EaglePost Blog

I know its a pain in the butt, but yes, you’ll have to register for the blogs separately.  They are on separate databases.  I wanted to integrate the user data for each, but being stand alone programs, it was far too difficult and time consuming for me to get done now.  I will try to merge them over time, but then I lose the benefit of upgrades from the vendors.  I’m thinking this through.

So, in the mean time…  After you register for the EaglePost Messageboard at www.eaglepost.info/board/ (you’re automatically registered for EaglePost Chat), then you’ll also want to register your ID at the following services:

- EaglePost Blog - this blog (www.eaglepost.info/blog/).

- RuffledFeathers - a blog by GoldenEagle33 (not sure if he’ll also keep doing his blog on blogspot or not or just do this one, but we’re glad to have him!)  (www.eaglepost.info/ruffledfeathers).

Registering on each of these services will allow you to make comments.  You may not want to make comments, but by securing your ID you ensure noone else is using it.  Just a thought to consider…

Yes, the messageboard isn’t working with Firefox.  Seems it might be a bit more particular with the code than Internet Explorer.  So far, the entire site works fine with Internet Explorer, but with Firefox, the color is wrong, so the text and background are often the same color (makes for some hard reading even with good eyes)!

USMmmm has gone searching for answers and has given me some leads I am following up on (63 of them to be exact).  Should be interesting…  In the mean time, he has also gotten this general workaround.  It works because you’re effectively turning background colors off and turning all text to basic text colors.  So, the site won’t be pretty, but you can register, read and post.

Again, the official go live date is March 1st.  I don’t want to spit traffic during that time and I need the available bandwidth (I’m only paying for a base amount) for development.  Thanks!

Workaround found by USMmmm

If you are unable to read all the script on the new site, there is a workaround…IF you use Firefox. The workaround drains the color from the site, but you can read all the script and register. Once you come off the site and go to your homepage, you might want to un-do the work around and reload you homepage.

The workaround is…and this is for Firefox users only…

Tools > Options > Content (a Tab) > Colors

On that page you should see a checkmark in “Allow pages to choose their own colors….blah blah blah….”

Uncheck that block. Then OK > OK

When you return to your homepage, go back and put the checkmark back into that block then OK > OK. Then reload your front page.

Baldy is working to fix a coding issue.

I was able to get a great deal done over this weekend!  So a March 1st go live date is planned and ready.  Most of what I have left to do is cosmetic (except for that firefox issue).  Thanks to USMmmm, I now have a lead on that and hope to have that fixed soon.  I hope to have that fixed before I go on vacation.  Then I can just spend the last two weeks of February on new content, setting up sponsors, and helping new members with the transition. 

To facilitate the transition, I have posted a message on the old board to get people to contact me for instructions for registering for the new site.  So far we have 30 members (besides myself).  So much for the only 12 members myth!

We also received word that a second Hattiesburg-based business is coming on as a Sponsor!  Great news as I really want this to be a network of alumni that is willing to help each other grow.

I also arranged an affiliation with Stubhub.  This site allows users to buy and sell event tickets and has quickly become the go to place on the net for sports tickets.

So, yes, a busy weekend to say the least, but a very good one for EaglePost!

I’ve gotten my “to do list” down to a single page!  Things on the new site are really taking shape.  I have every piece framed out and linked from the home page.  I have a few pages that still need a lot of formatting (and there will be some learning curve on most of the once that are pending).  But overall, I’m well ahead of where I expected to be at this time.  So, I’ve set March 1st as the target start date!

On another front, I have also secured a Hattiesburg-bases Sponsor!  We should be sealing the deal any day now, but it is exciting news!  My goal is to have the board self sustaining through Sponsors, ads and donations by the end of the calendar year.  That will ensure the board stays the wonderful place it has become for a long, long time!  Please visit our sponsors and tell them you heard about them on EaglePost!

So, what will I do with all my free time once I get the new site developed?  I intend to start focusing on some real “journalism”.  By that, I mean bringing you the news first.  I’ll be digging particularly hard for recruiting news.  Stay tuned!

I was able to fix the issues related to the chat and believe I’m ready for another test.  Will try to get some testers together for that.  It looks good so far, so wish me luck.

