[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot Thanks.

Those little blighters are hard to spot when you’re editing!

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@ddd123 This YouTube video explains everything. You’ll finally know what it all means.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4m4lnjxkY

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot It works in the new sidebar but not on the Home page, but I can live with that for now.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @scaryb @osakahatter @tardisblue @bluesqueakpip @jimthefish @blenkinsopthebrave

and everyone else.

So I spent most of yesterday evening building a new sidebar widget that combines all recent activity together – forum posts and blog posts and comments. It’s basically a simplified version of the Activity page.

I’ve therefore taken the other widgets away, but have put them prominently on the home page so that you will still see if there are new blogs or new blog comments etc quite easily.

I think this is the best solution so far and I’m reasonably happy, but would still be interested in your thoughts.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @bluesqueakpip Sorry, that was my fault. Should be fixed again.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave

I have found a plugin that does mix everything together. However it’s not quite right. It basically just replicates the Activity page in the sidebar.

I think I can do something better so will do some programming this evening – in your honour I’m now going to pop out for a bottle of wine – that’s how I do my best programming.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@ All, okay, will scrap the ‘footer only’ idea. Was just an idea 😀

@bluesqueakpip @scaryb @blenkinsopthebrave

Yes, maybe I AM just being too logical, too literal, thinking like a programmer rather than a user.

I think you may be on to something Blenkinsop. I’ll look into it and see if it’s possible. It’s not an in-built option but there may be a plugin.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @scaryb @osakahatter @tardisblue @bluesqueakpip @jimthefish

Hi all, I am in two minds about shortening the Recent forum posts sidebar, but I thought I’d try it and see if people can live with it. If not I will of course lengthen it again. Despite my new title I’m in no way a dictator.

The length was fine before we had blogs, but now that we do, it does mean they are diminished, and I’m trying to find a balance.

Another thought I had was to put a big “Recent forum posts” box on the Home page. Let me know if you always go to the Home page first and if you think that might help?

And yet another thought was perhaps not even having any sidebar at all and putting everything in a big footer – that’s what WordPress have done with their latest blog design, and part of me actually quite likes the idea as it puts content front and centre. The footer looks something like this (depending on what you put in it)

But all thoughts are welcome. It’s still (and probably always will be…) a work in progress.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@fishcombobulated New topics added.

I was in slightly two minds as not everyone will have watched, but we’ll see how it goes.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@pedant Yes, I did have a touch of ARSE last night, having re-read my posts. I think I was just a bit shocked.

I can afford the episodes and have very fast broadband, so it’s not about the money for me or the delivery method. But as @fatmaninabox points out, these are problems for some people.

It IS a shame that they couldn’t be broadcast in the UK and the cost of recovering and restoring them recouped via DVD sales and international sales. I’m sure just about everyone on here will be getting Enemy of the World in their Christmas stocking. I don’t think the BBC’d just be breaking even if they had done that.

And the PR was handled badly. I don’t know who Tony Hall gets advice from but if they’d said “These cost a lot to recover so unfortunately we can’t just broadcast them as there is a substantial sum to recoup, however they will eventually turn up on TV” I’d have been a lot more forgiving than I am after being told that we all had our chance to see them in the Sixties. That was a slap in the face.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

I, for one, hope that the news brings @htpbdet back to us.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@pedant I’m really trying not to have ARSE.

However, from what I can tell, Apple takes about 40-50% per download. If that’s how they plan to distribute the episodes then they should think again. Apple, who didn’t do anything here, will make a fortune. I could set the BBC up with a website, with payment via Paypal for example, and they’d only have to pay 2-3%.

Re paying for content at the time, I totally agree. But how often do you hear people complaining that there are too many repeats? The fee may be less in real terms but the opportunites to profit from each programme are much greater.

As far as I know Doctor Who and Top Gear earn the BBC over £100 million each, and yet (I don’t care about Top Gear) Doctor Who has it’s budget trimmed every year. If it was me I’d say “Have as many millions as you want, we’ll still be in clover” But that’s not the attitude. The attitude is much more that the licence fee is there “to raise money that can be put into new programming”.

