Meta – MoA Cleanup After Moving

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September 29, 2025

Meta – MoA Cleanup After Moving

After Moon of Alabama had moved to a new server and software various problems occurred.

Thanks to helping hands most have been fixed:

Commentator names on the right side of the main page are now linked to the appropriate comment.
The comment entry field now has a ‘Preview’ replacement in form of a small what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor.
The ‘line-height’ attribute of the typeface has been modified to give it a more consistent look.

Open issues:

Someone yesterday mentioned problems with the ‘Search’ functionality. It is currently the standard function that comes with the software. I will have to look into that and, maybe, find a replacement.

Please let me know in the comments of any further problems with these or other features of the blog.

A note on Spam control.

The blog is, like before, using an automated Spam control feature:

Obvious spam comments from know spamming sources are automatically moved to trash. I never get to see them.

There are additional criteria which move some comments to a ‘pending’ queue where I can review them. I do check this queue twice a day and decide on publishing or trashing the comments in question.

Criteria for a comment to get stuck in the ‘pending’ queue are:

it includes a ‘bad word’ from a list I maintain. This is used to keep advertisements / discussions of certain topics away from the blog.
it is coming from certain IP-addresses which I have manually blocked. This is used to keep certain trolls away from the blog.
it contains more that 5 links.

If there are consistent problems with your comments not getting published please contact me via email.

Posted by b on September 29, 2025 at 06:17 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Thanks, B.
I am still surprised and impressed, how smooth everything went.

Posted by: TomD | Sep 29 2025 6:57 utc | 1

thanks b! great work!

Posted by: james | Sep 29 2025 6:58 utc | 2

Yes, a great job that went pretty seamlessly from the comment making side from my experience. Replete with new stories as it went along too.

Posted by: George | Sep 29 2025 7:03 utc | 3

Good for you. You lasted longer than Saker or Strelkov, which I didn’t think likely three years ago. Here’s hoping you survive.

Posted by: They Call Me Mister | Sep 29 2025 7:04 utc | 4

A demonstration of the line spacing conundrum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas.

It seems to take two consecutive new lines to start a paragraph.

Posted by: too scents | Sep 29 2025 7:27 utc | 5

Some have noticed that a bullet list/numbered list does not appear in a posted comment even when it appeared in the comment editor in visual- or code-mode.

That’s a known bug and will be fixed.

Posted by: b | Sep 29 2025 8:03 utc | 6

A few bugs you have ironed out but overall the move was seamless. Top job b.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 29 2025 8:18 utc | 7

Many thanks, B, for keeping this service available. I comment little, but read almost every day. Helps to keep me sane.

Posted by: Decorum | Sep 29 2025 8:30 utc | 8

Yes, congratulations b!
One small thing: The “Cont. reading:” link now links to the top of the post and not to the point where one could continue reading like before.

Posted by: John Henry Mackay | Sep 29 2025 9:13 utc | 9

Polishing optional details comfortably ahead of a hard deadline signals talent in spades.
Thank you

Posted by: Mercury | Sep 29 2025 9:16 utc | 10

Appreciate the effort you put in this. And again, congrats with the smooth migration.

Posted by: xor | Sep 29 2025 9:41 utc | 11

Just a test troll, er I mean post…

Posted by: Noam A Larkey | Sep 29 2025 10:07 utc | 12

In addition to other comments about the migration, your new server is noticeably more responsive. The change is a nice upgrade in user experience.

Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 29 2025 10:17 utc | 13

Doing fine b

Posted by: Merkin Scot | Sep 29 2025 10:25 utc | 14

Thanks for all your hard work, much appreciated.
Steve

Posted by: Steve from oz | Sep 29 2025 10:42 utc | 15

Posted by: John Henry Mackay | Sep 29 2025 9:13 utc | 9
Seconded!
“Continue…” leads to the beginning of the post
Ansonsten und überhaupt, tolle tolle Arbeit b!!!

Posted by: Aurora | Sep 29 2025 10:43 utc | 16

Let us know if you ever open a youtube channel.

