J-land Central

J-land's anniversary

2010-08-22T08:20:00.000-04:00

Today it is 7 years ago since AOL opened its Journals service, only to close it a little over 5 years later. I'll keep this as a front post, but will close comments in a few weeks' time - to thwart spammers. Call for Support remains open for business, if and when required.

J-land was a wonderful community. It gave support to many (myself included) in difficult times, and friendships which continue (on- or off-line) today. The spirit of the community continues through blogs, Facebook and other social networking sites.

Closing

2010-08-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

As there do not appear to be any objections, I shall archive this blog at the end of August. This means that it will no longer be possible to leave comments on this blog. The posts themselves (minus the previous one) will remain visible.

Do we need this blog?

2010-08-16T18:39:00.000-04:00

I'm contemplating putting the stuff that used to be put on this blog on Call for Support in the future - leaving this as an archive. Any objections?

Michelle / Is this my life

2010-06-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Michelle has opened a new blog When life gives you lemons, drink pinacolada http://whenlifegivesyoulemonsdrinkpinacolada.blogspot.com/, to which she'd like to welcome all. Please call round!

Luanne's Life Living with Lupus

2010-03-25T16:16:00.000-04:00

Luanne has rediscovered her blog, after an absence of 10 months. Please welcome her back!

Trees / Garden of Hope

2010-02-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

Trees has posted on her blog after an absence of 9 months or so. Feel free to call by.

Have you made arrangements?

2010-01-28T13:58:00.002-05:00

Lori, over at Dusty Pages, has written a post on what arrangements she has put in place in case she is incapacitated or passes away. You can post your own thoughts at Lori's blog, on your own journal, here or over at Call for Support, where this post will also appear.

Jan / Serendipity

2010-01-16T07:21:00.002-05:00

Jan has resurfaced and done the unimaginable: posted!

Sunny / I shall overcome

2010-01-15T12:43:00.002-05:00

After an absence of nearly 7 months, Sunny has resumed her journal. Please welcome her back!

New Year

2010-01-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

As we cross into another year, a timely reminder that if you know of a blog that deserves to be highlighted, please leave a comment or click the Kontactr button.

Comment spam

2010-01-02T02:30:00.001-05:00

I just spent half an hour deleting a dozen spam comments in Chinese or Japanese on all my blogs. As a result, I'll moderating all comments on this blog prior to publication, in order to ward off this nuisance. This Blogger user goes by the Latin script username of disa. Having searched Google for an answer to this problem, I've found that they have no solution in place for it.

In memoriam

2009-11-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

Last year, after AOL pulled the plug on J-land, I found these blogs belonging to the deceased which had been transferred to Blogger. In 2007, we lost too many of our community. In remembering those that went before us, we will gain strength from their memory and the fortitude they showed in adversity.

Lahoma's Laments - Lahoma, RIP 25 December 2007
The Diatom Project - Walt, RIP 27 April 2007
My Reason for Reasoning - Barbara, RIP 20 November 2007
Dribble by Chuck Ferris - Chuck, RIP 1 July 2008
There are no Sundays - Jim, RIP April 2007
I shaved my legs for this??? - Kim, RIP 26 December 2007
One Girl's Head Noise (UK) - Pam, RIP 16 April 2006
Pennie's Pieces of Ohio - Penny, RIP 1 October 2007

Returning to blogging

2009-11-10T10:53:00.002-05:00

It's very pleasing to see so many familiar faces from the past returning to blogging. I'd like to highlight Kara, who has come back after an absence of 12 months.

Spam comments

2009-11-08T07:46:00.002-05:00

If you find spam comments turning up on your blog, disable commenting by anonymous users.

Message from Sugar

2009-11-01T13:31:00.001-05:00

Sugar has been experiencing technical problems with her blog "Sugar Shack", which is now temporarily closed. She is now posting on

http://sugarssweetspot.blogspot.com/ for blogging updates

and

http://sugar-sugarsotherplace.blogspot.com/ for tags

Please relay.

Silent Keyboards

2009-10-14T11:17:00.000-04:00

A reminder that a blog (Silent Keyboards, Jland and Blogger Angels) was created by Jeannette (Outside Looking In), commemorating those from the former J-land community who passed away. Please call round, and if there is anyone that died this year that did not get mentioned, drop a line (+ URL from blog if still in existence) and their name will be added.

Blog Opening

2009-09-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Michelle (who used to write as momiscool2 on AOL) has resumed blogging. Her new blog is called Hanging in Limbo, and she'd be only too happy for all to come and visit.

Blog Closing

2009-09-23T12:43:00.003-04:00

Mary, who has the blog GIVE...A HAND UP, is closing the blog. Hope you stop by & tell her how much we are grateful for the time she had it, & how we support her & wish her well. She's also closing her personal blog.

Hacked Facebook account: Lisa, Please don't take life for granted

2009-09-11T17:01:00.001-04:00

Please be aware that Lisa's Facebook account has been hacked. If you are IM'd by her this evening (Friday 11 September 2009) with a request for urgent help as she is stuck in London and needs help flying home, you'll know it's NOT Lisa. She is too unwell to travel any distance at all.

Please relay.

HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-09-08T07:12:00.005-04:00

Mary would like to see this blog post of MxMotoMom highlighted.
It's a last conversation with a dying man, some will find it interesting.
TY Mary for the link.

Social networking

2009-08-16T10:27:00.002-04:00

Since this blog was established in November 2008, much has changed. A lot of people have taken up accounts with Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites. A lot of bloggers have ceased writing blogs.

In order to keep in touch, I have this idea. Anyone who writes a blog, put your Facebook and Twitter links up in your blog sidebar. I am aware that you have to be "friends" to communicate through Facebook, but if you put your bloglink in your friend request, that may make it easier. If you are in touch with someone who no longer blogs, point them to this entry as well.

Let's pull Jland back together.

Sybil

2009-08-09T12:30:00.001-04:00

Sybil has returned to the land of blogging, please call round to welcome her back!

ANY INFO ON THIS J-LANDER?