That’s accountants talking. Not dreamers.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@wolfweed Great detective work.

**********************************************************************************************

This did annoy me

Asked whether viewers might also see the recovered episodes, without having to pay Apple £1.89 per episode or £9.99 to download the complete stories, BBC Worldwide said licence-fee payers had already enjoyed a chance to watch the programmes in the late 60s.

It is the type of commercial deal, with the proceeds being ploughed back into licence fee funds, which the BBC will increasingly pursue under its Director General, Tony Hall.

Yeah, I really enjoyed a chance to watch when I hadn’t been born. And yet I pay, and my parents pay, and my parent’s parents  paid (sadly no longer here) for the BBC’s very existence.

Once again it’s all about the money. Grrrrr.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@scaryb

Any number above zero being found is to be heartily celebrated.

Just this… I want to kiss you.

I hope everyone else has the same opinion. No ARSE here please.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip Or someone who just wants to do it for the joy of doing it. I live in hope.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@whisht I thought, was hoping, you were gonna make the Friday meet up in November.

If not, next time you’re down London way, drinks are in order.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@pedant 😀

I never forget a complaint (sorry, I mean constructive suggestion).

I may take a month, or even a year, to fix it. But I will get there. Thankfully, on this occasion, the good people at BBPress decided to build in a better search.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @scaryb

One of the great Doctor Who bloopers involves the plastic face covering.

If you go to around 6:25, just before Jo gets sprayed, you can see someone shoving the plastic face cover onto the desk.

It just goes to show how cheaply it was made in those days. But how great it is, because we didn’t notice.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@phaseshift @steve-thorp @bluesqueakpip @jimthefish @Shazzbot @scaryb

Is that everyone?

I’m thinking Tomb myself. It’s Troughton and it’s Cybermen… The original Cybermen!

And Victoria… I have a soft spot for her. 😀

If you don’t want spoilers then don’t watch below, but I quite liked this fan-made trailer.

It reminds me how, even with all the CGI, special effects and expensive costumes they have now, it could still be scarier back then. Makes me want to watch it all tonight.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@pedant

Not just new wallpaper but upgraded WordPress (as you suggested) and finally a proper forum search. Try searching Chekhov (always stuck with me that one).

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@miapatrick Thanks. Change is always a risk, but it now works better on narrow screens like phones and on wider desktop screens too. Also, because I built this myself rather than using a template I can quickly change it if need be.

@ Everyone else. Talking of change, I’m thinking there’s still work to be done. I’m not a huge fan of the Homepage (just a big list of links) or the sidebar (another big list of links that also hides the blog links unless you can be bothered to scroll down).

So if anyone has a better idea for a new home page, sidebar, or whole new site design/layout, it’s most welcome.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Also a little late for the ninth Doctor, but for those who don’t have Watch, which is probably most of us.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip Cool.

I don’t think I’ll ever design a white website again. I had no idea.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip

Better?

@ Everyone else.  I kinda like it but is a work in progress. Will be better tomorrow.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip

That’s good to hear.

Now, are we talking grey like the footer is currently? Cos that’s what I was thinking of.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip Glad it’s a bit better.

I had no idea there was a problem with dyslexia and white backgrounds. I think I may work on a grey background version. Just for you.

…and the other dyslexics out there of course.

I kinda like greyish websites anyway. They can still be minimal.  Give me a couple of days.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@jimthefish Cheers Jim, much appreciated. Am hoping to do more improvements soon.

It really is down to PUWS – if it’s not needed, bin it.

@chickenelly The font is actually bigger than it was before. I did have it even bigger in an earlier incarnation as I’m a bit eyeball challenged myself but was worried it might be too much. I’d actually like to go a bit bigger, but maybe next time – will sneak it in with little increments.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip Have reduced the contrast of the text. Hopefully is a bit better.

