Ask the Guides, 2/22/11

I'm not a guide, but it's a slow day at work.

I believe you are talking about BlockQuote.

Copy the users comment into the comment box, highlight it and click this button.

Thank you for your help.

You're welcome. :-)

David, my friend, your instructions were perfect.

Thank you for your help.

You made my day. See, it did not take much to make me smile. Thank you.

:-) I love that guy.

Thanks for the FR; gladly accepted.

Copy the users comment into the comment box, highlight it and click this button.

Thank you for your help.

You're welcome. :-)

You can blockquote multiple people's words and differentiate them like above, by clicking the blockquote button *before* you you paste the text.

Copy the users comment into the comment box, highlight it and click this button.

Thank you for your help.

You're welcome. :-)

You can blockquote multiple people's words and differentiate them like above, by clicking the blockquote button *before* you you paste the text.

Oh...clicking the blockquote button again after you're through toggles the damn thing off.

Al;

Are you referring to this as result #1?:

This was someones comment.

If so, that is known as a "block quote" and to do it you just highlight the words and then click on the blue quote marks that are next to the B I .

Which leads me to my question for Viki Babbles Gonia. In my one and (so far) only seed I couldn't figure out how to blockquote the portion of the article that I had copied directly from the source and used in the header. I concluded that I needed to use xhtml because the use of the blue quote marks didn't work for me.

I did'nt see this covered in your previous article but I might have missed it as I just skimmed it.

Thanks for your hard work and help!

Am I slow or what;) When I wrote this no one had commented yet. I'm glad for the edit now function.

Yes, thank you. I guess that the info was posted as I slooowly composed my reply to Al.

Now to try the trick Sir Richard Owen demonstrated:

I see you got your answer below! ;)

Yes, thank you.

I must be doing something wrong.

Sir Richard, WOW. I have never even seen that option before. Thanks for the info.

Mn Man --- Thank you again for sharing your expertise.

I see you got your answer below! ;)

Yes, thank you

That worked. Thank you again!

Depends on if you are running a PC or Mac, but most times, you can put your cursor over the avatar and right-click, and then select, Copy or download the image.

This is actually a question for a Newsvine friend using a PC. He is trying to install (upload) an avatar from an email link to his Newsvine home page. He is using the default avatar now.

I have given him instructions, but I think they are more complicated than they need to be.

Viki, thank you. I am contacting him now.

Tedd Riggs, your comment was noticed and appreciated. Thank you.

rottlady, thank you for your advice and your help in my time of need.

Niiji Al, received your msg re this site. Thanks for that I'll be trying to get the picture on my avatar.

waanakiwin

Boozhoo, Kavika --- Have you revisited Loretta's Hawk seed lately? I posted a comment to you there regarding Ojibwe.

Baamaapii niiji

Guides are unpaid volunteers who help to moderate the forum. You can detect them by the different color of their post border and a navigational compass. Don't know how to become a guide, nor would I want to be one. You can report such abuse to those very guides by sending them a private message with a link to the alleged abuse. Random act of vineness: See the top-right.

Thanks Una.

I still need an answer to the random act of Vineness. I did actually see the top-right, which is what prompted my question. I feel it needs more clarification.

Thanks!!!

OK related question:

How is being a guide NOT an automatic RAV award? Y'all do great work and get no credit or respect sometimes!!

I hereby nominate ALL guides for RAVs!!

I've wondered that myself and second the nomination.

Can we nominate you for double RAV award then? :) Maybe get you some green sparklies on your avatar?

Type <BlockQuote> before the summary and </BlockQuote> at the end.

Thanks David.

Type <BlockQuote> before the summary and </BlockQuote> at the end.

Remove the capitalization from the above example, or the browser won't recognize it as HTML.

HTML blockquote tag

Na, HTML tags aren't case sensitive. Give it a shot.

And my question in 2.6 is answered. Don't know how I missed this. Thanks.

Also, if you are seeding an article, before you hit the "Seed Newsvine" button...highlight the text you want in your summary...THEN hit the "Seed Newsvine" button.

Hey, that's cool.

Na, HTML tags aren't case sensitive. Give it a shot.

OK. You're right. It may not be mandatory to use lower case, but it seems to be the custom in every example I've seen. I guess if some one wanted to be a comedian, they could write it in ALL-CAPS, or rREVERSE cAPS, and be 1337 about it.

