Site status update and Open Thread

Martin Knight

I’ve come up with the idea of new theme/template for RedState, and made “screenshots” (using Photoshop) – because, frankly, the current one kinda sucks.

I’ve tried to make sure ity pays homage to the original RS template from 2005 (RS 1.0).

Would appreciate everyone’s input here and/or here.

The front page – not logged in yet.

This is when one is logged in (see the Profile) and is hovering over the “Sections” (i.e. Categories) menu item.

I think an Events calendar “on mouse over” type widget would be cool.

Let’s not just have better content than Kos, let’s be better looking as well.

http://tertiumquids.blogspot.com/ Norm Leahy

My diary still exists, but the posts I’ve written and tagged for Virginia don’t show up under the state section.

Am I doing something wrong?

http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

nt

http://beaglescout.wordpress.com LJ “Beaglescout” Miller

Oh Redstate, oh Redstate, alliance of fellow conservative minds,
Inspiring and guiding, enlisting republicans, often maligned
In the leftosphere, for its consistent support of the natural law,
And of freedom harmonious with sanity, tradition, and progress bourgeois.

Recall you, dear Redstaters, when we could edit and improve on our thought,
As hastily typed into diaries, strengthening fragments ill wrought?
It?s sloppy, I know that, and still, we?re learning by thinking and writing,
We?re most of us amateur wordsmiths, please don?t make our tools uninviting.

You see, we make errors, and need all the help we can get from the site,
Please bring back the option to edit ‘fore Christmas. God bless and good night.

larueladue

1) How do I edit my profile (specifically the password and comments signature)?

Thanks in advance for the help, and by the way, I like 4.0….

peg_c

Will we get that back? Some of us are perfectionists, you know.

At least I can get into the site now – on various computers with multiple browsers over the past few weeks it has been torture and I gave up for the most part. I had no idea what was going on and couldn’t get in to find out.

Were we using WordPress a few days ago? What was that about? And a few times when I did get into the site I was in 2005 or 2006. It’s been pretty surreal.

Good job on getting us this far, though; being in IT I know it’s been tough.

Tbone

how much I appreciate the effort that you have, and are continuing, to expend on making the site fully functional. I hope that the Bay Area does not drop into the sea until you are finished.

$peciallist

nd

Jaded

nt

bk

AceInTX

I’m ADD and it’s to easy to get distracted with too much data close at hand…LOL

AceInTX

I love you man….though I wonder about you some times…

:>)

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

I’m also inland. If the whole seaboard north of Orange County goes out to sea, I’ll cheer, heh.

No need to sink it though. Just send it toward the People’s Republic of China.

larueladue

the edit link is now showing up… thx!

AceInTX

For people like me that work in dozens of threads some times it’d be nice to not lose some because you the comments get pushed off and you don’t remember the ones you were posting to

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

I said the Recommended Diaries is on my list of things to work on, heh.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

.

$peciallist

np

Achance

i just used it and if I can get it to work, it is pretty foolproof.

Mike gamecock DeVine

comedy or tragedy

RetNAV

I’ve always said, maybe one day the whole coast from south of LA to north of the Bay Area would just crack off. They can form their own liberal utopia and call if New California. Then leave the rest of the state alone. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel like a political prisoner.

That would give New California SanFranNan, Henry Waxman, Babs, DiFi and Ahnold. It would give them LA, Santa Monica and San Francisco. We’ll keep the Sierras and Tom McClintock and all the other good ones elected from the other parts of the state. Yeah, we might have to put up with a few liberals still, but not as many and we won’t be outnumbered.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

…

Mike gamecock DeVine

1

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

They just come in photographic form.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

We’re using at hird party plugin to handle the sitewide recent diaries and recently tagged posts. That plugin had a bug, so a whole bunch of diaries got erroneously removed from the sitewide cache, and will not appear in tag lists.

Your diaries still exist though.

http://beaglescout.wordpress.com LJ “Beaglescout” Miller

I’m running firefox. Where does the option to edit appear?

John E.

Do you have any plans to add a clicker under member diaries like we had with Redstate.org (1.0)?

It was much less tedious to keep up with member content when we could scan through the diary pre-fold content just like we do front page diaries. Titles are weak indicators of content. And there are good uses for that archival access that particular 1.0 functionality gave us.

http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

Looks like an editor nuked a diary (not mine) – but the comments that Achance and I left didn’t get nuked as well, but rather are still sitting in the Recent Comments Section with a fatuous link to the next diary that was in line at the time “Elections Have Consequences: Begich’s Staff Appointments”.

Achance: “Need a cleanup here”

civil_truth: “Why is this guy still polluting the air here? “

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

…..

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

-

E Pluribus Unum

So I am guessing that the newly re-enabled ‘edit’ function applies only to diaries written starting yesterday then?

