Our bi-annual major update. I have one week "off" this summer, which really isn't true because I decided to volunteer almost everyday. Then again it's better to be busy than to be lazy and work on sites...isn't it? What I plan to do next week and sporadically this summer:

Digital-wing.com I'm really happy with the current layout - it's simple enough to work with and I'm starting to include all the little things I've been wanting to add i.e. favorite bishounen and favorite pink-haired anime/manga heroines. One of these days I'd like to transplant Muse's scripts/reviews over.

Neo Nobility There definitely needs to be some maintenance going on. New layout, new content, and all that jazz. I've been promising it for over six months...but having to start from scratch isn't always as simple as it seems.

Hydro Powered Fix up the CSS and navigation. I haven't changed the layout in over four years or so and I'm still loving it. Umi finally made a cameo in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles - you'll definitely see a new section about that...and we only had to wait 222 chapters.

Love Liberty Disco Everything new = yes please.

Goddess Bless Must go out and purchase Bloodhound and re-read everything!

Deep Submerge Still a bit confused with the layout - we'll see. Everything looks a bit messy.

So Magical TCG Working on a revamp and currently pretty pleased with the progress. I'm also contemplating on making character decks 10 cards - to make it easier for traders to find images.

CLAMPaign An indefinite hiatus. Once I get SM back up I definitely want to work on fixing this back up. I really enjoy working with all the traders and getting to know more about CLAMP - it's one of those huge projects you think you'll never get up, but when you do, I think it'll be very enjoyable.

Habitat The poor ol' clique needs a revamp.

Sanctuary PHP Error needs to be fixed.

Waiting for Thursday to get started!

- Digital-wing.com has been revamped, except I still need to add my lazy shrine content.
- Deep Submerge a long needed revamp in process - I'm still not sure how I feel about the directory navigation.
- So Magical new layout - too much stuff to do to even list.
- Goddess Bless it has returned!

And I think that's about it...see you in June!

Still working on Neo Nobility >< promise!

End of February and revamping is in the works. It's going to be a slower process than just switching in and out layouts:

- I lost all my NN files (everything) a few months ago because my computer broke, so I'm starting from scratch in writing out coding, cutting images, etc.

- Crediting resources - similar to what we were doing on Facts & Rumors, but on all the pages.

- Fixing my writing/grammar - wow it's horrendous.

- Monthly wallpaper calendar - to make you come back =O and everyone likes a wallpaper calendar right?

- Add short stories.

- Add more textures and layouts. Really been meaning to do this. I don't think I'll be making anymore brushes, because I work off CS3 and most users in this genre don't have it.

- Re-crop/scan in our b&w gallery for better quality.

- Maybe a card collection - I can't deny I can't get away from TCGs, but instead of a full fledged one, there will just be mini-games for you to get more cards and you can trade if you want, you don't have to, which is why it's called a card collection not TCG. Just pixel fun. It will be focused only on manga artbook, to keep it small I think.

Heigh-ho it's off to work we go...

New layout. It's quite similar to the Yachiru one (pink with swirly branches), but features Vash the Stampede this time.

Can someone tell me if it looks bad in IE? It should look fine in Firefox, Safari, etc.

I didn't notice the last time I changed the layout for Neo Nobility was over a year ago. The new "layouts" will be up by the end of the month because I realized I lost most of my files switching computers so I plan to rewrite mostly everything along with fixing the images and coding. A teaser? I'll be using the Princess Remix sketches again after seven years (how time flies) Cheers.

Digital-wing.com also has a new layout, which I really am never satisfied with, but at least it's somewhat better than the previous one.

Thanks to everyone who voted for Neo Nobility as Best Visual Design at Deep Submerge Awards this year. It's much appreciated that you enjoy the site and took the time to vote. Cheers!

The site has been quite neglected this past year since I've been busy with classes as well as concentrated more on online trading card games. But I plan to dedicate this winter vacation revamping and cleaning up. A few things on the list to do this month:

- Add siblings and take away some that have closed, and please welcome our newest sibling Crimson Mysteria by Kotono (due to my absent-mindedness I totally forgot about asking her and thought she was already a sibling ><)

- Fix up the information section with PHP includes as well as more information on Queen Serenity, the Four Shitennou, and I forgot what else...add more info in general lol

- Add new quizzes requested by fans =)

- True scanlations of the manga. No word on if they're going to license in the US, so I'm not planning to take it down anytime soon. And for all the junkies, yes I will be adding in the rest of Diaries and short stories.

- Fix up the galleries and work on more layouts and icons.

