Welcome the new Lone Star Ball and SB Nation
Hey LSB,
Today is the big day. We've switched your community over to the new SB Nation sports blog platform. My name is Trei, and I'm here to help you get adjusted to the new home we've built for you. If you have questions or trouble with the new system, post a comment in this thread and myself or one of the team (lovitt, sixfoot6 or odacrem) will try to point you in the right direction.
Before we begin, I want to let you know that Lone Star Ball is only the seventh blog in the SB Nation family to make this transition. We still consider this a beta platform, so don't be surprised if you find a few bugs, or if everything isn't exactly right yet. We hope you'll take the time to report any problems you encounter at bugreport@sbnation.com.
Please take a few minutes to read about what's new below. But if you just can't wait to jump in, here are some quick things to check out:
- Sign up for your SB Nation account and claim your old account
- Once you're logged in, press your Z key in any thread with new comments.
- Explore your dashboard and setup your profile
- Read the guide to the new FanPost editor
- Install the FanShot bookmarklet and post videos to Lone Star Ball from YouTube or images from Flickr
- Click the "Rec" button on posts and comments to recommend the good stuff.
What Has Changed
SB Nation Network Accounts - the Big Change
Readers across all of our blogs told us they wanted one account to use on every SB Nation blog. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to participate on all of our blogs, but we don't want to encourage everyone to start visiting rival team blogs and initiating flame wars. To maintain friendly communities we ask that you explicitly join each blog in order to participate. It's a two-click process, but it does means accepting each blog's community guidelines. Just as you join each blog individually, you can be banned on each blog individually.
To make this work, we're requiring that everyone create a new SB Nation network account. In most cases you should be able to keep your old username, but a few of you may have to choose something new, since every other community in SB Nation will be going through this same transition. We tried to be as fair as possible in deciding who gets to keep which name, using a formula that takes into account length of membership and frequency of activity.
You can claim multiple old accounts on different SB Nation blogs, and the username you choose will be retroactively attached to all your old comments and diaries. You'll be able to access all your writings from your single profile page. Like magic.
Now that I've explained all that - let's get you started:
Click Here to claim your old blog accounts and create a new SB Nation network account.
FanPosts (the section formerly known as Diaries)
We changed their name. Why? Because we took this major upgrade as an opportunity to leave behind some vocabulary that never made much sense for a sports blog. SB Nation is the network of, by and for fans, and these are the blog posts we make. So we call them FanPosts. When you're at a bar telling someone to check out your online sports opinions, you don't have to suggest they read your diary.
FanPosts are displayed differently on the homepage - we show your avatar to give a little more credit for the time you spend writing great posts. The new post editor has a WYSIWYG view that provides easy formatting. It will also auto-save drafts so you don't have to worry about losing your work when you write in the web browser. And you can now associate teams, players and games with your posts. These put your FanPosts on our new team, player and game pages - across the entire network.
The new system does not work like the old diary editor. For example, in HTML mode the new editor doesn't auto-create a new paragraph from two line breaks. But it does offer a whole array of new features. Look for the blinking help button on the right side of the FanPost editor for quick tips, or take a look at our full guide to writing FanPosts on the new platform.
IMPORTANT - if you write your posts in Microsoft Word or some other off-line editor, you will get the most reliable behavior if you cut & paste your post into the HTML view of the FanPost editor. And if you do that, remember to wrap <p></p> tags around each paragraph so your text doesn't run together.
Visual Redesign
This one is probably the most obvious change of all. Like other major websites working to improve readability for their audience, we've adopted a fixed-width layout optimized for the 1024 x 768 resolution that a majority of you at Lone Star Ball and the SB Nation network use. We introduced a navigation bar with quick links into old and new sections of the site. We also polished a few edges, made some things larger, others smaller and moved a few boxes here and there.
Search
We completely replaced the old search engine with a new one. We're excited to make it easier to find old posts and comments, but we've only taken our first pass on the tools we give you to do that. Just know that we're aware search is missing key features and we're working on it. We're focused on making Search even better than what you had before.
