MySpace or Facebook? Blogs and Social Networks Polls
We found some super Christmas Blog sites out there (quite a few here at Googles Blogspot :) and we wanted to let you know what you can find at some of the great Christmas blog sites.
The first site to mention isn't a "Christmas blog" in itself, but they have an outstanding post on 10 Fantastic Christmas Inspired Tutorials that we thought very cool :)
MyInkBlog has a post of tutorial links for you to create your own Christmas Wallpaper, Creative Christmas cards, Christmas Greetings Postcards, Illustrations, Glittery Postcards, a tutorial link for drawing Christmas Trees, Santa Hats, Ornament Balls, and Christmas Backgrounds. Make hand designed Christmas cards for your friends and family with this handy link guide to some great tutorials.
The Spanish-Teaching.com/blog is a blog for Students and Teachers of Spanish. The Spanish Christmas calendar is more than worth the trip :) Here is but one of the interesting facts held in this site: "In Spain, it's January 6th that children receive their presents left by the Three kings (Los, Reyes, and Magos) rather than Father Christmas or Santa Claus." Nativity scenes are widely used in Spain and often brilliant in design.
Christmas4All.blogspot.com is really a 2007 Christmas blog site but very informative. With posts on How to Say Merry Christmas in different languages, Christmas Prayers, and a link to the GatewayToJesus (which houses some incredible Christmas Blog Stories. Link to Thoughts-About-God.com that has a great representation of the Christmas Story with an awesome graphic image to go with this post.
ChristmasSprite.com is a Christmas Blog Site full of Christmas History, Traditions, Wallpapers, Games, Lyrics, and much more. The Christmas History includes the First Christmas Card, Christmas at the White House, Chronology of American Christmas, and History of the Ornament. Here is a bit of this history here: In Germany, some people hide a pickle shaped ornament very well in the tree (hidden last) on Christmas morning whomever is the first child to spot this pickle gets an extra surprise gift!
Listen Into Blogs and Social Networks Christmas Blog Site Coolies for more :)
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us
Stevie has a great list of 5 photo fixer sites that we have been playing around with lately. She has designed some incredible brilliance with her selected "tweakable" photos :)
Here is an example of some of the creations Stevie made:
Check out more on Stevies MySpace
Most Photo Adjustment sites offer color tweaks, brightness, redeye fix, contrast, adding text or stickers but not all have animations. For animations visit MyTheme.
Stevie's 5 list:
Let's see what some of the "draws" to these sites are :)
PhixR.com way fast to register, start to upload your pics straight away. The adjustment editing area is right there :) Here you can also transfer your photos from Live Journal, Image Shack, Buzznet, Drop Shots, Facebook, Flickr, Fotolog, SmugMug, Picasa, PhotoBucket, Fototopic.net, and WebShots. PhixR is another "no fluff" site becasue you are creating the fluff with your pics. PhixR is an photo adjustment site with photo effects like Oil Painting, Dot Art, Funnel, Charcoal Drawing, Black and White, and Spray. With these type effects, I just recommend playing around and having fun with a couple of photos to figure out what effects you like best. Blending or Mixing a photo with another is the huge draw to PhixR I think :) This is very cool, layered effects of one photo or another where you adjust the transparency of both. This feature isn't offered everywhere and some that do offer it are much more difficult to use than this one :) Also the fixer "Noise reduction" is brilliant here at PhixR, a tool used to get rid of the fuzzy stuff in a photo.
FlauntR.com Turn your photos into creations at FlauntR then apply them to mugs, hats, t-shirts, mouse pads, calendars, and more. Free to register, find out more about FlauntR on the show :)
MyTheme Online Photo Editor @ blibs.com Awesome photo editor and MySpace layouts and graphics arena :)
SoSauce.com Name, email, password, birthday, and area code to register here with a confirmation email. Free to sign up Photo Sharing site geared toward Travelers, Historians, Local info, and Site Seer info. If you are looking for a great coffe shop in Paris, or a Winery tour in California, my thought would be to check here. Also, if you know of any great destinations and you have Photos to go with them, sign up and let others know here at SoSauce.
Picnik.com Free to use but even better when you register for free. Also an upgrade option. Way quick to sign up, no confirmation email.
Flickr.com is really a photo holding, friending, photo sharing site. But Flickr is one of the free holding sites for your "Tweaked" creations. And only about $25 a year for an upgraded pro account.
