Is it possible for a website to catch fire? I don’t mean become popular, I mean literally burst into flames. I’m going to try something with the old FrontPage site tomorrow, and worry it’ll go wrong and the shit will burn down.
Since I started the WordPress version of the Surf Report, I haven’t been able to make changes to the “old site.” I’ve worked with the folks at my hosting company, who are always very helpful, and we can’t get both sites to operate normally at the same time. If we fix one, the other stops working correctly, and vice-versa.
This is a problem. For one thing, the stats tell me the old homepage is still receiving almost as many visitors as the new one. I imagine people checking it several times per day, and saying, “Still no update? Damn, wonder if the all-Wendy’s diet finally brought that fat-ass down?”
So, that’s no good. I need to go on there and post a big honkin’ link to the new site, but can’t.
Plus, I want to incorporate some of the old pages into TheWVSR 3.0. Like the bunker cam, and the Smoking Fish gallery. In fact, I have some pretty great Fish pics ready to go right now. But can I post ’em? No, I cannot.
The whole thing’s fairly frustrating.
Hostito, my host, has come up with a possible workaround though, and I’m going to give it a shot tomorrow afternoon. I’m a little nervous about it, because it requires some rudimentary geek skillz – which I don’t possess. And visions of unrecoverable tragedy dance in my head.
We’ll just have to see how it goes… Hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out, and some of our old favorites will soon return. I know it’s not quite the same yet, but I promise I’m trying. Consequently, you might want to keep a fire extinguisher near your computer for the next few days. You know, in case you click an old page while it’s on fire, and your monitor goes up in flames.
As for the new site being kinda slick and, as one commenter put it, Men’s Journal-like… I make no apologies for it. I wanted it to be a little more professional-looking; it was something I paid cash-money for. I’ve been doing the web-version of the Surf Report since late 2000, and was kinda tired of the half-assed amateur feel of things around here.
At some point, if he practices enough, a person earns the right to at least pretend he’s not an amateur anymore. Right? …Hello?
Tomorrow is going to be a one-update day, followed by a right hand whipping through my hair during the afternoon. And we’ll be in NYC on Friday, getting in everyone’s way. You know, because we’re just dumb-ass hayseeds who’ve never been anywhere…
Suddenly I’m irritated for some reason. Interesting.
Have a great day, boys and girls.
First! Part II
And if my new 40″ LCD burns up the next time I check in I will have words for you, Sir. Strong, strong words.
3rd! I’ve never been this close to the top!
4th! I’ve never been so close either! Brandy, we should team up and take Jorge down.
Wow, 2 updates again today.
Jeff, are you unemployed again?
I like the “willy-nilly” update schedule, I really do!
The WVSR is shaping up and looking very professional.
Top 10?
can’t wait to hear about your NYC visit. if your London postings are any indication, NYC will be great reading!
Weather permitting, we’re heading off to Idlewild and Soakzone tomorrow. watch out Ligonier, PA!! that’s our last trip that we’re going to squeeze in before school starts. woot!
Nothing needs appologizing for. It looks good, and you’ll get the bunker cam sorted out soon enough.
I gots faith in you.
top ten? love the multiple posts
jeff – say hello to NYC to me. I don’t quite miss it yet though……
If you get a chance, stop in at the “new” Blind Tiger:
http://blindtigeralehouse.com/
it’s a pain in the ass to find, but more great beer than you can wish for, and good food too!
I never changed my bookmark and came straight to the new site. Honestly, I first thought someone else had taken over the site when the new one first came up (Toney?). The new format is great for the blackberry peeps, now it’s straight to the goodies not like before (scrolling down the left side then continue reading here). I for many, thank you for the multiples. The mornings taken in while on the kings thrown. The afternoon’s a little funny before dinner.keep up the great work and don’t get lost in NY.
Me? 11? wow. Jeff I am loving the new format and the frequent updates! Have fun in NYC! It is a great place to visit!
Have fun in NYC, but do not, I repeat do not get caught on one of these sites
http://www.fannypackantics.com
or
http://www.uglyoutfitsnyc.com
That would be a bad thing.
Amusing for us, but bad for you.
Happy to be of help.
Enjoy the trip. 🙂
Ah, eh, I got nothin’ to say today…
I’m with johnb, my old bookmark brings me here.
And I think it’s crazy that it used to take you 90 minutes to update the site. To me, that’s incredible dedication and I don’t think we appreciated you enough. For that reason alone, I’m on board the new site 100%.
Good luck tomorrow!
I have a question here if I may. When the new update hits is the old topic history? Gone, over, ain’t looking, don’t care?? I’m having trouble keeping up these days. I just finished a heebie-jeebie moment but feel there’s no sense going into how I’m freaked out cliping/ trimming the dogs toenails. Old dog gone bleed once and I felt like crap about that. Current doggie yelped once. I’m pretty good at it all in all. Ok …I guess I did go into it .
Just wondering what you folks are doing. I’ll adjust accrordingly and try to keep up.
Gotta go. Soups on. Hi to all…-d
Get out of the way for crissake!
Other Dave, I do the rss feed to my yahoo homepage and it keeps me completely up to date, good stuff. Actually its much easier for me to keep up with the new site vs the old. The last 10 updates with the times Jeff updated is very sweet indeed.
