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 ~
Brad ~ I'm one of those who don't understand all the widgets and found them distracting. I'm sure some of them are helpful but how do we know which ones to use? I don't think I have any widgets. I guess I'm widget deficient. Is that a bad thing?
I think I need to go read a widget for dummies blog. I have none :(
Maureen - I think if you always think of your readers and their needs first, you'll be just fine.
Is Widget deficient a bad thing? I don't think so. "Value" is the key. :-))
Brad, I just add the MyBlogLog sidebar, and hear it will be gone in a month...guess I'll do some cleaning as well.
Congrats on the Feature Brad - eh? I thought it was russian when I saw your headline.......cute.........all the best to you in the amazing year thats awaiting!
Brad - How do you get the upside down text?
Regarding blog loading speed, I generally use Firefox and most blogs load at decent speeds. However, whenever I use IE for ActiveRain on the same computer, ActiveRain loads a lot slower and that includes non-blog pages.
Many of the widgets that people use seem to cause the blog page to load slowly because the page that the widget is linked to on the widget's server is slow in responding. This is the same type of issue I often encounter when many sites, including major newspapers in Canada and the USA, use third party advertising servers that seem to "hang" for a bit of time.
You just saved me time Brad. Thanks!
Thanks for the tip Brad, I will keep it in mind while I am redesigning my Blog.
Love the upside down text because I can read it! Thanks for the phone call today. I remembered what I wanted to tell you..will send you a separate email. Happy New Year!!
I am a technology Widget-Gadget-Gidget-Whatchamacallit-Sidebar-Addict.
I am telling Rich!
Jo - I'll deny it!!
Hey Brad! Thanks for talking with me the other day! Your tips are going to be so useful to me in the coming year! Happy New Year to you!!
Howdy and Morning Brad
Wanted to come by to pay you a visit, to wish you and your family, A safe and Happy New Year!!!
Congratulations on your new year decluttering, Brad! I must admit that I like widgets but a few are better than many.
Most probably one of your posts showed me how to add a widget. Luckily I do not have to many.
It was enjoyable reading your posts in 2009. Thanks for the tips and all the work.
Happy New Year!
Question: Want to know why you should never use upside down text in the title of a post?
˙˙˙ʇsod sıɥʇ ɹoɟ lɹn ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞool ʇsnɾ `oǝs ou ʎlqɐqoɹd :ɹǝʍsuɐ
Brad - As someone supposedlly on DSL, I will tell you, your blog loads MUCH faster now. Thanks!
PS: Since many in Alaska are still on dial up, I resisted. Glad I did!
Oh gosh and great news re the widgets. Your Widgets didn't slow me down on my machine but I would think it sad for those whose computers/laps became bogged down loading and missed out on your very useful and informative information.
Thanks for sharing and we'll see how long you can resist "New Widgets" of interest!
One and All -- Happy New Year
Sue of Robin and Sue
Brad - Whew, I see improvement already. LOL. Your NY resolution needs to be NO MORE WIDGETS. Have a wonderful New Year's - hope to see you at least ONCE in 2010, perhaps more?
Cheers, Jeff
awwe - I really like my facebook ones and the google voice... hmm I will have to think about it:) Looks great! happy new year!
Cute year end post Brad, light and fun. Sometimes we just need to purge, ehhh?
Thanks for all your help and tips and good information... Happy New Year and dont forget to watch the moon.... blue moon on new years eve has got to be extra special!
Hi Brad - Your blog loads quick! I've never really been big on widgets. My feeling is that besides adding to the page load time, they distract visitors from the content that we really want them to focus on. Here's to a fast and content-rich 2010!
I think you mean: See you next decade.
Talk about weird.
We are entering the second decade of the new century/millennium. How strange is that?
Brad - Sometimes less is more. I'm doing my best to keep you with you Technie guys. But it does make my head spin. I still dont know what is Google Wave and learning what is this BlogLog about.
I'm going to focus on all your NEW favorite widgets and gadgets to see which one make the 2010 lineup/debut!
WOW, it does load faster! Before I read the post I thought, HUH, that's weird!
