You’ve no doubt by now noticed that the sites got a bit of a re-design and some things got changed around last week. We wanted to highlight two changes to make sure everyone knows what changed.

The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to post a comment on any post. Of course if you already have an account you can still login to ensure your comments are attributed to you, but those who don’t can now post a comment without any long term commitment. Also, on the right you can see some of the recent comments so you’ll always know what the active discussions are. This was the most requested thing we’ve heard from people since our last redesign and we’re excited to see where it leads.

The next change is also something that was heavily requested, and that is a change to the ADS on the sites. You’ll immediately notice fewer of them, but what might not be as obvious is those smaller square ones to the right are specific to this city only and are being sold for a flat rate for a period of time rather than a confusing CPM/traffic/network model. Depending on the city, these range from $7-$175 for a full week. If you purchase one, during that time your ad will be the only one in that spot and will show on every page. We set these up both to make it easier for smaller local businesses to get their ads on our site, and also to help us bring in ads that relate better to our local audiences. Also, keeping these sites online is expensive and every little bit helps.

There are a bunch of other things we changed but we’ll leave those to you to investigate and take advantage of. Hope you like it, and we look forward to seeing you in the comments!!

Love,
The folks at MBHQ

I just got in at the gallery…and on my way in a noticed a giant cloud of black smoke coming from the downtown area. This took place in the 500 Block of S. Industrial. Fox News has reported that there were 3 injuries but no fatalaties. You can view footage and get up to date reports at www.myfoxdfw.com

It appears that the situation is under control… Interstates 30 and 35 in that area were closed to motorists, although police are directing traffic in that area.

In addition to the news reports of the bombings that took place in Mumbai, the bloggers on Metroblogging have been posting a more human/first-hand account of what is going on over there. Their posts include personal accounts, photos and even video.

mumbai.metblogs.com

There has already been a lot of traffic to their posts that it has slowed the Metroblogging server down some. The internet makes the world feel so small.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of the party tonight with A- Trak. He is on tour with “The Rub” djs from Brooklyn nyc. This party is deffinatly something you will not want to miss out on.

www.itstherub.com

I think the night starts a little early….see you out.

Ok, you sick of seeing the same 3 people post here in Dallas? Well Metroblogging Dallas is having an open call for new authors until Tuesday April 4th. Just follow this link and join the family. http://www.metroblogging.com/apply.phtml (Please keep in mind that we’re looking for bloggers who can commit to posting 3 or more times per week.)

A couple noteworthy posts on DALLAS BLOG about the ForwardDallas! plan in the works.

–> WILL IT DO FOR DALLAS WHAT IT DID FOR PORTLAND? A TEPID COUNCIL WELCOME FOR FORWARD DALLAS! PLAN

I read this article today in the Dallas Morning News which got me thinking about this not so new possibility of charging web postage. It has been a rumor that has surfaced a few times in the past few years. Only this one sounds different because the intent is wrapped up in securing that your email will not be filtered out with incoming SPAM.

I hate to hear news like this, just as much as I hate SPAM. It feels like a brainchild of a marketing firm that has been milling over the possibilities of how to slap a charge on each and every email sent ever since hotmail was the rage. First it was the ploy that it was putting the US Postal Service out of work, now this is what’s next…pay so you can get certified email amid all the junk email.

I hate SPAM as much as anyone, and I have tried and tried to get information on who writes and sends this stuff and why. It leads me to theorize that anti-virus, and internet safe-guard companies might be one source. Why are all the new SPAM slipping through your existing filters? Maybe it’s because there needs to be some sort of testing of the system and reason to charge an update? (That’s an unruley remark that I’m probably going to have to pay for in excessive SPAM now. )

SPAM can’t be that lucative. Do people really fall for it? And if so, what’s to stop SPAMers from figuring out ways to send this new certified email? What’s to stop big corporations and wealthy spammers from paying for and sending direct certified email marketing? (…aka…SPAM that has been paid to be sent to your inbox) It’s already sent to your mail box in the form of printed postcards, fake letters, and ad-filled newspapers.

Where are all the articles on where SPAM actually comes from? Who is writing it? And how we can stop recieving it? I’d rather pay for an investigation than for certified email.

More photos to post. These were sent to me by Matt Hawthorne who got the chance to see this building blow up this morning. It’s like fireworks. Big crowds and big explosions.

For reasons behind this building’s demise check out this article from the Dallas Morning News.

Ugh. Sad to read this on such a beautiful December day.

Six arrested in $100,000 graffiti case

04:11 PM CST on Thursday, December 22, 2005

By KERRY GUNNELS / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas Police on Thursday arrested six graffiti artists accused of causing more than $100,000 in property damage.

Two of the suspected graffiti artists, who police said go by monikers like

I just browsed into a great dallas news hub and thought I would share the link.

http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com