There's Always Room in My Heart, Charlie Boone! - 1. Chapter 1

1 hour ago, droughtquake said:

It’s consistent and has been happening for a long time. I’m sure I mentioned it years ago. You tried a few changes, but they haven’t fixed my problem. I stopped mentioning it and save the chapters from Firefox every time.

 

However you format your text, the GA software doesn’t properly code the chapter as correct form of text. This prevents Safari from allowing Reader View mode. Firefox is less strict about observing standards and does allow Reader View mode. Reader View mode switches the background to white and the text to black (no matter what the site displays) and gets rid of extraneous junk like ads, navigation bars, sidebars, and other distractions. (Safari’s Reader View mode can optionally reverse the usual format to white text on a black background and allows you to select the font used [including making the font size larger or smaller], among other choices.) There have been one or two other authors whose text also exhibits the exactly same problem, but it’s been quite awhile since I’ve read any of their stories.  ;–)

Always interesting to know. I post in the same way as Geron in that I use Blue Griffon to convert a story into Html and then post as Html. As for reading, like Paladin I use Chrome &  Windows and never have any problems with any stories on here.

Microsoft often creates non-standard formats that get adopted by other companies but are not true international standards. Since most computers use Microsoft Windows, those users aren’t aware of the problems. As more people use Macs, Unix, tablets, and smartphones these sorts of problems will become more apparent. The use of proprietary formats like Flash and Java are counterproductive in today’s more open world.

7 hours ago, Ivor Slipper said:

I had no problem with the original and from the lack of any other comments it does look like it was only CG who struggled.

 

Also don't recall DQ having problems with my formatting. Was that recent or a while go?

I see someone else mentioned the excessive width problem AFTER I replaced the file. So It wasn't that I did anything different that seems to have caused this. 

I have seen oddities in the presentation of HTML on sites before, and it seems to be the way the site is presenting or the browser is reacting. Sometimes, changing browsers corrects the problem. The bottom line is, HTML is not all created equal, and some iterations spook some browsers some of the time.

P.T. Barnum would no doubt be amused.

7 hours ago, droughtquake said:

It’s consistent and has been happening for a long time. I’m sure I mentioned it years ago. You tried a few changes, but they haven’t fixed my problem. I stopped mentioning it and save the chapters from Firefox every time.

 

However you format your text, the GA software doesn’t properly code the chapter as correct form of text. This prevents Safari from allowing Reader View mode. Firefox is less strict about observing standards and does allow Reader View mode. Reader View mode switches the background to white and the text to black (no matter what the site displays) and gets rid of extraneous junk like ads, navigation bars, sidebars, and other distractions. (Safari’s Reader View mode can optionally reverse the usual format to white text on a black background and allows you to select the font used [including making the font size larger or smaller], among other choices.) There have been one or two other authors whose text also exhibits the exactly same problem, but it’s been quite awhile since I’ve read any of their stories.  ;–)

Ohmigosh! I hope you can see my text okay, DQ! If you were to stop reading my stories, I'd lose 50% of my comments right off the bat!

I hope your browser properly indicated that I was kidding you!

7 hours ago, drpaladin said:

This one was short, but oh so sweet. All sweet treats should be consumed in moderation. Well done.

Hi again!

Thanks for the nice words. Charlie and Kip were bewildered that they had so little to do this round, but they very much enjoyed the few lines they were given!

4 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

Hi again!

 

Thanks for the nice words. Charlie and Kip were bewildered that they had so little to do this round, but they very much enjoyed the few lines they were given!

 

At least they had something to do

6 hours ago, Ivor Slipper said:

 

Always interesting to know. I post in the same way as Geron in that I use Blue Griffon to convert a story into Html and then post as Html. As for reading, like Paladin I use Chrome &  Windows and never have any problems with any stories on here.

I use Opera with Windows or Opera with Linux to read here, and I have never had a presentation problem. Hard to say what's going on. Ivor and I both write in BlueGriffon, an HTML page designer, and so what we post here are actual webpages. GA's editor has always seemed to like the HTML just fine, and so do the other three sites I post on. 

But weird things happen. If it's just one story now and then, and not all of them, I would not blame the HTML. GA's reader has presets that are supposed to show all stories the same unless the reader makes personal changes. So...

Just goes to show you that there really ARE gremlins!

2 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

Ohmigosh! I hope you can see my text okay, DQ! If you were to stop reading my stories, I'd lose 50% of my comments right off the bat!