We otta create a "Widget Heaven" blog where everyone can list the widgets they've dumped, and say a few kind words over them. :-)
I haven't figured out how you managed the upside down text yet...
@Jim: It is beyond strange. I have a kind of Twilight-Zone tingle... :-)
Brad,
Nice, light read! Happy New Year!!! BTW - can you please resend me the email you sent on 12/15, 12/16 or 12/17? I must have by accident deleted???
Thanks,
Betsy
Brad you must feel like a new man after doing a bit of housecleaning! I will pay attention to your gidgets, gadgets, widgets and whatsits now since I know you have made a deliberate choice to have them there! Have a GREAT 2010~
I have never had widgets but hope to find out more about them in the New Year! Thanks for sharing!
GOOD MORNING BRAD! I woulda been a sidebar junkie - if I coulda figured out how to do it all! Your page was lightning fast! Happy New Year -- Gabrielle
I had to clean up widgets with firefox a few months ago. Was getting so bad I had no window left to view
Tony
That's good news Brad! I went out an bought more RAM for my computer just so I could keep up with your blog!! LOL Thanks for a great 2009 Brad, now on to a prosperous 2010! Happy New Year!
Brad,
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Words to live by.
Loading speed was secondary to me. I have found your blog visually challenging and have missed a lot of your content.
This new look is MUCH better, and I will be reading your stuff more often. Thanks!
One I switched to firefox with your advice you quit shtting my PC down...LOL Have a great New Years eve and a better new year!
The last thing we want to do is slow down or lock up someone's computer who is reading our blog! I better do some widget wacking too.
¡ɹǝʌǝ ɹɐǝʎ ʇsǝq ɹnoʎ ǝq 0102 ʎɐɯ ¡pɐɹq ooʇ noʎ oʇ ɹɐǝʎ ʍǝu ʎddɐɥ
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU BRAD.
I am a widget addict too, been taking some off during the year, will do a little more house cleaning today.
Brad:
This is very interesting - all this time, I thought your blog was difficult to get into because of all of the comments. But, it was all of the widgets... So glad you removed them. It's much faster now.
Happy New Year!
Hi Brad, I only have a few so my page doesn't slow people down. That is a killer. People have no patience anymore to wait for pages to load, lol. Great post. Congrats on the feature and have a Happy New Year!
Is there a widget for removing widgets? Probably is and you probably have it already!
Brad, the key is 5 seconds. If it takes any longer than that for a site to load, the user moves on. With all the widgets, etc the audience that you want to reach moves on or gets so angry that you locked up their computer that they can't wait to get away from you. Happy New Year.
Brad, I always thought your blog loaded slowly due to all the comments on all the contests! I have learned so much from you this year---thanks! Happy New Year to you and everyone else!
Well you made me switch from IE to Firefox and instantly it was faster but you raise a very good point. Thanks for the support and advice in 2009, we all look forward to your low widget, high knowledge blog in the next year.
I loved all the widgets too....until I found out how fast my computer could be without them. I try to stay away from them now!
I saw this post title and thought it was a terrorist plot of some sort. Congratulations on getting my attention.
Brad,
Now we only have to worry about the 382 comments you get making your posts slow to load. ;-) Happy New Year to you and your family!
Wow, alot of widgets and gidgets, I didn't know there were that many. Maybe that is a good thing. Is less really more? Hear that time and again. Simple really is always best.
Best of Luck in 2010
It's that time of year. Declutter so you have more room to clutter again. It's just the way we are.
I love this post and the clever what that you introduced it. Since I'm not too interested in clutter in general, the widget overkill thing has not been a problem for me. Although, I certainly have other issues, and hopfully I can deal with them in 2010 ;-)
So, I guess that means I better go clean out my sidebar too. Hell, we've all tried to KEEP UP with Brad....all that darn widget code makes me crazy. If I screw up my widgets, I just might have to call you for help. Happy New Year!!!
Brad...Thanks for all of your social enhancement advice...In fact I'm meeting with our IT team on Monday to upgrade our outbound marketing...Thanks, Cherise...
