The Blog Talker: The Blog About Blogging

Blogger Gadgets

2008-09-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

I made a huge mistake last week when I was editing my blog Every Single Thing. I changed the template, and as a result lost any customization I created in the blog. This meant my Links list that ran down the right hand side of the page. Frustrated, I left it alone for a while, but yesterday decided it was time to put the links back. That was when I discovered that Blogger finally allows adding elements to a blog without having to do any fancy HTML. Gadgets allow users to add a slideshow, videos, news headlines, and yes, a list of links.

Safari

2008-08-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

I downloaded and installed the Safari browser a couple of days ago. It's an Apple product, and was offered to me when my iTunes was ready to update. The layout of web pagses look very clean, and as promised, fast-loading. I haven't played with it enough yet to do a thorough comparison with IE and Firefox, which are my two browsers of choice. The main thing I can tell thus far, is that it is quite streamlined and simple. Safari is available here.

Muxtape

2008-08-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I discovered Muxtape. It is a music social networking tool that allows users to create a "mix tape" of 12 songs, that can be accessed and listened to by anyone else using the service. Some of the rules include only uploading one song per artist, and having permission to upload the songs (as if that one will be adhered to strictly by users). The songs stream online and can't be downloaded, but links to Amazon's MP3 store is available for each song, so that they can be purchased. Muxtapes can be favourited for easy access. There is no obvious way to stop and re-start the music, but I discovered that by clicking once on the song it will stop, and clicking again will re-start it. Songs can also be scrobbled to Last.fm, re-organized, and deleted. I created a Muxtape. I think it is a great way to introduce others to different kinds of music, plus have a way of listening to some of my favourite songs at remote locations if I don't happen to have my iPod handy, or if I want to hear the songs out loud. Here's my Muxtape.

New Look for Del.Icio.Us

2008-07-31T16:42:00.001-07:00

Bookmark sharing site Del.Icio.Us launched its new look today. It's a lot more sleek than the previous. Users have to log in again, even if the login info was previously saved. Here is a look at my bookmarks.

Bringing it All Together

2008-07-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Two of the most frustrating parts of having so many social networking applications, are:

1) Keeping them all updated
2) Keeping them organized in such a way as for others to know what you have been up to.

Ping.fm is a solution to problem #1. It allows you to update a number of status messages and blogs at once. However, it is in the beta stage right now, so in order to sign up, you'll have to pinch a code from someone.

FriendFeed is a like a blog/status stream. It presents updates to blogs, photo and video sharing, Twitter, and a host of other sites all on one page. Want to see how it works? Check out my FriendFeed.

WiFi and Blogging

2008-07-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

When I look at people sitting around coffee shops, cafes, and other places with wireless connections, I wonder how many of them are actually blogging rather than working. Myself, I do quite a bit of blogging abroad -- meaning away from my home office. I do enough work there, that sometimes I don't feel like being chained to my desk to engage in a hobby, even if it is one of my favourite ones. Viva WiFi, bringing making blogging possible from almost anywhere, any time.

Twitter

2008-06-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

I'm hooked on Twitter. My tweet-stream grows by about half a dozen posts per day, on average. In 140 characters or less (not words - characters) I have a change to express myself quickly, while learning the art of being succinct. It's almost like a Facebook status update, except with more personality. It's not quite social networking, and it's not quite a blog - it's an effective communication tool that reflects the fast-paced world in which we live. But certainly it is no substitute for a blog, even though I like it.

Changing Face of MySpace

2008-06-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

The log-in screen and home pages of MySpace have changed -- the look is a little cleaner, and navigation is a bit easier. I still find sometimes there are delays when I am trying to public a blog post, or I get an "unexpected error" when I try to update something or reach another page -- generally I just hit the "back" button on my navigation and try again. Sometimes I end up with double blog posts as a result, but that is what the "Delete" function is for. However, I am really surprised that after being around for so long, MySpace still can be slow (I am assuming because of servers being taxed to the max with so many people on the system). I do appreciate the regular blogs that "Tom" writes, informing everyone of what is going on behind the scenes when technical upgrades are happening.

Facebook

2008-06-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Facebook is probably the biggest social networking phenomenon to have developed over the past couple of years. I remember when I first joined, I was one of the "old timers," being over 30. Now, pretty much everyone and their mothers - literally - are on Facebook. Facebook does not have a blog per se, but has applications that can be added for blog functionality, and has a "Notes" feature that many people use as a blog. You post a note, and everyone on your Friends list can read it. I have my Facebook set to import my posts from my LiveJournal blog -- you have the option of importing one blog. So that pretty much ensures that everyone I want to read my posts will have the opportunity. And yes, I probably spend way too much time on Facebook posting photos, playing word games, and catching up with what everyone else is doing.