˙ɥƃnoɥʇ 'uʍop ǝpısdn ʇı ǝʇıɹʍ oʇ ǝlqɐ ǝq ʇ,uoʍ noʎ

Always glad to support our underpaid Guides ☺

Always glad to support our underpaid Guides ☺

Maybe the guides should unionize ;)?

what happened to the funny/disturbing banned user letters?

What are those?

No problems...like I said, it sometimes required a spare pair of panties from all the laughing at idjits :)

I saw...tried to give you ammo in case a similar situation comes up in the future (especially the clown one -- gotta include the offer to join y'all in the Mini Cooper!)

Yeah, I second that. It seems to be a MSNBC group, so maybe that's the problem. Is there a way to "unfriend" MSNBC groups since there is no option on their pages?

Is that "legal"? I mean any other group I have to actively add it and can remove it if I want. What if I just wanted to comment and not be part of their group?

Its like i woke up to find my manhood gone and now a member of Todays moms, hurry someone pass me a tissue.......

John Wayne Bobbitt, is that you?

Same thing here. Never going to their page again in protest. GRRRRRRR

Can one admin kick another admin out of the group?

I was looking at the member roll of a group I recently joined, and out of 58 members, 16 of them are either deleted accounts or inactive for months/years (34%). Are all groups like that?

I had reason to contact a group owner about a member spamming my email notification. To her credit -- thank you -- she warned her, then booted her a few days later when she didn't comply.

Since I noticed the deadwood in our member list, on Feb 10, I worked the list and sent her detailed report. This was the follow-up tally:

444 membership total

76 ..... showing "oops there doesn't appear to be a page here anymore"

79 ..... Last Seen dates prior to 2010

23 ..... (not displaying Last Seen) no activity or Last Comment prior to 2010
________

266 active membership after adjustment

I was hoping to see the data used. As of 3 minutes ago, membership stood at 223. So the booted spammer plus 20 from my list were deleted. That's all. Guess I won't spend that kind of time to help someone out again!

You're right -- I'm a dodo-head. I meant 423 is the current count.

Point was that only 20 from the list were used. Even if only the "oops this page no longer exists" were deleted, there were 76 of just those.

So I guess my lesson was that even if you supply itemized lists to do "data entry", it's not deemed important enough to take the time.

Why, thanks! But my style and ethics around moderating don't exactly mesh here, Red Wolf. I need to stay clear of those conflicts so that I can remain suspension-free. I did hope to contribute to the groups in this supportive way, tho, when I saw the abundance of banned/former members still listed.

Say -- y'all -- if I'm a member of any of your groups, and you want me to do that kind of project for you, speak up.

Well aren't you the perceptive one! I just sent her a link to that alphabetizer (since I don't know how much she's evaluated but not entered.) If I do another, I'll use it myself. THANKS! Teamwork was always my specialty so I admire your input to me -- the old fashioned definition of teamwork, that is.

Not knowing the set-up, I had added each item in "date order" on my list, not alphabetical. My thinking was that I'd included all members "not seen since" -- and on those who didn't display their seen date, "no apparent activity since" dates. So if I were the owner, I'd decide how far back I'd go, then the list would be in date order.

She did mention the alphabetizing after I submitted all to her, but your realizing how overwhelming that would be helps me know what she is looking at ....

Well, here's what I did after you inspired me. I re-worked the 76 *oops page deleted* list myself (no dates involved). I cut-and-paste each individual name and placed it in the correct spot on a new email page. ( That's how we used to do this stuff before we had PCs, you know.) That should be a no-brainer -- those accts are gone! I emailed her the revised alphabetized list.

Next 2 lists, she'll need to decide on her cut-off date, then use the alphabetizer on her working list. One step at a time, I guess.

Since I've got your ear -- I've got a similar question about Report A Bug for malicious users advertising. I hate those damn obnoxious spam advertisers. I click the !, then go to their page and send Report A Bug containing their link to webpage, then go to the show more on their comments, and usually it's no more than 2pgs, and I click the ! on every one of their damn comments. Makes me feel great, like I'm getting every last one of them. But -- does that really help the tech folks, or am I just duplicating what they'll do downline anyway? Or worse yet, making more work for them clearing up the ! for each comment? I asked once but got no answer.

Just what I thought:)

Good to know:)

Yeah, that's pretty much always just the nice way of saying things:)

Sounds like a great guy. Didn't ever get to know him, but I've only heard good things:)

OK. I'll look.

Last I saw them they were in the "drunk" bowl at that raging party at DaVoH's house...

Ah, that's where I left them. Now if only I could find his house. Or my house.

Lose anything else lately, Dennis?