Posted by: Christian J Chuba | Sep 29 2025 10:55 utc | 17

This is a test of the “Visual” code editor. The requirement for it to work as a preview is that what is posted is the same as we see in the “Visual” editor. What follows now is a new paragraph with a blank line after this one.
Here we are in the new paragraph. I will now create a numbered list

one
two
three

The numbered list has ended. There is a blank line before and after it. Now comes a new paragraph (blank line follows)
Normal text. Bold text. Italics text. Underlined text. ~~Strike through text~~.

This paragraph is in a block quote.

Now comes a bulleted list

bullet A
bullet B
bullet C

Thanks for all the good work. Don’t take this as criticism, but the visual editor must work according to the principle of “What you see is what you get”, not “what you get is what you get” as it has been the last day or so
Here comes a HTML decimal emoticon &#128526 ( Smiling Face With Sunglasses )

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 11:16 utc | 18

It looks like paragraph separation is an outstanding issue.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 11:18 utc | 19

As far as I’m concerned nice work.

thanks for explicitly explaining the 5 link limit, wouldn’t happen often but now I’ll completely avoid it.
My only request (if possible ) would be the option of a monospaced font. It would allow pasting table like info that can actually be read.

good work b

Posted by: Newbie | Sep 29 2025 11:29 utc | 20

Hi b.
I admire the degree of fidelity to the old version. Congrats, and thanks for the hard work.
You mention: “Criteria for a comment to get stuck in the ‘pending’ queue are:

it includes a ‘bad word’ from a list I maintain.”

Can we find this list anywhere, can you publish it, or do you want to keep it confidential (I can understand if you do, to avoid circumvention)?

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Sep 29 2025 11:34 utc | 21

Thank you for sorting the move. Like others I used to follow Saker, but now MOA is firmly at the top of my news bookmarks.

Posted by: Kaiama | Sep 29 2025 12:26 utc | 22

Congratulations to the move and just a minor tip:
Add a link to this posting to the “Leave a Comment” form so that people can find this info; especially the 5 links maximum… if people are aware of the restrictions when posting then B will have less work to approve comments and commenters won’t ask themselves what went wrong…

Posted by: Zet | Sep 29 2025 12:27 utc | 23

“My only request (if possible ) would be the option of a monospaced font. It would allow pasting table like info that can actually be read.”

You can (could?) use the html <PRE tags to switch to a monospaced font, which looks ugly but allows to make a nice table. Testing <PRE:<PRE>
A B
yes no
</PRE>

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 29 2025 12:47 utc | 24

Interesting. Is PRE redundant now?

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 29 2025 12:48 utc | 25

One small thing: The “Cont. reading:” link now links to the top of the post and not to the point where one could continue reading like before.

That is an implementation bug deep within WordPress. I have tried to find ways around it but so far have failed.

It looks like paragraph separation is an outstanding issue.

Yes – but I have no means to easily correct it. It would require a deep dive into the source of the “Visual” editor (TinyMCE) which is programmed in a language I hardly know. I would prefer a replacement for the old ‘Preview’ functionality but haven’t found any yet. Looks like we will have for now to live with it as it is.

Posted by: b | Sep 29 2025 12:50 utc | 26

Thanks b so much for all you do.

Posted by: Noirette | Sep 29 2025 12:53 utc | 27

so, what the fuck are these bad words? shit. (this is a test)

Posted by: Scottindallas | Sep 29 2025 13:36 utc | 28

An issue I have had with the old search function, when using keywords to look for an old article 99% of the results were comments on other articles. I wish there was a button to search blog post only and one for blog post plus comments

Posted by: Gregory Purcell | Sep 29 2025 13:49 utc | 29

Scottindallas@28….. diffinetly not Mr Carlin’s ‘seven’……..
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 29 2025 13:49 utc | 30

Great job b

Thanks to your helpers!

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 29 2025 14:24 utc | 31

Great work, thanks! I would like to see the paragraph skip reduced from 1 line height to about 1/4 line height, for better readability. KI says this can be done by adding the CSS rule
p {
margin-bottom: 0.25em
}
The gaps above and below the horizontal lines could be smaller to avoid wasting screen space.
The left and right margins of the comment area could be smaller (otherwise the text column becomes a bit narrow on mobile devices).

