Hi all. We've been working hard over the past few weeks at optimizing the website and the server to make the site run faster, as well as some other tweaks that I think will improve things too.
1) A couple months ago a software upgrade introduced the "Likes" system. Immediately folks wondered what is the difference between a Like and a Thanks (the system we've had in place for a long time). Well we didn't really see the need for both so we decided to program our own custom system to accomplish what both those systems were attempting to do, and in the process make it better. Today we implemented the new "Likes" system. We imported all the likes and thanks our members have made in the past into the new system. When you click on "Like" now it shows up within the body of the message (instead of under the message as the old "Thanks" system did). This will save screen real estate. And by doing away with the other Likes system we have eliminated the annoying Likes count in the Notifications at the top of the page. Now Notifications will show up only if you have a Private Message, like it used to. At any time you can see all the likes that have been attributed to your posts by clicking on your member profile link or your logged in username at the top of the page. Likes now have their own tab in your user profile, nicely organized and filed away.
I am confident that these changes will serve us better in the future. So if you like a post that someone has made let them know so.
2) We've also removed a software system that was used for promoting Search Engine Optimization. It added some server resource overhead and we just didn't need it anymore. We're pretty confident that we programmed it to handle old URL links within the site, but if you find a dead URL let us know with the "Report Post" button and we'll fix it or remove it.
3) One last change that we're making. As you know the website is financed personally by yours truly and it ain't cheap to build and run this thing! I depend on the Captains Club, Supporter and Sponsor memberships as well as Commercial Sponsor advertising to help pay the bills and to keep improving the website. As you know we do not allow free advertising by individuals or companies in posts and threads. We reserve this right to our Captains Club and Sponsor members.
Captains Club membership - Many members have added a URL link to their signature file to promote their own website or blog, etc. In the next few days we will be removing any signature URL that is not associated with a Captains Club or Sponsor member. That again is a right reserved for our financial supporters. Now, if you have a blog or website that you want to promote to people I think $25/year is a small price to pay to expose it to our audience of 20-30,000 people per week. And you help support our website in the process. Learn more here.
Sponsor membership - We have increased the Sponsor membership to $100/year (it has been $75 for over five years now). Sponsor members can add up to a 600x60 pixel graphic banner to their signature file that links to their website. Learn more here.
Supporter collectible buttons - Last year we added another avenue for support of the site, the Supporter collectible buttons. Each button costs $10 and are permanently added to your user account. Anytime you make a post in the forums your Supporter button shows too. Learn more here.
Commercial Sponsors - Finally, if you know of a business that would benefit from banner advertising on our website, please have them contact us sales@ncangler.com. Learn more here.
It would be great if we had more members that joined our Captains Club or Sponsor memberships or purchased a Supporter button. For those that have supported us in that capacity for the past five years we thank you very much!
And please make note of the members that support our site by visiting our Sponsors and Supporters page:
http://www.ncangler.com/index.php?page=sponsorthanks
Finally, you will remember that a few weeks back we created a custom system to recognize active duty and retired military personnel for their service. If you are serving or have served in our armed forces we want to recognize and honor that service by giving you a special title that shows up under your online username and by adding the icon that represents the branch of service that you are a member of. Please go to the Settings link above and then click on Edit My Settings (left hand column down the page) then scroll to the bottom of your settings to find Military Branch and Military Service. Please select the branch and service that you are serving or have served in. And we thank you for your service!
Thanks all!
Blessings
Randy
1) A couple months ago a software upgrade introduced the "Likes" system. Immediately folks wondered what is the difference between a Like and a Thanks (the system we've had in place for a long time). Well we didn't really see the need for both so we decided to program our own custom system to accomplish what both those systems were attempting to do, and in the process make it better. Today we implemented the new "Likes" system. We imported all the likes and thanks our members have made in the past into the new system. When you click on "Like" now it shows up within the body of the message (instead of under the message as the old "Thanks" system did). This will save screen real estate. And by doing away with the other Likes system we have eliminated the annoying Likes count in the Notifications at the top of the page. Now Notifications will show up only if you have a Private Message, like it used to. At any time you can see all the likes that have been attributed to your posts by clicking on your member profile link or your logged in username at the top of the page. Likes now have their own tab in your user profile, nicely organized and filed away.
I am confident that these changes will serve us better in the future. So if you like a post that someone has made let them know so.
2) We've also removed a software system that was used for promoting Search Engine Optimization. It added some server resource overhead and we just didn't need it anymore. We're pretty confident that we programmed it to handle old URL links within the site, but if you find a dead URL let us know with the "Report Post" button and we'll fix it or remove it.
3) One last change that we're making. As you know the website is financed personally by yours truly and it ain't cheap to build and run this thing! I depend on the Captains Club, Supporter and Sponsor memberships as well as Commercial Sponsor advertising to help pay the bills and to keep improving the website. As you know we do not allow free advertising by individuals or companies in posts and threads. We reserve this right to our Captains Club and Sponsor members.
Captains Club membership - Many members have added a URL link to their signature file to promote their own website or blog, etc. In the next few days we will be removing any signature URL that is not associated with a Captains Club or Sponsor member. That again is a right reserved for our financial supporters. Now, if you have a blog or website that you want to promote to people I think $25/year is a small price to pay to expose it to our audience of 20-30,000 people per week. And you help support our website in the process. Learn more here.
Sponsor membership - We have increased the Sponsor membership to $100/year (it has been $75 for over five years now). Sponsor members can add up to a 600x60 pixel graphic banner to their signature file that links to their website. Learn more here.
Supporter collectible buttons - Last year we added another avenue for support of the site, the Supporter collectible buttons. Each button costs $10 and are permanently added to your user account. Anytime you make a post in the forums your Supporter button shows too. Learn more here.
Commercial Sponsors - Finally, if you know of a business that would benefit from banner advertising on our website, please have them contact us sales@ncangler.com. Learn more here.
It would be great if we had more members that joined our Captains Club or Sponsor memberships or purchased a Supporter button. For those that have supported us in that capacity for the past five years we thank you very much!
And please make note of the members that support our site by visiting our Sponsors and Supporters page:
http://www.ncangler.com/index.php?page=sponsorthanks
Finally, you will remember that a few weeks back we created a custom system to recognize active duty and retired military personnel for their service. If you are serving or have served in our armed forces we want to recognize and honor that service by giving you a special title that shows up under your online username and by adding the icon that represents the branch of service that you are a member of. Please go to the Settings link above and then click on Edit My Settings (left hand column down the page) then scroll to the bottom of your settings to find Military Branch and Military Service. Please select the branch and service that you are serving or have served in. And we thank you for your service!
Thanks all!
Blessings
Randy