WARNING This forum will explode in 30 seconds!

[djkimmel]

No. We haven't been hacked, but now that I have your attention 

I'm making some changes to this good ole forum and I thought a Friday evening, when most of you are watching Zona and the other fishing shows, out to dinner or getting to bed early so you can go fishing tomorrow, would be a great evening to make some updates and performance tweaks (technical term). This isn't a huge forum so I'm not sure how noticeable it will be but hopefully at least helpful to members who have slow connections and things like phones.

There are many reasons to do these things. I can explain them to anyone who really, really wants me to. I've already made a few changes and you may or may not have noticed. So don't be surprised too much if something seems different, or nothing seems different.

There is (always) a remote possibility I screw something up and have to put the forum into maintenance mode - meaning it will be unavailable for browsing - while I make a recovery from backups. I try pretty hard not to do that. If you see it though, it just means I boo booed (not a technical term) or don't like what the change accomplished, and I'm fixing or undoing it a fast as possible. Might lose a few new posts or messages in that case, but hopefully, this does not happen and is of short duration if it does.

The goals are to:

• increase security just a little more - most of that was already done but I do like to make simple changes that increase protection whenever I learn them from smart people;
• see if I can speed things up a bit - a little bit can make a big difference for some good reasons - you may or may not notice yourself  depending upon the speed of your Internet connection;
• help you see more of the fun posts and topics with maybe a little less effort.

All with minimal to no impact or change for you. Hopefully.

I will add that I have 'archived' (moved to the bottom) a few more boards that have been inactive for a long time and will be attempting to merge a few others that don't get a lot of separate use.

So hang on to the handle bars. Just in case things get bumpy tonight! One more thing. I do listen to comments and even complaints. In fact, sometimes I wish people would send me messages a little more often about what they like and don't like on here. I'm often not aware of things people might think I am. This was my first website and I learned many things the hard way. Still am really. I will always listen to comments and suggestions. I may not do or change all things - that depends upon time, impact, my ability to do it and how many people I think will benefit or no longer be upset about it - but I will listen and often add things to my 'when I can get to it' list. Sometimes I get great ideas from some of you! So thanks for that and thanks as always for participating on this forum and website!

[djkimmel]

One more thing more Eventually, I will be redesigning the entire website. No idea for sure yet when I will get to that. I will do my best to give you lots of warning and preferably a sneak peak at the new look before I flip any switches to minimize that culture shock these things usually have on people who are used to the way things are.

The newest major version of this forum software looks and acts quite a bit different if you use most of the themes designed for it. The makers will eventually not support this version enough to stay with it forever. We have some time. Don't worry. I definitely don't want to every make a major change during the warm weather part of the fishing season and will be lucky to get to it before next spring.

If you want to see an example of the general way the new version of this forum software looks, take a stroll over to www.kentuckylakebass.com sometime when you have a few minutes. You can be a tester for me by checking it out. KentuckyLakeBass.com has only a little custom coding from the new default theme for the newest major version of this software (Simple Machines Forum). I did wrap the forum in a portal to see how that looks and works. It's a real website but I have been mostly using it to get used to the new software, codes and functions with no promotion yet. Someday I will get that one going better.

For now, it is a good practice site for me and something those of you who have stated interest in being my testers - usability especially - can take a look at to get a taste of 'the future.' One possible future anyway... I will do usability tests with different people on the new software and the eventual format/theme I come up with before I flip over this site down the road. I have lots of work to do on figuring how to evolve in to a different look before I get there yet.

So expect even now from time to time I will be putting up polls on this website for members to get a better idea what you like and don't like. What you want and don't want. It will be varied but I will try to figure out the best compromises each time based on every necessary factor. I need people to visit the website to have a website, but I also need to meet the commercial needs of the website to so I can afford to keep the website going. It's a balance.

If you do check out KentuckyLakeBass.com let me know what you think. Don't expect the new website to look exactly like that but it gives you some idea of possibilities. Meanwhile, when I do put up some polls on here, please help me out by letting me know what you think. Thanks!!!!!! And thank you again to the 18 members who donated this year, mostly recently in that unexpected nice gesture from Genie and Cy! That's more people donating in a few weeks than I have had the previous entire 3 years! Very nice boost to my determination to ramp things up on here and helped pay almost 2 months of worth hosting and technical support. Thanks again to all of you.

