Blog Upgrades
Hello Dream Home fans! It looks like some of you keen eyed readers have already discovered this, but I wanted to formally announce some of the upgrades we made around here recently. This morning we added the Intense Debate application to all of our HGTV blogs. There are a bunch of new features to the comments area that Intense Debate brings to the table. You’ll notice that comments are now paginated as well as being threaded. Hopefully this will alleviate some of the confusion we have where the page scrolls on for days and days. You can also subscribe to posts by email, as well as comment by email. It also adds the ability to report individual posts to us.
You’ll notice a few login options at the bottom of the page. You can login with an Intense Debate account, created at http://intensedebate.com/signup, your Facebook account, a Twitter account, or OpenID. We’ve also gone ahead and left the old method of posting, you just have to supply the same fields as always – Name, Email and an optional website.
Our hope is that all of these features will let all of your take your already passionate comments to the next level.
Please leave any questions, concerns or feedback below.
~ Chad P
HGTV Community Guy
Chad, just my issue here, or ? In The Turquoise Trail thread, I can open to page 1, but when I click on "next" for page 2, it just says "loading comments", but never gets there! Is this an "in the works" bug, or what?
Are you seeing that on all of the posts or just the Turquoise Trail one? The upgrades have been tested on several different browser configurations and we haven't seen any problems yet. Any info you can provide would be great to help us track down any issues.
Sorry, was out all day, Chad. However, just to follow up: I am now able to access pages without issue. Perhaps a traffic problem this morning?—anyway, problem cleared. Thank you.
Hi there! This is a test of the Emergency Blogcast System because I can't seem to post on the Green Home site. Here's trying…..
Living the Dream!
YAY!!!!!!!! It worked here but I still can't post on the Green Home Blog….must just be a little glitch?!?!
Living the Dream!
Hi Lynn – Can you tell me what happens when you try and post on the Green Home blog?
Hi Chad – When I try to post on the Green Home Blog….2010 Location Revealed…when I press 'Submit Comment', it doesn't do anything and then the bottom of page will say 'Done, but with errors on page"…Hope this helps….let me know if I need to do anything differently. I already cleared my cache, deleted my cookies and files, and restarted my computer. Thanks for your help!
Living the Dream!
Can you check it now? Looks like all the comments had to be approved, so I just cleared out the moderation queue.
Perfecto!!!!!! Thank you! Apparently it was not letting me copy something from a Word doc but I got it to work…..or should I say, YOU got it to work!
Thanks again and have a nice day!
Living the Dream!
P.S. I did not have a problem posting early this morning on that site. Hope this helps!
Living the Dream!
I think this new intense debate thing just complicates things but i guess we will see how it works out in the end.
Joe – Would love some feedback after you've tried it for a bit. You can keep using the blog the same way you have. There are just a few upgrades for people that choose to use them.
Hi bloggers and desert dwellers,Danny here, Just seeing if I'am welcome here. Have a great day!
I just went back to the pics of the house and the sunsets and now I WANNA GO!!!!!!! I need a vacation somewhere beautiful,see ya later.
You bloggers are the best. I think I have just solved the problem of why I couldn't post on the Green Home blog. Intense Debate??? Maybe I thought ID meant identification. When they asked for my password, I was mystified. I'm going back and try again.
This Dream Home in New Mexico is really a DREAM HOME. Thanks HGTv.
Chad, hope sharing my sign-on issue (and resolution) will help.
I created my sign-on account with IntenseDebate (ID), and activated my account and password. However, when I "signed-in" with ID on the blogs, and attempted to use the "thumbs up/ down" feature, a window popped up saying I had to "sign-in". Very frustrating.
I sent an email to support at IntenseDebate. They asked if I was using AOL as my internet browser (I always do), and to use Internet Explorer (IE) instead. I did, and found I had no problems accessing features. I also had a visual stating "Logged in as DBCoop". This does not appear on the AOL accessed webpage.
When using AOL, I was posting the "old fashioned" way (but didn't know it), rather than through ID.
Michael at ID didn't ask what AOL version I use, or security settings, simply to try IE (version 7 or newer), so it may be an issue?
Thanks for the info DBCoop. I was not aware of the incompatibility with the AOL browser. Intense Debate is managed by Automattic, so I'm glad they were able to help you out temporarily.
