Reading through your post on blenderartists I think this might be what you are after in the simplest way.

1. Go to the frame that you want the transition to start from.
2. Make the change to the required parameter. In the attached image it is the Mix Shader Factor parameter.
3. Right Click in the parameter field that you want to set the keyframe for and choose Insert Keyframe.

This sets the starting point for your transition. Repeat the same steps for the remaining keyframes that you want to add. From reading your other post I think your difficulty is occurring at step 3. in my example where the keyframe is created.

Can't explain the why behind the behaviour but if you tab into edit mode and unify the normals (Ctrl+N) this will correct the issue. Once you tab out back to object mode any further changes you make using the room parameters will mess the mesh up again. Unfortunately you have to keep fixing the normals each time you make a parameter change.

Just for your info Blender can uv map any part of a model in isolation of the rest.

Thats like saying my computer is free from viruses now therefore it can never be infected. Sites get hacked, malicious software gets installed, a site that was clean yesterday might be infected today. The link should have been immediately removed, the member should have been advised to trust their antivirus software until the site can be declared safe. If the claims that Rendo are making about the seriousness of the threat of viruses in freebies are to believed then that sort of advice is just reckless.

This is how seriously the threat of viruses is taken here. Case in point: https://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/?thread_id=2902047

An offsite link was provided to a product. Rendo member went to download said product and their antivirus program stopped the download due to the site being reported as dangerous. What was the forum moderators advice? - "Can't you override the security software? I'm sure it's just because the site doesn't have certifications."

For me "Median Point" is what I have set as default. I use the "3D Cursor" frequently but I can't remember the last time I used "Bounding Box". It is more about knowing the differences and selecting the best option for your needs to get a specific outcome at a specific time.

To scale the neck the way that you want when using the mirror modifier the pivot origin point needs to be in the correct position.
The attached picture should help you out.

" ... but it likes to be left alone for a week or so."

Sounds more like metamorphosis than an upgrade.

Some blatant self promotion here but all my stuff is for Poser

Nice find Lobo.

In all the time I have used Blender I never knew that Blender3D was the "official" name. Probably not surprising since it is never referred to as Blender3D. The official Blender website is not blender3d.org, the foundation is not known as the Blender3D Foundation even on the History of Blender page at blender.org, there is no mention of Blender being referred to as Blender3D. Even though, as you state, Blender3D is technically still correct, in common usage it is never referred to by that name. Whilst the sun will still come up tomorrow and life will go on regardless I still propose that the forum name be changed to reflect the common name usage of Blender.

"Have a look at the Hivewire3D forums, options to like a post, add multiple quotes, ebots that work alerts so you can see updates when you are in the forums, I could go on (and usually do)."

I wouldn't hold out for any real improvements to the way that this site works. Renderosity is a subsidiary of Bondware. That being the case you would think that Renderosity would be a shining example of what the Bondware company can produce rather than the sub standard mess that it is.

Bondwares Values: "We conduct business with honesty and integrity. We believe in the "Golden Rule" (treat others as you want to be treated). We believe that work should be challenging and fun."

Using this forum software certainly feels like work and they are not wrong about it being challenging.

Here is another link with information on the NLA editor and creating an action strip.

NLA Editor

Here is a link that will help you out.

Continuous Looping Animation

Your welcome