The Michelle Kwan Forum - News and Information

We’re downgrading from a dedicated server to a VPS tonight. I may close it starting 15 min before 5PM EST. One might experience a few problems later, which might be due to this server, but it should normalize itself within a couple of days. The move shouldn’t take long, you may or may not observe the change. Thanks so much for everyone’s patience.

Due to Michelle’s announcement of not competing in the coming year, in addition to the lower number of people visiting the forum in the past few months, we have decided to save costs by moving from a dedicated server to a VPS (what we started off with). I am positive this will be able to accommodate the users, and should hopefully be able to cope when Michelle skates at some of the exhibitions. We will be doing this move in the next couple of weeks.

This will also free up some reserves to renew our vbulletin license to upgrade to 3.6.1 (which includes bug fixes for 3.6.0). I have yet to put in our google ads again.

If anyone has suggestions what the forum could do to liven up the atmosphere, comments would be greatly welcomed.

Read all about this news here (Associated Press)

Discuss it at MKF at this thread.

I will be upgrading the forum from vbulletin version 3.5.0 to 3.6.0 and due to this, will have to close down the forum for I hope at most a couple hours. For the improvements to be seen in 3.6.0, please look at the post below. Thanks

Many have probably noticed the change in the banner when you enter MKF. All of you probably know that summer is over. I actually wanted to create this banner a long time ago, but only was able to start it a few weeks ago and finally get it up. So yes, I realize summer is almost over, but I still wanted a happy summer theme, so even if it only lasts until mid September, it will still have been up!

Also, I’m taking this opportunity to notify everyone that we are going to upgrade to vbulletin 3.6.0 in the next couple of weeks (starting next week). There are MANY changes in the new release (as noted below), some which are of great improvement. However, there may be a few glitches here and there, so please be patient during this time. Many thanks!

Part of an e-mail received from vbulletin:

—————- WHAT’S NEW IN 3.6.0? —————-

Many customers have been keeping track of the new features that have been added to 3.6 via the vBulletin Community Forums, but for those who have not, this is a brief summary of what’s new:

* Multi-Quote
* Linked Quotes
* Mark Forums Read With AJAX
* New Buddy / Ignore List Editor
* Options Backup And Restore
* Private Message Preview In Notification Emails
* Auto-Resize Oversized Image Attachments
* ‘Reason For Editing’ On Quick Edit
* Unique Unsubscribe Link In Emails
* Plugin Manager Sorted By Product
* Save Search Preferences With AJAX
* Infraction System (Warning system)
* Default Sorting Option Per Forum
* Rate Threads With AJAX
* IP Resolution With AJAX
* Improved Proxy Support In Session Handling
* More AJAX Auto-Completion
* Paid Subscription Permissions
* Show Threads Or Posts From Quick Search Popup
* Phrase Types Identified By Field Name Only
* LastPostID Column In User, Thread And Forum Tables
* Extensive Signature Permissions
* Uploadable Signature Image System
* Improved Image Verification (Captcha)
* Enforced Required Profile Fields
* ‘Find Updated Phrases’ System
* Pop-Up List Of Attachments In A Thread
* Validation Of Admin Options
* Product Dependencies Support
* Paid Subscription Logging And Statistics
* APC Support For Datastore
* Description Field For Scheduled Tasks
* RSS Poster Robot allows import of RSS feeds into forums
* Latest version check and product URL for products
* Receive private messages from Buddies only option
* Show private forum option per forum
* Give reputation using AJAX
* Error prevention in upgrades
* Option to disable scheduled tasks
* Parsed signature storage for performance boost
* CRON tasks, profile fields, subs, holidays now phrased
* Option to sort forums by thread creation time
* Super moderator permissions
* Welcome private message at registration
* WYSIWYG front-end editing for announcements
* Plugin execution order control
* Flexible username validation
* Private message quota warning system
* Private message admin quota override ability
* Plain-text BBcode parser
* Cache of syndication data (external.php) for improved speed
* Email logging for diagnostics
* Improved performance in datastore failure handling
* Instant view of deleted / ignored posts using AJAX
* Centralized area to view posts awaiting moderation / deleted
* Admin help, scheduled tasks, FAQ now include product support
* CCBill support for paid subscriptions
* Attachment permissions per usergroup
* List posts / threads selected for inline moderation
* Full BCC support in private messages
* Podcasting support
* Atomic flood checking
* Image verification (Captcha) for guest posting
* Thumbnail display options - border / dimensions etc.
* Copy posts using inline moderation
* Announcements show when viewing new posts
* New built-in option types
* Resume paused attachment downloads
* Better webserver logging for POST requests
* Automatically remove thread redirects after set time
* Announcement DataManager
* Persistent D.O.B cookie for COPPA
* Improved master / slave database support
* Improved RSS syndication system
__________________

