Aug/090
WordPress Shortcode for File Inclusion
I have a project that requires a lot of complex, yet static Pages in WordPress … think lots of tabular data with heavy CSS styling. This sort of content is best written in an external editor like Zend IDE or Dreamweaver and then dropped into WordPress.
However, if you’ve ever done this, testing the page as you develop it is a huge pain in the backside. It involves cutting and pasting from the editor to WP … saving and refreshing … make changes in the external editor … rinse and repeat.
Not fun. Not efficient.
The solution is fairly straightforward — keep these files static HTML and simply include them somehow in the page. I researched the available plugins and they all seemed like overkill which added overhead. Then, in WP IRC, Fris suggested writing a custom shortcode to do the heavy lifting. 90 minutes later, I have precisely what I need and a renewed respect for WordPress and the community supporting it.
For those interested, here is the code:
< ?php
// SHORTCODE FOR STATIC FILE INCLUDE
function sc_static_html ($atts) {
// Extract Shortcode Parameters/Attributes
extract( shortcode_atts( array(
'subdir' => NULL,
'file' => NULL
), $atts ) );
// Set file path
$path_base = ABSPATH."wp-content/inc_static/";
$path_file = ($subdir == NULL) ? $path_base.$file : $path_base.$subdir."/".$file;
// Load file or, if absent. throw error
if (file_exists($path_file)) {
$file_content = file_get_contents($path_file);
return $file_content;
}
else {
trigger_error("'$path_file' file not found", E_USER_WARNING);
return "FILE NOT FOUND: ".$path_file."SUBDIR = ".$subdir."FILE = ".$file."
";
}
}
add_shortcode('static_html', 'sc_static_html');
?>
USE CASE
[static_html subdir="testdir" file="dirtest.html"]
Jan/0924
Tell Me Your Wordpress 2.7 Must Haves, Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Dear WordPress Nation,
I need your help. I pour through the WP Themes and WP Plugins listings looking for the best of breed, but there is something missing … opinion based on informed experience. In other words, you.
So, based solely on your own experience, add a comment to this thread which includes the following:
- Name of your #1 must-have plugin.
- Link to said plugin.
- In a nod to Twitter (sort of) tell me why you cannot live without the aforementioned plugin in 140 WORDS (not characters, hence the “sort of”) or less.
This contest will run through February 15th at midnight. By February 22nd, I will select one winner who will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Easy-peezy, no?
A few parameters for you …
- I know and use many of the most common and popular plugins for SEO, Twitter and the like. So, I am really looking for something out-of-the-ordinary. If it makes me go “Hmmm, I never thought I’d want that on my blog, but now I MUST have it!” … you have a good chance of winning.
- You cannot be the author of the plugin. No SPAM or shills please.
- Themes will be considered as well, but they better be pretty special to win.
- All Plugins or Themes must currently work with WordPress 2.7.
- You can only list one plugin/theme in one comment. Multiple entries in any form will be disqualified.
- Be sure to provide your email in the comment so I can contact you if you win. I promise not to SPAM you.
So there you have it. Knock my socks off, if not my pants (though no one really wants to see the latter but my wife). ;^D
Peace,
Doug
Jan/090
PhotoSafariNoobs – Expedition Update
PhotoSafariNoobs.com, my project with John Hawkins, Todd Huish and Andrew Minerd, is coming along swimmingly. For additional details, check out my latest post over at the official expedition blog. Based on early feedback, our route has slightly changed to include Ouray, CO; often called the “Switzerland of America” for its majestic alpine beauty. Incidentally, it is also the home of the FJ Summit every summer! As I intend to go to the Summit in 2009, this will be a great, snowy, if not totally dry, run. Our updated route can be seen below.
Peace,
Doug
Jan/098
Las Vegas Beer and Blog – Episode 3
The Abyss - An Imperial Stout from Deschutes Brewery
Are you one of the cool kids? Want to be? Then blog and drink beer. Sound too simple? The Las Vegas Weekly doesn’t think so. In fact, they love the idea. Want a little background? Peep here.
