Have you considered a real blog?

[tefen]

Hey Chief, the forum works well, and it gives everyone the ability to post topics, but a real blog is much easier to grasp at first glance. One can look down the page and see the most recent, most relevant information in clear, easy to read bits. The comments to that entry can be used for additional conversation, and the use of keywords, or tags, or topics can lead to other articles about the same topic.

I bring this up because our world is one of clips and sound bites. If someone visits the site and doesn't immediately see what they expect, they leave. All the talk about the port is here, but you've really got to know where to look, or at least scroll clear to the bottom of the page. If it was on top, front and center, "above the fold" if you will, it would be much more palletable to the masses.

[Chief]

I agree, but right now, this is what I have. When I set this site up, I decided to use Simple Machines Forums (SMF) software because it was free, it came with the server package, and is relatively easy to set up.

In order to create what you suggest cost costs more money that I am willing to invest in this place. The software alone is expensive, and requires professional website design that costs even more money.

I realize the limitations here, but under the circumstances, this is as good as it gets...at least until I ht the lottery...

[tefen]

That's a fair answer, getting the information out there quickly is more important than making the site perfect.

I would, however, contest that the software is expensive. I think the most widely used blog software is http://wordpress.org/ a free piece of software.

I don't know how easy it is to set up. But perhaps more importantly, it would create havoc for the archives of this site to change now.

[Chief]

Word Press was my first choice for this site, and it lasted about a week, because it was so restrictive, and picky as hell to use posting. It was also available as an option with this server package, but to have a decent "skin" made was prohibitively expensive.

Last September when I stood this site up, I said that this place was going to be a one year experiment to see how well a Clark County focused forum could hold up. I originally wanted this to be a "Team Blog" but with few people besides you tefen, who actually contribute, there has been a dearth of team members, so the site has settled into pretty much a monologue.

I will tell you once again that I am extremely grateful for your ongoing interest in this site, and the consistent high quality of the things you post. You communicate clearly, you write very well, and you are able to clearly differentiate between what is your opinion, and what is fact.

I would also like to point out that since this is essentially my personal web journal, and because I do not charge fees or make a living off of this site (and it's members) I have a lot more freedom of movement, and can maintain a lot more relaxed atmosphere here. Our ongoing vow of poverty here at clarkblog.org has served us well.

I've been on the 'Net for a long, long time. I started out with Compuserve back in the eighties, when that was all there was, and have been a member of a lot of discussion boards since then. I have seen more than one board crash and burn because of petty rivalries, "Moderators" who are anything but, endless pledge drives to raise money to keep the site going and pay for maintenance, and even sites that ended up offering gimmicks; like hidden adult chat rooms for favored members.

I am determined to keep Clarkblog from deteriorating to the level of the "discussions" that you can find over at the columbian's website; where the only talk is about Impeachment, every other word is off-color or outright obscene, and the members who post spend more time attacking one another instead of the problems at hand.

Our one-year anniversary is approaching, and I really have not given any thought to where the site goes for year 2....I'll ponder that over a cold adult beverage or two and see what I can come up with...

Thanx!!

;D

[Waterbuffalo]

All I can say is: Are you getting 500 percent more traffic than columbian.com?

[Chief]

No idea. I avoid even making those kind of comaprisons...

[Waterbuffalo]

Cheif is all ready the top blogger and poster here.. Just check out all of the info. he loves to gather and punctuate?