ATTENTION: ATS Bloggers!!!

Just came back to ATS after a little hiatus, and noticed the new nav bar at the top - and that blogs was still up there.

Optimistic I clicked on it, and realized the blogs still were not up.

When blogs come back, I hope that it allows for only a few sentences like it originally did, with the 'more' button, as the last iteration of the blogs allowed for a full post to go up.

Its easier to see the variety of post from different people if there is an initial amount of equal space.

My 2 cents...

Dalen

I would just be happy if they would come back. I really miss having the ability to name my archive directorys. It would also be nice to be able to host my domain name on the blog as well.

I'm sure it will be up soon. I mean it's been down for so long now it should be done soon.

Hey Zedd, any news on how the blogs are going? Will they be done before the new year?

An update would be really great!!

Thanks
Stari

I'm going to catch crap for this and I hope the powers that be don't take offense, but blogs are likely not this hard to get up and running.

Stop jerking us around as if you guys are hard at work on it and it's imminent. It's clearly on the backburner.

I haven't been as regular here as I used to be, but from what I can tell, ATS is expanding.

What it looks like to me, however, is that this expansion means a lot of pissing on the little guy.

Such as when the last ATS game broke and took so long to get back.

All this expansion and new crap seems to be getting in the way of the basics. The blogs were up and running at one point and were one of the most popular features on the boards.

These boards are becoming less and less about the every day person who can contribute to conspiracy discussions and more about the hardcore tinfoil hats.

I personally find the new ATS much harder to navigate than the old ATS. I find it much more cluttered. Much less user friendly.

I may be totally off base, but just the opinions of a guy who's been here for almost 5 years.



[edit on 12-10-2007 by Cutwolf]

It has been a while since the last 'blog status update' so thought I would chime in (er, again...) and see if there was any new news regarding the blogs. Sure do miss 'em!

Originally posted by Cutwolf
but blogs are likely not this hard to get up and running.

Multi-user, multi-blog systems are indeed "not easy" within a load-balanced server cluster environment.

We have a limited dedicated staff and several higher priority issues occupying our time.

I understand that, SO. I'm not trying to criticize the hard work you guys do.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, as I appreciate everything.

However, back in June you mentioned how this was at the "top of [your] list."

Then in August, you mentioned how it may be going into some form of beta test in September.

I understand you guys are extremely busy right now but...

All I'm saying is be straight with us. Blogs are clearly not a priority at the moment, as even if they're extraordinarily difficult I don't see how it would take 8 months. I could be wrong, but this is how it appears.

I hate reading in August that blogs will be ready by September only to check back in September with nary a mention.

Originally posted by Cutwolf
However, back in June you mentioned how this was at the "top of [your] list."

That was before it became clear there were precious few options for the kind of features we want to support -- namely a core blogging system that allows for multiple blogs... that is robust.

Then in August, you mentioned how it may be going into some form of beta test in September.

Right, and the complications came about with the original system not supporting decent templates... and now we're on WordPress MU and figuring out what can be done to support what we want to deliver as a free service. The issue we're having now is related to our secure multi-server cluster and allowing bloggers to upload files, while maintaining load-balancing and security.

Blogs are clearly not a priority at the moment, as even if they're extraordinarily difficult I don't see how it would take 8 months. I could be wrong, but this is how it appears.

The bogs are not a priority, but are not forgotten either. Between the time our old system went bad with a faulty core database design, and July... much changed in the ATS Back Office and new demands for a finite amount of time sprung up.

Unfortunately, our expectations for finding an alternative blog system were overly ambitious... to the point where "build from scratch" has seemed a more viable option than modifying what's available.

Appreciate the quick and honest responses.

Hopefully they'll be back up sooner rather than later. I'm dying to blog!

After a refresh of the issues with WordPress MU (one of the two viable systems for what we want to do), there are some issues that conflict with our multi-server installation. And as it turns out, an upgrade to an unlimited license for Moveable Type 4 (the other solution to repair the existing blogs) is cost prohibitive.