Posted by: mmm | Sep 29 2025 14:37 utc | 32

Testing paragraph separation using 2 blank lines. This is the first paragraph.

This is the second paragraph after pressing ENTER twice. It really beats the purpose of “Visual” editor if you don’t get what you see. In that case the old HTML solution + preview is better.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 14:48 utc | 33

Great work b. Thank you!

Posted by: Samu | Sep 29 2025 14:48 utc | 34

this is test of monospaced font using Code editor + pre begin and end tags around it.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 14:52 utc | 35

monospaced font test (above) using PRE failed. Trying CODE instead
2nd attempt at monospaced font

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 14:55 utc | 36

Testing tables:
Country GDP PPP Pop. GDP per cap. (mn) PPP ($) (tn $) ------------------------------- China 23,846 1,408 33.6 U.S. 75,492 341 25.7 India 9,817 1,399 13.7 Russia 41,705 146 6.1 Germany 62,830 84 5.3

Source: tradingeconomics.com

Posted by: S | Sep 29 2025 15:20 utc | 37

Testing HTML tables:

ABC
123

D
4

Posted by: S | Sep 29 2025 15:22 utc | 38

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 14:55 utc | 36

Tables can be done using the <code> HTML tag, but you have to replace all spaces with non-breaking spaces ( )

Posted by: S | Sep 29 2025 15:25 utc | 39

If you copy someone’s comment signature, the comment number now links to the comment. Super handy.

Posted by: S | Sep 29 2025 15:28 utc | 40

Thanks for the rules list, that explains.
When a post is pending does it still show when logged in but not when logged out ?
What occured with my post was that it showed as if posted as soon as posted, whereas on typepad a questionable post would not show until cleared.
Later, when logged out, it was ‘gone’ . So I figured either it had been manually removed, or possibly the algo had been tweaked.
To not show the pending comments as if posted, as previously on typepad, is a much better approach imo. Now, I will be questioning if what I am seeing is visible to everyone else, and to be sure a post is posted, will have to check in another browser.
When a comment is eventualy cleared, I presume that would push all later comment numbers out of order also, that everyone is used to.
Anyway, I will post with five links from now and that should simplify it all.
Also, unless I clicked ‘Save my name…’ without meaning to , wordpress seems to have chosen that for me …will look if it does that again after posting this.
All good otherwise, I hope they let you download the missing comments from September. Like Otto I also compose and then copy to post, but the full comment section is document/testimony to events from a perspective that is not easily found anywhere else.
Thanks

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 29 2025 15:32 utc | 41

@ b | Sep 29 2025 12:50 utc | 26

Yes – but I have no means to easily correct it. It would require a deep dive into the source of the “Visual” editor (TinyMCE) which is programmed in a language I hardly know. I would prefer a replacement for the old ‘Preview’ functionality but haven’t found any yet. Looks like we will have for now to live with it as it is.

I have general programming experience (C++), but not things like this. I tried to search for “tinyMCE force new paragraph” but the results were not exactly clear. Perhaps this one is relevant:
tinyMCE.init({
…
force_br_newlines : true
});
Maybe
force_p_newlines: true, forced_root_block: false,

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 15:32 utc | 42

@41 Ornot
“Also, unless I clicked ‘Save my name…’ without meaning to , wordpress seems to have chosen that for me …will look if it does that again after posting this.”

-Didn’t automatically ‘Save my name…’

However I think on typepad you had to click the box (?) , on wordpress clicking (i.e. on touch screen just tapping) anywhere on the field
‘Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.’

Checks the box.
Not a problem though, will just remember to check not ticked. Not sure if it is possible to untick without making a post, clear cache and data maybe, will try.

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 29 2025 15:39 utc | 43

@43 Ornot
Unticking and refresh page returns as still ticked.
Clear data and cache unticks on refresh.

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 29 2025 15:42 utc | 44

The line breaking is actually sensible? ENTER once gives a new line, twice gives a new paragraph, thrice gives a new paragraph with extra spacing.

