Seems like a pretty good workaround to the quirky white page, Stuart. One question, which I think others have asked: why is it that some posts stick on the current page (be it the old one or the new) for ages in the same spot. Look at the Water When Dry posts: they tend to be at the top of the list for long periods of time, while newer posts (or newer to arrive at the site) can be sprinkled throughout like raisins in scones. It is a bit strange because it means having to scan through the entire page of posts looking for new ones that we haven't read. Maybe it's something to do with what you explained above. I don't purport to understand all that you do to make this site work, just know that we appreciate it! So thank you again.

Hi, Stuart. Thank you for addressing the "white page" problem, I thought maybe it was just my computer. I'm really glad to know there is an alternative.

I've experimented some and I think the issue Jodi brings up is due to the time on the persons post. I noticed yesterday 2/6/08 that Water When Dry had her post dated 2/7/08. It stayed at the top because it was post dated. I also noticed that one of Carolyn Gail's was post dated as was Crafty Gardeners and they stayed at the top all day too. I forgot to change the time before posting mine yesterday and it went to the bottom of the page.

It would make it more user friendly if we didn't have to weed through all of the posts to find new ones.

There are still a few kinks to work out Stuart, but this is so great and will be so worth it for you. Blotanical is ingenious. You've done a great job.

Oh, I never have gotten my friendship star!!!

Great question jodi and one that has been frustrating me also. It seems that some bloggers, for whatever reason, have decided to pre-date their posts. The cynic might assume that they were doing this to deliberately game the Picks system. That being a possible case, I have sent some emails to different users warning them of their impediment and advising that if this continues I shall drop their feed altogether.

In cases like WWD they stay at the top because they're at least one day ahead.

I'm hoping to rectify this soon through some filtering but in the meantime I will begin to enforce the dropping of feeds.

You hit the nail on the head Robin. I shall get your friendship star up straight away - my apologies for the oversight.

Great and timely job as usual, Stuart. Just a note, yesterday, at the place where the current 200 tab was, it said something like 'the moon is made of cheese'! I clicked on it and still got the text only list but it took longer to get to it. Thought you would like to know that, spam, maybe? Thanks for all your efforts, they ARE appreciated.
Frances at Faire Garden

Yes, I'm still "with you". Good explanation. Thanks for addressing this issue as it was getting extremely frustrating not to be able to see the new posts. I use Blotanical primarily to look at blogs I haven't subscribed to in Bloglnes...that is, as a discovery tool to find new blogs. I'm not that interested in who's winning the popularity contest. I'm more interested in the "undiscovered stars". Thus I really like the "Latest Posts" concept. I appreciate the time you've spent to come up with a workaround.

Thanks for sorting out my login problem, Stuart! Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't find any user guide, so: What is a Pick, exactly? Does it fave the post in some way so I can find it again from my plot later? Does it put that blog on my faves list? I have a blogroll; how can I move it holus-bolus to my Blotanical faves? And what is a permalink? Will we be able to list pre-existing reviews from our blogs under reviews? Gosh, I think I'd better stop there...

Hey chookie. Cheers for the comments and the MANY questions. I'm gradually adding the answers to some of these on Blotanical News and will summarise them elsewhere within Blotanical - at some stage.

If I were you just starting out here I would start messaging some of the more regular users - one question at a time. They've obviously been doing what you're needing to find out so might have some helpful tips to use.

If you can't find any joy from there then use the Help desk and I will try and answer them.

The best way to learn how Blotanical works (or doesn't work) is to login and start following some of the links. You'll catch on pretty quick.

Thanks Stuart for your response on this one and trying to do something about it. It is difficult trying to sort out this kind of problem when we're all using different ISPs, browsers, versions etc etc isn't it? I know that people like Bare Bones Gardener won't be able to use Picks at all 'cos he's not on Broadband and is unlikely to be. The list is a vast improvement, so I'll be Picking with the best of them from now on!

Thanks for all the effort you put into this. I use the current picks the same way as MSS & it is such a great tool to find neat blogs.

The 'white page' fix is good, but now I'm getting another weird thing: when I go to a page form that list, to have a look at it and decide if I want to 'pick', there is no 'pick' button anymore!

It was there yesterday, then disappeared and then returned, and then again today it is missing. I can see the text that says who submitted it, and how many 'picks' it has, just no button. Meaning I can't join in.

Any ideas?

urbanpumpkin - I haven't heard of anyone else who's experiencing this problem and I certainly haven't seen it myself.

Are you able to provide me with a few more details eg. the browser you're using, what else is showing in the top frame apart from the 'Submitted by:' link and number of Picks and which posts it may be occurring on.

Also, are you logged in when you are viewing posts in Picks. If not, you won't actually see the Pick button but should get a clickable text-link informing you that you must be logged in to Pick?

Hi Stuart, Yes I'm logged in. I'm on a Mac using Camino. I don't get the "you need to be logged in . . " text just a big blank. Actually trying it logged out now I don't get that text when I'm logged out either.

For "New Sprouts", which is at the top of the recent picks list right now, I get:
1
Pick
Submitted by: Stuart

but nothing else in that blue area above the blog.

I'll try logging in with another browser to see if that works.

It was working the other day though.

Hi.

Just logged in on Safari. The 'pick' button is there. And I don't get a 'white page' on current picks, I've always had the' white page' using Camino.

I guess I'll have to swap to Safari when I want to view Blotanical.

I don't know what you did but it has worked. Now get the 'pick' button again in Camino!

Thanks.