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I’m always hearing tales of people who meet, date for three months, get engaged, and then get married three months after that.

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*snicker*

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I like the world, and the color scheme is fine. Get rid of the banner ads, though.

What content do you want on your home page? The hand is cool-looking, but content is important.

[ October 07, 2003, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
 

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Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
 
i'm still waiting for artwork, boy.
 

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Posted by Shameless Self-Promotion (Member # 4919) on :
 
Yes, Katie, the irony is almost mind-boggling.

Unless I decide to pay for hosting, it's either banner ads or pop-ups on every page. I hate pop-ups, so I chose banners. I'm still not sure what to do with the home page, though. It definitely needs something, though. Suggestions?

celia, what did I say about pointing out my picturelessness? I need to steal my brother's digital camera for a little while. I also need to get the photo CD from the wedding and reception. Patience.

[ October 07, 2003, 06:09 PM: Message edited by: Shameless Self-Promotion ]
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
Eh, it isn't really irony. You wrote about a subject that was important to you, and in the above sentence, even though you were single, there is a whisper of wistfulness. You commented on the social structure as someone who wanted to join the parade. I'd be surprised if the events had been anything else.

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I can't find anything quickly. *misses Kayla*

Your home page is the page people see when they first come. There should be a clear navigation structure that lets people know what is in the site, a way to contact you, links (headlines) to prime content somewhere within the site, something distinctive (a picture or something), and a something to read (look at, vote in) that changes often.

And a tag line.

This is only if you want your site to be an active site that people return to. If you want it to be an electronic business card/resume/portfolio (which is what mine was), there is less need for changing content. People will probably only come once or twice or when you send out or post a link to it. This is considerably less work than an active site. It all depends on what you want to do with it.

I still like the idea of a tag line.

Jon Boy. His Work and His Story.

Something like that.

[ October 07, 2003, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
 

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Posted by msakaseg (Member # 3826) on :
 
You know, I never noticed before, but in your engagement photo, your torso looks huge. Is it just the way your shirt is hanging, or do you actually have a freakishly long torso?

My thoughts on your web site:

• I like the overall design, although more content would be nice.
• If you want much repeat traffic you might want to consider adding some sort of regular update, like a column, or serial story, or something like that.
• You might want to recode your links to external sites to open a new window, at least the ones that are in the middle of a big block of text (such as your kakistocracy or philologist links to dictionary.com). That will enhance readability.
• You didn't list any of OSC's books among your favorites on your "The Glorious Present" page. This isn't so much a complaint as just a surprised comment.
• Your rollover images load very slowly. You might want to try adding some code to preload them.
• In general you might want to consider standardizing your navigation menu. It's one thing to have the menu on the front page be unique, but there are some minor differences between the menus on some of the pages. A unified style would pull everything together, I think.
• You don't have to put up pictures right away, but at least give us something to look at while you're working on it, even if it's just a blank page that says "Go away, I'm not done yet."
• I dig the page title logos. Very slick.
• Add more links.

• Yes, my shirt is hanging funny. My torso is slightly long, but not freakishly long.
• I'm slowly working on content. I like the regular update idea, though. I'll work on that.
• How do I make links open in new windows? I'm rather new to HTML.
• I left out lots of my favorite books. I just listed several that came to mind. I can certainly add some Orson Scott Card stuff, though.
• The images should be preloading (Dreamweaver says they are, anyway). I don't know what the problem is.
• What do you mean about the navigation? Are you referring to the fact that when you're on the About Me page, for instance, there's no navigation button for About Me? If you're talking about the three-part biography pages or writing pages, then it's simply because I haven't changed those yet.
• I'll link to the very old Photo Album page for the meantime.
• Thanks. I'm quite pleased with the title logos.
• More links coming soon!

• Phew! Well that's a relief.
• Cool.
• Your typical anchor tag reads like this: <a href="http://www.site.com/page.htm">. To make the link open a new window, do this: <a href="http://www.site.com/page.htm" target="_top">.
• Eh, it may just be my browser. But I've noticed in my own history with JavaScript that rollovers can be very finicky. For some reason even the same code on two different servers can behave differently.
• Some of the sub-pages, such as your writings or your bio pages, have bare links instead of images for the navigation menu. Leaving off the current page is pretty standard, though, so I don't think that hurts the design.
• Right on.
• You're welcome.
• Oaxaca.

 

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Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
 
you're such a tease. none of those pictures load.
 