All one has to remember is that the quasi preview window shows all instances of ENTER [by jumping two lines, not one]; but one may think of this a reading aid I suppose.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 29 2025 16:29 utc | 45

persiflo | Sep 29 2025 16:29 utc | 45
ENTER once gives a new line,
ONE_ENTER_HERE twice gives a new paragraph

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 29 2025 16:51 utc | 46

Now, unfortunately, no one seems to have an opinion on the topic of elections and Moldova.Although, even after the fact, the discussion about it doesn’t change anything, and what’s worse, no one is interested anymore, especially not in the Western bubble.

Posted by: Genesis | Sep 29 2025 16:51 utc | 47

Now, unfortunately, no one seems to have an opinion on the topic of elections and Moldova.Although, even after the fact, the discussion about it doesn’t change anything, and what’s worse, no one is interested anymore, especially not in the Western bubble.
Posted by: Genesis | Sep 29 2025 16:51 utc | 47

Of course not. Discussing that would reveal the true strategic interests of the West concerning Russia (admittedly they did so 25 years ago). Other than that we are OT, and there’s a current new MoA thread on Moldova.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 29 2025 17:07 utc | 48

Checking if TDS is in the bad name list.

Posted by: Naive | Sep 29 2025 18:35 utc | 49

It is not.

Posted by: Naive | Sep 29 2025 18:35 utc | 50

Great change-over executed. Congratulations, B !
Apart way through concern arose here when confronted by multiple CAPTCHA challenges for one singular attempt to connect to the your website. Fortunately this occurred only the one time. A mere minor blip.
Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Fíréan | Sep 29 2025 18:36 utc | 51

Testing

bold and italic within blockquote

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 29 2025 19:56 utc | 52

Underline re-test

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 29 2025 20:02 utc | 53

Underline successfully shows in the comment field, whether invoked via ‘Code’ or ‘Visual’, but doesn’t show up in the posted comment.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 29 2025 20:05 utc | 54

So email will now remain obligatory for commentig.
Of course I understand it but personally I preferred the old way.
I kinda have a reflex to not write freely (and those who remember my few comments know I am not outlandish) knowing that it could be traced back to a mail account if anything happens beyond b´s control. After all the insanities since 2022 that I would have never believed could happen I have become rather paranoid.
Or: how does it work (security-wise)?

Posted by: AG | Sep 29 2025 20:55 utc | 55

Posted by: AG | Sep 29 2025 20:55 utc | 55

Nobody is keeping you from entering noone(at)nowhere.gov…

Posted by: Zet | Sep 29 2025 21:15 utc | 56

The windows tab icon is darker. It keeps surprising me. What would you think of a ‘back to top’ button at the bottom of the page? Thanks, b, for this cool transition. I dreaded the thought we might end up with nested comments. The worst 🙂

Posted by: freedom fritos | Sep 29 2025 21:17 utc | 57

Any news on getting an RSS feed for the main page? I’ve been using that feed daily to keep up with your writing

Posted by: choo | Sep 29 2025 21:44 utc | 58

Zet | Sep 29 2025 21:15 utc | 56
ok-ay 🤔
Didn´t consider that tbh.
But then I sorta have too much respect for b to not take his wish seriously – or is that besides even b´s point? And is this more a condition for the site´s functionality not b as such.

Posted by: AG | Sep 29 2025 21:50 utc | 59

Nested comments as well as an edit function may derail conversations. It’s asking for some Fehlerkultur (error culture) on our part, which is a good thing in itself.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 29 2025 22:00 utc | 60

Thanks for everything.
But please post a permanent webpage with your blocked banned words list, so we can avoid inadvertantly using them in a comment – not knowing why it has been blocked from posting. Meaning we have to GUESS why it was blocked and try again and again and again. It’s an impossible task to navigate rationally b. Like 4 times this has been blocked but why?
As for what you call “Spammers” how about limiting the maximum number of posts a user can post in 12 or 24 hours – because some people are Mega Spammers who dominant every discussion / page with non-stop “opinions” about everyone and everything – and yet actually contribute little additional value each extra comment they make.

