Disqus - Friends of michaeltwofish

Re: how to create perfect tables in WordPress - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:15:53 -0000

Yes - unless more recent versions of WordPress have added table support in the WYSIWYG editor.

Re: 25 reasons you should use Disqus - Digging in a Habari sandpit

andycowl — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:47:57 -0000

What is say is all very true. So true in fact, you wonder why Disqus can't implement those heuristics into their anti-spam measures. If a spammer leaves identical comments on N different blogs within the last N hours then clearly that is spam.

Re: dyslexic graffiti - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:30:53 -0000

Eat up your greens, David. There'll be no pudding for you until all those those peas have been eaten up. Open wide now - here comes the Choo Choo.

Re: how I ditched Windows and embraced Gloria - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:40:01 -0000

I'll be posting more about my day to day experiences with Mint. After all, the courtship and first date is one thing but there's simply no substitute for living with someone for a whole week.

I was pleasantly surprised about how much of Mint just worked out of the box. I guess the only installation steps that might intimidate newcomers is 'Partition Disks' but you get that if you are installing Windows.

Thanks for being the freedom loving angel perched on my left shoulder responsible for these voices in my head :-)

Re: Yak shaving - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:41:49 -0000

Yes. Yak shaving comes into all facets of life. I will be eternally grateful to Michael for introducing me to the term.

Re: how I ditched iTunes and started living with Foobar 2000 - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:57:34 -0000

With FB2K or Icecast ? Remember - you don't actually need a reason to play with technology - it's just fun.

For example, yesterday I spontaneously decided to ditch Windows and am now running Linux on my home PC. This means all that hard work with Foobar wil be for nothing. But still, it was fun :-)

Re: how I ditched iTunes and started living with Foobar 2000 - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:03:50 -0000

Steve. No direct experience but this Foobar component might be useful.

I have also heard good reports about Icecast.

Let us know how it works out.

Re: how I ditched iTunes and started living with Foobar 2000 - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:26:18 -0000

I have played with Songbird in the past but didn't really take to it and I also saw similar comments that recent releases are turning SB into a true iTunes clones (slow and bloated) but it was on my list of potential candidates.

Re: how I ditched iTunes and started living with Foobar 2000 - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:24:43 -0000

In my non-existent 'Cons' section, I should have stated that Foobar is Windows only and for all freedom lovers out there it is closed source.

I've just had a look at Musikcube which looks good but active development appears to have halted in December 2006 which is a slight concern and it isn't clear whether there is any iPod support.

Re: how I ditched iTunes and started living with Foobar 2000 - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:33:18 -0000

Yes. I've run Ubuntu on both work and home PC's and considered migrating permanently but I'd have to move my wife's email out of Outlook Express (via Thunderbird) and photos etc but yeah, I am keen to run Linux at home.

As for work, if I had the time to build a Virtual environment for the necessary Windows stuff (Siebel Tools) that would also be possible.

Re: Create a Lifestream in Less than a Minute with Ident Engine

andycowl — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:49:28 -0000

Habari Watch

Re: Create a Lifestream in Less than a Minute with Ident Engine

andycowl — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:16:52 -0000

Installed the plugin on my Habari blog and I really like it.

You can see at a glance whether a commenter is on identi.ca/FriendFeed/Twitter etc.

Re: top 10 concerts of all time - Digging in a Habari sandpit

andycowl — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:45:06 -0000

Hi John - Yes. I'm originally from Stockport. Curiously enough, I inadvertently took your advice and saw The Fall (after a lengthy absence) at Kentish Town.

As John Peel said, 'always the same, always different'.

Hope you enjoy the gig in Leeds.

Re: a night at The Office - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:41:08 -0000

I don't need to - 'the guy from The 40 Year Old Virgin plays the lead.'

Re: a night at The Office - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:36:28 -0000

Maybe for original work but surely not for pale imitations.

Re: a night at The Office - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:28:09 -0000

I love The Office/Extras and I've listened to some of Ricky Gervais' podcasts with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington which are OK but are too long and a little self-indulgent.

I must admit I have never watched the US version of 'The Office'. It would be like a karaoke band covering The Chameleons. Sacrilege.

Re: I don’t feel safe with Wordpress, hackers broke in and took things

andycowl — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:53:05 -0000

Thomas - sorry to hear of your troubles. However, WP upgrade is a 1-button click. Unless you have a variety of plugins that don't work with the latest version (if this is the case, consider ditching them), it is seamless, quick and reliable for me.

In fact, as I don't even use WP, it's probably the single feature I miss most in Habari :-)

How could WP make upgrades any easier unless they booked an appointment and came round in person to upgrade your blog ?

Re: Why JS-Kit and Echo is doomed - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:33:07 -0000

Nicholas - Thanks for popping by. Apart from the ridiculous name and the vacuous video, YooMoot sounds interesting.

Although I don't get enough re-tweets and FriendFeed, I really like the way Disqus separates such 'Reactions' into a different section from true comments. That is exactly as it should be IMHO.

I don't quite understand how you are going to merge blog posts with rre-tweets and comments into a 'coherent conversation' so will follow developments with interest.

Re: Disqus version 3: Introducing Disqus Comments and Disqus Profile

andycowl — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:11:28 -0000

Thanks for the reply but any chance of answers to my questions :-)

Re: 25 reasons you should use Disqus - Digging in a Habari sandpit

andycowl — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:52:25 -0000

I haven't used JS-Kit/Echo although I did recently post about it. Disqus and Echo are both hosted services so are subject to the three issues above.

The recently launched Disqus V3 didn't actually add much functionality - it broke the product into two logical services, overhauled the UI and improved the anti-spam measures.

The only difference for the commenter was that comments appear immediately without the need for a refresh.

Also, note that JS-Kit/Echo talks about 'real time aggregation' but that is a premium service ($98 per year) whereas Disqus is free.

I also like the fact that Disqus calls such links from Twitter, FriendFeed etc as 'Reaction's and lists them separately from true comments. That is a very important distinction IMHO.

Re: Disqus version 3: Introducing Disqus Comments and Disqus Profile

andycowl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:30 -0000

Yes - what I meant when I said over on GR: 'Pity I'll never get to see real-time comments on my blog' was that I don't get enough traffic and have enough time to sit there with a cup of tea and watch comments and reactions collect on my blog in real-time :-)

And, of course, the real killer for JS-Kit/Echo who make so much noise about 'real time' comments is the price. Free with Disqus, $100 per year for Echo. I know which one I'm using.

Re: Disqus version 3: Introducing Disqus Comments and Disqus Profile

andycowl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:55:23 -0000

Worked fine. No refresh and posted immediately. Cool.

Re: Who’s in Your Gang?

andycowl — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:24:52 -0000

Jake - you're right. People are quick to criticise and slow to say 'Thank you' so here goes.

I've always enjoyed Louis Gray's blog and he played a big part in my adoption of FriendFeed and again, more recently, with Google Reader's social features.

I also think there's an element of 'Clash on TOTP syndrome' too. The early adopters tend to be torn between the niche service (identi.ca, FriendFeed) making it successful and keeping it all to themselves as the world's best kept secret. Or maybe it's just me :-)

Re: Who’s in Your Gang?

andycowl — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:17:12 -0000

Psst - just so you know. Gary Glitter was convicted of sexual offences with minors.

Re: why Rugby Union is a complete joke - Blog in isolation

andycowl — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:52:17 -0000

Cross-dressing was always reserved for Rag Week.

Twenty years on and I still return every year without fail. In a lovely floral summer dress, stockings and high heels.