New Forum Software and Layout

[Paradoxic]

Finally the new version of the site is out. Instead of being based on phpBB, we now have SMF (Simple Machines Forum) which is a hell of a lot more secure and also has more cool features to it. Also, in case you didn't already notice , the site has a new look. Instead of the phpBB template, now we have a completely unique design. There are some pages in the forum that have yet to be fully skinned and a few bugs here and there, but soon everything should be running smoothly. One of the new features added with SMF is the Expertise Rating System (or Karma System) where you click the "Genius" button on posts you feel were very helpful or thoughtful and that user gets an "Expertise point."

In other news, Unrooted Cuttings have been added to the Shop for $25 a piece. Also there is an affiliate button in the Shop now that links to TheBestSalvia.com, where you can buy Salvia extracts and also support Salvia Source.

[Sea Mac]

This place is now officially cool enough for me to try to bring my buddies in from the other forums!

I love the look of the place!

BTW: did you delete the Spam-Bots from your members database yet?  That might take you 5 minutes ...

This is the first forum I've found that HAS an RSS feed!   Wow! Now THAT is Super Impressive!

Keep up the Good Work!

[Dominaduro]

Sweet layout and sweet forum. The expertise thing is pretty cool too. Thanks for making the change.

I'll give an "expertise' point to Sea Mac because I think he was one of the first (or the first) person to bring up switching to smf (at least from what I've read).

...and the expertise system.

 
Dominaduro

[Paradoxic]

Yeah definitely thank Sea Mac for the SMF suggestion. I'm very pleased with it too.

I would love to see some of your buds over here Sea Mac 

And about deleting members, would it be possible to have that list show users web sites? Because some users that aren't bots have 0 posts and I dont want to delete them because I will soon send out a mass email telling all members about the new version of the site.

Thanks for the kind words

[Sea Mac]

Yeah definitely thank Sea Mac for the SMF suggestion. I'm very pleased with it too.

I would love to see some of your buds over here Sea Mac 

And about deleting members, would it be possible to have that list show users web sites? Because some users that aren't bots have 0 posts and I dont want to delete them because I will soon send out a mass email telling all members about the new version of the site.

Thanks for the kind words

I Invited Jupe. Everyone knows that HE is an Expert ...  You all know Jupe ... He's a Gardener!

I think He'd be a great addition to this place ... 

[Sea Mac]

Hey Paradoxic:

When you mass mail out the notice that SMF is now our forum to all users ... Delete any user the message bounces back from! I'll bet SpamBots don't leave a REAL Email address in your database ...

And just like that you will eliminate any crud left over from the phpBB days!  50 some odd REAL Email addresses - And the rest of it is CRAP!

[Paradoxic]

Thats a good idea, but I can't seem to find out how to send an email out to all members. Can you direct me as to how to do that?

[Sea Mac]

Thats a good idea, but I can't seem to find out how to send an email out to all members. Can you direct me as to how to do that?

Sure!  Click on the Admin tab and get to your Administration center.

Under Main ------> News and newsletters
Then Click on the Newsletters tab. Check all and Continue.
Type your announcement then send it!

You can use this feature to send Newsletters to some or all usergroups in your database: Newsletters OR Announcements!

Ummmmmmmm: I just realized that I don't know where the bounced messages go ....  Duh ....

[Synchronium]

Did anyone else get 3x the same announcement simultaneously?

[Sea Mac]

Nope!

Just one. You may be in multiple usergroups though.

Paradoxic: the bad email addresses bounced back to your Gmail: check the junk mail folder there for returns of bogus email addresses.

[Paradoxic]

Did anyone else get 3x the same announcement simultaneously?

Yeah sorry about that. It was kinda lame, the page timed out halfway through sending the emails so I restarted it (I dont even know for sure if they all went through =/) I think I will talk to my host and try to get him to update the PHP version and extend the script timeout limit.

Nope!

Just one. You may be in multiple usergroups though.

Paradoxic: the bad email addresses bounced back to your Gmail: check the junk mail folder there for returns of bogus email addresses.

I checked through all my emails and not a single one bounced back =/ Do they bounce back for your forum?

[Sea Mac]

I had one bounce back once.

The user updated his address after I called him on it.

Maybe the Spam bots all had real email addresses?

[Paradoxic]

Yeah I think they did because in order to become members they had to verify their email address. They must have some automated email that does all that stuff. Those bastards.

[Sea Mac]

Crap!

I see you trimmed a couple hundred out anyways - All the ones from the Country "Viagra" or the land of Porn ... 

Well: lets use up what few we have left - we're not going to get any more ...               

[Paradoxic]

hahah, the land or porn...oh the possibilities.

Wait I don't quite get it, what use could spam bots have to us? Are you thinking of using them as something along the lines of lab rats?