This will be my final blog post of 2007 here, hopefully 2008 will see happier things in terms of my blogging. If I don't get around in the next couple days, Happy New Year!
My apologies to everyone who sent cards over the holidays, I didn't really have the time or energy to code up a decent table for them all, so I didn't get them put up here. I also never got to finish mine for the year.
I spent the last couple hours revamping a long dead project to go along with my web site, that was my forum. I did archive a lot of the old data, and I've gotten it started going the the direction I want to take it. I did take the time to provide a specifc topic to provide feedback on my Holiday Story (which has not been updated lately, just the two parts are up), should anyone be interested. The next installment of that story will be up soon, though I may not mention it here given the response I'm getting so far.
Once again some new information to report about Version Vibrant, and this one's a real deal breaker for me. Before Christmas, Adam mentioned in a blog post that input coding for the new blogging system will not be HTML based. He's opting for a crude, primitive and somewhat proprietary pseudo-coding system better known as UBBC code, the kind like use on VBulletin, Invision, Proboards, and many other message boards out there, the [b][/b], [i][/i], [url][/url] type wannabe HTML coding. The benefits of that pseudo-code are debatable in terms of being more efficient, or even superior to HTML coding. Adam is also taking the stance that customization (or personalization) of blogs isn't important (see his comments to the blog post), in spite of all the feedback he's getting from members saying it is important to them to be able to make their blog page their own in some way. We're not all copy and paste George Orwell 1984 clones here. We want to be unique, and for our pages to stand out from the rest in our own ways. I absolutely will not use the new system if it treats me like I'm an ignorant "|\|3T n00b" with that kind of baby fake html coding.
Since Adam is asking for feedback this time, please go share your thoughts on an e-mail notification system. He's considering something that would send users e-mails when we get comments or Private Messages. I've already posted my two cents there, if you want your voice heard, now's the time to speak out.
I'm still waiting to hear back from the cellular carrier. They did send me a brief message telling me what I already know about the situation, so I hammered back at them with a few questions that will make or break my relationship with them, depending on how they answer them. At least I was honest with them about that point, I had to be clear to them that I'm not playing around.
Lastly, I've done some mod work to my page here, probably the last mod work I'll ever do to it. While we know the bulk of the customization here will not be carried over to the new system, we don't know just how much will no longer be functional here on the current spread. I wanted to get as much in as possible on that. Don't think that because it's no longer up, my PM policy is no longer in effect. I have it linked up there in the intro for all to see, and will keep it up there until such time as I am able to block users, then if I am able to remove it, I will do so. Also, I changed my button, so now I've got all the Lizard Line lizards featured in the theme here somewhere.
Comments
Magnus Lensherr:
I think the site does need an update, but what Adam is doing is taking years of subtle developments and throwing them at us in a relatively short time. Some of the stuff he's doing is completely unnecessary, and will alienate some of the members here. Is it worth losing some long-time members over nonsense in the hopes of attracting more people? What he's doing with the customization and the new blog coding system amounts to slapping the members in the face, particularly the members who took the time to learn HTML, CSS, and, in some cases, javascript to do more with their pages here. That's not a good way to maintain a positive relationship with long term members who have contributed to the site over years.
I see a lot of trouble coming out of that one user group alone. Down to the question of nomination/approval, their ranks will be plagued with the doubts of favoritism among the staff that got them that title, as well as how they are treated when it's apparent they abuse their power. We'll just have to wait and see what goes down with that, but I can assure you, there will be some feathers ruffled, or in my case, scales.
Change can be a good thing if it's done right. Why he couldn't put the time into adding features to the current MyO site, I don't really know. The way this change is being handled, that's what's not good. Taking away stuff that people have used for years now, that's going to hurt the site more than it helps. If I just signed on as a new member after Version Vibrant came out, and I got to hearing about how the site used to be, and how the founder ignored the member's opinions for whatever reasons as he implemented his new version, I'd be less inclined to stay, period. I wouldn't feel that I could go to the founder with any feedback about bugs, feature requests, or opinions on anything cause he didn't listen to regular members, why would he listen to a newbie?
