A quick note about TGJ and the future...

[Ryan]

So we just finished a gigantic server upgrade and move to a new host and it went surprisingly well given my unprofessionalism, aptitude for rash decisions, and just general hooliganism.

*****

And as a quick sidebar:

I've spent over 50 hours on the site in just the last three days. During that thrash, I had a lot of down time waiting for code to compile, search indexes to index, etc... and I spent that time just browsing the site. Sometimes in the midst of my work load, I forget just how bad *** this site really is. Seriously. There is so much good **** here... and it over-shadows the free parking lunatics by such a large margin and... I just wanted to thank you guys. You really make this place.

Another real quick sidebar:

Hell, I even posted in FREE PARKING a couple times. I'm still alive. I didn't self combust... and it wasn't THAT bad. I guess...

*****

Anyway, I'm fired up about TGJ in a major way right now. So much so, that I am planning some really big changes. The first and most obvious will be a software change. In the next couple of months, I am going to try like hell to move TGJ from Vbulletin to Xenforo. For real this time.

This change will frustrate and piss a lot of you off initially... Changes like this always do. But it's a necessary one for the future of the joint and the content here. So, it's gotta happen... Just be patient and know this: Once you are familiar with Xenforo, you will eventually realize how much more powerful and convenient it is over VB.

A change that is coming with that is a complete redesign of TGJ. Like just about every project I take on, this is going overboard. I'm doing a new logo, a new look, etc... It's pretty cool too... Kind of a vintage tool ad feel. I'm really excited about it.

And because of that new look, I am holding off on shipping 2018 alliance tags until the design is fixed and I can print new ones with the new logo. And trust me, this one will be worth it. You know all those tags on vintage machinery? Inspired.

Anyway, thanks guys... I really appreciate both the support and the patience. Sincerely.

 

[PelicanPines]

Look forward to the UPGRADEs. Being a tech guy by design... we don't use words like change, different... instead we say ... upgrade, superior, enhancements... even bugs are simply unwanted features.

Thanks Ryan...

From the desk of a Pines.

 

[mishkaya]

Several forums I am on have moved to Xenforo, it's fine.
I am interested to see the new look you have in store for the forum, and as far as I am concerned, any design for the alliance tags will be better than the 2017 design...

 

[reader2580]

I've seen users on other forums state they would leave if/when the forum went to Xenforo. I don't know if I have seen Xenforo before so I have no idea why they don't like it.

 

[dykstra]

This is a great site as stated before. Keep up the great work!!!!

 

[mike93lx]

Looking forward. Thanks for the hard work!

 

[Ryan]

I've seen users on other forums state they would leave if/when the forum went to Xenforo. I don't know if I have seen Xenforo before so I have no idea why they don't like it.

Lack of experience probably. It's a step up from VB in every possible way.

 

[oldwino]

Ryan
thanks for all your hard work on this site. If the conversion takes a couple of days that would be cool...get my *** off the computer and back into the shop to finish a bunch of stuff.

 

[LX-Markham]

From the Possum Lodge Men's Prayer: "I'm a man, but I can change, If I have to, I guess"

 

[turbowoodworker]

Thanks to you, Ryan, and to all the Mods for keeping the site great.Change can be hardest on us old farts, but we'll get there.

 

[engineer2]

People will have to get used to the the new forum software. Choose the template wisely. I've seen some sites use templates with very important things in tiny type and it makes it a pain to use. We have lots of old farts here, so if the type size is about what it is now, we should be good.

Would this be a good time for new topic suggestions like a Compressed Air Topic?

 

[tatra]

Your house your choices . Appreciate being a guest . Bit of a Luddite when it comes to change myself but I’m sure I’ll adapt .

 

[Lassen Forge]

Just hope the learning curve isn't too much, as I've grown to like the simplicity here...

Anything too alien will seem, well... alien!

Good luck with the conversion!

 

[Duker]

Ryan, we appreciate all that you and the mods do and looking forward to the changes! Ok... I am not really looking forward to the changes but that’s because I am just an old and crusty curmudgeon....

 

[BFBOB]

Hey, Ryan - this is a GREAT site, always has been. I was hooked the instant I stumbled across it. I'm looking forward to the improvements - though not without tripidation.
Remember, Internet Explorer has been so thoroughly improved that it no longer works on any of my machines. A cautionary tale....

 

[larry4406]

I appreciate this site greatly Ryan. I’ve learned a lot and hopefully given some back. This is a very unique place in the web with an awesome amount of talent and expertise which is freely shared.

I trust that after the initial growing pains this place will continue to excel. Thanks again for what you do.

 

[FrankLee]

I also appreciate the admin work done here and the member participation on such a wide spectrum of topics.

Ditto on the font and spacing thing. I don't look like Magoo, but I do see like him. The H.A.M.B. font is somewhat of a strain.

Please remember the 20K character limit per post you changed on my request.

Any chance of old, old classifieds being purged? I have a couple/few posts in the classified forum that are technically not classified ads. (I just told on myself.)