Blog Functionality

2008-06-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

One of the best aspects of blogging, is the fact that it's pretty much push-button publishing. The entire back-end is taken care of for you. A person does not have to be an expert in PHP, CSS, or even HTML. All one has to do is write, and the content is automatically incorporated into a design, with formatting. Anyone who is computer literate can blog. I anticipate that blogging is becoming more and more of a universal pasttime and art form. It certainly is a creative and productive way to communicate online.

Blogs as Websites

2006-05-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am noticing that more and more people are using blogs as websites. Avoiding website domain name and hosting charges is perhaps one reason. Ease of publishing is likely another. If all someone wants to do is post a few pictures, write about themselves, and link to other sites, everything you need is pretty much there. Blogs are also handy for organizations promoting a time-limited event. Why go through the hassle of setting up a website for something that is going to come and go within a few months? For example, the Edmonton Anarchist Book Fair has set up a website on Blogger, for their event coming up in September.

LiveJournal Functions

2006-05-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

In the past few weeks LiveJournal has come up with some added functionality. Users can now have a control bar at the top of the screen whenever logged in, making navigation a lot easier. The My LiveJournal section has also been spiffed up with direct links to posting and Friends' pages, for example.

Movement At MySpace

2006-05-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

I've been putting some work into my MySpace pages. I am finding that MySpace is where I am doing the most serious networking and connecting. It's probably a numbers thing -- millions of users.

You Tube

2006-05-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

I got a mini DV camcorder last month, and have been looking for a place to host my vids without taking up all my space and badwidth at my websites. You Tube is the solution I settled upon. It is like a video version of MySpace. Videos have to be maximum ten minutes and 100 Megs. Once uploaded, the file is converted into Flash and streams from the site. You are given a direct link to the file, as well as the coding to embed it into your existing website. Of course it has the usual user agreement that the site can use your work for whatever it wants, but even still this is not a bad deal. Here is what I have done so far.

Living's Sanctuary at Piczo

2006-05-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

At the request of some of my friends who are using Piczo, I decided to check it out in more detail and set up a small page of my own. I tried to go for a consistent look and feel throughout the site. Here it is: Living's Sanctuary.

Video Blogging

2006-05-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about video blogging. MySpace includes sections for vids now. Video blogging is a lot more personal in that the viewer is not only hearing what the person says, but also seeing the blogger. Someone has to be very comfortable with this medium in order to go for it. I am considering starting up a video blog, and am not sure if I will put it on MySpace or just plunk it onto one of my existing websites.

My Life of Travel

2006-05-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

I just found out about My Life of Travel. It is a portal for people to create travel blogs. This is one of those cases where there is strength in numbers, as this site creates a community for travel bloggers. Readers can view blogs by travel destination or user. Blogs include maps, as well as entries and photos.

Piczo

2006-05-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends are building their own website using Piczo. They are easy to build, picture-based sites. Looking through the information, it seems to be geared towards younger people. However, the same could be said of MySpace, where more and more older folks (25+) are getting in the game.

MSN Spaces

2006-05-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

I started playing around with MSN Spaces this afternoon. I forgot I even had one -- I last wrote a blog entry almost a year ago, and that was only as an introduction. I find the layout a bit confusing, but MSN Spaces is quite popular with some on the blogging scene.

Del.Icio.Us = Delicious?

2006-02-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

Generally, when I visit cool sites I want to remember, I add them to my bookmarks. In Flock, the browser I have been using most often because of the interactive blogging capability, instead directs me to my page at del.icio.us, which lists my bookmarks, along with short descriptions and the number of other users who have also linked to the same page. It is interesting to see what others find cool and popular, but I think having the bookmarks right there in the browser, accessible through a drop-down list, is far more convenient. There is also the question of provacy -- I don't necessarily want everyone knowing what websites I visit. However, del.icio.us is available by RSS feed, and as a result one can add it to their blog or website. Want to see what I link to? Here is my page: del.icio.us/livingsanctuary

Bravenet Web Journal

2006-02-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

So last night I decided to try out the Bravenet Web Journal feature for the first time. I have been using Bravenet for website tool such as guestbooks and counters for a while now, and most recently for hosting. The company's Web Journal offers a variety of styles to choose from, as well as the ability to customize colours and layout. You can add links to other websites (such as other blogs, or just sites you enjoy), which is something I miss in LiveJournal, and there is a tag board where people can "shout" comments. Here is what I have so far -- not much, but I really enjoy the layout and functionality. Add best of all, it's free! Santiano's Swamp

Notepad Necessity

2006-01-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

This post sort of falls into the category of "Common Sense -- Which Isn't." A few of my friends who are MySpacers have complained that they type up a long blog entry directly in MySpace, only to have their hard work vanish when they hit the Submit button. They have figured out a secret that hardcore bloggers should know, regardless of their blogging program. Compose your entries in Notepad (or the text editor of your choice) first, save it as a text file, then copy and paste it into your blog's composition screen. You can do the formatting and add the HTML for links at that point. This way, if things go screwy, at least you have a backup. Ditto if your blogging program's server crashes or something goes terribly wrong. Do I practice what I preach? I should.

