My names Dan, aka Slapinions, and I'd like your help in pushing AOL to create a means of permanently saving and printing the contents of our journals.
It only makes sense. For most of us our journals are records of our lives, our thoughts, our successes and failures. Although it was by accident and not design, my journal has taken the place of our old scrapbooks. I've used mine to record the birth of two of my children. My son's entire life to date is online, and so is my oldest's first day of school, my second daughter's Christmas program, and more.
I've wrote about the death of a family friend and my Grandmother, eulogized my heroes, denounced wrongs, goofed around, and rambled about current events.
In theory, someday I'd like my grandchildren and their children to read a bit of the blog to know just what Great-Grandpa was really like.
It's important to me dang it, and I've grown to love this tiny little bit of cyberspace.
So what happens if AOL glitches out and loses the blog? What happens if they decide to abandon Journals altogether? What if my charming personality offends the wrong person and the journal or screename goes zap?
So here is what I propose: come up with a means of permanently saving each entry in a printable format. Nothing fancy, just keep the basic 'look' of each journal and ensure that all text and non-animated graphics remain intact.
Give us a means of saving the journal as a whole in this format, and/or allow us 'printable' individual entries.
That's it.
Sure it's a free service, but they slap that ad on top of our sites don't they? Every page view your journal receives earns AOL another $ in advertising revenue. The least they could do is waste a few programming hours on giving us what we want.
If you agree, leave a comment. As far as I'm concerned your comment is a 'signature' on this makeshift petition to AOL.
Thanks and good luck,
Dan
I definitely want this feature. It's highly important to me, as Dan stated.
ReplyDeleteKrissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
I didn't know AOL was planning on canceling the Journal, I too would miss it..
ReplyDeleteSo you can put my name down...
Jeanne
That is exactly the reason I started my mirror blog over at Blogger! I post all of my entries in both places (only takes a couple of seconds more-- I use a program called LiveWriter to write the entries, then it's just copy and paste). That way if either Blogger -or- AOL goes Kaput I have all of my entries on the opposite service!
ReplyDeletegreat idea. I once begain to print out a series of entries and it was a pain the butt. Happy New Year Dan!
ReplyDeleteI would love if AOL decided to give us this feature...I believe it is very important to many of us who want to save our journals to look back on in the future as they are filled with many memories we cherish... great idea Dan! Thanks
ReplyDeleteHugs
Terri
I have a journal buddy who once brought up this very thing. I would love to save all my entries, but have never took the time to copy and paste them into a program. I would be sick, if God forbid, I lost them.
ReplyDeleteLori (private)
Great Idea!!! I'm all for it. Good luck on your petition.
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea ,one I would love to do ,Thanks Jan ....http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeadie05/Serendipity/
ReplyDeleteYou have my vote :) excellent idea!!!
ReplyDeleteBetty
You certainly have my vote. I have been keeping my journal for over three and a half years. I have written about the birth of both my Grandsons, I have told the story of my Grandmother and her house, have written a tribute and a poem for my late brother. Well, the list is endless. I would certainly like to be able to save my journal for my Grandsons to read when they are older. I hope you get lots of signatures.
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/
Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great idea, Dan. You have my vote!
ReplyDeleteLeigh :-)
http://journals.aol.co.uk/edwardssoapy/LeighsWorld/"
You have my vote. What an excellent idea. I have written for over three years and would like to keep all my entries for posterity.
ReplyDeleteJeanie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/kirkbyj05/DaytoDayLifeintheLakes
I can highlight and print mine now.But hey-if there's a different way ..I'm all for it.I'm signing.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want on our journals is a one click to add our music and be able to use whatever photo,graphic or gif for our backgrounds as easy as click and upload like we do now for adding photos.
connie Aka;specialadyfink
http://journals.aol.co.uk/specialadyfink/Anyway...../ main journal
http://journals.aol.com/specialadyfink/Anyway......./ Christmas Story
http://journals.aol.com/specialadyfink/in-the-sticks
http://journals.aol.com/specialadyfink/say-what/
http://journals.aol.com/specialadyfink/share-and-share-alike/
http://journals.aol.co.uk/specialadyfink/the-halloween-party/
http://journals.aol.com/specialadyfink/woof-woof/
You have my vote too. A much desired feature, thanks for picking up on that.
ReplyDeleteGuido
http://journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip/
Oh this would be awesome. I had thought that AOL might even allow us to buy them in a printed format from one date to the next. Another sales event for them and another heirloom for our families. LOL Course I'm all for a free version. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks..You have my signed petition now.
