Adding quick html buttons (4.00 / 2)

for pictures, embedded video, links,

much like the ones for italics, block quote, and bold.

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by: Paul Goodman @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 00:56:11 AM UTC

Ability to change your username (0.00 / 0)

That might take a bit of work, or it might be totally easy to do. But it would be quite nice. :)

Join the fight to give students a real voice on campus: Forstudentpower.org.

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by: Liberaltarian @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 01:34:58 AM UTC

"it would be quite nice" What for? (0.00 / 0)

For making jokes with your username? Because people can't decide which name they wanna use? Really, what for?

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by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:02:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

comment threading (4.00 / 2)

such that it doesn't all bunch up into a tiny little 10-character-wide section of the page after it gets a few levels deep.

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by: ccarollo @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 02:47:40 AM UTC

using the existing code, one thing you can do (0.00 / 0)

is, if you click on the 'timestamp' link of a comment, it will then make that comment into the new comment on the leftmost margin, thereby expanding everything to the right of it.

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by: Valatan @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 03:04:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Mobile access (0.00 / 0)

One thing I do like about the current format is that the download time on a smart-phone type device is very fast, even where reception is not the best (more so than say DailyKos or 538).  Please make sure that any enhancements either a)Are not so heavy (with graphics and the like)as to slow-down downloads or b) Have an alternate URL (like m.huffpost.com)as a stripped down version which would enable fast downloads to your smart-phone/PDA

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by: Contrabass @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 05:46:28 AM UTC

Very fast? (0.00 / 0)

I think the site is pretty slow to load, both on my computer and on my iPhone.  I think having a mobile version would be great.

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by: rickd24 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 05:22:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You already have a long list. (0.00 / 0)

How about firstly getting this basic stuff done before asking for further ideas? Remember, many fixes take longer than expected, and the fist solution often is not the most convincing one! And, I guess, most users simply want those problems fixed that already have been posted in one of the three (?) open threads you already started. Don't think many here want a total overhaul of the site. Beware of disimprovement! Don't change a winning system....

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by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:07:42 AM UTC

Oh, and once again, DON'T hire a consultant! (4.00 / 1)

This project isn't big enough for a mere adviser being useful. You need someone who can do the code himself. Adding another layer of "management" will just result in screwups, longer timelines, and a waste of money.

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by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:27:55 AM UTC

It's a small thing but..... (0.00 / 0)

On other sites when I click on the "discuss" or "readmore" buttons it enters the thread then automatically scrolls down to the end of the text presented on the front page si Can jst carry on reading where I left off on the FP.

On open left it just puts you in the thread and you have to scroll down yourself to find where you had left off. Small but annoying, expecially on internet phones.

It's quite a simple fix. Just involves adding #tags to the URL and article text.

Just thought you might like to know, it bugs the hell out of me for some reason.

Yours,

TGP

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by: TheGreasyPole @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:31:59 PM UTC

Issues don't die... they just go into Archives (0.00 / 0)

1.   Most articles in the front lines seem to have an incredibly limited time for response, I think a couple of weeks. This is particularly bad because such topics to which postings have been prematurely closed, are like a sore wound get closed with peroxide without healing.

2.   Such issues don't die. They need to stay in the front line, and allow continued comments, to where they result in some action. For example, The financial executive compensation issue, keeps coming up, and it's never been resolved, but articles and their comments have sunk into archival oblivion.

There should be something like "Pages" in wiki software where an issue can be continuously explored, and comments and articles get added to the package, to eventually become a dossier that can be used to spearhead some meaningful action.

3.  The search feature is hardly a search feature with any teeth. One should be able to search by topic, by tag, by author, and it should include not just diaries and comments, but main page articles, by date range, by authors, and some more that I can't think about now, but that I've submitted again and again over the months.  

A National Progressive Alliance, is the only viable solution.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/...

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by: boldhawk @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 14:34:18 PM UTC

How about a spell checker (0.00 / 0)

Even if you can't add one for the comments, some of the bloggers really need to use one before they post.  It's tough to take someone seriously when their spelling is so poor.

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by: rickd24 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 05:26:02 AM UTC