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A Vote for Avatars
A growing number of TPM posters have avatars - it's a trend I support whole-heartedly. It contributes to the sense of community here and creates continuity across threads. Names alone are harder to process and remember.
If posters who consistently have productive, interesting things to say have an avatar, we're able to pick their comments out of the crowd more easily as we scan threads; if unproductive posters have an avatar, we can skip over their comments unread more easily (comments that are intended to disrupt will be less disruptive).
Avatars are as varied as TPM posters themselves - face shots, baby pictures, animals, historical figures, cartoon characters, - I love them all.
My heartfelt thanks to TPM posters who have avatars. To name just a few that come to mind, thank you to DF, Ben Hocking, articleman, rabbitsmorgasbord, bluebell, HusseinTenaX, astral66, littleblackpropaganda, Tom Wright, Genghis, clearthinker, Subliminability, jdw, Cville Dem, LizB, DancingBear, PaDem, lifelongdem, ondioline, Larry Geater, urbinato, Maria Gomez, Allsburg, Iowa Mike, Lookingin, FreeBubba, chautauquan, hrebndorf, Morghan, Moose49, Billy Glad, donnerpass, whoffman, Wade Hussein Blazingame34, fabooj, roo_P, Slouch, demosaur, WorkinJoe, ergoquid, billysunday, Yvaughn, The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve, JohnDoe, AdAbsurdum, anna am, scofflaw, laurajordan, BionicSoy, clevomon, Liberal_Elite, mageduley, memoryaid, Phoebe Fay, Qwerty, (just added) TM, Madden (?), the Smurf character, the fellow with the rocket, and all the others.
So, John McFadden, AmericanDreamer, liam, womanand57, tpmgary, kavitz, cscs, jweb271, Hilarym99, observer2, Connie Manes, LaBobsterofAnaheim, James Watt, JedReport, houlios1, idiotic - this means you - I look forward to the day when you all have avatars!
I hope TPM management focuses on adding and polishing other features that enhance the community-building potential here; we're going to need it in the days to come. Suggestions?









Comments (218)
I suggest some of the more creative TPMers with some time on their hands might provide some suggestions for the avatarless. I'm not very creative (hence the unimaginative face shot), but an easy path is to use Google Images.
For those who don't know how to resize the images to their maximum width, send me a link to the image in question, and I'll be happy to resize it for you.
April 26, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish we had a FAQ that covered things like avatars and html in posts, and a persistent thread for questions that stays on the main page.
April 26, 2008 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
FAT DAVIDS ARE AVATARS TOO!
To be left out of your list of luminaries is ... well... a freakin honor dude!!
(insert butt moon here)
Surf The Vote
Jeff Spicoli
VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE
NOT YOUR GUILTY CONSCIENCE
April 27, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I was trying to switch mine to a better version (found one! ^o^). I lucked out that my first one was the right size, but this one's kinda too big. It's pretty similar to the one I have now, but a little different.
http://dol.dengeki.com/news/200710/02/img/20071002_11_kakera_00.jpg
April 27, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a scaled down version for you.
April 27, 2008 7:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you so much! ^o^
April 27, 2008 7:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's complaining that "file manager wrote 0 something for the picture." Do you know what that means?
April 27, 2008 7:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm. I've gotten that message before. Try forcing a refresh ([ctrl]-[shift]-[r]), and if that still doesn't work let me know.
When I got that message before I thought it was because I was using the same avatar as Allsburg, but I think now it was just random flakiness.
April 27, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes! Finally, it's up!
April 27, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Scary as heck, just the way I like it. ^o^
April 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
clevomon, Thanks for your link to the very sharp "One debate, wiz wit"
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2008/04/one_debate_wiz_wit.cfm
which I just now found.
which led me to another belated Sunday mornng find: articleman's "Clinton campaign demands more debates after Clinton concedes" http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/clinton-campaign-demands-more.php
I have to find more time for TPM!
And thanks for the explanation of your avatar, which I had thought was part of a fishing lure, an obscure reference to trolling that I didn't get.
April 27, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Fishing lure"? o_o
April 27, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
like:
http://www.eyecatcherlures.com/lures.html
or
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbassproxpsrattleshad.html
Not great examples, but I have a lure on my Christmas tree (still up, long story) that it reminds me of.
It's sort of like singing the wrong words to a song for years and then finding out it's something else entirely.
April 27, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, nah, I know what a fishing lure is. I was trying to understand the joke.
April 27, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and you're welcome! ^o^
April 27, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I tried to throw up an avatar, but to no avail. I am (she admits shamefully) not too savvy with technology. (I used a typewriter until 1992, and still mostly rely on my public library for internet service.)