2009-08-03T18:09:00.005-04:00

Does anyone know how Lisa is? I can't even recall the name of her blog. I know she had lots of illnesses, & since coming to Blogger has had trouble getting her updates to publish. She used to post every day, sometimes several times a day.
I haven't heard from her in a looong time. If you have any info, know her screenname, or Blogs name... please leave in comments. TY.

i found her. her blog is Please Don't Take Life For Granted.

Sam's blog

2009-05-27T13:55:00.001-04:00

Sam has had to change the URL of his blog, which is now http://sayit-baldys.blogspot.com/

FYI re A Blog

2009-04-24T08:45:00.003-04:00

Cindy from Cindys Life 2, wants everyone to know her pc has crashed. That she's ok, & will be back ASAP, so no worries. :)

Blogger Meet & Greet 2010 - III

2009-04-04T07:11:00.003-04:00

My sincere apologies to Brittany and Bridgett over the confusion regarding this event. I have corrected the two previous entries on this subject.

If you have registered an interest in attending by comment on this blog, on Terri's blog or anyone else that relayed, please leave a comment with organisers Brittany or Bridgett.
Again, even if you already commented elsewhere.

I would like to ask anyone that has relayed the Blogger Meet & Greet 2010 on their blogs to please copy this message, or amend their entries.

Again, sorry for the confusion.

Indigo

2009-04-03T16:33:00.002-04:00

Indigo has asked me to relay this message in connection with the hostage situation in Binghamton:

Don't know if you heard about the hostage situation in Bing. NY right now. It's my old neighborhood,

Just wanted you to know I'm safe, as is my daughter. I live 20 min. away. Paul however is in lockdown in the school he teaches at. If anyone ask, feel free to send the inform. on. Thanks hon!

Indigo

Internet Security

2009-03-30T16:43:00.002-04:00

Security starts at home, and with the latest security horror about to spread its wings, I finally found something very useful that can help all our computer systems.

If you visit this page on secunia.com, you will be offered with the option of having your system scanned through your browser or by downloaded program (both free). It will check all the programs installed on your system whether they are fully up to date. If not, it will offer a link to download the most up-to-date version, which you can install at a click.

HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-03-30T10:09:00.003-04:00

If you'd like a good laugh this morning, go over & check out how Katie's morning is going.
If you've ever had young children (& a cat) in the house... you may recognize some of her exploits.
One cute read, for sure. Most of her posts are.

HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-03-27T08:38:00.004-04:00

Robyn, has started a new blog, with all kinds of 'natural' tips. If you're interested in homeopathic remedies, etc...check this one out.
From health, to cleaning, to cooking, to makeup, & much more. Worth a look see. ;)

Dawn / Carpe Diem

2009-03-26T18:37:00.002-04:00

Has anyone heard anything of Dawn, who writes the Carpe Diem blog? She has not posted since last Christmas.

Blogger Meet & Greet 2010 - II

2009-03-25T17:12:00.001-04:00

Some people have difficulty reading the graphics in the post about the Meet 'N Greet on 17 April 2010. Here is the transcription of the text:

April 17th 2010
It's a date you're going to remember!

We've all been friends for so long! We've laughed we've cried, we've been there for one another during hard times, holidays, birthdays, life moments and life changes.

We've come from AOL to Blogger and now we are going to Louisville Kentucky in 2010!

We've picked a location that we feel can be reached by many to hold a Blogger Meet 'N Greet on Saturday April 17th, 2010!

It's a year away so SAVE THE DATE!!!

Blogger Meet & Greet 2010

2009-03-25T13:20:00.004-04:00

On 17 April 2010, all bloggers of the Blogger (and former AOL) community are invited to a Meet & Greet event at Louisville, Kentucky. More information from Brittany or Bridgett.

Entry amended 4 April 2009.

Missie's Upside Down World

2009-03-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

Is anyone aware what happened to Missy's blog? It now redirects to an empty blog called Debby. The feedreader shows postings for her as recently as March 18th.

HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-03-07T19:30:00.005-05:00

Mary, sent me this post that she'd like to see highlighted here, after reading it...I agree.
It's an older post of Kathy's (Flamingo Feathers Blog).
Her daughter has Down's, & she is explaining how all children should be taught about children who have special needs like her daughter, Emily.

TY Mary for submitting this.

HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-03-04T12:32:00.004-05:00

I've highlighted this ladies blog before, here & also on Call For Support, as she is indeed a inspirational young woman.
This time I'm highlighting it, because this month, she's asked other inspirational bloggers, most having dealt with cancer, to make an entry on her blog. She sent requests to several. Yes, I'll be a featured writer too.
Her Son wrote this past Mon 3/2 post.
Hope you'll drop over several times during this month, & read about the inspirational people here in Bloggerville.
TY Christina from the UniboobClub, for putting these people's stories out there.

Jland Remembers

2009-03-01T17:56:00.002-05:00

Until his death at the age of 75 in 2007, Jim Halliday struggled to write his yarns on AOL Journals. Several of us helped him to get to grips with the vagaries of AOHell, in order that he could share his tales of a teenage killer. Jim was an old soldier, who went to Malaya at the tender age of 18. In the last few months of his life, he had serious worries about the health of his son, out in the USA. Not knowing he himself was coming up to the firing line.

The blog that was transferred to Blogger only holds 5 entries - the previous journal was deleted by Jim. Remember Jim as you read There are no Sundays.

Guido

A HIGHLIGHTED BLOG

2009-02-26T15:57:00.002-05:00

Christina of the 'Uniboob Club Blog', has many inspiration posts.
This is her latest that deserves a read. She writes about "TIME", some of her memories, hopes, & dreams.
Go by & have a read.

I stand corrected

2009-02-19T18:34:00.003-05:00

I Stand Corrected is a community blog, set up by Lori (of Dusty Pages fame), for those with a fascination for the finer points of language in all its forms and manifestations. If you feel you foot that bill, please leave a comment on the blog to request to be added to the list of authors. Leaving that to one side, the journal is a good read and a good laugh at times.

Highlighted blogs

2009-02-15T13:30:00.002-05:00

Liz writes blogs Visual Counterpoint and Colour Contrast Continuity. She uses photographs and the written word to express her emotions. Liz was left with the lasting legacy of a severe road traffic accident, and could do with more readers - as she is a unique blogger.

