Static body for resizing (How to keep the body from sliding and moving when resizing)

looking better. As far as the background goes I might have done this different. What you had set up originally was the black vertical borders did not go all the way to the top, basically the header table was like a capstone, nice look by the way. So what I would have done is make the background of the body one solid color and then I would have used borders on the elements below the header table. Some padding on those elements to push the borders out so it lined up, then you probably would have been able to use the header table you made as it was originally. Hope I made some sense.....

Yes. I actually would rather place the black border within the page elements itself instead of in the css. Good call. You guys have an intuitive sense.

The only reason I didn't was the lack of knowledge on where to put this and what code I should use for centered, y-repeat backgrounds. Does this go in the tpl_header.php page?

what code I should use for centered, y-repeat backgrounds. Does this go in the tpl_header.php page?
This is easiest in the stylesheet.css