Hi Pals,
Thanks to The Cat On My Head for hosting this week's Selfie Blog Hop. You Rock. Also, please continue to purr for Fiona, who still is sick.
Now some very IMPORTANT NEWS from Blogger, which I found by going into my Dashboard and I just happened to click on "Overview" which I hardly ever do. Scroll down and you'll see the message, which I have copied here because Blogger said we could share.
"In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs."
"As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remAove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count."
We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.
We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.
Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer "
They have already had 800+ comments, so I doubt they are going to change their minds. We're stuck. I am thinking about changing mine over to Word Press, if I can find someone to do it for me. It's way over my head and M's head - she said.
A suggestion for those of you who don't have Google accounts, you can follow me by email and you will be notified every time I post a new blog. If you know my history, I don't post every day - I'm lucky if I can do it once a week so you won't be overwhelmed with messages in your inbox.
Thanks pals. I hope I don't lose too many followers as I don't have all that many the way it is. Blogger is making it very difficult.
Now let's all Blog Hop!
TBT says we can be pretty sure that new policy applies to our visitors, not US Bloggers.
ReplyDeleteThat really is a pain in the butt. Not to worry we will always look for you. It all sounds pretty stupid to us.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great selfie Mario, you're most handsome pal! Hey, don't worry about that blogger thing. We're pretty sure it only applies to folks who comment on your blog that do not have a google account.
ReplyDeletePawsome selfie. We're pretty sure Brian is right. We follow you through Blogger and through Bloglovin.
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Furkids
That is too bad, I hope you don't lose visitors. I have a google account so I guess I am all set. I use Wordpress, but I wouldn't know how to transfer everything you have in Blogger over, I wish I could help you.
ReplyDeleteThat is one handsome selfie! Hope you don't lose visitors! I have you "starred" so you are on my favorites on google so I can always find you :)
ReplyDeleteMarty
If what I read was correct Mario it just applies to visitors/followers of Google Connect. It won't affect you as a blog holder. But changes are never fun and we wish that things like this didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday Selfie!
Annabelle, Boo, Ping, & Mr Jinx
Mario, you handsome darling. I will follow you anywhere!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope those changes won't cause too much consternation...sigh...there is always something.
ReplyDeleteYour selfie is really good!
Technology really can wear you out trying to keep up with all the rules and whatnot. Thanks for the update. Purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey kitties
ReplyDeleteGood greef Blogger iss beein purrty unfair there Mario!!! Yur selfie iss furabuluss tho'..
ReplyDeleteMee finkss you could meow with Aunty Janet (Thee Kat On Mee Head)or Lady Ellen frum 15 an Meowing....They iss self hosted thru Wordpress or you could meow to LadyLinda frum Svannah'ss Paw Trackss...shee knows how to move thee bloggiess....
LadyMum started fresh when Multiply closed all most 4 yearss ago so shee not abull to help you.....
Wee do not want to lose contact with you!! Wee losted touch with Lady Jane an thee REEL Maypull Syrup Mob because of this an wee can not commint with Googull an LadyMum says shee dislikes it ALOT! So paws crossed you can come over to Wordpress....it iss luvley there.
**nose bumpsss** Siddhartha Henry xxx
Aaaaaaaw Mario we won't leave you. We don't know how this will affect us commentin' as da whole thing be way over our heads. MOL WordPress is easy peasy, altho' we don't know how to move all yous ppostys and fotos and stuff. Maybe da Wordpress help desk kuld help you?. Hope you have a blest day.
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Lexi
Great selfie, Mario.
ReplyDeleteWe're not sure what this latest crass move by Google (in their ongoing attempt at world domination) will mean. We don't use Friends Connect or follow blogs. We have our own list of blogs we like to read and we just go down that. We'll see how it goes. But thanks for the tip-off.
Purrs,
The Chans
That is a very handsome selfie Mario.
ReplyDeleteI love your selfie, Mario! I think Google is being a pain because it wants exclusivity - and that's just a path to mediocrity.
ReplyDeleteYou look exceedingly handsome, Mario!! A lot of people like me follow blogs using a reader like Feedly or bloglovin, so I don't think a great deal of upset will occur! But it's probably a good idea to tell people so that those that use friend connect can make adjustments! xoxox
ReplyDeleteLooking adorable, Mario!
ReplyDeleteYou always look fabulous my friend Mario !
ReplyDeleteand Thanks Mario for updated.
COD ! ... so many rules in human world !!!!
I actually don't follow anyone that way. I subscribe to everyone via email. I only clicked on GFC to help people with the blog count. They actually were supposed to phase out GFC quite a while ago. Have no idea what implications this will have, but I have a feeling all of the ridiculous comment verification they have been posting lately is tied to this. catchatwithcarenandcody
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice selfie, Mario. We sure don't understand what Google is doing. We have a Google account, so we'll be able to continue to follow you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Mario! We hope we don't lose followers as well. Oh, and what a handsome selfie!
ReplyDeleteMario, we love your selfie. We have a Google account, so we'll keep right on following you. But we don;t know why Google always has to mess with stuff...
ReplyDeleteWhy, Oh why do they keep changing things???
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, Mario. We will always find you!
xoxox
Trixie, Caspurr and Shimshi
Happy (late) New Year!
ReplyDeleteFanks fur da heads up Mario my pal...
ReplyDeleteVery handsome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that news. We didn't know.
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
This is somewhat disappointing, but I do follow almost all the blogs I read by email. It makes it very easy to read blogs when I find them in my email and just click on the link. :)
ReplyDeleteWe follow you with Feedly, and we're looking forward to reading your next post. Purrs
ReplyDeleteI think you're safe, Mario. Great selfie, too!
ReplyDeleteMario, you look surprised, or very interested in something.
ReplyDeleteNo worries about blogger or wherever you land....we'll follow.
I saw that notice, too. I've been planning to work up an email newsletter, and this announcement moved it from the back burner to the front!
ReplyDeleteJean from Welcome to the Menagerie
Excellent selfie, Mario. No idea what all that blogger stuff will mean to your blog in the long run but I have a google account and follow you on Feedly so you won't lose me!
ReplyDeleteMario and Mum we are not experts but can advise that a nice company called Blogelina.com will transfer your blog very easily for you. Check them out. If you are not very tech savvy I would, to be honest Get Help. I paid for help rather than set it up myself as I was too nervous to do it (and lacked the skill, although I am told it is not hard..)
ReplyDeleteGet in touch if you move to WordPress, if you want to, we are more than happy to give you any help you need to get up and running.
Marjorie and the Dash Kitten Crew
Don't worry, you won't loose us, as we don't understand anything about Google+. That's a lovely Selfie, Mario. Pawkisses :) <3
ReplyDeleteno sweat Mario; I follow by email and I have a WP.com blog if Mom needs any help setting one up. It really isn't that hard especially as you have already worked with a dashboard etc. Mom L posts for me on Blogger at the Tabby Cat Club and she can go from WP to BLogger and back
ReplyDelete