Ianism.com

2006-01-22T09:27:00.000-08:00

It is with great joy to announce that my friend Ian Scott has rejoined the world of blogging with Ianism.com. Ian's takes on life, religion, and politics are always very personal and controversial. I don't always agree with his conclusions, but find his posts very intellecutual stimulating. Check it out and see what you think.

LiveJournal

2006-01-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

I started my very first serious blog using LiveJournal. In fact, that is where I still maintain my main blog, where I link out to my various projects across the Web, as well as write the occasional socially conscious post or funny observation about life. I'm a paid member, which means I have more control over what my blog looks like (custom templates and such), the methods by which I can post, and the ability to bake my blog into the framework of other of my websites. Here it is!

Life In The Fast Lane

2006-01-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

I finally upgraded to high speed Internet this past week, and what a difference it has made in my online activities -- including blogging! My updates transfer from the editing screen live onto my blog in record time. High speed also helps save time when I am visiting the blogs of my friends, and researching interesting sites to write about. High speed is not mandatory, but highly recommended for serious bloggers.

Blog Reviews - Is Your Blog Up For It?

2006-01-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

The Blog Talker will include reviews of blogs. If you would like me to review your blog, or if you know of a blog you think I should check out to be included here, shoot me an e-mail and I'll check it out.

Flock

2006-01-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I tried out Flock, a new browser. Flock is excellent for bloggers because it has a menu button that connects you directly with your blog. So, I can be in the middle of Web surfing and get an idea for a blog entry, click on the button, and I have a blank form into which I write my blog entry, and send it to my blog. I sometimes have to do some reformatting afterwards, but it is still uber convenient. Another thing about Flock is if I visit an interesting Web page, I can right click on it and select "Blog this" in the menu, and the form will come up with the page title and link already baked into the form. All I have to do is write an annotation.

Blog Safety

2006-01-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

I've seen a few news reports about the popularity of kids blogging, particularly having to do with their safety. Apparently in their young innocence they can give out too much information online. Well, this certainly is not limited to youngsters. Older folks can be vulnerable also, particularly women, the elderly, the lonely, the handicapped (mentally and otherwise) -- it is so tempting to be trusting and to use blogs as a platform for all kinds of personal information. Here are some guidelines everyone should bear in mind:
1) Don't give out your full name. This is a "do as I say, not as I do" situation -- as a freelance writer and Web person I already have a significant profile on the Web, but the average person doesn't need to.
2) Don't give out contact information like your phone number or home address. This should be obvious as to the reason.
3) Don't give the name of the specific place where you work.
4) Consider the privacy of others and don't give full names or post photos without permission (preferably in writing).
If you can think of othe safety tips please leave a comment.

Updating

2006-01-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

I never understand people who get blogs and then never update them. Sure, there are the obligations and pressures of real life -- work, family, hobbies -- but there is always time for blogging. Entries do not have to be long; in fact, usually a paragraph or two will suffice. Many visitors will not be bothered to scroll through long blog posts. A good plan is to set aside one or two 15-minute blocks per week to update. It will keep your blogging chops fresh and your readers happy.

MySpace: My Place?

2006-01-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

The number of users on MySpace seems to be growing exponentially. Even I bit the bullet and decided to get a couple of pages there, a personal one and a band page. Personal users seem to be a bit on the younger side, and very much youthful in culture: clubbing, music, shopping, and such. Still some of my friends, both younger and mature, decided to connect. The band pages are excellent means for musicians to network, and I was surprised by some of the names with MySpace pages, especially Peter Gabriel. Four MP3 files, a biography, tour dates, and more, MySpace is a free and convenient way to make an EPK (electronic press kit).

Why Do We Blog?

2006-01-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

Why do we blog? Is it a narcissistic, exhibitionist desire to put our lives out there for strangers to read? Is it a desire to compile information about hobbies, work, dreams, in one place? To log interesting websites that we, in our infinite wisdom, believe others should read?

Why do we blog? Please leave your comments, and a link to your own blog if you have one.

The Blog Talker: First Post

2006-01-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The Blog Talker, the new blog about blogging. You can expect to find a series of short, helpful, and informative posts about the art and craft of blogging, including philosophy, ideas, and subjects. As well, we'll be presenting some of the best examples of blogs across the Internet -- everything from personal weblogs, to music, art, politics, and religion. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.