Out of the Blue [May 07, 2020, 10:29 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
It is with great joy that I announce the completion of the Blue's News
responsive redesign and the launch of the ad-free version of the site for our
supporters. Though conversion of the news pages was done a while ago, the
responsive forums were a temporary fix, and they are now
properly mobile-friendly as well. Please join me in thanking Kxmode and Frans
for all the hard work they put into this project, as it took a lot more time and
effort than you might imagine to drag our 20+ year old code into the present.
The entire site including the forums should now properly scale to any mobile
device. Whether you visit the forums with your desktop or mobile you'll also
notice some visual improvements and changes, including the use of new icons for
some functions that I think turned out great. Frans made
this forum post with complete patch notes and other information about what's
new and different.
As I say, this also marks the launch of the promised ad-free version of the site for our backers. Ads are now off by default for supporters, though you can opt to turn them back on through your user settings. As Frans explains in his post about the news, we are carefully monitoring the impact of this on the server. There's a chance ads will have to resume for all on the main page if the load is too much, but so far this has not been a problem. We have plans to upgrade the server hardware fairly soon, so if we're forced to revert the ad-free code it will return on the new server. These changes also mark the end of founder's program, which will conclude tomorrow, so if you want to have the coveted founder's status as part of your profile or have been waiting for supporters to receive native ad-free viewing, now's the time jump in and become a backer. To all of you who do back the site, here is another huge thank you, especially considering these tough times. Ad revenue has fallen off a cliff lately, so your contributions are more vital than ever to help keep the lights on here.
As I say, this also marks the launch of the promised ad-free version of the site for our backers. Ads are now off by default for supporters, though you can opt to turn them back on through your user settings. As Frans explains in his post about the news, we are carefully monitoring the impact of this on the server. There's a chance ads will have to resume for all on the main page if the load is too much, but so far this has not been a problem. We have plans to upgrade the server hardware fairly soon, so if we're forced to revert the ad-free code it will return on the new server. These changes also mark the end of founder's program, which will conclude tomorrow, so if you want to have the coveted founder's status as part of your profile or have been waiting for supporters to receive native ad-free viewing, now's the time jump in and become a backer. To all of you who do back the site, here is another huge thank you, especially considering these tough times. Ad revenue has fallen off a cliff lately, so your contributions are more vital than ever to help keep the lights on here.
Responsive Links
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.Breakfast Links
- How Chicago Reversed Its River- An Animated History. Thanks Cutter.
- Do Those Birds Sound Louder To You- An Ornithologist Says You're Just Hearing Things. Ornithologists are noted comedians. Thanks RedEye9.
- The Harsh Future of American Cities. Thanks Cutter.
- Inside Joe Manganiello’s Epic Dungeons & Dragons Campaign.
Stories
- Cold Arctic air could bring record low temperatures to Eastern US in May.
- “They’re making fun of us”: ‘Rick and Morty’ fans are very confused by the latest episode.
- Dum Dums lollipops prizes program is coming to an end.
Science
- The coronavirus mutated and appears to be more contagious now, new study finds.
- Coronavirus news: Belgian scientists reveal llama blood contains useful antibodies. Thanks brother19.
- Cold air rises—what that means for Earth's climate.
- This Is How Physics, Not Math, Finally Resolves Zeno's Famous Paradox. Thanks Max.
Media
Follow-up
- The Magic of Salt in Coffee. Thanks Max.
Frans wrote on May 9, 2020, 10:46:Well DONE!
With one extra day, you get a different word: Done.
Frans, you rock.
edit
I tried quoting the previous post but the Forum didn’t do it. ( Yes, I know you are currently inside it shaking a bag of chicken bones, duck tape,
edit edit
And w/the blink of an eye it’s working again
edit
I tried quoting the previous post but the Forum didn’t do it. ( Yes, I know you are currently inside it shaking a bag of chicken bones, duck tape,
code and tea leaves )edit edit
And w/the blink of an eye it’s working again
Frans wrote on May 9, 2020, 10:46:Here’s to good shaking
With one extra day, you get a different word: Done.
Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 22:48:With one extra day, you get a different word: Done.Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 14:00:No problem, I was just looking for a yes or a no and still waiting.Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 13:00:A little impatient, are we not?Rhialto wrote on May 7, 2020, 21:24:Is it possible?
Could the edit button be visible only on our comments and those we have rights?
The necessary I do right away, the possible... takes longer.
-- Frans
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on May 9, 2020, 04:43.
This comment was deleted on May 9, 2020, 04:43.
Developer motto: You can have it fast, good, or cheap. Pick any two.
“I don't believe in anything you have to believe in." -- Fran Lebowtiz
Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 22:48:Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 14:00:No problem, I was just looking for a yes or a no and still waiting.Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 13:00:A little impatient, are we not?Rhialto wrote on May 7, 2020, 21:24:Is it possible?
