New Template is Available

In honor of fall, we just set up a new autumn leaves template. Have at it!

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New Branding on the Way!

Just a heads up--we are rolling out a new look this afternoon, much hipper and with more of Buck, Bass and Cutler. So you may notice changes to the templates. New logo, new buttons, more information when you log in. More rockin, if you ask me.

Soon you'll be able to to pick elements of the template to customize yourself, but for now, it's still pink and green. Let me know what you think!

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James the Web Lackey

Lest you all think he is but a mystery, let me assure you he is real and busting a hump every day. Look at this dude in action! How can you not appreciate the stress, power, and talent? Not to mention the chaos...

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Rowdy Web Question #3

One of the big debates we have around here is how to make Rowdy more "sticky." How do we grow it without making it seem to anonymous and boring? Since we can nenver agree, it made sense to ask those of you who actually USE the thing. So I came up with some simple questions I want you all to answer if you have time. Ready?

1. Should we add more activities, or take some away, or leave it just the way it is?

2. Should we reward behavior with points/prizes/visibility, or is that too commercial and weird, or unnecessary?

3. Can you find everything OK or could it be easier?

4. If you could change ONE thing about the current features on rowdy.com, what would it be? Only one, please. Makes you think about it more.

5. What would make you invite a NEW friend to rowdy.com?

6. Do you consume the shows on the site, or elsewhere, like a newsreader or RSS reader?

7. If you could add one new capability to rowdy.com, what would it be? Again, only one please.

Remember, these are opinions I want. There are no right answers. Be blunt and opinionated! It's your chance to be me (ha, like it's fun or something).

Yet another installment in my make-the-web-better series.

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Another Rowdy.com Question...

How many times a week do you log in to Rowdy.com? When you do, does your browser remember you, or do you have to enter your user name and password again? Once you're there, how long does each visit last?

Another in my make-the-web-better series.

cheers,
Rusty

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I Want to Do an Experiment

Go to your profile, click the edit button on the left, and turn on all the activity alerts. I want to see whether knowing what your friends are up to and when they communicate with you makes you access Rowdy more, or whether it simply annoys you. If you decide it simply annoys you, then you can go back and turn them off. We just enabled this feature last week, but didn't turn it on automatically because we didn't want to be presumptuous. Can you all try it??

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Your Prank Got Spanked

Gun Shop | Denver, CO, USA

(This happened to a friend of mine who owns a gun shop.)

Friend: “Hello, this is–”

Caller: *twelve year old sounding voice* “Your mom!”

Friend: “What?”

Caller: “What your mom said.”

Friend: “A prank caller are we?”

Caller: *mocking tone* “A prank caller are we?”

Friend: “Do your parents know what your doing? Because I have caller ID and I can call them back later.”

Caller: “My parents are out of town… duuuhhh!”

Friend: “You must have absolutely no idea what kind of store you just called, then.”

Caller: “A DORK store?”

(My friend puts the phone down and opens the locker behind the counter and retrieves a shotgun. He holds it next to the phone and pumps the action.)

Friend: “Can you guess now?”

Caller: “…”

Friend: “You know, your caller ID gave me a first and last name. All I need to do is open a phone book and I can find your address.”

Caller: *click*

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Detroit Big 3 tell NASCAR to cut schedule, elevate tech

Leading up to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago - and in intense discussions ever since - the Detroit manufacturers have been dissecting their involvement in NASCAR with a fervor not seen since, well, ever. NASCAR officials got an in-person earful at The Speedway from various Detroit auto company executives in attendance. The message? The financial numbers aren’t good, cutbacks are a certainty - and that means our NASCAR programs too - and we will be discussing what shape our future involvement with NASCAR will take in the coming weeks.

Whether or not Brian France and Mike Helton & Co. were surprised or not is immaterial (they shouldn’t have been), because NASCAR management left Indy with the realization that for the first time in memory Detroit’s involvement wasn’t going to be “automatic” for the foreseeable future. And it was sobering for NASCAR and its teams.

Cut the schedule. To the manufacturers this is a “no-brainer.” You want to cut costs? Then cut the number of races, which will allow the manufacturers to reduce their overall expenditures. One manufacturer in particular has already suggested eliminating at least four races from the overall schedule, while adding two more road races, which means effectively cutting six existing races from the schedule. The easiest solution to get there? Do away with the double visits to certain tracks during the season.

Elevate the technology. This is something that NASCAR better get on board with, because the manufacturers are more than adamant about it. They’re tired of NASCAR’s head-in-sand approach when it comes to applying technology to Sprint Cup. On the manufacturers’ wish list? Direct fuel-injection, overhead cams and alternative fuel. And that means walking away from “spec” engines too - and doing away with the common bore centers that NASCAR is requiring. And the fact that NASCAR just went to unleaded racing fuel not long ago isn’t cutting it with Detroit, either. They’re thinking E85 instead.

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Has NASCAR Peaked?

Between the empty seats, the boring cookie-cutter racing, team consolidations, DEI on the block, the lack of a truly dynamic racing personality, I am starting to wonder if the sport is topping out. The things that made it so great seem to be getting squashed in all the commercialism, political correctness, and engineering homogeneity. Everyone acts the same, looks the same, drives the same (except Kyle Busch, who's actually trying to get something going), and drives the same kind of car. The big money is driving every decision. Big sponsors only want big-time drivers. Big-time teams won't tolerate an unsponsored, developmental team anymore, and DEI, one of the last great names in the sport, is in disarray and potentially for sale, with no Earnhardts at the helm. Weird. And boring.

What say you all? Am I spewing blasphemy, or do I have any takers?

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• Earnhardt, COT, sponsorship

We Have a New Partner!

Please welcome www.auctionnetwork.com. Here are some links to a few really cool auction vids in advance of the Daniel Kruse Hill Country Classic Car Auction. These cars are schweet!

Kruse Hill Country Auction

Cruisin The Coast Episode 1

Kruse Las Vegas Episode 1

Kruse Hershey Episode 1

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