Working the kinks out

Ok, it's been one little thing after another and primarily taking much longer than I wish.
It's not all that hard to figure some of this stuff out, it's just learning how to drive the thing and finding out where everything is. I'm driving my dear friends nuts with some options that automatically send out things via email to them, when I don't realize to unclick sending a post to upload or do certain things. Some options send notifications. That would drive me berzerk!

The google logo slideshow to the left of the screen (left at least at the time of this posting), is only a temporary set up because I rushed away the other day, having to leave it with a blank. This will do in the way of putting Picassa (photo server/software) in there for now. There are a couple of other options for the server/software in the dropdown box too, but we'll just start out playing with the Picassa since that's part of the Google set up use (for now). At least we know if there are those who have other places they keep albums, it's an option too.

I keep saying I'm going to get on the gallery aspect of the website. I am. I was actually waiting for a back up drive for my birthday so I can get things copied out of places all over the place and have them in one location so I can get a gallery set up. I guess for starters, since I set up the account the other day, I'll check out how to get a few things in there to put in place and how they work on the various formats available with Google, the sites, webpages, and so on. So far, I've sprinkled little gadgets here and there throughout this experiment test site, but they're commercialized, not personal shots of any kind, of course. It's just something to tickle the eyes while reading.

The HearthStone newsletter was the actual first subdomain (site) I created in the website. It has a few good options on it, such as the 'table of contents', which works well as headings, subs, etc., are set up on the fonts of the content. It gives a good and easy quick reference, plus a quick link to that particular spot on the site.
I added a collaborative couple of power point windows. The presentations in them are moot, one with pictures, a few texts, and they click over.
While the HearthStone is an invention of gathering news, announcements, possible articles, points of views, editorials and so on, it's worth considering it's collaborative central point of works that a community can work together to do. The workshop, if you will.
I would hope it is something others would partake in, not another area of constant work solely on my part to do. I hope if it's a good thought, it can be created in the actual protogrove website as either a part of the primary site, or a subdomain. I can see it as a primary part of the website, using a subdomain (as a workshop area, or newsroom) to create many of it's works to be carried into the main site for publishing. Something like that idea.
I did find a question on one of the help lists on google, that interested me and that I've been wondering about. Someone asked if you can use your own software to create portions of the website and add it into google apps. Google apps help response was no, but that one could use his/her own software, add it in directly to their domain, and somehow attach the google apps into the domain as well. I have to take a closer look at exactly what that is supposed to do and how to do it!
There are a couple of things I'm not entirely thrilled with. I don't like that I have to sign into so many different areas, such as the sites, the website, the egroup, the email, the blog, each has its' own area requiring separate sign-ins! GADS! Bother, bluck! It would work out better if they had an admin set up where I could click on all the permissions for which type of log in. That way you're either in or not in certain areas. Either the option would show up, or it wouldn't if you have access or if you don't. This is something I'm wondering if premiere level accounts have or not.
I also need to look into setting up the readers access on each page, for syndication purposes, what have you.
Well, let me dash for now.