Hotmail problem

2009-02-15T08:24:00.001-05:00

Anyone using the Firefox browser to access their Hotmail account will be unable to do more than read one message; you can't do anything else after that. Hotmail will give you a message: Please refresh your browser window. When you access your Windows Live Hotmail account from more than one computer, we ask you to sign in again to help keep your account private and secure and that's about all. An error thread has been commenced here, and any users are requested to leave their Hotmail address on there. I've used Hotmail for exactly 9 years, without major problems until now. Accessing the service through Internet Explorer goes without a hitch.

Embedded comments

2009-02-14T17:21:00.002-05:00

Bad news for those of you who cannot leave comments on blogs where the comments section is embedded. I have trawled through the Blogger Help Section, and several people have the same problem. No input is forthcoming from Blogger (feels like the bad ole days on AOL).

Should you be unable to leave comments in this situation, please contact the blog owner direct (by email) or leave a comment on this blog (quoting the URL of the journal in question) - or drop me a line using the Kontactr button in the sidebar if this is impossible too.

June/Jun-Midnight

2009-02-12T19:57:00.005-05:00

Connie, would like word re June of the blog;Jun-Midnight http://jun-midnight.blogspot.com/
She hasn't posted in over two weeks and does not respond to Connie's e-mails. She is very worried about her, hoping someone has news about June.
If so, contact Connie, http://windsweptwhispers.blogspot.com/.

Relaunch

2009-02-12T16:24:00.001-05:00

Since our move to Blogger in October 2008, we have had a blog for the community called JLand Central. It has lain dormant since before Christmas, but I would like to highlight it once more as a place where messages can be posted for the benefit of the whole community. This includes technical issues, requests for information on who now blogs where, or perhaps one of the journals you read has not been posting for a while.

Please drop a line to Sugar, Jeannette (Outside Looking In), Yasmin, Stuart or myself.

Heartache

2008-12-19T08:58:00.002-05:00

Veronica, our Emergency Medicine blogger, talks of a condition where chest pain is caused by grief. Go and have a read.

Jland Highlight

2008-12-16T10:23:00.003-05:00

Yasmin suggested we start highlighting entries from across the community that deserve a wider airing, by linking to them in this journal.

Trees made a very moving entry in her journal Garden of Hope, about the death of her father. Pop along and have a read.

Call for Support

2008-12-15T07:59:00.002-05:00

In case you didn't know: there is a journal where those are highlighted in our community who are in need of some extra attention. It is called Call for Support. At the moment, there are three authors (Jeannette, Yasmin and Guido) who can make an entry. Please drop us a line if you spot anyone who deserves a mention, by clicking the "Kontactr me" button in the sidebar or contacting any of us direct. Also, please relay this message in your own journal to achieve the widest possible coverage.

Lost?

2008-12-15T06:14:00.002-05:00

Did you lose your journal in the shutdown of AOL Journals? You may still find bits of it by Googling its name, or your screenname. Click on the link marked Cached not the actual link for the journal itself. You may get an entry or two back.

AOL Binned

2008-12-14T19:17:00.002-05:00

A reminder that AOL Pictures will cease to exist on December 31st, AOL Uncut Video on December 18th (that's this coming Thursday), together with a whole host of other minor AOL offshoots. In other words, forget about AOL for anything, except email, IM and chatrooms.

Drop a line if you have difficulties transferring your stuff away from AOL.
If you're in the USA and you lost all your stuff on Hometown, well, all isn't lost YET. It can still be retrieved. Drop a line if you want more info. All is lost if you're outside America.

Save Your Pictures

2008-12-05T13:26:00.000-05:00

Did you get your blog transferred from AOL to Blogger? Congratulations.
Did you realise that some pictures may still be hosted on AOL? Commiserations.
You may be aware that on 31 December 2008, AOL will delete all pictures hosted on its pictures.aol.com service.

So, go to your transferred blog, view all entries in HTML mode and search for the dreaded phrase "aol". If that relates to a picture, you'll need to move the picture to outside AOL (e.g. photobucket, flickr etc) and replace the URL in the transferred blog with the new one.

Good luck.

Dormant blogs - Did I shave my legs for this?

2008-11-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

Kim's journal has also resurfaced on Blogger on this URL.

All dormant blogs are now on Blogger, listed on this link.

Dormant blogs - One Girl's Head Noise UK

2008-11-19T10:05:00.000-05:00

Pamela Hilger, who passed away on 16 April 2006, had a blog called One Girl's Head Noise UK until her death. It has resurfaced on Blogger on this URL. The preceding blog, just called One Girl's Head Noise, is there but does not (yet) have entries in it.

AOL is a striptease joint

2008-11-18T06:15:00.001-05:00

Dear AOL Video Uploads User,

We’re writing to inform you that the AOL Video Uploads site is no longer accepting new video uploads and will close on Dec. 18, 2008. We hope that this does not cause you an inconvenience.

The good news is that we can help you move your existing videos to Motionbox in a few, simple clicks. Motionbox is a free service that makes it easy to upload, store and share personal videos, and supports all of the features you enjoy with AOL Video Uploads -- including fast and reliable uploads, secure sharing, high quality video playback and more. To transfer your videos to Motionbox, all you need to do is click on the “transfer” button next to each video on the My Uploads page and follow the instructions.

If you want to download, delete or transfer your files to Motionbox or another site, you must go to the My Uploads page to take action before December 18, 2008. After that date, you will no longer be able to access your videos through the AOL Video Uploads site (also know as uncutvideo.com).

For more details please see our FAQs.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make this transition.

Sincerely,

AOL Video Uploads Team

Useful links

2008-11-16T10:54:00.001-05:00

Marie at Blogger Community Photo Challenge highlighted two useful links, which I'd like to relay.

Blogger Tips & Tricks
Dummies Guide to Google Blogger

Xdrive to go as well

2008-11-12T11:36:00.001-05:00

Dear Xdrive user,

We are writing to inform you that after Jan. 12, 2009, AOL will no longer support the Xdrive online storage service and the site will permanently close. It is important that you make plans to download your files to your local computer or hard drive.

