That is GREAT Karen!  How are you doing?  I, and A LOT of other people, have been praying for you!

Hey Karen, I think that is actually pretty cool. I'm looking forward to seeing your website when it's done, I hope you're feeling better. Take care.

Well I am very Happy to see you're post.... and I was a little surprised to see my city and state come up.... very interesting.......   You are constantly giving me so much to consider - I do get brain overload ... but its all good.    Hope you're feeling better.   Know that we are ALL thinking about you and your family.

Love

Desiree

Hi Karen - It was such a delight to see your name pop up on my blogroll.  This is pretty cool.  I guess my server must use a proxy server because it came up with a city that is just adjacent to mine.  I do think this would be a really cool thing to use on a relocation website with the name of the state.  Wouldn't the odds be better that the state would be correct most of the time?

You're still in my prayers,

Marlene

Yes Marlene!  And that is why I need feedback!!!  Thank you!

And thank you to everyone else for their prayers and support.  I am not ignoring all of the love I've received, but I just figured I better write a "good" post, so the ActiveRainer people don't get mad at me for writing about nothing but The Big C.

If anyone has a vision of how this could work for them-- remember:  design, words, city (or just state) can all be fixed and customized.

I think the relocation thing would be great for Realtors.  Still working out the kinks though.

Karen,

Welcome back...you know that's my town! pretty cool huh? I need to check this out when I can park here.

How did you get my city?

This is great Karen, one of my co-workers is very familiar with Mahanoy City.

I love your suggestions here and will definately look out for them.

Neal-- that's a secret!  Kidding...it's pretty simple.

Bottom line:  I have this database that I installed at Geozoodle.  It contains all of the I.P. addresses for all of the cities in the world.  (A lot of them anyway-- 3,000,000 entries)

When you visit this page, I get your I.P address with a simple line of code.  The database looks for your I.P. address and then matches it up with your city.  Then I just display it.  It's really simple actually.  No different than looking up a client on your own machine by "last name" or something.  I'm just doing it online and with your I.P. address as a "look up" factor...instead of client last name.

Does that make sense?

Gosh Karen, this just blew me away when I clicked on your blog!!!  I was like Neal..........how did she do that?  I am so glad to see you blogging away.  I have been thinking about you and was hoping that you were feeling better.  I loved what you did here.  God Bless you and if you need anything...........email me.

 Yes after reading it again I figured it picks up anyones city and puts it there when you log on from the IP address. I'm just worried about the ID theft I had this past year...hopefully they can't steal my identity again.

Yes..I just looked at your site and saw the empty HTML code boxes. I can't wait to add the widget when you get it. Man how can you be able to do this after last week? I'd be too tired mentally and physically. Glad to see able to work.

Hi Karen, this looks pretty cool.  I, too was thinking, wow, she had my city name on there already....very impressive.  I actually think having the face and the bubble with talking is a great idea....a way to personalize your site even more. Hope you can work out the details and get it going.  Good luck!! 

Neal-- I promise, GeoZoodle is my site.  I designed the welcome mat this morning.  There is absolutely no way that I could steal your identity with this...and even if I could (which I can't)-- I would never do that!

But seriously, your I.P. isn't even in my database.  I gave you the simple explanation above.  Here's the detailed one:

I get your I.P.  (Anyone can do that; ActiveRain does it everyday.)

The only way I could find out who you are would be if I had a warrant from a court to contact your service provider.  Only your service provider can match an I.P. to a SPECIFIC PERSON and, like I said, it requires law enforcement.

So...really...what I do is get your I.P. and then search my database and say something like this:  If Neil's I.P. is greater than this number and less than this number, than he must be dialing in from Weston.

Plus, I am not storing any of this data...for privacy reasons of course.  (I think it would probably be illegal to do so anyway.)  Trust me!

Karen,

Great to see you blogging!  I think this is a very cool idea and would be interested in incorporating it into my site.

Karen,

No it's cool...just wondering..because I saw you mentioned about fraud protection on your site. Thanks!

KAREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So good to see you posting!  And you blow me away as usual.  I wasn't thinking "how'd she do that?"  I was thinking, "look at what Karen did!!"  You're incredible.  And you give so much.  We're so lucky you take pity on us and let us learn from you.  Thank you!  I absolutely love this idea!