As for tonight (Episode 3), it was my first time in attendance. I’ve been trying to get there the last two weeks and, tonight, I arrived about 45 minutes later than planned. Apparently, John Hawkins was plotting to have the group Twitter-Bomb me with “@dougdaulton – You are an a-hole!” That would have been funny, I kind of wish I had been another 10 minutes late.
It was good to spend a little more time with Dave Courvoisier, Laura Coronado and Sara Mooney; new friends from WordCamp Las Vegas. And, as is the intent of the shindig, I had the pleasure of putting faces to names/blog/tweets for Bill Cody (Vegas Bill), Brad West, Julie Vasquez, Lori Miller (PokerVixen), Michael Wilder, Sarah (408Down), Sharon Paquette, Sheryl Loch and last, but not least Warren Whitlock.
I also met David Lander of Brass Taurus Productions. They produce Detective Douchey, a web-based sitcom about bumbling Vegas cops. As I said to to David, “I wonder how Metro feels about their show.” :^D
As has been widely reported, The Freakin’ Frog (our venue) had an outstanding beer selection. I started with an old standard … the Guinness/Bass Black and Tan. I finished with Deschutes’ The Abyss, an outstanding imperial stout which Just Julie decried as “hoity-toity” beer. That said, I’ll forgive Julie. She introduced me to the X-Shot, a cool little gadget for point-n-shoot cameras.
While grabbing my “hoity-toity” beer, I saved Jenny (fellow Cincinnatian and dark beer aficionado … must be the German heritage) from the amorous clinging of “Creepy Guy”. Jenny repaid the favor by not making me feel old when, after comparing notes on our Cincinnati roots, we discovered that I graduated from high school the year she was born. Thanks Jenny. That was sweet of you. Now, where’d I leave that cane …
Speaking of “Creepy Guy”, he apparently became a sensation sometime after I left. I gather he drank more and became more creepy. It is alleged that photo and video evidence of said creepiness is making its way through the interwebs, but I have yet to confirm this rumor.
Finally, John Hawkins told me the story of “another thing I can’t ‘unknow!” (catchphrase courtesy of Todd Huish). I could put that quote in context, but trust me you don’t want to know. As it is, I am looking for something with which to scratch out my mind’s eye.
Hawk tells me "another thing I can't unknow!"
Well, I suppose that is all I have to offer. If I missed anyone in my wrap-up, you have my heartfelt apologies. For the formal report, check out the LV Beer and Blog … Blog. Thanks to Jackie for getting and keeping this train rolling.
Peace,
Doug
Jan/091
Las Vegas Media Guild 2009 Reboot
While today marked an amazing moment in history, tonight marked the 2009 kickoff/reboot of the Las Vegas Media Guild (LVMG). Started last spring, LVMG initially began as a way to connect local members of the Pixel Corps. However, the more I learned about the Pixel Corps, the more I realized that this group needed to reach more than just the film/video/vfx crowd. So, I expanded LVMG to include all Las Vegas-based creatives, including actors, writers, graphic artists and others.
Early meetings were held in local restaurants and bars. While drinks and appetizers were great, the various settings were best for socializing but not for real professional networking. After the great success of our August meeting at Mac-Tek, I started looking for a permanent, low-noise home for LVMG. Work and life got in the way and I could not nail down a venue and schedule until December. So, we put our meetings off until the “reboot” that happened tonight.
Our meetings will now occur every third Tuesday of the month in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Las Vegas Library. For a complete schedule and directions, please visit our events calendar.
Tonight’s Meeting
Welcome
I kicked things off with a little history of the LVMG, most of which can be found above.
Introductions
Next, we did a round of intros for the room. Everyone took a moment to say who they are, what their craft is and what they hope to get out of the meeting. This part of the meeting always feels like the beginning of an AA/NA meeting, but I think we may have found a solution to that (see below).
Open Discussion
Next, we opened the floor to a discussion of the LVMG meeting format and plans for possible projects. There were a lot of great ideas and the basic format for future meetings look like this:
- 7:05-7:15 PM – Welcome :: A brief hello and update to get things formally started.
- 7:15-7:30 PM – Profiles :: 2-3 brief presentations by group members who introduce themselves and showcase their skills/portfolio. This replaces the painful round of intros.
