tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200457792024-03-07T16:03:16.744-08:00Random Bytes (WebLens Blog)Tips, tricks, tweaks, and thoughts on blogging, Web 2.0, web design, CSS, Internet research, writing, photography, and more from journalist Pam Blackstone, publisher of the popular WebLens Search Portal.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-55772861284254662972012-08-17T12:33:00.001-07:002012-08-17T12:46:08.699-07:00Pam Blackstone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://pamblackstone.see.me/onelife2012"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bcMpJkqThXrjk2Mp5aoMxPlSTtxvY9uX8h6oriN1wJzDhrKSSbnZZzXoyltn9ZAbTkwNl1Lm7wiH5Zwe_DFrDPNkVhSS43jW9k8AVB1y_wLLSQmcfct_uD-zgGBwN_SqL9U/s320/152747-4fedcc1ea43cf-slideshow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://pamblackstone.see.me/onelife2012">Photography Competion</a>: I'm entered in the One Life photography Contest, and I need your support. Please click through and click "Collect Me" to help me win.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-19852922273696116242011-08-31T10:04:00.001-07:002011-08-31T10:06:55.912-07:00WebLens UpdatedMore changes at WebLens ...
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.cayole.com/">Cayole Cruises</a> added to the <a href="http://www.weblens.org/bargains.html">Travel Bargains</a> page.
<br />Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-85903557008783915032011-06-02T22:02:00.004-07:002011-06-03T13:09:20.688-07:00Announcing .. The WebLens Daily!Lots of new developments at WebLens right now. We've been twittering up a storm, so we've just launched <a href="http://paper.li/Random_Bytes/1307131058#">The WebLens Daily</a>, a handy digest of relevant Twitter posts delivered to your desktop each and every day. Subscribe or follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with tweets relating to Internet and net search news, as well as web design, social media, and SEO and online marketing trends. Updated daily with fresh and timely content, and links to useful resources and interesting and entertaining sites. Drop by today and let us know what you think.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-66188358518113626242011-06-02T10:39:00.003-07:002011-06-02T10:57:28.098-07:00NEW!! The WebLens ToolbarAnnouncing the brand new <span style="font-weight: bold;">WebLens Toolbar</span>. Keep all your favourite resources right at your fingertips, no matter what site you are viewing. Compatible with IE, Firefox, and Chrome, the WebLens Toolbar can be downloaded from any page on the <a href="http://www.weblens.org/">site</a>. It comes loaded with all the WebLens menu contents you've come to know and love, plus loads of extra goodies, like quick links to Facebook, Twitter, local weather, Amazon deals, Groupon, Flixster movies, Travelocity, TripAdvisor, Youtube, and more!<br /><br />The WebLens Toolbar also includes a radio player and one particularly useful resource — <span style="font-weight:bold;">Similar Sites</span>, which displays thumbnails of sites similar to the one you are on. Best of all, the toolbar is fully customizable, with a marketplace of thousands more apps to choose among.<br /><br />Get it today at our <a href="http://weblenssearchportal.ourtoolbar.com/">download page</a>.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-79082256078819804362011-05-31T14:30:00.006-07:002011-05-31T14:57:09.012-07:00WebLens UpdatedSeveral new resources posted to WebLens today:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.cruisenow.com/">CruiseNow</a> added to <a href="http://www.weblens.org/majortravel.html">Online Travel Reservations and Trip Booking</a></li><li><a href="http://www.restaurant.com/">Restaurant.com</a> added to <a href="http://www.weblens.org/cities.html">Destination Research > Dining Guides</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.studynavigator.com/">Study Navigator</a> added to<a href="http://www.weblens.org/scholar.html"> Academic & Scholarly Research</a></li><li><a href="http://www.govtnavigator.com/">Govt Navigator</a> and <a href="http://www.militarynavigator.com/">Military Navigator</a> added to <a href="http://www.weblens.org/govt.html">Finding Government</a></li></ul>Hope you find them useful.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-17788771666554296932011-05-26T14:32:00.004-07:002011-05-26T14:53:27.408-07:00Fractallicious Designs Now at Zazzle<embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.zazzle.com/utl/getpanel?zp=117663727054960904" flashvars="feedId=117663727054960904" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="300" width="450"></embed><br /><br />About a week ago, I posted that my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fractallicious </span>fractal art designs were now available as fine art prints through <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pblackstone">RedBubble</a>. Now, I'm pleased to report that you can buy my artwork printed on merchandise too. I have set up a <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fractallicious?rf=238209756758538073">Zazzle store</a> for Fractalllicious, where you can buy these lively images printed on everything from buttons, magnets, and mousepads to t-shirts, ties, even shoes. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Most products ship within 24 hours, and Zazzle provides international mirror sites so you can shop in your own country in your own currency. They also feature regular promotions. Right now, they're offering <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">15% off stickers</span>, with the coupon code <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">STICKERSALE1</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">12% off prints and posters</span> with the coupon code <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">POSTERSALE12</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">12% off t-shirts</span> with the coupon code<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">TSHIRTSALE12</span></span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">10% off iPhone and iPad skins</span> with the coupon code <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">SPRINGCASE10</span>. These offers are valid through July 1, 2011. <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Whether you're shopping for yourself, a friend, or you're just curious, drop by and have a look.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-81109176358877439532011-05-15T22:58:00.010-07:002011-05-16T00:04:01.387-07:00Fractallicious Art Now at RedBubble<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xjOu_RgT0ASgQOCmU2awmYiebqkkdeppayJer4uHayWH-0yecWF6zVL_diKLNKyJmEdN8MPHkbX_RQW4qfEFRYtwc2GZDxDcQQQjjC9r2qK6RJoVe3_iEZPjduc04kDWNpc/s1600/rb.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xjOu_RgT0ASgQOCmU2awmYiebqkkdeppayJer4uHayWH-0yecWF6zVL_diKLNKyJmEdN8MPHkbX_RQW4qfEFRYtwc2GZDxDcQQQjjC9r2qK6RJoVe3_iEZPjduc04kDWNpc/s320/rb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607195159234060034" border="0" /></a><br />After a long absence teaching English overseas, I'm back creating fractal art and I've found a promising new venue for selling my work online.