Our Blogs and Social Networks Photo Persuasion show has some great info for people needing to "adjust, tweak, fluff, dress up, sparkle out, resize, and/or change the formats" of your photo images. Add descriptions, keywords, even "tag" to add a live hyperlink to sections of your pictures.
Some of sites we discussed included my top 3 :)
Photobucket: One of the very best "all inclusive" photo sites. Only $3.95 a month or less than $40 a year to upgrade here at PhotoBucket but free to use and no pressures to upgrade ever :) Get prints, share albums, tweak and resize photos. Photobucket also has a great selection of Slide shows to put it all together :)
Slide: Is the bomb! :) Rocks for sure, more info on show, but Slide.com will put the purse, belt, and shoes on your photo outfitters for a great slide show :)
Flickr: One of the biggest Photo sharing, holding, and friending sites on the Internet.
PiccyFix: Top Photo site for format changes with much more.
Picnik: Tab Folders and Grass Picnik Welcomes You to Sign up for Free. With all the basics, why choose Picnik over the others? Try the "Create Tab" and see for yourself why Picnik is rockin'. Upload 5 photos at atime unless you want to go premium, then up to 100 at a time here about $25 a year for the upgrade to premium option with many perks.
SoSauce: Travel Geeks Global Curiosity Local Expertise
MyThemeAnimator @ blibs.com/editor: A link from MyTheme to the editor pages but MyTheme also has some awesome MySpace Layouts and Graphics.
FlauntR: From FotoDesk Professional Photo Editing Easy and Free
PhixR: The Online Photo Editor Choose to Sign Up for Free (only takes 15 seconds) No email hassles :)
We cover in depth what you can do where on the show :)
But for sure PiccyFix.com is the place I go for format changes from PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP. No registration here at PiccyFix, Instant and Free. You can choose to host your pics here or show them off in the gallery and PiccyFix can adjust your photos much more than just format changes :)
Resize, Rotate, Flip, Colorize, Crop, Tint, Adjust Brightness, Contrast, and Add Effects and Borders at PiccyFix :)
Listen into Blogs and Social Networks Photo Persuasion for more :)
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us :)
I have found a brilliant "Blog Style" Christmas themed site to help you in your gift giving decisions over this Christmas season :) Chock full of great articles on Christmas gift giving.
"10 Great Christmas Gifts For Teenage Boys
Did someone say teenage boys were easy to shop for? It might seem like that till you actually go to get them something only to find you’re in a state of confusion. Here are a few ideas to help make life easier during Christmas shopping time. For you and for him.
Jeans, because he could always use another pair. All you have to be careful about is to buy what he would like, not what you like. Get him a pair that’s similar to the style he usually wears and you’ll probably have made the right choice. It would help to find out what cut of jeans he currently wears.
A snowboard would make a perfect gift during winter if he doesn’t already have one. You could get one that’s very reasonably-priced and most teenage boys love the thrill of a new sport." READ MORE
Thanks and Kudos to Irene for the great ideas, information, and articles :) Merry Christmas!
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google me :)
Shake Yourself! with the coolest of snowglobes! Glade snowglobes! The ABC Family site is incredible Christmas fun :)
You choose the scenery, your "Style" and get the coolest of personalized Snow Globes for your site and for your friends :)
My son, Wyverex, has created his ... Quite "Dapper and Dashing" :)
Much more at the ABC Family site for Christmas fun: TV schedule, sweeps, search 4 Santa, videos, games,boards, and tips! Check it out :)
ABC Family: 25 Days of Christmas
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me ;)
One of the many "new" graphic "Coolies" out there for Christmas decorating are the plethora of Snow Globes to choose from :)
Christmas Myspace Comments
Free Code Source has a three page selection :)
Christmas Myspace Layouts
Christmas Myspace Graphics
PopDarts is another cool graphics and layouts code site with a great selection of Snow Globes as well :) And even though the copied HTML source code did not work here at Blogger, there is a Gigya option to post directly to Blogger from the site as a post or in the sidebar.
Pownce.com will be shutting down December 15th 2008 :( To all you Powncers out there, you will still be able to access your content until then and Pownce has created a way to export all of your content :)
"Pownce Acquired by Six Apart
Pownce has been acquired by the blogging company Six Apart, the makers of Movable Type, TypePad and Vox. To find out more about the acquisition please read the announcement by Six Apart CEO Chris Alden, and the announcement by Pownce Founder Leah Culver." READ MORE
Pownce members across the net enjoyed the site immensely and Pownce will be missed by Blogs and Social Networks active users everywhere :)
CU Pownce!