Have fun in NYC Jeff!
I enjoy the new professional look, but there are some things I miss about the old site. Knowing that it doesn’t take Jeff as long to update makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside though, because I enjoy all the updating I see.
Thanks for the tip, Kristin. That place looks right up our alley, and they have cask ale!
http://blindtigeralehouse.com/page/o9a9/Draught_List.html#Cask
We’ll be having lunch less than a half-mile from there, so it’s all falling into place.
And Dave the Other, you bring up a good point. I hope the commenting will continue, even if there’s a newer update. It seemed like we were on a roll with the heebie-jeebie stories, until I posted again.
I will be crossing my fingers.
Damnit Jeff.
Why does web-presence have to be so difficult for you?
Hang tight and pray.
Just keep bringing it Jeff & we’ll all keep eatin it up.
I got to thinking I probably confused the hebbie-jebbies for the willies. Different degrees of ‘creepy’ I guess.
No smoke yet on this end but I’m unpluging this thing before I head off to ON.
The site and the frequent updates are good.
“I’ve been doing the web-version of the Surf Report since late 2000, and was kinda tired of the half-assed amateur feel of things around here. ”
You mean Jeff isn’t a half-assed amateur? I always that quality to be his most endearing. Gee.
Good Morning Surf Reporters……………..
Jeff,
I agree with everyone else. Keep posting and we will keep reading. I also like the more frequent updates and my old bookmark brought me right here also. I am one of the people still going to the old site just to get through the archives from before I became a loyal reader.
Our last trip of the summer, we are taking the train to Chicago (about 2 1/2 hours) this weekend. Wally got us tickets to Blueman Group, whom I have always wanted to see. Sunday we are going to the zoo ( I am an animal fanatic) and going out to a nice dinner. Pretty excited since school starts Monday. And it is our anniversary.
Hope you have fun in NYC. We will be raising a glass to you over the weekend. Keep up the great work and hope all of this works out for you. If my monitor catches on fire it will be alright, I want a new one anyways!
There are spinklers above me when I’m at work, so I guess I’d better keep my WVSR time confined to between 9 and 5…
I’m already used to the new format. The multiple updates are a rush! And you know what? If the bowl of corn doesn’t come back, then it’ll remain a fond memory, perhaps to show up as a cliche in the comments section from time to time.
SPINKLERS?
Add an ‘r’ in that word please. I have no idea what a spinkler might be…
Questio…is Jeff now a full-assed amateur?
Present.
Wow. I like everything about the Blind Tiger.
Here’s hoping there’s a trip to NYC in my near-future. 🙂
I miss Billie Joe.
That’s right, 2Tall. I’ve graduated to full-ass.
Kristin,
I have a one eyed toothless pocket weasel you might enjoy.
Brandy, on August 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm Said:
3rd! I’ve never been this close to the top!
Brandy…you can get on top any time you like. 🙂
(that was to easy)
Brooke, on August 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm Said:
4th! I’ve never been so close either! Brandy,
——————————————————————-
Brooke…your more than welcome to join Brandy. 🙂
The new site also loaded directly for me from the link in “my favorites”
Met a girl at Ottawa Bluesfest last month and we’ve been chatting on the phone…
Likes hard rock, metal and industrial…check
Likes cars and racing, her Dad owns two ’72 Vega’s (but he lives in another province)…check
Has her own place and is a masseues…check, check
Beverages of choice: mead and scotch…this could be TROUBLE!! We’re supposed to meet for drinks this weekend, wish me luck.
Racing Update: In my 14 lap feature race this week, started 15th and finished 2nd. My rookie year and I’m still second in championship points.
Blind Tiger carries cask ale from a brewery in Brooklyn called Six Point. I highly recommend to try which ever creation they have on draught.
http://www.sixpointcraftales.com
Unfortunately I don’t think they bottle yet so you need to take advantage when you can! Would love to buy you and Toney a pint but I have that annoying work thing during the day.
Kevindust…..I’m your date and I’m a very large black woman. Can you handle me?
Still waiting for that one update we were gonna get …
Or are we already slipping into inconsistency?
Jeff-
Try the Gingerman
http://www.gingerman-ny.com/
We have four of them in Texas and they really know their way around the Golden Elixir.
Gytina, I’ve got an open mind and I’ve always wanted to cross the colour spectrum. I’ll do my best to handle you…as long as I can get a smoking fish sighting out of it (or a sighting of a thousand little smoking tadpoles?)
I actually go back and read posts if I missed one due to the new fun frequency. And will comment. Crap, I was always the last one to read the old posts and still commented, even though I knew nobody was ever going to read it.
Kevindust – What are you racing? Where was your last race?
Kathleen, you’re not the only one who checks the comments in old posts!!
Entry level circle track racing at the local 3/8 mile paved oval here in Ottawa. I race an Escort GT in what’s called Four-For-Fun class. (i.e. Four cylinder cars, no prize money) The car is stripped then safety equipment is added, no engine or suspension modifications allowed.
Not exactly NASCAR, Indy or F-1 but I am having a great time and learning lots!
Jeff,
You should have a few trusted readers sign up for an “author” account in wordpress, and copy and paste your old site entrys for you. You can look at/edit them before they go public, and change the date and the author to you. I bet your readers would have the site switched over in just a few days…