1. A method for accessing subscription services of a data block aggregator, comprising: subscribing for services of a data block aggregator to provide updated data blocks upon request, the aggregator comprising a central network-accessible computer system that includes a database of data blocks, and the aggregator comprising software code that when executed causes the collection of updated versions of the data blocks from a plurality of external data sources; and initiating a request from a remote computer system to the aggregator for an updated data block within the database of data blocks, the request being initiated from a computer application displayed on the remote computer system, and the request including one or more input parameters used by the aggregator to identify the requested data block; receiving the requested data block from the aggregator; and inserting the requested data block into the computer application for display on the remote computer system.