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¿ǝuıɯ ʇı sı ɹo ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹnoʎ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ ƃuıɥʇǝɯos sı

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

It looks like this may be my final post for 2009, it sounds so weird saying that. Where did the year go? Anyway....

I am a technology Widget-Gadget-Gidget-Whatchamacallit-Sidebar-Addict.  There, I said it!  I love all those little tracking tools, the neat little links, the fun social networking buttons, cool graphics, icons, HTML objects and embeds, and all that other techy widget stuff.  How selfish of me though, what have I done?  Did I break your browser?  What?  I locked up your computer all these years? Oh No!!

Well it's time to clean house for 2010.  (and it's long overdue)  You might recognize below, many of the widgets and gadgets you used to see on my ActiveRain sidebar.  Over time, you've probably just become numb to them like ads, or even ignored them entirely, that is if you could even get into my Blog.  Can too many widgets and gadgets really slow down your Blog?  The answer is without hesitation, a definite YES.

Just because you CAN add them, doesn't mean you should.  @TLW - that's your queue... lol~

                          

The truth is, if you were on a Dial-up machine, running a windows 2000 computer, using an older operating system, or even if you were using any version of the Internet Explorer browser, then my Blog probably locked up your browser and computer more than once.  This of course leaving you frustrated, and I'm sure, thinking of a few select "key"words you'd like to share with me but couldn't because all my widgets had SHUT YOU DOWN! :-O

Many of you stuck in there though, kept coming back, and did your best supporting my Blog.  Some of you were even gluttons for punishment and kept trying to return even after getting locked up numerous times from all my widgets... for that, I thank you. Well I'm a changed man, I'm turning over a new leaf,  I'm axing my Widgets.  It's a sad day, let's see how long I will last.  lol~

<<{{ as I twinge, flinch and begin having withdrawal symptoms and mild shakes }}>>

Yep, I am finally convinced it's time to turn my Blog "upside down" and shake it out...

~ʍlʇ ɐʎ ʌnl  ~ɐɥɐɥ  ¡ɹɐǝʎ ǝɥʇ ɹoɟ ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐl ǝuo uıɐƃɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ uǝʞoɹq ǝʌ,ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıʞuıɥʇ sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ ʍou ʇɥƃıɹ pɐǝɥ ɹǝɥ uo ƃuıpuɐʇs s,ǝɥs ʇǝq ll,ı  ˙ǝuo ʍǝu ɐ ɹǝɥ ʎnq ɹǝʇʇǝq pɐɥ ǝɥ ʇɐɥʇ puɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ ǝʞoɹq pɐɥ ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıɯɐǝɹɔs puɐ ƃuıʞɔıʞ ʇuɐʎɹq ɹǝʞoɹq ʇɐ ƃuıllǝʎ oƃ p,ǝɥs  ˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ oʇ ǝuop pɐɥ ı ʞɔǝɥ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnƃıɟ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ sɹnoɥ puǝds uǝɥʇ `sʇsod ʎɯ pɐǝɹ puɐ ʎɹʇ oʇ ǝsn ʍlʇ uǝɥʍ ɹǝqɯǝɯǝɹ ı

Just look what happened to TLW's Blog when my old widgets went sideways whacko on her.

Seriously though, it's been 3 years in the rain, building and adding, and now I'm finally saying Goodbye to most of my Blogger Cloggers so you can finally load my Blog!!  Now if you feel the need or sudden urge to relieve yourself of some of those built up, frustrated, agitated thoughts and comments that you've been holding in all this time because you couldn't get into my Blog,  please don't do it here or now. lol~

I've decided to keep a few things on my sidebar, but only those I'm sentimental about and addicted attached to. It was hard enough to let all the others go, but I did it.  My Blog should be loading at lightning speed now.  If it's not, I'm sure you'll let me know.  So until next year, (man that sounds really weird again)  ActiveBrad signing out.... we'll see you on the other side of 2010!

~ Have a Safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ~

Comments(143)

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

How will you survive, Brad.  You were the widget king.  Now you are merely a prince.

Jan 01, 2010 10:47 PM
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Brad, I did notice some time back problems with widgets so now I tried to keep it simple.

Jan 01, 2010 11:09 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Brad, I like all your emphasis on techie stuff. Some complain with excessive widgets and the slow loading they won't visit yout site ever again. Happy New Year.
Jan 01, 2010 11:34 PM
Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Brad, I always thought your blog took a while to load because of all the comments. Now, I learned another thing! Wishing you the best in the New Year!

Jan 02, 2010 12:08 AM
Cathy Tishhouse
RE/MAX Showcase Homes - Royal Oak, MI
Royal Oak Real Estate

Brad:  I always felt I was behind on all the widgets and gadgets but it wasn't a priority for me - just the basics - so this affirms my position of having the meat and leaving the potatoes - in my diet as well (too many goodies over the holiday)!!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jan 02, 2010 12:29 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Brad, I do know how hard it is to give up widgets and gadgets...  but we're proud of you for making the effort for your fans here in the rain!  So whether you are widget rich or gadget poor - you're sure to have followers more....