Any friendly advice for those of us out here in low-tech land?
April 27, 2008 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
What was the nature of the problem? Is your avatar too big or did you get a weird error message?
April 27, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
It looks like she's having the same problem I'm having now. It looks like everything went smoothly, but now I see no image, not even the empty avatar image.
April 27, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't even know where to begin... a truly sad case. I only succeeded in getting the gray ghost Xed out, but I'm not even sure how I managed that...
April 27, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah ha! I guess in some things, size does count. Not showing up too well, though. Will shop around.
(It's me as Princess Leia -- or is it Princess Leia as me?)
April 28, 2008 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
What browser are you using? I had some browser-related upload issues when I was getting my avatar setup.
April 27, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like something you ate disagreed with you. heheheh
April 27, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, and how could I have forgotten fly-on-the-wall as one who needs an avatar?
April 27, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
My avatar of jelly fish is a photograph I took at the Monterey Bay Aquarium a year or so ago.
April 26, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's beautiful. Mine's the view from Blue Harbor in Jamaica.
April 26, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
So's yours. Both are an argument for at least somewhat bigger avatars.
April 26, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least the avatar here is not limited to that lame, Yahoo style cartoon doll construction crap.
April 26, 2008 8:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The width is limited to 64 pixels, but there doesn't seem to be a limit on the height. There are some interesting tall ones, like storm's and Madden's.
April 27, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the ability to know when someone has replied to you would definitely help keep conversations going.
Another nice enhancements would be being able to send a message to someone, perhaps like leaving a comment on their profile page or something.
April 26, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, these are features I remember fondly from the old TPM software. Now it's hard to keep a dialogue going.
I also liked the "tracker" feature, a list of most-recently-posted-to threads across all the TPM site-groups.
April 26, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wasn't around for the old TPM, but I generally have about 15 tabs open any time I'm on TPM so I don't forget where I'm conversing. That would be a welcome change, but it seems like things are moving along with the tech stuff...
April 26, 2008 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, the recent increase in posting speed, e.g., is a great improvement.
April 26, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've just joined the Avatar club today, but I'm neurotic and indecisive, so I expect that I will end up annoying everyone by switching avatar once a week until I settle.
April 26, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's okay too, just part of getting acquainted.
April 26, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get onto these two TPM House Brew threads and weigh in:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/22/the_fixins/index.php
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/22/acceptable_commenting/index.php
April 26, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I borrowed this picture from the Wall St. Journal :)
April 26, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I went avatar shopping the other day. I kept waiting for that Aha! moment where I would see my avatar image and we would run into each other's arms, happily together forever. Alas, we did not meet that night.
So I choose instead to keep the nameless shapeless outline of a vague man for now, biding my time until the right avatar comes along.
After all, there is a high bar around here for avatar-coolness. The indomitable Ric Flair, the ever-prescient dude from Conan, and my personal favorite, Kyle Reese.
April 26, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. Finding the right avatar is like discovering your sacred animal spirit. I'm sure yours will be reasonable and balanced. Or bug nuts! However you happen to feel when you find it.
April 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome. I contemplated getting a Sarah Connor avatar for a moment just to toy with you, but feared charges of guilt by association.
April 26, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did someone say Aha?
April 26, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
if gray anonymity suits you, why not craft your own avatar using the default to start. (Oh, I just noticed someone downthread added a sample based on the gray head icon -- I was actually thinking something a little more subtle, like a colored outline or a "glow" effect... or even just the next "transitional avatar" superimposed. or maybe not.
April 27, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
To name only a few.
April 26, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Say it Loud: I'm Avatar-less and Proud!
If posters who consistently have productive, interesting things to say have an avatar, we're able to pick their comments out of the crowd more easily as we scan threads; if unproductive posters have an avatar, we can skip over their comments unread more easily (comments that are intended to disrupt will be less disruptive).
You could go so far as to require the "Trolls" (said with tongue-in-cheek "affection") to adopt wild-haired troll dolls as their images. Or force the "patriotic" among us to use flag pin avatars (the better to call out those who refuse to display the flag pin as unpatriotic!!!)
We could adopt the multi-ribbon system to show our support for the troops, breast cancer research, HIV/AIDS research, Lance Armstrong's LiveStrong, Stephen Colbert's Tek Janssen, PETA, the Sierra Club, Earth Day, various music genres, carnivores, vegetarians, breathairians, bikers and biker babes, hikers, Star Trekkers, Galacticans, hot or not-so-hot chicks, McDreamys or McNightmares, prequels versus sequels, Kenny is better than Spenny, South Park fans, dog people versus cat people, favorite superheroes (and heroines), cars over trucks over SUVs over hybrids, NASCAR or NBA, golf or tennis, beer or wine...
