tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post115219620020626825..comments2023-10-31T11:37:50.028-04:00Comments on on life & other inconveniences: Like Calling a Slide Show A Television ProgramSandra Ruttanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152316420682774812006-07-07T19:53:00.001-04:002006-07-07T19:53:00.001-04:00Ooops, that would be Myers. But at least those go...Ooops, that would be Myers. But at least those googling won't find my site by accident.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152316398995979962006-07-07T19:53:00.000-04:002006-07-07T19:53:00.000-04:00Amra, if you read Cornelia's book, the little pict...Amra, if you read Cornelia's book, the little pictures even make sense!<BR/><BR/>Anne, LOL! Bad spy girl. Sounds like a Mike Meyers movie.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152315876725062052006-07-07T19:44:00.000-04:002006-07-07T19:44:00.000-04:00sandra, i'm really looking forward to hearing all ...sandra, i'm really looking forward to hearing all about harrogate.<BR/><BR/>the above delete was mine. i'd make a terrible spy. i can't keep track of all my identities.anne frasierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044828332429421657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152272050477928102006-07-07T07:34:00.000-04:002006-07-07T07:34:00.000-04:00I have to agree with Bill's points on the hate thi...I have to agree with Bill's points on the hate things. This is part of the reason why i still have no website designed. I'm not a visual person. While I know what I like and don't like, I have trouble articulating the why and how. I keep thinking that if I get published I'll have motivation to either create a website or pay a mate to come up with something and then learn enough to change it myself. For now I'll watch and learn.<BR/><BR/>PS Cornelia's website is so beautiful.Legacy Userhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04453600968573565132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152247883268436642006-07-07T00:51:00.000-04:002006-07-07T00:51:00.000-04:00Okay, well, when you put it that way... It's perfe...Okay, well, when you put it that way... It's perfectly fine!<BR/><BR/>And you're right - they shouldn't be asking!!!Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152247755043556842006-07-07T00:49:00.000-04:002006-07-07T00:49:00.000-04:00Guys, I didn't say to lie when you register. I sai...Guys, I didn't say to lie when you register. I said to make shit up. It's not the same thing at all. One is being untruthful. The other is creating a fiction. Maybe it's all in the place that you stand, but I'm standing on self-righteousness here (they shouldn't be asking me to register!) and it feels just fine.Linda L. Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868426000807302834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152242455287552612006-07-06T23:20:00.000-04:002006-07-06T23:20:00.000-04:00What I'm trying to figure out is, how bad is it fo...What I'm trying to figure out is, how bad is it for us to lie under the circumstances, Bonnie!Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152242249903626362006-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:002006-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:00I hate sound, and heavily compressed pages. I'm on...I hate sound, and heavily compressed pages. I'm on dialup also...sometimes I just give up and move on.<BR/><BR/>And the registering thing....It never occurred to me to lie!Bonnie S. Calhounhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769607640246518804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152233285787345752006-07-06T20:48:00.000-04:002006-07-06T20:48:00.000-04:00Oh, I hate it when a loud site scares the bejeeber...Oh, I hate it when a loud site scares the bejeebers out of you at night! Good point!Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152232864528217202006-07-06T20:41:00.000-04:002006-07-06T20:41:00.000-04:00Sound, I don't like sound. Well let me qualify th...Sound, I don't like sound. Well let me qualify that. I don't like some sites that have some obnoxious song playing...usually sounding like it was recorded in a tin can. Bleah. Especially fun if you are up late at night and it blasts out at you...scares the crap out of me usually. <BR/><BR/>I did my own website and just recently this year did a whole redesign which I like better than the old website but someday I'd love to have a professional design it for me. But that cost $$ which I ain't got. :) So for now i plod away trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing. :) And I try to take into consideration people on dialup and different screen sizes. <BR/><BR/>I too hate sites that require registration just to view their product...they lose me too. Also sites that charge a huge amount for shipping turn me off... Ebay is rampant with that. A pair of earrings and shipping is $7.00. Puuulease!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07592231080156766441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152227976055291362006-07-06T19:19:00.000-04:002006-07-06T19:19:00.000-04:00Good point DesLily - we were stuck on dial up for ...Good point DesLily - we were stuck on dial up for a while when we first moved out here, so I know what you mean.