What Is New
Schedule, Scores, Stats and Roster
Lone Star Ball now has all the basic information about the Rangers and every other team in the MLB. During games you'll see a regularly updated line score, and as the season progresses we'll track team stat totals and leaders. This is just our first step, so look for us to publish more detailed and archival stats in the future. The best part about all this sports data is that we've integrated it directly into the blog so. We now have special pages that aggregate all blog posts written about games, players and teams.
Recommending FanPosts
Some writing deserves more attention and more conversation. If you want to bump a FanPost up to the top and keep it there for awhile, just click the 'Rec' link under the body of the post. When a FanPost receives enough recommendations it will make the recommended list.
Auto-refreshing Comments
You no longer need to refresh the page to see new comments. If you're logged in, new comments will automatically appear on the page every few seconds. When you post a comment, the page will not refresh either. If you want to quickly cycle through all the new comments, you can press the 'c' key on your keyboard. Unmark a new comment after you've read it with the 'x' key. And use the 'z' key if you want to umark comments as you're cycling through them.
As you use the keyboard shortcuts to cycle through comments you can just press the 'r' key to reply. All these helpful keyboard shortcuts are listed at the top of each comments section for reference.
Recommending Comments
Now you can reward those folks who take the time to look up stats and make smart arguments in the comments. Next to each comment there is an 'actions' link that you can click to find the recommend and flag options.
Flagging Comments
To help the moderators on a site, we've built-in tools that let you flag comments that are spam, trolling or just plain inappropriate. Only moderators can see those flags.
FanShots
Many members of the community just want to post that one link, video, photo or quote and you don't need to write a full FanPost. We've got you covered and we made these quick hits really easy. Now you have a tool that is designed for sharing YouTube videos, Flickr or PhotoBucket photos, quotes from articles, portions of chat transcripts, top 5 lists and simple links. If it's a video or image we'll put a thumbnail on the homepage when you post it.
For those of you who are experienced internet hunter-gatherers of Rangers material, install the bookmarklet to share FanShots with the community from wherever on the web you find that killer quote or photo.
Archives
It's much easier to go find that post about a certain deadline trade or prospect retro feature. You can browse by year and month.
Avatars
When you upload an image as your avatar we'll use it on your profile, your FanPosts and all your comments.
Network profiles
Now that we have unified SB Nation network accounts, your profile will be your central hub for all of your activity on any blogs where you are a member.
Network bar
The bar up at the top will stay with you on all SB Nation blogs. It's a quick way to login and logout. When you're logged in, you'll see your avatar and screen name. Click that and you'll find your profile. There is a button next to that for jumping to your dashboard with links for editing your settings, profile, account and any FanPosts or FanShots you've published. Once we add more blogs to the new SB Nation network, the My Blogs menu will be a handy way of navigating between the blogs you're a member of.
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There are plenty more small changes and additions we've made so take a careful look around and explore this new system. We appreciate your patience as we jump into this beta together and know you'll help us get this new platform ready for all the other SB Nation blogs.
And in case you missed it, you'll want to start by claiming your old blog accounts and creating a new SB Nation network account.
9 recs |
142
comments
Comments
Can't wait for my site to convert...
www.mavsmoneyball.com
by Wes Cox on Mar 21, 2008 9:41 AM CDT 0 recs
How do I enable new comments?
I'm logged in, but there is nothing to distinguish new comments from those I've already read.
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
by Brian Thomas on Mar 21, 2008 9:43 AM CDT 0 recs
new comments
that indicator will only work for comments posted since we launched on the new plaform
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 9:44 AM CDT
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0 recs
The same with sigs?
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by Chase Irwin on
Mar 21, 2008 11:33 AM CDT
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0 recs
sigs the same?
not sure what you're asking, but sigs should've been brought over from the old LSB. and sigs are no longer retroactive when you change them.
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 11:35 AM CDT
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0 recs
Ah ok
That makes sense because I see a different sig displayed elsewhere. (Just changed).