We know this transition may be inconvenient, but it is important that you take steps to retrieve your files by Jan. 12. Once you have done so, you may want to consider registering for and saving them with another online storage provider. If you no longer need the files stored on your Xdrive archive, you do not need to take any action, but please keep in mind that all files will be permanently deleted after Jan. 12, 2009.

To make this transition easier for you, we are offering a new, simplified download option that will allow you to create and download a single file containing everything in your Xdrive account, which you could then upload to a new storage solution of your choice.

You can also download any files or folders through the standard Xdrive applications, either at www.xdrive.com or by using the Xdrive Desktop software, until Jan. 12, 2009. Based on your needs, you may wish to select multiple options for retrieving and archiving your files.

It is important that you take action no later than Jan. 12, 2009. After this date, the Xdrive service will be closed and any remaining files will be permanently deleted.

Please go to the Xdrive site at www.xdrive.com to begin making plans for retrieving your files. On the Xdrive site, you will find more information and step-by-step instructions for downloading, as well as answers to questions about downloading and archiving your files.

It is never an easy decision to shut down a feature, especially one like Xdrive that some of our members have used for a long time. But we have to look carefully at all of the products supported by AOL to ensure we’re providing as much value to our customers as possible.

Thank you for having been an Xdrive user.

Sincerely,

The Xdrive Team

Limits

2008-11-12T09:06:00.002-05:00

Just relaying the answer to a question, put to me by Sugar.

When you upload pictures to your Blogger blog using the picture upload tool, these will be put into a Picasa Web account, associated with your Google account. There is a limit of 1 GB (1,024 MB) on Picasa Web. Check here for your own usage status.

If you want to avoid exceeding the account limit, store your graphics and pictures elsewhere (e.g. Photobucket or Flickr) and link into them on your blog. This requires you to go to Edit HTML and input a little snippet of HTML: img src="URL" at the location of your picture.

Please note: In entering this code on this blog, I have had to omit the opening bracket "<" (placed before img) and closing bracket ">". Replace URL with the actual link, and do not type the quotation marks around the brackets. Typing example HTML here will be interpreted as actual code and processed as such, leading to unpredictable and unwanted results.

Another piece of AOL goes

2008-11-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

Dear AOL Video Uploads user,

If you’ve been using AOL Video Uploads, you will know that we’re shutting down the service in the UK and have been advising you to backup your videos. From 9th November, 2008 the AOL Video Uploads service in the UK will no longer be available.

If you would like to download a video, we recommend you do so as soon as possible by going to your AOL Video page. For more details please see our FAQs.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,

AOL UK Video Uploads Team

AOL UK Video Uploads Team

Here to Help

2008-11-02T16:03:00.002-05:00

Some of you will have been familiar with me as an AOL Host and then Leader aka HostBks, LeaderBks. If so you will know that from the very start I ran the Here to Help Blog.

I am now happy to continue that long tradition here.

Feel free as always to email me directly if you want @ s.d.rogerson@btinternet.com

Personal statement

2008-11-01T16:54:00.002-04:00

I have taken over Magic Smoke, now J-land Central, for the community.

I am very happy to put anyone on the authors' list.

I would be only too pleased to sign over administrative privileges upon request from the community.

Dormant blogs

2008-11-01T15:32:00.004-04:00

By pure coincidence I managed to find these blogs belonging to the deceased (or those disappeared from the community), which were exported to Blogger. I'm not pleased that we were not notified of the new URLs. I am still looking for the URLs for Pam's first journal, and will add it the moment I find it.

Lahoma's Laments
The Diatom Project
My Reason for Reasoning
Vengeance
Dribble by Chuck Ferris
On Whining Well
There are no Sundays
I shaved my legs for this???
One Girl's Head Noise (UK)
Pennie's Pieces of Ohio

Pet Memorial Now On Blogger

2008-11-01T15:30:00.002-04:00

Sugar, who opened and ran the J-Land Pets Memorial managed to successfully transfer it over to Blogspot. Many of you have beloved pets remembered there. There will be those of you that will wish to add a pet in the future.

So please bookmark the journal and add yourself as a follower. Here is the link:-
OUR BELOVED PETS

Journal Directory - Please Add Yourself.

2008-11-01T12:27:00.003-04:00

Have you added your journal/journals to the Directory that has been set up by Krissy? (They will always be journals and not blogs to me).

There must be quite a few who had not added themselves and this is a great way to find your friends or to make new ones. So, please do add yourself.

Here is the link:-

BLOGGER DIRECTORY

Changed name

2008-11-01T12:22:00.003-04:00

I have changed the name of this blog to J-land Central. Its URL remains the same and you will continue to receive notification of new entries through your feedreader or dashboard followers.

I am aware that there is a feeling within the community that the name "J-land" should be changed as well. Please leave a comment with any ideas. I'll organise a poll at a later date to make a democratic decision.

Formal statement

2008-11-01T11:48:00.000-04:00

This journal has been taken over by ADB (Guido) from previous writer jlandeditor following the demise of AOL Journals. Anyone who would like author's privileges (in other words, anyone who wants to make contributions) should contact Guido on adb422006 @ gmail . com. Please fill in the spaces if you copy & paste the email address.

Help pages for new Blogger bloggers

2008-11-01T11:46:00.001-04:00

Yasmin and Jeannette have set up a journal containing tips & tricks for those of us who are newbies to Blogger and still finding their way around.

Looking for journals?

2008-10-30T17:41:00.000-04:00

I have uploaded a file for use in Google Reader, containing 249 URLs for journals. Yep, 249.

Anyway, you can download it from here. You click on the link, and your window will fill up with code. Ignore that. Click on File, Save As and specify a download location. Ensure the file is saved as an XML-file, that's important.

Go to Google Reader and at the bottom left panel, you'll see a link "Manage Subscriptions".
Clicking on that leads to a page marked Settings.
Click on Import/Export.
Click on the Browse button by the heading Select OPML file
Locate your XML-file and click on Upload

Hey Presto!

You now have 249 journals in Google Reader.

Transferring journals

2008-10-28T08:59:00.000-04:00

Journals that could not be transferred by their owner will be migrated by the AOL Journals Team tomorrow, Wednesday 29 October. Please leave a note if you have been unable to transfer your AOL journal on your own, including URL and your Gmail address.