You could tell at a glance if a particular poster fits your desired demographic and only read those you know you will agree with before you read them because you approve of their avatar/ribbon national identification system.
We should make it mandatory. So if you post here and at HuffPo or Taylor Marsh or Politico or NYT or Kos or WaPo or TNR or NRO or CNN or ABC or FOX or MSNBC, we should be able to identify you right away.
It should be a crime to post comments that conflict with your selected avatar/ribbon official identity. If you select right-wing, patriotic, biker babe, hot-chick, cat-loving, troop-supporting, cat-lover in one place it should be against the law to post something out of character -- or worse, change your character to suit your post.
But alas, this is unproductive and lacking an avatar... we could just skip on down... next comment please...
April 26, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
After posting, I was afraid someone would think by productive I meant upbeat, or that I meant to screen out people I disagree with - certainly not the case. I have very little time to read TPM, and often read threads late, after they're no longer active. It helps to flesh out different points of view if I can relate what a person says on one thread to what they say on other threads, for which an avatar is helpful.
Taking you as a case in point, I've just read over the comments on your user page - I've seen your comments individually, but never connected them because I didn't remember your name. They're excellent, and not just because they coincide with my views - I'll watch for them in the future.
April 26, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the compliment...
I wasn't chiding you in any way, just riffing on your idea... taking it on a little satirical spin...
April 26, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't you two get a room?
April 26, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why? You jealous?
April 26, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a fanfin seadevil (see thedeepbook.org). I was tired of my old favorite Hyperion (http://www.solarviews.com/eng/hyperion.htm) and picked the ugliest thing I could find. I'm thinking of shopping again, though. On a TPM thumbnail it looks pretty gloomy.
April 26, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Ben will trade with you.
April 26, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't recommend it. I'm thinking of substituting a picture of a basket of kittens and puppies, which might offset the bitterness of some of my crankier rants.
April 26, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a little dark on my monitor - I wasn't sure what it was, but interesting nonetheless.
April 27, 2008 1:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was a great post wayitwas!
The timing for some good natured chat here at TPM is perfect. I am as passionate as the nest person about my candidat.
However, I think it is of paramount importance that for all who consider themselves progressives, to be ready to focus on getting whichever Dem Candidate wins our primaries into the White House.
Anything less risks handing over the Supreme Court to Antonin Scalia!
April 27, 2008 2:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
PS-Oops;
My avatar is Aslan on his way to Narnia:)
April 27, 2008 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I went through a few avatars until arriving at Opus. I've found that Opus serves as a good moral compass, and when I say things that I think Opus wouldn't approve of, I edit my comment (for the ost part). It has been interesting to me as to how my avatar tempers my postings.
April 26, 2008 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it works both ways. I know that Billy Glad's responses struck me a lot differently with his (presumably) original avatar than with his current one.
Also, Genghis and I both have these smiles on our faces, which sometimes gets in the way of communication when we're actually angry. (It's not very often for either one of us, thankfully.)
April 26, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The smile makes you seem even more reasonable than you are. But I'm female, and I suspect am more favorably affected by smiling (see alligators, dogs, etc.) than the average male. Or so those cultural anthropologists tell me.
April 26, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay. It's you. Had to make sure that little piss ant allsburg wasn't impersonating you again.
April 26, 2008 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
how can you tell? the new models all sweat, have bad breath ...
lack of a stinky diaper is not proof of identity.
April 26, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
So far it has worked to touch their names and read the url. Only a matter of time before they find a way around that, I guess. It was so bizarre the other day when they were swapping avatars back and forth.
April 26, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Geez Billy...take it easy. I know the terminators can look like someone else, but stop being so paranoid. They are really not out to get you. (not much anyway) :)
April 27, 2008 2:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your is one of my very favorite avatars.
I picked Veruca Salt because sometimes, a girl's just gotta say "I want it, and I want it NOW!"
April 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
You sound like Hillary. I like that.
April 26, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like yours. I always thought it was really cute. ^_^
April 26, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
And here I thought it was because you were Louise Post.
April 26, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
AHA! I KNEW your avatar looked familiar. Been driving me nuts trying to remember. And damn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AI95BVkiW0
April 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Right Guard is a wee bit chilly this morning.
April 26, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
There you are! Sorry, I couldn't remember your name above.