 

I hope your browser properly indicated that I was kidding you!

If I had trouble, I’d have said something specific in agreement with @ColumbusGuy this time – our setups are very different and we only occasionally have the same problem. I am glad that at least a few of us realize that a single individual’s experience is not necessarily universal. Much like sexual orientation, a sample of one does not negate the experiences of others.

6 hours ago, droughtquake said:

Microsoft often creates non-standard formats that get adopted by other companies but are not true international standards. Since most computers use Microsoft Windows, those users aren’t aware of the problems. As more people use Macs, Unix, tablets, and smartphones these sorts of problems will become more apparent. The use of proprietary formats like Flash and Java are counterproductive in today’s more open world.

I agree. Microsoft is not the center of the universe, much as they wish it to be so. I only have two machines left that run Windows. The rest run Linux. Eventually, they will all run Linux.

The blending of all these different formats is not always harmonious, as you say. But a browser works the same way no matter the OS, and so should still present the same way, no matter the OS. Browser standards are well-published.

So...I guess we're back to gremlins again!

6 minutes ago, Ivor Slipper said:

 

At least they had something to do

They always have something to do.

Usually, it's behind closed doors, though!  

4 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

I use Opera with Windows or Opera with Linux to read here, and I have never had a presentation problem. Hard to say what's going on. Ivor and I both write in BlueGriffon, an HTML page designer, and so what we post here are actual webpages. GA's editor has always seemed to like the HTML just fine, and so do the other three sites I post on. 

 

But weird things happen. If it's just one story now and then, and not all of them, I would not blame the HTML. GA's reader has presets that are supposed to show all stories the same unless the reader makes personal changes. So...

 

Just goes to show you that there really ARE gremlins!

Opera goes out of its way to account for the idiosyncrasies introduced by Microsoft. This makes things nicer for the user, but disguises non-standard behavior on the website. Safari tends to adhere to very strict standards and often trips over the bad behavior of others.

3 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

If I had trouble, I’d have said something specific in agreement with @ColumbusGuy this time – our setups are very different and we only occasionally have the same problem. I am glad that at least a few of us realize that a single individual’s experience is not necessarily universal. Much like sexual orientation, a sample of one does not negate the experiences of others.

I know. And I also know that things are not universal for everyone.

If we were exactly the same, can you imagine us having a conversation? Ugh!

"Hi. Were you...?"

"Yes. I had to..."

"Oh, I know, Isn't it awful that..."

"Yes!"

"It makes me so..."

"...mad! I want to..."

"...scream! Don't you think..."

"Of course! It's just like..."

"...you said before. I think we should..."

"..stop going there. Well, it's always nice..."

"...to talk to me, Um, you!"

3 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

Opera goes out of its way to account for the idiosyncrasies introduced by Microsoft. This makes things nicer for the user, but disguises non-standard behavior on the website. Safari tends to adhere to very strict standards and often trips over the bad behavior of others.

Opera performs much the same for me in Linux as it does in Windows. Site server software runs to the same standards, no matter the underlying operating system. Given that servers and browsers all should be standardized in connection and display protocols, no matter the OS on either end of the connection, it's interesting that they seem not to be, one-hundred percent of the time.

Open-sourced server software, and open-sourced browsers, are the most subject to tinkering. I run several flavors of Linux, and the default copies of FireFox that came with them are all different. Too many people want to 'customize', and that leads to changes that affect operation standards. Opera, at least, performs consistently across all platforms, so far.

I do not use Chrome at all, just as I do not use Google's search engine. If these people want to follow me around, let 'em do it on foot! 

1 hour ago, drpaladin said:

There are a myriad number of variables which can affect the way a particular browser displays a website from content settings to user's choice of addons and extensions- and the device being used.  Given all those differences, a website can display differently. I know what I see isn't exactly what others might be seeing, but the site should respond mostly in the same way unless there is a reasonably widespread bug. On some sites, I might have to either switch user agents in the browser, change browsers, alter content settings, or switch to an incognito window to make the site respond the way it is intended. Sites are set up to respond properly to the largest swath of users, not each specific possibility which exists. Sometimes we have to bend our preferences to get the experience we want or need.

 

If I post what I am using which works, it gives a general guideline of what should work. 

I agree with that. I used to use Chrome, and it is possibly the best overall browser out there. I just have a thing for Google and Microsoft that I have trouble getting around. Both have screwed me over in the past, and I am not forgiving of some things, especially the way those two do them.

