The ActiveRain Stuff You Won't Find Anywhere Else on the Web

It looks like this may be my final post for 2009, it sounds so weird saying that. Where did the year go? Anyway....

I am a technology Widget-Gadget-Gidget-Whatchamacallit-Sidebar-Addict.  There, I said it!  I love all those little tracking tools, the neat little links, the fun social networking buttons, cool graphics, icons, HTML objects and embeds, and all that other techy widget stuff.  How selfish of me though, what have I done?  Did I break your browser?  What?  I locked up your computer all these years? Oh No!!

Well it's time to clean house for 2010.  (and it's long overdue)  You might recognize below, many of the widgets and gadgets you used to see on my ActiveRain sidebar.  Over time, you've probably just become numb to them like ads, or even ignored them entirely, that is if you could even get into my Blog.  Can too many widgets and gadgets really slow down your Blog?  The answer is without hesitation, a definite YES.

Just because you CAN add them, doesn't mean you should.  @TLW - that's your queue... lol~

The truth is, if you were on a Dial-up machine, running a windows 2000 computer, using an older operating system, or even if you were using any version of the Internet Explorer browser, then my Blog probably locked up your browser and computer more than once.  This of course leaving you frustrated, and I'm sure, thinking of a few select "key"words you'd like to share with me but couldn't because all my widgets had SHUT YOU DOWN! :-O

Many of you stuck in there though, kept coming back, and did your best supporting my Blog.  Some of you were even gluttons for punishment and kept trying to return even after getting locked up numerous times from all my widgets... for that, I thank you. Well I'm a changed man, I'm turning over a new leaf,  I'm axing my Widgets.  It's a sad day, let's see how long I will last.  lol~

<<{{ as I twinge, flinch and begin having withdrawal symptoms and mild shakes }}>>

Yep, I am finally convinced it's time to turn my Blog "upside down" and shake it out...

~ʍlʇ ɐʎ ʌnl  ~ɐɥɐɥ  ¡ɹɐǝʎ ǝɥʇ ɹoɟ ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐl ǝuo uıɐƃɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ uǝʞoɹq ǝʌ,ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıʞuıɥʇ sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ ʍou ʇɥƃıɹ pɐǝɥ ɹǝɥ uo ƃuıpuɐʇs s,ǝɥs ʇǝq ll,ı  ˙ǝuo ʍǝu ɐ ɹǝɥ ʎnq ɹǝʇʇǝq pɐɥ ǝɥ ʇɐɥʇ puɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ ǝʞoɹq pɐɥ ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıɯɐǝɹɔs puɐ ƃuıʞɔıʞ ʇuɐʎɹq ɹǝʞoɹq ʇɐ ƃuıllǝʎ oƃ p,ǝɥs  ˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ oʇ ǝuop pɐɥ ı ʞɔǝɥ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnƃıɟ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ sɹnoɥ puǝds uǝɥʇ `sʇsod ʎɯ pɐǝɹ puɐ ʎɹʇ oʇ ǝsn ʍlʇ uǝɥʍ ɹǝqɯǝɯǝɹ ı

Just look what happened to TLW's Blog when my old widgets went sideways whacko on her.

Seriously though, it's been 3 years in the rain, building and adding, and now I'm finally saying Goodbye to most of my Blogger Cloggers so you can finally load my Blog!!  Now if you feel the need or sudden urge to relieve yourself of some of those built up, frustrated, agitated thoughts and comments that you've been holding in all this time because you couldn't get into my Blog,  please don't do it here or now. lol~

I've decided to keep a few things on my sidebar, but only those I'm sentimental about and addicted attached to. It was hard enough to let all the others go, but I did it.  My Blog should be loading at lightning speed now.  If it's not, I'm sure you'll let me know.  So until next year, (man that sounds really weird again)  ActiveBrad signing out.... we'll see you on the other side of 2010!