July 28, 2006: Michelle made an appearance on the local Seattle Talk Show: Northwest Afternoon during Champions on Ice’s stop in Seattle. She was interviewed by Elisa Jaffe. A few MKFers were lucky enough to meet her

You can follow the discussion, reports and pictures with this thread on MKF: MKF: ‘Michelle to be on local talk show in Seattle’

August 3, 2006: A couple of lucky MKFers met Michelle at this VISA company signing event in Foster City, California. Michelle was gracious and always her shining self. The reports of zongwen and purplemkfan are a must-read, including the pictures included.

Read and discuss them here: MKF: ‘08/03: Reports of meeting Michelle at VISA in Foster City’

Michelle was interviewed July 20, 2006 on Denver’s show “Colorado & Company”, in support of Spencer Harrison’s foundation “Teen With a Dream”. She bought and signed skates to be auctioned off in which all the proceeds would go to supporting the foundation.

Pictures and Links to video can be found here.

Auction for the skates through Ebay: here

A few MKF members asked me to update this section to move past February. I will update this page more often with news now that I know what people are expecting to see on this page. Sorry that it has been left so stale for so long! If you have any comments or suggestions, please add a comment.

• Summer Commercial: Michelle has recently collaborated with Kraft to be in a commercial this summer that you might have already seen:

  
  “This campaign enables us to showcase multiple KRAFT products with a contemporary, creative approach,” said Peter Nowlan, Vice President, Marketing, Kraft Foods. “We want to encourage our consumers to express their ingenuity in the kitchen by giving them inspirational food ideas to develop their own creations. Michelle and Savion (Glover) are known for their creativity and are ideal partners to motivate consumers to create simple, yet personalized, meals.”

  Kwan, a nine-time U.S. National Champion, five-time World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist, is an inspired choice to grace a commercial where she taps into her creative side to invent a unique and tasty salad.

  “I love salads, so I am thrilled to work with Kraft to encourage others to use their imagination and creativity in the kitchen,” said Michelle Kwan. “Like so many others, I don’t always have time to create elaborate meals. So I just open my refrigerator, grab a few items, and just like that, I’ve created my own, personalized salad.”
  

  - Press Release from Kraft Foods

  Read and Discuss: MKF Link
  Pictures: Screencaps

• 06/12/2006 Appearance: Michelle appeared at a Shoprite in Flemington, NJ on June 12, 2006 to promote Hunger Awareness as part of Shoprite’s Caring Campaign.
  Read and Discuss: MKF Link
  Pictures: Signing at Shoprite
• 07/03/2006 Sports Illustrated: Michelle is in the latest July 3rd Sports Illustrated issue. She appears in the ad for the “got milk? Sammy Award 2006″.
  Read and Discuss: MKF Link
• 07/03/2006 Appearance: Michelle is to appear with other COI skaters at the Twins/Royals game at Kauffman Stadium on July 3, 2006. Bring your camera if you intend to go!
  Read and Discuss: MKF Link

If you wish to send a positive message to Michelle, please post it in this thread:
http://www.mkforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10779

We will be sending it to Michelle soon.

If you are not a registered MKF member yet, and cannot post in that thread, please leave your message here, and we will include it with the posts from the thread mentioned.

ETA, the messages in this thread have been printed out already, thanks everyone for the amazing response!!

As we do during all major events, we have closed new registrations during the Olympics. Registrations will reopen after the Closing Ceremony.