- 7:30-8:00 PM – Presentation 1 :: A more formal presentation by one or more group members. This can take the form of training, demo, description of services, etc.
- 8:00-8:30 PM – Presentation 2 :: Same structure/purpose as Presentation 1 but different topic & presenters.
- 8:30-8:50 PM – Open Discussion and Portfolio/Reel Review :: The free-form “mingle” portion of the evening. As needed, we may have a formal LVMG discussion in this slot. Folks with portfolios/reels may feel free to make them available for review at this time
- 8:50-9:00 PM – Wrap-Up :: We need to clear the room by 9:00 PM, so !’ll start playing bouncer around this time. :^D
- 9:15- ?:?? PM – Libations Elsewhere :: The larger group is encouraged to connect after the formal meeting at their favorite nearby watering hole to keep the discussion flowing!
Blogging for Career Enhancement (Impromptu Presentation)
As an example of the sort of presentation one might give, I gave a brief overview of blogging for the uninitiated and discussed in detail how a good blog can be a useful tool for job-hunting and/or client recruitment. Tools discussed included Blogger, WordPress.com, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
With help from the group, I provided an overview of the aforementioned services and how they can be used to establish one’s professional presence online. Specifically, I recommended that one blog once a week on a subject which is central to their career path. Over time, this collection of posts will help them in the following ways:
- Google Rank – If set up correctly, the blog will organically associate their name with critical search term (aka keywords) used in their specific career path. For example, an illustrator could blog about cool brushes and tutorials for Adobe Illustrator.
- HR/Recruiter Review – The modern employee screening process often includes “googling” the potential employee. As one moves up the Google rankings, it helps them stand out in the hiring process. In addition, an established blog can underscore one’s status as a subject-matter expert and can become a resume item in and of itself.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn.com is simply the best business networking tool currently available on the web. It’s toolset is highly respected by employers, contractors, investors and just about anyone doing business on the web. Maintaining a current LinkedIn profile and linking to it from your blog can be a great asset for making new business connections.
- Twitter – To the uninitiated, Twitter is a hard thing to describe. Is it a microblog? A running discussion with 400 of your closest friends and business associates? Is it a big cocktail party where one “overhears” cool factoids and gleans bleeding edge information? is it THE medium for breaking news in the information age? In short, it is all of these and so much more. Everyone was encouraged to create a twitter account and follow one another.
- Online Presences :: For the record, here are the online presences of tonight’s attendees:
Other Tidbits
- We were fortunate to have Dave Courvoisier, KLAS anchor and local celebrity, stop by early in the meeting. Though he had to run, I asked Dave to speak briefly about the impact of new/social media on mainstream media. To paraphrase his response … “the future is now!” Dave is excited about social media and the way it is changing traditional media.
- Everyone is encouraged to participate in LVMG and not to wait for permission from me. If you have an idea for a topic or a presenter at our February meeting, act on it. Reach out to a possible speaker or write up presentation. Just shoot me an email to have it added to the schedule. When February fills up, we’ll schedule subsequent months well in advance. To that end, here is the preliminary February schedule.
- Profile 1 :: Volunteer Needed
- Profile 2 :: Volunteer Needed
- Profile 3 :: Volunteer Needed
- Presentation 1 :: Adobe After Effects (Presenter To Be Determined)
- Presentation 2 :: Brand Yourself Online (Doug Daulton) – This will be a more formal version of the impromptu presentation given tonight. I am happy to fill the slot with something else that presents itself in the interim.
- Starting in February, we will begin recording monthly LVMG meetings and posting them over at LVMG.org.
- An LCD projector and screen should be available to presenters at future LVMG meetings. Free WIFI will be available as well.
- Everyone is encouraged to join LinkedIn and Twitter. After doing so, please add these contact points to your profile on LVMG.org.
- Finally, a few folks asked about the book I mentioned at the end of the evening. It was Rebel without a Crew by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Whether or not you plan to make films, it is a great book about getting off your keister and following your dreams.
- UPDATE 1 :: As suggested by Stevie Puckett, we now have a LinkedIn group. Join now!
- UPDATE 2 :: Here is the contact information for the recruiter I mentioned last night.
