Daily Twaddle

Annoying or Helpful… zat is zee keston…

Carol kindly brought up this subject although I’ve been mulling over the idea in my head for a while now. She asked for my blog to automatically open a new browser window when she clicks on a link to a different website (also known as an external or offsite link). She’s not the first internet user to request this feature.

More and more websites make their external links open new windows as a way to keep the user on their website longer. It seems logical and every client I’ve worked with so far asked me to make this happen.

But… the web design community preaches that doing this will upset and annoy the user (you Carol). If that is true… they why do my users keep requesting this feature? It seems like the community speaks “as if” without any actual research.

What the Community Says

Site Point Says: Disorients novice users, breaks the back button, clutters the taskbar, and disrespects by assuming user desire. Jenn Says: Even novice users expect links to other sites to open a new window. Plus, all the newest browsers use tabbed browsing so clutter is a non-issue. And if we let an external link open in the current window, we assume the user desires this.

Blogging Without A Blog Says: Some users want to go back to the original website, so if the different website opens in a new window, they save a click. Jenn Says: This makes sense, I’m always looking for a way to save a click (right clicks included). But, users with disabilities (blind, etc.) will probably have issues using their special browsers.

I guess it basically comes down to creating a positive user experience. I want to engage my readers, not annoy them. So, instead of assuming let’s have the Daily Twaddle readers decide! Carol, we already know your preference, but you should vote anyway.

By the way… if you’re looking for a script to open new windows on your own website… check out this thread at Six Apart.

I’m so sorry I haven’t posted in such a long time. I’m sure I have plenty of plausible excuses that you will buy… but, instead I’m just going to give you a quick overview of what I’ve been up to.

I’m still working at the espresso shop a couple days a week. I just bought a bike and I love it, so I’ve been riding everywhere. We’ve been going out of town for my nephew’s swim meets most weekends. Roch plays softball a few nights a week, so I’ve been going to those (he skipped tonight thankfully). I do farmer’s market once a week. We’ve floated the river again (finally). Shoot - that’s where all my time went!

Anyway…

Pisto - Keep it rocking in Atlanta (not Alabama)! We’ll chat soon.
Carol - I missed you and I’m glad you’re back.
Roch - I know you read even though you don’t comment. I’ll write more soon.
Mom - I’m still alive.
Foley - I’m excited about your new blog! I’ll comment someday… really.

ha ha! And this post is cut short because Roch wants to go on a bike ride with me. Yipee!

Here are some interesting statistics about the people who visit this website.

This first graphic is a USA map showing where each of my visitors come from. A big thanks to Carol for keeping it strong in Wisconsin!

This second graphic is a pie chart that shows my user’s browser and operating system. Look! Only half the people use Internet Explorer! Yay! Maybe that number will continue to decrease over the years as other browsers like Firefox get popular.

Note: This generic, non-identifiable data is collected anonymously. Websites gather this information in order to better serve the needs of their users (for example: make sure the design works with Internet Explorer since half of the people who visit my site use it).

I’ve been posting more posts than usual lately. I decided that frequent, short, (sometimes sloppy) posts are better than no posts.

I’m not sure how many of my readers use feeds, but I know that at least three of my friends actually go to my blog to see if I wrote anything new. I want to make sure there is something for them… even if it’s short or boring.

Since this website is personal, I don’t need quality (keyword filled) content for search engines. I also don’t use advertising, so the amount of visitors to my blog doesn’t matter to me.

I usually can’t keep up with other bloggers who write a new post every day or more than once a day. I don’t have time to read more than a couple a week. I also don’t have time to write that many myself. But… I do like knowing that my feed reader will show something new each time I go to it.

I made a list of some blog characteristics I find important when reading other blogs:

1. Fresh content at least once a week, but I prefer twice a week.
2. Useful information like tips or news with a humorous or casual tone.
3. Opinionated authors: “This is what I think and why.”
4. Blogs that keep me on their blog (not refer me to some other guy’s great posts all the time).
5. Pictures with each post - even if they’re generic. I like to get the gist before I read.
6. Replies to my (and other people’s) comments.

With the above criteria in mind, I try to run my blog the way I want others to run theirs. But… I don’t have a picture to go with this post. I’m just going to start with step one.

It’s a process… fortunately not a twelve-step process… although I have been drinking more since the semester started…

When are you online?

It depends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are no good because I’m at work. Weekends are usually good, but only if Roch goes hunting. Monday is good because I spend the whole time in the office working on taxes, payroll and invoicing. Mornings are no good because I work out. Nights are no good. So, to summarize… I’m probably online during these times:
* Mid-day on weekdays (10am-3pm) excluding T & W

How do I get a picture of myself for comments?

