Minor Missives

Chameleons

Q: What's better than a new theme on Thursday?

A: Scotch. And also, infinite new themes.

I'm pleased to introduce our latest (and greatest!) theme: Chameleon. It's not much to look at on the surface. But like the crafty creature with whom it shares its namesake, there's far more than meets the eye. A leopard can change its spots, and you can now completely redecorate your Outside Blog — Chameleon supports complete and transformative customization via CSS.

After selecting the Chameleon theme, you'll notice a new "CSS Styling" menu item. This allows you to provide custom CSS which will be used to beautify your existing Outside Blog. As a bonus, you also have access to your uploaded header and sidebar images. Simply use {{ header_image_url }} and {{ sidebar_image_url }} — these special tokens will be automatically converted to URLs.

Is this theme incredibly geeky? Yes. Writing CSS requires a high level of competency in web development. Can you use this theme without knowing anything about CSS? Yes! As people start to develop and share themes, you'll be able to spruce up your Outside Blog without lifting a finger. Know a "tech guy"? Ask for some help tweaking the appearance of your Outside Blog. Looking to go hog wild? Hire a local developer to craft a custom design for you.

Chameleon is still in beta. HTML in overhead bins may shift during the flight. Documentation is non-existent. But a mountain is climbed one step at a time, assuming you don't have a helicopter. You now have the unprecedented ability to harness the incredible power of an Outside Blog while simultaneously maintaining your own unique look and feel. Enjoy!

32 commentsJorgen Hahn • May 28 2009 12:00PM

Comments

Jorgen,

I'm scared - that competency thing - but off to explore.

Posted by Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ (Weichert) about 1 year ago

That is just the coolest damn thing ever!

Posted by Jo Soss [360] 990-1433 Designated Broker|Owner Homefront Realty (HomeFront Realty ) about 1 year ago

Sounds perfect!

Posted by Aaron Warner (Active Rain) about 1 year ago

I'm going to use it just because it has a super-cool icon. Everything else is just bonus. ;)

Posted by Craig Keller (Durgle) about 1 year ago
Jorgen, this is great!
Posted by Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting~ Social Media Advisors) about 1 year ago

Oaky....so does this mean I have to learn more stuff?

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate (Century 21 Liberty Homes) about 1 year ago

I have NO idea about CSS. I guess I will wait and see what happens.

Posted by Rich Cotton Broker/Owner EXiT Realty Chesapeake Bay about 1 year ago

 

My significant other has a pair of pants we call chameleon pants because they change colors.  He thought they were brown and the first time I saw them I thought "why's he wearing gray pants with brown shoes?"  

One of my blogs is now wearing chameleon http://discovercolumbusoh.com/  the other is still wearing the brokerage (Real Living) theme.

I had an opportunity recently to go to something about learning CSS but was not able to.  I am probably NOT geeky enough to do "chameleon" but I am going to try.  If I look like a dork I will just change themes again.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Posted by Maureen McCabe Columbus (Real Living HER ) about 1 year ago

Do not know what CSS is or stands for... just another blog that makes me realize I have so much to learn and hopefully not suffer through the process of application.

Posted by An Marshall (Prudential Network Realty - St. Augustine) about 1 year ago

My gosh, Jorgen. You just made my head spin. English, please!

Posted by Loreena Yeo - Realtor® Frisco TX Homes (214) 783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY) about 1 year ago

Thanks for the info.

Posted by Realty Dot Com (Realty.com) (Realty.com) about 1 year ago

POW!!!!  That's what I'm talking about!  :-)  Looks like is may be time for a CSS post....  This is great Jorgen, nice job!

Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain) about 1 year ago

Umm...can you write in English? Just kidding - CSS is over my head at this point, but I have a sneaking feeling that I may be learning more about it in the near future.

Posted by Kim Daugherty, McKinney REALTOR, TX Broker (d + b real estate) about 1 year ago

OK...of to the trenches...and off to more learning.

Bettina

Posted by Settles Team within Bettina Settles Realty, (317)508-0627#1 about 1 year ago

I've used the new theme to refresh the look of my Outside Blog at minormissives.com. I know that we've got more than a few CSS-savvy members in the "rain", and I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Posted by Jorgen Hahn (ActiveRain Corp) about 1 year ago

Well, I have a feeling I will be reading more CSS posts in the future, Jorgen.  I'll have to up my "tech geek" factor to find out more about it.  I'm just starting to get the hang of html code right now (at least, just enough to be dangerous and get myself out of some sticky situtations).