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

..

NightTwister

You must be on double secret probation.

E Pluribus Unum

nt

Martin Knight

I was wondering if, rather than having the *New!* indicator apply to individual diaries per individual user, can’t it just be based on the user and the time at the end of his last session across the entire site?

i.e. only comments posted since a user’s last date/time of access (or session, I guess) would be marked as *New!*. e.g. when user X accessed Redstate last, diary ABC had 20 comments, 20 *New!*. X accesses the site again a day later and Diary ABC now has 43 comments, 23 *New!* even though he never clicked to read ABC.

Does that make sense? I’m thinking this would be a lot less work for the server if it just has to compare the date-time the user’s last session with the site ended (if that can be captured) and the date-time the comment was posted in deciding whether to stick a *New!* on it or not.

Susannah

Some of my diaries got screwed up in the transition. The most recent diary that I wrote (titled “And The Winner Is–Maureen Dowd!”) has every link in it broken except for two–I don’t know how this happened, because they all worked fine before the transition. Normally, this wouldn’t bother me too much, but this same diary is also cross-posted on TMR, and it has a link to the RS version at the bottom of the page. So, I am afraid that someone reading that diary on TMR will click on the RS link to it, and think that I am a moron who can’t properly format her diaries (the links to both are below).

http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2008/11/10/and-the-winner-is-maureen-dowd/

http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/blog_entry/susannah/2008/11/20/and_the_winner_is_maureen_dowd

Also two of my other diaries each have one broken link in them, but the other links work fine. However, my other four diaries are fine–every link works perfectly. I don’t know why this has happened, because I formatted all of these diaries exactly same way. I would attempt to fix them myself, but there is no “edit” button (the links are below).

http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2008/09/21/in-defense-of-redstate/

http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2008/07/19/barack-obama-the-master-of-illusion/

Oh, and I would like to say that I agree with Peg C, in that I would like to see the “preview comment” button come back, as well as the “edit” button for our diaries.

And finally, I keep getting logged out, and then my password doesn’t work. I have had to get four new passwords in the last week.

By the way, Neil, I just want you to know that I realize that you have a totally thankless job and I truly appreciate all of your hard work on our behalf. Thanks again.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

That is just 25 people creating just 1 Diary in a day and forcing a complete refresh daily (which I bet at least 25 a day minimum are created, not counting those who create multiples a day)….

They still scroll off way too fast…. some peeps only visit the site every couple of days (which I think in part adds to why there are so many repeat items every day rather than continued discussion on exiting ones)…. And how can any get up to the Reco-List if they scroll off the Memb-D-List too fast for anyone to put reco’s on them

Sorry if repeat… had trouble getting on site all day… hadn’t had time to review all the comments on this thread yet.

gensec

… and always make some really embarrassing typos if we can’t preview before clicking Post Comment

gensec

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

a Multipurpose box would allow a user input box, and a pull down….

The Pull-down to define the search/transfer type to include Users Diaries, Get Local, Category, Section (and I still don’t get the Section vs. Category distinction!?!?), and other potentials… Any/all returning “Not Found” if invalid User text as a valid site location (to avoid 500 errors) This would be helpful for less advanced users navigate without having to know specific URL rules/practices and/or having to guess at them!

The Get Local would be the obvious one still that the User would be taken to the State Abbrev or spelled out State name DIR…

Pull down to “Category” (same for “Section”) and the User input text would transfer the person to that Category DIR The only way someone has to getting to them now (again, w/o having to know how to put in a URL directly in address bar) is to find a Diary with that “tag”/Category now and then click on that to navigate – as only a few are on FP in “Hot Topics” bar.

User Diaries…. would of course take the person to the persons /user/ DIR that was requested so they can scroll through just that persons current/past Diaries… That way if someone is a “FAN” of a person they can go directly there and not miss any of their favorite RS stuff (regardless of locale [FP, RH, or scrolled off lists])

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

It’s just not *easy* to fix so I have to research a little to find the proper way to do it.

It’s supposed to be at 40 and will be after I fix it.

E Pluribus Unum

– nt

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

You see, RS is at the point where sitewide stuff is very tricky to do in any efficient way. In fact since we use WPMU now, and WPMU has no concept of a sitewide query.

So to do things like the sitewide tags, state sections, and recent diaries, we use an internal ‘tags’ blog which contains copies of all recent posts to the site.

The recent diaries box queries for the last 40 elements. But since that blog contains front page and Red Hot posts, there aren’t 40 *displayable* posts in that query.

I need to find a way to tell WPMU to query by GUID, but I didn’t find one yet.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

That would account for about 10 FP and 10 RH leaving an average of 40 remaining for the Memb-D-List….. it would still “fluctuate” (the hidden feature” but be closer to that length you’re looking to have!?!?

