(Note: This blog was written as I was building out the new system - but published later on 6/18 )

Ok I’m breaking my BLOG rule again and talking about the site… again this is because some important changes are happening and I want to make sure you see this!

I’m currently working on a complete revamp of the site (yes again ) that will allow for a bunch of much more sophisicated features that you can enjoy. Much of the work is done, and as you can now see … it’s made for a much more robust site!

From my perspective, the revamp will make Blogs, News Articles, Site Annoucements - all sorts of articles - much much easier for me to manage. And while you wont notice a significant difference in the look in feel of davidmeade.com … when there are recent updates to the blogs, news sections, guestbooks, etc, they should be (when all is said and done) much easier to notice and navigate to.

And should you decide to participate in all the fun here at DavidMeade.com, you’ll have even more ways to do it! No longer will your wisdom be limited solely to blog comments. You can now comment on just about anything — even photo gallery pics! And through it all, you will be in fact using a whole new system for your user comments! You’ll also notice some great new features like user polls, rating the photos here at DavidMeade.com, the ability to post your own guest blog, the ability to send private messages between user of davidmeade.com, and even a discussion forum.

It’s the discussion forums in fact that are at the heart of the revamp. The new system is based off of an open source community application called phpBB. It’s probably the most popular web community (forum) application out there. phpBB has built in user membership abilites, usergroups, and security. I’ve spent the last week and a half or so installing and configuring phpBB and a dozen “MODs” to it, creating a phpBB template to match my site … and I’m pleaseed with the results.

What does this mean for you? Well it means that you may want to become a registered memeber of davidmeade.com! (If you are currently listed in the Other David Meade’s database you will be issued a new membership automatically soon … but if you just cant wait feel free to register now! ).

There are still some bugs in the new system, and I welcome you to report them in my bug tracker! I’m also still working on a best solution to move all the old content into the new system (until then you can of course continue to access it via the archive links as always). But all-in-all the site is working pretty well and it’s at a point where it can be used by the masses while I finish up on some things.

You’ll notice that some of the pages are still a bit of a pain in the neck … commenting on a blog for example will work flawlessly … but you end up in the forum which runs the blog rather than on the blog page. You may actually like this - I’m still trying to decide if I do. Just know that I’m trying to iron out these sorts of details as we go.

Again, please feel free to report any bugs to me and do let me know what you think of the new stuff!

Q: Do I have to register now!?

A: No! Anything you could do at DavidMeade.com in the old system you will be able to do at DavidMeade.com in the new system … however if you register you will have access to some new features and gain access to member-only content!

Q: Why would I want to become a registered member?

A: For lots of reasons!

• You’ll never have to type your dang name/email/url again when commenting on a blog! The system will remember you and do that for you!
• As a registered member, you can subscribe to a blog or news article and be notified by email when it’s been commented on!
• You’ll be able to send Private Messages to me and any other DavidMeade.com member via the website!
• You’ll be able to recieve private message from me and any other DavidMeade.com member!
• You’ll gain access to special member-only conent at DavidMeade.com!
  • Rate Photo Gallery Pics!
  • Upload YOUR photos from an event to the appropriate DavidMeade.com gallery!!
  • Vote on DavidMeade.com Polls
  • Edit your posts & comments to blogs and articles!
  • Private Messages
  • All sorts of other things I havent finished yet

Q: Just to be clear: I dont NEED to register in order to comment on blogs or anything do I??

A: No you dont. Unregistered users in this new system will have all the access and abilitys that all users had in the old system.

Q: When does all this start?

A: Soon! I’ve got the about half of the “hard stuff” done. In fact, this very blog is using the new system!

Q: Holy crap! What can I do to prepare!?

A: Register as a member!! Then sit and hit refresh on your browser in breathless anticipation for your first Private Message!

Deep breath my friends … there will be some problems and bugs as we move into the new system I’m sure, but not to worry … we’ll get through it… together.

If all goes well, you will see more and more features come one line in the weeks that follow. Also you will notice that alot of the stuff that looks like phpBB will go away in favor of my own front end. (Basically … if you see a page that doesn’t quite look like it fits in … it will as soon as I update that particular page or function).

Thanks in advance for your help and patience as I roll out the new system!