Australopithecusidebar

July 20, 2011 12:40 PM

The Bar: Precursor to the Modern Sidebar?

So, I did a quick google search for "Metafilter Sidebar Archive" and found "an install" page. Searching MeTa for "sidebar" dredged up this announcement.

I don't remember ever coming across this when it was available: an entirely sidebarred version of MetaFilter. How did it work? I assume that page was meant to fit in its own side frame while a person surfed other websites?

posted by zarq to MetaFilter-Related at 12:40 PM (57 comments total)

I'm also wondering if there are any screenshots available? :)
posted by zarq at 12:41 PM on July 20, 2011

I have no recollection of this thing at all but it looks sort of like it still works, sort of? Netscape 6??
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:48 PM on July 20, 2011

And IE5!
posted by zarq at 12:50 PM on July 20, 2011

zarq: looks like it was meant to go in that My Sidebar thing Netscape had, plus a little hacky hack bookmarklet for IE.
posted by floam at 12:58 PM on July 20, 2011

Back in 2008 I tried to figure out the deal with the sidebar and found some metatalk threads pertaining to it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:00 PM on July 20, 2011

Fortunately for you all I'm still running Netscape Navigator 4.01!
posted by shakespeherian at 1:03 PM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

This is probably the MetaFilter Sidebar Archive you were looking for.
posted by pb (staff) at 1:04 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm half tempted to uninstall IE8 on my virtual machine just to get back to IE 6 and see this thing work...
posted by deezil at 1:05 PM on July 20, 2011

Oh. I thought this said Metafilter sidecar, which meant everyone had a sidekick to fight the evil forces of boredom.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:06 PM on July 20, 2011

Oh great a Metafilter bar! I'll have the flameout with a brand New Day back.
posted by The Whelk at 1:08 PM on July 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

floam: "zarq: looks like it was meant to go in that My Sidebar thing Netscape had, plus a little hacky hack bookmarklet for IE."

Wow. I had no idea that Ye Olde Nutscrape had that feature. Neat.

pb: "This is probably the MetaFilter Sidebar Archive you were looking for."

Heh. Yes, thanks.

cortex: "Back in 2008 I tried to figure out the deal with the sidebar and found some metatalk threads pertaining to it."

That's hilarious. And a great history, thanks!
posted by zarq at 1:13 PM on July 20, 2011

deezil: "I'm half tempted to uninstall IE8 on my virtual machine just to get back to IE 6 and see this thing work..."

If you get it to work, pleeeeeease screenshot it?
posted by zarq at 1:14 PM on July 20, 2011

I had a sidekick once and I assure you that playing Rock and Rockets did not fight the evil forces of boredom for long.
posted by cashman at 1:14 PM on July 20, 2011

I have a copy of IE6 for testing. Here's what the sidebar looks like. I just clicked the link on the install page and it worked.
posted by pb (staff) at 1:17 PM on July 20, 2011 [7 favorites]

I know you're in there because I can smell your frrrraaaaaaaaames!
posted by cashman at 1:20 PM on July 20, 2011

I thought this said Metafilter sidecar...

METAFILTER SIDECAR
Eight parts Cognac
Two parts Curaçao
One part Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
posted by griphus at 1:26 PM on July 20, 2011 [9 favorites]

I would totally order a sidecar at the Metafilter Bar. It's my favorite drink to give to people who are all like "Ooh, this is sweet!" and 30 minutes later they don't even know what language they're speaking.
posted by mykescipark at 1:26 PM on July 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

Dammit, jinx!!
posted by mykescipark at 1:26 PM on July 20, 2011

pb: "I have a copy of IE6 for testing. Here's what the sidebar looks like. I just clicked the link on the install page and it worked."

Thank you! It's pretty neat looking.
posted by zarq at 1:29 PM on July 20, 2011

All this Netscape talk is making me feel egregiously old.
posted by nanojath at 1:40 PM on July 20, 2011

Speaking of side bars, I don't see one in the Green. I assumed it was temporary, but given this opportunity I thought I'd mention it.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:59 PM on July 20, 2011

What browser version and OS are you using, Chocolate Pickle? We just updated the layouts and tested across dozens of browser combos but we might not have tested in yours.
posted by pb (staff) at 2:11 PM on July 20, 2011

"Sidebar, your honor!"
"Yes?"
"Oh, I just thought what you said was clever and everyone should see it."
posted by klangklangston at 2:17 PM on July 20, 2011 [8 favorites]

Fortunately for you all I'm still running Netscape Navigator 4.01!

Nooooooooooooooooooo!

::shakes fist::
posted by epersonae at 2:19 PM on July 20, 2011

"Sidebar, your honor!"
"Yes?"
"Oh, I just thought what you said was clever and everyone should see it."

