Good questions guys, and the answer right now is using standard HTML code to post links and pics. It's pretty close to the BBCode we're used to using in posts.
HOWEVER, I noticed that the ning people rolled out a WYSIWYG editor for blog posts already, and that makes it much easier. I will ask if text boxes and chatterboxes will have the same feature soon - that would make it easier on all of us. I'll get back to you. In the meantime, embedding an image works like this in HTML:
HTML Code:
<img src="http://myimageurl.jpg" />
...where "myimageurl" would be pasted the same way you do it for posting photos here on RS.