Wow!
Gail is back as the Super Fan for 2010! This could not be more of a “Dream” come true.
I loved Gail in the Dream and Green homes in 2009. It’s about time that HGTV used Gail more in everything that they do (don’t you think)!
Anyway didn’t Gail personally give the Dream and Green Homes away? What’s up with that?
Welcome home Gail! You know I’ll be watching!
Yes we want Gail, we want Gail. Ya , Ya, Ya,
Sorry meant to say, why didn’t Gail give the homes way!
Go Gail Go!!!! We love you!!!
Hi CHAD! My photo stopped popping up on my comments. I checked it on ID and it is till on there. Any thoughts?
Also, I think I have my facebook URL and my Twitter URL correct but it doesn't show up either…is that something you can check out?
Thanks so much!
Living the Dream!
Lynn – It looks like you aren't logged in anymore. In the comments area do you see just the Post a new comment box? Or do you see all of the login options as well?
You're right….I was logged out but could still post and thought I was logged in!
Thanks again! You are so fast at getting back to us. You're a terrific monitor! You are 'Quick Draw Chad'!
Living the Dream!
As a native Floridian, I would love to move my family (Hubby & 4 Grandkids) out west. I think we would enjoy a dry climate instead of the humidity we suffer here. I can't wait to see the finished house & start entering to win!!! Here's to DREAMING!!!
My husband and I are both Retired from the United States Navy. We both spent 20 dedicated years in the Armed Forces and want to say a big thank you to the HGTV personnel for their dedicated service in providing incredible houses for the great citizens of the United States of America. Again thank you for all you do. Very Respectfully, Judy Morgan, USN, retired
Hi. Does anyone know why the Dream Cam is running backwards. It starts on July 7th and goes back to May 18th.
Also notice that it jumps all around on dates. The writer of the sort algorithm got a D- in computer science in high school – and that's all the training they had. The sort is being done on a character string. You'll see July, followed by June, then May. When August gets here it will be first since A comes before J. Following the screwed up date logic, the times also are sorted by character string. Thus, you'll see 6:15 pm, 7:09 am, 8:44 pm, 10:02 am, 11:51 am. Note the jumps back and forth from am to pm sorted by numeric time and no regard to am or pm. The person who writes the rolling text label for the camera picture sometimes inadvertantly inserts an extra space and the sort gets really screwed up. Finally, notice the thumbnails scroll by endlessly and do not stop at either end of the date range. You never know what you're going to get. I've tried to send my input to HGTV, but no one seems to give a hoot.
Just checking in to see if we had any new posts! Still fumbling around with my Intense Debate account….trying to save a photo. I did save an icon in lieu of my own photo (errors occurred when I tried to uploan my own photo from My Pictures)?? Trying to understand the advantage to all the new upgrades…guess like wearing a comfortable pair of shoes, I prefer the old method!!
Now that is a new comment from HGTV: "Your comment must be approved by the site admins before it will appear publicly!" Did I get too chit-chatty again?
Hi MarieMiller—I think the "Your comment must be approved by the site admins before it will appear publicly", which is a longer-winded version of "awaiting moderation", should only occur during your initial ID "logged in" posts (or for those posting as "guests"), but once they feel comfortable knowing that you're a gracious Southern Belle, you'll be able to bypass the "waiting room" and get right down to business. After all, you have a lot of catching up to do!
Gail;
How can we find a print copy of the plans for the 2010 HGTV dream home?.
Hey Coop: Yes, I do need to catch up…I've been away from my computer a lot lately, and cannot seem to read all the posts..between the Dream Home & the Green Home!! You need to give me an abridged version, if you please? I miss our banter…not that it is a non-serious conversation, but rather think of it as pleasant learning!! Have a nice evening Coop!!!
Duh, I hadn't paid close attention before, but just realized that when you click on the poster's signin name in the "Newest Comments" box and it takes you to their comment history, that BOTH Dream Home AND Green Home posts are listed in the order of posting. I thought they'd be separate. Actually, it makes it easier to move back and forth between blogs simply by clicking on the highlighted blog OR the specific thread title. I seem to find a new feature every time I sign on!