Thank you

Posted by: dodger | Sep 29 2025 23:31 utc | 61

I think these items below and anything else that is being done in the background and other key information for users, rules of the road etc, should be posted in a permanent page (or About Page) accessible from the home page for everyone but especially NEW USERS – it would be very helpful. And pre-empt many unnecessary problems and frustrations many users have had. Thank you.

A note on Spam control.
The blog is, like before, using an automated Spam control feature:

Obvious spam comments from know spamming sources are automatically moved to trash. I never get to see them.

There are additional criteria which move some comments to a ‘pending’ queue where I can review them. I do check this queue twice a day and decide on publishing or trashing the comments in question.
Criteria for a comment to get stuck in the ‘pending’ queue are:

it includes a ‘bad word’ from a list I maintain. This is used to keep advertisements / discussions of certain topics away from the blog.

it is coming from certain IP-addresses which I have manually blocked. This is used to keep certain trolls away from the blog.

it contains more that 5 links.

If there are consistent problems with your comments not getting published please contact me via email.

Posted by: dodger | Sep 29 2025 23:39 utc | 62

@dodger:

Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.

Okay?

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 0:10 utc | 63

Okay? Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 0:10 utc | 63
Yes thanks for asking. I am okay. Are you?
Since when does including a ref to desiderata mean one cannot make a comment and share some ideas without being asked if I am okay?
Apparently when you decided it was a problem. Right? Have a nice life.

Posted by: dodger | Sep 30 2025 0:24 utc | 64

I second (or 3rd or 4th) the motion to have a permanent link to the “banned words”, and any other verifiable offenses that make a poster or a post worthy of deleting. Back in the olden days of MoA, there were a couple of clearly stated rules, like “do not attack other posters”. That one is probably impossible to enforce without a full-time and paid censorship staff. But posting a permalink to any real and tangible rules might help.

I dunno, the site is looking really good so far and the ongoing tweaks are all helpful. As mentioned by others, it is also a lot faster to load. Good job, Herr b.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 3:35 utc | 65

Thank you, b. I noticed the ‘link to comment’ feature installed before reading your message. Very glad to see that operating! Oh, and I kind of like not knowing what are the words that have dire consequences — it will keep us on our toes not knowing all there is to that.

Posted by: juliania | Sep 30 2025 4:12 utc | 66

Test.
Am I banned?

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 4:41 utc | 67

Oh, and I kind of like not knowing what are the words that have dire consequences — it will keep us on our toes not knowing all there is to that.
Posted by: juliania | Sep 30 2025 4:12 utc | 66

Yes, there is something to be said about keeping the mystery alive. I once that thought that Zero Hedge links were banned, but I proved that wrong in a different thread just now.

Besides the “bad words”, it would also be good to know if there are any particular websites that are banned from being shared here. I definitely like the limit you have placed on the number of links shared in any single post. Some here post far too many links, and when they do it i one post, it induces scrolling instead of clicking. I would like to see the allowable limit of links per post reduced from 5 links to 2, or maybe 3 tops. Worst is when people post links without any intro.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 4:48 utc | 68

Test.Am I banned?
Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 4:41 utc | 67

Nope, I see you.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 4:51 utc | 69

I am not. But still cannot make a certain post (sans bad words) in the “Open” thread.
(Sent b an email.)

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 4:58 utc | 70

The new MoA 2.0 is a success, but I consider the current configuration of TinyMCE a failure. A very large proportion of MoA posts become almost unreadable with loss of paragraphs, because the “visual” editor shows a different layout (with proper paragraph divides) which disappears in the final post, and with no option to fix it after it has happened.
The fact that you can enter ENTER twice to get a paragraph shift is not a solution, because there is no way to teach the barflies to do it, and why should they when the visual editor is supposed to show the visual layout, but fails to do so. The result is walls of text that is difficult to read.

Other sites, like ZH for example, seem to have this configured correctly.