<BR/><BR/>And I'll check out that idea, thanks!<BR/><BR/>Cornelia, your site is fantastic. I just hate sites where I can't find what I'm looking for, and your site is so well organized, I love it.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152225823169619342006-07-06T18:43:00.000-04:002006-07-06T18:43:00.000-04:00Being on dialup I agree with all above! Any anima...Being on dialup I agree with all above! Any animation/ sound etc adds so much to my upload that I give up on most. It's a shame they dont have a choice to pick from like they did for "frames or no frames" So you could either visit a "high tech" site or a "plain site" and get all the same information.<BR/><BR/>It's a shame they forget not everyone is on high speed. And many times it's because it's not an option where they live or they can't afford it.<BR/>A favorite site of mine is Stephen R Donaldson Author of two trilogies called The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, his lates being The Runes of the Earth.<BR/><BR/>http://www.stephenrdonaldson.com/<BR/><BR/>He has a good thing going there where he has a running dialogue with anyone who writes him a question. It can get very interesting at times! It might be an idea for you to toy with after the release of your book!!DesLilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582481597658080464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152214952987119402006-07-06T15:42:00.000-04:002006-07-06T15:42:00.000-04:00Thank you for citing my site as a good one--I was ...Thank you for citing my site as a good one--I was just very very very lucky that Heidi Mack of xuni.com was willing to take me on as a client. She's amazing, and I love all of her author sites, especially Louise Ure's.Cornelia Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16690027252725967075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152210547728897842006-07-06T14:29:00.000-04:002006-07-06T14:29:00.000-04:00I can go either way on sound - it just depends on ...I can go either way on sound - it just depends on what the sound is. But Cornelia does have a great site, doesn't she Anne? Of course, it doesn't have the same atmosphere as Simon's, which I like. <BR/><BR/>James, you'd never make it as a con artist! LOL! Got to agree about those shopping carts!Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152209149567376872006-07-06T14:05:00.000-04:002006-07-06T14:05:00.000-04:00Oops. My site requires you to register before you ...Oops. My site requires you to register before you can download any of my stories - and you don't really get any tasters either. It's actually something I've been thinking about for a while, but haven't got around to fixing, since I never get any hits anyway. I've a plan to use sessions to count a person's downloads, then when they've read three stories I'll prompt them to register before reading any more. <BR/><BR/>As to what bugs me most about site design. Apart from what's been said above, I hate complicated navigational structures. Three clicks to what you're looking for should be the aim.<BR/><BR/>And shopping carts that wait until you've reached the checkout before telling you the item's not in stock.<BR/><BR/>And people who charge £5 postage and packing for something that plainly cost 50p to send.<BR/><BR/>And... I'll stop now.JamesOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332376784689207703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152208981847122432006-07-06T14:03:00.000-04:002006-07-06T14:03:00.000-04:00cornelia's site is gorgeous.i also hate sound and ...cornelia's site is gorgeous.<BR/><BR/>i also hate sound and won't look at a site with sound/music.anne frasierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044828332429421657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152204669705981352006-07-06T12:51:00.000-04:002006-07-06T12:51:00.000-04:00Sorry to say it Stephen, but no cover art. Otherw...Sorry to say it Stephen, but no cover art. Otherwise, it would have been a definite plan. Margaret Murphy gave me her card last year, very nice job with the cover art. And yep, it made me go to the store and look for her book.<BR/><BR/>SW, I hear you. If there's something on a site I can't make stop, I'm likely gone.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152204462641594342006-07-06T12:47:00.000-04:002006-07-06T12:47:00.000-04:00Oh yeah, Bill: StrongBad rocks! (Just ask him!)I a...Oh yeah, Bill: StrongBad rocks! (Just ask him!)<BR/><BR/>I actuallly have a link to Something.com somewhere on my website. :-)s.w. vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102544611773720262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152204361873977762006-07-06T12:46:00.000-04:002006-07-06T12:46:00.000-04:00I am so totally with Bill on the flash and the sou...I am so totally with Bill on the flash and the sound. I hate having music or talking heads pop from my speakers unexpectedly. DESPISE it. If I hear sound, and I didn't click on something to activate the sound, I'm gone.