That picture is called a Gravatar (or Avatar). The Daily Twaddle uses your email address to associate your unique icon with your comment. You’ll need an account with Gravatar.com which will allow you to use any image on your computer. Get started by leaving a comment below and checking the box that says “Sign me up for a free Gravatar!”

Where can I see more pictures of your events?

I’ve started using Google’s Picasa Web Albums to upload my personal pictures. I will include a link with each new post that has pictures associated with it. For now, the only album I have online is my Halloween 2007.

What’s new with you?

I went to a clogging class last night. I’m not sure if I like it or not. I’m in the middle of my first quarter of online school (with an A average so far). My dogs are shedding since they’re inside dogs they shed in the winter. I started up step-aerobics again. Roch started coaching his nephew’s basketball team. Right now I’m drinking a delicious chai tea sample that my boss gave me. It’s called cha cha chai - funny huh?

Update: I don’t like meeboo. I switched to Google Chat.

I installed a chat widget on the sidbar of my blog. You can send me an instant message so we can text each other. No need to sign up for an account or download any software… just start typing (but please tell me who you are when you write. )

« Look for “Live Chat” on the left sidebar. Chat me up homies!

Add This To Your Website

Carol and Mom skip this info! It’s just for those who want this technology on their own website.

1. Sign up for a meebo account.
2. Get the code for a meebo me widget.
3. Add this code to a text widget through your WordPress Admin.
4. Add this account to your Adium chat (or other) program.
   1. File > Add Account > Jabber
   2. Jabber ID: yourname@meebo.org
   3. Options Tab > Connect Server = meebo.org, Resource: Home, Port: 5222, Security: Allow plaintext authentication.

I can’t figure out how to automatically allow “allow anyone.” Adium keeps asking me for authorization when my blog loads. Luckily I don’t get that many visitors.

First of all… let me give you some background information on Alexa. Alexa is a website that provides information on the web traffic to other websites. Webmasters use Alexa’s statistics to analyze the popularity of their own website. So basically, a high Alexa rating means a lot of people like your website.

When I checked my awesome stats at Alexa, they offered me a T-shirt that shows the supreme awesomeness of the Daily Twaddle. I took a screen shot so you can see it. Humorous no?

At least Technorati shows me my popularity in real numbers instead of a world percentage. I get a whopping “2″ with them.

On the sidebar, I have a little note that says the Daily Twaddle moved. I’d like to get rid of it, but I don’t know if all of you guys know about the new address.

No more: stage38.com/blog

New and improved: dailytwaddle.com

This is just a little reminder. I think the new address is easier to remember and quicker to type into the address bar. Also, I loved the name so much that I wanted to make sure no one else used it!

A rainy day! Just in time for Spring!

I love this picture of the wet leaves and I’m a big fan of umbrellas (I hate getting rained on you know). So here we are.

I styled the “logo” in Web 2.0 - the current look of the web propelled by Apple. I added the photo border on the edge with photoshop, then warped the whole image. I love drop shadows even though they’re out of style and this way I could have a shadow without the traditional drop-shadow-look. The header looks great. It looks like I can peel the photo right off the page!

I’m using the default Kubrick theme for simplicity. I just added some styles. Linking the logo to the home page was a little tricky. I used my faithful transparent.gif for the effect. I added a regular paragraph to the main index template for the intro description at the top. Maybe I should make it an H tag for proper mark-up?

Tell me what you think and happy reading!

Rest assured - the problem stems from this website - not your computer. To be more specific, the problem lies with my server (my hosting company).

The “database connection” has been off and on for the past couple of weeks. This is driving my crazy. When I notify tech support, they quickly fix the problem and apologize for it. Except one time when one of the guys told me Word Press is to blame. Which is false.

When I researched the problem online, I found that others had the same problem. Basically the host/server prevents basic functions from working. Which breaks my blog. And chaps my ass.

I’ve worked with the same host since 2004 with no problems. In fact, their 24 hour real-person-on-the-phone customer support rocks out loud. And my regular website is working just fine (stage38.com). As are my clients websites.

That said… I want my blog to work properly and I’m considering moving it to a different server. But I’m nervous that I will find myself in the same situation (or worse - maybe a new host won’t care about my problems).

Anyway, I’m sorry about the downtime - don’t leave me!

Also, while searching for other hosts, I came across a “spoof” hosting company. Click around and enjoy the mockery of web hosts.