~ Have a Safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ~

New and "Approved" means "Improved"

Having a network with 123,000 members poses this question, can our network handle this kind of volume and continued growth at this rate?  Yes it can!  However, there are some things that have had to be changed in order to build a better, more secured and stable platform.  Here's your update from the "ActiveRain Files" regarding Widgets and the New HTML approved list.

There are more widgets out there than we have members and new scripts and widgets are being created by the hundreds everyday.  Unfortunately, some of those widgets, scripts, and HTML codes can jeopardize and compromise our growing network.  After taking a serious and detailed look at these, we have come up with the Approved ActiveRain Widget and approved HTML List.

ActiveRain historically has not supported or endorsed third party sites and software applications that are used to create and write posts, grab the code, text, or HTML,  then copy and paste it to ActiveRain.  Fortunately, many of these have worked in the past and will continue to do so, but some outside sources of  HTML may no longer be compatible with our system.  We recommend creating new posts in the ActiveRain formats provided.  Security is our #1 priority to avoid malicious or viral causing scripts or code.

What Is A Widget?

Here are the approved Widgets for ActiveRain 

• • codeamber.org 
  • apture.com 
  • blogburst.com 
  • edatanews.com
  • feedburner.com
  • feedjit.com
  • getclicky.com
  • google.com
  • mybloglog.com
  • designyourownweb.com
  • quickribbon.com
  • realbird.com
  • retaggr.com
  • sitemeter.com
  • topproducer.com
  • twitter.com
  • vflyer.com
  • weatherlet.com
  • amung.us
  • widgetbox.com
  • singlepropertysites.com
  • geovisite.com
    
  • babelfish.yahoo.com
    
  • entrecard.com
    
  • synd.trulia.com
  • blogrush.com is shutting down. Click Link.
  • Statcounter.com was removed
    

This list only applies to "script" widgets.  Not all widgets have script codes in them.  If you do not see a widget that you are using here, and it is currently working on your Blog, then it is not a script widget that we have to worry about, and it is automatically an approved widget.  If your widget is not working, then chances could be that it has code or script in it that will not be allowed on the network.  It may also be that the widget was not installed properly, dare I say...operator error.  LOL~  Here's How To Add Widgets.

(Got Your Own Widget? Make suggestions here, but I can't guaranty they will get approved)

Here are the New "approved" HTML Tags for ActiveRain

Don't pass out on me now, this is important stuff.  I'll provide a link to each <tags> definition.  Beginners: What Is HTML?

a, abbr, acronym, address, b, big, blockquote, br, center, cite, code, dd, del, dfn, div, dt, em, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, iframe, img, ins, kbd, li, object, ol, p, param, pre, samp, small, span, strong, sub, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, thead, tr, tt, ul, var.

For Font Sizes: Use the <h1-h6> tags, or in Wysiwyg mode, highlight your text then use the CTRL+1 thru CTRL+6 keys.

For Font colors: Use this html code now  <span style="color: #29d150;"> instead of this <font color="green"> Here's a link to some different color codes.   Still Lost or Confused?  Click Here

Look for enhancements and upgrades to the wysiwyg editor in the near future.

A Few New Fixed and Added Features

We updated the network last night and ran our maintenance & upgrades.  It will just keep getting better!!

• Every 10 seconds, your draft posts are now being saved automatically.  No more lost posts from frozen browsers, accidentally clicking the back button, or just mistakenly clicking on that red x up in the right hand corner.

• All hyperlinks in your posts should now open in a new window by default unless you change that option manually. Posts written with links in the last week or so will have to be manually corrected.
  

• Twitter Feeds from ActiveRain Posts are now working again.

• Links placed in comments will still work but have "no-follow" tags.  This allows members to place links that are related to the authors topic, but spamming will be useless.
  

Though you may have experienced some minor technical issues in the past, or will from time to time in the future, just know that we are restructuring and rebuilding a stronger, faster, secure network for our members.  Your support and patience is always appreciated, and your help and participation has been stellar.

Thanks for Building and Growing with us. Happy Holidays. :-)

Images By: ImageChef.com

How do you add "Widgets" to your Active Rain Blog?  You can only add them to either your profile page, your posts, or in the right side column on your main Blog page.  These instructions are to add a Widget to your Blog under your photo, the same as you see on mine.