My proposal is one of

Figure out how to configure TinyMCE so that the visual editor agrees with the final post
Remove TinyMCE and return to the simple and more predictable editing style we had before introducing TinyMCE, even without the explicit preview. No preview is better than a preview that deceives you.

Btw., In my opinion the font size and line spacing is rather too small, I disagree with those who lobbied for smaller line spacing. In combination with the missing paragraph divides we are worse off IMHO, I will skip more posts because of poor layout.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:08 utc | 71

Well, I did press ENTER twice before “The fact that you can enter ENTER twice…” in the previous post, but it still didn’t work, and the result was a mess. Sorry, but it kind of demonstrates my point.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:11 utc | 72

The fact that you can enter ENTER twice to get a paragraph shift is not a solution, because there is no way to teach the barflies to do it…

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:08 utc | 71

Lots of posters already do it now successfully. It isn’t really all that difficult. Some people just don’t read.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 5:31 utc | 73

@ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 5:31 utc

Lots of posters already do it now successfully. It isn’t really all that difficult. Some people just don’t read.

Just see the latest threads to see that equally many don’t. The layout in posts have worsened significantly after introduction of the “visual” editor in its current configuration. But you prefer to go ad hominem on this, I understand.
b wrote in this post:

The comment entry field now has a ‘Preview’ replacement in form of a small what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor.

If this had worked it would have been just fine. But I am pointing out that we don’t have a what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor, because we don’t get what we see. Either make it work as advertised or select a simpler option.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:48 utc | 74

I kind of like not knowing what are the words that have dire consequences — it will keep us on our toes not knowing all there is to that.
Posted by: juliania | Sep 30 2025 4:12 utc | 66

I have a failsafe solution to maintain the mystery if b creates a page with his lists of bad words and site links juliania. Do not read it.

The people who would like to know can read it. When everyone can make their own choices, everyone is happy. Win-Win. I like the new editing panel. Much easier and quicker. Very pleasant.

Posted by: dodger | Sep 30 2025 5:54 utc | 75

@ Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:48 utc | 74 with the nag about text spacing
I like the line spacing now, have gotten to like the link tool and understand enough XHTML to know why the 2 CRLFs are needed to have a blank line between text.

Is it really true that one can post ZH links?
Oregon Governor Says There’s No Insurrection, Tells Trump To “Stand Down”

If so, it will show that b changes his position when he feels like it and that is fine with me. I have bumped into the forbidden words around alternative money and COVID enough to be frustrated but understand that this is a fairly well regulated bar for a reason.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 30 2025 5:58 utc | 76

Well, how about that. ZH links now ok
Oregon’s lesbian Governor Tina Kotek chose to veto legislation passed by both legislative houses to study establishing a state bank…..just saying

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 30 2025 6:04 utc | 77

@psychohistorian | Sep 30 2025 5:58 utc
Then please take it upon yourself to educate the rest about the need to learn XHTML to be able to properly use a wysiwyg editor.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 6:11 utc | 78

But you prefer to go ad hominem
Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 5:48 utc | 74

Nah, the ad hominem is what you did here, Norway buddy:
“because there is no way to teach the barflies to do it”. Or was that ad personam? Naive might tell us.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 6:18 utc | 79

The Norwegian guy is still very angry that an extra “enter” will do the proper paragraph spacing. Too much extra work, I guess. Guessing he will double-down on the criticicism of this detail.

Posted by: ThouShalt | Sep 30 2025 6:32 utc | 80

Entering the discussion a bit late, but I think I’d be happy if the “visual” composition pane showed proper line spacing.
As it is, <Enter> gives you a double space, not what the post will actually look like.
Hit <Enter> once–> new line, single spaced.
Hit <Enter> again, another single space between your paragraphs.
Seems simple enough to me.
If it worked properly there’d be no need for preview, would there?

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 7:19 utc | 81

I should have written that “<Enter> shows a double space, but actually gives a single space”.

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 7:21 utc | 82

I did some browsing of older comments from 2022 and older and noticed that the paragraph formatting issue is now apparent there as well. This seems to imply that the problem maybe isn’t due to TinyMCE after all, since it wasn’t used at that time. So maybe instead it is some general CSS formatting issue in the new MoA 2.0 that is causing it.

