Just kidding, but not really.
You might have noticed a slight change here at Blacklisted News.
What has always been a blessing and a curse for me, is that I am not only the editor and publisher of the website. I am also the designer and primary coder. This has given me the independence and ability to do what I want and not have to pay a webhosting company for the privlage to use their system that I don't own and cannot control. I also have been working on this website for 2 weeks late into the night for what you see today.
I can't take all the credit or blame. A long time friend named A.C. does the heavy lifting on the server end but I do everything beyond.
Results may vary...
The last update to the website was 10 years ago and has needed an upgrade for about 10 years as well.
I decided, (probably against better judgement) that I would update the coding and integrate a new template with the current site. In my mind it seemed like a pretty easy task. I thought it would take me a couple days.
WRONG.
I think I do a pretty good job for the most part and people generally like what they see when they visit. Most readers are here for the info and probably don't care about the esthetics. I put a LOT of time and thought into every thing you see on the site. I code, and then recode every inch. Most of the time you probably don't notice. Even if you do, you probably wouldn't email me about it.
Believe me, whether you love or hate something you see on the site, just know that I did it for a well thought out reason.
Again, Results may vary...
Supporters will get a sneak peek of the concept site I built. I am taking from this template and some of it will make it to becoming part of BLN3.0
If the concept site wasn't so different from previous versions, I would just go ahead and pull the trigger. But I think that might not be what a lot of readers want. I will say that all the friends and family I have shown like the concept.
I know that some of you hate change. I can say that is very understandable. The changes that this site has covered for 17 years are mostly not great. That is if you like freedom, privacy, personal security or appreciate any of tenets laid out in the US constitution, Federalist papers, Magna carta etc...
If you like free thought no matter the flavor, you are encouraged by your government to just shut up and get in line. And if you won't, they will blame you. This website is to blame for Covid, Hillary loosing the election, Biden falling off a bicycle, and just about anything else under the sun.
If you criticize or question the actions of the government... You are the issue, not their decisions. Seems odd since they have the power and the money. I don't know if people are buying that, or just being paid to say it. Regardless there is a lot of propaganda to counter.
I actually care and work for you unlike the scumbags in Washington DC.
So, that's why you will get to have a say in this decision. And many more that won't change the world, only the place you like to read news.
What you see today is not a finished product by far. I still need to implement the navigation, menu buttons etc.. I needed to get the site online in running environment test and fix issues the core issues that will be found in the next few days. After that I will get back to fixing navigation menus and such.
So many of you demanded I bring back the 3 column format and link listing. We will see if that is still wanted by the crowd. You might think it is just a waste of space and I should put an advertisement in that location :)
There is a back story to why I took it off. Not a grand conspiracy but mostly petty drama, people complaining and people getting upset about what was on it, or being added / demanding to be taken off of it. Love and hate is what I should call it, but I decided on Cited Sources. It is a list of places I visit and find interesting stuff on. Some gets published, most does not. It is not an endorsement of the content you will find there, it is a tool. I have no way of knowing what any website, even my own, will publish tomorrow...
I think this is why you just don't see many websites with them today.
Just know the cited sources list will be integrated into a new feature very soon.
BLN is a tool first and foremost.
I would love to get your input as too where it should go design wise, even if you are not financially supporting the website I am glad you are here and hope you share it with others that would find it useful.
As I have said before, I am working for you. I want this site to be much more, but I also don't want to change the things you love and decided to invest in.
Thanks again for your support and keeping the website going.
Talk soon.