Visit My Goodbye Google Lively Post :)
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me :)
If you haven't taken a visit to ProjectPlaylist.com recently, check out the "dress-up" they received with new colors and fluff! Try it out and send in your feedback. You can always go back to the original format if you want :) I personally Dig It, Kudos to Project Playlist!
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me ;)
Get the coolest Christmas Graphics, Quotes, Layouts, and much more at Fun Munch! Grab a Byte and Enjoy :)
* "I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year."
~Charles Dickens.
* "I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
* Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
Star and angels gave the sign.
~Christina Rossetti
* And she will bear a Son, and you shall
call His name Jesus, for it is He who
will save His people from their sins
Matthew 1:21
* "Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to
the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the
old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport
the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"
~Charles Dickens
* "Blessed is the season which engages the
whole world in a conspiracy of love."
~Hamilton Wright Mabie
* Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
~Washington Irving
* From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
Emily Matthews
* Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.
Mary Ellen Chase
* Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Calvin Coolidge
* A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.
Eva K. Logue
Get Many More Christmas Event Quotes, Graphics, Layouts, and More at FunMunch
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me :)
Zimbio.com is one of the most unique and interesting sites exploding across the Internet today. The slogan says "An Interactive Magazine With Over 10 Million Readers a Month" and I second that and add "The most inventive, automatic, categorizer of articles and blog posts I have ever seen" :)
In essence, Zimbio collects all the posts (text, video, photo, etc.) from every members blog submitted to Zimbio by the member (and any additional articles, posts, photos, etc. these members submit directly to Zimbio), slot them out into Video Games and Gaming, Blogs and Social Networks, Google, Historical Fiction, PC Games, Philosophy Articles, Free Advertising, Generic MLM Info, Internet Marketing, Current Events in America, Quotes, Supreme Court Rulings, Historical Jesus, Twitter, Free Stuff and Freebies, Social Bookmarkmarking, the list here is extensive. Each individual "grouping" of the posts then falls into this "category" or Wiki :) That was also created by one of the members of Zimbio :)
Brilliant, unique, and very clever of the creators of this wonderful Zimbio network. Zimbio has a company wikizine, check out the feed:
Zimbio - Recent Contributions - Zimbio
* John edited "The Role of the Editors" Note
* John added "The Role of the Editors" Link
* John added "The Role of the Editors" Note
With Zimbio, getting out the news, information, and relavent stories of the day is top priority. Get your Internet 411 right here at Zimbio.com.
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me
Google always has such lovely graphics for the special days, and even for the normal ones :)
Most appreciated, It really brightens up days and speads the sunshine around the net! Thanks Google and Happy Thanksgiving :)
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us :)
I wanted to get this link up before the show for an awesome post from Jason Peck for a listing of some great Sports Social Networks :)
"Building on my last list of sports social networks, 25+ Sports Social Networking Websites, here’s an updated list of sports-related social networks that reflects your feedback as well as some other sites I’ve discovered:
FYI, in some cases it is unclear how many members some of these communities actually have, but I at least wanted to provide this list because I think there is a growing opportunity for certain niche social networks (especially in sports, which is such a huge passion and part of daily life). While some of these sites may die, others will thrive and continue to be “passion hubs” for avid fans and participants of specific sports, teams and leagues." Read more :)
Listen Into Our Show on News Social Networks
"Blogs and Social Networks News Social Networks. Where to get the headline, sports, political, local, gamer, celebrity, and interesting news of the day right inside a social network setting. Social Networks geared toward the "need to know generation", which to go to for what kinds of news. Avatars United, the social network for gamers; Mashable, the techy blog social network for all thats new on the web; Newsvine, the headline news social network; Wetpaint and Ning News Social Networks; and more."
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter
The Blog Nuts, Kathy Paquette and Linda Hoy, have gone above and beyond the usefulness stage with the Free to use Blog Nut Toolbar and created an environment for business owners, friend seekers, entrepreneurs, social network enthusiasts, and blog nuts alike! This explosive community of bloggers and social networkers is enjoying the perks, benefits, friendly members, and nutty fun with the Blog Nuts :)
Blog Nut Toolbar Blogs and Social Networks Group
Groups are one of the coolies offered over at the Blog Nut Toolbar Community so check out our Blogs and Social Networks group :) Free Advertising, Live Web Cams, Nut Chat, Happy Birthdays, Featured Nuts, Videos, Forums, Blog Areas, Photo uploads, Badge Sharing with other Ning Blog Social Networks, Featured Partner Nings, Who’s Online, Nut Chat, and much, much more :)
Come on over and join in on the explosion!