AOL Pictures to close down

2008-10-27T17:21:00.001-04:00

Dear AOL Pictures user,

In order to offer you a more comprehensive online photo service, we will be closing down AOL Pictures on 31 December 2008.

We have partnered with Pixum, one of Europe’s leading and multi-award winning independent online photo service providers, to provide all AOL Pictures customers with a free, improved and fully integrated ‘one-stop’ online photo service.

To ensure that you keep all of your photos, we recommend that you transfer your photos to the new photo service before 31 December 2008. Go and transfer your photos to our new photo service provided by Pixum and get up to 100 prints for free!*

Please note that to transfer your photos you will have to sign up for a Pixum account. By selecting the transfer option, you consent that your name, email address and AOL Screen Name are encrypted and sent to Pixum to facilitate the registration and the transfer of your photos.

Alternatively, you can download your photos to your computer.

You need to ensure you have either transferred your photos to the new photo service provided by Pixum or downloaded them to your computer by 31 December 2008. After this time, the site will be permanently closed and you will not be able to access your photos through AOL Pictures. So, do please ensure that you act now and go to AOL Pictures for continued access to your photos or to save your photos on your computer.

To have a look at the new photo site provided by Pixum, please click here.
To Learn more about Pixum, click here.

We hope to see you on our new site soon!

Sincerely,

Your AOL Pictures Team

Transferring journals

2008-10-27T17:19:00.000-04:00

If you are still experiencing problems transferring your AOL journal to Blogger, please leave a note with your Gmail address and AOL Journal URL. I shall forward these for manual transfer by the AOL Journals Team.

Saving template

2008-10-26T13:32:00.000-04:00

When you plan to alter your template, it is always a good idea to save a copy of it to your hard disk drive. The procedure is straightforward.

Sign into your blog and select Layout, then Edit HTML.
The option to Download a copy of your template to disk is displayed on that page.
The file is an XML-file, in order that you know which filetype will be assigned.

Should your alterations wreak havoc on your blog, you can restore the previous status-quo by returning to the same page to upload your original template file. Or a template that you found on the Net; googling for Blogger templates will yield quite a few sites. The usual precautions apply, in terms of security, viruses, malware etc.

Using Back Street Browser

2008-10-25T17:16:00.000-04:00

Having retrieved the journal with this program, you cannot navigate through it the way you would do on the Net. The journal is saved to disk under the following directory structure

Screenname
Name of journal (as in the URL)
Archive
Entries
Year
Month
Day
Number of entry

You'll have to navigate through the journal using the directory structure, NOT with the normal navigational buttons. Comments cannot be retrieved, and certain graphics are also not displayed. Any graphics, linked to AOL Pictures or AOL Hometown will be lost after November 1st, 2008. With the amount of time until October 31st, it is unlikely to be practicable to relink all the graphics on a blog – remember your own transfer?

The restrictions of this method are particularly in evidence when viewing the saved journal off-line.

The front page shows the first 10 entries.

Dormant blogs

2008-10-24T18:33:00.000-04:00

The blogs of the deceased, and of others who are unaware of this change, will be uploaded to a dedicated account. Anyone who wishes any of these journals to be transferred to their account, please leave a note here. I'll confirm when the transfer is complete.

Love and Light from HEALING Creek
I shaved my legs for this?
A Pennies Worth
Vengeance
Journal Enquirer
On Whining Well
Just One Girls Head Noise (UK)
Dribble by Chuck Ferris
The Diatom Project
Penny's Pieces of Ohio
My Reason for reasoning
There are no Sundays.
Lahoma's Laments

Update: J-land Directory

2008-10-24T10:09:00.000-04:00

With apologies: the URL given in previous posting was incorrect. It has been rectified, and is working.

Jland Directory

2008-10-24T07:58:00.001-04:00

Krissy has set up a Jland Directory, in which the list of new URLs will be incorporated. Please call round there and leave your first name, AOL screenname, journal URL and email address as requested.

Edit: URL has been corrected

Contact

2008-10-23T18:06:00.000-04:00

It has been requested that people leave an email address on their Blogger profile. This can be useful if you want to contact a commenter directly by email, rather than leave a comment on their blog.

On AOL Journals, an email address was provided automatically, as that was included in the screenname, which in turn was included in the URL.

There is one caution associated with this: leaving an email on a profile exposes you to the risk of spam. You may wish to set up an email specifically for the above purpose, and change it when it becomes clogged with junkmail.

Not migrated yet?

2008-10-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

If you continue to have problems with the transfer of your blog to Blogger, please leave a note with your AOL screenname. A solution has been found, where the transfer will be done for you.

I shall email the details to you upon request (using the AOL screenie; please don't leave an email address on here).

Guido

PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE WHO YOU KNOW STILL HAS PROBLEMS BUT MAY NOT SEE THIS POST

9 days to go

2008-10-22T18:22:00.000-04:00

I am emailing the following people, but am also asking anyone else who may be in touch with them to urgently point out that their journals will be deleted on October 31st. Should any of the people concerned read this, please leave a note with your new URL. Thanks.

ceilisundancer / Robin / http://journals.aol.com/ceilisundancer/RandomThreads/
irisheyes1929 / Kellen / http://journals.aol.com/irisheyes1929/FaithinRomanCatholicism/
wildautumn1 / ? / http://journals.aol.com/wildautumn1/this-is-really-me
ninareade / Nina / http://journals.aol.com/ninareade/overtaken-by-snails-life-in-the-/
rebuketheworld / Raven / http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeTheWorld/
cgtperkins / Carrie / http://journals.aol.com/cgtperkins/daybyday
cottoncandie / Mary Alice / http://journals.aol.com/cottoncandi12306/ThisiswhoIam
sunshines612392 / Sam / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sunshines612392/wifemotherstudentmentalhealthnur
sylviam4000 / Sylvia / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sylviam4000/YeOldeEnglishPosy
ljat1 / Linda / http://journals.aol.com/ljat1/fridays-child/
pookyluvsu / Angela / http://journals.aol.com/pookyluvsu/BehindHazelEyes/
andie5987 / Andrea / http://journals.aol.com/andie5987/MyLife/
bowyerlori / Lori / http://journals.aol.co.uk/bowyerlori/broken/
rayne1123 / Noelle / http://journals.aol.com/rayne1123/ThewaysofRayne
katie39041 / Katie / http://journals.aol.co.uk/katie39041/KATIESDIARY
jan3145 / Jan / http://journals.aol.com/jan3145/LivingwPulmonaryFibrosis

Pictures without borders

2008-10-21T16:34:00.000-04:00

In order to show your pictures without a border and a narrow area of white around it, you need to tweak the HTML of your template.

