Site Problems Are Now Solved (Mostly)

General Required Reading Site News76

Update 4: First of all, thanks to everyone for your kind words and your patience.

I’ve finished rebuilding SFN from scratch, and as you can see, the site looks dramatically different as a result.  As I pointed out in the comments, it is mainly because the styling code that SFN has used for quite some time has reached end-of-life and I had to scramble and find something that worked and was available to replace it.  Yep, it’s different all right and will take a lot of getting used to.  There are some benefits, though:

  • You might notice that there’s little if any blue left on the site. No offense to our UNC or Duke readers, but those colors don’t belong on this site. I’ve been meaning to fix that forever and finally got around to it.
  • The pages now size to your monitor and fill the browser edge-to-edge.  That’s nice, because I swtich back and forth from a 1920*1200 screen to a laptop that’s far smaller, and with the old design, the browser in full screen looked 1990’s.
  • The site is far faster.  I never realized how out-of-date the old style’s PHP and underlying Javascripts were.  I can see a dramatic reduction on the server load, which will hopefully translate to faster load times for you.  Of course, I went through the database, the OS and the web server itself with a fine-tooth comb today and optimized it while I was looking for the source of the errors that started this process in the first place.
  • I think that the look in the comments make them easier to read.  Sometimes long threads would make my eyes bleed, but I am getting older.  Hell, I remember the first game Lou Holtz coached.  I also remember selling mixers Coca-Colas when I was 12.  And I get to see Thompson play…in person.  You get the picture.

That’s my take.  The important thing is that we can share our takes and opinions just like always.

Last thing: I do need to update the photo-bar and will be working on that after I get some dinner.

Update 3: Never mind these ugly pictures.  They will be changed.  I had to use a new style-sheet, as I don’t have time to carve out a new one and also make sure it is compatible.  The default photos are going to be exchanged, but right now, I have other fish to fry.  You guys can comment on articles, however, and that’s a MAJOR improvement from 4pm today.

Update 2: You can now leave comments.

I am working to rebuild our site’s look and feel, and right now, it looks like this upgrade and the theme layout were not compatible.  The replacement theme that works is ugly (as you can see) and I am working on that.

Update 1: I’ve wasted enough time with half-assed support and more false starts than a typical Amato offense.  I am rebuilding the site from scratch and it’s going to be ugly around here for a while.  Bear with me, I don’t like the Carolina blue theme either and it is temporary.  If things are looking strange or the site doesn’t react for a few minutes, it is because the monkeys are at their keyboards typing furiously.

Hi folks –after a so-called minor upgrade of WordPress (the underlying blog software) late last night a major problem has erupted: users cannot leave comments.

We are aware of this and are working with the vendor to try to figure things out.  That is going to take some time on their end as well as ours — we have jobs that we would like to keep and time is at a premium.  So, until we hear from the WP folks and until we get some time to roll up our sleeves and get gritty in the code, this issue will continue.  Hopefully that won’t be a long term issue.

Anyhow, please bear with us.  We’re working on it.  –Alpha

General Required Reading Site News

76 Responses to Site Problems Are Now Solved (Mostly)

  1. MrPlywood 02/12/2009 at 5:07 PM #

    Testing.

  2. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 5:07 PM #

    can i still comment? goood

  3. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 5:08 PM #

    another plug in activated

  4. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 5:08 PM #

    and yet two more

  5. MrPlywood 02/12/2009 at 5:09 PM #

    Thanks for your efforts guys. I know what it’s like to try to track down a problem like this. Sort of like trying to find an electrical short in a car. Not fun.

  6. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 5:10 PM #

    and all the plugins are back

    this site is fracking ugly

  7. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 5:19 PM #

    MrPlywood — thanks. It’s been an irritating day to say the least. I would rather have spent my time talking up the basketball team rather than worry about an error that leaves zero trace of its happening.

  8. chuck 02/12/2009 at 5:38 PM #

    Thanks for all your hard work, Alpha.

  9. TheACCForums.com 02/12/2009 at 5:52 PM #

    Alpha,

    I’m not familiar with wordpress, but problems like this happen with vBulletin often when upgrading to a new version. However normally it just takes a quick template edit to get the theme to work with the new software version, vs rebuilding from scratch. Just trying to save you some steps if possible. Good luck, I know how it feels.

