Oct
26
October 26, 2007
Show of hands, how many of you find those widget boxes in the righthand sidebar to be useful? If you don’t read those other blogs, I promise my feelings won’t be hurt, I’m just trying to figure out if they’re handy for the folks who are interested in seeing when I’ve updated—or if, as I’m starting to suspect, they’re just cluttering up the page and also triggering random crashes in some Mac browsers.
Speaking of other blogs, I posted the pumpkin-chocolate muffin recipe over here. Warning: your eyes may become stuck at the top of your skull in orgasmic delight as a result of eating those things. Also, I take no responsibility for what might happen to your ass (I’m pretty sure mine has grown three times in size, just like the Grinch’s heart).
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114 Responses to “Quick housekeeping question”
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I also write here:
I just made the pumpkin muffins and I’m pretty sure there won’t be any left by the time hubby gets home….soooooooooo good!!
As far as the widget boxes…eh, sometimes I pay attention, sometimes I don’t.
I subscribe to the other blogs on the feed-reader so THAT is how I navigate to them. I don’t use the widgets. I have no idea if that helps at all, just thought I’d chime in.
I use the widgets!
I’ll chime in to say that I also subscribe to the other blogs through Reader so while the gadgets are PRETTY and also sort of MAGICAL to me (how does it work? HOW?), I don’t use them.
This is my first comment (YAY!) but I felt it necessary to come out of my lurkdom (aka reading all of your blogs quietly obsession) to say - please don’t get rid of the widget boxes!! I find them extremely useful as I only have to bookmark this one page and I have access to all of your blogs without too much cluttering of the bookmarks section. I enjoy each and every one of your posts and I’d never want to miss a thing! So, *raising hand* please leave them as they are!
And nice to meet you … maybe I’ll comment more often now! :)
I use the widgets! They are kinda lame loading on mac, but have never caused any crashing for me. But since I usually check at work, widgets work fine!
I use the widgets! Thanks for having them there for my convenience!
I use a feed reader. However, if I come across a blog for the first time that sort of thing is helpful.
I use Google reader for all of them, so for me they aren’t really necessary. Happy Friday!
I use the widgets! Especially the ones to Milk and Cookies and SundryBuzz, since I mysteriously don’t have them bookmarked and uh, I haven’t really figured out what is this “Google Reader” you say.
Not that I’d, you know, cry or anything if you cleaned them off. I’d just lug my weary little fingers a little further and more often to check those sites.
I’m not a widget user because I have the blogs I read already set up in a reader. Also (and this is terrible) they look like sidebar ads to me so my eye automatically avoids them.
I use the widgets, too. I feel curmudgeonly before my time but I haven’t taken to feed readers, yet. So, here’s my vote for keeping’em.
I find them useful. Thanks for all of your wonderful blogging info. I will try these muffins next week.
I use ‘em
I use them too.
I like the widget boxes but they only show up on my computer at home, not here at work.
I use them because, I am lame and have not yet wondered into the world of feed readers, it’s nice to see if there are updates on your other site without having to go there. They do seem to take forever to load though, but they are worth the wait.
I use the widgets as well BUT now that I have discovered Google Reader I use that more… Perhaps consider making RSS link so people can add those to their reader (whatever reader they are using)
I do not read two of your four blogs regularly so I like that I can look to see if you wrote something I might like to read…
Hope that helps…
I use Google Reader to keep up to date with all your blogs. Honestly I never even noticed the widgets were on your sidebar.
I read the other blogs, but the widget boxes really bug me, because — at least on my computers, and running FireFox — you can’t right click on them. No opening a new tab. :(
I use them regularly– I pretty much go to all your blogs when you post a new entry here and I get a notify… that way my bookmarks are that much less cluttered– and besides, I know all the URLs anyway.
One thing you could do (oh please oh please!) if it’s even possible (not sure it is) is make it so they DON’T open in a new window. I know it’s a peeve of yours too! If I center-click on them (which should open in a new tab), nothing happens. If I right click, it acts as Adobe Flash instead of as a link, so there is no option to “Open in a new Tab” which is all I want! I swear! Even if they just opened in the same window, that would be fine, I always finish reading here first before I go elsewhere anyway.
It’s not a huge issue though, I just prefer to only have 1 internet window open with a bunch of tabs– I feel more organized.
I use them. Bookmarked this one & go to the other sites via here. If you get rid of them, can you warn us? Because bookmarking is clearly too taxing on me to do it now…
I use them too! I find them extremely compatible with my laziness when it comes to bookmarking.