Sonya
hiya,
ReplyDeleteyou have my vote as well
sue
When AOL decides to dump this Journals product, I'm pretty sure that the way we'll find out is when we try to open our Journals and they're gone.
ReplyDeleteThey've released everyone associated with the product over the years, AOLis actively being shopped, and the moment the ad banner revenue doesn't cover operating costs....we're gone.
Whenever I write something, I paste it to another blog provider. I'd recommend that you do the same.
Dan, I"d love to be able to save and print my journal. If this is the petition, then I've signed it! I've spent many hours writing here in lieu of writing on paper... a big sacrifice on the one hand, a trade-off for the interaction on the other. If we could print and save, the loss of paper format would be eliminated.
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteCount me in. I want to be able to print out my journal as mine too has been my life and what goes on in it. Thank you for doing this.
LuAnne
Sounds like a great idea. Dawn
ReplyDeleteA Coupler of Nomads
Count me in. Helen
ReplyDeleteYes, I have often wondered how I was going to get my journal saved for prosterity and the only thing I could come up with was copying and pasting my memoirs at least into some kind of word, but I am way behind on doing this. I can well understand your desire to be able to save the entries, so consider this a vote for. Gerry
ReplyDeleteYes please!! My husband has said quite often that I should print out my journal....and as you rightly say, if aol should ever cancel blogs all our journals & work will go down the pan!! I am all for printing our blogs.....wow that will be an awful lot of paper, haha!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.co.uk/aniracj/StrannyDayze/
Great idea. Yes, I'd love to be able to save & print my journal.
ReplyDeleteJackie
Great idea! Saving and printing my journal is something I would love!
ReplyDeletethanks
Donna
I agree, it would be an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteLove Sandra xx
Hear hear! Right now, I've got a feed going through Google Reader, so I could print everything if I needed to, but it's a workaround at best. It would be great if AOL came up with a simpler way to do it.
ReplyDeleteBeth
I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY!!! Thanks for doing this! Val xox
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason
I want it also.
ReplyDeleteCeleste
http://journals.aol.com/csandhollow/Mydayandthoughts
I blogged this entry also. Everyone needs to.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a wonderful idea; I support it.
ReplyDeletebetty
I have printed almost every posting of my journal since I started .I do my posts in e. mail section first and then print it off.Then copy and paste into my journal.I am happy to sign though for those who havn't.Though my title suggests rhymes, I do postings of everyday happenings in rhyme.So yes it is much of what goes on in our lives.Take Care God Bless Kath astoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES
ReplyDeleteI'm not a computer geek, but I'm sure it can be done. There is an option on my online newspaper for viewing it in different formats and one for printing. If AOL doesn't have room to store the archives, at least we could get a printout of recent posts. It might even give me incentive to go out and buy ink for my printer again.
ReplyDeleteClyde
This is a great idea! Yes, consider me as signing the petition. :o)
ReplyDeleteLisa
Im in! Tammy
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to save and print my journal! Count me in!!!
ReplyDeleteAng
I don't know a lot about things, but my neice currently prints out many of my entries and I have printed some myself. I don't currently know of any easy way to save an entry. I sometimes copy and past my entries over into something else and from there I could save them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be nice for quite a number of people if there were simple means for journal owners to download and print and keep the original format intact. Hope AOL will consider this. After all many of us are paying members...and the better AOL journals are the more chance of people migrating over to thier product.
As for me, to have some of it saved in print would be a treasure.
Barbara
http://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/
Consider this my signature~~
ReplyDeleteI've printed all of my entries, along with the comments I've gotten...a slow, copy and paste into emails version, not to mention expensive! If you've never printed them all out, be prepared to buy alot of printer ink~~ I also suggest buying 3 inch ring binders to store all the print outs in. It's worked for me so far.
Fantastic idea
Rebecca
First time I've been here hon, I came by way of Guido . I have to admit in this venue you are absolutely right. I've had quite a few of my readers comment I should write a book or publish some of my entries. Having said that I would be heartbroken to lose over a years worth of entries and not be able to use them as a jumping off board.
ReplyDeleteThese entries are my life.....the journey I've taken on a lifetime of healing and aspirations as I discover another strength within myself. I truly hope AOL taken this petition seriously. Consider this MY signature on a worthwhile venture. (Hugs) Indigo
That would be great. I vote YES.
ReplyDeleteKathy
I vote YES...j
ReplyDeletei agree. my blog is like the last 12 months of my life.