<br /><br />I have sold my work through microstock sites, and still license it (for commercial use) through <a href="http://www.fractallicious.com/">Fractallicious</a>, but I have never found a satisfactory <span style="font-weight: bold;">print on demand</span> solution. After a disappointing experience with <span style="font-weight: bold;">CafePress</span> (standing out in the hordes of mediocre merchandise was a challenge), I was a little gun-shy about print on demand, but I thought I'd give <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pblackstone">RedBubble</a> a try nevertheless.<br /><br />I am extremely impressed by the quality and originality of the art and photography to be found at this site. It is much more oriented to serious artists than sites like <span style="font-weight: bold;">CafePress </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zazzle</span>. The site is easy to use, for both buyers and sellers. It's a snap to upload your work and create a listing, and the site offers various widgets for cross-promotion through Facebook and Twitter, etc. Artwork can be printed on a variety of product types, from fine art to t-shirts. You set a base price, and they handle printing and fulfillment.<br /><br />I have just finished setting up a store at RedBubble, where you can buy my fractal art <span class="rb-markup">printed on a variety of products, from fine art prints to greeting cards, t-shirts, and stickers. Among the products available are several <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/pblackstone/collections/62808-glbt-pride-merch">rainbow images</a> that are great for Pride fund-raising and gay and lesbian events. </span><br /><br />Whether you're an artist looking to sell, or someone seeking a distinctive fine art print, drop by and have a look.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-91703027011716926382008-08-04T17:45:00.007-07:002008-08-05T01:17:22.202-07:00Ferrofluid Defies Physics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03EH7-6e8WKHBxAUC7OTJ514sE906G4nQFBrKY2nSR9uEAnHOBvfiWNePd6OtXnGSPo_FgXKJ2leeyq-7orwGywdfp4GC_9UPYF3GPAGxB9h_UgWQ0tKMTbPjIBxJxNSqUKo/s1600-h/ferro.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03EH7-6e8WKHBxAUC7OTJ514sE906G4nQFBrKY2nSR9uEAnHOBvfiWNePd6OtXnGSPo_FgXKJ2leeyq-7orwGywdfp4GC_9UPYF3GPAGxB9h_UgWQ0tKMTbPjIBxJxNSqUKo/s320/ferro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230944708994038514" border="0" /></a>This is WAY cool! I haven't blogged for a while, but I just had to share this! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrofluid" target="_blank">Ferrofluid</a> is a liquid that becomes polarised in the presence of a magnetic field. Here's the technical definition, straight from Wikipedia: "Ferrofluids are composed of nanoscale ferromagnetic particles suspended in a carrier fluid, usually an organic solvent or water. The particles are coated with a surfactant to prevent their agglomeration. Although the name may suggest otherwise, ferrofluids do not display ferromagnetism, since they do not retain magnetization in the absence of an externally applied field. In fact, ferrofluids display (bulk-scale) <span style="font-style: italic;">para</span>magnetism, and are often referred to as being "superparamagnetic" due to their large magnetic susceptibility."<br /><br />A bunch of scientific mumbo-jumbo to me, I'm afraid, but the behaviour of the fluid is fascinating to watch. This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBxCnHU8Ao&feature=related" target="_blank">YouTube clip</a> is wonderfully entertaining and demonstrates the fluid's seemingly impossible properties. There are lots of examples on YouTube, accompanied — not surprisingly — by abundant <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUJVxGIjclo&feature=related" target="_blank">debate</a> re whether or not it's CGI fakery. There's even a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fum7udtcog&feature=related" target="_blank">television commercial</a> using the fluid.<br /><br />Kinda reminds me of those 50's <a href="http://joelchua.com/blog/2006/07/12/wooly-willy-my-fascination-with-magnets/" target="_blank">Wooly Willy</a> toys we had as kids, with a goofy-looking guy and iron filings you dragged around with a magnet, to give him hair and a beard.<br /><br />Ain't the web grand?! Every now and then, one tends to forget the incredible marvels this technology has brought to our desktops.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-34908799300878504282008-04-01T07:57:00.008-07:002008-04-01T08:48:44.641-07:00Fractallicious Reborn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOQvo6nQaWxzeQlVMnRmLNl0d4sxxs3dmQE18JfMzL3BJ88sy4hMgSz312Oh4vQu3wkWSWJgPCLwyZQuxdPK3lkkOnfCYKxzBCHxHDpAm8igFCrEnWTHvKweIPwO8UxUI0zo/s1600-h/frac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOQvo6nQaWxzeQlVMnRmLNl0d4sxxs3dmQE18JfMzL3BJ88sy4hMgSz312Oh4vQu3wkWSWJgPCLwyZQuxdPK3lkkOnfCYKxzBCHxHDpAm8igFCrEnWTHvKweIPwO8UxUI0zo/s320/frac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184299494926553714" border="0" /></a>Well, I finally did it! I'm out of the stock sites. As some of you know, I have been experimenting with selling my artwork online through half a dozen stock photography and microstock sites for a couple of years. While they were generating income, the experience has never been ideal. Uploading was time-consuming, especially with so many sites. It was frustrating to have certain sites reject an image for utterly arbitrary reasons, while others accepted the very same image. And I certainly didn't enjoy giving away 50% of my income to these companies for the privilege of hosting my art. I felt none did a good job of marketing or promoting my work.<br /><br />I had already had my own site, <a href="http://www.fractallicious.com/">Fractallicious, </a>up and running for about a year, functioning primarily as a signpost to direct interested people to the various stock sites and other places, such as CafePress, where they could buy my fractal art. Fractallicious was successful in that regard, but once potential customers landed on one of the stock sites I had sent them to, I became a tiny fish in a huge ocean of competitors. Income trickled in in dribs and drabs.<br /><br />So I set out to be my own stock site. Turns out, I sadly under-estimated the challenge involved in turning a static web site into a full-blown ecommerce application. It's been a long tough slog, with numerous technical difficulties, but we're finally there! The company we chose, <a href="http://www.volusion.com/" target="_blank">Volusion.com</a>, provides a turnkey ecommerce platform, allowing you to create an online store with a powerful database back-end, shopping cart, and merchant account services. The Volusion technology is robust, complex, and highly configurable. Because of this very complexity, it's also far from intuitive and comes with a steep learning curve. The company scores an A+ for the superb quality of their 24/7 technical support.<br /><br />So, starting this week, I have eliminated the middleman! (And, no, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.) I'm partnering with my sister on this endeavour, and we're not only selling gorgeous (if I say so myself) high-quality image downloads, but also certain images printed on a variety of merchandise, CafePress-style. My rainbow designs have been very popular with the gay and lesbian community, and we're starting with <a href="http://www.fractallicious.com/Fractal_and_rainbow_buttons_for_gay_pride_fund_raising_s/157.htm">three of them printed on 1" buttons</a>, and attractively packaged as a three-pack for gift giving.