Preparation

Ok, I am using the new entry function to try it out. So far so good. Charlie and Heidi and Penny, are you all in LA yet? if so, how do you like it? Although there are some ok areas, I pretty much don't really like Southern CA, but many people seem to. At least a whole lotta them live there... Well, so far, so good. I guess it works. We'll see when I submit. Que

I'm pacticing uploading pix, this is one we saw on the street. Kind of sweet, I thought.

Here are some of the options I've found for web sites available for families to stay in touch:

Travellerspoint is one option - that's what I set up this blog for. It is primarily geared for travel, but I don't think they'll evict us if we write an entry about something else (and besides, a lot of our entries just may be about places we visit or such things).

Advantages: We've already been using it for the recent RV trip, so has some familiarity and several folks are already set up with user ID's.
Travellerspoint is one of the highest rated travel blog sites.
Has both photo and video capability (as do others)

Disadvantages: Public forum, we can't post anything up here we don't want others to see.
Photo's should be edited before uploading (or risk very limited uploading).
Uploading photos is limited by bandwidth.
Photo's displayed are low resolution (might also be an advantage if you don't want your photo's being misused).
Format may not be optimal for some of the things we might want to share (event calendar?)

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Other Sites:

I don't have much on these yet, other then from a cursory review they look the most promising. There are others. Most sites can be accessed by www.{sitename}.com

MySpace - this was the highest rated social networking site in at least one review I found. Also, it's probably the biggest and least likely to go away.

LiveJournal

Facebook

Gather

MyHeritage

WebBiographies

famoodle

cingo

aol people connection

Windows Live Spaces (formerly MSN)

Ourstory (interesting - uses a timeline approach)

custom web site (Charlie tried this approach, requires development & maintenance time)

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This is just a first cut folks! Let's get a dialog started!

What's behind this?

While I was on a recent RV trip, we really had fun keeping in touch with folks via the blog. It was fun sharing the photo's I'd taken on the trip and enjoying comments from folks about their recommendations, things they were doing, etc.

I'd like to keep that dialog going - but I'm not the only one who does interesting things! So this is a test to see if we, as a group, can use Travellerspoint for a friends and family network.

You, as well as I, can write blog entries here about what we're up to, something we've visited (sightseeing, travel, or just ?) and post comments back and forth.

Update: (After writing these up, I've decided to move them to another section on Travellerspoint, which will clean up our family blog a bit with them out of here. But after they're moved, I can also put links to the help pages here if they'll be of help. The change could take me a little while to implement, so be patient...) I will write a couple entries to get us started on how to write blog entries, upload photo's, etc. In the long term, we may want to move to another social networking web site - but I thought I'd give this a try first as something that might bridge the gap while we look at our options.

You're feedback would be appreciated (comments please!)

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Caution - This is a Public online journal. Anybody can read whatever you post (not that many people will be just randomly browsing a travel journal). But keep it clean, fun and don't put anything on here you don't want seen.

I have already several different people set up as "Authors" who can write and edit Blog entries here (Editor's actually). If you want to be able to post to this blog, add a comment below and let me know (you must be a member of Travellerspoint first of course, but membership is free). If you were involved with the Johnston blog on Travellerspoint, you may already be set up as an Author.

The web address (URL) to view this blog is:

http://jcircle.travellerspoint.com/

The web address to write entries and work with this blog is:

http://www.travellerspoint.com

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Suggestions for Use:

1. If you post a picture or information about a person, always ask them if it's OK first. Avoid using last names (unless they want you to - for example, someone selling their crafts or services might want their full contact info posted, free publicity!). Avoid posting too much personal information (again, unless you want people to know that much about you!)

2. Keep it friendly, keep it clean! This a public and fun family blog - avoid topics that are likely to be offensive or controversial. (If you want to keep a blog journal to promote the a particular political/social/religious point of view - please set up your own blog.)

3. If you're not sure what to write, think about the things you've been up to lately. If you take a trip to the zoo or to see a special concert - why not write it up (especially if you have pictures)? For example, I am thinking about writing an entry about Oakland Bay (by my house), my home town of Shelton, sightseeing trips I take (even local), maybe some special hobby I might be up to, maybe even a family get together or dinner? Just some thoughts - it's an experiment - we won't know unless we try.

4. Managing Things - If you post something then change your mind, any editor can delete it. Also, if someone else posts a comment that is inappropriate, any editor can delete it. I'll try to keep an eye on things, but just wanted folks to know that there are some controls available. If someone posts a comment that is really offensive, we should not only delete it but also let Travellerspoint know - they might want to ban the spammer.

5. Going your own way - if you don't have any idea who we are but you want to do this sort of thing with your own family or friends, it is very easy to set up your own Blog in Travellerspoint (or elsewhere). Please don't use this unless you're interest is in sharing with this group (mostly the extended Johnston family, but also friends and others - the main point is if we have commen interests and want to stay in touch).

6. If you need help, the Travellerspoint Forums are really great! (I'll help you if I can, but there are other resources available here also.) For example, I've used the Systems Forum several times to post suggestions (requested a new category for example, help with a bug, or just get technical help in general).