Posted by Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant (951) 961-0219 (Second Self Virtual Assistance) about 1 year ago

I think I need a translator for this one, or a secret decoder ring.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago

Thanks for giving us some design flexibility, Jorgen. I'm looking forward to playing with this.

Posted by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace) about 1 year ago

Omigosh - this is awesome. I have a Wordpress blog with CSS. I am going to figure out how to implement it! Woot!

Posted by Christianne Gordon, REALTOR® e-PRO CDPE SFR Carson Valley Real Estate Specialist (Carson Valley Homes and Land - RE/MAX Realty Affiliates) about 1 year ago

Jorgen: This sounds interesting and a little intimidating at the same time.. I will explore this.. Thanks !!!

 

Posted by Roland Woodworth,SFR - Clarksville Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (Exit Realty Clarksville) about 1 year ago

Cool, Jorgen. But not sure i have time to try to take on yet another learning experience. We'll see. Maybe I'll wait til others try it and get the kinks worked out.

Jeff

Posted by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Moonlight Beach (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)) about 1 year ago

This is sweet...

Posted by Jeff Corbett (7DS Associates) about 1 year ago

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I can't wait to play with this!  You guys ROCK!

Posted by Connie Watts - Omaha Homes for Sale / Offutt AFB Homes, 402-880-9027 (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago

Ok Jorgen My head is officially spinning now...lol Gotta look into though for sure. thanks for giving me more learning material...lol

Posted by Robert Hammerstein (Coldwell Banker Hillsdale NJ) about 1 year ago

Hi Jorgen -- Very cool and I'm sure end users will appcreciate the visuals.

Posted by Chris Olsen Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate (Olsen Ziegler Realty) about 1 year ago

I am such an IDIOT when it comes to tech things. Anything technical,and I mean ANYTHING, and/or electrical, involving math, reconciling bank statements, even folding laundry . . . I'm a dolt, with a capital D.

I don't like changing burned out light bulbs, if that gives you a clue on how I can't stand electrical work.  The only thing I know about my car is where the key goes and sometimes I can even remember the correct side the fuel tank is located.

I can switch on my computer, and the first time I bought a laptop, and couldn't get Internet, I took it back to the Geek Squad, only to have them laugh AT me (not with me) when that little button at the top was orange, and when pressed it changed to blue -- which meant I had Internet access.  DUH!!

I am a red-head, but I SWEAR I think I must have some really deep blonde roots.

So when you said Thursday was for SCOTCH . . . I thought we were going to have a drinking game started!

However, I'm a GREAT Real Estate Agent!  And I will TRY to learn this new thing, goobledy goo, so I can impress people with my techno-savy skills.

(Seriously, I'll just end up paying Kyle, my web guy, to do it!)

I wrote a blog just to prove the point:  LOL of the Day . . . Goes to ME!

Things STUPID people do with their computers.  A funny read!

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1093906/lol-of-the-day-goes-to-me-

 

Posted by Carla Muss-Jacobs Principal Broker/Owner EBA Portland LLC | www.EBAPortland.com | (Exclusive Buyers Agent Beaverton Portland) about 1 year ago

Never came tell what these AR bloggers will come up with next!

Posted by Norma Brandsberg (Marks Realty Co. Inc., Lynchburg, VA, 540-586-9496) about 1 year ago

Alright,, I've got to check this out.  Always something new.  Thank you.

Posted by Judi Barrett Integrity Real Estate Services, 580-212-5946 about 1 year ago

Jordan, I know about CSS on KompoZer and know how important it is to be sure the appearance is the same across the multiple platforms on the web, so thanks for this! Also, thanks for a terrific 2009. We know you have been working hard behind the scenes to make AR better all the time. Happy New Year!

Posted by Frank & Sharon Alters, CDPE-Short Sales Jacksonville-Orange Park-Fleming Island (Watson Realty - Clay County, Duval County, St. Johns County ) 7 months ago

thanks for it

 

nike free run

Posted by shell 26 days ago

[url=http://www.jordan-space.com/Nike-Air-Jordan.html]Cheap Air Jordans[/url]</dr>
[url=http://www.jordan-space.com/Air-force-ones-25-Annual.html]Air force one[/url]</dr>
[url=http://www.jordan-space.com/Nike-Dunk-SB-shoes.html]Dunk sb[/url]</dr>

Posted by CheapAir Jordans 2 days ago
Dunk sb
Posted by CheapAir Jordans 2 days ago

Participate



(optional)
What does the graphic say?