I began making static pages for topics and dividing, then subdividing, the analyzing and over analyzing the results. While trekking around the house this afternoon, I decided I would rather make blog posts about topics, not static pages. We all know how to use the search bar, I think. At least, most days I remember how to use one. I am going to make a series of posts in which I list the podcasts I listen to and why, the knitting blogs I read and why, the non-knitting blogs I read and why, and then the plug-ins/widgets I have tried with WordPress 2.x. If I no longer use the plug-in/widget I will attempt to explain why, if I remember. If I don’t remember, maybe you can help me out with a suggestion or two.

My other bright idea involves advertising. My wonderful brother-in-law, the younger one, keeps sending me computer clients, of which I am immensely grateful. I need to do a bit more for myself from the advertising perspective. I’d like to be reasonably busy three days a week with clients, 3-6 hours each day.

Stay tuned for multiple posts over many days to arrive at this info finding a new home and for new photos. I have to admit, I’m starting to wane. A photo a day sounds fun until you’ve done it for 23 days. Some days I have three great photos and others none. I try to remember the other two I didn’t use on the days I can’t find any.

The more I write, the more I tweak the categories, so I’ve added website as a topic, since I write about it more frequently than I should. In an effort to customize the experience as this site is viewed, I’ve been working fast and furious. If you read this through an rss feed, you won’t see what I mean, but my ramblings may still be entertaining for you.

The series function works reasonably well. I can’t remember what the other theme and version of series did that was so horrible, but it seems to be fine here. I finally rooted through the code of this theme, hemmed, and fixed the three columns in the bottom bar and tweaked the “tweak” plugin. Originally, the bottom bar called for three columns, one for my blogroll, the blogs I read and want to share with you. I actually read way more than that, but these are the ones I want associated with my main page. The second column in the bottom bar was supposed to house recent comments. I don’t want to come across as despondent, but let’s face it, I don’t get comments, which is not a problem-just an observation. Back to the point, this theme called for recent comments to be in this mysterious middle column. I refer to it as mysterious because it never appeared. I could see the code and understand mostly what it was supposed to do, maybe. It wouldn’t do it. If I deleted it, the bottom bar would completely break. I would guess that it is either an old command no longer functioning the same in the newer WordPress or I don’t have enough comments to make it work. When I looked at the screenshot for the theme, there was no middle column either. The third column displays and displayed the last x number of posts, which I tweaked early on. The third column, however, was showing itself in the middle and the last column was sadly empty. No longer! I tweaked it, made a new bity icon and placed the calendar there so that I have several methods for posts to be navigated.

I also tweaked the theme so that links in the posts are a bit more visible. Unfortunately, it affects the series formatting as well, so I decided not to underline them. The series of 4 titles underlined with spacing close looked odd and spreading out the list would only look weird as well. Compromises must be made or I will edit this theme to the point where it is no longer the original.

I am also experimenting with the sidebar photo options. I don’t like the icons that accompany the tool, but I like the ease of use for navigating picture directories. Then I can delete the photos index page, it was functional, but not pretty and I would forget to update it.

You may have noticed that the look here is changing on a minute by minute basis. I picked a theme in the beginning that I liked, then I found plugins that I wanted to use. I know that most of these plugins are designed by individuals with some time on their hands. I understand most are not reimbursed for their time, at least not to begin with, though many accept donations. I am finding it frustrating that the themes don’t integrate well with the plugins or the plugins don’t integrate with the themes. I am using this basic theme for now, it’s the default theme that comes with WordPress. It seems to work with the two plugins I am struggling with at this point. I am resigned to the fact that I will have to build my own theme or tweak some else’s. The way I figure, if I comb through pages and pages of code to tweak an existing theme, I might as well take this default theme and tweak it to my liking. Then I only have to credit WordPress. In addition to the theme design, I will need to to tweak at least one of the plugins. The plugin has a few issues with the theme I’d like to use inside of that theme. How’s that for random. As of midnight, I have eliminated the annoying green bar thanks to a search of the support forums. Now I just have to adjust the background of the template or ignore the gray/white until I change it.

On the fun front, Verizon said they were letting me out of my contract since they have absolutely horrible service here. They are aware of the level of cell coverage and have no plans to change it. In fact, they purposefully put up a tower or two so that their customers would no longer be in roam with the stronger towers around. I received my bill today indicating that they are charging me for breaking the contract, even though I have no coverage. We’ll have a discussion about it tomorrow. I am disappointed in their customer service as of late, which is a shame because I had previously been a loyal customer for the last 6 or 7 years.