Stephanie and Stevie Haile aka Wavecritter and Teen Girls Radio Google Us )
Get Squirrelly with the Blog Nuts!
Your Thanksgiving Pie
Click here: Pumpkin Pie - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson
My Dad (Stevies Grandpa :) sent this link to us and it is such a joy, as is my Dad :)
Enjoy!
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google Us
Looking into some of the coolest of music blogs and social networks sites we came across Last FM. With music, radio, events, and charts for top weekly artists, Last FM has a whole site feel for everything music :) From one of the favorites at Last FM, Jason Mraz, to Marilyn Manson, Beethoven, The Beatles, Hoobastank, and No Doubt with everything in between.
Just set up and sign up for free. Type in a few of your favorite artists (this is more important than it originally seems) because last FM will then base all your recommendations (and they are awesome!) from your list to create you a personal playlist :)
Feel free to add to and subtract from as you go along. Click settings and a photo or other profile information, then add to your music and artist selections.
Tag adding or keyword tagging is a big draw here at Last FM. Google and other search engines eat these keywords up so be sure to tag away.
Browse events by the actual event posters (this is cool :) Give events shouts and see the recommended for you events. This is one of the coolest things about Last FM, they give brilliant recommendations on everything for you based on your list of artists, so be sure to include all your favorites from the start :)
Last FM does a lot of the thinking for you really in addition to being a breeze to set up and navigate, a totally stress free way to enjoy your music.
Connect your ipod or media player to Last FM or get Last FM on your iphone. For Windows, a quick download will get you connected no worries.
Theres forums, friends, groups, contests and promotions, and (drum roll please :), wiki pages too!
Free to register, add music, and usee all the main features at Last FM and they offer promotional features that are purely optional at a minimal cost. Widgets that you can customize with your recently listed tracks, overall top tracks, top artists, change colors, and automatically add this Last FM widget to your Live Journal or Netlog pages or embed the code is also available for other sites like Blogger.
Theres a taste-o-meter widget to compare your tastes with your friends, a Bebo widget, Facebook, radio player, and quilt widget to show your top albums! Nice. Last FM has the widgets going on for sure with recommendations and much more.
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Teen Girls Radio and Wavecritter Google Us :)
Project Playlist and Humble Voice are two outstanding sites. Project Playlist has been around for some time and in my opinion is the leader in widget based, carry your music to your blog or web site, music creator list based sites :)
Having a newer version that you can choose at Project Playlist is yet another update of the Internet Blogs and Social Networks World that I find notable. Project Playlist is now easier to navigate and now you can have your blog area to blog away about music or whatever. With 100 songs per playlist and as many separate lists as you want to take to any site via the Project Playlist HTML widgets, this sites portability and choice are hard to beat. Gain buddies, search for music by artist or title, use the pop out features of any playlist when you want to listen in, but not remain glued to the site.
Humble Voice on the other hand is still presently in Beta but watch this site grow by leaps and bounds! This is not only a music based site but an "Artist" site. A well thought out site for the "Arts" not only musicians and listeners but for photographers, videographers, writers, and "Creators" in general :) When creating your initial profile here at Humble Voice, you can choose between a photographer, writer, musician, videographer, artist, or other. Editing your profile is an optional detailed adventure (which I highly prize, this will give viewers a larger view of you and your work) or you can skip things and just tell a bit to keep it brief. Humble Voice has options to send messages, add friends, instant message right from the site (this will save you from having many other messaging systems open and focus more on the site you are on :), forward your profile to friends, bookmark, or block other users for privacy. Choosing photographer, muscian, artist, or writer allows you to add on multiple pages for a bit of a "web site" creation to showcase your imaginations.
Visit HumbleVoice.com/TeenGirlsRadio to view my site and make friends :)
See You There!
Stevie Haile aka Teen Girls Radio and Blogheiress :)
IMVU.com (free with a download) Now offering an IMVU prepaid credit card from Target and 7-11 stores. 
Miss Greenbacks is the official banker here at IMVU and she also lets you know about the coolest of bundle packs available for your credit points and promo credits. The privacy settings are awesome at IMVU check them out and set yours up to suit you for open forum or total invisibility. Major kudos go out to the Fable Fans Group at IMVU. Ken Halo is an outstanding group leader so if you are interested in the game Fable, check out the members of this group at IMVU :)
IMVU has one of the sweetest YouTube videos for their bundle packs and promotions. Get new outfits, rooms, shades, jewelery, and more for your IMVU avatar.