ReplyDeleteBravo! Count this as another big YES! I am a packrat. I have two journals. One is my personal life, and the other is full of graphics I've created plus some personal life also. I would be devastated to lose either one. LOL...I'm my biggest fan. I spend a good bit of time in my archives reading my past entries so AOL LISTEN UP...we want to protect our journals! Chris
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to your growing list. I'm not that computer savy but is it possible to download your entire journal onto a cd? That would also be one way to secure it...does anyone know if that's doable? Sandi
ReplyDeleteWHAT A GREAT IDEA! Guido alerted me to this cause and I'm onboard. Count me in. I have four years of life love trauma drama and sadness and happiness, silliness and seriousness. I want to leave a legacy for my family behind when I die years from now. The writing makes us live on don't you think?
ReplyDeleteNelishia
Terrific idea, one I've been hoping would come to pass. My kids would love to have copies of my journals. It would be quite a legacy. Hope you get enough people to leave comments here. I'll let others know about it, and ask them to pass the word around too.
ReplyDeleteBarb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK
I've been wanting this so long. Who wants to put all this hard work (thinking) into something they can't save. I don't. Here's hoping AOL will listen.
ReplyDeletegreat idea
ReplyDeleteI received your link thru magic smoke and wanted to invite you to visit my journey .
hugs
Sherry
add me on the list:)
ReplyDeleteDeb
I say go for it, I sign the petition, Bill
ReplyDeleteAdd me. Janie
ReplyDeleteI'm in! I just went through the save process and it's awful, lol!
ReplyDeleteYes, that would be a wonderful feature. Hopefully AOL will realize we take our journals and those of others seriously. Count me in....Linda in Washington state
ReplyDeleteI think that's a great idea. Count me in for sure. God bless.
ReplyDeleteNow you've got my signature too!! I think this is a great idea, thanks for pitching it!! I hope AOL will listen!! My first time at your journal, but I'll be back!!
ReplyDeleteJoann
you've got my signature..
ReplyDeleteSheri
I think that would be great. I have many things I qwould like to have available to me. Lucille4364
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I haven't been able, for health reasons, to spend any time on my journal these past few months, and I am scared that one day I will go to my site and it won't be there anymore. I've been hoping for something like this. Let's hope that AOL listens. Tina Onemoretina
ReplyDeleteHi !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Monae and this is my first time to your journal. I have to say that this is a wonderful wonderful wonderful idea and you now have my signature. Please do add my name to the petition because I like your idea. I am sure other J-Landers will agree. I hope that this idea will be considered. Thanks again.
Ihadn't realized that this wasn't already something we could do. I heartily agree that we should be able to save, download and print our own journals. Estela http://journals.aol.com/easteeleco/Lasttimeatbat
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea. Come on aol, you have our journals and the ads, at least let us print a copy of our own journals.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://journals.aol.co.uk/m100addy/a-scrapbook-of-snapshots/
http://journals.aol.co.uk/sylviam4000/YeOldeEnglishPosy/
What a great idea and well supported Dan. I have had to copy a few "years " of family journal enteries and then told by hubby to make 2 more sets as back up...you can imagine the computer paper and printer ink I had to buy but now all entries are permanently documented & here for all to read and use for whatever!!! LOL Wouldn't want to loose all the old pictures of my children growing up and their grandchildrens pic's either so it will be nice to be assured anything entered won't be lost in cyber space! Do you know even if you delete your journals, a few typed in words in a search engine will bring it all back up on screen?! Amazing this wonderful world of technology. Hugs to all :) Doreen
ReplyDeleteI would like to do that but would not want anyone else to be able to do that..so if it were only myself that could. TerryAnn
ReplyDeleteDan
ReplyDeleteWe share the same opinion on this and I whole heartedly support this petition. Strange our paths have not crossed before, I'm going to make sure I check out your journal.
Sam
I am impressed that all my old entries are available, and yes, I sure would like to be able to print them and save them to hand down to my heirs. I enjoy old family diaries, and would love to have my journal available as one.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dan,
ReplyDeleteMy answer is YES.
Win =.)
http://journals.aol.com/winivere2002/TheGlassBox/
http://journals.aol.com/winivere2002/TheMadPlatter/
HI my answer is also YES.
ReplyDeleteSunny
I am definitely interested in this petition...this blog is my life day to day...family happenings...etc....something worth handling down to my children and g children....we should have this option...God Bless....Ora
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Consider me signed on.
ReplyDeleteLisa
http://journals.aol.com/wwfbison/life-on-a-bison-farm
AMEN....I am with you all the way.
ReplyDeletecarlene
I agree..
ReplyDeleteI agree....and here's my signature through my comment.
ReplyDeleteI hope this petition goes through.
Thank you,
Gem
Add my name to the rest. I am all for my words becomming permanent!
ReplyDeleteMarie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/
Please add my name to your list..