 

[ckadams00]

Life really got in the way last year and I went from daily GJ visits to only every once in a while. Funny that I came back today and this was the first post I read - THANK YOU and all the Mods for the work you do on this site. It have been a countless resource on questions, generated great ideas, and been a source of creativity and inspiration. The members on here are so supportive and helpful (99%) of other's learning and being successful in their hobbies.

Good luck to you on the changes ahead, we appreciate GJ very much!

 

[Brian_WK]

I personally vote that "Free Parking" should be renamed "The Shed" It is fitting on so many levels.....

Brian

 

[bczygan]

My only problem with this forum Ryan, is that to get all the wonderful info and help it provides, you have to be on it 24/7/365.

And even then, so much slips by.

Without it, I really don't know what I would do.

It is my touchstone in so many ways.

It rivals Google, Youtube and WIKI for the answers I need and want.

So many helpful people in every area of inquiry.

And just the right amount of silly, stupid and irreverent (I provide a lot of that myself).

So thank you and the mods a million times!!!!!!!!!

Bill

 

[Ryan]

Choose the template wisely.[/B]?

This. I've made this mistake too many times...

 

[readhead]

The HAMB survived and I am sure GJ will also. Thanks for all the work and letting us be a part of it.

Andy

 

[nes999]

Will the change effect those of us who use tapatalk? I rarely/if ever visit the forum on a computer.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[reader2580]

Lack of experience probably. It's a step up from VB in every possible way.

It sounded like this person had experienced Xenforo at other forums and hates it so much that he boycotts any forum using it.

 

[ford33]

It's not the software. It's the people who contribute that makes this site worthwhile.

We can all learn how to use software. So upgrade away!

 

[Ryan]

It sounded like this person had experienced Xenforo at other forums and hates it so much that he boycotts any forum using it.

In that case, I don't guess I'm super interested in catering to those folks. Can't please em all kind of deal...

 

[Jon_E]

I am a member of several other forums and while I like most of them, the ones using Xenforo to host are very well put together and easy to navigate. Definitely my favorites due to the ease of use. Not that GJ isn't, but I think it will be a step up. Thanks for all you do, I have learned a lot from this place and hope it stays strong.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

This forum is amazing and all of your hard work is appreciated Ryan. There are very few places like this left on the internet. Thank you!

-Brian

 

[bczygan]

Any good Xenforo sites we can join to see what it's like?

Bill

 

[Mpower5266]

I was wondering when I was going to get my alliance tag. I cant wait to see the upgrade.

 

[Toothaker]

Ryan, I want to chime with a word of thanks for this site. I think I learn something new every time I log in.

I would like to ask that you try to keep the layout / structure / taxonomy of TGJ. I occasionally visit the H.A.M.B. as a guest and I struggle to find anything. Then again, there are a lot of things I struggle with regarding the H.A.M.B.

Bill, Ryan has another forum found at Jalopy Journal named the Hokey *** Message Board that is housed on Xenforo.

One more thing, Ryan: can we have a "Like" button?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I also want to thank you all for bringing us this excellent website. I'm pretty dumb about computers, so when it changes, other than the new look I probably won't even know it's been changed...

Tommy

 

[Rewind97]

Thanks for all the hard work you put into this place, Ryan!!! I'm looking forward to the new layout!!

 

[L5wolvesf]

I appreciate the site and whatever work it takes to make it what it is. Now go do that voodoo that you do so well!

 

[K13]

I also want to thank you all for bringing us this excellent website. I'm pretty dumb about computers, so when it changes, other than the new look I probably won't even know it's been changed...

Tommy

You will definitely notice.

The one thing that I would recommend to everyone when the changeover happens is READ THE TUTORIALS that Ryan puts up explaining how everything works. There was so much whining and complaining about things on the HAMB when the change happened over there and about 98% of the problems people were having was because they were too damn lazy to read the instructions Ryan provided.

 

[Parrothead]

Thank you Ryan for all you do!!! I love this site and so does my wife.

 

[VWingman]

This place has staying power. I've been on a fair amount of forums over the years and they come and go. But GJ has stayed since I found it in what ever year it says next to my name. I look forward to the change(not that there was anything wrong with this version.)
Besides, how many times do you google search for something and GJ is in the top of the search results...Awesome.

 

[58Yeoman]

Will it have power steering, and cup holders? I kind of like more headroom, and an easy to use radio/sound system.

What? OOPS, wrong thread.

Hey, it's your site...we can either get used to the new stuff, or get left behind.

 

[PassnThru]

You guys with kids at the house just need to ask them for help. As long as they are at least 6 they'll explain it to you.
If your kids are gone, then ask your grandkids - again, by age 6 they usually have it under control and can explain it to you.
If you have neither, you'll have to get desperate enough to read up on it yourself.

Life is hard - it's harder when........

 

[DC73]

This IS an awesome site. Thanks, Ryan, for all you do. Looking forward to the upgrade. If I can help test anything, let me know.

I'll second the suggestion to rename Free Parking as "The Shed".

DC