So i was reading the feeds from Fleen and Goats, and i got an error message. I hit my 'Reload' button, and Zoinks! i'm suddenly transported to a new dimension, where colors have changed, layout is different, and it all reminds me of the MegaGamerz interface.

I enjoyed the previous major superficial transformation from the 2002-2003 look of Goats.com to the more recent orange/black appearance. I'm not sure if i'm so fond of all this white background stuff. I'll try to get used to it, but personally i thought it was a tiny niggling detraction from an otherwise slick and reliable interface.

I wonder how everybody else feels?

	21% (7)	The way old-skool look from back when it was freshly transformed from a mailing-list interface to a forum interface
	31% (10)	The revamped look of 2004-2006 with the Halloweenish orange/pumpkin/black witchy hues
	25% (8)	This new slick sort-of-minimalist whiter and brighter glow
	21% (7)	Salamis hanging from the rafters of the shop, aging to perfection

Oh, and this is sort of weird, and i'm not sure if it's just an issue on my end, or something that everybody observes:

The buttons under each comment for "profile", "email", "www", "reply" are not legible until i hover over them. They seem to be white-on-white until i highlight them, thus they can't be read without doing some floating. This happens when i use Camino or Safari. When i use iCab i am able to specify an overriding background color, forcing them to appear white on grey (as i've forced the grey). Is it only me and my fudgy software? or is everyone having this tiny quirk?

Ooo! Ooo! Wow! My favorite part of the overhaul is definitely the new pages of Bios [goats.com]!

In Response to Teledildonix (#32844):

The bios section is definitely awesome. I especially like the entire Phillip entry. It's cool to see the not-regulars arranged by multiverse location too.

In Response to themysticalone (#32856):

I also like the new Bios section a lot. Incidently, I can't wait until Mendel reappears in the story. That's going to bring out great stuff in Fineas. Jon needs to switch to a 14-updates-a-week schedule.

In Response to Naelok (#32870):

No bio page for Howard the Eggplant?

For shame! FOR SHAME!

Here's some information on eggplants, excavated from deepest, darkest Google, showing just why Howard should be kept handy:

***

For people who tolerate eggplant well, the medicinal benefits are many. Eating the fruit can reduce swelling, clear stagnant blood, reduce bleeding, comfort bleeding hemorrhoids, and treat dysentery.

Eggplant's ample bioflavonoids may be beneficial in preventing strokes and hemorrhages. The fruit contains the phytochemical monoterpene, an antioxidant helpful in preventing heart disease and cancer. The National Cancer Institute has been examining vegetables of the nightshade family, especially eggplant, to see if they may inhibit the production of steroidal hormones that encourage tumor growth. Eggplant may also prevent the oxidation of cells that leads to cancer growth.

For scorpion bites, apply raw eggplant directly on the affected area. For frostbite, prepare a tea of eggplant, bring it to room temperature, and apply a compress to affected areas.

***

SCORPION BITES, PEOPLE! How is the new bios section going to stand up to a scorpion bite without Howard around to apply himself to the affected area!?

The real question I have about the new look... and this particularly relates to the bios page is...

Has Phillip performed some Swedish code magic to make it easy for Jon to update the bios as the story changes?

And I bet the answer is "Swedes are good for more than just meatballs, baby!".

In Response to zamphir (#32875):

The links under the bios update themselves as stuff gets added to the archive, like the character info on the archive pages.

The text is something I will have to edit directly if I choose to do so.

In Response to Teledildonix (#32843):

clearing your browser cache might help...

In Response to jon (#32876):

Of course, this is dependent on our strip data entry people getting stuff entered. While Rich [goats.com], Gary [goats.com], AsphaltBuffet [goats.com], mkinyon [goats.com], and whoever else I've missed are doing a good job, we're always happy to add more people to the mix. If you're interested in helping out, drop me a line [goats.com].

Why can't I reply to the Lonely Goatherd?!?!?! WHY NOT?!?!?!

I REALLY want to ask him... "huh, what the hell is 'COMFORT bleeding'?!"

In Response to snipergirl (#32883):

wow....how long has that been broken on megaGAMERZ [megagamerz.com] without anyone letting me know?

should be better now.

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#32874):

"Comfort bleeding"?

Oh.

I've been misreading it all this time. I can't believe I made Philip fix the forum only to discover I'd MISREAD "comfort bleeding haemorrhoids".

Jeez. Talk about empty victory.

In Response to phillip (#32885):

Jon's comments score "2" by default, but Chief Goatherd's are only scoring "1" at the moment. Are you doing that on purpose?

In Response to Teledildonix (#32897):

It's entirely possible Phillip does not have sufficient Karma to ensure an automatic +1.

I suppose I should stop modding him down whenever I get mod points.

In Response to zamphir (#32898):

If you get mod points, something in the system must be brok'd.

In Response to zamphir (#32898):

You get mod points? Somehow i imagined your quantity of posts in any given period of time would put you outside of the parameters of eligibilty. But i guess i shouldn't be surprised if you do get mod abilities once in a while, because i sometimes get mod abilities, and i, too, have posted many comments frequently.

There are so few threads where you haven't already posted comments, i wonder where you'd even be able to apply such points. On those occasions when i am a moderator, i usually visit threads where i have no personal knowledge of the topic (such as beer discussions, and lots of the technical chit-chat); then i feel very impartial.

In Response to tynic (#32899):

If you get mod points, something in the system must be brok'd.

And this is exactly why I mod Phillip down.

In Response to snipergirl (#32896):

"Comfort bleeding." Heh.

I s'poze if'n there were any such thing, it'd date back to the era of applying leeches. As opposed to these enlightened days, when we know enough to apply eggplant instead.

This poll missed out on a prime chance to use the term "web 2.0" (or, if daring enough, the even more esoteric and tragically hip term "web twenny")

In Response to mcgrue (#32909):

Sorry, i wasn't familiar with those topics... but i love how the salami is making such a great showing!

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#32907):

Oh wow, that'd be HAWT.

I reckon there is totally a sexcellent foodrotica recipe out there involving leeches, eggplant and comfort bleeding.

Ouch, my stomach lining! MSG'd!

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#32907):

actually, they have started using them again [findarticles.com]

In Response to kornz (#33001):

They've been using leeches in helping to treat frostbite and skin graft operations for a little while now too. The leeches increase local blood flow and reduce clotting.

In Response to snipergirl (#33011):

And they make for tasty snacks that don't need refridgeration!

In Response to Dynedain (#33016):

Baked not fried