April 27, 2008 1:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mine does similarly, but more because I tend to adopt some of Rena's persona in my writing (very sweet and cute character... unless she has her hatchet). In that way it helps me to defuse needless conflicts that tend to get me flustered. Chances are, if I'm flustered, I'm either going to say things I'll regret, or run away. Neither works to well, so it's easier to just try to avoid fights.
April 26, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think your avatar is the best. Makes me laugh everytime.
April 27, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm referring to Opus -
April 27, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I added an avatar file. Let's see if it took.
April 26, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mine is from a favorite horror game/anime called Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When The Cicadas Cry, or When They Cry ~Higurashi~ in dub). This actually wasn't the shot I wanted to use, though. I was thinking of a creepy face shot of Mion instead, or the one with Rena hugging Keiichi. This one was the best one available on Google, though, so Rena in the doorway it is. ^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSHwOtStRgc
My avatar is at 0:33. The ones I wanted to use are at 1:09 and 1:58 (although a close third was 1:35).
April 26, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
April 26, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Present.
I picked my avatar to match my name. This one looked better than the Birkenstocks or the lattes!
April 27, 2008 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
yoda = urbinato
April 27, 2008 1:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I don't speak Esperanto. Yoda = Yoda. He is green, old, wise, and writes things here. You are Smiley Sideways Planetarium Guy. Now where is Kool-Aid Man... he tells me what to think...
April 27, 2008 5:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
yoda I am
April 27, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
What about Flyonthewall?
April 27, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely belongs in the GAFA (get a f-cking avatar) group.
April 27, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
For those who missed the subtlety, I was providing just such a hint in the first post on this blog… (Hint: click on the link I provided.)
April 27, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha. I should have checked it the first time. Subtle indeed.
April 27, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
and bdh and quasar and JohnW1141 - I couldn't remember their names yesterday.
and dozens more - TPM seriously has a great group of posters.
April 27, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The ability to preview your post before submitting it would be a big enhancement. So would the ability to go back and edit something previously posted.
April 26, 2008 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely needed, and we had these in the old software. I would have seen the lack of paragraph spacing in my text above and found a way to fix it before the final post.
April 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dug mine because it pretty much says it all in one little package. I originally started posting here back when the USAtty scandals were the all the rage (literally and figuratively). We came here to vent on the insanity of it all, it was just unreal. Plus I am slightly tech geeky so it fit.
It turns out that the color is really quite handy. I can, like you said, easily scroll through and identify any new replies to my comments.
So note to the avatar-less: don't stress, pick something simple..come toward the technicolor light. :)
April 27, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
You sound like you're trying to urge superdelegates to endorse. heheheh
April 27, 2008 1:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too funny, thanks lib. I had to reread it to realize is sounds exactly like that.
Vote for me! The most well reasoned choice of avatar!
LOL :)
April 27, 2008 2:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Should I exchange my photo for a fanciful avatar? Discuss.
April 27, 2008 1:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Awwww. But then we would miss your smile, Genghis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLoxprLeT6Q
April 27, 2008 2:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm, no, I think a screen shot of Bill Joel would be more dada than snark.
April 27, 2008 2:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe that you billy-joeled me. You people are heartless.
April 27, 2008 3:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. But you had to love the fro right?
April 27, 2008 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are heartless. You have much better hair than Billy Joel.
The trouble with changing your avatar, Genghis, is that it's one of the few that are perfectly proportioned. It's going to be hard to match that.
Plus, I always wonder: Where are you? At the Planetarium?
April 27, 2008 3:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huh, now that you mention it, he does seem to be on an alien ship orbiting earth.
April 27, 2008 3:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was taken during my alien abduction. I cut out the aliens.
April 27, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
So long as it's still smiley and sideways, I don't mind.
April 27, 2008 8:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Keep it. Your friendly smile provides a nice contrast to the 'Genghis' nickname.
But I still think DF has the right Genghis avatar.
April 27, 2008 4:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Your friendly smile provides a nice contrast to the 'Genghis' nickname."
I second that.
April 27, 2008 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've always thought so myself. When I first saw it, I wanted to make some joke about that. But I thought that it might be a real picture and that he could be offended. Of course, it turned out that neither is the case.
Thanks for the avatar support, though I think that sometimes we don't want people's avatars to change because we associate them with certain personalities. I always find it disturbing when people change. (Especially when they change to an animated vomiting gif.)
I think that I'm going to change for the day, just for the heck of it. But I'll probably go back.
April 27, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Ugh.
April 27, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the avatars with the little red "x" in them.
April 27, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you know that I just figured out last night that the red X avatar wasn't a problem with uploading the photo? I had a lot of errors when trying to upload mine, so I natrually assumed . . .
Dummy me. heheheh
April 27, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like yours. Someone told me mine is "dumb ass" (sic) so maybe it's time to find another image.
