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This New Site Sucks!
Why did they have to change it? I liked the OLD Cafe so much BETTER!!!!!!
:-)
No, but really, this is exhausting.
One trick that seems to have improved my bloggy lot in life very much so is to clear out my browser's cache, authenticated sessions, and cookies. In Firefox, you can do that under "Tools->Private data."
Still ain't perfect, though.
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Comments (62)
You've delivered on your promise CSCS. And even though I give you personal service, I still get a "ain't perfect"? You're killin' me, man.
February 3, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm bitter, man. Bitter...
February 3, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
A new tracker link will make me happy, actually...
In all seriousness, though, the site looks great, and I know you and the team have been working hard. I appreciate it.
February 3, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can we edit our Talk posts? I don't see where...
February 3, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exhausting puts it mildly! I am drained and can't believe I can actually put words in a box and see them again!
February 3, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
If this post actually goes through, I'll be amazed. I haven't been able to post a comment on TPMm since the changeover.
And again, TheraP, thanks so much for urging that we save the password we got assigned by TPM. In spite of my finally being recognized at all the sites and changing my password (each time) to one I can actually remember, just now I had to log in (though I was recognized before I tried to send you a reply) and STILL had to use that assigned password.
What I couldn't find was a way to send private messages member to member, as before. I don't even know how to find my sent and received messages any more. Any tips?
Yes, the site looks nice. But I've always been the kind of gal who'll take function over form, if lack of function makes me this crazy.
I have to agree with cscs and his comment somewhere about the wisdom of changing the site right now. To paraphrase Airplane!, Andrew, "Looks like you picked the wrong week to revamp a political site."
February 5, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Replying to a relatively old message, so probably nobody will see it, but I just wanted to say that I am at least glad to know that I am not the only one with the "password will not stick" problem.
The really goofy variation I saw this afternoon is that the site recognizes me when I first hit the page with a thread, but when I post a message, it wants me to log in. So I do, and it tells me my password is no good. (So far, this is what I have seen before, except that it at least doesn't take me to a new page for the login.)
OK, so here's the difference. I close out the browse and re-start it. Now I'm not logged in when I hit the TPM site (expected behavior), but when I do log in, this time I am recognized, using the same password I used before. And now when I go to the same message thread, it lets me post.
I would think it was an error keying in the password, except that it's happened so many times now that I don't think that is likely. Something is screwed up with the login.
February 14, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You'll be able to edit them, soon. We're working on that. For now, just be extra super careful.
February 3, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Andrew, if you're listening...the RSS feed no longer lists the author of each post. Is that something that can be added back in?
February 3, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I hate it, too. Fairness requires pointing out a bit of personal inertia, but I raise some concrete issues in a blog post that should show up soon.
Two main issues, for me: Less content on Coffeehouse page, with only a single column of posts, and those stupid avatars really get to me. Andrew, we love you, but we're going to get real tired of seeing your smiling mug. And I'm not going to use mine, uh-uh. I'd get sick of that instantly.
February 3, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
How is there less content on the Coffee House page? There's much more, if anything... especially from you folks.
February 3, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Previous Cafe page would show at least three posts from guest contributors in the same first screen. Now there is a single column, so I basically see only one item.
Yes there are links to reader posts, but that could be more compact.
As I told you elsewh\ere, we'll get used to it.
February 3, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, cscs,
Checking in from California. BTW, are all our posts lost? I forgot to copy most of mine!
Yikes, Tish
February 3, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, I'll stop by your post in a bit...
Andrew said somewhere the old posts will be back...
February 3, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying to be patient, Ticia, but I haven't been able to find my old posts either. No former comments to track either. I'm still hoping..... BUT....
February 4, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey. Chuck I see your picture. You do exist.
February 5, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. Scary, huh?
February 6, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck, see my post below, and give me some clues as to what you're looking for. Google cache probably has what you want, but it will fall off of the spool in the future, so you need to go looking quick.
If you actually know a URL that you're looking for, it is easy. It beings with:
http:⁄⁄www.google.com⁄search?q=cache:
You append that with th edesired page url, but do not include http:⁄⁄ or WWW.
As an example, suppose you wanted to retrieve Google's cache of http:⁄⁄www.whitehouse.gov⁄news⁄releases⁄2007⁄05⁄images⁄20070523-4_p052307sc-0109-515h.html
You would enter the following into your browser address bar:
http:⁄⁄www.google.com⁄search?q=cache:whitehouse.gov⁄news⁄releases⁄2007⁄05⁄images⁄20070523-4_p052307sc-0109-515h.html
If you click that link, you be able to the lovely gray pantsuit ensemble worn by the the Senator on the right of the three who came out to greet Laura Bush, "as she arrives to attend the Senate Women’s Caucus Wednesday, May 23, 2007". It's truly memorable.
February 9, 2008 6:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ticia, do you happen to have an old bookmarked link to you blog entry, or any blog post at all? I can probably pull a majority of your content from the wayback machine or google cache. Post any URLs here, or if functionality is troublesome you can also post at forum dot liberatedtext dot org, and I'll see it. It's an extremely underutilised messaging board for the website, and I'll notice anything posted there presently, but please don't use this username. Too many pseudo crossovers make me anxious...
Anyone else looking for their content from TPM Cafe that doesn't know how to poke around net caches and archives, let me know, and I see if I can help.
February 8, 2008 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with cscs about the avatar. It takes up too much screen space and doesn't really add value.
February 3, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
My answer to avatars.
February 3, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone/everyone else seem to get timed out from the login constantly?
February 3, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
In Firefox, try using about:config to change the time-out settings.
I just realized that we can't preview our posts!
February 4, 2008 1:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, thanks so much for that, seashell. It was driving me crazy!
