So WHY do I keep coming back to Wordpress and suggest you try it too?

1. Anyone can publish content to the site with almost no experience. This includes uploading photos and now, even creating photo albums. You can even publish via email and phone. I tell people, ‘If you can use basic Microsoft Word, you can use Wordpress.”
2. It’s the #1 blog/CMS software on the internet and is free and open source. (This means it’s probably more secure, standards compliant, and better tested) This also means support is readily available at any time from any number of places.
3. Can you say ‘PUSH BUTTON UPGRADES!!’   The newest versions can update the blog software on your server, the plug-ins, and even themes via a few clicks.
4. It supports themes and plug-ins that can be installed with just a few clicks. (Your existing work will still be there!)
5. It’s Search Engine Optimized. Did you know Google is ‘Wordpress aware’?
6. It can automatically archive your post if used as a blog. (only displays the most current content)
7. Wordpress has the flexibility to be used as a static site, an E-Commerce site, a photo journal, almost any thing you can throw at it.

So far I’ve done a photo blog layout, a simple e-commerce site (with secure checkout via Pay-Pal), a ‘clone’ of another existing site (in function and very close to appearance as well – This was surprisingly easier than I first thought), and tinkered with more plug-ins than I can count. Tag clouds, local weather, e-commerce, news readers.. they are all available.
The other thing for me is speed. I can purchase a hosting package with a domain name in the morning, install Wordpress, add a nice flexible theme, add about 3-4 plug-ins and within 24 hours I can have a site that’s being indexed and linked via Google, Yahoo, and found by users on the net. I know, because I’ve personally done it. I don’t know of any other package out there that can give you this flexibly, so unless something drastic happens in the CMS world. I’ve got the feeling that this time I’m staying with Wordpress!

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Well tonight I’ve hooked up the blog here to a Facebook application called RSS Graffiti. It allows post from my blog to automatically appear in my wall post. I’ve already got David Goldstein’s Add to Facebook plug-in running on the blog so anyone can click one button and the blog entry will appear in FB, but I’m SO LAZY I was looking for something even easier. So far this application is very close to my ideal. There are several apps already on FB that do the same thing but a couple of things about this one caught my eye:

• It can work on Groups as well as individual pages. So far no other RSS feed reader advertises they can do this. Only catch I’ve seen is you do need to be a group Admin to do this.
• You can set the start time for the feeds. Not only that, but to choose the date it actually pulls the post so you can set it to start on one particular article and upload all the post from that date on. Too cool!
• Since you CAN filter your feeds in Wordpress [example: http://www.mind-threads.com/category/<category name>/feed] you can have multiple feeds for multiple pages/groups.
• Support: The developers seem to be on the ball and active. The ’start time’ above was actually a suggestion from users they implemented. Looks good!

So far the only down side for me is it doesn’t do the cool little boxes for you page you see on other applications. I’m not worried however, the developers are aware people are asking for this and I expect to see it soon. Well, if all goes as planned this post will appear in my Facebook feed some time within the next 15 minutes. (Yes, that’s a configuration option as well!) Thanks RSS Graffiti!

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You’ll probably need to change the feed type to Top News. This is required to turn an application back on.

Scroll down to the bottom of the newsfeed column and select Edit Options from the right hand side.

Simply select the feed you want to turn back on!

Again, simple.. but why they chose to have it in a different screen than the other I have no clue..

If you have other questions on FB how to, please ask I’m no expert but I’ll try to help if I can.

Thanks, Gene

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http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_10979261223

The part before the numbers tells Facebook to ONLY show the application identified by the number and of course the number is the application ID assigned by Facebook to a program or game.
Once you click on the link you can then bookmark it in your web browser. Then when you need to see just Mafia Wars or just Farmville, you can simply click on the pre-saved bookmark.

