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THE CURRENT
MAILING
'
'
;
First of
all... The original email (shown below) was sent to members of the TSA
committee plus a couple of close advisors. Some of you forwarded it to
others (as I had suggested in the original email). Thank You. The complete list of those known to have received this email are currently listed
as recipients. Feel free to continue to pass this on to anyone you feel will have
valuable input. Responses to each of your emails are shown below and denoted in this
font.
This email is organized in oldest to newest order, so for the latest stuff, scroll to the
end.
THE ORIGINAL
EMAIL...
Hi All,
I've
been playing with a couple of ideas recently and before I did anything, I wanted to bounce
them off you and get your thoughts/opinions.
Idea #1 - A website that would be a
Who's Who of Shuffleboard. If you are familiar with MySpace, it would be sort of in that vain. A
place where you could not only look up info on any Bowers listed player, but also easily
add comments or photos or info to their page. A very, very rough example of
what it might look like is at...
http://www.computerpeas.com/Web%20Sites/Prototypes/sample.htm.
The sytem's foundation would be an SQL database. The
basic starting data (photos and past Bower's ratings) would be progamatically
generated (not manually entered), as this information already exists in Computer Peas (go to computerpeas.com if you're
not familiar with the software). Also, if you are not familiar with MySpace, go to my page at http://www.myspace.com/eddieallenb to
get a taste of what it's all about.
Idea #2 - This one is a lot
simpler. The idea would be a Google specifically designed for Shuffleboard (I'm
calling it Shoogle).
Basically, you'd have the same setup as google, but when you
type in, say "Darrol Nelson", it would go out to the
20-30 shuffleboard websites (however many there are) and get every reference to Darrol Nelson. Currently, if you go to Google and type in
"Darrol Nelson"... or "ABC Shuffleboard
events" you might get a few hits, but what I'm talking about is indexing the hell out
of ONLY the shuffleboard websites, so that typing anything related to shuffleboard would
result in lots of hits. This, too, is done programatically.
In other words, I would write a program that would go to each shuffleboard website,
indexing the hell out of every page, and put the results in my own database.
Anyway,
those are my 2 latest shuffleboard/computer ideas. In light of crazy things that
have happened in recent years as far as cooperation on how to do things that would promote
shuffleboard, I am throwing these ideas out a their pubescent stages. When I first
started out to write Computer Peas I didn't ask anyone's permission, and always assumed
there would be no problem incorporating the ratings. I never imagined the ratings
would have to be encrypted and stuff like that, so this time around, I would like to get
input and support before jumping into any projects like this.
I
honestly look forward to your honest feedback. Also, I didn't email everyone on the
TSA board, but please feel free to forward this to anyone else that you think should see
it.
Sincerely,
Eddie Brayman
RESPONSE
FROM
|
Eddie,
Since we
have already discussed this idea, I would like to say that I believe that Idea #1 would be
my choice since I am so familiar with Computer Peas, and the data base is already built
and this could only enhance the current program as ratings and wins that are already in
the database could/would? update a listed players page if I
understand this correctly.
I also
must say that your program computer peas is the best thing for the game of shuffleboard in
many many years, and anyone who has used or seen the software
in use will agree with this. As more tournaments become aware of and start to use
the software the more the database will grow and the game of shuffleboard will grow.
I have attached a photo of the program use at this years President's Day Tournament at the
Medford Eagles showing the on screen chart.
Lorraine
- Yes, the data that is currently accessible through Computer Peas (Bowers listings and
ratings, player mug shots, statistics, and tournament results would serve as the
initial feeding of "the database", but understand that the online database would
be something different than the one embedded in Peas. Consquentely,
additional software would be written to transfer the data. For more on this see my
response to Ann Harrel, below. Also,
thanks for the great Computer Peas plug. As -Eddie |
RESPONSE FROM ANN
HARRELL (
Eddie,
Make sure your search engine can index inside PDF files. I've a "free"
search on the Board Talk Archive and I've long past the "free" number of
pages.
People could search on a name or location and bring up every instance from
the back issues...
Doesn't Google offer a free toolbar for a website? I think the SLSPA website
offers one for just searching their site.