The first step is to select a "Widget" that you'd like to add to your blog.  All Widgets will require you to use the HTML code provided by that Widget, and then paste it into Active Rain.  If you would like to see some samples of the Widgets I have previously used, you can click here .  All these Widgets are FREE.  You just need to register with them to get the HTML codes.

***WARNING:  Be careful using too many Widgets, they can cause your Blog to load slower on older computers "Blogging them down", therefore, causing readers and members to not come back and view your posts.  Too many Widgets can do more harm than good.  See: "Widgets can be hazardous to YOU and your readers!"  DETAILS>>>

To add a Widget, I am going to use the TopBlogArea widget as a sample:  It looks like:          This is a just a little Widget that is used to track your Blog, and see what position you are in on the web.  It's also known as a chicklet.


_________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 1:   INSTRUCTIONS FOR  WIDGET REGISTRATION 

Go to the Widget Website TopBlogArea to sign up, register, and get the HTML code:
(open the link in a new window so you can still read these steps)

a. Click on "Register an Account" 

b.Add your information about you and your Blog

c.Complete other information IE: Blog Category, Blog Name, Blog URL, Blog Description etc.

*NOTE:(Your URL is http://activerain.com/blogs/YourUserNameHere ) Your RSS Feed will be the same.

d. Click on "Get HTML Code" It will look something like below:

<!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END -->

e. Highlight and select ALL the HTML code with your mouse, and then press  CTRL + C to copy.

Now you're ready to paste into your Active Rain Blog!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 2:  INSTRUCTIONS TO ADD YOUR WIDGET IN ACTIVE RAIN

Now that you have copied the HTML code, you need to paste it into the proper place on Active Rain.

a. Click on "My Profile" in Active Rain (that means your profile, not mine) LOL!

b. Next, Click on "My Settings"

c. Now paste the HTML code by using the CTRL + V on your keyboard in the "Blog Description" box just below the
Blog Title box as shown below:

d. Now click on "My Blog" to review your Widget.  It should be on the right hand column, just under your photo.

THAT's IT! You're Done!   ~  Now you can use this same process to add "ANY" Widget to your Active Rain Blog. 

Here are some others "Widgets" and links you may be interested in:
GIZMOS  |  MYBLOGLOG  |  BLOGLINES   |  GRAZR  |  POLLDADDY  |  SLIDESHOW  |  JAXTR  |  MEEBO  |  CLUSTER MAPS  |  FEEDBLITZ  |  MEEZ AVATARS  |  WIDGET BOX  |  GCAST  |  WUNDERGROUND  |  TECHNORATI  |  BLOGFLUX  |  SONIFIC

For Hundreds of Widgets, GO TO WidgetWorld or WidgetBox.  See  Missy Caulk's  post: "Why I Love These Little Guys"

________________________________________________________________________________________

*TIP:  You can adjust the sizes of your Widgets and graphics in the HTML code.  Height="350" and Width="500" can always be changed to any size you like.  Just change the number between the quotations "   ".  Be careful of the LARGE Widgets, they'll run your photo and Blog right off the screen. I use around "150" max width to be safe.

*TIP II:  If you want your Widgets to be centered, you'll need to use an HTML code <center> at the beginning and </center> at the end of your HTML code.  This will center ONLY the widget, and NOT everything else, like your links, your tags, or anything else above or below your widget. 

See the sample HTML below...
<center><!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END --></center>


You can also use Widgets on your profile page.  If you do use Widgets, be selective.  They can be fun, cute and even entertaining, but they can also be distracting, annoying and irritating.  Always use moderation and good judgement.  Change them around and update them often.  There are some great Widgets out there and I am sure that with Apple leading the Widget and Gizmo way, there will soon be many more to choose from.  Good luck, and good Widgets! 

This post is for Seth Callen, a new member on Active Rain who specifically requested this.
Paying it forward, "Active Rain Style!"

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