Captain's Log

[Tom L.]

@Indian Summer About your question asking how this website could be improved... I can't think of anything- I'm quite happy with this one! I still go to VeggieBoards for old times' sake, but most of the members there whom I was more familiar with are apparently gone- when I log on there, I usually recognize maybe only 1 or 2 names in the "recently active" register. I formerly went to 3 other boards, 2 of which were started by VB members, but they folded. (gone the way of the )

 

[Second Summer]

@Indian Summer About your question asking how this website could be improved... I can't think of anything- I'm quite happy with this one! I still go to VeggieBoards for old times' sake, but most of the members there whom I was more familiar with are apparently gone- when I log on there, I usually recognize maybe only 1 or 2 names in the "recently active" register. I formerly went to 3 other boards, 2 of which were started by VB members, but they folded. (gone the way of the )

Thanks Tom! I'm glad we still have a few members from the VB era here, such as yourself, on this forum!

Re: improving the forum: Nothing revolutionary, but I've just installed a new add-on - it's been a while! - which displays a little "OP" badge in the top left corner of the thread starter's avatar.

 

[silva]

Thanks Tom! I'm glad we still have a few members from the VB era here, such as yourself, on this forum!

Re: improving the forum: Nothing revolutionary, but I've just installed a new add-on - it's been a while! - which displays a little "OP" badge in the top left corner of the thread starter's avatar.

I like that! Too often posts get all hacked up because the OP's thoughts get all lost

 

[Jamie in Chile]

that's a good one - thanks

 

[Second Summer]

I've just updated the forum software and our main style/theme to the latest version.

 

[Second Summer]

I've started some work to set up a new server for the forum. Don't worry, this won't change anything on the front-end, although I will at some point inevitably break something, but hopefully not for long ...

I'm excited because we're moving from a Linux server to FreeBSD, which is similar to Linux, yet different. Both are Unix-like OSes, but FreeBSD is arguably more Unix-like ... It has a fascinating history, with its early source code developed by the legendary Computer Systems Research Group at University of California, Berkeley. ('BSD' stands for Berkeley Source Distribution.) I have used Linux for more than two decades and know it quite well, but I've spent some time over the last year to learn FreeBSD. It's a brilliant OS, at least for servers - very light on resources, it comes with a lot of the same software as Linux, but it also has some of its own.

 

[Second Summer]

We were offline for a while earlier tonight (UK time) due to a power issue at the data centre.

 

[KLS52]

Yes, I had a momentary episode of panic lol. It didn’t seem to last long though.

 

[shyvas]

Yes, I had a momentary episode of panic lol. It didn’t seem to last long though.

I hope you are feeling better KL. Take care.

 

[Second Summer]

I have upgraded to the latest forum software version and also upgraded our style/skin. Have also paid for another year for the style/skin, using funds from our amazing supporting members (thank you!).

 

[Second Summer]

I've upgraded some software on the server which meant we were offline for a few minutes.

Hopefully, everything should be back to normal now.

 

[Second Summer]

I've just purchased a licence extension for the forum software - member contributions covered about half of the cost - and upgraded to the latest version.

I've also upgraded the style / theme to the latest version.

 

[Second Summer]

I've just upgraded the forum software to the latest version.

It's possible that some things might appear a bit broken as there is no corresponding style / theme update yet.

Edit 2022-12-14: I installed the update for the style yesterday, so everything should be perfect now.

 

[Second Summer]

Just FYI that we've had a few troll accounts recently.

If you come across unusually hostile or inflammatory posts by new members, remember to take deep breath before you respond

 

[Second Summer]

I'm moving all my domains - including veganforum.org - to a new registrar as the current registrar was acquired by some evil corporation and their renewal prices suddenly went through the roof. I tried to find a decent small/"independent" registrar but none of the ones I looked at seemed any good. I only have so much time to investigate this, so in the end I just chose Google because they're cheap and technically competent.

 

[Second Summer]

I've updated a couple of add-ons and done some maintenance tonight. Hopefully, nothing is broken.

 

[Second Summer]

I've just upgraded the forum software to the most recent version. Thankfully, it's a super simple process!

I forgot that the style/theme needs updating to correspond with the new forum software version, but there is no such version of the style/theme yet. Hopefully, nothing looks too broken, and there will be a new version of that in the next few days.

Edit: Ah, the new version of the theme became available already. I have updated to this now.

 

[Second Summer]

I've created a new forum 'Vegan by Location' which is at the bottom of the Lifestyle category on the main page.

I've made the existing UK & Eire, USA, Other Countries, and Holidays & Travel into sub-forums of this new forum.

I'm not 100% sure it makes complete sense, but it's the best I could do for now!

Apologies for hiding some of the above mentioned forums for so long after the merge.

Please do let me know if you have opinions.

 

[LukethePrettyGood]

I've created a new forum 'Vegan by Location' which is at the bottom of the Lifestyle category on the main page.

I've made the existing UK & Eire, USA, Other Countries, and Holidays & Travel into sub-forums of this new forum.

I'm not 100% sure it makes complete sense, but it's the best I could do for now!

Apologies for hiding some of the above mentioned forums for so long after the merge.

Please do let me know if you have opinions.

I appreciate that, this looks great!

I wonder if there's a way to disallow postings of duplicate locations, so that everything is in one place once someone starts a location? It would definitely make it easier to search, if there was only one USA > Colorado > Denver/Metro; Rallies and Events; Vegan Restaurants; Vegan Shopping, etc. I'm just curious, it is searchable, which is helpful.

 

[Second Summer]

I had to take the site offline for a few minutes while upgrading our database system. Everything back to normal now.