* Go to the Dashboard and click Layout, then Edit HTML

* Before you make changes to your template, always save a copy to disk in case something goes wrong.

* Using Ctrl-F, search for this string: .post img {
which starts at the period and ends with the {

* The second line may read border=1px solid $bordercolor;.

* Change this line to 0px solid (that is zero), omitting $bordercolor;

* Save your template and reload your blog. Your pictures will now appear without a border.

Posting pictures

2008-10-19T16:19:00.000-04:00

Kat is currently posting a handy tutorial on the Blogger Community Photo Challenge blog for tweaking your blog template to accommodate large pictures. It involves manipulating the underlying HTML, but that's manageable I think. Have a look.

New blogs

2008-10-18T17:56:00.000-04:00

Folks,

Here are some of the links that I have laid my hands on in the past 3 weeks or so.
I have decided not to bother with the old AOL URL's, as they are for chop soon at any rate.
This list is seriously long, so if you're searching, use Ctrl-F.
Please add any journals that are not listed here; once added, your comment will be removed.
Please leave a comment if any information is no longer correct; quite a few journals have had to relocate to a new URL due to transfer problems.

Please note: links will continue to be added

Sources:
My own Google Reader OPML download
Comments to previous entry on this subject on this blog
Comments on Where are we now?

http://adirondackcountrygal.blogspot.com Linda
http://alittlebitofsugarplease.blogspot.com Sugar
http://amysaysmeh.blogspot.com Amy
http://andy-andyslife.blogspot.com Andy
http://anewbridge.blogspot.com Bea
http://apageunturned.blogspot.com Regina
http://aquietlifeiwish.blogspot.com Carol
http://astra1547.blogspot.com Astra
http://atlantic-lines.blogspot.com Guido
http://attitudeslc.blogspot.com Rosemary
http://barb-anewbeginning.blogspot.com Barb
http://barb-onedayatatime.blogspot.com Barb
http://brainwhispers.blogspot.com
http://buckoclown.blogspot.com Ken
http://buffalosquirrels.blogspot.com V eronica
http://buggieboo1.blogspot.com Sharon
http://call-for-support.blogspot.com
http://carpediemdawn.blogspot.com Dawn
http://cathy-daretothink.blogspot.com Cathy
http://cayasm-isntshegreat.blogspot.com Yasmin
http://cindyslife2.blogspot.com Cindy
http://cmarlow480.blogspot.com Christopher
http://coastalcomfortii.blogspot.com/ Sharon
http://odestotheoddptdeux.blogspot.com/ Dannelle
http://tagsandalittlechatter.blogspot.com/ Joyce
http://madcobug-myeverydaylife.blogspot.com/ Helen
http://wouldyoulikesomeheartwiththat.blogspot.com/ Phyllis
http://my3gifts.blogspot.com/ Christy
http://snaggertagger.blogspot.com/ Emmi
http://realisticallyinsanecherry.blogspot.com/ Diama
http://taintedcherriesdzine.blogspot.com/ Diama's Tags
http://cabscreationschatter.blogspot.com/ Chris
http://rebeccaofsunnybrookfarm.blogspot.com/ Becky
http://tagsbyangela.blogspot.com/ Angela
http://waterrunsthroughme.blogspot.com/ Angie
http://sandrasscribbles.blogspot.com/ Sandra
http://missiesupsidedownworld.blogspot.com/ Missie
http://tagsbymissie.blogspot.com/ Missie's tag blog
http://herethereandeverywhere2ndedition.blogspot.com/ Pat
http://monicasmindlessmutterings.blogspot.com/ Monica
http://horseshoebend2.blogspot.com/ Carleen
http://www.karasrambles.blogspot.com/ Kara
http://mycreativecornerandthings.blogspot.com/ Creative Corner
http://call-for-support.blogspot.com/ A call for support
http://outsidelookingin-jeannette.blogspot.com/ Jeannette
http://serendipitylives-jan.blogspot.com/ Jan
http://newblueviolet.blogspot.com/ Vicky
http://thatkentuckygirl.blogspot.com/ Lisa in Kentucky
http://meandering-martha.blogspot.com/ Martha
http://dsdesignsandotherthings.blogspot.com/ Donna
http://lynne-tnt-ii.blogspot.com/ Lynne
http://lynne-is-on-a-mission.blogspot.com/ Lynne's weight loss blog
http://admdesigns.blogspot.com/ Al
http://deardiaryitsmedonna.blogspot.com/ Donna aka LadyMagnolia1963
http://tagsbyangela.blogspot.com/ Tags by Angela
http://greenolivesandpicklejuice.blogspot.com/ Kelly
http://mysouthernhome.blogspot.com/ Sonya
http://gillietime.blogspot.com/ Gillie
http://littlethingsphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Maria
http://findingfootprintsinthesand.blogspot.com/ Linda
http://photographsmemoriestoo.blogspot.com/ Marie
http://lattedahdesigns.blogspot.com/ Traci
http://deafscreams.blogspot.com/ Indigo
http://wwwlifewithally.blogspot.com/ Ally
http://jeanneshappyhome.blogspot.com/ Jeanne (Private)
http://thisismehugs-amanda.blogspot.com/ Amanda
http://cindyslife2.blogspot.com/ Cindy
http://kath-mysimplerhymes2.blogspot.com/ Kath
http://marlene-onedayatatime.blogspot.com/ Marleen
http://memoriesandsweetserenity.blogspot.com/ Terri
http://stardustlouise.blogspot.com/ Louise
http://i-stand-corrected.blogspot.com/ Shared - I stand corrected
http://lori-dustypages.blogspot.com/ Lori
http://dustypagesbookshelves.blogspot.com/ Lori's book reviews
http://cathy-daretothink.blogspot.com/ Cathy
http://buggieboo1.blogspot.com/ Sharon
http://kafkasworld.blogspot.com/ Stuart
http://mississippigurl811423.blogspot.com/ Cathy
http://stuckinhindsight.blogspot.com/ Joanna
http://silent-keyboards-j-land-angels.blogspot.com/ J-land Angels
http://www.wunzuponatime.blogspot.com/ Sher
http://harborofpalms.blogspot.com/ Bethe
http://wherearewenowsfk.blogspot.com/ a place for AOL Refugees
http://yellowbrickroadtwo.blogspot.com/ Robin
http://agirlnexdoorcreation.blogspot.com/ TerryAnn
http://cassie-springmeadows.blogspot.com/ Cassie
http://adirondackcountrygal.blogspot.com/ Linda
http://aquietlifeiwish.blogspot.com/ Carol
http://thebigjourneytochangemylife.blogspot.com/ Kat
http://boondocksflapdoodleandbeyond.blogspot.com/ Debbie
http://myquestoftruth.blogspot.com/ Meg
http://proudmommywifey.blogspot.com/ Liz
http://womanintheglassbox.blogspot.com/ Winivere
http://lindapoohsthotfulspot.blogspot.com/ Linda
http://juliasnewjournal.blogspot.com/ Julia
http://slapinions.blogspot.com/ Dan
http://littlethingsphotoblog.blogspot.com/ Marie
http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com
http://conniesphotos.blogspot.com Connie
http://dayzedagain.blogspot.com Joan
http://deardiary-monae.blogspot.com Monae
http://diaryofapodgypoof.blogspot.com Gaz
http://dislifeingeneral.blogspot.com
http://dornbrau-dustbunnyclubofnorthamerica.blogspot.com Dorn