The external process you put in place that puts the “copies” (or headers) over in that location must determine the # present? That should only be a single location correction to the # 40 to 60? Or am I grossly over-simplifying how it is happening?

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

if the DIR is never “reduced” in size and all the Items remain in them (as a de facto, or the actual, archive DIR) you are suggesting their is a separate piece that is filtering whether something is FP or RH and trying to exclude from Mem-D-List (which is not the case, all on FP land up on Memb-D-List anyway.. but regardless)…. Doesn’t really matter at this point if it is functioning correctly but just a compensation for the malfunction is all I’m suggesting as a quick/temporary fix…

If this is the case, it is just the case that some fixed value is in place (the “40″ number) is used for a COUNTER value which is being reached yielded what lands up in the Memb-D-List (being variable length as some are being filtered out as FP, RH, or other attempts to call them exceptions to display). Again, changing that fixed value of “40″ to “60″ will yield at least closer to desired length… If it floats between 33-44 is better than it floating between 15-26 as it is doing now.

Sorry again if over-simplifying! Just extrapolating from what you explained to how I’ve seen similar problems (workarounds) attacked.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

I want a real fix though

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

umm.. the “vehicle” Hummer lol

… but I can’t have them right now… so I have to settle for what I can have right now lol

Pardon the “crude” and lame humor attempt to make my point AND Keep up the great work!!!

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

I don’t know if people would really want it though.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

the “NEW” Flag has a specific function and purpose of/for display… By calling displaying a “RECENT” Flag rather than “NEW” it distinguishes that there is a unique and distinct difference and while the new term “RECENT” might confuse a few at first it will be less confusing (IMO) than a “NEW” Flag that tons of folks that are used to its functionality then begin reporting to the site as “not working right!”

Yes? No? Maybe?

A word like “RECENT” has some value/meaning… a SLV (Since Last Visit) indicator would make the most sense but is not necessarily intuitive to all the what “SLV” means to them and they could guess wrong thinking it means Since Last View (synonymous with “NEW” Flag) and would not appear to function correctly if they mis-interpret the meaning…. Any other short word that would invoke the new functionality and be descriptive enough?

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

could/should actually be a hyperlink to a stub page (like the Contribute button does now) that just has the brief description of what and how the “Recent” Flag works… no need to be elaborate but at least says something for those who mouse-over the “Recent” Flag and then discover it is link and they can learn more …. the promotion of less confusion is always a good thing…

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

how ’bout that work-around for now!?!?

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

Fixed it the proper way.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

so will the RH now be the one that goes to 11? lol

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

(nt)

bs

Nice job, Neil. That was an annoying bug. Glad to see the nice long list there.

Jaded

please, pretty please :down on knees: I am begging you man GIVE ME BACK MY BUTTONS!

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

They exist in posts.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

lol… sorry.. couldn’t resist…

(Screaming and running away…. ) HELP…..

I’ll bet anyone that pushes her buttons does so ONLY ONCE and are lucky if they live to tell about it

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

Just badmouth Fred Thompson.

http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/ Brian Simpson

Do that and run like the dickens. Cause Jaded wouldn’t be alone on that. People didn’t joke that this was Fred State for nothing.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

btw… The RED BAR for “Leave a comment” with BLUE TEXT (that links provide anyway, as much other text can be Dark Blue would be nice) on the WHITE BACKGROUND looks great in extending the RED, WHITE, AND BLUE theme of RS… Much better!

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

seen/thought about that at all?

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

In fact our goal is to *enhance* the state specificity and detail of Get Local, not to move away from the local focus.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

I hope that LOCAL is more localized… lol… like I said my first diary I expected to be Local and not seen at full site…

You also said “SPACE” a concern and NOT CLUTTERING with other boxes…

My concern is NAVIGATION for non-tech and newbies… to easily be able to jump to TAGS/CATEGORIES and/or Members Diaries of only a specific User w/o having to understand how to fudge the Address bar URLs

and the “RECENT” flag title over “NEW” flag as a distinction?

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

…..,.

http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

just to put the thoughts into the back of your mind for later consideration…

Bug fixes are obvious “top billing concerns” and then the things you guys have probably had on a wish list for some time… If we can sneak any additional things in while you are already in the code making fixes/changes IS ALL BONUS!!!

Jaded

and the add more which you added the properties of any video and the button to insert the website you referenced and could add a really cool title too….you know the BUTTONS! I MUST HAVE THEM!

and thats right talk about Fred and we will have some serious issues about buttons

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

So if you don’t want them for comments I don’t understand what you want.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

.,.

http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

,

Jaded

I comment way more than I do diaries……thx

Jaded

that is so funny You rock dude!

janis

I’m fairly sure his underwear is still firmly wedged.

Jaded

I can only hope his wedgie has now been plucked from his nether regions

RS

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