<br /><br />Drop by <a href="http://www.fractallicious.com/">Fractallicious.com</a>, and have a look. If you like what you see, please feel free to spread the word!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-77349646034484134612008-01-15T11:56:00.000-08:002008-01-15T13:20:25.454-08:00Striking Screenwriters Having an Impact<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakM3R4i7HJlgl1LlHexUe1m1P7M-1IwNW1PsaUEW-hGzj9vyS64u_MZ5S0G1cCUMG8bYThtDsxtX5H3FawjYIXtQ8BQYfQvx1V6TZ8g4VYcRuJ0X_osqVAS5aJDfRKdv2l2A/s1600-h/cane.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155811485102395842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakM3R4i7HJlgl1LlHexUe1m1P7M-1IwNW1PsaUEW-hGzj9vyS64u_MZ5S0G1cCUMG8bYThtDsxtX5H3FawjYIXtQ8BQYfQvx1V6TZ8g4VYcRuJ0X_osqVAS5aJDfRKdv2l2A/s320/cane.png" border="0" /></a> OK, time to remind oneself I support the Hollywood writers' strike. <em>(Grumble.)</em> I do, I really do. <em>(Grumble.)</em> I'm not a huge TV watcher, but I'm really starting to miss this season's hot new drama — and my newest fave — <a href="http://alpha.cbs.com/primetime/cane/" target="_blank">Cane</a>. The show is about the trials and tribulations of a rich and powerful Cuban-American family, and I was hooked from the very first episode. New episodes of Cane have been noticeably absent, along with those of most other intelligent, well-written shows, for several weeks now. In their place: reality shows, tired re-runs, third-rate movies, and other drivel. Surely viewers are revolting. I'm surprised there haven't been riots in the streets.<br /><br />With two fizzled awards shows and pending Oscar disaster, Hollywood screenwriters are demonstrating the strength inherent in being able to collectively withdraw labour. This dispute is about the same <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/business/media/06strike.html" target="_blank">issues</a> that continue to concern <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/search?q=heather" target="_blank">Canadian writers</a>. Movies and television make billions of dollars for producers and investors, and secondary digital uses such as DVDs and Internet downloads add to the windfall. Writers want the right to share in the profits generated by material they have created — a not unreasonable position. Industry executives aren't budging and negotations broke down in December. The strike's <a href="http://www.portlandtribune.com/us_world_news/story.php?story_id=N21206665" target="_blank">economic costs</a>, both direct and trickle-down, are skyrocketing daily. With the Oscars pending, pressure is surely mounting for all parties to kickstart the stalled bargaining process. They writers will win this thing. They have to.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-29729541416662203012007-12-21T09:02:00.000-08:002007-12-21T09:13:34.197-08:00Test Your Vocabulary and Help Others Too<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-dnjrg7Q3YC3xfZbJ3q63LQk0l_BkWsdiyBs-NtU4A5XjtzVMF747JIQtraWeNaJVwun4dFQE2nVKH-K5rR2pChO5kjpjl_3Jldk8kPr770DBCOnH5c_HAJq_swbsxfkOp4/s1600-h/rice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-dnjrg7Q3YC3xfZbJ3q63LQk0l_BkWsdiyBs-NtU4A5XjtzVMF747JIQtraWeNaJVwun4dFQE2nVKH-K5rR2pChO5kjpjl_3Jldk8kPr770DBCOnH5c_HAJq_swbsxfkOp4/s320/rice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146475128009536530" border="0" /></a>Came across a site a couple of days ago that, as a writer and avid Scrabbler, I couldn't resist. <a href="http://www.freerice.com/" target="_blank">FreeRice </a>lets you test your vocab skills and donate food to the hungry at the same time. Each word you get right is worth 20 grains of rice.<br /><br />You gradually work your way up the levels, with the top score around 50. I hovered between 44 and 47 most of the time, and quit when I hit 48.<br /><br />Can't believe how many words I've never heard of! Give it a try. Great fun.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-72539593775992229922007-07-03T09:08:00.000-07:002007-07-03T09:31:38.930-07:00The World's Chocolate Shops at Your Fingertips<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_LTDaSmsNCqgmGfGVilgIFWlWXg8bMERyveZztDVxEDSv0v08GUG4kzpJp8dFrMBaE4wtmg2mjtI2UX3xmtsaz7K0QiZ0L_5vP0EcQXyEIbsNJM6IWRZHthiVD4nhV1gEqk/s1600-h/choc.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083007790247993074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="161" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_LTDaSmsNCqgmGfGVilgIFWlWXg8bMERyveZztDVxEDSv0v08GUG4kzpJp8dFrMBaE4wtmg2mjtI2UX3xmtsaz7K0QiZ0L_5vP0EcQXyEIbsNJM6IWRZHthiVD4nhV1gEqk/s320/choc.png" width="265" border="0" /></a>Here's one for chocophiles everywhere. Get your daily fix of the sweet treat with <a href="http://www.chocomap.com/" target="_blank">Chocomap</a>. This new Canadian web site, sponsored by <strong>Ecole Chocolat, </strong>uses the Google Maps API to find chocolate shops throughout the world. Using the standard Google Maps interface, you can search geographically then zoom in on a location. Read brief descriptions of chocolate destinations or post your own review. There's lots of other useful information too, including recipes, chocolate e-cards, interviews with top chocolatiers, tips on cooking with chocolate, and background information about the origin and cultivation of the plant that gives us this wonderful food.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Already, the site has more than 1,000 listings in over thirty countries. Definitely one for my favourites list.</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-77012637301494892322007-06-28T10:26:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:27:58.965-07:00New Corbis Microstock Debuts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5QEMjYrzlVLuDlSf1yjNySvEcmO-sYiCghLnx-ZZrbVMKG2ewm_mUYlTg4FJEl0iZ1s8ziogIYxMQTYYr6M4YCmSCRSXv1-ratQpcOjewsuHhEADAVJ_mwToyHm2yRmS0us/s1600-h/snapvillage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081178795604860642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5QEMjYrzlVLuDlSf1yjNySvEcmO-sYiCghLnx-ZZrbVMKG2ewm_mUYlTg4FJEl0iZ1s8ziogIYxMQTYYr6M4YCmSCRSXv1-ratQpcOjewsuHhEADAVJ_mwToyHm2yRmS0us/s320/snapvillage.jpg" border="0" /></a> The beta version of <a href="http://www.snapvillage.com/" target="_blank">SnapVillage</a> — Corbis' long-awaited foray into the <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/10/microstocks-shake-up-stock-photography.html" target="_blank">microstock</a> arena — debuted a few days ago. I've done quite well online with some of the other microstock sites, so I was curious about how the traditional stock photography giant might approach the business of microstock. They had, after all, been slow to acknowledge the seriousness of the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/04/01/8403372/index.htm?postversion=2007040409" target="_blank">mounting competition</a> coming from this quarter.<br /><br />So far, I'm colossally unimpressed. I uploaded half a dozen images over a week ago, and as of this writing they still aren't processed. No acknowledgment at all.<br /><br />Worse, the site times out quickly after the upload completes, so that if you do not immediately enter descriptions and keywords (that's right, the site doesn't support embedded IPTC information), you're bounced out, and you have to RE-LOAD everything all over again.