I know it has been a while since I have given you a new feature... and there were a few things I promised you. So this AM i started working on the custom template features for your blogs.

It's almost ready -- just give me a few days as I am finishing up something else. You can see a sample here (NOTE: It is just a quick sample, of what will be able to be done -- it is not finalized):

http://learningpiano.blogstream.com

Basically you will be able to change the colors, font sizes, etc. on just about anything on the page. You can actually do more than I have done here -- you will ultimately be able to change font styles, bold, italics, size, etc. as well as box background colors, etc.

I'm just converting the old format to the new one so that you will be able to change these things.

What I plan on is allowing everyone to customize their own page and over time there will be a gallery of pre-set templates you can choose from.

In the future I hope to allow people to complete change the page design -- but for now color will be the first step.

-John

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here... had some travel and other things the last few weeks taking up my time, and I have been concentrating on adding servers for the holiday period so that we are all set for growth (for both this and some of my other sites).

I basically do this myself so I have to spread my time around to different tasks.

I just added a first version of a blog rating system. It is in the top right corner of every blog as long as you are logged in.

Just select the number of stars you rate the blog, 5 being best, 1 being worst.

You can change your rating at any time, only the latest rating counts for your account.

Once a blog receives 20 ratings from 20 users, a average rating will appear in the same area... right now all blogs have no public ratings. (that is what NR means).

Start rating blogs today as you view them... ratings should start appearing over the next few days.

They will show as dark blue stars under the orange stars.

-John

A few of you have pondered, just how does someone get featured?

(Sorry for the delay on this -- I've had a pretty hectic last few days)

Well, it's pretty random. I just basically wander around the site and when I see something interesting I feature it.

Why haven't I updated it recently? I've just been busy, and the site is growing so fast that it is harder and harder to keep up!

I did take some time today to weed out old featured blogs that were not updated lately and to add a few more blogs.

By the way, I try to be pretty open with selections. I look mostly for blogs that people find interesting and comment on, or are well written/easy to read. If you post in all CAPS or dont use any punctuation, you are less likely to be featured.

I am working on a rating system for blogs -- basically members will be able to rate from 0-5 stars with the click of a mouse -- if all works out, these ratings will be used to help find new featured items and help me sort through the nearly 3,000 active blogs in the system.

Any ideas along this line, feel free to comment. Always looking for new features and ideas.

I hope everyone likes the * Comments feature -- I have personally found this to be useful in finding updated blogs... also have you checked out the Blog List? I hope the sorting features have helped you find other blogs of interest. If you notice, you can click on the category name in a blog post to see other blogs related to that one as well.

-John

Many of you have found the Chatroom but never see anyone on. I don't think enough people know about it, only a few login during the day. I will try to send out a notice about it shortly and see if we can get some group activity. Once a few people are in the room more will come.

If you have the time, try logging in and leaving it open in another browser window while you do something else -- if people see someone on they will be more likely to stay on themselves.