J-land's anniversary

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

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?

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

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

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

Trees / Garden of Hope

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

Have you made arrangements?

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

Jan has resurfaced and done the unimaginable: posted!

Sunny / I shall overcome

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

New Year

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

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

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

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

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

Message from Sugar

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

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

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

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

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

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.