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com Carly
http://emmaandbella.blogspot.com
http://eternity-mrst.blogspot.com Michelle
http://findingfootprintsinthesand.blogspot.com Linda
http://flamingofeathers-kathy.blogspot.com Kathy
http://fromtheedgeofdementia.blogspot.com/
http://gaboatman-docklines.blogspot.com Sam
http://gerry-daughters-of-the-shadow-men.blogspot.com Gerry
http://ginas-space.blogspot.com Gina
http://growinoldgracelessly.blogspot.com Penny
http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com Jan
http://gypsypaths.blogspot.com Carol
http://harborofpalms.blogspot.com Beth
http://hollie-lifeinasmalltown.blogspot.com Hollie
http://horseshoebend2.blogspot.com Carlene
http://inafrnz247-morethanwords.blogspot.com Michelle
http://ishallovercome-blazensun.blogspot.com Sunny
http://isthismylife-michelle.blogspot.com Michelle
http://jeannettesnewtravels.blogspot.com Jeannette
http://jlandhub.blogspot.com Magic Smoke
http://joannsnewjournal.blogspot.com Joann
http://judithheartsong.blogspot.com Judith
http://kasee60.blogspot.com Kasey
http://kelly-reminiscenceoftheyesteryears.blogspot.com Kelly
http://lifefaithincaneyhead.blogspot.com Barbara
http://lindasworld-lindasworld.blogspot.com Linda in WA
http://lisa-pleasedonttakelifeforgranted.blogspot.com Lisa
http://littleleftofcenter3.blogspot.com Kathy
http://lorisletterbox.blogspot.com Lori
http://lovinyou4lovinme.blogspot.com Katie
http://luanneslifelivingwithlupus.blogspot.com Lu-Anne
http://lurkynatsworld.blogspot.com Natalie
http://lyn-britsblog.blogspot.com Lyn
http://madcobug-myeverydaylife2.blogspot.com Helen
http://magicgeniiinthelakes.blogspot.com Jeanie
http://mamacitamd.blogspot.com Mamacita
http://manickathy.blogspot.com Kathy
http://marylouisesphotoshoot.blogspot.com Mary-Louise
http://mortonlake-caringnsharing.blogspot.com Morton
http://motoxmom72.blogspot.com Gina
http://mycreativecornerandthings.blogspot.com Robyn
http://mydaymyinterestsphotoblog.blogspot.com Betty
http://mysouthernhome.blogspot.com Sonya
http://nanshouse.blogspot.com Jenny
http://nopleasurecruise.blogspot.com Jenny
http://nowherehometown.blogspot.com Cece
http://nutwoodjunction.blogspot.com Beth
http://onewaytrip18.blogspot.com Ada
http://outsidelookingin-jeannette.blogspot.com Jeannette
http://patricia57.blogspot.com Patrice
http://photographsmemoriestoo.blogspot.com Marie
http://pianogirlsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com Morgan
http://proudmommywifey.blogspot.com Liz
http://queenbsblogofcourse.blogspot.com Barb
http://reflections-michelle.blogspot.com Michelle
http://ryanagi.blogspot.com
http://salsreflections.blogspot.com Sal
http://sandrasscribbles.blogspot.com Sandra
http://saturdayschild-anne.blogspot.com Anne
http://saywhat911.blogspot.com Laura
http://sharon-imasurvivor.blogspot.com Sharon
http://shelly-didisaythat.blogspot.com Shelly
http://steviesdiner.blogspot.com Stevie
http://sunshinecolorado.blogspot.com David
http://takingheart.blogspot.com
http://the-fox-diarys.blogspot.com Eler-Beth
http://theexaminedlife-sheria.blogspot.com Sheria
http://thepatchworkquiltonaol.blogspot.com Kathi
http://thereisaseason-val.blogspot.com Val
http://thereisonly1today.blogspot.com Janie
http://unfussy.blogspot.com Gayla
http://vagabondjourneys.blogspot.com
http://visualcounterpoint.blogspot.com Liz
http://watchingmysisterdisappear.blogspot.com Mary-Louise
http://waterfalltrekking.blogspot.com Greg
http://waterrunsthroughme.blogspot.com
http://whatclaludiaisnowthinking.blogspot.com Claudia
http://windsweptwhispers.blogspot.com Connie
http://wwfbison.blogspot.com Lisa
http://yellowbrickroadtwo.blogspot.com Robin
http://sunflowerkat.blogspot.com/ Kat
http://inmydreamssfk.blogspot.com/ Kat
http://geminiwilder.blogspot.com/ Cindy
http://monicasmindlessmutterings.blogspot.com/ Monica
http://www.contrarywoman.blogspot.com/ Mary
http://therustyspigot.wordpress.com/ Kath
http://boiseladie.blogspot.com/ Cheryl
http://everythingisgoingtobeallright2.blogspot.com/ Rose
http://shelly-didisaythat.blogspot.com/ Shelly
http://quiltofmanycolors.blogspot.com/ Shelly's Photo blog
http://lainey-lainesworld.blogspot.com/ Lainey
http://waterboywriting.blogspot.com Paul
http://acorgitellsatale.blogspot.com/ Betty
http://nancyluvspix.blogspot.com/ Nance
http://petuniasmom.blogspot.com Kath
http://coy-dancingintherain.blogspot.com/ Coy
http://mydailypurge.blogspot.com Kris
http://creativitybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/ Betty
http://tammy-downhome.blogspot.com/ Tammy
http://sharon-welcometomynightmare.blogspot.com/ Sharon
http://lilys-paradise.blogspot.com/ Rosy
http://roses-are-read.blogspot.com/ Rose
http://the-lantern-1962.blogspot.com/ Rose
http://bauchtanzinoldenburg.blogspot.com/ Birgit (German blog)
http://onyama.blogspot.com/ Pam
http://thiswasmylifeinthe1950sand1960s.blogspot.com Freda
http://marty-heardatstarbucks.blogspot.com/ Marty
http://leigh-mythoughtshonestly.blogspot.com Leigh
http://walkinginmyshoeshonestly.blogspot.com/ Leigh
http://makingofahome.blogspot.com Deb
http://shadowsofthemoon.blogspot.com/ Teresa
http://myra-therandomnessofitall.blogspot.com/ Myra
http://mydayandthoughts.blogspot.com Celeste
http://boondocksflapdoodleandbeyond.blogspot.com/ Debbie
http://ellie-crazylife.blogspot.com/ Ellie
http://clem28.vip-blog.com/ Cerise (French blog)
http://bearslair-bearsden.blogspot.com/ Bill
http://insanityisntadisease2.blogspot.com Tawnya
http://www.garnett109.blogspot.com John
http://chaispice1023.blogspot.com
http://latentthoughts.blogspot.com/ Rebecca
http://manickathy.blogspot.com/ Kathy
http://animalrescuerslife.blogspot.com/ Jamie
http://thisandthatorwhatever.blogspot.com/ Dawn (Nomads)
http://thinkinglizard.blogspot.com Brian
http://howiseeit-karen.blogspot.com/ Karen
http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com Astaryth
http://CharsToday.blogspot.com Char
http://starslikegrainsofsandinmypocket.blogspot.com/ Mark
http://ananalysisoflife-kate.blogspot.com/ Kate
http://lainey-lainesworld.blogspot.com/ Lainey
http://lainecreative.blogspot.com/ Lainey
http://learningtoadapt.blogspot.com
http://lifeischockfullofsurprises.blogspot.com/ Sandra
http://donna-justme.blogspot.com/ Donna
http://tagsandalittlechatter.blogspot.com/ Joyce
http://ninareadeovertakenbysnails.blogspot.com/ Nina
http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com/ Krissy
http://toostubborntodie.blogspot.com/ John