I’ve worked on formatting this blog.  Not completely happy with the colors, but beats orange.

I added a calendar, but the script is not working right.  I’ll probably take some time to get in and see if I can get it working.  But have a lot of other areas to work on that I consider a higher priority.

I’ve moved the USMstuff site over to Eaglepost Store.  It has been a while since I set that store up, so a lot of the links are no longer valid.  Will go through the process of resetting it over the next couple of weeks.

I’ve been researching various auction scripts.  None of them really seem to give me what I want.  So, I’m considering just setting up something along the lines of what RTJ was using on www.goldeneagles.net.  It was simple, but required manual updates.  Given the low volume of bids on the small number of items auctioned, that might just be the best course of action.

Finally, I’ll want to set up a few multimedia pages.  I’m considering linking to video feeds from www.youtube.com.  And including a page where pictures can be uploaded and thumbnailed for easy viewing.  I may also include a few audio files for folks to download.  But that will all take a great deal of time.

In any case, I’m still on a reasonable development path to go live in May or June.  Should be interesting.  Stay tuned.

Well, I learned two valuable lessons in my development of this site last night.  I asked a few members to assist me in testing the chat during the game.  Those lessons?

Never try to test software during a game.  It was taking away from watching a good game (good for us that is).

Also, don’t assume that if the software is working for you that it will work for others.

As a short answer, I believe the theme I used, which was not the default theme, created the issue.  When users logged in, the program was looking for the default theme and couldn’t find the files.  This gave users errors and didn’t allow them to fix the issue themselves.  I’ll have some research to do, but rest assured, I’ll get the kinks worked out.  I’m committed to providing the members with the best a fan site can offer.

We start with a C-USA win by the Lady Eagles over ECU.  Great win girls!

Next we have a loss by the Men’s Basketball team to Savanna State (last second shot gives them the win).

And finally, the one we’ve all been waiting for, the football team dominates Ohio in the GMAC Bowl.  The best news of this was the strength and performance of the defense, which hasn’t done as well this year relative to other years.  The offense made plays when it counted and put up some decent stats.  My vote for MVP would have to go to Jeremy Young.  He is beginning to show a seasoning and when he’s healthy, he’s a treat to watch.  Should be a good 2007 campaign for the Golden Eagles who will really only have gaps in the OL and DB to fill.  Stay tuned!

Okay, didn’t go to bed on time last night, but did manage to add an integrated chat room to the EaglePost server.  It is integrated with the messageboard (single signon)!  I’m considering if I should try to get a few people on it during the bowl game as a test the system.  We’ll see.  I still have a ton of work to do on customization.  But when I’m done, I think all will agree that EaglePost has moved to the next level!

Go Eagles!

Beat Ohio!

Boise State shocked Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1st.  Shocked because they held the lead for most of the tame and fell behind with less than two minutes remaining.  Then they managed to tie the game and win in overtime with a gutsy two-point play.  They were well coached (maybe the best coaching job I’ve ever seen) and they executed!  I could watch the last hour of that game over and over and never get tired of it (Barney for adult men?)!

It was also the most important game ever played for non-BCS schools.  And for a number of reasons:

First, it proved that the best schools in the non-BCS schools can play with the big boys.  I say play with because I don’t know that Boise State or any non-BCS school could consistently beat the BCS schools.  But with good recruiting and good coaching, it is possible to match the best the BCS has.

Second, it will do wonders for recruiting in the non-BCS schools.  More and more, these schools are “crashing the party”.  A well built and well coached program can get national attention for its players.  I can hear the college recruiters now, “We’re building a program like Boise State and we want you to be a part of it.”

But the most important reason the game matters?  It keeps the pressure on the BCS to consider a playoff system.  BCS schools get passed over by the current system.  And now we have a non-BCS contender getting passed over.  Could Boise State beat Ohio State?  Personally, I doubt it.  But the should at least get the chance to prove their place.

Sorry if you missed it.  It was one hell of a game and is likely to be talked about directly and indirectly until this time next year!

You can get Southern Miss gear at www.usmstuff.com!  Great gear!  Great prices!  Check ‘em out!