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by Chase Irwin on
Mar 21, 2008 11:50 AM CDT
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0 recs
Wow
the auto-refreshing comments is a pretty cool feature.
by BHill on Mar 21, 2008 9:45 AM CDT 0 recs
brace yourself for the impact, clockwerks :)
Thanks for getting us to the 21st century!
Yay, the Rangers are in first place!
by RangerMoto on Mar 21, 2008 9:46 AM CDT 0 recs
Yay
It's here!
"Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up."
by Escher on Mar 21, 2008 9:48 AM CDT 0 recs
I don't
really see the point for a change.
Thanks to Eli Manning, my computer is dead...
by miles on Mar 21, 2008 9:52 AM CDT 0 recs
Looks great..
looking forward to the season with the new setup.
by Houston27 on Mar 21, 2008 9:58 AM CDT 0 recs
Woo-hoo
This is cool.
Your Texas Rangers: Shooting for whichever year best suits our marketing campaign!
by BudLight on Mar 21, 2008 10:02 AM CDT 0 recs
Whoa
The new comment box that appears is pretty nifty...
Milton Bradley for MVP
by miles on Mar 21, 2008 10:03 AM CDT 0 recs
Yay
I love commenting.
I mean I really love commenting.
Jason Botts PWNS.
by thedirkatron on Mar 21, 2008 10:07 AM CDT 0 recs
I was about to do something like that
Fortunately the auto-refresh told me not to
by JBImaknee on
Mar 21, 2008 10:09 AM CDT
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0 recs
same as any other trey, tray, tre, etc
I'm the 3rd
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 10:10 AM CDT
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1 recs
I recommend
everybody go back and RECOMMEND essary's post on the MLB games in China.
That's a fanpost that needs to definitely be moved up to the recommended reading section.
"Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up."
by Escher on Mar 21, 2008 10:11 AM CDT 0 recs
Also
recommend Hucks "I resign" diary.
That is some reading material, heh.
Milton Bradley for MVP
by miles on
Mar 21, 2008 10:13 AM CDT
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0 recs
You know
if hurlerhurley recommended it on all his accounts, I'm sure it would make the recommended reading list.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on
Mar 21, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
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0 recs
Link
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/3/17/21321/9880
"Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up."
by Escher on
Mar 21, 2008 10:14 AM CDT
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0 recs
Test Test Test
1, 2 3
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Mar 21, 2008 10:14 AM CDT 0 recs
This post
deserves an obvious flagging for trolling.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Mar 21, 2008 10:18 AM CDT 0 recs
Done and done.
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by Chase Irwin on
Mar 21, 2008 11:35 AM CDT
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0 recs
Same here..
I remember the first post I ever read on that site.
It was a rumor of Kevin Mench to the Pirates.
Milton Bradley for MVP
by miles on
Mar 21, 2008 10:28 AM CDT
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0 recs
first time I saw this
I thought it was the first post you ever made on that site. Which I thought was just ironically hilarious.
by a bebop a rebop on
Mar 21, 2008 1:01 PM CDT
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0 recs
Cool
Admittedly I liked the really simple home page more visually (not to mention it read easily on my cell phone) but with all the new features its definitely worth the upgrade.
Recommending diaries should be nice so that perhaps good conversations wont get lost in a day like they often do. Recommending posts Im not sure on, but will probably work since you cant neg posts (which always causes problems).
I also like how while I'm typing the new replies appear in the thread without me refreshing, very useful and will stop some of those multiple answers to one guy things.
by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 10:31 AM CDT 0 recs
I like it...
gonna take a little getting used to however.
Hello Win Column!
by jboll on Mar 21, 2008 10:45 AM CDT 0 recs
Auto-refresh comments
Auto refresh comments will be huge for game threads. Very very nice.
by jthig32 on Mar 21, 2008 10:48 AM CDT 0 recs
buttons are dead
The "update" button at shroomer's dashboard is quite the tease. Am unable to switch profile images or delete the outdated sig I have.
Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers report ~ Feb. 20: First full-squad workout
by shroomer on Mar 21, 2008 10:51 AM CDT 0 recs
nothing happens when you click the update button on Edit Profile?