  10. txpack 02/12/2009 at 6:04 PM #

    This is just a test.I thought heckers bought the site down since there are many anti-Sid folks here past few days:)

  11. txpack 02/12/2009 at 6:14 PM #

    Iam trying this on my Blackberry. Seems the comments could not be edited after posting. Thanks a lot for your hard work, Alpha. Have a good day.

  12. pakfanistan 02/12/2009 at 6:25 PM #

    THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!

    I PAY GOOD MONEY FOR THIS SITE AND I EXPECT….

    wait, nevermind. Carry on.

    Do me a favor and click three ads when I get them back online. That’s payment enough. –Alpha

  13. TheCOWDOG 02/12/2009 at 6:30 PM #

    We need a break Alpha. Not good to rest on laurels, but last night’s win is a good resting stone. What the hell am I doin’ in here?

  14. wufpup76 02/12/2009 at 6:31 PM #

    Thanks for all your hard work Alpha & co.!

    I’ve been going through withdrawl not being able to post comments from mom’s basement …

  15. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 6:37 PM #

    Thanks for the kudos, guys. I got a little bit too trusting with WordPress and it burned me badly. Usually their bug fixes don’t break stuff, but for some reason the K2 theme and the new version — required for security purposes — crushed the old style code like we did UNC last October, and as unexpectedly.

    This is the new style for the site, as it is the most compatible and evolvable, so I will be able to fix it up and make it look better as time goes on.

    The real thanks should go to Jeff, to BJD and to the other guys who put the content here we all come to read.

  16. TheCOWDOG 02/12/2009 at 6:38 PM #

    Alpha, willing to click on ads, but none to be found on my screen.

  17. highstick 02/12/2009 at 6:38 PM #

    Holy smoke, I thought you guys had gone “gay” on me!

    Please don’t post pictures of pine trees!

    LOL — That’s the default style, not mine. I am going to put more NCSU sports-oriented photos up ASAP. We do have a forestry school though! – Alpha

  18. tractor57 02/12/2009 at 6:39 PM #

    Alpha and crew:
    Yes the current site is an ugly mess but at least we can post again.
    Thanks for the work and the site.

  19. TheCOWDOG 02/12/2009 at 6:42 PM #

    Whoops, disregard that jackass memo of mine. Maybe all my memos resemble a jackass. Failed to capture the key word ” when “

  20. Sw0rdf1sh 02/12/2009 at 6:44 PM #

    Ah WordPress….they constantly are telling you upgrade to the latest version and then POW you get punched in the mouth.

  21. Alpha Wolf 02/12/2009 at 6:52 PM #

    A-freaking-men, Sw0rdf1sh.

  22. Pack Leader 02/12/2009 at 7:24 PM #

    Hey im just impressed that yall were able to fix it in a day. Nice job Team!!! Is it bad that i tried to comment pretty much every hour while at work all day???? Thats it call the intervention team!!!! IM HOOKED!!!! I do like the panoramic carter finley up top though. suggestion though get panoramic views of several pack stadiums. football, basketball, baseball then it can be alternated when desired.

  23. Pack Leader 02/12/2009 at 7:29 PM #

    Hi My name is Jeff and I’m addicted to StateFansNation Blog………

  24. TheCOWDOG 02/12/2009 at 7:32 PM #

    Ok…let’s play along with Cowdog while we rest a spell.

    The other day I responded to a post that I thought was out of line.

    The nature of the prior was construed by TheCOWDOG as having been quotes attributed to Lowe as cut out of whole cloth. ( It was )

    However, my ego led me to quantify my own post in response by letting the individual know that I had 4 ACC championship rings playing for State.

    I also stated that there is only one that I’m damn near certain has more. ( I know he has more, but I’m not up to speed on track and wrestling combined with another sport )

    There are at least 3 more that have 4.

    I thought someone might bite and at least call it out.

    So, who has 5 ACC Championships at State to his name?

  25. buttPACKer 02/12/2009 at 7:49 PM #

    there are some aspects of this temporary layout that i like–it does need a new pic at the top, but i see real potential for a beautiful/functional site, ala NCSU’s new site.

    kudos to you guys for taking the time from your hectic schedules to maintain and constantly improve this site: And, this is doubtless one of the top college sports blogs on the web!

1 2 3 4

Leave a Reply