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Everyone, please remain calm!

August 4, 2008 By Jeff 178 Comments

frontpage2000Longtime readers know of my deep, deep dissatisfaction with the Surf Report delivery system.  I’ve been using, since day one, a program called Microsoft FrontPage, which wasn’t very good in the beginning and is almost hilarious at this point.  You know, in a tragicomedy kind of way.

All updates had to originate from a specific computer, which meant the site went dark whenever I was out of town, experienced problems with my PC, or had interlopers piled-up like cordwood near the machine.  It was a very limiting situation.

Also, each individual page had to be created by hand, and it took at least ninety minutes per day just to get the site ready for the next update.  Ninety minutes before I could even think about writing something.

The RSS feed never really worked (I was using a quarter-assed “solution”), we were at Haloscan’s unstable mercy when it came to comments, and the whole thing was just kinda stoopid and outdated.

Yeah, I know, there’s some charm in that…  But it was like an antique chair that seems kinda cool from across the room, but wasn’t really designed to accommodate a big 2008 American ass.  If you know what I mean.

So, I’ve been toying with the idea of moving everything over to WordPress.  It’s one of the reasons I started the Suggestaholic site, so I could get used to the program before taking The Big Leap.  That, and it’s a place where I can write about music whenever I want…

I did some snooping around, and found a designer in Philadelphia who does great work, but doesn’t charge an outrageous amount of money.  And together we attempted to build a custom theme that tries to retain some of the old site’s feel.

I could’ve just downloaded a free template, like I did with Suggestaholic, or purchased a so-called premium theme.  But I wanted the Surf Report to be unique and not look exactly like a thousand (or even a hundred) other sites.

It took a couple of months of back-and-forth, and the theme is now ready to go.  So I had a decision to make…  I considered running the new WordPress site parallel to FrontPage, until I figured out what in the everlovin’ crap I was doing.  And that seemed like a prudent course of action.

But I know how I am, and would’ve never felt ready.  Heck, if it wasn’t for Toney we’d still be childless and living in an apartment somewhere.  My instincts tell me to be absolutely prepared before taking any Big Steps, and that often leads to inaction.  Having kids and/or buying a house?  Man, that’ll require at least a ten-year preparation period…

So screw it.  I’m starting August off on an almost-ready WordPress theme.  It’s still very much a work on process (WIP), but I think it has good bones.  And as I figure out what I’m doing, everything will start coming into focus.

Kevin, the designer, did a great job, and I’m absolutely happy with his efforts.  But I’m a very picky pain-in-the-ass (just ask him!), and am still not all-the-way satisfied with the aesthetics, especially as it pertains to the two sidebars and the footer.  The fundamentals are solid, but a little tweaking is in order.

But it’ll soon be better than the old situation, much better.  Trust me.

Today I’m just going to let you guys give me your opinions, complaints, and doomsday prophecies.  The comments are set so your first post will go into a moderation queue, but once you have one comment approved, it’ll be like old times.

Toney has agreed to moderate comments while I’m at work this evening, at least until she goes to bed…  So, let’s hear it.  Tell me how I’ve messed up a good thing.

Also, if any of you are designers and would be interested in helping me fine-tune the new site, send me an email.  It won’t require much, but I’m fairly helpless here; I feel like an armless man sitting in a porn theater.

As mentioned, the RSS feed will now work(!), so subscribe to that bitch.  If you use Google Reader, or whatever, the updates will drop right in there – like it’s 2003!!

Next time I’ll post a real update, and we’ll get back to the whining, the ranting, and the cruel mockery.

I thank you for your continued support.

And I’ll see ya tomorrow.

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Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: internet, site design

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. renn says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:33 am

    It’s easier to read (font-wise), and it’s cheaper than me getting glasses.

    I may miss getting ads encouraging liposuction and ‘voting republican’ when I comment, though.

    Reply
  2. BoMama says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:33 am

    Hi Toney!

    Jeff,
    If you’re happy, we’re happy.
    If you’re miserable, we’re happier.

    XXOO

    Reply
  3. wilwu says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:36 am

    Everything looks cool but where’s Charlie West????? I must have his comments to make my day right!!

    Reply
  4. Carol says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:39 am

    Looks good to me, Jeff! Anything to make it easier for you to post an update is fine with me. (Hi, Toney!)

    Reply
  5. Smilee says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:44 am

    went back to look at the old site and seen the stark white background there as well, I’m thinking it’s not so in your face on the old site because of the wide blue bars along the side of the page.
    I also noticed the new page is not so full of “Ads by google”

    Reply
  6. Rocco says

    August 6, 2008 at 1:07 am

    Thank God that my percocet induced sister was the one that initially opened the new site as I was to busy playing her ‘Lurch’!! She read me the FULL explanation and I took a look. A-OKAY Jeff!! Hi Toney!!