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Posted by Shameless Self-Promotion (Member # 4919) on :
 
Ha ha. I forgot that I had deleted all of those pictures from the directory.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
"I want Mrs. Roach to know that when I enter the workforce as a skilled editor, I will make more money than her."

*polite cough*
I hate to point something out to, y'know, the freakin' index to The Chicago Manual of Style, but something's wrong there.
 

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Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
 

quote:

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A strange thing has happened to me since becoming engaged: I no longer sympathize with single people. Not in the least, to be honest.

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Funny. When I became a parent, I stopped sympathizing with people who don't have kids. You have no idea how mind-numbing it is to hear someone say "I just don't think I can make it. I just miss my boyfriend so much and I feel lonely. How can I finish school so far away from home? I'm too sad to make it to class on time, and I'm failing them all. I think I should just go home." I want to say "Get over it! Just do what you have to do!" I cannot feel sorry for someone who thinks their life is hard when they have NEVER once done something they didn't want to do. When they can get up six times in the night with a screaming baby and THEN get up six MORE times with a toddler that won't go to bed, and clean the house on the power of one hour of sleep, then maybe I'll listen to them whining. But I'll bet MONEY they won't be whining about that unimportant crap anymore.

/rant

[ October 08, 2003, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: MaureenJanay ]
 

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Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
 
Maureen, I think you should know that I found your post absolutely beautiful.
 

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Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
Sorry, I don't rate the websites of joke-stealers.


 

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Posted by Emperor Palpatine (Member # 3544) on :
 
Funny; I didn't. You can't expect people to be able to handle things like separation anxiety and homesickness as well as you Maureen, seeing that you've obviously developed such psychic muscles against exhaustion and hardship. It's all relative to what they've known; excuse me if you were one of the ones who was able to handle it entirely level-head, provided you experienced anything similar.

And not everyone who has those feelings you want to "FREAKING tell them to stop whining about" has never done anything they never wanted to do.

[ October 07, 2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Emperor Palpatine ]
 

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Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
 
DD, err...BS...wait...I like DD better.

LOL, My husband just asked who Brinestone was. I'm like, "It's Diosm...uh, she's married to...ummm... It's a chick, Jes." There's nothing I can say that will give him a clue to who you are. I just find that amusing.

Oh, and Emp. I've never said that to anyone, least of all the people who are talking to me. It's just what I'm thinking when they're saying it. So sue me. You telling me you've NEVER had an uncharitable feeling or thought? I do care that people are upset or sad, and I feel bad for people who are having a bad time, regardless of the reason. My rant was about "people who don't do what they know they should do." And you KNOW they should be doing it. So there.

[ October 07, 2003, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: MaureenJanay ]
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
What the freak was that? What are you talking about - what they should do?

Added: Okay, I just read Emp's post. Was that serious? Was MJ's rant sincere? I read it thinking that no one would post something so insensitive and nasty unless it was a parody, but in the context of a parody, none of the rest of the posts made sense. You mean it wasn't? Was DD's post? Please?

*awed*

Thank you, Daisy Buchanan. I hate it when my worst suspicions about human beings are confirmed.

[ October 07, 2003, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
 

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Posted by msakaseg (Member # 3826) on :
 

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I cannot feel sorry for someone who thinks their life is hard when they have NEVER once done something they didn't want to do.

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I couldn't agree with you more, Maureen. No one ever does anything they don't want to before they have kids. Life before kids is all happy fun-land where nobody has any responsibilities that matter. I really love this mind-numbing, soul-swallowing corporate job of mine. I just adore pinching pennies to pay my bills. Nope, no responsibility in being the sole earner in the house.

[ October 07, 2003, 09:03 PM: Message edited by: msakaseg ]
 

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Posted by Max Factor (Member # 5474) on :
 
If you want my honest opinion on you website, I utterly disliked it. When I was 10 years old, I could make a better layout than that. Well you learn lessons from your mistakes and soon enough you will make a better one.
 

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Posted by Emperor Palpatine (Member # 3544) on :
 
Maureen, your post came across as incredibly insensitive to people who have those feelings (whether you do feel for these people or not), and there are innumerable people out there still doing what needs to be done and feeling exactly the way in the example you presented. And yes, I have as much right to attack any of your own uncharitable thoughts as you have the right to do the same towards mine.

And, though this may be a bit of a stretch, were you implying that having a child was something you didn't want to do? Or did you not want to wake up several times at night for your children? Otherwise, your reasoning isn't making much sense to me.
 