I do realize at least one other member tried to donate and ran into technical problems. For now, I can't justify a regular merchant account so I'm limited to whatever Paypal allows. I do appreciate that gesture and I'm sorry for any technical issues anyone runs into while using or trying to help GreatLakesBass.com.

[Mike S.]

I went over to the Kentucky lake site. It's really similar to the Silver Lake sand dunes forum that I am a member of.

[djkimmel]

They may be using the new default software then. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[Skulley]

Thanks Dan for keeping everything running right.  You da man!!!!


BD                     

[djkimmel]

No prob. Looking forward to later in the day when I can do some tests.

[Dan]

Dan is your Kentucky Lake Site up and running. I know a couple of guys to send the link to that are down in that area if it is.

[Skulley]

No prob. Looking forward to later in the day when I can do some tests.

This a test of the Great Lakes Bass dot com emergency broadcast system.  This is only a test.  If this had been an actual emergency, Dan Kimmel would have come on and instructed you to put your head between your legs and kiss your....................goodbye.  This is only a test.    


BD                     

[Mike S.]

They may be using the new default software then. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

It's good. I liked that forum, until I sold my sand toys, and all I think about is fishing.  I'm sure I will continue to be a member as long as you keep the site up.

[djkimmel]

Dan is your Kentucky Lake Site up and running. I know a couple of guys to send the link to that are down in that area if it is.

Yes, it is live. I just haven't sought out the locals I need to get it going. I had one person join and ask about guides. I will probably start pushing it next time I get down there for the NBAA nationals. Find a few local guides to post some fishing reports. If you have anyone that would post a few things, that would be great! Thanks!

[djkimmel]

They may be using the new default software then. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

It's good. I liked that forum, until I sold my sand toys, and all I think about is fishing.  I'm sure I will continue to be a member as long as you keep the site up.

Hopefully, I can just keep it going and growing. With all of your help of course. Thanks!

[Mike S.]

One of my favorite things about this site is that I don't have to worry about one of my kids getting on here, and seeing or reading something they don't need to.  I like that you keep it family friendly. Keep up the good work DK.

[bassfan586]

Yes thank you dan.  I love the fact we can have educated discussions without the name calling and drama that other sites have.

[djkimmel]

One of my favorite things about this site is that I don't have to worry about one of my kids getting on here, and seeing or reading something they don't need to.  I like that you keep it family friendly. Keep up the good work DK.

That is one of my top priorities. There's enough 'not nice' in the world to need it here on a bass fishing site where we all really have more in common than not. On our common interest of bass fishing at least! It costs some traffic to not allow more of the 'Springer' type stuff but I don't really go by the all traffic is good traffic thing. There's plenty of places to go and stir things up already.

I get told to 'loosen up' once in a while but I think things are loose enough. I've told you privately but publicly I want to add how much I appreciate your positive and friendly way you always interact on this forum. You are the ideal of a member that makes a fishing forum a better place to hang out at!

[djkimmel]

Yes thank you dan.  I love the fact we can have educated discussions without the name calling and drama that other sites have.

Thanks for the support bassfan586! I really think we'd all be better off in pretty much every aspect of our society if we could just keep our discussions more civil and less personal. You anglers all prove every day that it is possible to discuss and debate hot topics while still remaining friends and accomplishing something! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

[djkimmel]

Has anyone noticed a change in average forum load time?

[djkimmel]

Faster? Slower? Anyone? Bueller...? hellooo...? Is this thing on?

[Mike S.]

I spend most of my time on here with my phone. I haven't noticed a difference as far as that goes.

[djkimmel]

Does your phone load the full forum just like it looks on your computer?

Depending upon how things work out, I may eventually do some more mobile device designing. That is a ways off if I get to it.

[Mike S.]

Yep. It looks the same on my phone as it does on the computer. It always has on this phone. Now, on my old Blackberry, I had to download a different internet browser to get it to look the same.