Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Roberto sends this colourful card from sunny Miami...

Comments

1. At 12:03 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

   I think you ought to hire a cruise liner for us to go over and visit said gallery... (btw, nice postcard, Roberto!)

   So, Eddie, will you be putting us out of our misery and say more about this wonderful new thing? Another hint, at least, would be nice...

2. At 12:06 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Sara wrote:

   I thought we's finished the postcard thingy. But as Roberto himself would say:

   Great postcard.

3. At 12:13 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

   Thanks for the heads-up Roberto - I'll look him up on the web, as Miami is probably out of the question. I like the work.

4. At 12:15 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

   Excellent postcard.

5. At 12:18 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

   Shall we go :-)

   It is getting VERY windy down here at the moment, and very dark.

   Even the webcam on the beach is struggling

   /dorset/content/webcams/bournemouth_webcam.shtml

6. At 12:26 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Kate O'Mara wrote:

   What's the weather like in Miami?

7. At 12:28 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

   Ooooo! Anyone see this e-mail from Andrewm in the PM e-mail section ?

   Wonder what Andrew thought about Harriot the Cow!

   ------------------------------------------------------

   Call me insensitive, but why are you wasting air-time on an obituary for a horse. Surely there are more pressing news items which could be covered.
   Andrew Collingwood, York
   

8. At 12:30 PM on 17 Nov 2006, John H. wrote:

   Well, that's colourful, isn't it?

   RobbieDoJohn has got a point - and probably a big stick. Or a bone. When things go quiet - as they seem to have done at points over the last couple of days, I often wonder if other reg'lars are feeling similarly. I know I do. And I think I remember Drinks saying something similar just a few days ago.

   On the one hand, it's patently obvious that Lissa and crew have been doing loads to improve things - when following the link from "Sorry" (whenever) and going to the editor's blog, it reminded me that the whole set up here has been changed. On the other, the practical problems <really_stressed>do</really_stressed> cause problems. I commented the other day on the way focus flits around and apparently active discussions get dropped. I know this is a feature of a discussion forum populated by a disparate lot, but when you've just concocted some lengthy contribution and it fails to appear for a few hours, by which time everybody's moved on, it is terribly frustrating. All that said, I don't know how you get around the "pre-moderation" problem. I for one do not want to be subjected to abusive posts - and I suspect the issue is rather more pressing for the Beeb.

   I can't remember when it happens, but at some point, when submitting, you do get feedback saying that if you're a new poster, your submission might be held up - or am I imagining that? Does the system actually "remember" people? It would seem to be a start - even if it does delay new users. But surely even then the delay wouldn't be as great because only new users would need to be checked as a matter of course? Then, if you do offend, you have to "re-earn" your "safe" status.

9. At 12:54 PM on 17 Nov 2006, whisky-joe wrote:

   Let's all go to the sands at Broughty Ferry!

10. At 01:21 PM on 17 Nov 2006, admin annie - formerly Anne wrote:

    Robbie I wrote a long and understanding plea for you to stay, and tried to post it at the new beach some time ago but it hasn't appeared which I suppose just underlines what you were saying. I can't be bothered to rewrite it all here but it boiled down to - please don't go, we all suffer the same problems and frustrations but Lissa et al are doing their best and things are improving.

    And yes John H I do sometimes feel like pushing off when things move, or disappear or I can't remember which threads I have posted on etc I'm sure we all do. But it would be awful if 'they' got the thing working properly just before the last of the regualrs beetled off, I do think we should hang on in there - ?here - and have faith that things will get better. Or am I just naive and trusting?

11. At 01:38 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Mark Drew wrote:

    JohnH: Unmoderated forums / blogs tend to get significant misuse including inter-personal conversations that would be best taken off-line.
    The blog technology available today doesn't include semantic engines that could analyse and automatically post or park comments. These sorts of tools are being research and used inside commercial organisations. The same engines can be used to check emails and IM's for misuse.
    So which would you prefer:
    a) delayed posting bur managed by Lissa
    b) big brother's watchful eye?

12. At 01:57 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Hello, all!

    John, remind me what RobbieDo was saying? I can't be bothered to trawl through all the other threads as it's the end of a lonnnnggggg week (well, at least I'm being honest).

    Well, what titbit will Eric throw us today?

    We've had flash (gordon, floor cleaner, photo, application, indecent exposure [photo again?] etc)
    cap (application, headgear, contraceptive, explosive, do better than)
    1660, or is it 1700
    the inimitable Val
    and us.