Download your blog

2008-10-17T11:39:00.001-04:00

It is possible to download your blog from the Web using the Back Street browser. You download the software to your PC, after which it will download your blog to your desktop. You need to "Copy To" to finally save it. Please be aware that comments do not appear to be saved. Clicking the comment links in the downloaded blog will not show the comments.

Appeal

2008-10-16T09:23:00.000-04:00

Can I ask everybody to go through all the links of journals they used to read on AOL, and check whether they have been copied to Blogger? If you find any that have not, and have equally not been updated for a long time, let me know. I am currently saving these journals on my PC, where they will be quite safe for now, until there is a way of uploading them back to the Web.

Old and new

2008-10-15T18:42:00.001-04:00

Two requests:

1. Please spread the word about the existence of this journal. Its URL is http://jlandhub.blogspot.com.

2. Leave a note with your first name, AOL screenname, AOL Journal URL and corresponding new Blogger URL (or whichever provider you use).

A journals directory will be built in due course.

Thanks,
Guido

Transferring journals

2008-10-15T18:23:00.000-04:00

Don't forget your journals.
Have you forgotten which ones you have written, and which you need to transfer yet?
There are two tricks. In the address-bar of your browser enter either of the following:

http://journals.aol.com/screenname

or

http://journals.aol.co.uk/_do/list

You need to be logged into the relevant screenname to see all blogs, including private ones.
Check all your screennames; you are allowed up to 7 on AOL.

First entry

2008-10-14T16:57:00.000-04:00

Hello, this is Guido (ADB on Blogger, pharmolo on AOL) with the very first post on Magic Smoke @ Blogger. I have been given permission to write on this journal, and will continue where I was cut off on Magic Smoke @ AOL 2 weeks ago.

The transfer of AOL blogs to Blogger is hitting snags, and it seems to affect blogs with large numbers of posts in particular. If the troubleshooting does not help you, leave a comment here or on Magic Smoke @ AOL. The Journals Team is on the case, and will ensure that anyone who has problems will see their blog migrated.

I have made it my business to ensure that as many dormant blogs as possible are transferred or saved. I have repeatedly posted about this, but will once again raise the flag: do you know a journal, written by someone who is away, has died or for any other reason will be unable to migrate their journal themselves: please leave a comment.

A first technical tip for Blogger:

GRAPHICS
Do not host your graphics on Blogger. Storage space here is limited, and you'll very rapidly run out. Use an external host, e.g. photobucket.

When you put in the image, switch to Edit HTML (top right of entry window) and enter the HTML tag: < i m g s r c = " [spacing deliberate], followed by the URL of the image and the closing tag ">. If you do this through the Blogger equivalent of Add Image, the URLs can sometimes not work (no fault of the URL!) and you get a heck of a lot of unnecessary garbage-HTML added to it all, which throws your journal's lay-out sideways.