1
Me like
Pepper, 3.5.09
=== Platform ===
The mini-chat-board-index in the sidebar rocks.
Under previous D-O-V and SSI iterations, the articles looked fine, but I had a little trouble carrying on conversations. Especially multiple conversations.
Now, the sidebar threads cycle to the top when commented/bumped, just like at (say) Mariner Central. And one thing I've not seen before, is a snippet-lead of the poster's comment on each line, in readable fashion, no less. So in the right sidebar, I can scan 8-10 conversations in a few seconds, and frictionlessly jump into whichever one.
You like?
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Cosmetics continue to move forward, as well. The font has more white space in it, and the comments have the shade boxes that Dr. D has coveted for so long. That particular feature - shade boxes in the comments - is one that I hold especially dear.
The 1894-1921 world chess champion once pointed out that there is no reason in the world for a chess / checkerboard to be in two colors -- other than to provide piton-holds for the human brain to process the field of play more quickly.
I'm huge on 'chunking' as a route to faster info-processing. The comments are now shaded and subtly offset, with more white space, making them far more pleasant from my own point-of-view.
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Per request, the admins are working on SSI Kindle availability. Word is that there will be no premium section to SSI for the forseeable future, also.
How sweet it is. Give it up for the admins.
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Have input as to color scheme, functionality, aesthetics? Let 'er buck, Hidalgo.
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=== Radio ===
Is there noplace to listen to an in-season Mariners broadcast on FM radio? KIRO's FM subsidiary doesn't seem to broadcast the M's. Only portable radio I have is an iPod with FM only.
Today's ST game can be heard on the radio -- for a couple of bucks. Yowch, these MLB corporates take no prisoners.
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Before Garrett Olson got pulped today, Luke French pitched to seven batters:
- 4 fly balls, all caught
- 2 ground balls, both delivered to the 1B timely
- 1 walk
- 0 strikeouts
SSI will uncharitably quibble that in terms of a Ron Shandler PQS -- judging a start by skills, not ER -- the first thing you notice is the infinitely bad CTL ratio. ;- ) As Luke French's designated cynic, I'll grouse that five fly balls and walks to two ground balls and 0 strikeouts isn't exactly what will land him a 3.50 ERA this year.
As Matt reminds, let's not read too much into the first two innings of the year :- ) and I've got to admit that French allowed 3 fewer runs than did my hero Doogie.
In case y'missed it the first time, I'm not analyzing. I'm curmudgeoning.
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Matt Tuiasosopo playing SS today. That's significant, to him and Wok, anyway.
He has a chance to make the club, and if so, he's got to play backup SS as well as backup 2B and 3B. I heard it on Geoff Baker Live!
Tui has to impress as having an adequate glove at SS, and if so, his bat could carry him to the 25-man.
But Hannahan is the org darling, and for both Hannahan and Tui to make the 25-man (say, if Tui hits .400 this March) the M's would have to go to 11 pitchers. Which they'd like to, if Felix and Lee give them an excuse to do so.
Cheers,
Dr D
Comments
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May I comment that the Start a Thread button in 2001 Photoshop glory is annoying! It should stay in the sidebar.
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for the Start A Thread button to be over in the sidebar.
Shows how eager we are for youse guys' blarney.
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I only have two issues now. The Recent Comments section takes up too much space. I don't like giving a line to each comment and including the subject isn't a big deal to me. The old system on DOV (just the name of the person who commented displayed and the color of the text indicating age) was not only better, but the very best I've ever seen. Going back to that would be ideal.
Also, the chat box needs to go. It also takes up a ton of space but no one uses it. You might as well have a picture of the Pope for all the good it does. Basically, I want the Recent Comments to be right near the top and the Recent Posts just a little bit further down without much need for scrolling.
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I see a lot of merit in both of those points...
Let's keep in mind that when Klat adds functionality to SSI, it adds with a view to 100's of sites. The Prime Directive is interactivity, to produce a next-generation blog/chat synthesis.
Cutting-edge social networking is the vision, at least as far as I understand it -- where news and opinion is driven by the community as a whole, as opposed to driven by the centralized few. Power to the people, babe.
That said, reactions like the above are essential to the evolution process, so thanks again. I agree that space above the fold is at a super-premium.
The more folks chime in, the merrier...
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CPB sez: Basically, I want the Recent Comments to be right near the top and the Recent Posts just a little bit further down without much need for scrolling.
Agreed. My own perfect world would have (1) a very functional comments chat-index and (2) the beginning of the Recent Posts visible above the fold.
As you note, Wolfy accomplished this neatly at detectovision.com. I did love the bang-for-the-buck, the functionality in a tiny space, that Wolfy's little Groks widget delivered.
Still working everything. ... for all that, it is interesting functionality to look at a thread and be able to scan the conversation from the front page. Flame war? Breaking news? Big-name player discussed? You can tell without a click.
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As a software engineer, I appreciate how difficult some seemingly simple tweaks can actually be. I am enjoying the tweaks to SSI thus far, (as much as I am annoyed at the tweaks the keep making with Facebook).
The balance of keeping new threads and old available is not easy. I think MY approach would be to display 3 comment numbers: total, last day, last week -- and then poster name (first line) just for the past 3-5 comments per thread. But, all in all, I like the direction.