Between looking at my blog, and also the email asking why I haven’t updated, I’m now very much aware that I kinda disappeared for the past 4 months! Unfortunately my first trip to the USA wasn’t really all that good on the whole, but I did have a few nice moments and while it wasn’t all gloom and doom, I ended up having to write it off. Still, I’m better prepared for when I next go there. Anyway, because of all my hiccups across the pond, I was unable to do any episodes of the DiggerFeast like I planned, especially given the aftermath I was trawling through right up till late last month. However, I have at least managed to make preparations for a pilot episode, though whether I am doing it solo or with others is currently dependent upon whatever happens over the coming weeks. The DiggerCast was subject to a similar fate, but rest assured, now that I’m back home, and in (somewhat) of a right mind, I can continue the DiggerFeast and DiggerCast soon.

However, given that I’m going forward with my Stormhaven Media idea, it is very likely you won’t see a DiggerFeast episode for a few weeks, at least till I get the blog setup there. As for the DiggerCast, expect a new episode in the middle of October. Why then, you say? Well, the idea is to release eps every first and third week(end) and I need to focus on getting the team back together, as well as a couple new additions, plus given I haven’t worked on it for a while, I need to update the site list and also setup a page template! Rest assured though, the final format is nailed, and thus is the most complete show. Coincidentally, the DiggerFeast will likely follow a similar skeleton framework, for the reasons of consistancy at least. I am wondering at present as well if it’s a good idea to put everything in a single blog, although that said, WordPress is powerful enough to be modded for multiple purposes, so I think it would be the best option, in all fairness, especially once I learnt how to sort the domain stuff out. I’ll think of something eventually.

The only disadvantages I could see is the fact it may get a tad crowded on the About pages, especially as I have the DiggerCast and DiggerFeast joining up with a possible DiggerAds show (where my friends and I will riff a short selection of ads; possibly the shortest show in the list) and also a show (or even a section on the DiggerFeast or DiggerAds shows at the end, depending on which fits) about strange purchases (“Feast your eyes on this oddity!”, etc.) from eBay, car boot sales, the Pound shops and other unusual places or auction sites, or even just stuff we found abroad. Admittedly, this one requires funding and perhaps a lot of crowd sourcing, given that many of the items may cost a pretty penny to get over here. Still, it might be worth a shot. Of course though, odd gaming stuff will be handled by my gaming site, Gamed Up.

Speaking of Gamed Up… it finally has a presence besides on here, though it’s only temporary (and also in a single place; also has only one entry at the time of writing, but that’ll change soon) as a more permenant solution is on its way soon! You can go to http://gamedup.wordpress.com/ if you want to see what is up there. Please also note that all my games-related articles made here will gradually be copied or moved over there, and in fact anything gaming at all from here on out will be sent over there. Additionally, when the site is up, it’s very likely they’ll again be moved to my personal ranting blog, or in the case of reviews of software or hardware, to the relevent section on the site. I also have plans for other Stormhaven Networks sites as well, such as the addition of a business which shall remain nameless for now, though the Developments branch is basically going internal for now while this new branch (and the Media branch minus the Radio) are worked on.

I have been to see a business analyst about all my websites, and he basically gravitated more towards Gamed Up, as well as my paranormal group (which again will have its own blogs system soon, albeit a shared resource), which will be a hybrid events company and public services org, but more on that later on. The Free Spirits Network (formerly Friendly Storm Network) is also due for a few structural changes too, with the long planned and awaited FSChat moving into the first phase of development! This first phase involves contacting interested parties and asking them to sign up to a feedback & consultation forum, so they can tell me what they want to see in a chat site… I’m sure that staff that listens (or at least tries to listen) and general stability will be pretty high on the list!

Anyway… that aside, it is also an excellent opportunity to get FSIRC, FSChat’s sister site some exposure too, especially for those who want to make their own chat rooms, as FSChat is designed to be simple and moderated/closed, in opposition to FSIRC’s slightly more complex and open system. I acknowledged long ago that not everyone will want to wrestle with the comparitively harder setup that is FSIRC (though for those who want to learn, it’ll work well for them), so I’m offering a simpler chat option. Other places that stand to benefit are Gamed Up (managing a gaming room on there) and also Storm Paranormal (which will maintain the paranormal room). And while there will be single forums that handle the topic in general detail, the linkup with the sites will mean that people will get to take their interests further if they so wish – with the benefit of already knowing the staff on the site. Although perhaps paradoxically, the FSChat gaming room will not be able to be accessed via the Gamed Up chat, but then it is a different system, so it’s understandable. The same goes for the paranormal room too. However, I may make provisions in to allow people to eventually connect to either room they want through the respective sites (though the FSChat rooms require an FSChat account), which in itself will be quite an undertaking!

As you can see, I do have a lot planned, though my first concern will be the FSChat feedback forum, and also the entire Xeno Storm Network, which is undergoing some massive changes.  First of all, I decided that I don’t need a separate site for my named domain… it just means more to keep track of, so I decided to merge it with Stormkeeper dot Net as it makes sense to just merge the two.  Also, as part of financial cutbacks, I also plan on dropping a few more domains to bring my costs down.  Another thing I plan on doing as well is implementing a global single sign on system throughout XSN.  This means that the wiki, blogs and forums will all be accessible through the one account.  The forums will be the centrepiece of the XSN, as they were before.

I was initially going to use the copy of XenForo I purchased (with the assistance of an anonymous benefactor) for another site, and move the vBulletin install back to XS, but honestly I’m fed up with vB now, so want to offload it ASAP, but equally I need to bring XS back into the fold, because I want to move this blog to the blogs system, so I can do single sign in.  Some additional changes I have in mind are the addition of a travel blog for myself (and a couple others for friends), and also a project blog (for my crazy experiments and other stuff), which will make things a lot easier for me.  I already am aware of things that will allow XF to link in with WordPress and also a wiki solution, meaning things will be a lot easier to manage when I lay down the foundations!  My only concern at present is linking the domain to the new blogs system, but I’ll have some practice runs with that and I’ll keep the SK.net domain here til I’m sure it all works fine.  Another consequence of the merger is that I no longer need to put the XS-related stuff on my blog, which frees up space that is able to be used for my named domain functions, such as a C.V., though I will have a sanitised version of my C.V. up as a PDF, which omits some more personal details, though there will be an email to ask for more details.

Admittedly though, the C.V. is more an illustration of my credentials as opposed to actually being used for looking for a job, though I imagine I’ll be open to any that may be offered to me, if any are.  Still though, I do hope with the redevelopment of the XS Network, and also the addition of the FSChat feedback forum, things can start to move on.  I am thinking as well that my projects blog may also be recipent of my Projects page, albeit in an expanded format, that being Current & Planned Projects and also Past projects (both of which will also include involvement) pages; in fact those changes will be made now in preparation for this.

I’m going to stop here now so I can make the necessary changes to my blog in order to make everything go smoothly with it over the next week or two.  Hopefully everything will be smooth, but I won’t know till I try…