Marie Miller, I know just how you feel—figuring all this new blog technology out really broke the flow of previous threads. It had to happen at some point of course, but introducing the new ID format virtually stopped the normal blog exchanges in their tracks, not to mention the growing excitement levels of the Dream Home and newly revealed Green Home location blogs. Well, we'll just have to turn up the volume and get this party back on track! (BTW, not much to catch up on really—we've all been struggling in stormy seas, so jump right in and join the crew—we need every available hand up on deck!)
At least we're beginning to find our way back to the blog "fold", and rebuilding the chasm of broken conversation links. Let's hope for smooth seas for some time to come now. (For awhile there, I was feeling a bit like a shipwrecked sailor, newly washed up onto the shores of Plymouth Harbor.)
I've not quite got my sea legs yet Coop, but there are shaking a bit less! You're right about discovering something different with each log on…I'm wondering…should I be logging out each time I log on? I haven't logged out since I applied to Intense Debate! I feel like I'm swimming in the sea with whales…they certainly know how to maneuver through the walls of black sea while I hang on to each wave with all my might!!
Okay Coop…I just gave you a #2 on thumbs up…didn't know I could do that? What do you think that means?
Thank you, Marie—yes, I see that I now have 2 thumbs up (hopefully a left and a right!)
The thumbs up/thumbs down icon, as I understand it, is simply a feature that allows fellow bloggers to give your comment a "thumbs up" if they like it, or a "thumbs down" if they don't approve of it. As a previous poster commented, it's kind of like the Roman Coliseum; a thumbs up means you live to blog another day, a thumbs down means your show has been cancelled…well, in one blogger's opinion anyway.
May your life, and your blogging, be always filled with thumbs up!
By the way, I wanted to mention, in answer to your question, Marie—I always try to remember to logout at the end of my blogging session. I've read that it keeps your account more secure, but fact or fiction, you'll have to ask the pro's opinion. Maybe CHAD would comment on that for you…?
I personally don't log in/out after each session, but I keep all of my computers (yes, I have multiple) password protected at all times, so its less for me to worry about.
If you're sharing a machine, its always good practice to log out of things.
Dear Mr. Chad P, HGTV Community Guy: I don't think I have taken the opportunity to thank you for all the buzz around this blogging site regarding the upgrades!! It has been a plight of dedicated bloggers to wade through the hoops…actually, at this stage of the game, I'm loving it!! It is so nice to the whole group of comments left by any one blogger by just a click of the key!! Also, nice to see photos! HGTV provides the best…thank you!!!
No worries, that's why I'm here. Glad you're liking the upgrades.
Coop: You are probably right about blogging out after a session to be more secure! Has Show Me been behaving himself? Has he received thumbs up gestures also? Our English metaphors…such a lovely way to support "our troops!!" Have a good day & maybe CHAD will give us a thumbs up on logging out!!
Lucid Dreams to all!!!
By the way Coop, I love your personal profile…you are right…identity should be a matter of intense debate!! Very cute!!! Talk about a metaphor!
Marie Miller – Well, I didn't make it to the Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire concert…it's tonight in Albuquerque at 7pm. ;(
Oh, well, hopefully I will get there soon enough!
Living the Dream!
P.S. So glad we all got the hang of this!
P.S.S. BTW, Show Me posted a comment on the Green Home blog!
Hey Lynn: So sorry to hear that you won't make it to the Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire concert tonight in Albuquerque!! Oh my, what I would give to see them perform…they were the bomb back in my day!!! I will check on Show Me & see what he is up to!!
went camping, and came back to a new blog…have the house plans been released yet?
Hi Sheila Griffin-Dawson! No, they haven't been released yet… ;( …but I am totally optimistic that they will be soon…
Hope you had a great time camping!!!!!
Living the Dream!
Marie Miller: Sorry, I didn't sign uo for ID (can't take one more password) but if I did I would give you three thumbs up. Well, if they would let me use my big toe as a thumb. I seem to recall someone saying if whales had a thumb, they would rule the world. Anyway, swim with the dolphins…..they are much more fun.
ChadP: You sound like a nice fellow. How do we see more pictures of the building site and when,when, when are going to get the floor plans? Thanks HGTV.
New pics should be coming soon, not sure when the floor plans will be released. I'll see if we can get an update on that.
