Hi all. On Monday, we're going to upgrade to CS2008. It's quite robust and powerful and hopefully will make the site more usable. It's a fairly significant upgrade (yay),  and might take a bit of getting used to.

One of the things we're going to do with the new homepage is we're going to create a "Recommended reads" blog, which will list important topics users should check out. We can edit this topic as time goes on, so it will always be updated/dynamic.

What specific topics (blog or forums) should we link to? I'd like some suggestions.

Please don't think these are not  serious questions. 

What is the goal of this forum ?   What are you trying to do ?   Where do you see it headed ?

I can do much to help it become more homebrewer friendly.   Andrew is also helping out the homebrewers more.

That is where I see me going on this forum.    What do you think ?

Thanks, Steve

 The recommended reads topic would be mainly for newbies. There's a TON of info here, but it can be rather sprawling and intimidating for the first-time visitor. It's like giving a tourist map with important locations highlighted.

I see this forum as not very biased and the best place to post homebrew info.  I was thinking about writing up the 3/27 test and others and putting them on this forum to help make it a one stop info place for homebrewers.

Those are some of my ideas.

Thanks, Steve

The Canoe Paddle Processor has almost 20,000 hits.  That is huge.  I have received emails from all around the world. The response I got when I moved it to this forum is huge ! ! !

This forum can reach way more people with the info than any other forum.   If people want to help promote homebrewing this is the place to do it ! ! !  

P.S. 20,000 in less than 180 days.  That's like one hit every 15 mins. 

The other forum.  9 months less than 3,000 hits.

 Stephen, that's great. We need to get back on topic... what are some good topics for newbies to see?

1. Tilly's Dr. Pepper method.  http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=447609751&f=719605551&m=857600061

2. titration  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8112hA-0yts&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zV4UIcz5n8&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_luRF_LLbQ&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnEHj8i1FLw&feature=user

3. 3/27 test  http://www.biofuelsforum.com/making_biodiesel/1562-warnqvest_conversion_test_3_27_27_3_a.html

4. Canoe Paddle Processor  http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/919605551/m/4971041812

http://www.biodieselnow.com/forums/t/19664.aspx

http://www.biodieselpictures.com/viewtopic.php?t=160&sid=bc2d0278b703568cc01243b6a1aeb4f3

5. Graydon's blog http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/blog/

6. Soap book  http://www.blackcrownsoap.com/

&. Rick's new website :  http://www.make-biodiesel.org/

That's just a little of the great stuff out there ! 

Hi Stephen. I meant things that are specifically here at BDN, not necessarily everywhere else.  Kind of a site guide.

The first step might be how to make a small batch.  I don't see a thread on this forum showing how to do that.  Does anyone know if there is a thread showing how to make a small batch.

Once someone knows how to make a small batch then the Canoe Paddle Processor will make sense to them.   If they don't understand the Dr. Pepper method  they won't understand the CPP at all and that is fine with me. 

Point newbees here :  http://www.biodieselnow.com/forums/t/21917.aspx

Nate,

Not exactly sure what you are trying to do here. I think it would be a great idea if we had one place where we could direct newbies instead of repeatably telling them to look up and search for themselves.

This list would/ should include links to Oilgea.com, wikipedia.com, ecogenicsresearchcenter.org, oilfromalgae yahoo group, NERL Close out report etc etc etc.

Home brewers could have links to the biodiesel tutorial and the various members who build//sell equipment as well as run training seminars etc 

Nate,

 Can I suggest using the term "search" in the search feature. It will show up all the topics that get those "use the search feature" replys.  When I did, I found out I wasn't the only one that stumbled with using the search feature.

 Hi Rick. I'm not sure what you're talking about. The search form at the top of each page has "Search" as the pressable button.

Slippery, I could see doing another blog topic of recommended links to other sites, but the purpose of this blog topic would be to direct newbies to the basic areas and most important topics of this site.

Nate, 

In the first post in the thread you asked "What specific topics (blog or forums) should we link to? I'd like some suggestions."

If you search on the word "search" it lists topics I think you should link to.  When people keep saying "use the search feature" to specific topics repeatedly, then the topic is probably a good candidate for your blog posting.  sorry if I was unclear.