13. At 02:06 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    Did people hear Feedback this lunchtime, and the rumpus created when Today changed their message boards?

14. At 02:06 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    This'll interest those of us/you who are losing patience with the pixies.....

    
    At 11:40 AM on 17 Nov 2006, Eddie Mair wrote:

    OK Jonnie. I have asked, and this is the response...from head of blogs (or something), as a direct result of your comment:

    "The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blogs, including PM, are part of a trial that's helping the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to learn more about blogging, how audiences react to our blogs and about the software used to publish blogs.

    With regards to the last of those, we've found that although the blogging platform we've selected for the trial is perfectly fine (most of the time!) for publishing content, the comments system doesn't really meet our requirements. Our developers spent some time making customisations to the system before we launched but those customisations haven't resolved all the shortcomings and may also have introduced some instability to the system.

    The reason comments take up to an hour or two to appear is because, at present, the technical constraints of the system only allow us to pre-moderate comments. This means that all comments are manually checked by a real live person before they are published.

    At peak times of the day, the moderation system itself becomes heavily loaded with, across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's whole network of blogs, up to several comments a second coming in. As the moderation system fills with messages pending approval, it begins to slow down and the moderators can sometimes find themselves waiting several minutes for each page of pending posts to load.

    We realise that this is far too slow for many participants and are working on the development and integration of a bespoke comment system that is faster, more stable and has all sorts of features that we feel are missing from our current offering. Because the number of comments being submitted increases almost by the day, we need to ensure that the new system scales well and, because of this, it's going to take a few months to build and test it thoroughly. Our current plan is to have a beta version live somewhere on bbc.co.uk in mid-January with roll-out likely to be in February or March.

    In the meantime, I sincerely hope you'll stick with us. It might help to try, if you can, to avoid posting comments at peak times of the day - usually around first thing in the morning, lunch time, and end of the day, as well as during or immediately following the broadcast of the show. I realise, of course, that this might not be practical for you and certainly isn't an ideal solution but hope that you understand that applying more plasters to temporarily resolve the current issues would simply mean reducing the amount of time and effort we have to implement a long term solution. But do let me reassure you that we will get there in the end!"

    
    That was from Robin. It doesn't solve things, I know...but if it's any help, the success of the PM blog in particular might help us lever some more money/volume/help etc. I'm personally really sorry that you, other froggers...and for that matter I have trouble with this from time to time. I hope the benefits will continue to outweigh the problems.

    Best wishes, Eddie.
    

15. At 02:10 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Vyle Hernia wrote:

    But it would be awful if 'they' got the thing working properly just before the last of the regulars beetled off,...

    More beetle drives? We used to have a plastic set, and they all had pretty hard backs.

16. At 02:25 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    We still haven't had the flash that Eddie offered us yesterday - that, to me, is the most likely reason for clearing off: Renaging upon promises that arouse lustful thoughts. Then again, were the promise kept I'd have to go away anyway - I'd need a lenghty ice-cold shower.

    Forgive me everyone, it is Friday. And, before anyone else says so, I know I'm getting worse. I'm sure it will pass. Eventually.

17. At 02:34 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    Sorry to have knocked you from (1) to (2) Sara. I didn't mean to, honest!

    btw, I've just seem Eddies newsletter. Look out for what is either a clue to the "whatever" Eddies' been teasing us with or just a spelling mistake...

18. At 02:42 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Fiona wrote:

    Now I am a victim of disappearing posts! Anyhow - I posted a rambly apology to my nearly name sake (blogwise) Fifi for any confusion in t'other thread. We are indeed both Fionas - but I am also more commonly known as Fi or Fifi and tend not to respond too much to Fiona as it usually means I am being told off! Anyway apologies once more.......

19. At 02:50 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    From a favourite American source:

    DEMOCRACY IS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WORD NOWADAYS, even that of George W. Bush, who claims to bring it to Iraq by means of an occupying army, preaches it to more democratic nations than ours, and does his best to prevent it at home. But the democracy we've got here is already a very limited version of the idea......

    "Actually, Rebecca Solnit is represented in her city district by an Iranian-Jewish Green Party member with whom she is reasonably satisfied, and she did work on behalf of Green mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez a few years ago, who almost won."

    Now that's multi-cultural, eh?
    Vaya con Gaia
    ed

    And check out.

20. At 02:59 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Valery P wrote:

    Thanks for Eddie's response to Jonnie's request Fifi.
    Bless them all, they're trying.

