If your not exactly a computer aficionado, interacting with a blog may seem a bit daunting and confusing. This page is here to help you get around on the Walkah-Blog and hopefully answer your questions.

Remember, if you have any questions about how to use the site just email me and I’ll answer them. There are no stupid questions, only stupid people who don’t ask them.

What is this blog thing anyway?

A Blog or Web Log is an online journal of sorts. People from teenagers recounting their torturous days of high school to computer programmers sharing ideas and knowledge use blogs both to post information and to store it in a searchable online database.
Our blog is a way for us to share the goings on of our lives with our family and friends. I write posts that fall under several categories from mundane banter (Ad Nauseum) to news on our expected child (Baby News). The front page of the Walkah-Blog always shows the 8 most recent posts in chronological order with the newest post at the top. All posts, regardless of category, start here.
The blog is not a newspaper though. The best thing about it is that the readers get to comment on what I write! If you think I’m full of crap, you can say so! Comments are attached right to the post they’re in reference to an remain with the post forever. The beauty of a blog is that it is a two way conversation.

How do I use it?

Anyone with an internet connection can read the blog. All you have to do is visit the Walkah-Blog and read at will. Search through the categories at right to read posts about our news or the baby watch or enter a keyword into the search window and look for a specific post. To leave a comment for a post though, you need to register.

How do I register?

you’ll need to register for the blog before you can comment. This is mostly because I’d just like this to be more of a community and making people register filters out some of the drivebys. Even if you don’t comment, if you’re a regular visitor, I’d love for you to register so we can see who’s watching us. To do this, just go here. Enter the username you’d like and your email. You’ll be sent an email with your temporary password. Once you log in, you can change it to anything you’d like.

I’m registered. Now how do I comment?

First you have to log in. Once you’re logged in, go to the end of the post you want to comment on. Click on the word “Comments.” If there are already comments posted, a number will show before the word. If not, the number “0″ will show instead.
You’ll be taken to a new page at the bottom of the post. Previous comments will be listed below the post and beneath that will be a box for you to write your comments in. There are click-able smiley faces above the box. Click which ever smiley you want to be displayed in your comment and it will be displayed wherever your cursor was when you clicked. It will look like code when you are writing but once you post it will show as a smiley.
You can also add Quicktags to your post. Quicktags are simple little html codes that enable you to insert links, bold text, italic text, etc. into your comments.
Once you are done with your comments, click the submit comments button and you’re done!

Can I write my own posts?

It can be arranged. As the site is currently constituted, registered users can only post comments. However, I know a lot of our family and friends are all over the country making it hard to keep everyone up to date on your goings on. So, if you would like to make regular posts, email me and I’ll change your user settings so that you can post. I’ll create a separate category for you under Friends & Family so that all your posts will be easy to track. Posting is not much different from leaving comments in terms of its technical difficulty so don’t let that stop you!

Other Features

There are a few extras on the site and I’ll add more as I find them!

Live Chatbox

This is a very neat plugin. If you are a logged in member, you can use the chatbox to talk to other logged in members. The chat box is on the right hand side of the page near the top. Just type your message into the text box next to the word message and hit send. In a second it will appear, next to your name, in the chatbox! As with posts and comments, anyone can see them but only those members who are logged in can post. Try it out and keep and eye on it, somebody might be saying hello to you while you’re browsing.

How do you know if anyone is online? Read on…

User Online

Just below the Walkah-Blog header there is a little line of yellow text that says “Users Online” This is preceded by the number of users currently looking at the Walkah-Blog, including you. Clicking on this text will bring you to a page showing exactly who is online. Members who are logged in and browsing will be displayed by name. Everyone else will be shown as Guest. Guests are either non-members or members who are not logged in.

Clicking on a member’s name, will tell you what comments that member has made in the past.

Polls
On the sidebar at right near the top of the main page you’ll find a poll question many days. Usually it will be ridiculous and just for fun but some days it might be a legitimate question. Simply click the box next to the answer you like and click vote. You’ll then see how everyone else voted.

Calendar
The calendar is also on the sidebar but near the bottom. It is yet another way to search for posts. Missed the post last Friday? Just click on last Friday’s date and it will take you to that day’s posts. Days that a post was made are in yellow. Days without a Post are white.

Jokes
More of a category than a feature, I try to post one joke a day in the Joke category. I can use all the jokes I can get to fill one a day so email me the good ones!

Notify Me of New Posts
If you’re the forgetful type who can’t remember to visit the site everyday for new posts, subscribe to the new post notification. Once you confirm your subscription through email, you’ll be sent an email every time a new post is made to the Walkah-Blog.