Yeah! 2010 is a good year to clean out the clutter and to get more efficient. Thanks for setting the example for us! I'm off to clean out my widgets too! Wait, do I even have any? Where are my widgets? What do they look like? Some turn on the lights, I can't find my widgets! Widgets! Where are you? Hmm. I'll get back to you on this. ;-)
Yes, slow loading blogger cloggers! Prosperous 2010 to you and your family Brad!
Brad: I just had to comment on your blog because it was so clever! How did you do the upside down writing? And Happy New Year to you!
Since I am an idjet with a widget I haven't had a problem getting withjet.
Thanks for the advice Brad, time to do some maintenance work... BTW, I am currently travelling in Bratislava, Slovakia and when I saw the title of your post I thought at first it was just the computer trying to translate the page to Slovak. I'm glad I clicked through ;)
Brad, Just saw a great program on Google. It's fascinating how simple they have kept their main screen and I believe there is sometime to be said for a little "white space". Too much going on can be distracting, especially for us ADD types! Can't wait to see and hear more from you in 2010! All the best, Michelle
Love the upside down text! Ha!! I'm sure reading it must be good for the brain, right?!! Hope you all have a VERY HAPPY 2010!!
next thing to go is the links to twitter, facebook, etc. Why route traffic to those sites, when realtors want (and need) people to go to their website to register for home updates and interesting information. Sure, I love AR, but people can subscribe to my AR blog from my website. I use AR to bring people to my website and vice versa. Personally, once someone gets linked to facebook - it's all over, they start looking at your friends and their connections, and you've lost them!
So that' my prediction for 2010. The end of linking to social network sites.
Brad,
So clever with the upside down text...giving it a good shake are you? Well you load FAST....and I hope you begin to enjoy the thrill of speed.....it is addictive too!
This past year, my goal was consistancy with a few things, this coming year....it's widgets and new technology. So...I'll let you know how it goes!!! I love the upside-down text.....very clever.
¡sʇsod ɹnoʎ ƃuıpɐǝɹ ǝʞıl ı ʎɥʍ sı ʇɐɥʇ ssǝnƃ ı ¡ǝɯ oʇ ǝuıɟ pǝʞool ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹnoʎ 'pɐɹq
Lean and mean... like owning shoes... We love them, own several pairs, but can only wear one at a time. Thanks Brad for so many of your great posts this year... and have a great new year!
Brad: It does not surprise me that you would print the title of this post upside down... because, knowing you, I know you'd "stand on your head" to make things happen. All the best to you in 2010 !
Glad to see you finally cleaned house. You always crashed my PC!
Happy New Year!
Blog-N-Roll Brad...
I just left you a message. I think whatever you've done broke my Blog. Please call me back. You broke it, now you have to fix it :)
And for the record I couldn't call you until I stopped laughing :)
TLW...ROAR!
.ɹǝʌo op ɐ buıʌɐɥ ɯ,ı .ɹɐǝʎ ʍǝu ʎddɐɥ .ʇı op ʇ,up1noɥs ı ǝɯ 11ǝʇ noʎ uǝɥʇ 'ʇı op oʇ ʍoɥ ǝɯ ʍoɥs noʎ ʇsɹıɟ
I like the new look. I think many out there will appreciate the speedy loading of your blog now! Mine has always been fine. Happy New Year!
If only this helps to convince others to do the same. There are many blogs I don't read because it takes way too long to load their pages, and it's annoying...
Hello Brad! Thanks for being there for us all! I joined AR this year and have learned alot in a short time. Your help has always been appreciated. I do hope I can get back into Hit Router soon, as I've been unable to adjust those links and the dollar amounts for several weeks now. Any news on that?
Wishing you a HaPPY NeW yeAR!
Brad...you're the best...you've trained so many of us in so many ways you don't even know!
That said, your addiction has not caught me, so maybe that's a good thing!
Thanks for all you do and here's to all the great things you will teach us in 2010!!
Hi Brad, Well, I've finished cleaning up my desk, file drawers, in-boxes; my computer desktop and various computer files --- guess I'm not finished yet, need to work on my AR profile, groups, etc. So, it's back to work for me before the evening festivities begin.