And thanks everyone who writes in the guestbook, I totally forget to read it and it's always a nice surprise to find so many great comments/suggestions when I do remember haha.

It's that time of the year for ultimate revamps! Hoorah!

New layouts for all. More later!

Edit So I've been researching more ways of image manipulation, because I'm more used to just slapping an image unaltered into a layout and then working around it. I am a Minimalist, so I really dislike using premade filters and brushes, but I think a little bit of image manipulation will go a long way. We'll see.

I'm just rather pumped today since I got a lot of site stuff out of the way lol.

Deep Submerge Awards are finally up, I didn't forget about them...rather the award images took a bit time to make lol. Hopefully they aren't as ugly as I think they are. Congrats to all the winners and runner up!

Digital-wing.com will be sporting a new layout soon, something not smashed together by yours truly for once.

I know many people want to read the specials, which aren't available on my site at the moment. I would really appreciate it if people wouldn't spam my email account asking for the manga and saying stuff like pretty please etc. That just makes me not want to put it up because why should I cater to these people?

Obviously I know, people don't really care about me or my site, they just want the manga to download. It's simple truth. I'm not being mean or whatever dramatic about it. That's just how most websites work and the mentality of the web.

I am working on true scanlations and yes this includes the specials.

Help a moonie friend - posted by Sakura (Sakura's Senshi Circle), reposted by Kali (Kirari-PGSM), reposted by Brad (Moonkitty.net)

Please email Sakura if you donate since she wishes to keep track. Thanks!

Took some time to move over my collective Icescape.net to finally Digital-wing.com

Icescape.net is now a redirect to my LJ shorty_jd I still love the domain name too much to give it away.

Digital-wing.com has been revamped. Took some time to write up summaries for each of the sites as well as some eye candy so it doesn't look like a bunch of random links haha.

Muse has a fresh new layout, using the basic same image of Sakura from Naruto, but in a different way i.e. lots of editing. I really like how this version is turning out then the hastily put up one a few months ago. I'm also using the new FanUpdate, which has so many improvements from it's first version *applause*

I've added back our first article of how to have a Unique TCG along with the last copying article Aftermath (going backwards). There's a lot of stuff to add, it's an ongoing project!

Really someone needs to remind me that I have a seperate community for site updates. I take for granted the siteage tag on shorty_jd

Icescape.net Well the big news for me is that I'm moving icescape.net over to digital-wing.com's server. I've had icescape.net hosted at a little place since 2001, which didn't include PHP etc. I really haven't decided whether I should redirect the LJ to icescape.net or keep icescape.net as my collective (I know it doesn't make sense since all my sites are under digital-wing.com, but it's hard after eight years!)

Neo Nobility talk about neglect the whole year. I feel it will remain neglected still until late December.

Hydro Powered still need to add Volume 6 images, which I've been talking about for the last three years haha.

Love Liberty Disco I should beef up the content.

Goddess Bless hello second neglected project. We have to wait until April 2009 for Bloodhound to come out, ridiculous!

Deep Submerge Directory the awards are currently going on. I've also gone through a thorough link check. I don't really plan to change the layout any time soon.

Sanctuary ah old fandom. No changes needed. I still advocate for RO to work on Macs haha.

Muse neglected project #3, but at least I'm back on track to discuss copying, not being caught up in the world of TCGs. In need of a new layout.

So Magical going strong we're almost at rebirth year one.

CLAMPaign yes closed until late December 2008! We opened way too early. I'm revamping all the cards and content. See the new samples over at shorty_jd

Habitat go go cliques! One of these days they will be a revived fandom...new layout needed.

Busy with classes until late December (and yes helping with bro's wedding in November also piles up my time). Hopefully you'll see some progress by Icey when the new year starts. My site dedication at the moment is all glued to running TCGs ><

New projects...
- Revamp Icescape.net/Digital-wing.com the collective (whenever I choose which one to be it haha) will have more history based and other favorite tidbits like my favorite Bishounen, music or something.

I'm starting to get irritated by a few sites who keep trying to get into the directory. I can only tell them so much to fix (general wise)...it's not my responsibility to fix your site up to the criteria of DS. Your site should be unique enough where you should know what to change to make it look good or functional etc. I shouldn't have to tell you what to change...that somewhat defeats the purpose...you own the site, I don't.