Karen, I love it and LOVE to see you posting again!!!  That is just way too cool, it welcomed visitors from Houston!!  That's like magic!!

Karen... For a minute there I thought you moved to Boise Idaho... I really liked what you did and look forward to checking out the site and all the fun and cool marketing ideas you have. Glad to see you active and writing.

Thank you again my dear friend and I hope you are having one of your better days.

Karen, you have NO IDEA who I am, but I've been catching up on your blogs over the last few weeks.  They're (YOU'RE) awesome, and so helpful to a newbie like me!  I'm not sure what YOU eat for breakfast, but the intensity and enthusiasm of your writing belies that you had surgery last week.  You amaze us all, and we're grateful to have you back!

Cheers! from DC...

   Jaynee

Karen, I hope your feeling better, your still in my prayers. I don't understand the IP thingy, but mine said welcome to walled lake MI. I love it so can you do one for me for my site that says.

Welcome to Ann Arbor, MI. ?

Your right target marketing is where it is at.

Karen does the IP really match up? I know that when I look at the hits on my site it will show me as being in Indiana sometimes and sometimes NM. Of course your welcome mat is showing me in Albuquerque NM so it does work on mine. I know some of the AR members show up on my statcounter in cities that they are not located in. My parents show up as Las Cruces but are in Morarity. But I do think your code is working better than my statcounter as far as location goes. If that is the case then this is pretty awesome.

I hope you are doing well it is good to see you posting. I am keeping you in my thoughts and praying for a speedy return to good health.

Missy--

Are you at work right now?  Because maybe your office uses a server that is in Walled Lake.  The bad part:  I can't make it any more accurate than where your server is located...

So-- no, I can't make it say "Ann Arbor" FOR YOU, but that doesn't mean other people from Ann Arbor won't see that.

I might just go with the state.  I don't know.  There is no way for me to fix this bug, because if your I.P. address (the "address" that identifies your computer) is a "Walled Lake" I.P.-- than it's a Walled Lake I.P.

But what does everyone think about the relocation thing?

Karen-you are amazing for many reasons.  This is a great widget and I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't want to use it.  I'm still trying to master the SEO stuff and widgets will be next. 

Karen, that is just to cool. This is your creation! I am amazed. I would something like that in a minute. I checked out your site. It looks like it will have quite a good many tools upon completion. Please keep us up to date.

Karen- Very Cool - I want one. I went to the site even though you said not to and it is your company! I always knew you are too cool. Sign me up! Glad to see you posting!:)

Karen - I don't know you at all, but I have been touched by the outpouring of support for you by the members of this community since I began here about five weeks ago.  I was also excited to see a new post by you.  I have prayed for you and your family - my mother-in-law is a three-time cancer survivor.  Keep up the good work!

As for the welcome mat, it is a very cool idea.  For some reason, it missed my city (it thinks I am in Houston).  Maybe it could be tailored to the state?

This is a great idea.  I am looking forward to seeing your site once it is up and running.

KAREN!!!!! KAREN!!! KAREN!!!!!

(That's me yelling in excitement and happiness because you are back!)

Think this is a way cool idea - I'm from CT - but mat shows Troy Michigan. Very interested in finding out how it is done.

Welcome back!!!

Uh oh.  Sandra-- you can't be using your home computer, right?  Please tell me that you are at work.  Your company must be using the aforementioned proxy server, and it must be located in Troy.

This is only going to work really well for people surfing the net FROM HOME...and really, that's the only place most people can "surf" anyway.  :-)

Karen, Glad to see you back!  You have been in my thoughts!

Howdy Karen

You have gave some very good sounding ideas here.

I'll have think them over. Thank you.

Have a good one

Karen - my mat says Chathan, NJ. I am actually home in Princeton, NJ. The IP thing went totally over my head, but I thought you may want to know what happens in your field test. I told my family about you and am so happy that your creativity and energy seem to be endless. Thanks.

Hey Karen - Welcome back!!! This is just waaay too cool. Sign me up. I want it!

Karen, So happy to read your post. For a second I felt so special to see my city and state on your welcome mat. You are incredible Karen. I would be so interested in doing something like this for all of my sites.