<br /><br />I was not impressed with the lack of support for IPTC data, which is pretty standard in the industry, as is the ability to upload via FTP. The site is still in beta, so one can only hope these features will be coming shortly. If they don't, SnapVillage will fail to attract professional photographers who have come to rely on such functionality at other microstock sites.<br /><br />The quality of the existing images is poor, but then — in fairness — I guess Corbis faces a bit of a branding dilemma. They need to somehow differentiate this site from their costly "high-end" site. Unfortunately for them, some of the other microstocks have really raised the bar. Sites like <strong>Shutterstock</strong>, <strong>iStockPhoto</strong>, and <strong>DreamsTime </strong>feature excellent photographers and many professional quality images.<br /><br />Corbis is late off the mark, and disdain virtually oozes from this site. It's evident in the name they chose — snapvillage — the word "snap" more than a little denigrating in its suggestion of casual snapshots rather than serious photography. It's almost as if they're targetting the Flickr amateur shutterbug crowd. Indeed, some of the images look like they came straight from the worst of Flickr.<br /><br />All in all a failing score. One would expect more from a company backed by the Corbis brand and bankrolled by Bill Gates.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-73565533586214631612007-05-18T12:03:00.001-07:002007-05-18T12:31:08.251-07:00Google Overhauls Search Results Display<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1S4E4wgm_FLO2wL0cdLsZtpjI9o9QPJ_dVrha9e8RrVNEEzpPSwumXQIy-aRJSbCbjd7_PHFrN89vQF-w-IPiYBTlbBi-ekU-e2Ov6vBX_wqZ1VA4s5uhDHH8hFM_Xs9U7I/s1600-h/google.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065983169353683634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1S4E4wgm_FLO2wL0cdLsZtpjI9o9QPJ_dVrha9e8RrVNEEzpPSwumXQIy-aRJSbCbjd7_PHFrN89vQF-w-IPiYBTlbBi-ekU-e2Ov6vBX_wqZ1VA4s5uhDHH8hFM_Xs9U7I/s320/google.png" border="0" /></a> Got an email yesterday from a friend, with a link to an article about recent changes over at Google. Seems the search giant has yet again tweaked its search functionality. Such news always alarms me, as I teach Internet search and this usually means extra work. This time, though, the change is a small one.<br /><br />According to <strong>CBC News</strong>, Google is <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/05/16/tech-googleuniversalsearch-20070516.html#skip300x250" target="_blank">combining its multiple search offerings</a> (web, images, blogs, etc.) into a single "universal search". The change is only evident at Google.com (not the various international flavours of Google) and pretty superficial, from the user's perspective anyway. A few sample images and news search results — if there are any — have been rolled into the web search results list. Google also now offers the ability to narrow by related search.<br /><br />The various search types (which were displayed immediately above the search field) are now at the top left of your screen. Additional search types are available through a dropdown instead of a link to a separate page and they are reduced in number.<br /><br />Compare for yourself. Here's <a href="http://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Google.com</a> and here's the <a href="http://www.google.ca/" target="_blank">Canadian variant</a>.<br /><br />I can't quite see the point of this. But oh well. It's not earth-shattering.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-54176461649146685452007-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:002007-05-14T14:45:35.989-07:00Monetize Your Blog with Job Listings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_PIO7k4K1wZXeUhGRQEQ7rbSUQ9AP76NECV2ByxNkJOJvsRjUIbq6bBgD533WEA_gysc1l4OJvVk-XfzDZbGzvO04D_NLvO0VFkhkQDUVNMlqoGCsYZ8Odw31fV7lsOKr2k/s1600-h/jobs.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064533220150101314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_PIO7k4K1wZXeUhGRQEQ7rbSUQ9AP76NECV2ByxNkJOJvsRjUIbq6bBgD533WEA_gysc1l4OJvVk-XfzDZbGzvO04D_NLvO0VFkhkQDUVNMlqoGCsYZ8Odw31fV7lsOKr2k/s320/jobs.png" border="0" /></a><strong>SimplyHired.com's</strong> <a href="http://www.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/learn-more" target="_blank">Job-a-Matic</a> service allows any blog or web site owner to monetize a site with paid job listings. Target by industry and set your own pricing for listings you attract, and the company shares revenues with you 50/50. If your listings are on the skimpy side, Job-a-Matic "backfills" with relevant postings from SimplyHired.com's five million strong database of jobs. Click-throughs are rewarded with a 30/70% revenue split. You can target jobs by keyword or geographically, or both. (One down side — the service is currently limited to the U.S. only.)<br /><br />Job-a-Matic generates a customizable listings page and lets you create widgets and ads that you can paste into your blog or site, as I have done at left below. The backfilled listings served by Job-a-Matic are attractive and easy to read, with some useful enhancements such as the ability to quickly and easily access geographically relevant salary information. Any listings you attract are added to the database, and promoted through SimplyHired.com's extensive network, which includes MySpace and LinkedIn.<br /><br />The service debuted in February of this year, and already over 600 blogs have signed on. <a href="http://www.SimplyHired.com" target="_blank">SimplyHired</a> claims to be the world's largest job search engine and was lauded as one of the 50 Coolest Web Sites by <em>Time</em> magazine.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-65438731236661188382007-05-08T10:48:00.000-07:002007-05-08T17:26:50.615-07:00New Blogger Layout Conversion No Picnic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.weblens.org/rb_screenshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKfJZBPZQugYcCU8w-l0sr72Ap91zvk9CqF4dUNoRmSWEEI_V34lVi4yFF2NWp8r_vUokO0IPZ04st_EXJJczt3eMvdNyiz_1cJ4Fmu2EvydUT2FQoxl5kHBEKco8eClEfnk/s400/rb_thumb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062264334956512530" border="0" /></a>Whew! After hours of frustration, I have succeeded in moving this blog's template over into New Blogger. I did my best to maintain the same look and feel, but there are subtle differences. (You can see the old template by clicking on the thumbnail at left.)<br /><br />And what a learning curve it's been. Hopefully, the results will prove worth it. One of the major benefits of New Blogger (and certainly my primary motivation in upgrading to widgets view) is the new <span style="font-style: italic;">labels/categories</span> feature, evidence of which you can see at right below. Those who have been with me for a while will be familiar with the various not-so-successful <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/03/create-blogger-categories-with-labelr.html">code hacks and workarounds</a> I have employed over the years in an effort to give this blog that all-important missing functionality.