February 4, 2008 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome. I should have said that I know this works in Windows. Not sure about Macs or Linux.
February 4, 2008 2:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the time-out is more a function of the web site itself. With the previous Cafe, you could stay logged in for quite a while (days? weeks?)...and we didn't have to change browser settings.
My guess is a cookie timeout setting on the server...
February 4, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, just trying to get the hang of the new system and test it out.
OK, server error on first try. I'll try again.
February 4, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have new password. Now it says I'm not registered. Testing.
February 3, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
It works!
Cute doggie!
February 3, 2008 8:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Linus, the cute doggie, thanks you. Now is there any way to keep him from showing up on all my posts?
February 3, 2008 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, you're stuck with the dog.
February 4, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Old screen name: paDem
New screen name: paDem2
Just trying to keep it real, 'cause the site refused for three days to reset my password, or let me log in with the old.
No longer an issue. Moving on....
I like the new site, aside from the above.
February 3, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see you're back up again...
February 3, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG. This is the first post I've been able to make under a username. Hallelujah. If I'd been locked out on Super Tuesday I would have been seriously upset.
Now to see if it works over at TPM EC...
February 3, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
yay! Things seem to be continually improving...
February 3, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know what I don't get? On the Cafe page, there are all the posts from everywhere. But on EC, there are only the EC reader posts.
Shouldn't the Cafe page only have the Cafe posts? What's the reasoning here...?
February 3, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like the new features. There are many more possibilities for user content now. If only they worked, it would be a big improvement.
February 4, 2008 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think I agree...not sure if it's we're just not used to it now, or there are some problems.
The biggest thing that's missing right now is the "tracker" link that we used to have. Without it, I don't see how we're going to keep tabs on where all the conversations are...
While there are certainly more ways for us to post, and get our posts seen, the fun of this place is often (always?) inside the posts, in the comments. And right now, it's difficult to see where we've commented, how many "new" comments are here, who's replied, etc, etc.
I don't want to complain too much, though, as I think they're still working on things.
February 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, the tracker function is only one of the things I miss. I can't even edit my current blog. Anyone know how to do that?
February 4, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck, no way at this point to edit the blog posts. Hopefully, that's coming soon...I make too many typos!
February 5, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm experiencing serious withdrawl symptoms from the old TPM cafe.
Will probably get used to this eventually
February 4, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
County me as a long time reader who is very satisfied with the changes, and with the personal service.
Thanks Andrew.
February 4, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, you're right about it probably being a cookie. There is one site I go to that limits sign ons to 14 days. Anyway, the fix above takes care of the java script time outs people used to get.
February 4, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the time-out is more a function of the web site itself. With the previous Cafe, you could stay logged in for quite a while (days? weeks?)...and we didn't have to change browser settings.
My guess is a cookie timeout setting on the server...
Sorry, that message was for cscs. It figures that on about the 6th try of getting it through, the one that went through was not in reply to him.
February 4, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fingers crossed, here goes ...
February 5, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe there's no ratings system to abuse any more. Somebody give me a 0 so I can lose my temper about it! Now!
February 5, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Troll...
February 5, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am really pissed off about the lack of ratings myself. It always made me feel good to know that people found my comments insightful, like I was really contributing to the discourse.
And I personally never encountered any troll-rating wars. Plus comments aren't nested which always annoys me.
February 5, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, there were plenty of troll wars. What made a big difference was moving EC to its own site.
And you can stop by any of MJ's posts to see all the zeros flying. Or anytime a feminist point of view is posted.
I'm not sure how I feel about the lack of ratings. They were a good way to acknowledge others' good points made, without typing out, "I agree," or "Awesome post!"
February 5, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Awesome post.
February 5, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troll...
February 5, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aaaaaaandrew.... the posters are abusing the non-ratings system again!
February 5, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be nice to be able to log in under my existing handle. Is there a new equivalent to Tracker? Is there a new equivalent to Recent Comments?
February 5, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Tankard. Right now, there's no tracker, and Andrew basically said there won't be one.
It seems like the Comments are still broken -- they're supposed to be showing up in our profiles, but only old comments are showing. I hope they'll at least show when people replied to our comments.
Keeping track of conversations is going to be a real challenge here, but since the site still doesn't seem to be 100% up, it might be too early to start thinking about if there's anything we can come up with to work around it.
February 5, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Feh! This is too much like MySpace. Cartoonland.
February 6, 2008 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
~
Come on now Bar Kafka. It's sort of like the US auto industry. Looks great. Runs like crap.
~OGD~
February 6, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still finding I can't add comments if I'm logged in from the top of the page. The only solution is to log out, look down to where one might expect the comment box, and log in where it says you have to be logged in to comment. With some posts, I'm shown as logged in but, after submitting the comment, am told I have to register first; with others, clicking to get to the post's page and thus to comment logs me out. (BTW, another thing about the old "tracker" system was the link to the parent post if you replied.)
February 6, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't even log in from the top of the page. I need to go into a post and try and comment, fail it, and then get the login box.
February 6, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I don't understand is undertaking a major reform of a perfectly workable system in the same week as Super-Tuesday, when user interest is at its highest. These things are normally done at Christmas vacation, the middle of the night or similar down times, with all the changes previously bench tested offline.
February 8, 2008 2:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm beginning to suspect that this new format (with it's innumerable and incessant bugs) is all part of some elaborate DoJ revenge program targeting TPM and it's forum of concerned readers/contributors!
February 8, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
In Re DoJ paranoia: Senator Durbin has a bone to pick with them.
February 8, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone who wants a tracker, create a new folder in your favorites/bookmarks for TMP and just bookmark any post you make. It isn't as nice and easy, but it will suffice for the time being.
February 9, 2008 6:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
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