I kinda liked the bee motif, tho.
April 27, 2008 8:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the irony of the drunk workerbee.
April 27, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wot irony?
:P
April 27, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I too like the drunken workerbee.
April 27, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
(hic)... I mean, thanks.
:)
April 27, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, don't change from your real photo. You're kinda cute.
Even though something about your friendly smile reminds me of Corey Hart ;)
April 27, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shucks. I switched to kermit the frog for a few hours, but it wasn't doing it for me. So I'm back to my smiley Corey Hart self, sans sunglasses, but I switched up the pic for a change.
It's funny, some posters have accused me of being a nice guy. I honestly think that the smiling photo has a lot do with it.
April 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean you're not??
April 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
He just doesn't like to admit it.
There's that stigmatism thing about "nice" guys... well, you know....
Not that it's actually TRUE or anything...
April 27, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aw, shucks. Is Genghis (nice, handsome, witty Genghis) fishing for compliments today? It's OK, Genghis -- you deserve 'em.
April 27, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm in the midst of an avatar identity crisis. This is my second avatar and I thought it was funny because BillO's face is all scrunched up. But now I'm finding it annoying because he annoys me in general. So I guess I'll need to find something new, soon.
April 27, 2008 2:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, while we're on the topic, your avatar has always struck me as more appropriate for a troll and it never seemed to suit your commentary here in the slightest. A change would be most welcome... ;-)
April 27, 2008 2:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, I'm trying this one on for size. I have another button one that says "Back to your bridge you evil troll, you have no powers here" I like that one but you can't really read the text.
April 27, 2008 3:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can almost sorta make out the text... maybe you can crop it so its a tad more readable? "Being a (cuddly) bitch is part of my charm"?? Love the text... hehe.
April 27, 2008 3:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, I'm surprised you can even read that. It's "being a crabby bitch is part of my charm". I'm having a little trouble enlarging it.
April 27, 2008 3:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, those both come from buttons, and they both use some extra pixels at each margin. If you can crop the original(s) before resizing to 64 wide, they might be readable. I'd be willing to give it a shot if you have a link to either image.
April 27, 2008 3:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks! That's very kind of you. I tried cropping, I think that worked a bit and made it ever so slightly bigger. I'm going to try it with the "bitch" one too.
April 27, 2008 4:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, it improved a tad... then again, I know what it says now. ;-)
April 27, 2008 4:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I found one I like. This one's a keeper. It's the space needle and Seattle skyline viewed through a sculpture in a park. BillO was way too annoying and the crabby button was cute but maybe a little too cheesy. Thanks for your help Gman!
April 27, 2008 5:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know, it's kinda funny reading your earlier comments about other potential avatars with the new one next to them.
April 27, 2008 5:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I was in the avatar dressing room, initially I didn't realize it would change everywhere.
April 27, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Talked me into it.
April 27, 2008 3:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very nice!
April 27, 2008 4:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm... I clicked on your user-name to check if new avatars are included retroactively in older posts, but got this error msg.:
same for other usernames, something must be down.
My guess is yes, new avatars will appear on older comments, but I'll recheck later.
April 27, 2008 5:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, (user pages are back up) new avatars are incorporated into older comments! So when the archives come online, they will be populated by current avatars.
April 27, 2008 6:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I love it! But then, I would ...
April 27, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
The other thing about avatars... The only I can find my own comments to see if anyone had replied is by scanning for the right avatar. I don't know how you find yourself again without a graphic!
April 27, 2008 4:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
With the old TPM software, when you clicked on a comment on a user's profile page it took you directly to that comment on the original thread so you didn't have to scan for it (rather than just taking you to the top of the thread, like the current software does). I forget what that's called in HTML, something like label referencing. Also, it distinguished between read and unread comments, so you could quickly pick up new additions to a thread that had been added since you last viewed the thread. I hope these are features that will be returned to us in time,
April 27, 2008 5:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, very nice.
April 27, 2008 5:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
You could go so far as to require the "Trolls" (said with tongue-in-cheek "affection") to adopt wild-haired troll dolls as their images.
That was so funny! Thank you, I needed a good laugh.
April 27, 2008 5:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that the gray image is great. It just needs to be dressed up a little.
April 27, 2008 6:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I like the one with the hat and cigarette too.
April 27, 2008 6:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, nice job. Way better than the one I messed with and was going to upload just for kicks.
April 27, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been wondering how Desidero made that little puke puke. Object world is still a mystery to me. I wish we could add sound.
April 27, 2008 7:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Animated GIF (1980s stuff). Fortunately those don't do sound, or we'd be in real trouble.