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 7:26 utc | 83

Hi b,
How possible is/was it to archive the comments in the posts from to 23 September? At least by copying them to a document and storing them somewhere for posterity? Or is that too much trouble, especially with the limited time left before TypePad bites the dust?
Thanks.

Posted by: joey_n | Sep 30 2025 8:23 utc | 84

Sorry, Should say
*6 to 23 September

Posted by: joey_n | Sep 30 2025 8:23 utc | 85

Any news on getting an RSS feed for the main page? I’ve been using that feed daily to keep up with your writing Posted by: choo | Sep 29 2025 21:44 utc | 58

Works for me … https://www.moonofalabama.org/feed/

Posted by: Tel | Sep 30 2025 9:20 utc | 86

I did some browsing of older comments from 2022 and older and noticed that the paragraph formatting issue is now apparent there as well. This seems to imply that the problem maybe isn’t due to TinyMCE after all, since it wasn’t used at that time. So maybe instead it is some general CSS formatting issue in the new MoA 2.0 that is causing it.
Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 30 2025 7:26 utc | 83

Uff. That, or something like that, is possible. When I use my OpenOffice editor to compose text which I then copy to an email in a browser window, the reverse happens: I get double spacing which I then have to manually remove.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 9:25 utc | 87

Testing OpenOffice editor into MoA comment box. [Enter]
once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 9:28 utc | 88

lol, was that was borderline magical thinking.

I second Waynor’s motion about the XHTML course. When do we get started?

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 9:30 utc | 89

Typing a very small comment in an offline text editor so that I can see what the results will be if I write everything like I usually do and then copy-paste it into the website preview editor. Now after the next full stop I enter two line breaks to make an empty line before I continue —like one always does.
Time and tide waits for no one. (And again).
So did that work out fine? I will find out :S
(Oh, I must admit I really don’t like the editor).

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 30 2025 10:24 utc | 90

Absolutely awful! :C (lol, other things are more important).

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 30 2025 10:25 utc | 91

“TinyMCE Advanced” has a number of advantages over TinyMCE, not the least that it allows the website administrator to easily customise the CSS.

It is what I use.

https://wordpress.org/plugins/tinymce-advanced/

Posted by: too scents | Sep 30 2025 10:35 utc | 92

I second Waynor’s motion about the XHTML course. When do we get started?
Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 9:30 utc | 89
You could start by citing the right Norwegian. Norwegian is that Norwegian.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Sep 30 2025 11:53 utc | 93

‘In my opinion the font size and line spacing is rather too small, I disagree with those who lobbied for smaller line spacing. In combination with the missing paragraph divides we are worse off IMHO, I will skip more posts because of poor layout.’

Agree.

Posted by: Dan Kelly | Sep 30 2025 13:18 utc | 94

re 93 – ups, indeed my misappropriation, sorry. I somehow associated this kind of snide with you.

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 30 2025 14:03 utc | 95

Hilarious how you kept the same look! Makes us feel at home..!

Posted by: pepa65 | Sep 30 2025 14:15 utc | 96

Testing line breaks.

Testing line breaks.

Posted by: S | Sep 30 2025 15:19 utc | 97

I’m impressed.

Posted by: Fredrick | Sep 30 2025 17:18 utc | 98

Suggestion:
Since there are still issues with the comment-posting facilities here, and since people are still making lots of “test” posts, how about creating a sandbox for this purpose? A thread where such things can be posted but not saved; the posts could last for a maximum of 24 hours or so before being deleted, just long enough to see the results of posting.

I know, it’s easy to make suggestions, but then somebody has to actually implement them.
And again, thanks for all your work on the tavern!

Posted by: George the Zeroth | Sep 30 2025 18:58 utc | 99

Dear ‘b’
I would like to contribute to your wonderful and so hugely needed job (of informing the still free world of people like yourself and most Bar Flies) – how can it be done from Germany? You can send the info to my email.
Thanks again

Posted by: fanto | Sep 30 2025 19:09 utc | 100

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