    Reply
  7. db grin says

    August 6, 2008 at 1:16 am

    So far so good, but I’m anxious to see if it’ll make Jimmy spurt.

    I switched to wordpress a while ago, and while I’m not using much of its potential, I like it.

    Would be nice if avatars showed up in the comments, and if the comments were in a new window. I don’t think I’ll miss the hellscan though.

    So, what are you gonna do with the 90 minutes you save?

    Good on ya for making the leap!

    Reply
  8. Chuck says

    August 6, 2008 at 1:32 am

    Doesn’t matter to me how you do it, just keep doing it and I’ll keep reading it!!!!

    Reply
  9. Plaz says

    August 6, 2008 at 1:44 am

    Hi Toney, how do you put up with the guy anyway? I guess your family made it a bit easier 😉

    yeah site looks good!

    Reply
  10. Peter says

    August 6, 2008 at 2:03 am

    I thought I got a Firefox / Max OSX upgrade, but no, it was a Jeff upgrade. Like the new look, but need the wisdom of Charlie.

    Reply
  11. Daniel likes to Dance says

    August 6, 2008 at 2:06 am

    No problem with the change here. I hope that the new site will show new content on my My Yahoo reader. It always says that you have no updated content but I like the site so much that I click on the site manually to see what is new in the perogi belt! 🙂

    Reply
  12. aminnev says

    August 6, 2008 at 2:58 am

    Hmmm. I’m usually a lurker and infrequent comment-or. Looks good tho’. Quite a number of us “older” readers who won’t need spectacles to read the new site.

    I may be one of the few that LOVE the First, Second, and Turd comments. I couldn’t wait to see who was lucky enough to comment first for an update. Can we keep this??

    I do miss seeing the snipets of updates on one page. Made it easy to determine where I left off in my reading.

    WTG Jeff (and Toney)!

    Reply
  13. ashton says

    August 6, 2008 at 3:20 am

    testing for moderation…

    Reply
  14. Shiny Rod says

    August 6, 2008 at 3:39 am

    Just logging in from home Toney, Thanks!

    Reply
  15. TxTy says

    August 6, 2008 at 4:54 am

    Sounds like Sunny needs some arthritis medication…or asthma medication…or SOME kind of medication.

    This explains what I found over the weekend.

    out, y’all

    Reply
  16. RabidCircusbear says

    August 6, 2008 at 5:47 am

    wow i’m with jeff on the not good with change front… i thought my computer had gone loopy when the site loaded.. but i suppose we must struggle thru change until we all drop dead so… actually i think its not too bad the all white is a little shovking to my system but i will grow accustomed to it after maybe 3-4 years…

    Reply
  17. Great Googly Moogly says

    August 6, 2008 at 6:38 am

    Mr. Webmaster, I ask for unanimous consent to address the site for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks.

    Looks pretty good. Front page is shit. I used it for several years running a site and hated it. I’m surprised you stayed with it this long.

    Gotta have my bowl of corn back motherfuckers! That and I anxiously await the return of the esteemed gentleman from West Virgina, our colleague, the honorable Mr. Charley West.

    Mr. Webmaster I yield back the balance of my time.

    Reply
  18. johnb says

    August 6, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    I like it. Differents always a transition when it something your fond of, and the comments posted at the bottom is only a problem when they run in to the thousands as today. It makes my finger cramp scrolling down on my BlackBerry. In the end, as long as you keep printing there will be no riots. Thanks for all the laughs.

    Reply
  19. greg t says

    August 6, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    Looks fine to me.

    Reply
  20. Lucas says

    August 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    as much as i hate wordpress, for 99% of the internet populace it’s the best thing ever. I would recomend, however that instead of managing your own comments you use discus.com or something. just easier than handling your own (heh heh)

    Reply
  21. Gus Dorman says

    August 7, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    Freaking Awesome!

    Reply
  22. SC Scott says

    August 7, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore . . .

    Reply
  23. Mitzi says

    August 7, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    Love it – hopefully this means you can write more!

    Reply
  24. Shiny Rod says

    August 7, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    snap me up

    Reply
  25. Mr Neutron says

    August 9, 2008 at 9:19 am

    gasp! lookin’ great, but missing charley west and the daily link to some wacky photo of some sort.

    keep it up, sir!

    mk : )

    Reply
  26. Vespa Girl says

    August 9, 2008 at 11:59 am

    I LOVE the new look. Outstanding!

    Reply
  27. Debra says

    August 10, 2008 at 12:23 pm

    Very nice. Just got home from Northern Michigan and this was a surprise! Whatever makes it easier for you Jeff. It’s my Birfday too!

    Reply
  28. Jeff says

    August 11, 2008 at 3:27 am

    Happy Birfday, Debra!

    Reply
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