Simple and easy right! Here’s some links and numbers to help get you started on your on filtered bookmarks:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_10979261223 – Mafia Wars

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_102452128776 – Farmville

More application ID numbers:
Vampire Wars: 25287267406
Vampires Revenge: 159801140644
Vampires the Darkside: 133554205878
Castle Age: 46755028429
Cafeworld: 101539264719
Fishville: 151044809337
Island Paradise: 94483022361
Petville: 163576248142
Superpoke Pets: 29591742977
Yakuza Lords: 119201657847
Sorority Life: 8630423715
YoVille: 21526880407
Fish World: 100354007223
Restaurant City: 43016202276
Cafe World: 101539264719

If you don’t know your applications ID, look in your newsfeed.
When you hover the mouse over the applications name, you should see the ID number in the bottom status bar of your web browser.. Just jot it down and use it as shown above.

If you’ve enjoyed these tips, I’d be glad to hear it and do more!

Gene

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Step 1 – Make sure your feed is set to Most Recent and that the application you want to block or filter is somewhere in the list.

Step 2 – Hover the mouse over the corner of the feed you want to filter out and you’ll see the ‘Hide’ box appear. Click on it.

Step 3 – After you select ‘Hide’, Facebook will prompt you to hide the the application.

Step 4 – Just refresh the screen and you should now notice no more ?insert application name?!!! I’ve done this and it works quite well. I still get the invites (not as annoying) and all the other post by the user.. Thanks Facebook!

Look for my next post, I’ll show you what you need to do if you want to restore the feed you just hid!
Gene

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Click, click and I’m there.. This thing is a Kleenex box with golf cart wheels??
OK.. then I get to reading. I’m slowly recognizing a LOT of names.. Cadillac steering column, Momo steering wheel, Carrera shocks, Bert Transmission, Mazda Miata, Toyo Tires, Konig Wheels, Hawk break pads, Wilwood master cylinder, Vintage Air A/C, Sparco seats, and more.. you get the idea.. These are parts I’d like to have in MY car. All are top notch names.

Now, it’s not much to look at but geez.. after the entire read.. it’s a great engineering achievement none the less.

• 0-60 in 4 seconds!
• 1/4 mile at around 12 seconds and 120 MPH.
• Top speed around 135.
• Seats 2 with a few groceries.
• 40-60 mile range on lead acid (150 on Li-Ion), and pretty much charges anywhere.
• SCCA and NHRA roll cage.
• Rollover equivalent to Porsche 911 (National Safety 5 star)
• Carbon fiber body panels.

All this in a tiny 39″x8′-5″ package. Did I mention it’s tiny?? Found a pic with people so you get a good idea of it’s size.

Tango at a car show

OK.. so all this cool doesn’t come without cost. In this case it’s $121,000 US. That’s the basic ‘kit’ with the lead batteries. For another $25,ooo you can get the Li-Ion batteries. Takes about 8 hrs to assemble.

Now, would I buy one? Simple… No, I don’t have 121k! But if they were around 20k… probably. I commute 41 miles each day. Probably about the average?
Look at this for a shocker: Tango vs. Toyota Prius vs. Toyota  Corolla.
(100,000 miles including maintenance and gas at $2.50/gal)

Tango – $4,200
Prius – $6,947
Corolla – $8,718

This means you could pay back your Tango vs. Corolla in only about 27 years. Now you know why these new commuters aren’t that popular. But, you’d be using much less fuel (power plants do use fuel too you know), can smoke your neighbors car daily, and get a 10 year unlimited mileage warranty. Oh, and you pretty much can park anywhere you find a Honda Goldwing motorcycle parked. Oh, and if you really must get away.. there’s a tow behind generator! How’s that for cool! A few gallons along the way and you can travel the blue ridge like the rest of the leaf lookers.

I honestly must give these guys credit. It IS cool to me. Step down the performance a bit to increase range and then stamp them out like a Honda or GM product and I’d bet you could easily take over the foreign and domestic markets. Now with that said would I trade my T/A for it.. no. But for the daily grind it’d be a blast! Are you listening GM?? Make one of these for under 20k and I bet you’d sell them in Japan, Europe. and the US like hotcakes!

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