April 27, 2008 8:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think he meant tech-wise, I think he meant feeding her loads of broccoli and making her read in the car - does it every time.
April 27, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, to come clean, I made her viddy a bit of ultra-violence while listening to Ludwig van and feeding her apomorphine. Worked pretty well, eh?
April 27, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trying another one---getting tired of my non-personal-photo-protest image.
April 27, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
But I see it hasn't taken yet, maybe later.
April 27, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, there it is. Meet the new me.
April 27, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cool! Is that the moon?
Do you think mine is insipid, Tom? I'd respect your opinion.
:)
April 27, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Sears seen from Adler Planetarium, Moon added.
I like the bee, but it doesn't show in Internet Explorer, only in Firefox. Don't know what IE has against GIF format, it displayed the barfing Exorcist girl, an animated GIF. Perhaps my copy of Norton is involved, but it allowed the animated image and that seems more dangerous.
Here is a JPG version;
http://www.digitalskyllc.com/bee.jpg
April 27, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, I'll try to fix that.
April 27, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I found one that better suits my attitude toward politics in general
:D
April 27, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, baby.
April 27, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Although I suspect him/her of being a GOP troll. I must say that I find the "Lalo35adm" avatar quite amusing. That's the one of Lincoln with Obama's face - LOL.
April 27, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's really funny is Lalo meant it as snark. But she/he doesn't realize how closely the two really resemble each other. Chech out this article the Obama wrote for Time Magazine about Lincoln. It is really moving.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1077287,00.html
April 27, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for the warm blog. I put up a mug initially, but thought the sunflower's cheerier and prettier. :) It struck me later that I might be unconsciously thinking of Obama's campaign's rising sun logo, and that's what the sunflower turns towards.
April 27, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I went through a couple before I found mine...I liked it because Hobbes was the deeper, more philosophical (and occasionally more violent) of the pair. And, to be honest, I picked this particular close-up to go with a response to BevD. I just never changed it.
April 27, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a classic, and appropriate for any topic!
April 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think I'll be changing this avatar, I'm fond of it. It was the emblem of the Roman army.
What I did change was my handle, from v popvli to SPQR. I discovered that there's a vox populus who posts here, whose avatar is decidedly creepier than mine..
So this beats the alternative of being confused with a creepy dude in a surgical getup.
April 27, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it, but it's a little blurry. Can you get it at a higher resolution?
April 27, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Woo Hoo! I have an Avatar. Now my voice may be heard, and I feel more important-y too.
I am sure it will cause plenty of confusion and people calling me her or she, but I wanted to use one of my paintings so who cares.
April 27, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cool, now it's open season for sexist remarks on you. Huzzzaaah, babeee! You sixteen???
April 27, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
your avatar makes my junky computer freeze up
April 28, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mine is brand new, but now I already have avatar envy.
April 27, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, it's a good one, give it a few days to grow on you. I like the small scale/ large scale perspective - when I first saw it, it brought to mind the personal/political dialectic that I associate with TPM.
April 27, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ya think? Thanks wayitwas!
April 27, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jsmith, are you by any chance a Cylon?
what? why am I asking?
Oh, no particular reason.
April 27, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It took me 3 tries to get an avatar. My first one [The cover of Springsteen's Wild, Innocent and E Street Shuffle] turned out to be used already by another member. My second [The cover of The Ghost of Tom Joad] didn't really read well. At last I picked up on a piece of artwork by DairyStateKid#2, used only with his permission...
April 27, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can handle sexist remarks. I handle your insults just fine. Hmm, funny how you say I'm sixteen however you stoop to school yard name calling on a regular basis.
April 27, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just checking if you're of age of consent. I've had my eye on your avatar for quite some time, wink wink. Actually I'm quite into eyes.
April 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or viddying if you're a nadsat, see's this evening in the Korova there was a fair number of vecks and ptitsas and devotchkas and malchicks smecking and peeting away, and wondered if you glazzied a bit of Ludwig van with your moloko vellicet....
April 27, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What you got back home, little sister, to play your fuzzy warbles on? I bet you got little save pitiful, portable picnic players. Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angel trumpets and devil trombones. You are invited.
April 27, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Orange overload.
April 27, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It happens. There's a warning on the label, but occasionally I forget.
April 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Avatars are weird things. I started off with a bit of Rodin - appropriate to my name.
Then as a goof on the Kool-Aid posts a few weeks ago, I changed it for that thread.
Only to find out people made a comment when I changed it back!
So I did a "power to the people" thing - but I still wonder if my avatar has the "gravitar-ness" for comments I make.