I'm looking into my options of alternate carriers, just in case my current one decides to test my mettle. You know, I've been relying on that phone and voicemail to function as my primary point of contact for publishers/agents for that manuscript I'm still working to get published. They messed it up, they should certainly be able to fix it one way or another, or I take my business to a more reliable carrier.
redmoonchick:
I'm sure there will probably be some customization to a degree, but what Adam's doing away with is the ability to use CSS and scripts and such to rearrange the page layout, and all that other stuff that people have done here.
In my case, I'll lose my paragraph indents, the text appearance (font face, color, size, style), the invisible hyperlink border around images (I hate that thing), my text appearance fix for blockquotes and lists (so they match the blog test, not the site default text), my ability to float images to one side or the other and have the text wrap around them (not leaving the big gaps of empty space which I detest), my breaks between comment answers, the formatting for topic headings (the text between the horizontal rules) in my posts, the appearance of my username links, stuff like the weather bug I removed will probably not be supported either. And that's just one site's simple stuff, those people who have completely done over their sites in novel ways, they'll lose a lot more than what I just told you about my coding.
AngelBest Dream:
That's all views and votes are to me, just numbers. I do appreciate the views and votes I get, especially from friends who know me and are interested in my work genuinely. I also appreciate comments and other feedback as well when it's sincere and genuine. In reading your personality descriptors there, I think I fit into number 4 myself. I may not get around to the art like I used to or want to, but I do try. It was the art that made me sign up here on MyO way back in 2003 in the first place. The site is going in the wrong direction, that's for sure. It's trying too hard to popularize the wrong things, while taking some of the basic amusements away from members who have no other incentive to stick around.
Outlaw Melfina:
The emoticons do need an update we've have the same basic message board ones for so long now, and the change isn't all bad. The fact that we'll be getting a user block feature is impressive, as well as stuff like resampled thumbnails. I just think the premise behind the change though, and some of the features (or lack thereof) are bad moves to make for the direction of the site.
From what I understand, someone would have to nominate you, and an administrator would then have to approve that nomination for you to get the title. That's going to raise some questions about favoritism in and of itself, but we'll just have to see how that goes as it's implemented with Version Vibrant.
Yensid:
I have issues logging in and browsing the site between 5-9AM eastern time, which would equate to 2-6AM your time I believe. Comment boxes give me trouble in those hours as well.
SomeGuy is one of the site staples around here. He was one of the most vocal critics of the Articles and Reviews hubs being taken down, but after Adam pulled his "any mention of those are spam" maneuver, he kind of stopped lobbying for them when he shouldn't have. He is a good writer and witty from what I've seen of his postings on the main page (he's doing some of the news items now), and in comments to Adam's blog. I don't think I'd ever get the opportunity to meet him at all in person though, cause I don't see myself being able to make a trip to the West Coast for a convention, and I doubt he'd come all this way to attned one either.
It wasn't like over the top in your face constant foulness of the mouth. It came and went in quick little bursts that probaby went unnoticed by a lot of people (unless the first time they aired it was an edited version while the marathon wasn't). To me, there were a couple lines that struck me in the way the foul language was put in. The lines could easily have been written to be just as "hostile" in intent or tone, without the foul language in them at all. If I were giving Tin Man a grade, it would be D-. The acting, writing, and language all conspired against that show big time.
What you're looking at now is done very much with CSS coding. Since I don't have a web enabled phone to test in those browsers, I can't say if my code will work there or not, but it does all right in IE 6 and FireFox when I don't mess up the punctuation or spelling of tags and stuff. I don't code specific to a browser, I use W3C standards for my code and those are supposed to be all browser compliant. If the browser don't support it, the browser isn't up to W3C standards and needs to be updated to a current version that is, or replaced by one that's compliant. The W3C is the international organization that sets all the standards for the Internet from HTTP protocal to what tags are valid in HTML. I kept the default template here, and would do so in the new version as well, I just like to know where all the links are that way. I have done some things to make my blog more streamlined in appearance and format, things that won't carry over to the new system, and that's what I don't like.
