I refrain from putting my address and active phone number there, for obvious reasons. Instead, I use my Skype number, hence the strange country code. I may probably make a separate Contact page with active direct email submission just like in version 2.0. However, the hCard still serve its purpose to embed my contact info in all the pages within version 3.0.

There’s no traffic info unfortunately, since it ranks too low. Fortunately, there is Google Analytics for that purpose.

As an added benefit, I’ve added Sitelogr Pagerank button to Links. It is based on Google Pagerank, an algorithm that calculates “page value” by means of “link structures” of the Web itself. So far, the result is satisfactory, but what’s exactly the input for the algorithm?

Since my homepage renewal to version 3.0, I have found several interesting development with my favorite web hosting company. They now run “green” hosting environment, and as such made my web site “green” as well. So what do they do with this “green hosting” thing?

So, 1&1 has attempted to carbon-neutralized its energy use by purchasing carbon-offset certificates. This huge energy use from its data center in Lenexa, Kansas are being carbon-offset through a partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). 1&1 are purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from BEF. According to BEF website, 1 REC represents 1-megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity generated from renewable energy and delivered to national power grid. Thus, 1&1 is “offsetting” its energy use (from which resulted in carbon emission) through purchasing renewable energy (in effect, neutralizing its carbon emission).

1&1 claims that its renewable energy purchase for its data center is enough to power at least 300 U.S. homes for one year.

1&1 and BEF took a step further by working in tandem with Green-e. Green-e is a voluntary certification program for renewable energy. It certifies environmental commodities and products that mitigate climate change and build a sustainable energy future. As such, 1&1’s green hosting environment has been reviewed by an independent party for its validity and soundness.

As an added value to version 3.0, I have put the green hosting badge on the side bar.

Facebook happens to be my primary social media as well since most of my friends have Facebook accounts. Friends from kindergarten, middle schools, high school, colleges, workplaces, professional networks, locals, and overseas. At the moment, it is probably my most valuable contact list. I still have some fun on Facebook, answering quizzes and playing games. But mostly, I use Facebook to maintain my network contacts, express my views, and to a lesser extent, build my personal “brand”.

Facebook used to be an exclusively academia community with only those having .edu email address able to register. Now, Facebook is wide open, enabling those with not so legitimate identity with questionable motives to open an account. My niece learned of privacy traps on Facebook the hard way, but that is another story. Although I already put privacy blocks on certain contents, I believe I’ll have to be more vigilant in monitoring my Facebook account nowadays.

On version 2.0, the concept for Social Media links was to put them all in one separate page. While it’s still possible to do it on version 3.0, I think a widget in footer (or sidebar) area can come handy. For one thing, it’ll show up in every pages on the web site, hence driving up traffic and improving retention (so the theory goes). Plus, the customized button design is so neat.

Sure thing there will be several links down there, but I’ll start with my Flickr. Flickr is a photo-sharing site similar to Google’s own Picasa. I have joined Flickr since 2004, but until now have only uploaded 3 photos. I have lots of photos, mind you, as my former colleagues can attest. It’s just that photo capturing and photo uploading are two different interests I guess, requiring similar level of enthusiasm to make Flickr works. Well, let’s hope it’ll change, or will it?

The Subscription widget enables reader to subscribe to either version 3.0’s Posts or Comments or both. I have enabled FeedBurner feeds for version 3.0 since this site is now CMS-based, just like I did with nearly all of my Blogs. Since FeedBurner has been acquired by Google, it would encourage you to subscribe through Google Reader, but actually you can subscribe through most news and RSS aggregators. I think exporting through FeedBurner can provide me with a uniform technology, wider base, better functionality and better stats. What’s not to like?

I might put headline animator later just like on version 2.0. Granted, there’re still plenty of empty spaces available, but I don’t want to rush filling them out in a day only to disassembling them for the next month. It’ll be there if it’s fit.

The logo that I used is part of graphic-objects I downloaded online when I was looking for a logo for my private venture. It was a paid download and I received 16 objects. I used one for my company’s logo, so I thought why not use one of the other 15 for my personal site logo since I paid for them already? Beside, by using a similar style logo as my company, it should provide identity connection between both sites.

As for the font, I couldn’t resist finding a new font for the site, there are so many of them online. I used Ray Larabie’s fonts for version 2.0, and even downloaded several for version 3.0. I finally settled for a font named Olive Oil. I am not sure whether I’ve downloaded it from somewhere, but I found it while trying out the fonts on Microsoft Word.

Lastly, f0101 enables me to put a favicon directly from its user interface. I use the logo I put on the site and upload it on a favicon generator I used for version 2.0. And voila, it made not just one but TWO favicons for me (the other one being animated).

Combine all those things together, and I got myself an official version 3.0 “public face”.

As of now, I have added another page, Archives. I figure, might as well add one now before the website grow too big. Archives is where older posts are kept, and they listed based on its post time and categories. The theme allows for up to 30 latest posts with category and monthly archives available as well. To add better functionality to the primary navigation and Archives page, I’ve also added a Search widget. The Search widget is available pre-packaged with f0101 theme, and activation was a breeze. I put it right on top of the sidebar because it should be the first and easiest tool for a visitor to find his/her way around, after the primary navigation.

Note – Many of the Premium Features are dependant upon use of Java Script which is not compatible with all weblog templates. If in doubt please check with your weblog provider before signing up for our Premium service to determine if it is compatible with 3rd party Java Script.

Beside, Google Analytics seems to deliver better overall functionality, including its support for Adsense. Heck, I might even use Google as my primary web tool since I already use its email and chat app, among others. Google Analytics may have better reporting as well, but I won’t know that yet since there has been no new visitors in this past several days. More on this in the coming months, I guess.