April 27, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
One vote for the Rodin avatar, clearthinker. The first comment of yours I noticed insightfully cut through the brush on some issue or other, and I thought how appropriate both your name and avatar were. I've been thrown off by the change, didn't realize it was you.
April 27, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I second wayitwas. I also liked the Rodin. It went well with your name and thoughtful commentary.
April 27, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
So noted!
April 27, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I vote for Kool-Aid Man. It goes hand in hand with your new strategy to posting. It wasn't lost on me how your last energy post masqueraded as a political essay on Obama. It's like hiding underneath the Kool-Aid is a Rodin-- grand postmodern irony.
April 27, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm for them. But please, no people now deceased. Too creepy.
April 27, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Che is deceased.
April 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
umm.....see below
April 27, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would love to have an avatar, but I'm technologically challenged. What I need is an Idiot's Guide to Avatars - you know, everything spelled out in a very S I M P L E way:
Step 1. Do this
Step 2. Do that
Step 3. Now do this
Thanks!
April 27, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) Choose your picture, either from your own collection or through google images. If you find one on google images right click it and choose "save picture as", name it and save it to a location on your computer.
2) In the top right portion of the pages here you will see Your Profile (edit). Click on edit.
3) On the edit page down a ways is a small field called Photo (max 64 pixels wide):, click on the browse button.
4) Browse to the photo of your choice, highlight it and choose open.
Note: If you get an error try several more times. For some reason I didn't get mine on until the 4th or 5th try. There are also size limitations.
April 27, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm no computer wiz, but this should work.
(1) Get yourself the picture you want on your desktop as a .jpeg
(2) Open it in a graphics program. I have Photoshop.
(3) Use the "image size" command.
(4) Adjust the width to a size BELOW what the maximum TPM allows. (I think it's 61 pixels.)
(5)Choose an even number. When both the width and height
are EVEN numbers, try posting it. If that doesn't work, adjust again with smaller/ Keep trying.
Hopefully someone smarter here will fine tune this for you. But they have a clique that takes pride in making others seem weak without computer savvy. It's an iPhone and "I'm smart you're not" kind of thing.
April 27, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh, gosh and darn it..
I guess the word isn't out.
That picture of Che "dead" on the table in Bolivia was a fake. Today he's in the poster business, so I hear.
April 27, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
My Dad was a Cuban Revolutionary. He didn't know Che, but he was sorry he died.
April 27, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bless your father.
April 27, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He gave up everything he'd ever had to help those less fortunate than he was.
I don't think I'll ever be able to live up to that. Talk about being tough. He put his life on the line for people he didn't even know.
I miss him, a lot.
April 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The days when people on the left risked their lives for others is long gone with some notable exceptions. That risk was made all the more profound since few believed in an afterlife. A long way from Avatars and Starbucks.
April 27, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on donnerpass. Get your old white ass down from the hills and meet me at the Glenwood and we can go canvass the gang hangouts for Obama votes. I'll get you killed. But stop the recycle sermon. That ship has sailed on a melted glacier.
April 27, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, Frieda is dead, too
April 27, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
My list wasn't all-inclusive by any means of the posters who have impressed me. I ran out of time before I ran out of names, spent way too much time trying to find the name of rocket man, which I found today: PF Harlock, the Radical Left Conservative Moderate posting from Tokyo, Portland, San Francisco, and Anaheim.
I do appreciate all the posters who put time and effort into providing wit and wisdom on TPM, and a special thanks to rabbitsmorgasbord, whose post on the night of the Pennsylvania primary probably added years to my life.
April 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well heck, you're impressive. Put yourself on the list.
:)
Nice thread, and thanks. I like my new avatar better, and I wouldn't have even really considered changing it if not for this thread.
I'm happier now....Thanks.
April 27, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, congratulations, you managed leave me off your list of 59 special avatars, but I figure I was probably right there on the tip of your tongue.... perhaps I haven't been disturbing enough. Viddy well, me droogies, viddy well.
April 27, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
So where's your CLOCKWORK ORANGE avatar then?
April 27, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
License fee too expensive, so I went for a cheap imitation.
April 27, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You left me out too.
Perhaps I need a more outrageous avatar. This is my first one. I notice that people change avatars every so often. Do they undergo a sudden personality shift when they make an avatar shift?
April 27, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's an interesting question. As several people noted above, their choice of avatar may have a censoring effect on their comments, and they may express a different point of view or be perceived differently when their avatar changes.
April 27, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I found I made more friends and cured premature balding. Your mileage may vary.