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 10:57 AM CDT
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0 recs
correct
zilch
I added my account a long time ago, when AN made the first SBN platform upgrade.
I had similar probs back then, too. I eventually got the update button to work, obviously,
but it took a lot of clicking and reloading and logging off and back in - just trying any trick to get it to respond.
Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers report ~ Feb. 20: First full-squad workout
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:03 AM CDT
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0 recs
sorry about that
shroomer, what operating system and browser version are you using?
I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation. Please don't hesitate to give us feedback.
by sixfoot6 on
Mar 21, 2008 11:05 AM CDT
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0 recs
IE version 7.0.5730.13
windows
Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers report ~ Feb. 20: First full-squad workout
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:07 AM CDT
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0 recs
success!
you must save your profile pic - not just hotlink off the internet
seems to have fixed my problem
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:11 AM CDT
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0 recs
sweet
yep, that's true - we may need to make that more clear. glad things are working for you.
I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation. Please don't hesitate to give us feedback.
by sixfoot6 on
Mar 21, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
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0 recs
My only wish
is the ability to be able to edit our own comments.
'cos everybody hates a tourist especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh
by Escher on Mar 21, 2008 10:54 AM CDT 0 recs
I just did on the comment above
I think so anyway
Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers report ~ Feb. 20: First full-squad workout
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:03 AM CDT
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0 recs
well
I think you can edit a comment as long as you have the active "post a comment" box still alive. Once you've cleared it off you lose the ability to edit a post.
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:20 AM CDT
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0 recs
scratch that
ignore - I think I'm totally wrong
yes, editing comments would be nice - for grammar and spelling, etc.
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 11:21 AM CDT
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0 recs
probably preview
there is no ability to edit comments because we believe these threads are conversations and people respond to comments as they are written. however, we give you the preview option so that you can double-check and change what you say before you post it.
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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0 recs
So we're forced to preview? Is that what you're saying?
JK.
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by Chase Irwin on
Mar 21, 2008 11:39 AM CDT
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0 recs
actually, very good point
I said "we give you the preview option", but it's not optional.
one trick that we've been using is that you don't have to use your mouse at all for quick commenting. just use C or Z to cycle through comments. click R to reply to the one you've cycled to and then type your comment, tab to the preview button and hit return, then hit return again to post your comment.
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 11:45 AM CDT
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0 recs
Efficiency
Thanks. Again.
Next track for OC, et al:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One
by Chase Irwin on
Mar 21, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
up
0 recs
I like the site...
Things are a lot more organized, and there are a lot of features, that we've all brainstormed about in the past... but were not the easiest features for a single blogger to control. With the network controlling those things, it's easy and uniform and pretty functional.
Pretty excited about how things look. Happy that LSB is ahead of most of the network!
Troy I.
by tdi1985 on Mar 21, 2008 11:19 AM CDT 0 recs
New feature
I also really like the ability to press C to go to new comments.
Was always a little annoying to scoll through trying to spot the red "new" text.
And even without pressing anything the new comments are highlighted anyway.
by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT 0 recs
Yep.
has to be the best feature I've seen so far.
Who the hell is Herbie Hancock?
by sprite on
Mar 21, 2008 11:33 AM CDT
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0 recs
now we can fly our flags
This seems very progressive.
by SanDiegoKev on Mar 21, 2008 11:37 AM CDT 0 recs
fanshots
Can someone explain the bookmark thing? I created a fanshot, but I don't understand the drag to the bookmarks bar command. Where is the bookmarks bar?
A working class hero is something to be.
by t ball on Mar 21, 2008 11:47 AM CDT 0 recs
Hmmm
seems to be appearing now, but how do you make it just appear like the one below it?
A working class hero is something to be.
by t ball on
Mar 21, 2008 11:49 AM CDT
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0 recs
to make it appear like the other video FanShot
two ways:
1) use the bookmarklet
2) when you click New FanShot, switch to the Video tab and paste in the YouTube embed code instead of the link
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 11:55 AM CDT
up
0 recs
some FanShot info
t ball, a bookmarklet is a little program that lives in your browser as a bookmark. So if you're in Firefox, drag that link up to the links bar on your browser where other bookmarks live.