<BR/><BR/>Flash does have its place, but not on the front page. I don't like being confronted with LOADING... when I type in a URL. Same thing as the music: if the page immediately starts with the loading screen, I'm gone (unless it's a game site and I expect an interface to start up).<BR/><BR/>And those stupid cursor animations that follow the mouse around... ARGH! They won't go away!s.w. vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102544611773720262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152201454453651082006-07-06T11:57:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:57:00.000-04:00Okay, but on the subject of business cards for wri...Okay, but on the subject of business cards for writers, do you have cover art yet? If so, I'd think about using that for the front of your card. Then email or other contact info on the other side.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511395415516451829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152200906473319422006-07-06T11:48:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:48:00.000-04:00Bill, you can rant all day! I don't mind! Your t...Bill, you can rant all day! I don't mind! Your thoughts are more specific than mine. I know some people have major issues with flash and sound.<BR/><BR/>Linda, great idea. I just get so indignant, I move on to the next site. But lying? That never even occurred to me (and I call myself a crime writer!)Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152200812857680552006-07-06T11:46:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:46:00.000-04:00It's easy to deal with sites that require you to r...It's easy to deal with sites that require you to register in order to use them. Do what I do: just make shit up. <BR/><BR/>It's not like they're actually going to check or anything. I mean, you're right: it's invasive of a business to ask for information they don't need so that you can possibly shop with them. It makes no sense. So help our cause: next time it comes up, clutter up their database with useless information.Linda L. Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868426000807302834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18499463.post-1152200325870033012006-07-06T11:38:00.000-04:002006-07-06T11:38:00.000-04:00I have an opinion about this. Though, normally, I ...I have an opinion about this. Though, normally, I don't have opinions. (Really, I don't.)<BR/><BR/>Things I don't like in web sites are:<BR/><BR/><B>Sound</B>. When I land on a web site in which involuntary sound begins, I click close almost instantly. I don't mind voluntary sound: "Click here to hear..." but don't surprise me.<BR/><BR/><B>Flash</B>. Now, I happen to think Flash has a place on the web, primarily in the form of Strong Bad cartoons and Magical Trevor. What I hate is complicated whooshy interfaces that take a long time to load and just keep doing stuff all the time. Move your mouse a little bit and sproingy something happens there. Makes me crazy. The interface should NEVER be more important that the content.<BR/><BR/>There are exceptions to my Flash navigation rule -- sometimes elaborate Flash sites are cool in and of themselves, independent of the content.<BR/><BR/><B>Above the Fold</B>. On the home page, everything important should be above the fold. But it shouldn't be crammed in so tight I'm looking at a wall of text/links/GIFs. Tell me what you're about, keep it simple and open, and then let me get to it. Once I click into your site, content may flow out the bottom of the page, but if I have to scroll to find anything on my first visit, I probably won't.<BR/><BR/>Now defining "above the fold" can be a bit tricky. For someone on a thirty-inch monitor, the browser window may be huge. But these days, you're safe to assume an average window area of 1024 x 768 pixels, and if your home page works within those dimensions, you're probably safe. And some stuff can appear below the fold -- less important stuff. But grab me with a single screenful, and give me access to everything critical from there. I'll love you for it.<BR/><BR/><B>Animation</B>. This is similar to the Flash rule, which is that I don't want to see a lot of it. But a little is okay. And I do like feedback. If I mouse over something I can click I like it when something changes, color or shading.<BR/><BR/><B>Printer Friendly versions of pages are cool, but even the primary version of the page should at least acknowledge that someone might want to print it</B>. Of course not everyone does a printer-friendly version of their pages, and for those, at least a tacit acknowledge that for long pages, folks might want to print it and read it offline is nice.<BR/><BR/><B>Poor Contrast</B>. Grey text on dark grey? Yeah, it happens. Makes me cry. Light on dark, dark on light, I don't care about so much. Contrast is critical though.<BR/><BR/>I can go on and on and on and on. But out of courtesy to my host, I'll be quiet now.<BR/><BR/>I will, however, leave you with a link to the ultimate authority on web site design, <A HREF="http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail51.html" REL="nofollow">Strong Bad</A>.Bill Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04796321136771189464noreply@blogger.com