As for your Who's Who.. more power
to ya on that. I prefer Coldfusion,
BTW.
I used to work there.
Ann,
Thanks
for your comments. Good point on the PDF's. I
haven't looked into it yet but I'm sure there's a mechanism for programmatically reading
PDF text.
Yes,
Google does offer a toolbar for a single website and individual sites do have their own
search mechanisms, but I'm talking about uniting all the sites so that there's one place
to enter text (or click on list entries) that will take you to the right page of the right
site. So instead of searching the zillions of sites that Google searches, it's only
searching the shuffleboard sites. I guess it really depends upon how many
shuffleboard sites are out there.
As
far as the database engine, I'm going with the most accessible, cheapest (free), and most
popular tools, which is basically the combination of PHP and MySQL.
The only costs involved is the server/provider. In my
case I already use HostMonster.com and have a zillion gigs available (as I use it for a
bunch of sites for friends, family, and small companies (aside from Computer Peas)).
HostMonster is Linux based (Apache server) and offers free MySQL and PHP support. My preference would actually be a
Microsoft server which supports Microsoft's development tools, but that's more
expensive. Anyway, the idea would be to build it on the most stable, cheapest, and
accessible foundation possible. If you scour the web you'll see that the Apache/PHP/MySQL route seems to be the way to go. Coldfusion
runs anywhere from $1,300 to $6,000 and that doesn't include
the server.
There
are other options out there that I would consider but they all require thousands of
dollars. I'm willing to put in time, but not significant money.
-Eddie
RESPONSE FROM MAHLON
NOBLES (
Eddie, first let
me thank you for your fantastic Peas software. I've
been using it for our local draws, A/B draws, Team events and numerous
Tournaments with over 100 players. The latest was
the
I
can't imagine why everyone isn't using the software.
Perhaps one of the
reasons is they don't realize you don't have to use the complete bracket feature or
maybe they just haven't had the chance.
I've
had great many complements associated with
Peas' many features
including, simplicity and the time saving in the random drawing of
partners, random drawing bracket pairing and placement and the ability to match
bracket sheet configuration to respective
manual brackets.
In
the unlikely event of the user making a mistake (left a player out or wrong rating, etc.),
the user is able to quickly redo the random processes and immediately
start printing sponsor sheets.
Another
great feature is the simplicity of the sponsor sales database.
Best
of all, the above processes can be witnessed by all. These features
eliminate players thinking of what takes place behind
the scenes.
Now
your ideas #1 and 2, keep up the good work.
I'm
sure others have experienced the
same, but I've received emails from friends of players, trying to get in touch with them.
They searched there names, and found them on our Shuffleboard Websites.
Mahlon
As
always, thanks for the Peas comments. I should mention that not only are Mahlon and Linda Computer Peas users, but have contributed to it's growth and development. Many of the features in Peas come
from the people that use the program. One of the very active CP users is Steve CoCo Brown, who was just added to this mailing list. Steve
(and his buddy Rob Kern) is the frontrunner when it comes to feature suggestions.
I'm sure we'll hear from him in this email exchange. An article back in Dec of 2005
talks about Steve's experience with Computer Peas...
http://www.tableshuffleboard.org/December_2005_Results_WilberBenefit_MI.pdf
-Eddie
General
Comments (
Thanks
again to those who have responded. I am looking forward to emails from the TSA and
Bowers to (a) see if they like the idea and see if it fits in with any plans they may be
working on, and (b) to be sure that there will be no copyright
infringement or problems of any kind in creating such a website. I beg you guys that
we keep this exchange honest, open, and non-personal. I have utmost respect and
admiration for EVERYONE that has contributed their time, efforts, and cash to the growth
of shuffleboard. As I know from years of experience of leading large teams of
software developers, 5 people can do the work of 10 if there is synergy and true
cooperation and respect.
-Eddie
AND NOW.... IDEA #3......
