PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - it effects all of you!!!

Over the past few weeks, I�ve been working on and programming an entirely new Rennlist Discussion Forum format to complement the site/bandwidth upgrades which have been underway. The new circuits should be on-line this upcoming week, and the transition to the new Forum should occur just after they are operational. During the actual migration of the posts/Users/etc. both this FORUM and the new Forum will be off-line for several hours, so your patience and understanding is appreciated during that time. Logging In to the New Forum: When you log in to the new Forum, please use your SCREEN NAME or your current Login Name (if they are the same) and existing password. For example � if your screen name is �I am a Porsche Nut.. , you will use the login name of: I am a Porsche Nut.. Passwords are all preserved. You can �Test Drive� the new Forum, in BETA format here: <a href="https://rennlist.com/forums" target="_blank">https://rennlist.com/forums</a> - Since that is a BETA Forum only (and the one I am programming, so it may be on-line/off-line), NONE of the posts there will be retained during the transition � so feel free to give it a test drive over the next few days. New Features and Technology - Are all the recent upgrades retained?: Yes � jump to new posts, folks online, quickreply, Spell Check etc. As well � there is a CHAT server, Sponsor links, Calendar, etc. � as links at the header of each page. The new CHAT server has proven very successful with some Forums who have assisted with the Beta testing (it does NOT USE A JAVA CLIENT � and you can see it here <a href="http://mall.rennlist.com/chat/" target="_blank">http://mall.rennlist.com/chat/</a> - What will the net-effect be on the Rennlist Forum responsiveness?: Overall � I�ll be using a SQL backend with PHP front ends (a hacked set of vB). As well, I�m compressing images on-the-fly, and using a style-sheet calls which reduces the amount of information sent to your browser on each page load by as much as 80% as compared to this forum. For The existing Rennlist Forums run primarily on .CGI and PHP, and not designed to take the user load that these Forums support (we have up to 600-700 folks on-line at peak times � posting hundreds of messages). In some load testing, the new forums should increase throughput by over a factor of 9X � 12X. Coupled with the circuits being upgraded shortly � the Rennlist Forums should �deliver� better then any other Forum/Format on the Internet given it�s size. - When will the new Forums be on-line? � This upcoming week (2/24 � 2/28), as soon as the circuit upgrades are completed. - Will all the messages/archives be preserved? � Yes, in fact � if everything goes as planned � current threads will still be open and active, and the change-over will be transparent. Rennlist Member Titles - Will I still have the �Rennlist Member� in my title? � Yes, they will appear shortly after I transition all the messages, archives, etc.. It may take a day or so � but they will magically appear. Avatars and Images - Can �Rennlist Members� have their own Avatar?: Yes � it will be uploaded automatically to my servers. When folks see your Avatar � it will be pulled from MY SERVERS, not a foreign URL. - Are there size restrictions on Avatars?: Yes � 150x150 pixels and no more then 18KB. - Can �Rennlist Members� upload new Avatar right from your computer � like browse my �C:\ drive� and upload it from there?: Yes. - Will there be �standard� Avatars to select from?: Yes - In �My Profile�, can I turn off viewing Avatars altogether?: Yes - Can I still show Images in my posts?: Yes. These will also be automatically uploaded to my servers, AND they can be uploaded right from your computer. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE PREVIOUSLY UPLOADED to the Internet. - Are there size restrictions to these uploads?: Yes. 800x800 and a reasonable file size. - Can I still have a URL to pictures from my site I want to show?: Yes, of course. - I am on a dial-up/slow connection � so can I turn off viewing all IMAGES in the threads � and only see a link to the photos if I want to view it?: Yes - Will my current SIG be migrated?: Of course. - Some User SIGS are stupid � can I turn off viewing those as well?: Yes. - Will all my posts still show and my current �User Title� (User, Specialist, Fanatic, etc.) be retained?: Yes. - Will my �Private Messages� be migrated?: Yes - Will my �Buddy List� be brought over?: Yes. - Will my �personal info� (location, number of posts, etc.) be brought over? Yes. - Will �banned users� still be banned?: Yes. - Can I �Subscribe to a thread� to get e-mail when someone posts?: Yes - Can I get e-mail notices if someone replies to my post/thread � even if it�s a reply to my reply?: Yes. Planned Integration with Other Systems - Can I view the Rennlist Forums in my News Reader from my hand-held computer/PocketPC or PC with a News Reader?: Yes, shortly after I bring the new Rennlist Forums on-line, posts to the new Forums will be readable. - Will I be able to �Reply� from my pocketPC/handheld to the Rennlist News Server ?: Not at this time � as the dataset will take the message, but I can�t authenticate your username/password from the Rennlist News Server � yet. I�m working on it, though. - Will all the old messages be brought into the Rennlist News Server ?: No � we have almost 500,000 posts. Only new posts after the transition will show on the Rennlist News Server . - Can you integrate the Rennlist Calendar into the Forums so we can post our events meetings?: Yes � it is done. - I like the design of the Rennlist Forums � but I�d like various viewing styles and board formats/templates � is that possible?: Yes. Various �styles� will be available and accessible through your profile after I have a chance to program them � but the �hooks� are there. John D.

W-O-W! I understood all that! John, you never cease to amaze us (or at least me!)

Hey Don..!!!! You know - sometimes you get my goat. No really - you really do get my goat... BTW: How's my goat doing??!!! (Sorry - an "inside joke").. Thanks Don.!!!

Great work John. Thanks for all your efforts.

Hey John: "Greta" the goat is doing just fine. She's eating up a few Pcars and is very anxious to find another home! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> <img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/doncapecod/Don_t_even_ask_about_this_pic.jpg" alt=" - " />

Nice Goat!

I thought Goats were Pontiacs! (see: GTO) %^]]

Andrew, the goat thing is a private joke/story that is too long and boring to explain. There are some folks on the board that understand what it's all about. It involves my wife (IndyCindy), 2 cars and a Rennlist event. Enough said....