First, Do No Harm…

April 11, 2008

Before I get to the title topic, here’s my tip of the day for K-Meleon users who may be having the same problem I’m having with being able to print webpages in Vista. I covered in my review of K-Meleon that even though I really like using it, I was very frustrated at not being able to print webpages. I can print .pdf files from a website but whenever I try to print the webpage itself, I get an error message from Windows that a program can’t display a message on my desktop, probably because it’s partially incompatible with Vista. I have to click to see the message. The message I get when I click is “This paper size is not supported by the Magicolor 2300″…Now I know that’s crazy because the paper size is set to 8-1/2″ x 11″…and I can print a webpage from every other browser I use.

Well, I found a way around this irritant. I just choose my PDF printer to print the page, then use my Magicolor to print the PDF. I use PDF Factory Pro from Fineprint (great program!). Now, I can print anyting I want in K-Meleon, albeit with a few extra clicks, but at least I can print webpages now!

And now, for what’s behind my title: I got an e-mail from Jeremy Sydik, author of “Design Accessible Web Sites” this morning. It’s been in the news that some really mean person or persons planted graphics/scripts on an Epilepsy Foundation message board that triggered migraines and/or seizures in people who suffer from photosensitivity. How pathetic is that? I heard the term “internet griefer” for the first time and discovered that it usually applies to gamers who, for whatever reason, can’t get satisfaction from online gaming so they try to ruin the experience of other gamers instead. Let me say it again….pathetic. I have no clue what the motivation behind such a distasteful act is but I’m sure that the energy that went into it could have been directed in a more positive direction. Kudos to the Epilepsy Foundation for taking quick action to delete the offending posts after receiving complaints from users. I just don’t understand why people who have the ability and the time to create internet experiences would choose to create a negative one rather than a positive one. What’s your observation?

Posted in Annoyances