IMVU inc will help you with security.
Charm gets you started making friends.
Lucky can show you how to make your avatar brilliant :)
You get started for free with a name Guest_Wavecritter (this is mine :) but yours will have the Guest_ part at first. If you purchase your avatar name, you can dispense of the Guest_.
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me :)
In my questing for social toolbars and virtual worlds, I came across a virtual worlds site that had a host of online virtual worlds. VirtualWorldsReview.com This site contains a massive listing of cool virtual worlds sites like beta/Playdo.com.
What a nifty site! Place images or video over each other (layering) when creating your profile page here, reduce the opacity to make them transparent (need Adobe Macro Media Shockwave Player for this one) No worries :)
Visit beta.playdo.com/wavecritter for the page that I set up :)
SpineWorld.com with no download but with an option to upgrade to become a citizen of Spine World is a site geared toward younger virtual world explorers. Create your avatar, go on quests and make new friends. This site has an awesome parents area with security features, code of conduct, and more.
With every site that you join, be sure to state your correct ages, especially those under age 13, so the security measures can be used to watch your backs and protect you.
At Spine World, you get "Flown In", as you fly in you get a short tutorial to get you acquainted with game play. This is a fun site for all ages but really geared toward pre teens and teens.
No post on Virtual Worlds could be complete without OgreIsland.com. The very coolest social networks are the gaming social networks and Ogre Island has an interesting and pleasant group of regular players that are helpful and friendly. Respect them and they will respect you :)
As with any gaming social network, No Spamming, No Begging, and No Foul or Nasty Language. Be nice and you will be treated nice in return and always, no matter which forum, social network, virtual world, or community you join, Read The Guides and Rules before you begin to ask questions :)
Social Toolbars are downloadable toolbars for your browser window that also incorporate a "Social" factor. The most impressive in this arena is BlogNutToolbar.com. The social networking virtual world toolbar system that is also a website social networking community that offers free advertising, flash gaming, Google group, information, fast searches, one clicks to popular blogs and social networks, toolbar capabilities such as a radio and email notifier and much more :)
Onto a short list of some other choice sites:
DressUpChallenge.com (free to join)
Sims Online (Purchased)
CyberTown.com (30 day free trial and then monthly fee)
Disneys Toontown (free trial and then monthly fee)
Virtual Magic Kingdom (free)
Pirates of the Caribbean Online (free to download free to play)
IMVU.com (free to download and play) (more on IMVU in my next post)
Zwinky.com (comes as a download toolbar free) A virtual "Doll" that you can take to the "Mall" with head bubble chat. A world of fun all in one toolbar.
Yohoho Puzzle Pirates (An Online Pirate World of Fun! All Free!)
SecondLife.com (free access for one basic account) Read all the start up information under "What is Second Life?". Create your avatar and visit Second Life Lands requires a download with all info on site. This is a huge place with loads of information on how to become a resident here.
Well, here a but a few of the coolest in social toolbars and virtual worlds around the net. Enjoy!
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me
Here is the Space Shuttle Night Launch Endeavour Video I just uploaded to YouTube. Taken from my backyard :)
For some unique, glittery, WOW, different graphics, comments, layouts, and HTML codes!
Even instruction like:
"Christmas Comments and Graphics Codes for Myspace, Friendster, Hi5
To use the free Christmas graphic comments: Copy the HTML code from below the graphic image and paste the code on your blog, MySpace, Friendster, Hi5, MyEeos, Xanga, Piczo, Orkut, Multiply, TagWorld or other social networking profile page. You can also post the Christmas graphics code as a MySpace comment." READ MORE
For the Mac users out there finding web widgets is as easy as taking a visit to Apple.com/downloads/dashboard for your greatest selections.
Doing a Google search for Web Widgets and then one for Widgets will return to you a host of selections.
A few more sites:
Get Wordpress Web Widgets by installing the Automattic plugins and using a widget ready theme. This can bring you a popular customization. Visit Automattic.com/code/widgets
Opera Web Widgets at Widgets.Opera.com for desktop, mobile, and TV with new widgets added daily. You can browse, download, and share widgets on Operas Official Widget Site for small, fun, and useful web programs (which is really what a web widget is).
YourMinis.com widgets for your blog, web site, start page, and desktop. Check out the Shout Cast Radio by AOL, the home of Free Internet Radio. Tune into thousands of free online radio stations from DJs and broadcasters around the World.
FreeSignUpCompanies.info and Widgets-Gadgets.com are two great blog sites full of cool web widgets and information.
