Guest Book

On the multiple vs. single guestbooks, I'll weigh in since everybody asked me. Contrary to what is the seemingly prevailing opinions, I kinda like having the multiple guest books. The one on the old site was indeed fun, but it was also a bit intimidating to the newbies. I lurked over there for 5 years never once posting there, but I've posted on the various HTW GBs a few times already. The old one had a lot of multiple threads, some of which were interesting and some less so. Like Great Skaught said, you could always scroll pass the ones that were uninteresting to you...but having the multiple threads also could be daunting to even bother getting involved with. The new format spreads things out a bit, makes it more comfortable for some to contribute. There are always pros and cons to change, but I think if we give this format some time (which I don't think we've quite done yet), things will gel and everyone will be happy. There is obviously going to be overlap too. I mean, where do I talk about Oteil's monstrous bass solo on Kick 'n Bach? At Oteil's GB or at FFR's? Guitar talk about the 70s will also obviously fit well in Dickey's and the ABB's GB. That's where Users' discretion comes in. But some things don't really fit under the moniker of "ABB," such as sports talk or Great Southern...so we now have places for that. As an example, while I love Dickey's playing, I'm not all that into his stuff outside the ABB. I really got into the ABB when you guys stole Oteil away from my band (er, I mean when Oteil decided to leave ARU). If 10 or 15 ARU freaks were over here talking about ARU ad nauseum, it'd probably drive some of you nuts. So now I can go over to O's GB and ramble endlessly about ARU and all things Zambi, while those into Great Southern can do the equivalent at Dickey's site. We all win here. And when comments have overlapping content, I think it's great seeing it posted in multiple (yet applicable) GBs. As Great Skaught noted, you can just scroll past it if you've read it already. Now here's some contructive criticism too that might make things easier -- not as much content-wise, but for those of us that get lost between the ABB and HTW sites. (1) The ABB and HTW sites' color schemes are too similar. I've noted Lana's and Rowland's posts about the differences, but they're not as great as the difference between Dickey's, FFR's, and Oteil's...those three are DRASTICALLY different. There's no mistaking when you're on Dickey's site, or FFR's. One more drastcally different color scheme would be a nice touch. (2) Also, to reduce one more click (and time-consuming page load for us dial-up types), I'd like to see the 4 sites' links at the top of the HTW site to be on all the sites. I know, we could bookmark, but if the idea behind the portal concept is to make things easier, that would be one more easy way. And I realize (like everyone else does) that there is some bad blood between the ABB and Dickey (and I guess logically with Butch's FFR too), but geez....they shared 30 years together. If they'd get upset about a link on their web-site to another site where the family naturally extends to, then that borders on just being petty. This isn't the Van Halen/David Lee Roth/Sammy Hagar portal is it? (3) Finally, with the Forums, why not link a couple to the same page. I guess this is just limited to Butch's, Oteil's, and Dickey's personal section of the forums -- but why not make the Oteil's "Oteil" forum and the ABB "Oteil" forum go to the same page? Obviously the color scheme would change if you clicked on the ABB forum section for Butch and you all of a sudden went to a black background to post to Butch, but that would add to the overall continuity of the portal idea....connecting the individual sites. I for one am diggin' the new home overall, and think with more time (and tinkering by Lana and Rowland) it'll be even more stellar than it already is. Kudos to you two for all you've done thus far. Just one more question: when are we gonna get some ARU on the HTW radio? Ha! Peace and Zambi to all, Drew