Appreciate that Stanley, I just noticed an improvement in the evening when the speed is usually slow, sometimes unusable.  Maybe just lucky, but also NTL,  which I use, have just been merged and rebranded as Virgin Media. I'm on a new package which promises higher internet speed, but had noticed no difference until that occasion on 2nd March.

  Not been a good week really, Sky have withdrawn their content from Virgin Media TV, and I topped up my car with dodgy fuel from Tesco. Not many use Tesco for fuel now, and the Esso next door has quickly raised the price by 3 pence per litre, after matching them for years. Vigorous capitalism in action!

We've been threatened with improved server access for a long time now, without any result. Do we have any indication of when it might be achieved? Is it a question of funds perhaps? Is this a good time to enquire if any progress has been made by the  'temporary ad hoc committe'  for the future of OGFB?

 In case of any potential misunderstanding... this post is not meant , in any way, to be a crticism of any aspect of the site. I am a happy member, but it would be nice if it was just  bit quicker.

The improvement we are waiting for isn't anything to do with the server, it's a new version of the software that runs the site.  We had it up for a couple of days last year and it was brilliant but then Doc and his mates discovered a big security issue and pulled the new version.  We have been waiting ever since but it's a slow job as it depends on a lot of people working for free in their spare time.  The server issue is a different matter, you get what you pay for and the reason this site is free is that we pay for an el cheapo service financed by ad hoc donations.  Moh is right, it's time I chucked another tenner in to keep Doc solvent.  Until we started doing that he paid the lot!  As for t'committee.....  no action that I know of but the site keeps expanding and chugging along reasonably happily despite the lousy access during the day.  I always notice that it's better at lunchtime, probably due to the wage slaves troughing.

As an ex-motorist.......   I noted the problem with fuel but of course it didn't bother me.  I did note however that any of the older cars without oxygen sensors and engine management systems would have happily carried on.  Modern engines are so sophisticated they have become very choosy about fuel.  As for Esso raising prices....  'good business'  I suppose.  I worry about the profits the energy companies are taking out of a stretched market.  It may be time to start looking at price structures.  There is little doubt that application of 'market theory' to essentials like energy and other infrastructure monoliths is deeply flawed and not in the public interest.  In the States it was the activities of the robber barons like Rockerfeller in transport and oil which led to the Anti-Trust legislation which still serves Americans well.  Our tone couldn't care less as long as business is doing well and keeping quiet.  Can't see GB being any better.  He's been promising action against tax avoidance using off-shore companies for yonks but done nothing.  I think I'd better stop.....  you've wound me up.  Go back to Nye Bevan and control of the commanding heights of the economy, lots to be said for it!

I haven't missed the White Shed for one nano-second Maureen.  It was such an agonising decision to take but once decided on, so easy!  Of course I realise it's because I'm lucky and don't need a car, everything I want to do is in walking distance.  Haven't even used me bus pass yet!  I am so busy doing the things I enjoy which are all Barlick based.  I am firmly of the opinion that anyone looking for a new job would do well to look as close to home as possible.  Barlick is a good place to do it because I saw a statistic not long ago that gave us one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.  Car ownership is going to be a prerogative of the rich within ten years..........  People my age have had the advantage of the golden years of transport.

This could be down to a number of things such as not being so heavily used, having a bigger server or having less content, but nonetheless it's a good example of what can be achieved.

It's called Canal World

Click here to visit

and I found it to be very user friendly. It's very easy to keep track of all the topics and the member's control panel is very comprehensive.

I understand that the new, improved OGFB software will provide for member blogs etc, so I wonder if it will be like this canal one? If so, I think you'll all be quite pleased.

This is in no way intended as criticism of the way our site is currently run. I just thought some of you would be interested in how other forum-based websites operate.

Edited by - Callunna on 05 July 2007 21:09:05