Happy New Year to you too!

 

Jan 02, 2010 01:23 AM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Good morning,

Nice idea about checking things that you have been doing and then getting rid of those things that will slow you down or hold you back.

Jan 02, 2010 01:57 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Great post!!! I happen to be one of those that have an older computer (5 years old) and it takes forever to download page - 2010 will be the year I finally upgrade to a new laptop!!! This processor just doesn't cut it anymore!!!! Happy New Year!

Jan 02, 2010 02:01 AM
An Marshall
Berkshire Hathaway - St. Augustine - Saint Augustine, FL
Your St Augustine Real Estate Consultant

Aaahhhhh, letting go is so very hard to do; not unlike me letting go of all my paper files (I know I am out of date) or my husband letting go of the free stuff he finds that blew off boats and cars on the road, or grandma letting of all the stuff that even smells old.  It should be a very liberating experience and makes way for the next best thing to cross your path.

Jan 02, 2010 02:02 AM
Kirsten Lindquist
Pacific Union International - Sonoma, CA
Realtor - Sonoma Wine Country

Great post and provacative comments.  I've always been one for lots of "white space" for clarity of thought and contemplation and analysis.  I wonder these days though....with the shorter attention spans of most internet users...whether more gadgets and widgets are the better way to go?  For me, less is always more so I'm going to stay relatively widget-free.  What say you to that, Brad?  Happy New Year....whatever your take.

Jan 02, 2010 03:35 AM
Kathleen Cooper
Kathleen Cooper, Sposato Realty Group - Worcester, MA
Sposato Realty Group - Broker Owner

I did the same thing when I signed up for my outside blog.  My inside one was way too busy and had too many cool widgets...I'm an addict as well.  Too bad we can't have them all.  :(  What an impatient world we live in, but I'm happy to have a need for speed! 

Jan 02, 2010 05:06 AM
Kim Darling
Keller Williams Westland Realty BRE# 01864461 - Fresno, CA
CRS,GRI, "Your Home Team" Fresno/Clovis Homes

Happy New Year Brad!!!  Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us.  I look forward to learning more from you and from AR in 2010.

Cheers,

Kim

Jan 02, 2010 07:25 AM
Ken Montville
RE/MAX United Real Estate - College Park, MD
The MD Suburbs of DC

I'm glad you kept CLicky becuae I just noticed it on your sidebar and it looks damn interesting.  A whole lot more readable and useful than Google Anaylytics which you need to be able to be an engineer to figure out.  Thanks, Brad!

Jan 02, 2010 08:12 AM
Beverly of Bev & Bob Meaux
Keller Williams Suburban Realty - West Orange, NJ
Where Buying & Selling Works

Happy, Happy New Year Brad! With the rain and snow and wind I've been in the middle of the past week, I am happy to say let it rain, let it rain, let it rain AR!

Jan 02, 2010 09:46 AM
Pam Dent
Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. - Charlottesville, VA
REALTOR® - Charlottesville Virginia Homes / Horse

Your blog does load faster even tho I am on IE tonight.  I scanned thru all of the comments hoping someone would share how to do the upside town writing.

Jan 02, 2010 11:38 AM
Linda Lohman
Fonville Morisey Realty - Cary, NC
Former Teacher/Broker

Cleaning house is part of the New Year.  I like to take the time to see what is and what is not working not only with my blog but with my business. AR works!

Jan 02, 2010 12:40 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

I wanna make my words go upside down! And I'm not getting rid of my widgets, gadgets, etc. So there! Anyone running a 10 year old PC is just... OMG... I have no words.... that --- does---- not ---- compute---- LOL. Literally! How can you run ANYTHING on a 10 year-old computer, unless it's been gutted. My hubby built ours because I kept killing them. >=)   I ish computer slayer!  But I have AWESOME rig now... yeah baby! Conflicting programs? Psh! I can handle it! he he.

Jan 02, 2010 03:30 PM
The Brewer Team - Benchmark Realty
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN

Brad - This is a welcome post for me. I'm tired of having my computer choke while loading up some of the blogs on Activerain. And it's not an antique. If only all of your friends would do the same thing.

Jan 03, 2010 06:27 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Pam - since you went to the trouble of scanning this entire posts comments for how to create upside down text, I'd feel like a jerk if I didn't show you how.... I used a "Flip Text Generator" widget! Yep, that's right, another widget!!  lol~  Here's a link for you: http://www.sherv.net/flip.html

Jan 03, 2010 07:19 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

I got rid of most of my widgets a few months back. It made a huge difference.

Jan 05, 2010 03:44 PM