Check with the guy on the corner selling odd missing things from the blanket.

SRO----that was GREAT!!!!

Duct tape, Sir Richard.

Fakey Answer: Because I'm supercool, natch!!

Real Answer: Because I volunteered a while back to be a beta tester :)

Ohhh, you should stick with the first answer.

ROFL! Well it'd be a lie though. TPTB were looking for a few volunteers a while ago and I was fast enough with the "pick me" to get into the cool kids club :)

They're on the alternate pages of your column. That's as far as the roll-out of the "beta client" has gone public so far.

Sir Richard --- Aha. Thank you. I am not crazy after all. Or maybe not as crazy as I used to be.

Hey Darrah --- I asked similar questions about trolling a while back. I hope this link will help (see comment #97)

http://stacym.newsvine.com/_news/2006/12/20/490425-how-to-be-a-newsvine-superstar-the-15-point-snarky-edition?&last=1294177700&threadId=62554&commentId=20261556#c20261556

Thanks, Red Wolf.

It was the second kind. I'm following (though not stalking) a person who has to make decisions on suspensions and banning. I usually don't go back and read what an offender did (their comments are gone anyway), but I see where they got the suspension / banning and the reasons. It sure does happen a lot with the viners who respond to MSNBC articles. I'm staying away from them. :-)

Thanks, Al. The word "toll" is used quite a bit even when a person isn't trolling, but just from reading an article by a person who likes to call them a troll--just for reading their article. Silly isn't it.

edit: Make that "troll" instead of "toll." LOL

Been doing that a couple of hours.

Hehe... I hope this isn't related to a problem they were working on Thursday and Friday.

Reported.

I have noticed the same thing in a couple of other seeds today.

I was the first responder on one seed. When I returned a couple of hours later, my comment was not shown, instead the first comment shown was #2. Weird.

The inaccurate numbering of comments is still occurring. Even those comments made on February 1st. I have not looked at January or earlier.

I think it has something to do with going directly to a comment with an old link. If I go directly to this comment:

http://hannah210.newsvine.com/_news/2010/12/31/5745056-big-pimpin-and-media-whorin-around-with-sarah-palin?commentId=50458301#c50458301

(actually, it wouldn't go to the comment) then the comments start at #8.

If I strip off the comment info and go to the article,

http://hannah210.newsvine.com/_news/2010/12/31/5745056-big-pimpin-and-media-whorin-around-with-sarah-palin

then the comment #s start at #1.

Mark Budos told me, "We made some changes to comment numbering (numbers are always consistent rather than changing when one is deleted)." So it could just be an artifact from before the change.

Nope.

e.g., just entered comment #1.1 under his introductory comment. As soon as it changed to edit mode, it re-numbered as comment #2. Seeded yesterday.

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people?last=1298673012&threadId=3063636&sp=0&pc=25&commentId=52019115#vine-t

When you do this, the numbers return to normal.

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people

#1

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people#c51985606

#1.1

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people#c52019115

You said it yourself:

I'm just coming out of computer down time after System Restore on my new computer (glitch that slipped onto their factory install) -- and I arrive back at Newsvine to over 600 on my tracker in one day -- and THIS article I stop to read while weeding out.

So the links stored in your Tracker somehow had artifact code left from before the change:

#2

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people?last=1298673012&threadId=3063636&sp=0&pc=25&commentId=52019115#c51985606

#2.1

http://redsfan.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/25/6134311-how-to-run-america-like-a-business-get-rid-of-all-the-old-people?last=1298673012&threadId=3063636&sp=0&pc=25&commentId=52019115#c52019115

Go back to the front page and clear everything out of your Tracker. Either that, or don't copy/paste any links until it clears by itself.

Testing

Heh, it's still messed up....

I didn't understand any of what you were saying there. Try again?

This thread #18 was just reassigned to thread #36. Oh, but I see -- the 1st comment is now #19. You were saying, SRO, about my Conversation Tracker causing this. How does that happen?

(Report A Bug sent)

This comment should be #18.13 after I post it.

I was explaining what I thought could be happening. The Tracker stores pointers to last read comments in a big cookie, I think. If your computer computer was down, the pointers wouldn't match up to the changes made. I might be right, just not right enough to explain what is happening. From looking at the differences in the links, I would say that the ID's of the comments are OK, but not the processing of how to display them.

I don't expect it to be fixed until tomorrow.

Cool. I had meant to only show an example, but I'm not really technically-savvy enough to do more than just point to the accident and say, "Those folks look like they need help!" But thanks for the effort anyway.