Happy New Year! (glad we got to meet at Rain Camp SF)
Brad - At first I thought you wrote your title in Russian. Then I figured out the letters were backwards and had to strain my neck to read what the heck was written. For that, I'll send the chiropractor bill to you.
I must admit that I'll miss the days of logging onto your blog and then going for my morning run, eating breakfast, feeding the cats, waxing the carrot, taking a shower, and finally coming back to wait another five minutes to actually read that day's contribution from you.
Happy New Year, my friend!
Hi Brad,
No, my computer doesn't crash opening your blog even with all those widgets. Just thought I'd let you know. :)
Brad - Kudos to you for cleaning house in 2010, so to speak. My MacBook Pro doesn't have a problem with the widgets, but my Windows machines did. Usually, it was just super-slow, but occasionally it would stop loading altogether. Great move!
Brad,
Thanks for the post - catchy title! Decluttering is always good. Have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
¡¡ǝɹoɯ uǝʌǝ ǝ1doǝd ǝsnɟuoɔ uɐɔ ı ʍou 'pɐɹq sʞuɐɥʇ - unɟ sı sıɥʇ
LOL - Yay! Thank you Brad! I had read something awhile back about these gadgets clogging up the works so I had already eliminated most of them from my blog. Now I can actually read your brilliant posts much quicker. There were a few times in the past where I gave up on waiting. But that had more to do with waiting for all the comments to load. You are a popular guy!
The Lovely wife's blog is crazy. I can't believe that really happened. Happy New Years Brad!
Come on Brad, you blogs only load slowly when you've already got a gazillion comments, which they all do!
Brad - Thought I was reading a Dr. Seuss description with your whatchamacallit, hoddingy, thingies... lol Have a Happy New Years... Now off to do some cleaning of my own.....
Out With The Old In With The New 7.0 verison
Very creative Brad!
So for those who are using BlogLog, now that it will be no more, what is the next best thing to it?
...you're like a chameleon ! Always changing to best fit your surroundings !
¡pɐɹq noʎ oʇ ɹɐǝʎ ʍǝu ʎddɐɥ
Cheers !!
Sheldon
My 13 year old son wants to know how you did the upside down letters. He adores likes it very much, and curious minds want to know!
Darn... and I was going to add widgets on my site soon. Guess I'll have to rethink!
¡ɹɐǝʎ ʍǝu ʎddɐɥ
¡sɐxǝʇ 'uıʇsnɐ uı ǝɹǝɥ uʍop ǝuıɟ ʇsnظ sı buıɥʇʎɹǝʌǝ...ɯǝ1qoɹd ou
Oh wait...I do want to add a few widgets to spruce up my blog so will bookmark and proceed...
...with caution! ;-)
You are 100% right - those things start to disappear. I try to only put those that will further and help the cause of the consumer (or that somehow make me look important!).
Oh man I don't believe this - you have personally made my 2010 so much better and more managable already. Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! I was thinking I was way behind the 8 ball on all this widget stuff and had planned on getting my ducks in a row - yeah! Now I can concentrate on other stuff. User Friendly and not complicated is what I'm getting from this. Yeah!
YES, Brad, your blog did lock up my system once or twice....... but I think it was the connection I had and not my system.....
I am glad you are doing some cleaning.......
Thanks... =-)
Ha....interesting post for sure. How do you write upsidedown??
Happy New Year from Seacoast NH
Patricia Aulson
Brad - Somehow this post is an easy read. So I gather that he with the most widgets may not necessarily win. Thanks for continuing to make this site a stepping stone to my site. Happy New Year
Hi Brad, I haven't any problem loading all your widgets, but I'm widget deficient can't seem to figure them out.
But seriously, you have been such a help for this new "kid" on the block. Reading your blogs are always fun and helpful and I am looking forward to more in 2010.
As this 2nd. decade begins and my 7th. I wish you a "Happy New Year"!
Blog-N-Roll...
I just returned from having cocktails for lunch. This post smashed my email with upside down comments. At first I thought it was me, then remembered you freakin' showed the Members how to do that :)
I'm off to take a nap before we begin round two. Round two will include guns this year. I think we need a new gun video for twenty ten :)
TLW...ROAR!
