Aaron Ewer
Aaron Ewers thoughts about everything

This summer the family wants to do a group project on the internet. We want to start a family web ring of personal websites and blogs. I’ve been volunteered to find a cheap server and help the others set up their blogs or web sites if they need the help - not that I’m any web wizard or anything! But at the moment, I’m the only one in the family that has a personal blog, so I can at least share that expertise.

I’ve been searching for a cheap but reliable source for windows web hosting to recommend to the other family members and I have been reading up on the subject today. I found a new site that has lists and ratings of various hosting sites and articles on web hosting specifications, tutorials, and the truth about cheap hosting services.

I first heard the term, “Widget” back in the 1960’s, at a trade show. Back then it meant an example of an inventory item that you can easily associate with your own items for the purpose of a meaningful conversation.

Now a widget is actually an internet tool or gadget that you can add to a website or blog to provide information, such as a calendar that shows the current month and date, or it can be set of HTML instructions to link important sites or pages together.

I like the way many of the WordPress free templates are “widget-ready.” I might try to download one and at least have a new look in place while I finish designing the one that I’m creating myself.

I’ve been using this default template for my blog for a while and would really like a new look. I have been surfing some of the free template sites, but nothing really grabs my interest.

I’ve been thinking about writing my own code, which isn’t all that hard to do but I’m sure it will be time consuming. My interest in good web design and blog templates is getting stronger, and I’ve been reading up on the subjects at various sites.

Came across a decent site with information on web design and blogging. It’s actually a blog in itself, which is good because I like the blog format very much. If you read a blog regularly, the way the most recent entry is the first thing you see versus a regular website where you have to dig through multiple links or pages to get to the newest information.

What caught my eye on this web design blog is today’s entry about “Three Top Web Design Basics.” It was well presented and not too technical, so I read it quickly and actually understood what he was talking about. I can easily incorporated those points into my web design. There is also an excellent post on planning your website’s design. These type of subjects are very useful to me.

It may take a month or so to do this whole project, but I hope it will be worth the work and that my readers like it.

People with good credit and a traditional down payment should not have any trouble getting a mortgage and buying a new home, even with the current mortgage company crisis. Some people have no choice in whether they can stay in their current home or have to move. Some move because their employer requires them to relocate. Others move for health reasons, some people are ready to retire and don’t need such a large house with maintenance and upkeep issues. And some people need a larger house, because their family is growing, they recently married, or perhaps they need an in-law apartment to help with elder care issues. All of these are valid reasons to buy or sell a home, and all of these people could benefit from working with a professional real estate agent or broker.

With the end of the school year near and the traditional busy summer months of people wanting to move and get settled before school starts again, if you are thinking about selling or buying your home this would be an excellent time to consult with a real estate agent or broker, to make preparations and be in the position to take advantage of the summer selling season as well as current market conditions.

If you have concerns about how a real estate agent or broker earns their money and what value they can bring to your home buying or selling process, take a look at the heartfelt letter written by the owner of the DROdio Real Estate company, Daniel R. Odio, on their website’s homepage and read his blog. If you live in, or plan to move to, the Washington/Maryland/Virginia metro area, you may want to consider working with a DROdio real estate agent. Working with a professional maryland real estate agent will make the process easier and may well save you money rather than cost you money. I encourage you to read their website and find out how.

Anyone who has a new baby in the house should be required to own a digital camera. There are so many great, once in a lifetime moments with a new baby that are worthy of a picture, and relatives love to see photos of the new baby.

Today I came across a new blog that is all about babies and baby pictures that anyone can upload and share their baby photos. Each uploaded photo has a cute caption and a place for comments and users can even rate the photos. There are different pages for “Top This Month,” and “Top Last Month,” as well as “Top All Time.”

Besides sharing your own baby photos and looking at all the other cute photos, the blog has articles related to pregnancy and baby care, such as “Calming a Crying Baby” and “Childhood Vaccinations.”

Great idea - I hope parents all over the world read about this and take advantage of this fun new blog.