It’s a bit difficult, cos it looked fine on my screen, but I know everyone’s is different.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@scaryb Re the new copyright line, I don’t know if you suggested it or not, but it’s been in my mind and something which I’ve been meaning to add for a while.

@bluesqueakpip It’s no whiter than the white background was before. But there is a bit more white than before because of the removal of the grey sides. I’ll have a think. And look into different fonts.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@phaseshift Ooh I like Emperor. Think I’ll go with that.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot and @scaryb Thanks.

@phaseshift I’m glad you didn’t finish that quote! I wasn’t keen on Key Master, and wanted something Doctor related for Mods as well. At first I plumped for Master and Doctor, but Doctor didn’t look right under your pic, so Time Lord and Lord President it is, unless you have a better idea?

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Yes. I’ve done a bit of redesigning. The old design, basically the default template with a few changes, was a bit old fashioned and didn’t work too well on mobile.

The new version of Buddypress enables a lot more control over the site theme, so I thought I’d take advantage of that fact and clean things up a bit. I’m a bit of a minimalist at heart.

It took me a while (which is why I’ve been quieter than usual) so I hope you like it.

It’s still a work in progress so if you see something that doesn’t seem quite right, let me know here or via PM.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip It does sound hopeful.

I thought the end of that article interesting (although I’m trying desperately not to have ARSE)

The BBC is also marking the anniversary with a BBC2 lecture by professor Brian Cox on the science behind the show and An Adventure in Space and Time, a drama by Mark Gatiss about the show’s inaugural episode.

I just thought… yeah… that’s all they’re doing really. Not much more.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@pedant I’ve been following that story (without getting too excited).

From what I can tell there really have been some episodes discovered in Africa but the person who has found them is negotiating with the BBC (the BBC is currently denying this). So whether we see them or not depends on the money.

Which makes me sick.

Can I do my rant about commercialism again?

I don’t do this for money. I will never have advertising on this site. This has never been, and never will be, about money. I do it for the joy it brings me and the joy it brings others. This site is based on open source software built by people who didn’t do it for money but for the love of it. For the joy of solving problems. For the joy it would give to others. The contributions here are not done for profit but for the joy of sharing.

Shame on anybody who holds the BBC to ransom over found episodes.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@phaseshift How annoying!

I think your liveblog idea is great though. The last one was lots of fun. I was wondering how I could do it and it will save me logging in and out of the forum on my phone all the time while out and about.

I could set up an email address along the lines of phaseshift@thedoctorwhoforum.com or fiftieth@thedoctorwhoforum.com etc. which just forwards to your normal email account. Everyone could send emails and pictures to that address about what they’re up to over the weekend, then I can just shut it down after the weekend.

If anyone’s bothered about you getting their email address they can always set up their own temporary account I guess.

What do you think?

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Just saw this little bit of genius and thought you all might like it. Features several Doctor Who moments and many other favourite shows. Will be back later with thoughts on a Festivities thread.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@whisht Great choice. I love that pub, and they did great burgers last time I was there.

But can we organise a pub On The Sofa from now on please?

Sorry to do a bit of moderating.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot et al

For pubs with outsides in the centre I kinda like the Anchor, which is by the Thames. It’s a bit touristy but has a large outdoors by the river, is pretty old and is on the site of one of London’s oldest pubs where Shakespeare used to drink before going to The Globe, which is really close. Good for out-of-Londoners. And it features at the end of Mission Impossible (I seem to recall). Sit where Ving Rhames sat! (…and Tom Cruise).

https://plus.google.com/103233974724560638228/about

 

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@scaryb Thanks but it wasn’t quite there yet.

@Shazzbot @bluesqueakpip Can you try your posts again with the same copying and pasting? I’ve applied another couple of parameters to my fix.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot yeah, I told you why that happens. Forums are BBPress, Activity is Buddypress. It applies extra filters when creating the Activity stream.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @bluesqueakpip

Ah yes, forgot to test from emails and Word. It seems to be fine from webpages, such as other people’s posts here.