You are so funny. Actually, most real estate agents can read upside down, lenders and title people, too, you you might want a custom tinyurl for this one - :)
woohoo! It was hard to load, it never shut me down but...way to clean it up then!
Nice ending to the year of blogs! Happy new year!
I like to comment a widget blog for dummies, that would be great.
As I was once told early on in business "Keep it simple stupid". Gadgets and widgets are great only if they are used to effectively carry your message or to enhance the enjoyment of the participants.
Wow! That's really cool. I need to brush up on my tech skills!
LOL its time eh! Upside down backwards forwards shake em all out. Kathy has been trying to get me to read all or at least a lot of your posts and I have had to say not now it takes to long to load. Now i will have to go back and start reading.
Have a great new year
Just checking in real quick for one last "Happy New Year" wish to you all~
Here's my feeble attempt at a New Years Poem:
So here's to YOU,
and a little to me,
I'll never have a Blog
that's Widget Free.
But if you promise to read
and subscribe once again,
I won't load it with crap
in two thousand ten.
Wishing you all
the BEST New Year,
Now go out and have
yourself some Cheer.
I promise you this,
it's without a doubt,
there's great things in your future,
ActiveBrad....signing out.... :-)
Glad you have started joining the dark side... the people with only a few important widgets... "Speed, I am Speed" -- my buddy Lightning McQueen...
Hi Brad, I just popped by to wish you a very safe and Happy New Year! May 2010 bring many blessings and much success to you and yours!
-Keith
Happy New Year, Brad! And thanks for all the tips, advice, and yes.. even the widgets you drove us nuts with this year! Am looking forward to more of the same from you to us Active Rainers in 2010!
I've never added that many widgets, but it would probably be good to go through them.
Happy New Year.
Brad - Congrats on cleaning house ! My wife Stephanie gets on me for saving too much stuff. Once it is cleared out though, I always feel better. I know you love those widgets though !! : ) Your sidebar looks great ! I need to clean my sidebar up as well, am just not good at it though... LOL ~ Chris
I have been wondering about all the "stuff" thinking cleaner might look nicer too.
What do they say? Less is more... Happy New Year!
Brad, good for you - letting go of all that cllutter. Thank you for all of your fantastic guidance in 2009, and best wishes for great success in 2010. I'll be watching! :->
The poem was cute Brad. lol Sounds like you have driven TLW to drink. As for me, I am so technologically challenged, I wuld know a widget if it bit me.
You are the best and funny too. Love all your posts and one of my New Year resolutions is to learn at least half of what you teach.
Remember to just say no and take it one day at a time. No widgets just for today. Now go make ammends with TLW.
Have a Fun and Prosperous New Year!!!
Brad, I just wish I knew half the stuff you have forgotten! Happy almost Widget Free New Year!
Brad-Widgets or no widgets, slow or fast, we will be with you in 2010! Happy New Year to you and your family.
Now that's a funny post! I've personally seen TLM getting frustrated with her brand new computer. It's either funny as hell or scary depending on whether you're her son or her computer. LOL. We had some firearms fun last night and her computer made it through ok so I guess she got a handle on it. HAHA
TNT
Brad,
All your widgets always looked fun though and had I had time, I would have added several myself!!!!
Happy New Years to you and your family!!!
DeeDee
Barbara - thanks. It's great to have you back! :-)
Linda - TLW and I made ammends long ago, she is one of my special friends now who I just adore and love to torment! lol~
Dona - that was very sweet of you to say, thank you.
TNT - took me a sec to figure out TLM, thought you made a typo till I thought about it... ROFL~ I am egging her on to do a video of her yelling "PULL" and then shoot that computer mid air, just before gravity brings it back down to earth and we all watch it splash in the lake! That would be almost as funny as the "Counter-Offer Post!"
DeeDee - your time is better spent servicing your clients than it ever would be trying to get past all my widgets.... and yours. :-))
très Cool Brad.
Happy New Year.
Hi Brad!
