Changes a Coming

I just sent out a mass email (hopefully the one and only that I'll ever send out) on signing up for a new user account with Disqus. In case you've switched emails without updating your TCR account, I've included the text below the jump. But my intention is to upgrade the site sometime this week or next weekend. It sounds more dramatic than it is as most of the changes will be aesthetic in nature and I'm probably rushing it a bit as there are plenty of minor changes I still want to make, but if I don't get the site up and running, I'll just continue to procrastinate and it'll never happen.

While I think I can handle this myself, if you or someone you know is familiar with Drupal, CSS or databases - drop me a line. I can throw a little money your way.

Dear Fans of Cubbery,

My apologies in advance for the mass email, but I didn't know of another way to communicate to all the readers of the site, as I know some may not visit on a consistent basis and would miss the note if I put it up on the site. But in the very near future, I will be updating the website for The Cub Reporter (http://www.thecubreporter.com). It will be mostly aesthetic in nature, but there is one major change that will affect your user accounts. Actually, it will remove your user accounts as I have decided to change the comment system to what I feel is a far more user-friendly 3rd party system known as Disqus (http://disqus.com/). The reasons are numerous, but the quick overview is that it's faster to load, has more user options, is maintained professionally and has better administration options. As has been the standard, you do not need a user account to read the site, but if you do want to participate in the comments or be informed when new comments are up, an account is necessary.

The bad news of course is that it requires a brand new sign-up through Disqus. The other bad news is that you may not be able to keep the username that you had at The Cub Reporter, especially the more common names. I myself, will be using TCR_RobG rather than just the far too common Rob G.. If you're previous username has been taken, like mine was, and you want to keep your persona and reputation in tact, please come up with something that incorporates your old username. Or you can start afresh if you wish...

The good news if you're an avid Internet user is that Disqus is used on a lot of other websites and your account can be used on anyone that uses Disqus. Also, there are options to sign in with your twitter, facebook or Google accounts.

So to sign up for a Disqus account, either visit disqus.com and go through the login process (upper right corner click on "Login", then click on "Create An Account" and then choose from one of the 4 options: email address, twitter, facebook, Google). You can also do it straight from the new site once it's up, just open up a new post, click on "Leave a Message" where the comment box is and you'll see something to the effect of "Connect With" and 4 icons for twitter, facebook, google and Disqus, pick one to register a name and you'll be good to go.

My hope is to get the new site up by the weekend or possibly next weekend...but I make no promises.

Regards,
Rob Glowacki