<br /><br />I posted <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2007/04/3-column-widgets-compliant-blogger.html">recently</a> on the changes needed to get the 3-column <span style="font-style: italic;">Minima </span>template that I give away here working properly in New Blogger layout view. That was a piece of cake compared to this blog's template, because of all the customization I had done. New Blogger didn't like my classic template at all, and the easiest approach to feeding New Blogger widget view something it could digest proved to be to rebuild it from scratch. I started with the 3-column Minima template, but you can only get so far dragging widgets around the screen. To get the functionality and look and feel I wanted, I had to delve into New Blogger's XHTML code, which is a whole lot more obtuse and less forgiving than Old Blogger's code. (Tip: all tags must be closed, even IMG tags, or they will generate error messages.)<br /><h2>More Internet Explorer Grief</h2>Lots of challenges followed, including the usual crazy-making <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2005/12/peek-boo-floats-and-other-css.html">peek-a-boo float</a> and <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/07/preventing-disappearing-columns-and.html">IE box model</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> problems. I employed an inelegant code hack (child selectors) to solve the latter problem and get the template performing roughly the same in both Firefox and IE. The peek-a-boo float problem was solved by adding <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >{position: relative}</span> to the div in question. There are still infuriating inconsistencies though, which I am at a loss to explain: the left padding of some of the sidebar contents seems to mysteriously reset for no apparent reason, jumping the headings and web badges all over the place in IE. I can find nothing in the code to account for this, and I'm truly mystified. There's a limit, however, to the energy I'm prepared to expend in pursuit of perfection.<br /><h2>Adding Post Auto Links<br /></h2>A tougher challenge, critical to the business goals of this blog, was getting the small WebLens badge that you see at the top of this post into the default post configuration. In Old Blogger, this was easy to do and I had previously shared the necessary <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/01/blogger-template-hacks-auto-embed.html">code tweak here</a>. In New Blogger's Page Element view, you can insert a link (or anything else) by adding a new HTML/Javascript widget to the center column. This will add the inserted object to the individual post pages. But call me obsessive: I wanted it to <span style="font-weight: bold;">also </span>appear on all posts on the main index, archive, and category pages. This required getting up close and personal with New Blogger's expanded widgets code view.<br /><h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge8kdHGP2ufOb3XHHAA2TA1uffI9tdCwirUmqsjj2HHeernKtLIcjvAlZL58I-RPoKqo4Ce26BzVoyqnP-lvZT3xUU5_fXzA9z1ZfU9f7rm6J_lfMhwwiiarzCtmSaErO6BY/s1600-h/snippet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge8kdHGP2ufOb3XHHAA2TA1uffI9tdCwirUmqsjj2HHeernKtLIcjvAlZL58I-RPoKqo4Ce26BzVoyqnP-lvZT3xUU5_fXzA9z1ZfU9f7rm6J_lfMhwwiiarzCtmSaErO6BY/s400/snippet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062270781702423842" border="0" /></a></h2> Trouble is, there is nothing obvious in the code to indicate where posts begin and end. Instead, there are plenty of convoluted loops, if/then/elses, cryptic widgets, and mysterious <span style="font-style: italic;">includables</span>. See for yourself in the tiny snippet at right.<br /><br />It took hours of trial and error to find the right spot to paste the link. After much experimentation, it finally came down to two possibilities, which I have highlighted in red. Pasting the link after either of these seems to work. I opted for the first, as you can see. I might never have solved this if it weren't for Bonnie Calhoun's fantastic blog, <span style="font-style: italic;">How Can I Do That?, </span><span>which I found in the Blogger Help Groups.</span> Her post on <a href="http://howcanidothat.blogspot.com/2007/04/inserting-adsense-code-in-posts.html" target="_blank">inserting Adsense code</a> finally pointed me in the right direction.<br /><br />Anyway, I hope you like the new look and feel, and — above all — enjoy the ability to easily find relevant posts on topics that interest you. Let me know what you think.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-34805383896816045132007-04-26T10:11:00.000-07:002007-04-26T10:45:37.577-07:00Microsoft's Sexy Search Avatar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7stydxlo4I8G_0VOci-YlFyAC0_xquCRb19qf6nB9Io9OgJ6H78ymcc_bmFN8ebFXTduKO3qz1KKzY-N4unkTANbWI4dd23tPOloCaZJeVhyInFt4x5sSv5bO3bCG-KPAtEs/s1600-h/msdewey.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057786956104484050" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7stydxlo4I8G_0VOci-YlFyAC0_xquCRb19qf6nB9Io9OgJ6H78ymcc_bmFN8ebFXTduKO3qz1KKzY-N4unkTANbWI4dd23tPOloCaZJeVhyInFt4x5sSv5bO3bCG-KPAtEs/s320/msdewey.png" border="0" /></a>Just stumbled across this site in my stats this morning, and I can't believe I've missed it up til now. <a href="http://www.msdewey.com/">Ms. Dewey</a> is an attractive search assistant from Microsoft, of all places, meant as an experimental interface for MSN search. Played by actress Janina Gavankar, best known for her role as Papi in <em>The L Word</em>, Ms. Dewey debuted in October 2006. She flirts, pouts, and entertains while waiting for your search term, then produces standard MSN search results, annotated with amusing commentary. She makes various random gestures while waiting, producing various props from behind her desk. She got quite frustrated with me, leaning forward to tap on my screen when I had failed to type anything for several seconds.<br /><br />According to Wikipedia, Ms. Dewey is a <em>viral marketing campaign</em> — Microsoft is not actively marketing the site, but relying on the user community to spread the word. Her responses actually consist of about 600 video clips recorded over several days.<br /><br />To experience her fully, you'll need the Flash player, as well as a high bandwidth connection. Check her out!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-69344659836669865452007-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:002007-04-23T14:29:41.990-07:003 Column Widgets Compliant Blogger Template!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM0IparTOjmt4Z2I7EMf_HJSlNV1B12XSf5kiFFzbAGehGGWcbzCIid2wCzYf8FjiDwwSawS3RxiyMupelIlK63jnPvpfciBNC7BhoWljNZLlOqYRujuZSK_CjYBGOHKSiNk/s1600-h/widget.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM0IparTOjmt4Z2I7EMf_HJSlNV1B12XSf5kiFFzbAGehGGWcbzCIid2wCzYf8FjiDwwSawS3RxiyMupelIlK63jnPvpfciBNC7BhoWljNZLlOqYRujuZSK_CjYBGOHKSiNk/s320/widget.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056729064279043474" border="0" /></a>Success! In a <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2007/04/3-column-template-fix-for-new-blogger.html">previous post</a>, I noted that the New Blogger supports my <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/02/build-three-column-blogger-template.html">three-column template</a> in "classic view," but rejects it in "widgets view." I am happy to report that I have solved the problem. After much experimentation, I now have a working three column version that you can open and edit in either HTML view or in "widgets" view.<br /><br />It was much more than just a bit of badly formed XML. The code that the new Blogger uses for its "widgets view" is a radical departure from the XML that the old Blogger used. New Blogger uses variables, inserts several strange new tags into your code, and stores information differently. All of this is in support of a new user-friendly interface that enables you to add objects (Blogger calls them <span style="font-style: italic;">widgets</span>) and change your blog's template without having to know a speck of code. The code structure underlying this, however, is finicky and much less tolerant of syntax errors than Blogger's previous incarnation of XML.