ReplyDeleteA friend only recently asked me if I kept all my entries...I hadn't thought much about it before that...mind you who would ever be interested in reading what rubbish I write is debatable. !!
http://jpurnals.aol.co.uk/sybilsybil45/villagelfe
This is a great idea...I would love to print out my entries one by one....add me
ReplyDeletehope it works!!!
Peace--Ellie
I like this idea
ReplyDeleteMary
Hi, I just wanted to pop on and thank everyone for commenting on this issue. I hope it leads to some progress from AOL.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to answer a few questions that were posted to me via email by both JustPlainBill, who printed a few experiments, and FrankandMary.
I know that there are ways out there to save web pages, ranging from expensive software, such as what a friend of mine at a law firm told me they use in copyright cases, to neat little tricks of the trade.
But to steal a great phrase from one of the comments here, that's just a 'workaround'.
You can automatically save email to your hard drive by checking a box on AOL - why not the same for each post on your blog?
The same holds true for printing. There are ways to print your entries - I've done it.
But it's time consuming and the results aren't what I'd consider 'suitable for posterity'. I personally don't like having the header, sidebar, ads and whatnot pop up on every post I print. And copying-pasting is just a plain hassle.
Again, I don't think it would be that hard for AOL to come up with a save/print function, and it would be a great boon to this community.
Thanks again for commenting and I look forward to visiting your journals soon.
Are you going to contact AOL and let them know how many people have signed this petition? Unless they know nothing will be done.
ReplyDeleteHey I am sith you on this!!! I have actually thought about this before and was considering copying and pasting everything. I WILL SIGN IT!!! -Missy http://journals.aol.com/ma24179/MISSYZSTUFF
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great to be able to print out our journals simply. I hope AOL gets to work on that.
ReplyDeleteLori
I've been waiting for AOL to do this for a long time. It's so time consuming printing out each entry. Thanks for starting this.
ReplyDelete~Dana
http://journals.aol.com/heavenlybama/journey-to-success
http://journals.aol.com/heavenlybama/my-photo-lounge
This sounds like a great idea! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteHUGS~Donna
I would like to add my comment of YES! Yes, we need an easy system to help us save all our thoughts, pictures, everything! I love the idea, count me in.
ReplyDeleteHi, I've just popped over from Bea's journal... (http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/)
ReplyDeleteto put my name to this petition. Such a good idea and, as you say, AOL are making enough from the ads to cover the cost.
Good luck with the campaign.
B.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/oddb0dkins/WaffleandWhinge/
Yes, please AOL, make it so that we can print hard copies of Journal entries.
ReplyDeleteYes, please AOL make it possibe that we can make hard copies of our journals. Thank you. Merry
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be able to save my journal! I'm all for it!
ReplyDeleteKellen
Consider me signed up!
ReplyDeleteTraci
Please!
ReplyDeleteThis means a lot to me, It's my life in these pages
Marti
Yes, I do believe that a promise from AOL that our blogs will remain is an assurance for the community that our personal investment here on AOL matters. ~Raven
ReplyDeleteOh yes, absolutely. I'd love to be able to print out and "save" my journal pages. Count this as my signature on this petition.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leigh
Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteAmanda
I keep trying to figure out a way to print my journal without having to print the pictures in the side bars over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIt would be GREAT to be able to print individual entries right from your journal with one click on an icon!
Waddayasay AOL? Pretty please?
I agree 100%. Lets hope they listen. I have 5, or maybe 6 journals, what would I do with them gone, maybe work more, clean house more, ... anyway, I don't want to lose them. So here is my name.
ReplyDeleteJulie
YES! I have been blogging with AOL Journals for almost 4yrs and have for a long time been thinking of printing or making some kind of back up. So much goes into our blogs.. it's my scrapbook.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
Mary
Most definitely agree. We don't toss out the written diaries we keep all our lives, this should be no different. Public journalling is a new concept still in the "experimental" stage according to our ISP but look how far we've brought it! Just the people alone that we've met and befriended make it worthwhile. The miriad of joys, sorrows, depth of emotion both high and low, secrets, opinions, this is more than keeping a diary. So our ISP should find a way to immortalize the minutia and the grandest of posts we chose to enter. Amen. CATHY
ReplyDeletei try to save mine to a flash drive, but since i have so many online journals running, as well as my microsoft word offline journals, it would be a great idea to be able to save them. i vote yes, yes, yes...........
ReplyDeleteregina
I started my journal in May to help me get through my husband's deployment. It has become my life line, so of course I would like to see it saved.
ReplyDeleteLaini
I'll be #100.
ReplyDeleteA save and print feature would be nice. I'd love to actually have the ability to save drafts.
-Dan