And if you can't i.e. graphic skills or writing style or originality, don't have the ability to do so, it's really not the end of the world. Just keep learning! Please don't keep applying every month and asking me for my advice on how to get in if the only things you change are the exact specifics I mention. You MUST take into account my general advice. Just because I don't state every single nit-picky thing, doesn't mean your site will get in after you fix the few specifics I mention. As a site owner, you should take the responsibility to fix up your site without having to email me every week asking me if it's okay now?! You should be smart enough to judge whether your site will get in or not, by looking at your site's unique qualities and how it compares to the other sites listed in your category.

So there are those who argue, but it's YOUR listing, so you decide who gets in. So why can't we ask for advice!?

Yes, it is my listing (although I refrain from saying that because it's technically everyone's listing i.e. whoever is listed at DS)...more so I run the listing. So is it a bit elite-ist to say that I shouldn't be the one telling you what to fix? Somewhat. What I do think is fair that you should be smart enough and have the skills to churn out a nice looking site with a nice looking/functional layout along with unique content. You should also be smart enough to check out the sites listed at DS and see why exactly are they listed? All I'm saying is that I can't be the brain of your site. I can't force you to make a Neo Nobility just to please me...not to mention that would be entirely pointless. I want you to come up with something.

Secondly, asking for advice. Like I said, I'm always happy to help you the first, if not second, if not third! times you email/try be listed. However, I'm indicating those people who keep asking me is it okay now!? when the only thing they fixed is like a spelling error I found versus going for my general advice of how about trying this and using higher quality images etc. If you're not going to listen to my general advice, via ignoring it, or you just don't have the capabilities or the comprehension to do so, then I can't be the one at fault when you say that I'm not helping you get into the listing. We're not always capable of reaching a certain level instantly, it takes time...so work on it.

Forgive me for neglecting this part of the update log. So I believe our last installment was the talk of updating...haha. Well let's just say I've had a busy time totally revamping CLAMPaign up to a point where the scripts are mine i.e. the randomizer is alpha order and global, and just a less verbose style. (Yes you know me, I am verbose because we always get new people who have never played TCGs before and require some reading.)

So after summer school, I have exactly one week to do all of the below. (possibly less because of all the wedding planning ><) So enjoy the super-messy, off-the-top of my head, wishlist planning...

- Icescape.net - renew domain > move it over to digital-wing.com > new layout/content

- Digital-wing.com - re-buy LJ account? The ads bug...but I guess no one visits LJ if they don't have an account already...right?

- Neo Nobility - badly in need of a revamp, I still have to say I love the layout haha, but yes really I do want to revamp EVERYTHING. Keeps things nice and shiny!

- Hydro Powered - add back volume 6 scans and move some content around.

- Goddess Bless - another huge project.

- Muse - ditto. lol

- So Magical - again revamp, but at least I have CLAMPaign to go by.

- Deep Submerge Directory - I'll post something about this after this entry.

New Projects
- Cephiro Collection TCG - I guess we can't stay away from MKR.
- Plantae TCG - who knows...it could happen

So...back in February 2008 we turned seven. Nostalgic yes? Well anyways I don't plan to do anything large like other sites. Maybe when we're ten we'll do a whole shebang.

Sadly the old queen is in need a pretty large revamp (in my opinion). Here are a few things I want to do.

- surprisingly I still enjoy the layout, I just want to change the CSS a bit. If I can think of a super duper fantastico new layout then I'll put it up.

- redo the entire information section with new images, better divs/css, and php

- redo the entire multimedia section (implementing a lot of PHP here), more layouts, brushes, textures, and revamp the entire Sailormoon manga section...maybe I'll do real scanlations this time with the new versions.

- add games to the interactive section.

There's other stuff I want to add in, but haven't really thought it all out yet.

Oh yes indeed Love Liberty Disco has gotten a face-lift and I do enjoy it! *skips off to work on TCGs*

By the way the DS Awards are up for nominations now so go crazy and immerse yourself in Sailormoon again.

Wow it's been a busy summer regarding my sites...this is the first time I think I've been overwhelmed with my own set projects. Whoops! Well here's all that's happening in Icera's little corner of the web:

- CLAMPaign TCG - it's finally up muahahah after almost six months of wishy-washy should I open or not, the seedlings of a CLAMP TCG have started to root. There's still a ton to be done and looking at all the decks I've already made even before we're open makes me a bit worried about how large are we just going to get? At this point I've read a lot of CLAMP manga (unintentionally) while making card decks haha, up till the point where I am literally soaked in CLAMP. And did I tell you it's uber rough hiring staff? I'm guessing everyone isn't as picky as me regarding staff, but it took me forever to choose and to write up a guide on how to do exactly everything. Hopefully I'm not a micro-manager =(

- Muse - Number two of my big projects this summer. I've started to revamp Muse, a really dear project to me that focuses on basically my experiences on the web, a listing dedicated to those who wish to remain original, as well as scripts I write up for download. Really a hog-podge of web resources that I enjoy focusing on and I hope will be helpful to other site owners like myself.