I
was recently spending a little time at the TSA site, which until recently, I rarely did,
and notice that meetings are held annually (at best), and further, all directors, and even
officers, are not always able to make it. Is it possible to hold, say monthly or
quarterly meetings, in an online chat room, moderated by the TSA President (currently Dan Hitt)? Perhaps non-TSA committee members could sit in and
listen to the exchange with limited input (as determinted by
the moderator). Free online moderated chat rooms do exist. Any
thoughts?
-Eddie
RESPONSE FROM JERI WILLIAMS (
I really like idea #3. This
could be a good way to increase TSA membership. Any member can join the chat.
It will also make me feel that I get something for my membership fee and that every
members input counts.
Ideas #1 and #2 – both ideas
sound great, but a couple of questions…
- It sounds like a lot of work on your
part, creating the pages. Is there a way to divide and conquer the labor?
- Is the payoff worth the work?
Most of the players that play in tournaments know each other. Who would be using the
database and for what purposes?
You know another idea might be using
something like phanfare.com I have a website thru them
that I use for our family photos and news. You can check out mine at www.williamsfamily.phanfare.com We could have a page per player or a page per tournament.
Saying that… I’m more than
willing to help out anyway I can to get something going.
David Williams can’t open an
email, much less check his email. You might want to change the name to me. shuffleboard@charter.net
or jeriw@charter.net
both route to me.
Jeri Williams
Jeri
- Re: #3 - The TSA Moderated Chat... yeah, I couldn't agree more. THANK YOU.
TSA officers and directors... what do you think??
As
far as the Who's Who in Shuffleboard website... the initial work is writing the
programming which really isn't a monumental task. The page(s) would be generated by
the program. The initial information (pages) you would see is the stuff already
sitting in Peas... Player names, ratings, mug shots, and rating histories (also,
tournament accomplishments if I had enough complete Peas files from Computer Peas run
tournaments). Once that part is done, then the real "divide and conquer"
part would take place. We would all be able to instantly add information to anyone's
page (tournament results, comments, photos, etc). Of course ID/Passwords would be
needed, and there would have to be a mechanism in place to keep track of who was
responsible for adding info.
The
whole idea is to (as I often say to my kids) "plant the seed". This whole
thing wouldn't be up in a day and instantly be all we could dream of. It would be an
ongoing, living and breathing site. That's why I point out MySpace.
It's the same concept. If you're not familiar with Myspace,
check it out (as I mention above). At first it's a little confusing, but with a
little patience, you'll get the idea (again, my MySpace page
is at http://www.myspace.com/eddieallenb.
Is the payoff worth the work?
Most of the players that play in tournaments know each other. Who would be using the
database and for what purposes?
Once again, it's
planting the seed. Who knows what direction it will take.
If you notice in my very raw and rough sample (http://www.computerpeas.com/Web%20Sites/Prototypes/sample.htm), there's a section that allows anyone
to rate anyone. I'm not saying we should actually use these ratings. In
the beginning it might just be... interesting... but eventually, who knows... it could
actually become the real rating system. The idea is based loosely on things like
movie, book and music review sites. Many of these sites let you rate a movie
(say 3 stars, 4 stars, whatever) and it keeps a running talley.
Re: Phanfare.com... I checked
it out and Sophie and Emma are adorable. (You and Bobby are, too). I'm not
really familiar with Phanfare.com but I am familiar with a bunch of others, including
Google's Photo Album offering. Most of them are pretty cool but most have some
limitations designwise, and worse, limitations size
wise. Many of them suck you in and when you run out of disk space, encourage you to
start spending money for more. Anyway, I am delighted to hear you are willing to
help and I will surely let you know how you can do that as things progress. Oh, and
as far as Bobby not being able to open his email, I know the feeling. My 9 year old
has to help his mom when she needs to download a file or do anything computer related.
Thanks for all your input.
TERRY FROM
HOW DO I GET A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM?
ITS GREAT!!!!!!
TERRY/PHX,AZ
Terry
- Go to http://www.computerpeas.com
and click on the Computer Peas Chart icon on the left side of the screen. Follow the
directions to get to the Download Page. New versions are coming out all the time so
bookmark the site and come back often. A new version, including some new features
and new player photos will be coming out within the next week.
Thank
you for your interest,
Eddie
Brayman
See what's free at AOL.com.