Timeline remains unknown.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
Right, and the complications came about with the original system not supporting decent templates... and now we're on WordPress MU and figuring out what can be done to support what we want to deliver as a free service. The issue we're having now is related to our secure multi-server cluster and allowing bloggers to upload files, while maintaining load-balancing and security.

In the last while, I've tried trial versions of a few different platforms. They all have ups and downs for the USERS as well as the information that SkepticOverlord mentioned above. We could have crammed in a basic blog system that has zip for features and said have at it. The fact is we're trying to think longer term then a band-aid.

Yes, it has been a long period and all we can do is offer apologies for the extended wait. It's not been an easy road, but it's still high on my list.

Well, it was good to read the messages, updates, both from S.O. and Zed as it concerns the ATS blogs. It will be interesting indeed to see what the next iteration of ATS blogs is like.

Again it was cool that you could put in adsense from Google - not that I made enough money to cut a check, but cool concept none-the-less
- especially with the potential traffic from people who are interested in the same topics as you...a.k.a, readers of A.T.S.

Anyway, Im currently over at Wordpress, and have gotten used to it - so if ATS can figure out how to integrate their system that is cool, but if they have to build from the ground up...that will really be interesting to see what they come up with.

Peace

dAlen

This is why I have sent a U2U message to S/O as I believe the message should probably help.

Frankly, I'm still dying for a bucket of water....I don't think I'm going to survive that long, help us out guys!

[edit on 10-12-2007 by TheoOne]

Originally posted by dAlen
Again it was cool that you could put in adsense from Google - not that I made enough money to cut a check, but cool concept none-the-less

- especially with the potential traffic from people who are interested in the same topics as you...a.k.a, readers of A.T.S.

Google Adsense is absolutely one of features that I want to see contunue. The WordPress test installation worked well enough for commenting, plugins, multiblogs, etc but it also has some serious drawbacks. I couldn't find anywhere that could could edit your own blog templetes individually. You could only pick from installed templetes and then work with the widgets.

That to me is a pretty big drawback.

Also, as SkepticOverlord mentioned...there are other issues with security regarding ATS newer setup. Right when the crash happened it was still OLD ATS which you all might or might not realize. We fully intended to be up and running by now, but the issue got more complex moving to our NEW ATS setup which has three clustered servers in a very secure environment.

One of the largest probelems was mentioned. Most of the blogging platforms support multi-users, but not multi blogs.

Thanks Zedd and SkepticOverlord for the updates. I really appreciate all that you have done here at ATS. I really like this community and will look forward to the blogs coming back online when ever that happens.

Stari

Originally posted by ZeddicusZulZorander
I couldn't find anywhere that could could edit your own blog templetes individually. You could only pick from installed templetes and then work with the widgets.

That to me is a pretty big drawback.

That is an extremely huge drawback. Part of the fun of a blog is tweaking it to get the look and feel exactly the way you want it.

Thanks for the updates, Zed and Skeptic! They are very much appreciated. I am still looking forward to the blogs coming back.

As Maria_Stardust mentioned - the little (was it really little ) ATS blogging community really was nice. Would be great to have it back. But take your time and give us something good. I'll wait.

EDIT: Spelling

[edit on 12/11/2007 by DCFusion]

I miss my blog.
Gone gone gone.
Like 3 versions ago...
With the patience of Job I shall wait.

All hail Zedd

you know, ats is already setup as a forum, in a way where the posts are just like blogs.

you would just have to develop 2 files:

1 - the same code as post.php, but it would only pull topics flagged as "blog entry" or something to that effect. It would also be a simplified template (not as complex and filled with links / banners as the forum pages).

2 - a new css, that could be 100% supplied by the user, or various templates.

No additional installs or anything would be needed. No modules, plugins, anything. just pure, simple xHTML, CSS and php.

The outlook on a near-term solution for a multi-blog blogging solution for ATS members is somewhat grim. The only viable solution is exceptionally expensive for anything over 25 blogs/users... and the remaining opensource/inexpensive solutions are either unsecured or lack sufficient features.

We have some other immediate tech concerns that are being addressed, after that we'll determine what the solution might be.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Thanks for keeping us updated SkepticOverlord. I really appreciate everything that you guys do here on ATS!

Star