I keep track of all your blogs in Google Reader. How did I live before Google Reader? Keep up the good work, btw. You’re awesome.
Don’t use the widgets, but they are impressive looking. Always an important component of any blog. I did want to tell you, since you were having a voting post, about a supremely cool site I just found through another blog and can’t wait to use. You can create a cool little voting widget (I guess it’s a widget, I’m not totally sure what a widget is.) to put on your blog. Check it out. http://www.polldaddy.com/
I use them! And I have emailed your muffin recipe all over kingdom come. Thank you!
the widgets appear briefly and then disappear….but would use them if they hung around!!!
I use the widgets, too — Chloe, I also use Firefox and if you simply left-click on them, they open in a new tab. My only complaint about the widgets is that they all open on the same tab (i.e., clicking on “Purple is a Fruit” and then on “Milk and Cookies” means that Purple opens in a new tab and then Milk loads on the Purple tab), so that I can’t click them all open and then go through and read them, tab by tab. It’s a very minor complaint and clearly hasn’t kept me from using them. :) I have and use RSS readers but I’m such a dork — I always prefer reading blogs and other websites on their original pages even though it’s no longer strictly necessary.
I use the widget…like another commenter, I have your main page bookmarked and then can access everything else you write via this page. :)
I like the widgets. They make it easier for me to find your other blogs, which I don’t always read (unlike this one) when I want to check them out.
I use the widgets!!!! I’m so-so techno savy, but those make my life much easier! And thanks for the muffin recipe, love them!!! The munchkins in my house love them too!
I use bloglines for almost anything.
But sometimes I click on your sundrybuzz widget.
I get it all through my feed reader, so I only come over here if I want to comment. So, no, I’m not finding the widgets helpful because I never see them. Also, those pumpkin muffins are totally on my list of “things to bake soon”. Mmmmm.
I used to use the widgets, but haven’t since i got Google reader.
I RSS your stuff, but before I knew about all that I DID use your widgets.
I am relatively new to this whole reading people’s blog things (I discovered you while nursing in month 2, and my son is now 13 months…so..happy anniversary? ew, that is creepy. I’ll post it anyway. You put it out there, why can’t I?)
I must woefully and rather embarrassingly admit that the widgets don’t really do anything for me — I liked when you had an “I also write here” function, so I could just click over and grab the feed for my Google Reader. The widgets kind of make my eyes hurt when they load, as for some reason, they go all wonky on my page and occasionally send my browser into a very unhappy place.
I feel wretched admitting this because I love you so much, but there it is.
*hangs head*
What Chloe said, but Alienbea is right… it’s just in Explorer that there doesn’t appear to be a way to get it to do the “new tab” option… and yeah, in Firefox, it just changes what that one new tab does. If they could just be regular old links instead of the flash whatnot, that would be awesome.
Sometimes the widgets come in handy as they let me know if there’s a new post on one of your other blogs and I can just click to go directly to it. But I don’t mind just going to the other blogs to check for new stuff. And if I did, I could do google reader or bloglines or whatever the kids are doing these days.
I like the widgets, because before I used Google Reader I could see if you’d updated anything. They are not distracting to me.
I’m a total widget-user. not distracting at all.
LOVE the Widgets!
I love the widgets too!
i love your blog, first of all.
and i’m an avid google reader fan. it’s got it’s quirks, but i jump from there generally.
no widgets for me.
I like the widgets, myself. As others have stated, I come here when I get a notify email, and then click on the widgety links. This will probably sound weird, but I usually save this page for last, so I like that the other blogs open in separate windows.
Love the Widgets, but on my computer they always locate themselves way down at the bottom of the page after all of the typing, etc.
Pumpkin is on my shopping list now, MMMMMM.
I read your posts through Bloglines, so I almost never see your widgets anyway.
I read your posts through Bloglines, so I almost never see your widgets anyway.
One more vote for I like them and use them.
Love the Widgets…Just have the one bookmark and click from there…very handy on my work computer.
I use them often - to see other people’s blogs and to go to your other blogs as well. I also use “last five posts” quite a bit. Clearly I don’t know what is a widget and what is not - I am just addressing those things that hang out to the right of your entry. I have no idea which of those items might be characterized as a “widget.” All I can say is - keep the shit, would you?
I use a reader so it’s a non-issue for me, I never see them unless I come to comment which is like never because I’m lame like that.
And those muffins are good with no chocolate in them as well, or put chopped walnuts in too, yum.
I use the widgets, but yeah, they crash my Mac from time to time.