Testing. It seems to be fixed now.

How do I locate the articles clipped to Private Clippings (such as Ask the Guides, so I can quit going to Viki's home page and sorting thru her articles written ...)

Look for "Your Clippings" on the Left side of the screen.

How do I resize the pictures uploaded to Write an Article? I've tried resizing my original file that's uploaded, but that doesn't seem to work.

I don't think you can, unless you've got the "beta client." The program automatically resizes the pictures to fit the format you choose: either left, right, or center.

I mean make them bigger or smaller.

Choose the 'block' alignment to make images full-width.

I have a set of Goldilocks. First image was too small (now with block it's too large). Second was too large (now it's humongous!). Third was too small (now it's just right). Is there a way to adjust the sizing?

Newsvine only allows you to change the alignment (right, left, block), even in beta testing. You'll need to re-size them before uploading. The default, I believe, for right and left is about 330 pixels wide, unless the image is smaller, and 660 for block.

Some things in Life, you just have to figure out on your own.

I'm going to guess that the maximum size for a block aligned photo is 660 x 440, and for a right or left aligned photo is somewhere around 250 pixels width. Height will have to be arrived at by experimentation. I make these guesses by observing and making measurements on other people's work.

You'll have to resize your photos before you upload them. Otherwise, the program will do it for you, and you might not like what you get.

thanx to you both. Resizing 101 now in session.

Make sure you maintain "Aspect Ratio." If your photo editing program doesn't have a check box for it, you'll have to do the math yourself.

When it is impracticable to obtain permission, use of copyrighted material should be avoided unless the doctrine of fair use would clearly apply to the situation. -- Fair Use.

So you're saying I must contact the Copyright Office to see if it is copyrighted material so I know whether it is or not?

If you do not have the right to republish the content in question, do not post it to Newsvine. -- 4a. Newsvine Code of Honor.

So you're saying I must contact the Copyright Office to see if it is copyrighted material so I know whether it is or not?

All authored content has automatic copyright; authors no longer have to apply for copyright to be protected. To be safe, I'd say unless you're sure the content has been released into the public domain, it seems unlikely to me that republishing the full story would qualify as fair use.

Thanks -- rottlady helped me out. I appreciate everybody's input.

That's the punishment for going to MSNBC threads...

Clever one, Dennis!

The first rule of MSNBC threads is that we do not talk about MSNBC threads...

Copy your link for Newsvine in your Favorites folder, and past it to the Favorites bar.

Hahaha, Dennis that was funny!

JJ --- That bugged me too, so I now use the "Newsvine" tag at the top of the MSNBC page. See what I mean?? (if you go to one of their articles -- there's a bunch of stuff up at the top and NV is one of them.)

Backspace works too.

Viki and Ben -- both good ideas.

Thanks everybody those Ruby Slippers are not my style and they are hell on the toes. JJ

At the bottom of the screen there's a box with my avatar that says "show tools" You can also click on that, then the new comments box, or Hi (Your name) and Go to my column.

KYPIAKOC- Hey that's cool but your avatar looks just like mine...(:

oops, your avatar:)

My first thought is it might be 10 hits but 0 votes (page views vs someone actually clicking "like"). I could be completely wrong though :)

I've always had this problem on the leaderboard. I just sent a Report-a-Bug a week ago where I listed:

Over time, the far right column of Comments Received never seems to be turned on. Granted, I rarely check, but perhaps I need to bring this to your attention.
Right now, I show 0 Comments Rcvd for the week, and 3-month cumulative total of 20. Yet articles posted:
31Jan = 34
05Feb = 40
14Feb = 22
17Feb = 18
01Mar = 12
08Mar = 14
27Mar = 1
27Mar = 42
total = 183

That's a huge discrepancy. It's never reflected the correct number in my 1.5yrs here.

Any time dear -- I'm just guessing :)

I'd wager I'm wrong though. I just checked one of mine and they lined up to be the same. Oh well :P

Speaking of earnings, why does it say payments are made on the 5th and 20th of each month, but we don't ssem to ever recieve payments anywhee close to the 5th, and the 20th is hit or miss?

The 5th and the 20th are when they send out payments after being cashed out. Earnings come out towards the end of each month.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Well, I'm still a few years away from cashing out, so I'll just relax:)

True, but crediting of the account is supposed to be on or about the 15th and they're late (again) this month...

Sheesh give me THAT job -- I work in accounting too but I have hard deadlines I have to meet!!