    Roberto - Great.

    whisky-joe - Broughty Ferry? In these shoes? I don't think so! (apols to K McC, sadly missed)

    Fearless - a frog cruise? sounds great, if it sets out from Bournemouth, those of us who can't make it could watch the launch on Jonnie's webcam?

    Aperitif - now ,did you watch the new Beeb "drama" last night? Maybe those of us with a Friday problem would be advised to consult?

21. At 03:15 PM on 17 Nov 2006, admin annie wrote:

    thanks for posting that Fifi (currently 14.) It explains a lot and also holds out hope that things will improve eventually and the forg will become all singing and all dancing - at which point I suppose we had better re-christen it Kermit (other all singing all dancing frogs are probably NOT available).

    Don't know how happy I am to know that we are all part of a huge Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ experiment though as in

    'The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blogs, including PM, are part of a trial that's helping the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to learn more about blogging,'

    Eddie you never told us we were lab rats! (That was jocular, please don't shout at me to calm down again or I might cry)*

    
    *of course I wouldn't really.

22. At 03:19 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Valery! I may have Friday issues but I draw the line at cruising for frogs!

23. At 03:19 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    FF
    It's all very well making allusions like that but some of us are right at the end of the postman's delivery route and HAVE'NT GOT the newsletter

24. At 03:24 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    No sign of my newsletter today, one hour after Fearless reported his arrival. Fifi, back to posting duty!
    

25. At 03:39 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    Speaking of
    xx
    ed
    P.S.
    * As soon as the generals and the politicos
    can predict the motions of your mind,
    lose it. Leave it as a sign
    to mark the false trail, the way
    you didn't go.

    Be like the fox
    who makes more tracks than necessary,
    some in the wrong direction.
    Practice resurrection.
    --
    Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

26. At 03:47 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    Aperitif (22), surely it's the quickest way to find a prince?

27. At 04:02 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    Aunt Dahlia - I've just seen your comment & realised I've written virtually the same thing elsewhere! It's 4 pm & still nothing...

28. At 04:24 PM on 17 Nov 2006, admin annie wrote:

    Deepthought 25 - you think so?

    and even if it were true you know what the prince said after the princess had changed him back from being a frog don't you?

    'If you think I'm going to marry a girl who goes round kissing frogs you've got another think coming'

    And he hopped off.
    

29. At 04:40 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Deep John (26), No doubt you are right, but I couldn't bear the slime.

30. At 05:19 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Frances O wrote:

    fifi, I'm adding my thanks to you, but like Annie I'm not sure I like being a lab rat. Still...

    Spose it's because of its success that the frog is creaking (not croaking)

    I wonder, though... is Eric's cryptically hinted-at news an announcement that we are to be part of an even bigger Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ experiment? One that has no room for postcards, however pointless?

    A newer, bigger, faster blogworld?

    You frog chroniclers had better be quick - the frog as we know it may have a short life

    And yes, I half-heard Feedback. It's all looking suspiciously possible.

    As for 'Tim' Cruise and Katie 'Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔs', hmmm... tim, homes... not the old time signal coming back to our landlines, that's for sure.

    And where does Val fit in? New frog editor? Oh, Lissa, it couldn't be

31. At 06:51 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Valery P wrote:

    Appy - I think Eric may have watched it too, re the reference to Fridays????

32. At 07:29 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Er - what was this new Friday drama on last night? (bewildered)

33. At 07:35 PM on 17 Nov 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Waaaahh! Can't click on the new Beach any more! How do I get there?

    It's horrible, cold and rainy here. I need some Beach therapy

34. At 08:35 PM on 17 Nov 2006, RobbieDo wrote:

    Frances O

    Click on this for the new beach

    /blogs/pm/2006/11/welcome_to_the_new_beach.shtml

35. At 11:21 PM on 17 Nov 2006, wrote:

    RobbiDo,

    Hold on in there,

    Eddie has told us (as you now realise hopefully) via Robin that lots of improvements are on the way.

    So, lots of fun ahead when it starts working a bit faster.

36. At 12:52 AM on 18 Nov 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Valery, I have to confess that I didn't see it actually, but I did hear a review and see lots of trailers, so am aware of the 'drama' to which you refer.

    If Eric likes that sort of thing I'd be quite prepared to discuss it with him.

37. At 02:28 AM on 18 Nov 2006, Valery P wrote:

    Well now, there's an invitation he surely cannot refuse?
    Darn It, can't get this to post, I'm being too fast apparently, is that because everyone else is asleep?

38. At 12:49 PM on 20 Nov 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Refuse, no, but ignore, certainly.

    Sigh.