warning - I am sure this post is stupid but you Drupal guys seem nicer than most. So thanks ahead of time for your help.

I have googled and searched the forums to death, but unable to decide how best to approach this.

I currently have a site for my old high school chums back in Nebraska using Joomla. I started it as a joke and it has spread like cancer into a full fledged alumni community. I liked Joomla because I could have a "pretty" site in a few minutes. I just found a theme I liked and replaced the header.png image, and walla, my own site. (http://www.dailygeneva.com) Over time I found Joomla/Mambo restrictive, especially in the area of blogs.

I would like to switch the site over to Drupal because it rocks for what I want it for, but all the default themes.....excuse me... look uh, not so "pretty". I can hear my hillbilly friends now, "What did you do to your web site, it looks crappy?"

I am fairly comfortable with HTML/mysql/php but not so in CSS. I like the look of the spreadfirefox theme (curvy tabs), but am looking for something similar to what I already have http://www.dailygeneva.com, but the menu could be different.

Any advice/hints for me to customize my own theme to do what I want. It seems like everyone likes the phptemplate engine and starts with the boxgrey theme. What tutorials are best for a beginner? I am lazy, so I really don't want to hack together my own theme, but with Drupal it kinda looks like I have to, no?