A long-time lurker (hi!) says: Don’t get rid of the widgets. I click on about half the links in them — probably not enough to bookmark the pages and check them all the time, but definitely enough that I want the option of looking. It’s increasing your traffic on those sites for sure.
For God’s sake, I am making those muffins this weekend, the first weekend I’ve been home (and not had houseguests) since SEPTEMBER. I do use the widgets occasionally!
I use the widgets, because I read ‘em all. You are my substitute for adult conversation!
I use the widgets. Sucks that they’re causing browser trouble, though, thats no fun.
Yeah, honestly I really don’t check out your other blogs very often. Cause 1) I’m not a mom or even a female, so Purple is a Fruit isn’t quite as entertaining for me, and two, er 2) … pretty much the same thing for Milk and Cookies, and 3) I’m a dude once again, and I don’t go shopping, especially not for the stuff you review on Sundry Buzz. But don’t worry, I still get a woody for new posts over here. Minus that recent one which actually killed it for a while. All & Sundry is my blogosphere head quarters. You introduced me to the world of blogging, and if it weren’t for you cracking me up almost every day, I would never have started reading other blogs, or gotten one of my own. Now I interact with kick ass people all over the fucking world! It’s so damn cool, it’s ice. Or possibly something less corny than what ever that craptastic dork phrase I just typed up was, but you get the idea. I think you should put up your blogroll again though. I did link to some kick ass shit from that list, but I didn’t check out everything.
I use the widgets……
Can’t wait to make these muffins!!!!1
I always use the widgets, but also acknowledge that they tend to be a bit wonky. As long you still have an obvious way of navigating to your other blogs, I’ll be happy. You know, because you’re hilarious and I want to read every word. ;)
Something has been kooky with your Widget Box lately. It doesn’t show your reviews, just has the icon for Widget Box. I click on it + it goes right to their site, not yours. :( I need to just bookmark your other site, I guess.
I like the widgets! And also, I like the word widget. widgetwidgetwidget. Hee.
Negative on the widgets.
Yay, for the muffins.
I absolutely rely on the widget boxes, not only for *when* you update, but also how much time it will probably take to read them. “Halloween Crafts,” for example, I’m saving until I’m doing more than a quick drive-by.
I suppose a link to the other blogs would suffice for me; the only thing I don’t like about the widgets is that they push your flickr widget 18 miles down the page.
I don’t use the widgets but I do plan to make the muffins this weekend! Kitchen looks great!
I rely on your widgets!
I like the widget things…and YES I read your other blogs…they come up just fine for me (but sorry to report that I don’t use a mac…wish I did).
I’ll subscribe to your RSS feed if you remove them though - so either way I’ll still follow your other writing.
Seriously…I have kitchen envy! It LOOKS FABULOUS - congrats on surviving the remodel.
Definitely use the widget boxes…and I’m making those muffins this weekend!!! :)
i use the widgets too!!
I don’t use the widgets because I get the new post in Google reader subscriptions.
I use the widgets. I’ve been too lazy to bookmark your other sites, so I just have this one bookmarked. :) The widgets also let me know when new posts have been made on your other sites.
oh yeah, i view your site on several macs that I have (that are updated with the current software), using safari and I have had no crashes. hope that helps
I use them but in the reverse order you have them in (sundry buz#1, M&C #2, PIF #3). I like to be able to see at a glance if there issomething new. Wish there was more sundry buzz!!
I love them and I use them.
Chiming in late to say that I use the widgets. I was very happy when you added the Milk & Cookies blog in the sidebar. I check the widgets daily for new posts!
I like having them to link to the other pages, but I don’t like that they are widgety. I’d rather have regular old links, to be honest. But, you know what? It is your blog, girly! Do what you will. We come for the cookies and the snorting-with-laughter, and widgets are beside the main point.
Do you really need me to chime in here? Probably not…but I have all of your blogs in my reader (but I still swear I am not a stalker).
But mostly I want to declare myself completely smitten with you and your muffins.
(Heh. That sounded kinda dirty.)
I use the widgets, but I would rather they were lower on the page than both the Elsewhere list and your Flickr widget. I always scroll down to those other things first, and since you have 3 very tall widgets now, it seems there is a lot of scrolling being done.
I’d be happy just with links to your other blogs, if you’re trying to save space. I check SundryMourning every day, but only surf over to the others once a week or so.
Have a great weekend! We’re taking a road trip to Seattle and it’s supposed to be sunny. YeeHaw!
I use the widget boxes, but I have to say I liked it better when you just had the “I also write here” header with a link to the latest entry in your other blogs.
Although I think that was when you only had one blog other than this one, so that may be asking a bit much now.