Theres BraveNet.com for free websites and web tools because "Everybody Loves Widgets"!
Get some cool Web Widgets to add interactivity to your sites today :)
Listen into our Blogs and Social Networks Web Widgets Show!
Stevie and Stephanie haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter
Onto Yahoo Widgets
Find and Create web widgets at Yahoo Widgets.
A site that explains exactly what web widgets are complete with a search for particular web widgets. Check out the latest, newest, and top rated widgets here at yahoo widgets.
Going to the "Get Started" area about half way down the home apge on the right hand side will be a good place to start. This is where you can take a tour of yahoo Widgets. Then choose from thousands of weather based, game widgets, web cams, time savers, and more.
If you are looking for Desktop Web Widget Platforms, this site is definitely a one stop for you. Widgipedia.com
Get web widgets from the biggies here at Widgipedia. Yahoo Widgets, Opera, Dashboard, Sidebar, DesktopX, Google Widgets, AveDesk, Samurize, MySpace, Blogger, KlipFolio, and more. Web Widgets searches and Mobile Widgets ( a new feature here at Widgipedia ) also widgets for the iPhone.
On the home page with the widgets gallery, you can see all the widgets available from Widgipedia.
Widgipedia has complete tutorials, answers to questions in the FAQ section, answers well the "What's a Widget" question, has a Widgipedia Forum where you can request a widget, get widget tutorials, tips and tricks, and post your own information, a Widget Libraries Forum, and News about Widgets.
Widgipedia is a site dedicated to web widgets for all platforms that you can use in your web pages or on your desktop combined with a great community of Widgipals for the added feature of friendage. A true shiner in the Blogs and Social Networks community.
Let's talk about a site called Widget Box. "The Worlds Largest Widget Marketplace" with widgets for Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, Bebo, Typepad, Wordpress, Xanga, Freewebs, and more. WidgetBox has a community of tens of thousands of widget makers and tens of millions of widget users. WidgetBox is free to use and free to sign up as a member.
The "About Us" section of the site will better explain finding, getting, making, and explain what a widget is. They have their own blog site full of their own cool widgets at Blog.WidgetBox.com
Get your own free account and save items of interest in your My Widget Box to use later or to keep track of the ones you use.
Stephanie and Stevie Haile aka Wavecritter and Blogheiress Google Us :)
Remember, a web widget is anything that can be embedded within a page of HTML (a web page) that adds content to a page that isn’t static, meaning it automatically is adding fresh page content as it refreshes.
Web widgets are quite common and used by Bloggers, Social Networkers, and personal website owners. Like I previously mentioned above, home page sites like IGoogle, NetVibes, and Page Flakes are made to be easiest to create a home page for yourself of widgets to stay in touch with what is important to you :)
Apps or widgets placed on a third party web site via embedded code, then the widget brings “right now” information and added content like links, images, and advertisements from the other third party sites without the web site owner having to update as often.
Keep in mind that widgets can also be used for detrimental purposes transporting viruses or other negative reasons like enticing people to download adware.
Listen into our Blogs and Social Networks Blog Talk Radio Show on Widgets for more.
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me
Spout is a site along the lines of Flixster where they base the excitement on Movies! The latest Movies, current Movie reviews and new Movie trailers all in a Blogs and Social Networks setting!
Spout - Find Movies you'll love!
Watch the top 5 trailers, read news and reviews, listen to Movie based podcasts, write reviews, share Movie lists, rate Movies, find friends to discuss your favorites with.
What Spout is watching today:
The Rules of the Game 1939
"Now often cited as one of the greatest films ever made, Jean Renoir's La Règle du jeu/Rules of the Game was not warmly received on its original release in 1939: audiences at its opening engagements in Paris were openly hostile, responding to the film with shouts of derision, and distributors cut the movie from 113 minutes to a mere 80. It was banned as morally perilous during the German occupation and the original negative was destroyed during WWII. It wasn't until 1956 that Renoir was able to restore the film to its original length. In retrospect, this reaction seems both puzzling and understandable; at its heart, Rules of the Game is a very moral film about frequently amoral people. A comedy of manners whose wit only occasionally betrays its more serious intentions, it contrasts the romantic entanglements of rich and poor during a weekend at a country estate. André Jurieu (Roland Toutain), a French aviation hero, has fallen in love with Christine de la Chesnaye (Nora Gregor), who is married to wealthy aristocrat Marquis Robert de la Chesnaye (Marcel Dalio). Robert, however, has a mistress of his own, whom he invites to a weekend hunting party at his country home, along with André and his friend Octave (played by Jean Renoir himself). READ MORE
Check out, Discuss, and have fun with Spout!