Sonia Petkewich
Las Vegas Business Development Specialist
Phoenix Staff, Inc
6255 McLeod Drive, Suite 26
Las Vegas, NV 89120
702.566.3694 office
702.891.9754 fax
www.phoenixstaff.com
OK. So one down. Eleven more to go in 2009, with lots of stuff happening in between. I look forward to working with you all throughout the year.
Peace,
Doug
Jan/091
PhotoSafariNoobs.com has been greenlit!
A project long in discussion now has been greenlit and given the name PhotoSafariNoobs.com.
Hawk, Huish and I will brave the frozen wilds of Southwestern Colorado in late February as we drive to WordCamp Denver in my FJ Cruiser 4×4. We are taking what should be a very scenic route which skirts just south of Telluride. Along the way, we will hone our photography skills and generally geek out. I have plans for some roadtrip-inspired tech tweaks to my rig. More details as the plan comes together.
For a little more history on the project, pop over to John Hawkins Unrated. And, to follow our exploits via Twitter, hit the #psn09 hashtag.
Now, I am off to follow the advice of Mostly Lisa (Bettany) and RTFM for my Canon 30D, then put that baby on Manual for the whole trip. I hope my glass can save me, it’s my only hope! :^D
Peace,
Doug
Jan/093
Las Vegas Can Haz Beer and Blog!
Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Fincher. Click photo to check out her travel blog!
Coming out of an outstanding WordCamp Las Vegas, the local blogging community is coming together to kick off more regular networking events within the local new media community. The first such event is Las Vegas Beer and Blog (LVBB)! Modeled off of the original from Portland, the LVBB will meet weekly at the Freakin’ Frog down near the UNLV campus.
Interested? Head on over and sign up! Leave a comment expressing your support and letting us know what evening works best for you. Then spread the word on your blog or in Twitter using the #bnblv hashtag!
Peace,
Doug
Jan/095
WordCamp Vegas – Day 1
So, I was a bit distracted by Twitter issues and could not live blog like I ‘d hoped. Happlily, the Twitter issue was resolved towards the end of the day, more on that in later post. On to my highlights …
State of the Word :: Matt Mullenweg
Matt rocked it out and dropped a couple of interesting teasers. First, WP 2.8 will focus on Themes. Look for similar auto-install features for Themes that we saw for Plugins in 2.7. Next, Wordpress Handbook is coming.
Though the Codex will still live, WP Handbook will be built in Docbook XML allowing the WP documentation to be managed like software. Why is that a big deal? Well, it means the docs can be written to suit a particular release without destroying the historical record. And, edits/corrections to current and past docs can be submitted and managed like bugs.
This means, Plugin and Theme developers can commit docs in the same format. This is huge for folks who use Wordpress for consulting clients because WP installs inventory the installed Themes/Plugins then could poll the WP Handbook’s Docbook XML and build a completely custom set of docs for the WP you’ve installed for your customers.
During the Q&A, I asked about the status of bbPress. Matt said to look for 1.0 at some point of 2009. Interestingly, Matt said that he considers bbPress to be better written than WP because he wrote it after he had learned a lot about coding.
On a humorous note, someone is constantly pinging Matt about bbPress status. Apparently, Matt has a bbPress “stalker”, but I swear it isn’t me. ;^D
how to run a blog with a staff of contributors :: Geoff Kleinman
Geoff offered a lot of great insights on the role of the editor in the blogosphere. As part of my plan involves a great deal collaboration, Geoff’s pragmatic insights were powerful and should bear fruit for me down the road. His is one presentation I am sure to watch again on the uStream. If you work with or supervise other creatives, I strongly suggest you do the same.
Beyond Beer and Blog: How Social Media Lit Up the Portland Tech Scene :: Aaron Hockley
Aaron set off far too many lightbulbs in my head. I’ll never turn them all off. From Ignite to Beer and Blog, I now have a few more social media pools into which I plan to dip my toes. Most powerful of Aaron’s insights – online social media is most powerful when it serves to bring people together in the real world. The “Legion of Tech” video was classic internet nerdery … and I say that with much respect and affection. Oh, and I now want to visit Portland in the worst way!