I have a complex series of links from widget box to blog to blog etc… if you remove widgets you will break my chain and cause my entire clicking system to crash. No pressure.
I use them.
i say keep them, i use them everyday
Clearly, I live under a rock, because I have never even heard of Google Reader before now.
Anyway, I totally use your widgets all the time. I just come here whenever I get a notification of a new entry, and then catch up on your other blogs via the widget links.
I love them, I use you as my blogroll, please keep them!
I like the widget boxes.
Leave them please?
Kaythxbai.
I am a user of the widgets.
Even though I read this blog DAILY and seem mildly obsessed with it (shhh, okay more then mildly). I only scan the titles in the others and then click on something that looks interesting. Only because I don’t have kids, nor ever will I, they don’t invoke complete rapture to find the best diaper bag. But with that being stated, since everything you write borders on brilliance with a mild dose of lunacy. I really should read every single post, every single day.
I clearly would rather read your blogs then type my own which pales in comparison.
BUT to answer your simply put question with an overblown answer, Yes, I use the widgets.
I use (and like) the widgets!
I never remember to check your other sites until I see them, so I’d say keep em :)
I use them too. The last thing I need is more bookmarks!
I use the widgets.
And while I am aware of the existence of RSS and feed readers and suchlike, I don’t prefer them. When have the time to blog surf, then I clickety click on over to my favs. I don’t like the pressure of feeling like I have to keep up with every single blog I may enjoy. Some blogs (yours is among the few, the proud, the marines) I check often. Some I go to only when no one is updating and I am killing major time - airport layovers are a good example.
A link of some kind would be nice, though it doesn’t need to be a widget.
Also, if this matters, I use Firefox on my iBook at home and my XP Pro machine at work. But I am now also a member of the iPhone clique, so I’m using Safari, too.
I don’t use the widgets, because I use an RSS feeder.
I use the widgets, too! Keep ‘em!
I use ‘em regularly and it’s handy to get the teaser on new titles. But they do randomly show up way down the page and such frequently.
I use ‘em. A while back, they did crash Safari when I would click on them, but I haven’t had that problem for several months.
My mac crashes occasionally in Safari but not in Firefox.
Honestly, I don’t even look at the widget things on the right. I just read the post, read a few comments and move on. I think I’ve been trained to not pay attention to stuff in the right nav because it often is a space for ads, or other “kind of useful” add ons that so many web publishers use.
On my blog I don’t bother putting anything in the right nav, preferring a simple approach of a few past posts and a small blog roll on the left nav.
i just seriously had a heart attack, i clicked on you from my favorites list and it came up with just a blank page, and your header, nothing else. then i clicked it again and it came up an error and that the page might have been removed. shoo, your quote about ignoring weirdness just set my heart back into pace, you know, because my day would just like so not be half as nice if i didn’t get a little tidbit to read from you
Hello!
I use the widgets! I like them! I like the new look too! Very nice!
Have a good weekend!
I like the widgets, they let me know when you’ve updated. Also, I like the word “widget.”
I like the new template. The archives links: I guess I’ve never seen months laid out alphabetically left to right with just the first letter of the month and all I can see when I look at it is JASON. How is it I never realized that July, August, September, October, November spelled that out. Your blog is educmacational.
Well, it appears I am outnumbered, but I thought I’d chime in to mention that I unfortunately find the widgets to be more of a nuisance than a help. I’m a mac user so maybe that is why, but they make the page load extra slow. I’ve always just checked the blogs manually anyway, so I don’t think it has changed the frequency with which I visit the other sites. But, you know, I’ll still keep reading even if the widgets stay!
Widgets work fine for me- I’m running Firefox on a Macbook w/ Tiger. They worked fine on my old iBook, with had Panther, too. Not sure what Mac browsers you’re crashing- Safari? ‘Cause I don’t use Safari, sorry! (I know, I’m absolutely no help.) Anyway, I use your widgets a lot, since I don’t use an RSS feeder.
I use the widgets to check out the other blogs all the time.
I, er, don’t look at em/use em. : (
I use the widgets. Keep them!
Keep the widgets!
Not only were the pumpkin muffins delicious, but they were eeeezzzzeeee! Yum! Thanks so much.
I use the widgies.
I’m late and redundant, but I use the widgets. :)
Wow. I just popped back in to see how the voting turned out (although I guessed in favor of the widgets since they’re still here) and I am FLOORED by how many people use them. That’s cool!
I have been so busy this week! I am behind on reading…but I love the widgets and use them.
You mean, Mac Browsers actually do crash? My brother will be horrified.