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Posted by msakaseg (Member # 3826) on :
 
Max Factor, I'm not normally this direct, but I sure hope that your post was some kind of a weird joke. If not, you can feel free to shut up and go away until you learn a little tact.
 

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Posted by Shameless Self-Promotion (Member # 4919) on :
 
Guys, don't take over my thread and turn it into a nasty, hurtful discussion.

Max Factor, do you have anything useful to say? I could tell you that when I was ten years old, I could write better than you can, but that wouldn't help you at all.

Jeni, thanks for telling me about Netfirms. My site is enjoying its new home.

[ October 07, 2003, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Shameless Self-Promotion ]
 

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Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
 
JonBoy,

I like the over all design of the site. It's very easy on the eyes. The colors are a nice choice (big fan of blue on black). The rollovers, however, are... well I am not really sure what to make of them. I mean all they are are symbols. And the fact that they show up off to the left is a bit disconcerting. Perhaps centering the symbols would make it less so. (This of course could be just me and therefore could be regarded as the ramblings of an insane person .)

Content is funny and interesting. I do love the haiku.

(Psst... some of your links on your pictures area are not working, but as you said, it's all a work in progress.) Good luck with the site.

Oh, and I believe <a href="http://www.site.com/page.htm" target="_blank"> will get a link to open in a new page (among other ways). <a href="http://www.site.com/page.htm" target="_top"> will open a link in the same window, and it can be useful for breaking out of frames.
 

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Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
 

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Or did you not want to wake up several times at night for your children?

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quote:

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When they can get up six times in the night with a screaming baby and THEN get up six MORE times with a toddler that won't go to bed, and clean the house on the power of one hour of sleep, then maybe I'll listen to their stupid whining.

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Guess you've never been a camp counselor

Edited to say that the website rocks, keep up the good work!

[ October 08, 2003, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: * ]
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 

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I'm talking about people who do not have any clue about the way the world works, and I really don't know why.

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Then use your imagination. It's okay to understand someone's reasoning without accepting or condoning it.

I have a roommate whose favorite adjective is nuts. Everything is nuts. Everything she doesn't approve of, doesn't understand, or wouldn't do is simply crazy. It makes for a very boring conversation, actually, but more than that, it removes the onus of trying to understand. You don't have to be compassionate, understanding, or forgiving if the other person is simply crazy and you're much to sane to ever get it. That's not a pretty trait. You can be successful and happy without rejecting as crazy those who aren't.

[ October 08, 2003, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: katharina ]
 

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Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
 
What I meant by my post was that I'd been feeling a little whiny over the past few days because I'm busy and don't have time for writing and spending as much time with Jon Boy as I'd like. I was put out by homework and dishes, and I needed her reminder that I need to buck up and stop feeling sorry for myself just because I have to do a few things I don't want to do.

I wasn't saying I agreed with everything she said; I was saying her post spoke to me.
 

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Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
JonBoy,

Wow! You're studying Welsh? My oldest son (sophomore in college) just asked me yesterday if there was anyone in the area who could teach him Welsh -- none of the universities here offer it. (you aren't planning a road trip to Kansas, are you?)

I liked your website overall. It seemed a little "dark", as a contrast to what I read as a pretty bright personality. I enjoyed reading your bio pages (although I was a dork and went from the middle section BACK to the early years, because I didn't scroll down enough to realize there was another link below to the "present" years -- my mistake).

Keep working on it!

Farmgirl
 

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Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
Larisse, the reason that the rollovers even exist is that I discovered that I could make rollovers. For some reason, they please me, even though they're rather pointless. But thanks for the HTML advice.

Farmgirl, I am sorry to say that very few places offer Welsh. And no, I'm not coming to Kansas to teach it, especially since I can barely count to ten right now. Sorry.

And I realize that the site is rather dark, which might not be an accurate representation of my personality, but like the rollover buttons, I just like it. Maybe I'll play around with the color scheme and come up with something better.

Now with domain-name goodness.

[ October 08, 2003, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Jon Boy ]
 

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Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
Okay, all you web gurus. How do I create a page that will automatically redirect traffic from my old URL to my new one? (You know what I mean, right? One of those pages that says, "Jon Boy's World has moved to www.galacticcactus.com. If you're not transferred in a few seconds, click this link.")
 

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Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
 
Shouldn't your old web host have that option? Or are you your own web host?
 

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Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
 
Put the following into the header section of your html file:

meta http-equiv="refresh" content="10;URL=http://www.galacticcactus.com"

(You will have to remember to put angle brackets around it. UBB won't let me do it here.)

The number in the meta tag is the number of seconds before the redirect.
 

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