I think I know how to fix for Word and emails too – hopefully not another long night tonight ahead 😕

@Shazzbot can you try posting the exact same as a blog coment on the DEV Forum please – it’s set up slightly differently and may have the fix already applied.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot @bluesqueakpip @scaryb

Well, I tried many possible fixes last night for the pasting issue and none of them worked. Then I woke up this morning with a moment of inspiration, and the solution was incredibly simple.

I think the pasting problem is now fixed. Phew!

Let me know if you find that it isn’t.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot and @wolfweed

You can have as many pictures as you want. It’s just that with that site it seeems it is impossible to hotlink an image as the link takes you to the webpage, not the image.

The link you posted Shazzbot is a jpeg, but it takes you to the webpage because of the way the site is set up.

They obviously want links rather than us just stealing their bandwidth. Imagine! 😀

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@Shazzbot Cheers, I’ve got a few more things to try that might fix that. Will try them tonight.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip I think that’s a good arrangement and that’s exactly what I would do. In the same way, I wouldn’t want anyone’s posts used elsewhere without their written permission.

I recently turned down a research request from someone who wanted to post a Doctor Who story and then write a paper based on the responses. He seemed to suggest that anyone who commented (and signed the permission form) would have their posting history not only on this site but the whole internet examined and possibly quoted in the final paper.

It made me a bit uncomfortable because I just want people to post without any concern that what they write now and what they have written in the past will be reused in any way without their expressed permission on a post by post basis.

Of course, I can’t stop people quoting from this site as it’s publicly available, or even passing off a blog entry, for example, as all their own work for a school essay or even a post on their own blog. But that’s the nature of the internet.

So it’s very nice when people ask.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@danmartinuk , and also @Shazzbot @scaryb @blenkinsopthebrave et al

I’m quite happy for the forum to feature on Buzzfeed (although slightly wary of the strain it may place on the server if we get a lot of visits 😕 )

As far as I’m concerned each member is the owner/copyright holder of their own posts and the site has no rights in them at all. So I would ask that you Dan, get permission from each individual author to use their post/posts, or give me the list of posts you want to use and I can ask them for you.

Apart from that, feel free. And thanks for asking first. ScaryB’s list would be a great place to start.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@rob It’s in this interview, which I should share anyway.

We are aware that Peter Capaldi’s played a big part in Doctor Who before and we’re not going to ignore the fact, and Torchwood. I’ll let you in on this. I remember Russell told me he had a big old plan as to why there were two Peter Capaldis in the Who universe, one in Pompeii and one in Torchwood. When I cast Peter and [Russell] got in touch to say how pleased he was I said, ‘Okay, what was your theory and does it still work?’ He said ‘Yes it does, here it is.’ So I don’t know if we’ll get to it. We’ll play that one out over time. It’s actually quite neat.

Interesting. I’m thinking my original theory may be close (posted on the spoilers thread, but not such a spoiler now). http://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/forums/topic/spoilers/page/8/#post-14774

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@fatmaninabox

I’ve got a mate who loves Twitter. He’s interested in international rugby and he’s able to message (via @mentions) Will Carling and people like that, and sometimes they even retweet his posts, which means they actually do read them.

I hardly use it but it can be great for breaking news. During the London riots I was able to find out what was happening where via Twitter much quicker than I could from the news by searching for #londonriots, just cos people were posting things like “OMG They’re rioting outside my flat in Hackney #londonriots”

One person you should follow, as Moffat is no longer on Twitter, is Mark Gatiss.

https://twitter.com/markgatiss

Plus all the BBC and Doctor related accounts. Graham Linehan (https://twitter.com/Glinner) is also good value and can keep you occupied all day. Don’t know how he ever gets any work done.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Really good fan-made Capaldi Doctor intro that has some great original ideas.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip Thanks. I’ve fixed it. Were you using Chrome?

I’ve tried a few fixes but without success yet, but I will get there. Promise.

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