Strange stuff

Question

On this test site http://www.cybermountainwebservices.com/client0/dragdrop/
I create 25 randomly colored sprites that can be dragged and dropped, increases and decreased in size and have the alpha changed.  There's an issue with the alpha that I think will go away when I move it to a slider.  The thing that's bugging me is the way the sprites bove accross the screen when scaled they're supposed to stay put and scale wher they are.  If I do a trace on the x and y of the sprite output says it's not moving yet I can clearly see it move.
Here's the code the revelent parts are in bold:
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
var squares:Array = new Array;
for(var i = 0; i < 25; i++){
var square:Sprite = new Sprite();
//square.name = "square" + i;
  var c:ColorTransform = new ColorTransform();
  c.color = (Math.random() * 0xFFFFFF);
  square.transform.colorTransform = c;
square.graphics.beginFill(0x000000);
squares.push(square);
squares[i].graphics.drawRect(i*3, i*3, 100, 100);
this.stage.addChild(squares[i]);
upArrow.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, scaleUp);
upArrow.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopScale);
downArrow.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, scaleDown);
downArrow.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopScale);
alphaUp.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, increaseAlpha);
alphaUp.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopAlpha);
alphaDown.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, decreaseAlpha);
alphaDown.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, stopAlpha);
stage.frameRate=1000;
var timer:Timer=new Timer(5,0);
// ***************************Alpha *********************
function increaseAlpha(event:MouseEvent):void {
    timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, alphaUpListener);
    timer.start();
function alphaUpListener(e:TimerEvent):void {
    trace("alphaUP " + lastTarget.alpha);
    if(lastTarget.alpha < 1.00){
    lastTarget.alpha*=1.01;
    e.updateAfterEvent();
    if (lastTarget.alpha == 1.00) {
        alphaOff();
function decreaseAlpha(event:MouseEvent):void {
    timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, alphaDownListener);
    timer.start();
function alphaDownListener(e:TimerEvent):void {
    trace("alphaDown" + lastTarget.alpha);
    if(lastTarget.alpha > 0){
    lastTarget.alpha*=.99;
    e.updateAfterEvent();
    if (lastTarget.alpha>.99) {
        alphaOff();
function stopAlpha(event:MouseEvent):void {
    alphaOff();
function alphaOff() {
    timer.stop();
    timer.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, alphaUpListener);
     timer.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, alphaDownListener);
// *************************** end Alpha *********************
// *************************** scaling **********************
function scaleUp(event:MouseEvent):void {
    timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timerListener);
    timer.start();
function timerListener(e:TimerEvent):void {
    if(lastTarget){
     trace(lastTarget.x);
     trace(lastTarget.y);
    lastTarget.width*=1.01;
    lastTarget.height*=1.01;
    e.updateAfterEvent();
    if (lastTarget.width>250) {
        scaleOff();
function stopScale(event:MouseEvent):void {
    scaleOff();
function scaleOff() {
    timer.stop();
    timer.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timerListener);
    timer.removeEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timerListenerDown);
function scaleDown(event:MouseEvent):void {
    timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, timerListenerDown);
    timer.start();
function timerListenerDown(e:TimerEvent):void {
    if(lastTarget){
    lastTarget.scaleX*=.99;
    lastTarget.scaleY*=.99;
    e.updateAfterEvent();
    if (lastTarget.width<2) {
        scaleOff();
// ********** Drag Drop ***********
//var _targetPiece:*;
var lastTarget:*;
for(var j = 0; j < squares.length; j++){
    squares[j].addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, dragMovie);
    squares[j].addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMovie);
    squares[j].buttonMode = true;
function dragMovie(event:MouseEvent):void {
    event.target.startDrag();
    //this.filters = [new DropShadowFilter()];
    //this.parent.addChild(this);
function dropMovie(event:MouseEvent):void {
    event.target.stopDrag();
    lastTarget = event.currentTarget;
//    this.width = stage.stageWidth / 2;
//    this.height = stage.stageHeight / 2;
    //this.filters = [];
function disable():void {
    this.buttonMode = false;
    this.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN, dragMovie);
    this.removeEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, dropMovie);

Answer 1

I see at least partially what you're saying if I go to the bottom of the pile that one doesn't have the problem.  When I place the sprites on the stage at i*3, i*3 it seems there should be some way to be sure the registration point is there too.  I need to sleep on this my brain works much better in the mornings.  Doesn't the Strite have a local registration point?   I'll get back to you in the morning.