- Deep Submerge - I sure dug myself into a rut when I promised an Awards event that mashes with the above two projects. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut (I think it had something to do with Brad @ Moonkitty hyping it up...WHY!? j/k thank you as always for the weekly SM news)? This is going to be a lot of work, but since I promised it, I'd hate to disappoint and back down. Hopefully we'll revive some of the Sailormoon love floating around with this event.

Sites that still need to be revamped (thankfully I have somewhat until the end of September to work on all of the above and below).

- Icescape.net - move domain over in October, new layout and just revamp the collective as a whole instead of a bunch of text links.
- Love Liberty Disco - new layout please! and some other stuff.
- Trickster's > Goddess Bless - oh definitely another huge project Icera totally wants to do, but lacks the time to. A basic Tamora Pierce website, holla'
- Habitat - new layout eesh.
- Neo Nobility - the poor neglected queen. Definitely needs a dusting off.

Well my computer is broken again. The fan isn't working anymore.

I think it's a good thing when you can post updates without using FTP. So all my sites are on a hiatus at the moment. I'm not answering any website related emails since I'm not on my own computer and I don't want to do mess with any of it. I do have everything backed up, so no worries about that.

1. I can send it into HP to get it fixed, but that would probably take at least two weeks for the whole shipping and fixing process.

2. Get a new computer.

I technically need a computer to function for my classes since professors post all their handouts, homework, notes, etc. online. We also have those ridiculous simulation problems, which are also all online...as well as writing up lab reports etc. But I don't know if getting a new computer will be cost effective. Troublesome.

So it hasn't been exactly 6 months since the last clean up but I am trying to get it all up on a schedule of June/December (except I was uber busy last Dec so it moved to Jan/Feb).

Icescape.net - Gosh I never check up on this site anymore since it's just a link list. How terrible. I should really move it over to this server when it expires and change it have more web-related help tools such as helpful code snippets and my experiences and opinions on running different sites i.e. TCGs, WPRs, Fanlistings.

Digital-wing.com - The loverly weblog. I stopped paying for the Paid Account here at LJ, which I don't mind too much because the only function I was really using was the custom Mood and redirection. Hooray saves me $20?

Neo Nobility - the old queen is in need of a bad script revamp along with all that information I promised. I also really want to redo the manga since there are people who are literally trying to compete with me. No I'm not competing, but I do want to make my scans higher quality if possible. And hey...you never know, I might just find the time to actually make true scanlations by changing their names from Bunny to Usagi. I also really need to upload those lasts few Short stories since everyone has been bugging me about those. Need to update Cutenews version and add more layouts.

Hydro Powered - Definitely adding in the last Volume 6 scans. I know I did a good job on a layout when I can look at it even now and I don't want to change it. Good ol' HP, you're my secret favorite of the bunch.

Love Liberty Disco - I still like the way this layout turned out so I don't think I'll be changing anything for LLD this time around. Although, I really need to start finishing up my Sailorvenus100 icon challenge.

Deep Submerge - the big Awards is planned in July. What did I get myself into? We also now have a nifty button rotation.

Goddess Bless/Trickster's - Really need to switch this back over to Goddess Bless. Just haven't had the time and motivation to do so + new layout.

Sanctuary - Get rid of the fanlisting. I've been playing RO again except on a much higher rate server (75x) so perhaps I'll add those characters too...although whenever I do that it ends up being taboo. We'll see. I have the self-reputation that if I ever put up my RO characters on Sanctuary or when I leave a server the server dies/wipes. I'm cursed.

Muse - the next big project that I've wanted to do. It's somewhat what I already mentioned for Icescape.net...so maybe I'll merge it. A web resource place for small helpful code snippets and my articles.

So Magical - definite script and layout revamp. Do you know how hard it is to make a good one-screencap layout. Troublesome.

Clampaign - the other big project. Thankfully I have so many willing hands to help! Scheduled opening date is late June. As of now I need to burn through card making, setting up staff run games, hire and de-brief staff, and a new layout before opening date.

Habitat - New layout needed. I still like this old stately clique.

New projects......
-errm none right now, I'm swamped.

Etc.........
- Cutenews license? I use it on half of my sites, it would be useful if I did have a license for it, except it's $50 per domain. Hmm I don't remember it being that much a few years ago haha.

Added the long time projected button exchange. Check it out if you're interested.