<br /><br />To get the 3-column template working properly in widgets mode, I basically had to rebuild it from scratch, from Douglas Bowman's new widgets-friendly 2-column Minima design.<h2>Two Template Choices</h2>As a result of this, there are now two versions of the three-column template.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Classic:</span> If you are using the Old Blogger (or if you are on New Blogger but don't anticipate needing to significantly modify the template), use the <a href="http://www.weblens.org/3-col.txt" target="_blank">original 3-column version</a>. Note that you cannot open this version in Widgets view. This means you cannot add newsreels, video, a label list, or any of Blogger's other new page elements. You can modify the template, but you will need some familiarity with HTML.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Widgets:</span> If you are on New Blogger and want the ability to easily customize the fonts, colours, or layout of the template's elements, and prefer to use a point-and-click interface, use the <a href="http://www.weblens.org/3%20column%20widgets.txt" target="_blank">new Widgets version</a>. You can make look and feel changes through an interactive point-and-click interface or by editing the HTML. This version also supports new Blogger features such as newsreels and video, and lets you take full advantage of Blogger's new support for category labels.<br /></li></ul><h2>Changing Template Fonts & Colours</h2>To modify the Widget template's current fonts and/or colours, open your Blogger dashboard, then click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Layout / </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Template > Fonts & Colors</span>. Choose the element you wish to modify from the list at left, then select the new font and/or colour you want for that element. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Save Changes</span> and view your blog.<br /><h2> Modifying Page Elements</h2>I have designed the new widgets version to look as similar to the original as possible. It contains placeholders for your profile, blog archive, labels, popular posts, blogroll, and more. However, because of the way that new Blogger now handles information, some page elements will not appear in preview mode until you enter details for them, and you won't see the details in your HTML code at all.<br /><br />To modify an existing element, click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Template > Page Elements</span>. Select the element you wish to modify, then click its <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edit </span>link and add the necessary details. You can change its title and/or default configuration any way you like. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Save Changes</span> when you're done.<br /><h2>Removing Page Elements</h2>To remove an element, click its <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edit </span>link, then click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Remove Page Element</span>.<br /><h2>Adding New Page Elements</h2>You can add new elements to either the left or right sidebar. To add an element to a sidebar, choose the sidebar you want to modify, then click its <span style="font-weight: bold;">Add a Page Element</span> option. You'll see a list of fourteen types of elements. Choose the one you want, then click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Add to Blog</span>. Blogger will prompt you to complete the title and/or other details. You can move elements around or change their stack order by dragging them.<br /><br />Be aware that certain types of elements, such as link lists or HTML/Javascripts, can be added multiple times. Others, such as your Blog Archive, will generate an XML error if added more than once.<br /><br />If you wish to change the widths, margins, padding, or border styles of the three columns, you will need to edit the HTML.<br /><br />I hope you find these templates useful. Remember, before you make major changes, be sure to back up your current template.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-20827227284457047522007-04-20T10:50:00.000-07:002007-04-20T13:18:00.746-07:00A Fix for Screwy Blogger Feed Dates<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB-j6wv8_nz7G4LKvHMMiTBYYx2I_7SBoUVOu9zyC367Bgbvio27iCRdk_82h7T0jegIsNjiT5U7k20uEgxfJyFTECTx_946peg5FEDROfI1-mRvTPUmjOAvFN6hKldP7deU/s1600-h/pipes.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055580499829779842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB-j6wv8_nz7G4LKvHMMiTBYYx2I_7SBoUVOu9zyC367Bgbvio27iCRdk_82h7T0jegIsNjiT5U7k20uEgxfJyFTECTx_946peg5FEDROfI1-mRvTPUmjOAvFN6hKldP7deU/s320/pipes.png" border="0" /></a>After updating all 135+ of this blog's posts yesterday with the new Blogger's much-hyped "label" feature, I discovered, much to my annoyance, that Blogger's native <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/03/blog-promotion-push-posts-out-with-rss.html" target="_blank">feed</a> now defaults to <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">updated </span>rather than <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">published </span>order — that is, feed contents are sorted by the date on which posts are modified not by when they were created!<br /><br />For New Blogger users, unfortunately, this means that every time you make the slightest change to a post, including fixing a typo or correcting a broken link, it will jump to the top of your feed — regardless of how old or obsolete it is. If you do a batch of changes as I did yesterday, your feed will be a jumbled mess of outdated posts. If you subscribe to other people's Blogger feeds, you'll be seeing lots of recycled posts.<br /><br />When I emailed FeedBurner about this, they informed me they can do nothing about how Blogger sequences posts. FeedBurner just grabs the original Blogger feed and reflects what's already there.<br /><br />The fix lies primarily with Blogger, and involves a code tweak to your template. A quick Google search unearths <a href="http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=blogger+feed+published+updated+pipes&meta=" target="_blank">lots of advice</a>. The article that I found most helpful is <a href="http://www.katonian.net/2007/03/sorting-your-blogger-feed-by-original.html" target="_blank">this one</a> from <strong>Kato Katonian</strong>, though I still had to comment out a couple of other lines in my template's header before his solution would work. Essentially, you need to change the feed reference in your blog's metadata to point to <span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ff9900;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default</span>?orderby=published</strong></span>.<br /><br />Once I made this change to my template, my native Blogger feed (Atom format) started working correctly, but FeedBurner (the more popular RSS format) still wouldn't pick up the new date sequence. That proved easy to fix, with a quick visit to FeedBurner to update the native feed address. (Click <em>Edit Feed Details</em> and paste the corrected address.)