e53:update

e53:upgrade

As previously discussed I am working on the next version of e53.org. I mentioned the possible move back to MovableType, however, after further review that has been ruled out. E53.org will be staying with Wordpress as its publishing system. With that said we will be switching to a different version of Wordpress. We currently run on a version of Wordpress called .. WordpresMU (the MU stands for Multi-User) which was originally developed for use on the massive blog network wordpress.com. Unfortunately this version of MU is just .. way out of our league which makes it very unfriendly to work with.

Here’s the scoop. The main page (e53.org) will still contain the main blog known as e53:update. Most members of e53 will have the option to create an account on this blog and will be able to post to it. Personal blogs will, for the most part, go away. Instead of personal blogs people will be encouraged to post to the main blog. The basic problem is we have a community that is currently to big with to little content and it’s time to contract a bit and make it more interesting. I will also be adding a forum to the mix. This forum will be tied in with Wordpress so you wont have to manage more than one account. The forum will be a place for not only e53 members but to the general public as well.

The personal blog is not completely dead at e53. Those who really want a personal blog can come to me and discuss having a personal blog as well as the rules involved. The rules will be very simple. If you want a personal blog you will need to post to that blog at least once a week. Those posts will need to be of some measurable substance. If this is not something that is possible for you then the main e53 blog and forum will be a much better fit. Now would be a good time to contact me to discuss a personal blog if you wish to continue to have one. You’ll need to email me or call me or IM me as I don’t really wish to have these discussions in the comments of this post. This applies to ALL current and future personal blogs. If you have a personal blog and you do not contact me by [sometime in January] your blog posts will be exported from your current blog and imported into the main blog where a user account will be created for you and you can continue to post and your personal blog will be removed.

These are some drastic changes and I know that some people wont really agree with it but the bottom line is that it’s necessary. Making these changes will provide for a more interesting experience for everyone long as you don’t let yourself get hung up on the changes themselves. Remember, this site is here to create a community for e53 members, their friends, and family. Putting more emphasis on the e53:update blog and the forum will help promote that community aspect. We have LOTS of room on this server so I look forward to any ideas for expanding content as well as adding people not only to the main blog but to personal blogs. We all have friends and family outside of the core e53 group and they are all welcome here.

I look forward to the possibilities that 2008 will bring all of us and I hope that e53.org will continue to play an increasing part in our lives as we all grow a little bit older and move a little bit farther apart (geographically of course.) I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Cheers, Zach.