The Off-Topic Topic...?

spawnofjaws · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject:

**hugs tin**
I don't know what you're talking about, either, but I know hugs help everything...except broken backs and necks....
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Tinalles · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject:

Okay, here's a breakdown of my annoyances in more detail for people who don't know the code.

1) The site uses tables for layout. That is, the site's been written as a series of tables nested within one another. Here's a pic showing all the table cells they've used:

Red table cells are top-level; green indicates tables cells which are nested inside other table cells.

Most of those table cells are only there for adding space, for example the space in between the body text and the links off on the right. This isn't what HTML tables were designed for -- they were designed for displaying tabular data. Using tables for layout like this has several major disadvantages. They're hard to maintain (which is not really an issue on this site because it's basically one single page), they require a LOT more code than is actually needed, and they're slow to render.

Back when the web was first getting started, tables were the only way anybody had to actually do layout at all. In their time, they were the only thing going. But that time is long past. We have style sheets now, which let you achieve the same effect with substantially less code, which is easier to maintain to boot.

2) They're using spacer GIFs. That is, some of the cells contain an invisible image called "pixel.gif" whose dimensions have been set to a specified size in order force the table cells to a particular width or height. Here's a picture showing the spacer GIFs:

Spacer GIFs and layout tables go hand-in-hand. Note that the site explicitly promotes the use of spacer GIFs (hence the big "PIXEL.GIF" badge, which, while we're on the topic, has misspelled the word "designer" as "deesnider").

That's fine, except that spacer GIFs are just as obsolete as using tables for layout. And if you fail to set ALT text on them, as many web designers do, they cause major accessibility problems. Which brings us to ...

3) Bad ALT text. The "alt" or "alternate" text is a textual description of the image. It's used for several things: if the image fails to load for some reason, the ALT text serves as a replacement so you can at least get an idea what was there. Google and other search engines use the ALT text as a source of keywords describing the image, so that they can tell what it is. And blind people who are listening to the page read aloud have to have ALT text, otherwise the screen reader will recite the image's full path and file name.

Adding ALT text is usually very simple. The HTML looks like this:

Tyris · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:58 am Post subject:

And they can't spell "designer."

At least, we assume that's what "deesnider" is meant to mean.
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spellingmistax · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:57 am Post subject:

Tin, did you notice the part where I said ‘blissful ignorance’?. This is a dramatization of what happened while I was reading your post.

Spellingmistax was happily and joyously wandering around in blissful ignorance. Then along came Tin (the villain, boo hiss) with stompy boots of knowledge and a big club of relevant information and in a voice filled with authority, dramatically stated, “Flee happy ignorance, for you have no place here”. Tin then proceeded to crush ignorance beneath their booted heel, all the while hitting Spellingmistax with relevant information and speaking thusly “This is why”. When Spellingmistax woke up all that was left of ignorance was an understanding of why Tin hated the site and a nagging suspicion that Tin had done him a favor.

Two things about the above post. 1) It was written on a whim. 2) It could be summed up by saying; That does clear things up admirably.
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while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax

Asa · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:

Two things, Anthrax: 1) "That was written on a whim," not "on a whimsy," and 2) Tin's major function is to explain things nobody needs to know in a way that allows us to explain it to someone else.

And I loved your metaphor. It was hilarious. ^_^
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Tinalles · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

Heh. Back in the old forum before the crash of '07, somebody once accused me of wielding an Analysis Bazooka against hapless forumers. That made me laugh. In fiendish glee, of course. >:-D
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Miho · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:38 am Post subject:

Speaking of glee.... has anyone seen that new t.v. show Glee?

I have not yet seen it but I hear mixed reviews about it. Right now I'm watching a series called Dead Like Me and my friend told me to watch Glee online when I get a chance, but I don't know if I can bring myself to watch it. P.s. yes I'm addicted to online t.v. shows.
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spellingmistax · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

Thanks Asa it has been edited, and thanks for the complement. Also, Tin is very good at that function.

an Analysis Bazooka *whishes he had cool weapons of that sort*

Can't say I have Miho, sorry.
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"He gave you a life and you should cherish that treasure." - Benny

while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax

Tinu. · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

Psst. The crash happened in February 2008! *flees*

Hmm, so it's a show, I've been wondering what it was. No, I haven't heard any reviews on it. I've heard good things about Dead Like Me though - I've been wanting to watch it. Do you give a recommendation?
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Miho · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

I give mucho recommendations para that one. Hulu's got both seasons. However, it's for mature audiences. Meaning, lots of language and once in a blue moon there's some... ehm. adult content. So far in only two episodes.

I would also like to give a shout out to Dr. Horribles Sing-Along Blog, Firefly, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer... and yes... I'm aware that's all Joss Whedon shtuff... but he's a genius. Straight up.
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theBSDude · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

Statement:

Ducks are the cutest birds.

Rebuttal?
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Nem · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 2115 Location: England

Ducks are a synthetic concept, an amalgam of sense data given general form by equating that which is not equal - this thing over here to that thing over there - at a general level. 'Duck' is just a way you think about a certain pattern in the world, cuteness a relationship. Your eyes gaze only across the surface of things, picking out forms and concepts, properties and relations. The only way you can have a truth in that sense is by self-deception.
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theBSDude · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Hmm, agree.

Counter Argument:

Chickens look like dinosaurs.
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Keeper of the Tristam, The Amazing Non-Emo Vampire!(tm) and a Massive List of Webcomics.

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spellingmistax · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject:

What do I counter? I have no idea what dinosaurs looked like, they may well have looked like chickens.
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"He gave you a life and you should cherish that treasure." - Benny

while Udina asked the usual inane civilian things that came about while under attack: "What's happening? Who is shooting at us? I'm squishy and not wearing armor and I'm a liability, get me to safety, etc.
dubbed Anthrax by Asa
Spellingmistax = mistax = ax = anthrax

Tinu. · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject:

Correction: Chickens resemble Dodos. And Dodos resemble Oviraptors.
Though I suppose that does mean that chickens look like dinosaurs - in that case, the above is more of a clarification.

EDIT: This is an excellent site to look up Dino pics.
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