Katydid, don't worry about signing up with ID. Just glad to have you as part of our blogging community!
Hello, Katydid! And not to worry if you don't sign up for ID, 'Show' has not done so either, and has decided to visit as a guest now and then.
Besides, the who, what, where, and when you visit statistics won't be maintained by ID. The downside—no thumbs up. The upside: no thumbs down!
Plymouth Rocks!
Hello Katydid: Doesn't matter whether you signed up or not…'cause we just love you being a part of our blogging excitement…you bring such wonderful comments for our enjoyment & Coop is right….doesn't really matter the thumbs are up or down…what matters is the participation!! Thank you for making my world a better place!!
Hello Katydid: Doesn't matter whether you signed up or not…'cause we just love you being a part of our blogging excitement…you bring such wonderful comments for our enjoyment & Coop is right….doesn't really matter whether the thumbs are up or down…what matters is the participation!! Thank you for making my world a better place!!
We all agree, Katydid, and we give you TWO thumbs up!
Where oh where has my super fan gone? Oh where, oh where can she be? With her ears perked, and her eyes sharp for HGTV detail, Oh, where oh, where can she be?
Hey Gail: We miss you!!
Marie Miller, regarding GAIL—ask, and you shall receive!
It's good to hear from Jack via GAIL that the Dream Home will be on one level, although it was apparent from the Dream Cam photos. Anyway, my last three homes have been single level, and it's nice not to have to "do" the stairs, as EdinOregon mentioned.
Sangria Sunsets & Salsa, pardners!
Thanks for the comment on logging in/out, Chad. Since I share my computer with 'Show Me The Green' now and again, I always logout in case he decides to post a mischievous comment using my signin name.
Happy Turquoise Trails!
I am redoing my kitchen and I have flooring (chestnut street), the color for the walls (Mocha Suede), and the picked out a counter top (himalayan Slate). The problem that my wife and I are facing is the color of the cabinets. We are going for a natural, neutral, warm kitchen and we are both totally against painting the cabinets white. Do you have any suggestions for us?
I'm dreaming of moving out west; winning the Dream House would be a true dream!! I have 4 Grandkids that live with me & I can just see them enjoying that house!! Of course, Grandma would love it too!!
Well since I missed giving any ideas for HGTV’s Dream House 2010, I’m submitting an idea for 2011. Why not build something many people could afford to build and something that meets the needs of the current housing market, which has changed drastically since the building booms of the 60-90s. Aging baby boomers have two problems: kids not leaving the nest for a longer period of time due to the economic recession and parents/in-laws living longer on limited incomes. We need a new house designed for the 21st century–a multi-generational house plan with most of the living space (with a unit for in-laws AND a unit for the boomers) on the ground floor and maybe a finished attic or basement with a small apt. for boomerang
kids. The plan needs to be something that could be built stand alone or in a development of similar units. It should be designed with 3 variations (luxury, affordable and “green”). The benefits of being in a development that had a clubhouse is that seniors would have other seniors living close by as neighbors. A clubhouse would be great. A “business center” in the clubhouse could give people a “home office”
if they needed one without having to build one in their homes. I’m talking about 2000 sq. ft. in the $200,000 range for the affordable version (plus land costs). I think there are some smart architects out t here who take this and run with it. I will happily moved into the first home (I mean buy it) along with my husband, mother and daughter. We live near Nashville and about 60% of the US population would be within a day’s drive of hte “model” home and be able to see it. New Mexico is WAY OUT OF THE WAY
for most people to come and see an HGTV home!
Thanks for listening! Oh, yeah, we could calll it THE MARMEE HOUSE (remember how all the family lived together in LITTLE WOMEN).
Beckie Johnson
Great in Hill County of San Antonio , Texas, Ronnie Fendley and wife Linda Fendley.
Was that SNOW????? Boy, I really want to win now!!! Living in Florida we don't see much snow; the last time it snowed here was December 1989!! My 18 year old Granddaughter wants to visit somewhere where it snows so very badly!! I would love to give her a home where it snows!!!
Hi im new to blogging but have been watching the dream homes since the begining and truly in love with this house. Just wondering if it matters or helps with how many times you enter your name to try to win? thanks