In the top board navigation bar you'll now see a "Blogs" link. As you've probably guessed, this means that I've installed a blog add-on, which is currently available to all SPS account holders, but will soon also be enabled for regular users with a certain number or posts and/or other characteristics.

Only SPS account holders can currently create blogs, but all registered users can already post comments on the blogs.

Each blog owner's most recent blog entries will also show in their profile, under the "Blog" tab, and a blog counter in the postbit (under the avatar inside every post you make).

As for what a blog is, exactly:

A blog (an abridgment of the term web log) is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting) are part of a wider network of social media. Micro-blogging is another type of blogging which consists of blogs with very short posts. As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs.

For more info on blogs, check here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog).

The board FAQ has also been updated with information regarding the blogs: http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/faq.php

So important you posted it twice? :)

http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/wp-content/blogging_monkeys.jpg

So important you posted it twice? :)

Obviously, since non-SPS users can't read the private SPS forum.

http://www.businessblogconsulting.com/wp-content/blogging_monkeys.jpg

You actually think we need more monkeys? :shake:

Nah, but the introductions of blogs reminded me of this perticular motivational poster.

Obviously, since non-SPS users can't read the private SPS forum.



You actually think we need more monkeys? :shake:

Ah, I just use the New Posts button and don't see which forum the posts are in. Ignore me!

We always do... j/k >_>

Nothing wrong with monkeys...



Anyway since I dont know much about Blogs this seems the best time to learn.

Isn't this what the various "Random xxxx (1) Threads" are for?

(1) Insert the general theme here, other than politics.

:p

Hmm...got carried away and tried to create a blog already... :doh:

I've added a short explanation on what a blog is to the first post. Basically, a blog is your own little corner of the Internet where you can rant about anything and everything, either just for fun or with some higher purpose. We'll probably have a "lite" version of the forum rules for blogs so everyone will have a bit more freedom there.

Also, in your blog options (http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/blog_usercp.php), you can specify who you want to allow to see and/or comment on your blog. You can limit both actions for contacts, ignored people and everyone else.

So you can either hide the blog completely from everyone (and just use it as your personal diary), only allow those on your contact+friend list to see it, etc.

For non-SPS account holders, creating blogs is now available for everyone with over 15 posts to their name. I'm looking forward to seeing many new blogs!

At this rate, the actual message board will be drowned by all the other features :O.

Thanks Tal! :thumb: :banana: Cheers! :beer:

Yay. My excessive posting has paid off :)

I've updated the forum rules (http://www.sorcerers.net/avatars/docs/rules.php) slightly to reflect the recent changes, as well as added a section near the bottom which deals with blogs. If anyone has any questions regarding that, please let me know.

The board FAQ has also been updated with information regarding the blogs: http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/faq.php

Since the rate of blog adoption has been much lower than anticipated, I've lowered the requirement for non-SPS account holders to open a blog to only 15 posts, which should now allow pretty much everyone to create their own blog (http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/blog.php).

I hope that more of you will give them a try now... there's really nothing to it and it'd be nice if we had a few more blogs focused on various aspects not already covered (or not in as much detail) on the boards.