New Library Thing Widget...it's like a Tuesday Thinger Party!

It's Tuesday, and happily Wendi, with this week's Tuesday Thinger post, has reminded me of a new feature that I have to check out.

Questions: Do you have a LT widget on your blog? If so, what is your favorite thing about it? Have you had a chance to go see the all new widget building page, and if so, have you built a new widget? If so, what do you like about it?

I do have the old one, and I always liked it. Ok, maybe it was not as fancy as Shelfari's book shelf, or whatever it was called, and you get people that like Goodreads widget more, but I though it was nice. Neat, tidy...reminds me of books that I forgot that I own, which as far as i am concerned was the best part. And i think the covers are pretty.

But then, the other day, I found the NEW one and it is way cool. I mean really folks, if you have not checked it out yet, you should. I have not put it on my blog yet because I was fooling with it, trying to get it just right. There are so many options, and I have issues with things that involve a lot of choices. What color, reviews, no reviews, how fast should it change...oh, the choices. I need to lay down and take a wee reat now.

To save you the trip...or if we have not yet enticed you to join Library Thing...let me quote the post from LT...

* New "animated" style cycles through your covers in a oddly mesmerizing way.(they are right. it is oddly mesmerizing)
* Widgets are extensively customizable, so you can fit them to your blog without any special knowledge. ((good...I have no 'special knowledge'. Of anything.))
* Power users can do more, with Javascript and CSS customization. Check out Chris' blog for stylish use.* ((not going to look. I will then be envious of something I can not re-create because I have no 'special knowledge'.))
* The new widgets are shareable (an example) so members can show off and swap styles. (Yes, we'll be having a widget-creation contest soon.) ((I don't share well))
* Widget links don't go off somewhere, but open up a slick lightbox "mini-book" page, with your information and (optional) links, to LibraryThing and elsewhere. You can, of course, fill in your Amazon Associates code, if you want to make money off your widget. ((where did i put my Amazon Associate code? I have made 54 cents through it!))
* Widgets now include (optionally) tags, ratings and reviews. You can filter by reviews and tags too. ((oh no, more options..))
* The code is good—based on our improved JSON Books API and designed not to slow down your page (they're "lazy-loading"). Weirdly this can make the widget look slow. That's because it's not slowing down the rest of the page! ((Greek to me. except I actually studied Greek))
* Internationalized from the ground up.((no idea what that means...))
* Orcas, baby!

Ok, I have no idea what the orca part means either. They are a bit of an odd bunch at LT. Which is another reason that I like it there. And the parts about the code, they are wasting that explanation on me. The whole "Javascript and CSS customization"...hmmmm not so meaningful to me. I just like that it works.

I am off to find a list of color codes...I know I saved a link for a site with them somewhere...so I can pick something that goes with my rather colorless blog.
That is next on my 'things to do' list. Ok, not next, but somewhere on the list. To get a new design for my blog, a unique design...anyone know a good blog designer? Because as I mentioned, my knowledge about such 'codeish' things is very limited. And I really don't want to make the whole blog disappear. But I want to be unique!

{{P.S. edited to say that I did add a version of the new widget. not sure the final version...but a start. Oh, look at the pretty covers, watch them change...}}

Now, another charming picture of Bandit! Be sure to check out his blog
now. He love the comments. He told me so...in Italian!


No mommy, don't put me in the washer! Please!


Oh, No! I look like a wet rat...

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