That's the working title from what I understand, I certainly hope Adam changes it to something more appropriate. I think if I were nominated for that title, I'd have to decline it on principle. I wouldn't want to get caught up in the fight that's bound to happen when members and those with this title are at odds over "backseat modding" and questions of bias in the appointment process, and treatement of the titled members when issues of harassment or power abuse surface (and we both know it will happen). I'll have no part in that myself. Aside from that, I don't think I fit the ccriteria Adam listed for that user group anyway.
I don't make too many e-cards or wallies, I just throw those together for fun. In fact the first one I put up here, that was just something that hit me as I watched the Gasaraki DVD. I don't go out of my way to make that kind of stuff either, just when the mood strikes me. I could do worlds of stuff from Spirited Away, I have over 600 captures from that, but I just don't have the interest in making stuff to have a big portfolio. I'm leaving the plagiarism thing alone, what I say regarding that has had a tendancy to bite my backside lately, and I don't need that again.
Unfortunately, my credit is horrible and I'd cringe to see the deposit they'd want, if it's like the others around here, not pretty. My options are limited to the the prepaid scene of the TracFone (my current headache) variety. There are others on that vein I can look into and will do so more thoroughly should I need to play my cards and drop TracFone. Being unemployed and with a family on a limited budget, I can't exactly put money into pricier service right now.
the real yojimbo:
At the rate he's going, it'll be a wonder if anyone posts with the new blog system at all.
timechaser:
Well, I've cast my judgement already, based on all the prior stuff and this new little piece of info I posted.
That's the problem. Adam's not listening before he does this stuff. Eventually it will catch up to him and do some real irreparable damage to the site's credibility, and his own.
Mamma Vash:
I learned HTML, and then CSS, to be able to do things with my page. I don't doubt there will be some form of "closed" customization, but I know we won't be able to do the advanced stuff we can do now. Adam calls that type of personalization "hacking" and he's vowed that the new blog system with be "close to hack-proof". What we will and won't be able to do with the new blog system is yet to be seen, but expect a load of headaches with the UBBC style input coding at least.
Unless I'm mistaken, Paul Revere was caught before he finished his mission that night, and I don't intend to go down that way. I'm more of an annoying minstrel bringing you the news in my off-key tone-deaf timbre to make even the bad news at least sound silly.
All-in-ones are great for lots of things, but stay away from Lexmark.
Well, it's not so much a signal problem as those buffoons screwing up my voicemail. Possibly when they fouled up my phone about two months ago. I'll drop them like a lead brick if they don't correct their mistake.
twilight samurai:
I haven't been getting around to sites that much myself lately. After the holidays hopefully I'll be able to do more of that.
That bit of shameless self-promotion on my part aside, the nature of thumbnails is to be a quick reference to the eyes, they're not really designed for high quality. Even the large image though doesn't compare to holding the wood in you hands and seeing it in person, but they can't replicate that online just yet, so images have to do. The gesture of putting up the thumbnail was a kind one, and very much appreciated. I do think that my jesting kind of got lost in the mock seriousness of the whole thing though.
When I read Adam's post about the UBBC style input coding for the new blog system, that just set me off something fierce. I'm smarter than that, I don't need to be babied with pseudo-html wannabe coding, I want to use what I know in a productive and effective manner. If I don't get that, I just won't be able to use the blog to it's full potential, and won't get enough out of it to post regularly in the new system, if I post at all. The thing is Adam hasn't said anythig about a date for the Version Vibrant release yet. I think he's shooting for possibly early next year, but I don't know he hasn't made any indication at all. Given that he's telling us more about it in little snippets, I'll bet it's coming sooner than we realize.
I can't get regular cell service, I have to go with prepaid service since my credit is bad enough that I'd have to put out way too much money to the regular carriers in my area no matter which one I went with. I have issues with Verizon internet as it is anyway, so I don't need any more headaches with them. I have some options I can look into though, I'm not worried just yet.
