Site updates, August 2011

[Star_Anise]

You may notice some changes in the forum as the site administrator, Sean (incka) does some updating now and into the near future. There may be some features of the site that don't quite work as usual during this process, but everything should be running again smoothly (and even better than before) soon. Your patience is very much appreciated.

[incka]

Hi. The site is now on the latest version of vbulletin and I've added a theme that I hope everybody likes.

[jeremy]

Thanks for the updates!

It's a completely different look, with much more green than blue. I think it looks pretty nice!

[Star_Anise]

It's a completely different look, with much more green than blue. I think it looks pretty nice!

It is pretty, it just always take me so long to adjust to changes! But green is one of my favourite colours.

Thanks Sean.

[Winifred]

You just know I love green! The literature forum is not only greener, it's sprouted!! Great!

[incka]

I've installed a new anti-spam product on the forum. Feedback of if spam is reduced from this would be useful.

[incka]

At least some got through the filter on one thread I saw, but most seems to be getting caught. Can any other mods share their spam experience so I can see if we need to add extra security.

[margaine]

thanks for the update work sean!

it will take some getting used to - I was so confused when the page first updated!

will let you know how the spam load is.

Edit: It does seem like there is somewhat less spam. Although I still had a couple pages of "moderated" spam threads to delete in the "general literature" sub-forum.

[incka]

The new spam system auto-moderates what it thinks is spam, so this will still be annoying to us mods but users won't see it at least

[Frith]

I'm not sure I like the changes. =[

[Nurkie]

Just logged in and I am loving the new look :)

[Phantom Paragrapher]

Just logged in and I have to say the new look is totally amazing and Im loving it as it has a quaint feel about it :) Kudos to the designer :) Keep up the gr8 work.

[Winifred]

incka, I do think you should add a small cabbage to the choices of smiley faces, etc, as you update them. It would reflect the new logo, and we could use it in various ways (smiley face)!

[margaine]

The new spam system auto-moderates what it thinks is spam, so this will still be annoying to us mods but users won't see it at least

got it. that will definitely be an improvement. :)

[incka]

incka, I do think you should add a small cabbage to the choices of smiley faces, etc, as you update them. It would reflect the new logo, and we could use it in various ways (smiley face)!

Can you provide the image for the smiley?

[Winifred]

I don't have photoshop, or anything but Publisher. Here are two photos which I was thinking would look great if combined into a smiley - i.e. the cat's face on the cabbage. I tried cutting and pasting, but it didn't work. Does anyone know how to do this?

567

568

[margaine]

that cat is a bit scary. the smile would probably look better on a cabbage. (winking face)

[Moony]

I'm liking the changes. :)

[intellectualammo]

that cat is a bit scary.

And it's gross looking to me. If that becomes a smiley here, I hope NO ONE ever smiles here.


Also, when I type a reply sometimes I see that my reply is being "Auto-Saved". I usually highlight my reply and hit "Control C" in case it doesn't go through right when I post it, and if it doesn't I simply hit "Control V" in another reply and it magically appears instead of completely vanishing.

[margaine]

Also, when I type a reply sometimes I see that my reply is being "Auto-Saved". I usually highlight my reply and hit "Control C" in case it doesn't go through right when I post it, and if it doesn't I simply hit "Control V" in another reply and it magically appears instead of completely vanishing.

The auto-save function seems to be a new feature of the update. I have yet to actually try it or need it. Not all of us can be as conscientious as you are, ammo (winking face) I have definitely lost things from time to time to bad connections/crashing/etc

[Star_Anise]

I've been mostly offline for a few days so haven't been able to see how all the changes work, but when I have logged on, I've seen less spam than I've become accustomed to getting through the filter, so I think it has improved a bit. But the fight must always go on...

[Winifred]

that cat is a bit scary. the smile would probably look better on a cabbage. (winking face)

and, @ I-ammo: I meant a broad definition of "smiley," as in all different expressions, not just a traditional smiley. I agree with you and margaine, not very cheerful, but might be useful.

Yes, that's what I thought might work, but, try as I might, couldn't make it happen. Where is Jez when you need her? She and her fiance are whizzes with computers...

Maybe a plain cabbage would be better? My thinking here, originally, was that combining pics would avoid any copyright infringement....

[intellectualammo]

I agree with you and margaine, not very cheerful, but might be useful.

And I hope no one finds it useful enough to actually use it in discussions if it gets added.


Where is Jez when you need her?

I know, tell me about it.


She and her fiance are whizzes with computers...

Is there anything this girl isn't good at? I didn't know she was a wiz at them.


Maybe a plain cabbage would be better?

How about... no cabbage.

You can find smilies out there online, I use various ones on another forum sometimes, when the ones provided just aren't good enough. Last one I used was this one to apologize to a girl I know named Bronwen who works for Sinthetics:

http://www.neogeoforlife.com/images/smiley/flower.gif

If you look at the flower closely you will notice, 6 white petals and a yellow center, making it a narcissus. Not sure if she picked up on that or not.

And I like this one, too:

http://r14.imgfast.net/users/1413/96/65/72/smiles/5719.gif

[margaine]

the spam load seems much better overall - certainly less is getting through the filter, and it seems like there might even be less of what is caught by the filter.

There's one little thing that needs to be fixed, Incka, if you get the chance. In listings of all the threads, there are those little envelope symbols with the red circle in their lower right corner. Sometimes the little envelope overlaps with links to the thread's pages. Maybe you've already noticed, but I just wanted to point it out in case you hadn't.

[Winifred]

:) :) ;) :( Just testing...I saw a "thumbs up," thought we were ready to post smileys...

:idea::good: Ok, figured part of it out, I think: use the smiley face, above.

[KneD]

Ok, this shows how long I haven't been here. Great new look. Thanks Incka.

[margaine]

Ok, this shows how long I haven't been here. Great new look. Thanks Incka.

no worries - it's still fairly recent. :-) (and the regular smileys still don't work)