10 Steps to Search Engine Optimize your Wordpress Blog :: Michael Dorausch
Michael had a great presentation regarding SEO and Wordpress. As SEO is a big part of what I do everyday, a lot of it was old hat for me. But, the audience was full of raw, new bloggers as well, so it was a perfect presentation for that crowd. And, I learned a couple of cool tricks along the way. Best of all, he got people in the crowd to sing “Hello Dolly”, including Lorelle, who can really belt out a tune!
Using Your Blog for Sales and Marketing :: Chris Brogan
Brogan is a freaking nut! Again, this is said with respect and affection. After Blogworld Expo 2008, I followed him on Twitter based solely on John Hawkins’ reccomendation. For 4 months, I found Chris’ tweets interesting and useful, but I did not get why John had such a bromance for the guy. Now, I get it.
While providing a lot of useful insights, Chris had the crowd laughing and eating out of his hand. He is a gifted and entertaining storyteller, who happens to be a skilled marketer that “gets” the power of online media. While it may sound trite, his through-line was “follow your passion”. If you blog about things that are meaningful to you, your audience will find you.
Another gem, “learn from the best and then copy them”. In particular, he bemoaned the lazy, stock list of interview questions he is always asked. When we have Larry King and Charlie Rose available on Youtube, Tivo and Boxee, why wouldn’t we watch and learn how to interview from them?
This was particularly interesting because I’ve been noodling doing an independent Master’s degree. Meaning, setting a curriculum for myself and learning everything I would get in an Online Media MFA on my own. Chris Brogan pointed me at an entirely new source for faculty! W00t!
Finally, if anything will stick with me from his presentation, it will be the definition of callback. Deftly used by Mr. Brogan in his presentation, I am working callbacks into my speaking arsenal from here out.
By the Numbers: a look at stats and what they mean to you :: Lorelle VanFossen
Lorelle spent the first half of her time deconstructing a wide range of popular web analytic metrics. Nothing escaped her intense scrutiny as she introduced us all to the concept of “distracting stats” and the power of horse sex. Frankly, she shook the foundations of my understanding of web analytics … in a good way. The second half of the presentation was an in-depth demo of the stat pr0n application that is Woopra. Thanks for the beta key!
You’ve failed? Learn Why! :: Jim Kukral
Jim Kukral is the biggest failure on the interwebs, or so he wants you all to believe. I won’t be able to do the presentation any real justice, so it it is best to catch the uStream for yourself. Suffice to say that Kukral does not deliver a simple rah-rah speech filled with platitudes. Like the Mike Rowe speech I posted earlier, Kukral preaches a “get off your ass and work” approach to success. He gave me a lot of serious food for thought, all of which will likely lead to future posts when I’ve had time to digest them more fully.
All this from a Browns fan. Go figure! Oh, he also introduced us all to the word “shmoosh-rags”. Good times!
Now, I would be remiss if I did not once again say CONGRATS! to my friend, buddy, pal John Hawkins who had the vision, the will and the drive to make WordCamp Las Vegas happen. Hawk … thanks for adding a stellar event to the Vegas Tech/Social Media calendar.
In addition to the great speakers, I reconnected with friends Carl Szeibert, Todd Huish and John’s lovely wife Chris. And, for the first time in five years, I finally made it on Todd’s photoblog!
Until tomorrow …
Jan/105
2009 – The year I became a father and not just a parent.
2009 was a good year; full of change, growth and opportunity — most of which began and ended with family. While Kelly and I welcomed our son Finn the year before, 2009 was when he moved from being a cute, new baby into being a little person with a big personality and stubbornly independent streak. When he began walking, everything changed. Biologically, we became parents when he was born. I think that we began parenting, with a capital P, when he began to walk. Everything moved from spit-up and poopy diapers to the hard, but infinitely rewarding, work of teaching our little man the lessons he would need to one day take his place in the world.
As one might imagine, this raises all sorts of questions in one’s mind, not the least of which is “How do I want my son to view me?” Equally important is the dual realization that “I don’t know everything.” and “I will probably fail more often than I would like.” Put it all together and you have all the makings of a cocktail of self-doubt chased by an antacid shooter.