Karen, WELCOME HOME.  My mat said the town of Westbury, about 20 minutes from me (I'm at my home computer) but it's a terrific idea although I'm still trying to figure out widgets :)  I'm glad to see you're up and posting again.

Karen -

I hate to tell you : (    I'm using my home computer (was before) and it says Troy Michigan.......I'm still located in Connecticut. Still very interested in this widget.

OKAY!  Based on the feedback, I am going to make one that only identifies state, but I think I will use "nicknames"...

For example, if they are from Michigan, I will have the welcome mat say "Welcome Michigander!"

How does that sound?  Should have it done by tomorrow.

Karen!  It's great to see you online.  Your widget is pretty cool too.  It said "Welcome to our visitors from Naples, Florida!"

Karen - Sounds great - will stop in tomorrow and check - don't work too hard!

Karen!  It's great to see you online.  Your widget is pretty cool too.  It said "Welcome to our visitors from Naples, Florida!"

Wow, that was impressive. It said welcome to our visitors from Warwick, Rhode Island!  I could see where a "thinking of moving from ................. to Warwick Rhode Island?" would be a nice addition on a blog or site.

Glad to see you blogging btw. I think everyone is glad to see you blogging. You must have one hell of an IQ with all the stuff you are into. Don't forget to rest....!

Chris-- how far are you from Naples?  It sounds like I really have a bug with the city.  And Chris, don't forget, I told you I'd make you a special one...  I'll email you later, when I have the ability to deliver what I promise!

I'm just a few miles away, maybe four or five.  Karen needs to take care of Karen, right now!

Hey Karen,  I'm glad to see you on also!!  Yeah!

This is WAY COOL!  Mine says Houston, TX which is accurate..I'm online with SBC Yahoo.  This is so amazing and I can think of many ways to make this work.

Wow, Karen.  I love this idea and would sign up immediately!  I was blown away with the fact that it read a nearby city close to me.  I suspect that prospects would equally be impressed.

And... you're utterly amazing.   I have learned so much from you!  YOU have helped me in more ways than you can ever imagine.  Thank you!

Kathy 

Chris-- I'm trying to take care of me!  By creating this new business idea!  The girl has got to get paid!

Hello Karen, Mine said welcome to Naples and I live in Fort Myers, but it is a really cool idea. I like the idea of a pic of me with a bubble too.

Debbie

Okay, that settles it.  I will post it tomorrow with the state only.  I hope you will all find it useful!

Hi Karen, mine said Metairie, about 15 miles away but adjacent to New Orleans.  I use a cable connection so the city may be based on what info Cox is sending.  Count me in for the state thingy and it's nice to see you posting.

that is a great trick!

Hello Karen.  Great Idea and widget.  Got the Vancouver, Washington right on the mark -- and not the younger Vancouver BC Canada to the north!  

Best of success and healing.

John

Karen,

I am so happy you are back, and also very surprised because I also thought you were in Orlando, Florida.  I am in my house which is in Saint Cloud Fl, but our city never shows anywhere.  It is actually OK that it says Orlando as that is what most people know anyway.  I will check back for any updates. Have a good night!

Hi Karen,

I hope you're feeling better. We are all pulling for you.  I must say that AR does a great job of customizing the home page depending on where you are loggin in.  I was in New York and I saw the top NYrs, in SC the top AR members from Sc.  Your concept sounds familiar and is inline with the new marketing genre which is customized based on the user preferences..Way to go.

VERY neat...I was just thrilled to see my city and state up there -- and yes, they were correct and yes, I am at home. I love this and look forward to more info.

haha...that is a great idea Karen. I guess I'm stuck behind a proxy server? Apparently today I'm from Kirkland Washington! I think that could catch some attention though when it comes to people just browsing sites.

Karen, Me again, Looks like I am going to become a pain, I can't believe you are working so hard.  You MUST slow it down and take care of yourself.  You give of yourself endlessly, Now is the time now for you to receive.  Please take your time and relax.

I need you to focus on the healing energy that is flowing your way.  See it coming, see it entering your body, see Karen healing, see that there are many of us at work for you.  You have given to us, now it is our turn to give.

This can wait until after you are better, then and only then can you give away your essence.  For the time being you need to hold it close to yourself Karen, from the bottom of my heart I ask you to shift to a receiving mode. 