April 27, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have mixed feelings about the animated avatars. They're technically clever and interesting, but can be distracting and stress-inducing. On another thread ErgoQuid, seconded by FreeBubba, asked:
April 27, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where's the fun in that? An avatar-induced seizure is free speech just like any other form. Geez, the Internets have gone so AOL these days. Should we have mandatory RSI classes and wear full body padding? And "intrusive and distracting"? Well excuse the fuck out of me, I didn't realize you were trying to sleep. Here, let me turn the lights down real low....
[If this is actually serious, animated GIFs and Flash can be disabled in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera. Google "Disable animations browser" or something like that.]
April 27, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, my daughter has epilepsy, and she doesn't really get seizures from flashing lights, but, they do make her jumpy, and nervous that she might.
I'll disable that, it's good to know. The stuff she looks at is far more distracting then your shimmering lil ol thing.
April 27, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, I'm looking. I'm on Safari, but haven't found anything that works yet.
April 27, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
For anyone else that uses IE or Firefox, you can find info here:
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/efforums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=77378
On how to disable animation.
April 27, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, I'll try it. Just a plain escape used to work, but it seems to be a moving target.
April 27, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
In IE, Firefox and Opera, it's a menu option, you don't need an add-on
April 28, 2008 1:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is my second avatar.
April 27, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like it. Let them eat cake.
April 27, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love Evainne's avatar, but I liked the other one better.
Now I'm wondering if I should switch back to Louise, but I actually took another picture with the computer and played with it and I'm going to try it.
Last night it took me an hour to get the damn edit page to let me edit my profile by changing the picture, but I guess I 'll try again.
April 29, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
The original was an eye-catcher, very distinctive. Pictures come and go, but your comments are always on target.
April 29, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the list of fine posters encouraged to get an avatar, so we don't miss any words of wisdom, I correct Womanand57 to 57andFemale, and add "tarnish":
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/for-obama-supporters-feeling-w.php
April 29, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey... I know you all hate me enough to ignore me. I denounce and reject you. Smart people with smart avatars don't matter either.
April 30, 2008 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is 3 am. Where is my "nomination" damn it....
Please, please, I will say anything (and do anything) to get my name up here.
April 30, 2008 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
WTF??? It is 8 hrs 34 min since my 3.00 am call and yet no response ?.....
Yep, I am shameless and I pander to all who matter (for the moment...)
April 30, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am a fighter!!! I won't let go till I am "nominated". Yapp, Yapp.
April 30, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are we there yet? - you had me at 3AM, literally - TPM wouldn't accept responses from my Safari browser last night, and still won't tonight (Error: size of header exceeds limit, etc.) I've now commandeered a PC with Internet Explorer, which seems to be working.
If you read everything above, you realize that my list was not comprehensive by any means. I was limited in part to people I could find on recent threads so I could get their names right, and by the short amount of time I had before leaving for a movie (The Counterfeiters). (A belated nod to freaktown, A Missouri Voter, Buckeye Nation, CT Voter, hoppy2california, middlenamesareseriousbusiness, LeroyS, Carol Soprano, seashell, jefo, girl from the bronx, and Lestatdelc). The main purpose of giving examples of posters with avatars was to encourage those without avatars (e.g. flufferwink, Economides, IDB) to go out and find one.
I've reviewed your comments and welcome you enthusiastically to the ever-growing list of fine TPM posters with keen avatars. I especially like your comment:
which I plan to use often. I also belatedly recommended your post: Clinton Catchphrases this primary (that will live happily everafter) at:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/clinton-catchphrases-this-prim.php
I hope you're keeping up the list for historical purposes, with appropriate examples of use in context.
Don't be a stranger. Feel free to add other names, or to single out especially noteworthy comments that many of us may have missed.
April 30, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
thx wayitwas for especially catching the 3 am moment. I had to wait for the "3 am" moment literally to post it.
Ah, my first and only post - a la - catch phrases. I knew it would come back to bite me. So true of my avatar.
May 1, 2008 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fluffer wnet & got a cool avatar now.
May 1, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just to be clear - you realize there are no actual delegates awarded on this thread?
May 1, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
No delegates??? Aw shucks.. Then. I guess this blog doesn't matter either. I am off to some huntin' and shootin'/snark (in case you miss it)
May 1, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to Frank Mullen III, who put up his first TPM post today (and made it to the recommended list)!
And thank you to jdw112 for this comment, posted today:
May 8, 2008 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best line ever, from:
The Commander-in-Chief Threshold
By roo_P - August 27, 2008
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/the-commanderinchief-threshold.php
August 27, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't know what happened there. The quote is:
"John McCain has also apparently stepped over the Commander-in-Chief threshold. The problem is that John McCain was going the wrong way."
August 28, 2008 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
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