The Bookmarklet wil recognize many types of sites, and post em in the right format. If you're creating a FanShot within your dashboard, click the VIDEO tab above to post the FanShot as a video.
Does that make sense?
I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation. Please don't hesitate to give us feedback.
by sixfoot6 on
Mar 21, 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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0 recs
you don't need to use the bookmarklet tool to post a FanShot
but it's much, much cooler because you can post FanShots from other websites.
in Firefox, you can turn on your bookmarks bar by going to View -> Toolbars -> Bookmarks Toolbar. It should add a space just below the main URL entry field. grab the bookmarklet link on the FanShots page and drag it into that space. it will add a little 'Share on SB Nation' link there.
Once you've got it installed, go to a YouTube video page and click that bookmarklet to see how it works.
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 11:54 AM CDT
up
0 recs
This is sort of a random suggestion
But since we have profiles for every player actually worked into the network, maybe there could be a system where you declare that you're a fan of that player. You could then have a list in your profile, and in the player's profile, it will show how many people are fans of them, etc.
Troy I.
by tdi1985 on Mar 21, 2008 11:55 AM CDT 0 recs
that's a great suggestion
we're hoping to do a lot more with players, teams and schedules now that we have the built into the blogs. we're just getting started so any other suggestions like that are welcome.
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by clockwerks on
Mar 21, 2008 12:02 PM CDT
up
0 recs
well GOLLLLLLLY!
I feel like the Beverly Hillbillies when they first move into their mansion perusing all the fancy things.
by LAMuscleFag on Mar 21, 2008 12:14 PM CDT 1 recs
This is more a test than anything
But this is quite, um, interesting. Going to take some time to adjust.
Free Alexi Ogando!
by ghtd36 on Mar 21, 2008 1:08 PM CDT 0 recs
I like
the main page and all the extra stuff on the side like the schedule.
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
by coolaid on Mar 21, 2008 2:31 PM CDT 0 recs
also just messing around
Would like to show off my avatar as well, which I used for a long time after a silly thread on ATHF avatars years ago over at the NMLR boards.
by alon91 on Mar 21, 2008 2:41 PM CDT 0 recs
new site
i just don't like it. I much preferred the old simple site.
I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I appreciate all the work and design that went into it, I just like the simplicity of the old style better.
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
by rentz on Mar 21, 2008 2:58 PM CDT 0 recs
This new site
is freaking me out. I haven't been this freaked out since AJM left blogger.
by Agreen07 on Mar 21, 2008 3:02 PM CDT 0 recs
Comments
I might be the only one that thinks this, but I think it would be great if there was a link to display the comments on the main page, 1 at a time of course so it doesn't fill up the whole page, right below the main post.
Then you could cycle through the comments one by one. You could still click to view the whole story and the comments together, but having that small option would be cool because then you don't have to navigate away from the home page to view a few comments.
by geetar85 on Mar 21, 2008 3:15 PM CDT 0 recs
Another benefit of home page comments
While I'm at work, I go to a lot of websites and when I come back to Lonestarball and see that there is 1 new comment on one of the main articles that already have 75 comments, it would be so nice to use this feature to see that comment, instead of having to go to the full page of comments, let the whole thing load and then see the one comment I was trying to view.
You might notice it when you see that there is one new comment on this article and had to go to this page just to read me blabbing about this :).
Just a thought.
by geetar85 on
Mar 21, 2008 4:15 PM CDT
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0 recs
Recommend EVERYTHING
I notice that the diaries/fanposts down the right give you the option of clicking on the "new" comments to take you directly to the first new comment, then you can "z" your way down the rest of the new posts. The main page posts by Meno don't give you this option.
So ...
Everybody should recommend all of Meno's main page posts so that they get shifted to the "recommended" column to the right. Then we can use the handy dandy "new" link to sort thru fresh poop.
Or, they could just add this feature to the main page posts, too, and make EVERYBODY happy.
by shroomer on
Mar 21, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
up
0 recs