But a funny thing happened on the way to insanity, the world slowed down and a Zen-like calm descended. Accepting that I would not bat 1.000 as a parent removed that unattainable goal from my list and allowed me to focus my efforts on batting .333 and peppering it with doubles, triples and the occasional home run. Any baseball fan will tell you that .333 is pretty darn good. Actually, a real baseball fan will tell you that .333 is still a pretty lofty goal, but it is attainable, with the right combination of discipline and hard work; mixed with a little luck and talent.
From within my new found Zen state, I took time for a little reflection and introspection. Being a parent will do that to you. Coming down from my intellectual mountain, I came to a couple of realizations which were meaningful, at least to me.
1. I won’t live forever.
Most of us realize this in our early thirties. I’ve known this in a more or less concrete way since I was in my early twenties and had a gun in play during a home visit back in my days as investigator for Children’s Services. Ever since, I’ve lived my life with measured … not reckless … abandon. I’ve dreamed big and achieved critical, if not commercial, success in several business and personal endeavors. I’ve taken chances with my career that friends have considered unreasonably risky. And, on a couple of occasions, I’ve done some things that were flat buck wild and I am fortunate to live to tell the tale.
I regret little to none of this. As the saying goes, it made me who I am today and independent reports tell me that I am a decent guy with an interesting life. So, I’ll own my mistakes if the result is where I am today. But, I now understand why parents may choose to edit the stories of their life when conveying it to their children. My mistakes are mine, but I’d really rather they don’t become my son’s. And, now that I know firmly that life is finite, it makes me rethink my old decision-making process and retool it with my wife and current and future children firmly in mind. Every other realization that follows is derived from the fact that I am not immortal, at least not in body.
2. I am what I eat.
We all heard this in health class in grade school. And, back when I was a college athlete and martial arts instructor, I practiced it with relatively serious discipline. But in 2001, that all changed when I shut down my dojo and turned my attention to a new career in the sparkly wonderland that was the dotcom boom. Regular workouts and dietary discipline were soon replaced with 90 hour weeks and greasy diner and pizza joint fare. You don’t need to be a mentalist to guess where that took me. Put it together with a body long abused by contact sports and you have perfect storm for serious health risks when crossing the Rubicon into my 40s; just as I became a father for the first time.
So, this is where my son has probably saved my life. It took me the first 18 months of his life to get it through my thick skull that I had bad habits that needed to change. It took another 4 months for me to start to take serious action to correct the problem. Now, when I stumble (and I surely will) I think about seeing him graduate from college when I am 62. My dad did it when he was 46. So, 2010 is the year of exercise and eating right … not eating well.
3. Life is too dang short for drama. (See realization #1).
I have always been the guy with two or three active projects and two or three more in the pipeline. That all adds up to a lot of work. Most importantly, it adds up to a lot of time and that is time away from my family. This is made worse when the work is not something about which I am passionate and fully engaged. This realization actually happened in 2008, shortly before Finn’s arrival, but the positive pressure of parenthood turned that lump of coal into a shining diamond in 2009.
What I discovered is that I procrastinate more, and therefore use my time less efficiently, when working with skills I do not cherish on projects that light no fires in me. As a parent, there is no greater gift I can give my family than that of my time and full attention. Work that fulfills me is done with full attention and efficiency. Work that bores me is a time & energy vampire. So, 2010 is also the year I focus on the skills & abilities that make me jump out of bed itching to get to work. In theory, I’ll use my work day more efficiently and see less late nights and long weekends of work.
Almost as if on cue, early 2010 has put one or two really cool opportunities in my lap very early in the game. I cannot elaborate at the moment, but I’ll do so as plans firm up and the year progresses. I’ll tease you with this … 2009 is the year I embraced my role/nature as a storyteller. Funny how kids make you see your true nature — complete with warts and insecurities revealed. The beautiful thing is a child’s sense of wonder is a great salve for healing old wounds, forgetting old insecurities and embracing the promise that is life.
To close, I’ll let you know that blogging here (and elsewhere) is a major 2010 goal. By sharing a bit about my growth as a parent, person and professional (more or less in that order) , I hope to connect with others on a similar journey and share what wisdom we each have along the way.
Make 2010 Great!
Doug