This is too funny! I was just about to go to bed and thought I would check out a few blogs before I hit the hay. Yours was the second on the list and, while I enjoy your posts, I thought about if I wanted to take the time to let your post load! It was kismet when I read the topic of your post! It did load at lightning speed! Thanks!
Paula - that is funny. I am even getting "thank you" emails from members and other folks who are really liking the fact that my blog no longer takes as much time as it does to upload a video onto youtube!! ROFL~ I'm glad you took the time to take a chance and click on that link! Happy New Year~
Thank you kind sir! I always want to hear what yu have to say, but your page sometimes locks up!
We'll see you at RainCamp again this year! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful 2010!
Sara in San Antonio
How will you survive, Brad. You were the widget king. Now you are merely a prince.
Brad, I did notice some time back problems with widgets so now I tried to keep it simple.
Brad, I always thought your blog took a while to load because of all the comments. Now, I learned another thing! Wishing you the best in the New Year!
Brad: I always felt I was behind on all the widgets and gadgets but it wasn't a priority for me - just the basics - so this affirms my position of having the meat and leaving the potatoes - in my diet as well (too many goodies over the holiday)!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Brad, I do know how hard it is to give up widgets and gadgets... but we're proud of you for making the effort for your fans here in the rain! So whether you are widget rich or gadget poor - you're sure to have followers more....
Happy New Year to you too!
Good morning,
Nice idea about checking things that you have been doing and then getting rid of those things that will slow you down or hold you back.
Great post!!! I happen to be one of those that have an older computer (5 years old) and it takes forever to download page - 2010 will be the year I finally upgrade to a new laptop!!! This processor just doesn't cut it anymore!!!! Happy New Year!
Aaahhhhh, letting go is so very hard to do; not unlike me letting go of all my paper files (I know I am out of date) or my husband letting go of the free stuff he finds that blew off boats and cars on the road, or grandma letting of all the stuff that even smells old. It should be a very liberating experience and makes way for the next best thing to cross your path.
Great post and provacative comments. I've always been one for lots of "white space" for clarity of thought and contemplation and analysis. I wonder these days though....with the shorter attention spans of most internet users...whether more gadgets and widgets are the better way to go? For me, less is always more so I'm going to stay relatively widget-free. What say you to that, Brad? Happy New Year....whatever your take.
I did the same thing when I signed up for my outside blog. My inside one was way too busy and had too many cool widgets...I'm an addict as well. Too bad we can't have them all. :( What an impatient world we live in, but I'm happy to have a need for speed!
Happy New Year Brad!!! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. I look forward to learning more from you and from AR in 2010.
Cheers,
Kim
I'm glad you kept CLicky becuae I just noticed it on your sidebar and it looks damn interesting. A whole lot more readable and useful than Google Anaylytics which you need to be able to be an engineer to figure out. Thanks, Brad!
Happy, Happy New Year Brad! With the rain and snow and wind I've been in the middle of the past week, I am happy to say let it rain, let it rain, let it rain AR!
Your blog does load faster even tho I am on IE tonight. I scanned thru all of the comments hoping someone would share how to do the upside town writing.
Cleaning house is part of the New Year. I like to take the time to see what is and what is not working not only with my blog but with my business. AR works!
I wanna make my words go upside down! And I'm not getting rid of my widgets, gadgets, etc. So there! Anyone running a 10 year old PC is just... OMG... I have no words.... that --- does---- not ---- compute---- LOL. Literally! How can you run ANYTHING on a 10 year-old computer, unless it's been gutted. My hubby built ours because I kept killing them. >=) I ish computer slayer! But I have AWESOME rig now... yeah baby! Conflicting programs? Psh! I can handle it! he he.
Brad - This is a welcome post for me. I'm tired of having my computer choke while loading up some of the blogs on Activerain. And it's not an antique. If only all of your friends would do the same thing.
Hi Pam - since you went to the trouble of scanning this entire posts comments for how to create upside down text, I'd feel like a jerk if I didn't show you how.... I used a "Flip Text Generator" widget! Yep, that's right, another widget!! lol~ Here's a link for you: http://www.sherv.net/flip.html
I got rid of most of my widgets a few months back. It made a huge difference.