Cocktail Confessions

Trying another experiment here.

Even though I really liked the WP to Twitter plugin, I’ve been experiencing some odd, unexplained, and indecipherable formatting issues when trying to post to Twitter.  The ‘shortcode’ was always getting fouled up to one degree or another here when using the #url# fast code when publishing a new post.

Even though I re-registered my application with Twitter (successfully per the app no less), refreshed the API key, seemed to have ‘passing’ tests behind the scenes, as soon as I published live, the shortcode errored out.  After spending a lot of time going line by line, and various combinations of URL’s, API keys, and format tweaks and saves, the results would always end the same: in error.

So I downloaded a new plugin called ‘Tweetable’ and followed their instructions very closely for activation. I also deactivated ‘WP to Twitter’, and everything seems good to go on the back end.  So this entry is more a test run and I’m crossing my fingers.

For those that are interested, it is version 1.1.8 and it seems pretty robust.  It actually adds a few pages to WordPress which seem pretty intuitive and you’re able to track those Tweets you follow within WordPress itself and also you can post your own Tweets directly within as well.  That’s a pretty neat feature that seems to take the next logical step that WP to Twitter didn’t.  So hopefully this will work out.

A few changes made today and I’m not sure of all the ramifications just yet.  I did notice that my WordPress to Twitter plugin stopped working a few days back, and it appears that is because the plugin now needs OAuth to authenticate communications between Twitter and WordPress.  Still would like to find a better plugin for this, but it works pretty well….when working.

I also noted a few other plugins also had updates available as did WordPress itself.  So….

• WordPress 2.9.2 to new version 3.0.1
• Askimet Antispam 2.1.0 to new version 2.4.0.  Hopefully this will cut down on the bogus crap I get all the time.
• WP to Twitter: upgraded to new version 2.2.1, BUT currently it is not working.  I need to go back and sign up with the new OAuth regsitratuion servers, get new API keys, blah, blah, blah.  Maybe sometime this weekend I’ll work on it.  I’m surprised there wasn’t more buzz or heads up on this.  It’s kinda a big deal.
• NextGEN Gallery to new version 1.6.1.  I have no idea what changes were made here.  Need to go and read changelog later.
• Bluebrry Powerpress to new version 1.0.9.  Would be something i suppose if I started podcasting again….but have been lazy to do such as of late.

The following enhancements and/or general changes were made over the last few days to the site as I continue to learn and make minor adjustments.

• Link added: Chris Richardson is the developer of the Map Press plugin and was very kind to help me out directly and very quickly when I sent him an email regarding some technical issues I was having in getting maps to display when ‘published’.  Added a link to his plug-in site in the Blogroll section entitled Map Press.  Go check him out if you have WordPress.
• Plugin update: Map Press v1.5.8.8 was updated 7/23/09.
• Plugin update: Sociable v3.4.3 was updated 7/23/09.
• Plugin update: Askimet v2.2.6 anti-spam was updated 7/21/09.
• Plugin update: Power Press v0.9.2 was updated 7/23/09.  However, I noticed when I did the upgrade some (not all) of my settings were lost.  I need to go back and ‘re-validate’ two of the feed settings so when I eventually try and post these to Zune or iTunes, these services will recognize new podcasts when posted.  Speaking of Zune and iTunes, I’m going to try and get at least one of these (probably Zune first) submitted over the weekend.  Crossing my fingers.
• Zoom H2 portable mic: Was supposed to be delivered today, however, most recent tracking update has now extended the window upwards of 7/29, which sucks, because its apparently at the FedEx facility in Aliso Viejo as of 6:30am this morning which is 10 miles from my house.
• Plugin deleted: Deleted visitor IP mapper running in background (my eyes only).  It didn’t seem to be capturing ‘all’ the data and therefor not doing it’s job correctly or accurately and thus just taking up space at this point.  No big loss.
• Plugin added: Added Next Gen gallery plugin that allows for slideshows and picture gallery enhancments.

Added ”MapPress” plug-in, v1.5.8.4 to the Cocktail Confessions site. 

In some instances, future posts may have maps showing landmarks and/or locations.  Still working out the bugs here for display.

Wordpress for Dummies, 2nd ed

I bought this book early this weekend to see if I could learn some more behind the scenes ‘techie’ stuff.  I was primarily looking for detailed information on API keys, RSS feeds (how to create, modify, etc), any tricks in regards to podcasting audio files as opposed to just uploading standard MP3 files, and maybe some advanced insight on plug-ins.

I’m going to be taking this book back very shortly for a full refund. 

That’s not to say this book is ‘bad’, but is is indeed very elementary in terms of any subject matter depth.  On things that are important to podcasters to know and grasp the background on, this book really doesn’t cut it.  In scanning many of the chapters, I had come to my own personal conclusion that most of the material inside was pretty self-intuitive if anyone took a few extra minutes with WordPress itself.  Many of the definitions and copy within the book come directly from the WordPress Dashboard and settings tabs themselves so nothing here was earth shattering or require this book if you just take a few moments and look yourself.

I suppose if you took on the task of downloading and installing WordPress for your own personal gloating (I’d rather stick a needle in my eye btw), then this book may indeed be helpful.  However, since GoDaddy does it for you (at no additional cost), you can kinda skip a few chapters within.  Also there were a few fluff chapters that had nothing to do with WordPress itself, but on how to write a blog, conduct an interview or create an interesting entry.  That’s not why I bought this book…for writing tips, it was how to use WordPress andto digest the components in the background.  If I wanted a creative writing lesson, all I have to do is close my eyes and pretend I’m in Jr. High all over again in Mrs. Fessedens class, the old coot.

Another reason I am returning this, is that even though this is a 2nd ed. installment (pub 02/09), it’s already obsolete.  Since this book was published, v2.7 & v2.8 have been released, and just today, v2.8.1 beta is available for download to fix a myriad of bugs in v2.8 when it dropped last week.

Some of the links the author publishes throughout the book are no longer valid either, though it’s not her fault.  She can’t control when other sites go away, change, or redirect.

There were a few good tricks in here, and some handy plug-ins the author points you to, but overall, for anyone who has worked with WordPress even a little bit before, you’ll find that much of the content is ‘meh‘ at best.  This truly is for someone who has never used WordPress one iota, or really is too lazy to make modifications on their own.  And if you”re that lazy, chances are you’re probably too lazy to pick up this book and read it as well, and enjoy pork rinds and Nascar, as that takes more effort than some simple tab configurations and trial and error.

All in all I give this book 3/5 stars, and while intermediate tech heads may pick up one or two tricks, overall you’re gonna be somewhat disappointed.  I’m still looking for the perfect podcasting and WordPress book.

http://support.wordpress.com/api-keys/

Oh, and here’s a gem (look for illianaconnect’s response) :http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/api-key-for-self-hosted-blog?replies=22