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter
As Blogs and Social Networks sites go, locating an impressive Fall or Autumn quality layout without the Fluff of the Holidays is a bit of a task in itself :) Stevie and I have done the research for you and will give you a bit of insight into where these Falling Autumn sites full of the coolest of HTML graphics, comments and Layouts or backgrounds are hiding.
The first one we found with an awesome assortment of both layouts for MySpace, Hi5, and Friendster was DazzleJunction(this is the link to the Fall Layouts page) and this is the direct link to the Fall HTML Graphics and Comments Page. 10 pages of Fall HTML Graphics and comments and 5 pages of layouts geared toward the Fall Season. For future reference, Dazzle Junction also has an outstanding selection of Layouts and Graphics for all times, Holiday, Season, or not. Glitter, generators, MySpace Tweaks (these are neat helpers) for when you want to center out your friends or comments box, hide your friends from other visitors, scroll through your friends and shorten the box, hide the detail box and more. With some added basic HTML and CSS How To to boot! Along with 2009 calendars and personalized avatars and be sure to add Dazzle junction to your list of MySpace Friends with the easy link just on the Dazzle Junction site if you dig their stuff.
All4MySpace offers layouts, codes, graphics, and news. All 4 MySpace has over 130,000 free MySpace Layouts choices and under the "Nature" Layouts they have a kickin' Brad Pitt Legends of the fall Layout (if you are a fan, you just have to see this one:) with over 28 pages of more Fall Layouts to choose from. Over 16 pages of MySpace Fall Graphics and over 5 pages of Glitter Fall Graphics. It would do you well to come here first or second in your search for the best Fall Layouts for you. Their selection is tremendous and the quality is tops as well.
All4MySpace also offers generators along with the premade or design your own layouts. A layout stealer too if you must "Have" your friends exact layout.
Topbun.com is a site for layouts as well, but the real draw here, what makes them clever and unique is the selection of "Skinny" layouts you can get. It isn't such a cut and dry site and not quite as easy as the first two, but a small selection of great Fall Layouts.
We visited a few others like FreeCodeSource.com and found their site to have a small but cute selection of Fall design. MSNerdsLayouts.com has very little but some Fall Layouts. MySpaceIsUgly.com has a minor selection of Fall Layouts a few more than half are on the girly side, but if that is what you need, here you go. Satisfaction has some great art work but they are a bit on the link happy side.
Onto Pyzam.com and CoolChaser.com, two of the drop all very hands down best Layout sites for Blogger (Googles Blogspot) and for MySpace Layouts.
Pyzam is the layout of choice for one of my favorite sites backgrounds Under-The-Sea
Check them out for a Blogspot blog sites layout, but be certain to put it up early in the creation, sometimes adding or changing out you Blogger background will delete the widgets you have created in the sidebar. I would give it a try and if they will be deleted (the widgets) Blogger will let you know before to give you an option not to continue. Best to set your blog up the way you would like it from the beginning.
Cool Chaser has the very easiest and a very large selection of MySpace Layouts and Backgrounds. Your selection is from a plethora of photos from sites like Flickr. So, a Fall Layout is really at your service here.
Enjoy the Seasons!
Blogs and Social Networks
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter Google us :)
This is so cool, learning Flash will get you up and running like a pro site builder in no time at all!
"Flash is a tool for creating interactive and animated Web sites! In our Flash tutorial you will learn how to start using Flash in your applications." Visit the w3schools site for Flash learning.
Learn Flash Today
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me :)
An example of the hesitation, complication, and delay of choice for teens in America on the Presidential Election 2008 that I have personally witnessed, having teenagers of my own, has been a Blog Talk Radio Show. With eagerness a show was scheduled by a group of 18 year olds to cover the points of interest in the election and a mix of all of this put together and more stood in their way. Their initial thoughts on the show were that they were steadfast in their decisions on who they each wanted to be the new President of the United States. They realized early in the research procedure that this was not going to be as easy a show as they had originally believed.
Few 18 year olds are confident in the area of politics and political discussion and were stepping a bit out of their realm. This is a brilliant example of learning as you go, incredible life lessons, taking on any task with youthful enthusiasm and youthful spirit that being 18 years old embodies in the World. One teen was sure she did not even wish to vote at first but after doing some research decided that her vote does count and has not yet definitively chosen a candidate. Others are still set in their original choice of John McCain.