Made me think of:

Doctor: Well, Mr Jones, let's have a look at this rash then, shall we?
Jones: Thank you, Doctor
Doctor: Just pop your clothes off for me
Jones: Where shall I put them, Doctor?
Doctor: Oh, just over there on top of mine.
posted by Jofus at 2:21 PM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

The AskMe is a green absinthe cocktail that after a few sips in you want to tell everyone your troubles and remind them while you're not a doctor, they really should dump the motherfucker.
posted by The Whelk at 2:38 PM on July 20, 2011 [8 favorites]

I tried to order a drink at the Metafilter bar, but it came with all these little flags in it, and before I could take a sip, I got deleted.
posted by crunchland at 2:54 PM on July 20, 2011

The Favorite can only be ordered for you by someone else
posted by The Whelk at 3:00 PM on July 20, 2011 [12 favorites]

I'm not sure what kind of drink the MeTa is, but I do know that the last stage in preparation is to set it on fire.
posted by dg at 3:04 PM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

The IRL is a white coconut margarita served in a goddamned goldfish bowl with ten straws.
posted by The Whelk at 3:12 PM on July 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

The Whelk: "The Favorite can only be ordered for you by someone else"

I love the idea of all of us sitting in an actual bar, and a server coming up and saying, "Excuse me, miss, but this is from the gentleman with the fish in his pants," or whatever, and that drink's a Favorite.

What would go in a Favorite?
posted by misha at 3:32 PM on July 20, 2011

Moonbeams and laughter.

And bourbon.
posted by The Whelk at 3:41 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Favorite is a glass of Islay: people can't agree whether they actually like it or it's just really, really memorable.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:44 PM on July 20, 2011 [7 favorites]

PB, Win7-64 and IE9.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:51 PM on July 20, 2011

Music is a glass of Walker black label and a banjo
posted by The Whelk at 3:52 PM on July 20, 2011

( oh man I was just altered to the existence of Gerogi's hundred proof blue vodka. It is very blue )
posted by The Whelk at 3:56 PM on July 20, 2011

Thanks CP, investigating.

The Favorite: 1 bookmark, 1 pat on the back, bitters to taste.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:01 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

Fortunately for you all I'm still running Netscape Navigator 4.01 from web developers with pitchforks and torches!
posted by davejay at 4:11 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Whelk: Music is a glass of Walker black label and a banjo

must be served under a tree!
posted by Bohemia Mountain at 4:57 PM on July 20, 2011

Fortunately for you all I'm still running Netscape Navigator 4.01!

Way more believable if you said 4.08. That was the first stable (i.e., didn't crash when it opened) version.
posted by yerfatma at 5:15 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

I got sidebarred (is that a word?) today and I called my husband all excited. I've been a lurker for years and a member since '09 but today I feel like a real Mefite!

Of course I had to explain to my husband wtf a sideblog is and why I was so excited to be on it. It's a good thing he accepts my crazy and loves me anyway.

This is also the first post I've used the tiny fonts and now I will abuse the privilege mercilessly.
posted by TooFewShoes at 5:29 PM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

Hey hey underwear lady!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:42 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hey, hey Underwear Lady
Butting through the Metafilter trees
Make way for the Underwear Lady
The sidebar's going down it's a mighty tight squeeze.
posted by shakespeherian at 5:47 PM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

I don't know, the MetaFilter Bar is awfully expensive. All the drinks are $20, same as in town.
posted by maryr at 6:13 PM on July 20, 2011

Of course when I wrote that post I was completely foggy from my meds and it's full of errors. My one brush with fame and I've got broccoli in my teeth.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:21 PM on July 20, 2011

All the drinks are $20, same as in town.

Yeah, but the entrees are all you can eat for five bucks.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:31 PM on July 20, 2011 [3 favorites]

"altered to the existence of Gerogi's hundred proof blue vodka"

Heh.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:34 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure what kind of drink the MeTa is, but I do know that the last stage in preparation is to set it on fire.

I forget the ingredients, but it can only be served in a paper bag on one of the Mods' doorsteps after 2am
posted by mannequito at 8:16 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, but the entrees are all you can eat for five bucks.

May contain taters.
posted by schmod at 9:52 PM on July 20, 2011

And beans, of course.
posted by maryr at 10:41 PM on July 20, 2011

Matt's book is selling new for under 4.00 USD!

Matt, do you still get royalties from that?
posted by Ayn Rand and God at 11:07 PM on July 20, 2011

pb: "I have a copy of IE6 for testing. Here's what the sidebar looks like."

We heard you like MeFi, so we put a MeFi in your MeFi so you can blog while you blog.
posted by Rhaomi at 11:13 PM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

pb: "I have a copy of IE6 for testing."

It's just for testing, I swear!
posted by Apropos of Something at 7:01 AM on July 21, 2011

Wow, this book is still $23 new! (I bought a copy when it was new. It's on the shelf with my reference books at work, because I find that amusing. The last time I opened it, I found a local bus day pass from January 14, 2003. Good times.)
posted by epersonae at 9:52 AM on July 21, 2011

The Favorite can only be ordered for you by someone else

Actually, you can order yourself a Favorite, it's just that if anyone notices (and they probably won't, the bar is way too noisy) it's kind of looked down upon.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:40 AM on July 21, 2011 [2 favorites]

They should have "I would like to read this book on my Kindle" as a toolbar extension, I use it so much.
posted by misha at 12:09 PM on July 21, 2011

Well, the Netscape 6 bookmarklet seems to work just fine in Firefox 5.0.1. The 'install' link creates a bookmark which, in turn, adds a sidebar to the current browser window. The sidebar is independent of tabs in the window, remaining in position (and scrolled to the same spot) when I switch tabs. If I open a new window from a window that has the sidebar open, the new window will also have a Metafilter sidebar in it.
posted by Kalthare at 2:45 AM on July 22, 2011