 I understand that you feel that working is fighting and I commend your gallantry but you must believe in what I am telling you.  You are an infinite source of wisdom that so many will capitalize on in the future.  Give it it's day.

Blessings to you and your loving Husband.

Karen! 

This is a very cool idea. 

I did go to the site and looking at the map I have a theory.  Kind of.  I will send you an email. 

Karen, I use comcast so I don't know where the server is, but I can't imagine Walled Lake, a very small town. The state idea works for me. My email is hosted at Internet Crusade in CA. so I have no clue what happened.

Is there a way to fix this, or someone to call ?

No worries, no stress, just following up on your comment. You take care of yourself, that my friend is most important.

Karen, neat post! I love the visitor recognition. Thanks for the tip.

You always have the neatest toys!

Thanks, and I hope you are doing well!

Karen,

This freaked me out!  I first thought....hey, Karen used Davenport, Iowa as her example in her post!  This tool is too cool!  I like the idea of using the city and state.  For the minority of visitors that see a neighboring city it will still impress them.  And if it's not their city, they may actually be motivated to start dialog with you by telling you that it's not their city (just like people in the above comments did). 

Would it be too difficult to have both of them so we can choose which one to use?

Another thought that I had was to say, "Davenport, Iowa area".  I still like your first one though.

Thanks for all you do!

Lucky :) 

Excellent suggestion Lucky!  Thank you!  Yes, the idea of adding the "area" thing makes perfect sense!  Why didn't I think of that?  I will get that going.

Karen, I'd like to add something that may shed some light on some of the incorrect cities/states.  I have an old computer that I purchased when I lived in New York and whenever I log into Active Rain from that onre, it showed me a different dashboard.  I figured out immediately that AR was picking up IP addresses.  So no matter where I move to my pcs/laptops will contain their original IP addresses issued at time of purchase, no?  This is no big deal to me.  I think this idea is one of your best, expecially the relo one!

Thanks for the input Maggie (and all of your wonderful comments).  But, no, the IP address has to do with where you are coming from and has nothing to do with where the computer came from.  But good guess!

What do you see?  Miami or something else?

Hi Karen,

I think this is great but for my city I would want it to be more precise. My location is Mississauga and I would prefer to see Mississauga instead of Toronto.

Great concept though!!! Would it be possible to have a different type of mat, i.e. customized

Yes Gail.  I am going to post about this soon...  Depending on the type of work you want done of course.

Does it list your correct Province?

Bottom line:  The city will never get fixed, because it's not necessariy where you are at, but where your internet provider is.  With this knowledge, I am hoping the Realtors can tell me what they would like!  (I'm not super-creative.)

I thought Lucky had a good comment above...  How about Welcome To Our Guests from the Toronto Area?

As far as artwork, I can do almost anything you can think of.

Hi Karen, it listed my town of Pensacola Florida.  Thank you and I too am glad that you are blogging again.

Karen - I love this idea.  I think it would work out great for home stagers.  I've never seen anything like it.  Can't wait for the widget.  

If I were able to customize it I would like mine done by county. 

Hope you are feeling well.  I'll try to send positive thoughts your way. 
 

Thanks and glad your feeling well enough to write. If we ever move back to Scottsdale we will surely contact you for mortgages. Sometimes we really miss it out there.   

Thanks ! Jill Fuhrer

Karen,

Where do we sign up?  This is a great tool I'd like to use!

Lucky :)

I think I just saw something else from you about this, yes this is a great idea!  The various blog tools out there are great!  Thanks for another one!!

 You are back. I hope you are feeling a bit better. I see you are back to doing what you love. Wow! You have another great idea again I can not wait to try.  

Karen take care of yourself.            

I love it, but it's giving me a city that is about 40 miles away from me, and I am working from home, could it be the type of internet provider t hat I have?

Karen, guess what?  I was seeing Miami Florida on the post before(which was fine as that is where I am at).  My laptop is on the blitz right now so I am using my kid's laptop (which we purchased 2 months ago directly from Compaq and was shipped to us from China).  Guess what I see from this one?  Mt. Laurel, New Jersey!  I won't even try to figure it out.  Oy Vey!  Can you shed some light on that for me?

Unbelievable Maggie!  I am so frurstrated.  I am going to write a post today-- that hopefull clears it up.