Listen Into Teen Girls Radio Presidential Election 2008 Show
This is part of an article I have written. Inspired by the Teen Girls of Teen Girls Radio! Read The Full Article Here
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me :)
Blog Talk Radio Shows Are Fun, Free, and Brings out your creative side :)
Get started at Blog Talk radio yourself and make some cool friends, create your own podcast, tell others what you know and enjoy your own Radio Show at Blog Talk Radio.
Enjoy The Show :)
Stevie and Stephanie Haile aka Blogheiress and Wavecritter
Listen into our show anytime BlogsAndSocialNetworks.info
Fanbox is a very unique social network. When you log into Fanbox it resembles (or rather, looks just like ;) your desktop! You can share files with others and also keep your files in storage right on Fanbox. Instant message capabilities in Yahoo, AIM, GMail, and MSN all at once without any downloads. IM others right on Fanbox to meet new friends. On Fanbox, your friends are listed as "fans". Adding applications to your site is a similarity to Facbook as are the "Pings". Pings are somewhat like a Facebook "Poke" and allow you to Poke, Wink, Hug, and Smack your fans. There is an asking questions feature here as well with questions like "Whats Your Favorite Color?" ready to go or type up your own.
As always with social network sites, watch out for the ones who are just there to "hook up". Unless of course, that is your goal as well, either way, just be sure to portray yourself accordingly :)
Check Out Stevies Site at Fanbox
Stephanie and Stevie Haile aka Wavecritter and Blogheiress Google Us
Once you get your personal layout profiles to your liking, why would you then wish to change it? When changing a profile layout, sometimes you feel at a loss because you have worked so hard to get your profiles at many Blogs and Social Networks "Just Right". No need to worry about this at all if you have a notepad or other saver system in your my documents, just copy and paste straight from your "about me" section of your social network directly to a save section in your documents, notepad, word, or other program. Then after the special event, holiday, or new creation for your layout, background, or profile, you can always copy and paste it right back into your "about me" or other section of your profile layout area.
This is how I placed the Green Ghosty with the hat!
I added the background code as a post to this blog site, not on the sidebar but as an actual post and it took as a replacement for the original background image to my original blog layout. I did not adjust the layout code at all either so all I will need to do to change it back to the original graphic image is delete the post :) Fun to tweak and change blogs and social networks in new and unique ways :)
As you build your new layout by adding your choice contact table, cursor, falling objects, graphics, sounds, and more, label the order of each as you go or always choose the same order. Place enter spaces between each item and you will know which is which by counting down the order, if your cursor is always third and your background is always last, you will know which to change if you aren't happy with the final outcome and overall look of your layout.
Using CSS profile backgrounds and layouts with sites like Friendster and Ning is very different in the "tweaking" of the premade layouts than the regular HTML codes used at sites like MySpace and Blogspot. The sheer number of premade layouts available not only makes this layout process easier by copying and pasting the entire code, you also get a first hand look at the coding. Later on, when you start thinking about learning a bit more to adjust these codes, having viewed them already, will help in your understanding greatly when you go to "tweak" them.
Halloween Ning layouts and Friendster layouts are CSS codes which many profile, background, and layout sites have already set up with premade designs and the wealth of premade layouts for HTML coding profile Blogs and Social Networks will actually make the choosing a difficult process.
Along with the numerous graphics, generators, countdown tables, contact boxes, animations, comments, and more, many sites host the coolest of backgrounds and layout designs for Halloween and other holidays.
Some of the sites I found that sport some great selections of Halloween Layouts for your Social Network profiles include: Wish A Friend with twenty-four pages of choice Halloween design layouts including a variety from very mild, children quality designs to scary graveyards to some gore; Halloween Joys has a site that offers some fairly decent, creepy animated GIFs along with some easy to post Halloween Flash Games and an interesting History and Traditions of Halloween section; Graphics Arcade is a site mostly for a good selection of Halloween Graphics. Their Halloween Layouts are a bit limited in number but they may just have the one you were looking for; Cool Holiday Graphics and Holiday Joys are yet a few more with some interesting Halloween Graphics, Layouts, and Backgrounds.
Firebug for the Firefox browser has an addon to edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and Javascript live on any webpage. This may be an answer for you to successfully "tweak" your codings.
Enjoying the Holidays with an attractive, time sensitive, stirring profile layout is just another exciting part of sharing Blogs and Social Networks with the Internet World.
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter Google Me ;)