<br /><br />Other proposed solutions include an inventive gizmo from a Yahoo-owned <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Web 2.0</span> feed aggregator named <a href="http://lastword.blogspot.com/2007/02/pipes-to-rescue.html" target="_blank">Pipes</a>. This tool lets you bring in any feed and output it in corrected date order, among many other things. It may help with correcting other screwed up Blogger feeds, though using it to fix your own feed would require current subscribers to re-subscribe.<br /><br />If you have found other fixes, please drop a comment here.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-82936307744668806432007-04-19T13:26:00.000-07:002007-04-23T14:46:06.266-07:003-Column Template Fix for New Blogger<span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: </span>Widgets version now available! See<a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2007/04/3-column-widgets-compliant-blogger.html"> this post</a> for details.<br /><br />With apologies for the long wait, I have finally gotten around to investigating why some people were having trouble bringing my <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/02/build-three-column-blogger-template.html">3-column template</a> into the New Blogger's HTML editor. One of the reasons holding me back was my own reluctance to embrace anything new from Blogger, but I finally took the plunge this morning, and so far so good. It's also the first time I have posted in a couple of months due to a heavy workload. Anyway, on to the topic of this post ...<br /><br />The good news is that there is nothing wrong with the original 3-column Blogger template, found <a href="http://www.weblens.org/3-col.txt" target="_blank">here</a>. The problem was with my instructions (sorry), which were perhaps not specific enough. Some people evidently saved the HTML version of the template displayed when you click the link. That only gives you part of the code (which works fine if you're using Firefox, by the way). If you use IE, however, you need to open the template, <span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>view the source code</strong></span>, and then save or copy and paste into your template editor. IE does not display all the code, including the stylesheet and the all-important doctype declaration at the top.<br /><br />Please be aware that this three-column layout will not work as is with the new Blogger's <span style="font-style: italic;">layout </span><span>mode</span> which uses something called "widgets." <span style="font-weight: bold;">It works fine when pasted into their </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">classic </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">template,</span> but it's generating XML errors in "widget" mode. I am working on a widgets modification, and it should be forthcoming shortly.<br /><br />Hope this clarifies things, and again, apologies for the long delay in finally getting this information to you. Happy blogging!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-1167946144446436942007-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:002007-04-19T15:31:22.747-07:00IT Security Alert: Now PDFs Pose a Threat!<p><strong>Update:</strong> According to IT security types, certain versions of Internet Explorer are also vulnerable. They include: </p><ul><li>IE6, Adobe Reader 7 on XP SP1</li><li>IE6, Adobe Reader 4 on XP SP2</li></ul><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/287403/acro.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/200/681950/acro.png" border="0" /></a> I just received a very alarming alert from my daughter who works in IT security. According to a couple of posts that she forwarded to me, the long-trusted PDF document format can now be exploited for cross-site scripting purposes, meaning that <strong>any web site hosting PDF files can be used for perpetrating cyber attacks</strong>.<br /><br />According to this <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/01/04/tech-pdf.html" target="_blank">CBC News article</a>, which cites research from Symantec and VeriSign, virtually any website hosting PDF files is vulnerable to attack. The outcomes could range from covert spying on surfers to the creation and spread of dangerous worms.<br /><br />The intrusion is accomplished through Javascripted links to PDF documents, which could also be sent by email. They take advantage of a vulnerability in the Acrobat Reader to run malicious code when users attempt to open the linked file. The technique appears, for once, to target Firefox rather than IE.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/weblog/2007/01/when_pdfs_attack.html" target="_blank">This article from Symantec</a> describes the exploit in more detail and outlines ways to protect yourself, including upgrading to Acrobat Reader 8.0 or disabling the plug-in entirely. Don't miss it!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-1165541937531307872006-12-29T16:27:00.000-08:002007-04-19T15:31:37.444-07:00Fractal Art: the Hidden Beauty in Numbers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/671102/sunset%20ball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/200/67099/sunset%20ball.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My passion for making fractal art has deepened, to the extent that friends and family are beginning to worry about me. Virtually every evening, around 8:00 p.m. — after spending all day on the computer — I fire up a fractal program, and don't seem to be able to extricate myself til midnight, or later. (At least it's weaned me off the TV!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/924236/fiddlehead%20forest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/200/165271/fiddlehead%20forest.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I started out with <strong>Ultra Fractal</strong>, which I have blogged about here <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/06/fractal-art-forging-order-from-chaos.html">before</a>. More recently, I began wading into the murky waters of a freeware program called <strong>Apophysis</strong>. The two programs are very different, as are the images they generate. You can often tell a UF image by the bold colours and almost psychedelic feel of the work. Images generated in Apophysis tend to be softer and more delicate, somehow — generally a little more subtle. The image at the top of this post was done with Ultra Fractal. The one to the left of this paragraph is an Apo fractal. Both programs are capable of creating mind-boggling works of art that explore unseen dimensions and seem to probe infinity itself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/332224/be%20my%20valentine%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/200/869428/be%20my%20valentine%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I have recently been experimenting with Ultra Fractal's <em>transformations </em>— special effects you can apply to a fractal. One of these allows you to create a kaleidoscopic effect, as in the example at the right of this paragraph. Other transformations include the mirror ball and shimmering lake effects you see in the first image in this post.