Opera is Chromium-based, just like Chrome, and has been extremely good to me. I also use the CyberFox spin-off of FireFox, but don't find it as speedy or as efficient as Opera. But I do have to say that, between the two of them, I have yet to run into a site that doesn't work properly for one or the other.

There are other good browsers out there. I just stick with what works for me. Hmm. Kind of like you!

3 hours ago, Geron Kees said:

I do not use Chrome at all, just as I do not use Google's search engine. If these people want to follow me around, let 'em do it on foot! 

I use Gmail, but only rarely from a browser. I use Apple’s Mail.app to access my gmail accounts to avoid seeing ads. I prefer to use DuckDuckGo for searches specifically because they do not track you. I have used Google to share photos with family though. And I search for videos to download on YouTube. I have never had an account on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, MySpace, or Pinterest.

8 hours ago, droughtquake said:

I use Gmail, but only rarely from a browser. I use Apple’s Mail.app to access my gmail accounts to avoid seeing ads. I prefer to use DuckDuckGo for searches specifically because they do not track you. I have used Google to share photos with family though. And I search for videos to download on YouTube. I have never had an account on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, MySpace, or Pinterest.

I do not have active accounts on any of the social media you mention. I have a LinkedIn account, but that's professional. There are those that say you need a presence on FaceBook to be successful, but that's a load of crap. FaceBook is as secure as a doll house (impressive front, all the way open in the back). Totally unnecessary for the business world, and basically mindless. Twitter...let's not even go there.

I also use DuckDuckGo. It's not perfect, but it also ain't Google.

Geron, I have a suggestion for a future Charlie Boone story.  How about─ Charlie and Kippy and company plus Frit and Pip have an adventure with MRS. P (Max's wife?)  Throw in Uncle Bob, and you would have a very different mix for a story.

6 hours ago, ReaderPaul said:

Geron, I have a suggestion for a future Charlie Boone story.  How about─ Charlie and Kippy and company plus Frit and Pip have an adventure with MRS. P (Max's wife?)  Throw in Uncle Bob, and you would have a very different mix for a story.

It's an interesting idea. There'd either be an explosion of some kind, or a very fun story!

How come no fool eva painted me no picture?!?! I can be sweet and I'm lovable dag nabbit! 

What can I say? Just because you deserve a painting, doesn't always mean you'll get one. 

Join the crowd!

A charming tale in which Kippy's experience with Charlie's painting encapsulates what is wrong with the way we usually experience the world. We think we know what we're looking for, but that focuses our attention on a series of single objects and that stops us from experiencing the 'whole'. If we deliberately look at or for something, we only see what we’re looking at or for. But if we unfocus our senses, allowing them to work autonomously, then we can see the complete picture. It’s the same with listening; a paradox. If we look, we don’t see. If we listen, we don’t hear. If we think, we are deaf and blind.  

11 hours ago, Rigby Taylor said:

A charming tale in which Kippy's experience with Charlie's painting encapsulates what is wrong with the way we usually experience the world. We think we know what we're looking for, but that focuses our attention on a series of single objects and that stops us from experiencing the 'whole'. If we deliberately look at or for something, we only see what we’re looking at or for. But if we unfocus our senses, allowing them to work autonomously, then we can see the complete picture. It’s the same with listening; a paradox. If we look, we don’t see. If we listen, we don’t hear. If we think, we are deaf and blind.  

 

 

Nice interpretation. Thank you.

It is true that, no matter what we are looking for, we will always find it, because we expect to do so.

One of the best things about life is the occasional realization that things are not as they seemed. Those little sudden intuitions that make us gasp, especially, are what makes it worthwhile getting up in the morning.

Delightful, simply delightful. In just a few keystrokes you built a picture, and a whole chapter, in my mind’s eye. I Love these young men, absolutely love them.

Today is not Valentine’s Day but love is in my heart and I hope you all feel the same; every day can be Valentines and every day Christmas if you want it to be.

10 hours ago, RevSimon said:

Delightful, simply delightful. In just a few keystrokes you built a picture, and a whole chapter, in my mind’s eye. I Love these young men, absolutely love them.

Today is not Valentine’s Day but love is in my heart and I hope you all feel the same; every day can be Valentines and every day Christmas if you want it to be.

Every day is a holiday, if that's what you keep in your heart.