Could the edit button be visible only on our comments and those we have rights?
The necessary I do right away, the possible... takes longer.
You can't ask a software engineer/developer/programmer if some feature or change is possible...
The answer is always yes, it's just a matter of time and priority and frustration and every other factor besides a parameterless "possible".
--
Not that related, but it reminds me of a multiday planning session we did with multiple teams. At the end we're supposed to all give our 1-5 confidence factor and if the average vote is too low it's back to the drawing board.
Well this particular release we had way too much work trying to be crammed into way too little time...
The project managers and other non-developer types were getting frustrated with those votes, and one of them grabbed the mic and said, "What if time was unlimited? What would your confidence factor be if time wasn't a concern?"
And the whole room got kind of dumbfounded immediately, lots of silence and muttered wat's.
If time wasn't a concern we can literally do anything, the whole point of this planning and vote are regarding what we think we can accomplish in a given time frame. Without time it's meaningless.
Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 14:00:No problem, I was just looking for a yes or a no and still waiting.Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 13:00:A little impatient, are we not?Rhialto wrote on May 7, 2020, 21:24:Is it possible?
Could the edit button be visible only on our comments and those we have rights?
The necessary I do right away, the possible... takes longer.
Rhialto wrote on May 8, 2020, 13:00:A little impatient, are we not?Rhialto wrote on May 7, 2020, 21:24:Is it possible?
Could the edit button be visible only on our comments and those we have rights?
The necessary I do right away, the possible... takes longer.
-- Frans
Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 03:39:Kxmode wrote on May 8, 2020, 00:57:Uhm, you could do that for a dozen years.
Pro-tip: You can now click or tap on the smiles when you post a comment to add them.
The most exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions.
Rhialto wrote on May 7, 2020, 21:24:Is it possible?
Could the edit button be visible only on our comments and those we have rights?
Mr. Tact wrote on May 8, 2020, 06:20:Founding Supporters are those who signed up before the ability to disable ads became available yesterday. Signing up from today makes you an equally worthy Supporter -- only without that one little bragging right.Sepharo wrote on May 8, 2020, 05:27:I'm assuming it simply means anyone contributing after that date only gets the appropriate badge and is not labeled as a "Founding Member" just a "Supporting Member" or whatever...
Also I'm curious what the "founders program coming to an end" means exactly?
-- Frans
Great to read, thanks for the confirmations.
-- Frans
ads are gone for me as well, great job Frans.
Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 04:12:
I found a very silly Apache configuration error, made in haste yesterday morning.Please let me know if the frontpage is now ad-free for supporters.
Frans wrote on May 8, 2020, 04:12:
I found a very silly Apache configuration error, made in haste yesterday morning.
That did it! No ads on main page.
Sepharo wrote on May 8, 2020, 05:27:I'm assuming it simply means anyone contributing after that date only gets the appropriate badge and is not labeled as a "Founding Member" just a "Supporting Member" or whatever...
Also I'm curious what the "founders program coming to an end" means exactly?
“I don't believe in anything you have to believe in." -- Fran Lebowtiz
We've got mods now?
The first 3 names I saw with it were good choices at least
Also I'm curious what the "founders program coming to an end" means exactly? Are you no longer going to accept donations?
I didn't want to do anything other $1 a month, so I figured I'd just donate you a direct sum every some months.
The first 3 names I saw with it were good choices at least
Also I'm curious what the "founders program coming to an end" means exactly? Are you no longer going to accept donations?
I didn't want to do anything other $1 a month, so I figured I'd just donate you a direct sum every some months.
I found a very silly Apache configuration error, made in haste yesterday morning. Please let me know if the frontpage is now ad-free for supporters.
Please let me know if the frontpage is now ad-free for supporters.
-- Frans
Kxmode wrote on May 8, 2020, 00:57:Uhm, you could do that for a dozen years.
Pro-tip: You can now click or tap on the smiles when you post a comment to add them.
-- Frans
jdreyer wrote on May 7, 2020, 17:31:Frans wrote on May 7, 2020, 15:10:MacLeod wrote on May 7, 2020, 13:33:Hmm, Blue, Kxmode and I like it a lot (and we invested quite some effort to make it work), so I'm afraid you're currently outvoted.
Great job guys. I think the only thing that sits weird with me (and this is a super minor nitpick), is the blue border around usernames on posts... It looks odd to me for some reason, as opposed to just having the name off to the top right.
Why didn't you add support for the <blink> tag for usernames? I want my UN to blink!
Most people never survive the <blink> experience.
Thank you all for your kind words.
Pro-tip: You can now click or tap on the smiles when you post a comment to add them.
The most exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions.
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