<br /><br />Another recent discovery was a technique for outputting fractals as <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/11/transparent-png-generator.html">transparent PNGs</a>. Removing the default black background opens up all kinds of creative possibilities. You can place the fractal on a background image, for example, as David Annal does at his site, <a href="http://www.tessellations.org/Apophystash/index.htm#1" target="_blank">ApophyStash</a>. I use this method so I can create multiple versions of a fractal, with different background colours. To do this, just output your Apo fractal as a PNG. Then open it in PhotoShop. Add a new layer and drag it down below the fractal layer. Then choose a colour and fill the new layer with the paint bucket or gradient tool. The fractal will appear to float over the background.<br /><br />Creating fractal art is definitely a trial and error process, and incredibly time-consuming. I don't want to use the word "addictive," but I'm beginning to feel like I'm in the throes of a very strong compulsion.<br /><h3>Where to Download Software</h3>There are many fractal programs. Here are a few of the most popular:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.ultrafractal.com/" target="_blank">Ultra Fractal</a> ($59 and worth every penny)</li><li><a href="http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=127736" target="_blank">Apophysis</a> (freeware)</li><li><a href="http://home.houston.rr.com/fergusonsc/Tierazon-v29/" target="_blank">Tierazon</a> (freeware)</li><li><a href="http://www.eclectasy.com/Fractal-Explorer/index.html" target="_blank">Fractal Explorer</a> (freeware)</li></ul>If you try these out, let me know which you prefer and why. And welcome to the abyss!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-1164826558276687462006-11-29T10:40:00.000-08:002007-04-19T17:04:45.494-07:00Photo Duck Funnies Right On<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/940309/duck.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/400/715305/duck.png" border="0" /></a> Saw a link yesterday in the <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/10/microstocks-shake-up-stock-photography.html">Shutterstock</a> discussion forums to a clever online comic strip about the trials and tribulations of daring to earn a living as a photographer. <a href="http://www.whattheduck.net/" target="_blank">What the Duck</a> is shutterbug <strong>Aaron Johnson's</strong> wry take on all things photographic. Johnson lets his readers name each strip through his blog's comments feature, and just reading the comments on some of the strips can be pretty entertaining. Check it out. Some of the strips are hilarious.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-1164397874480533682006-11-24T11:02:00.000-08:002007-04-19T15:34:26.871-07:00Transparent PNG Generator<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/1600/234372/trans.png"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4197/1996/320/30401/trans.png" border="0" /></a> A while back, I blogged about <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/04/two-techniques-for-css-transparency.html">CSS transparency techniques</a>, describing two methods for incorporating transparent elements into your design. You can also introduce transparency by using PNG format images. Unlike GIF images, which are either "on" or "off" in terms of opacity, PNG images support full <em>alpha transparency. </em>This means each pixel can display a subtle range of tones from 0 to 255.<br /><br />There are many ways to create transparent PNG images. If all you need is a plain transparent block to use as a background, check out <strong>Stian Grytøyr's</strong> handy <a href="http://apps.everamber.com/alpha/" target="_blank">transparent PNG generator</a>. This useful tool allows you to select a colour by clicking on a color wheel. The tool creates a set of samples ranging from 0% to 100% transparency, in three versions of the selected colour (web-safe, "web-smart," and unsafe).<br /><br />Lighten or darken the sample by clicking on the saturation/lightness patch to the right of the colour wheel. When you have the desired shade, click through on one of the percentage samples to see it used with some demo text against a busy background. From here, you can adjust the image dimensions, transparency, and colour. Right-click on the final rendered sample to save the image to your hard drive.<br /><br />Note: The PNG graphical format enjoys strong support among compliant browsers such as Firefox, Opera, Safari and IE version 7. If, however, you view Grytøyr's page in IE 6 or lower, you will not see the transparency effect, as earlier versions of IE do not support full alpha transparency. For details, and a workaround, see A List Apart's article, <a href="http://www.alistapart.com/articles/pngopacity/" target="_blank">Cross-Browser Variable Opacity with PNG: A Real Solution</a>.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045779.post-1163467879737427312006-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:002007-04-19T17:04:45.495-07:00Output Your Designs on Merchandise<a href="http://www.cafepress.com/fractalicious/1996680" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4197/1996/320/hearttee.jpg" border="0" /></a>I mentioned a while ago that I was trying out some <a href="http://weblensblogs.blogspot.com/2006/10/microstocks-shake-up-stock-photography.html">microstock photography</a> sites as a sales venue for my fractal art images. I have been looking for novel ways to give these images as gifts, especially with the holiday season coming up. My Canon i9900 colour inkjet printer does a surprisingly good job of printing my fractals for use as greeting cards or as framed prints, but I've been looking for something a little more out of the ordinary. A couple weeks ago, I found the solution.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize?pid=6814284" target="_blank">CafePress.com</a> allows you to upload your own designs for output on a wide variety of merchandise. From sheatshirts, caps, and t-shirts to mugs, mousepads, buttons, and more, there is no upfront cost to customize an item whether for your own use, as a gift, or to sell. This solution is ideal for artists, designers, or photographers who want to showcase their work or supplement their income. And it's a useful low-cost alternative for small organizations that don't have huge budgets for logowear.<br /><br />The site allows you to set up a free online store and set your own pricing over a baseline figure that they establish. They print your designs on demand and handle order fulfillment, payment processing, shipping, and customer service. The free shop service does place limitations on the number of products you can customize (basically one of each item), but for only $6.95 per month (less for longer terms), you can upgrade to their premium shop option, which imposes no such limitations. I'm trying out the premium shop service for three months, with a store that I have called <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/fractalicious" target="_blank">Fractalicious</a>. If you like any of my designs, I'd be grateful for your support.<br /><br />Even if you don't have a creative bone in your body, you may still want to check out some of the other shops at <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/?pid=6814284" target="_blank">CafePress</a>. From politics to the environment, from pets to popular culture, you're likely to find something among their extenstive inventory for even the most hard to please person on your list.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15057578794341363881noreply@blogger.com5