The whole concept in my opinion is to not really think about what you are writing in as much as make sure you are. A practice to create a habit, a habit to create a skill, a skill to replace a practice.

The opportunity to delve into your own creativeness simply occurs on its own as the thoughts start to flow freely and easily. A great idea or an insightful bon mots are just some of the potential you can, and will, discover.

There will always be more that can be written and there are never-ending streams of ideas to put to digital paper at least in the case of a blog. This method works just as well with the “old school” tools known as pen and paper, too. I believe with living in this digital age the environmental benefits of not using a resource that can better be used elsewhere is a good idea. I’m writing this on my iPhone, as is common for my Sunday posts, and it actually saves me edit time afterward with its auto-correct functionality … stop writing.

Thanks to Alex Frakking for suggesting this idea at the last WordPress Toronto Meetup gathering on August 21, 2010 … just another of the many benefits of the group.

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

The turnout was quite good with a peak attendance of 15 people. This was another summer workshop session with no agenda or scheduled topics for discussion.

Once again there were many new faces and several returning members as well. We solved some issues, shed light on others, and added insights to ideas being formulated … or in others words a very successful Meetup in my opinion.

Although the concept of more than one monthly meeting is still left up in the air and we did not sort out a major speaker or idea to have for the September Meetup, I believe the group in general would benefit from short presentations on a regular basis.

Andy McIlwain put forward the idea of discussing how to generate content for a blog taking into consideration the general audience that would be visiting and reading it.

I am suggesting as a possible follow-up presentation of what can done afterward, such as using plugins to measure the traffic being generated by what content.

Alex Frakking suggested the premise of a short introduction period followed by some social interactions and then the presentations would be a good general agenda.

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

For some additional reading you can follow this link to Matt’s post on the WordPress Blog.

All of the sites I am involved with, or manage, have been successfully updated to this latest version of WordPress.

If you are having any troubles, concerns or issues please contact us at BuyNowShop.com for additional assistance through our premium WordPress Services.

Have you blogged today?

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

... as presented at the WordPress Toronto Meetup Group May 2010 meeting ...

The 10 steps to go from having no domain to a BuddyPress MultiSite installation:

Presentation Slides: 10 Steps to BuddyPress MultiSite (73)

1. Register (or choose) a domain; and, choose a web host if needed.
2. Start downloading WordPress 3.0 or greater.
3. Enable “Wildcard DNS“.
4. Create a database and assign a user for your WordPress installation.
5. Upload WordPress.
6. Start the WordPress installation.
7. Read this page thoroughly: http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network!
8. Add define ('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true); to wp-config.php
9. Go to your Dashboard (or refresh the page).
   • Under Tools | Network (now available from above step)
   • Choose your settings; click install.
     • Follow the directions on the page to modify wp-config.php and .htaccess
10. Install the BuddyPress plugin; activate it; and, choose a BuddyPress friendly theme.

Your BuddyPress is Ready!

Enjoy!

NB: These steps are based on my experiences using HostGator Web Services, other web hosting services may vary in their requirements.

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

The location is the Swan & Firkin at 2205 Bloor Street West in the Bloor West Village.

I am expecting the same great group of people as well as a great discussion on topics of interest related to WordPress, blogging, et cetera.

See you there …

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

I left home about an hour before the scheduled meeting was to start. Most people who know me also know I often get lost, sometimes by chance often by choice as I like to check out new places and areas. One of the best ways to learn a little about an area is to start by getting lost in it.

I arrived at High Park about 30 minutes later. I do not recall being inside the park but I am sure I have been there before … maybe. I drove up Colborne Lodge Drive as the Google map showed a fairly easy and clear route to the Grenadier Restaurant in the middle of the park. Less than five minutes later, about a quarter of the way in, the northbound side of the road ended?! Having reviewed maps of the area (and having a print out with me) I thought … No problem, I will just go a little further east and take Parkside Drive and enter the park from the east side.

I drove out of the park; turned left on The Queensway; and, headed east looking for Parkside … I didn’t see it. I chose Sunnyside Avenue and headed north thinking I can turn around somewhere and head back west looking for Parkside … or some other route into the park. I drove around the block that St. Joseph’s Health Centre sits on and ended back on The Queensway heading west. I found Parkside … as I drove over its underpass.

No worries, I thought to myself, I will just drive back to Colborne Lodge Drive turn south and head back along Lakeshore Blvd W to Parkside and be on my way … it was closed for construction to eastbound traffic. I believed at this point I had managed the lost phenomenon! I drove a little further east along Lakeshore and there was a turn-around to head back west, which I took; and, as I was heading west trying to sort out the next approach I saw that Parkside was open to westbound traffic and proceeded north to High Park Blvd.

I entered the park and arrived at our meeting place at just before 1:45PM … this was a truly great starting experience. I got lost(?) and I still arrived early. I walked into the restaurant and looked around. It was busy. Lots of people in the park and a good deal taking advantage of the restaurant’s good food and warmth. I did not see any particular person or group that looked like our Meetup members immediately so I started walking through the restaurant looking for a potentially familiar face, or sign. I notice there was a more formal dining area, still causal, but a maitre’d podium with a “Please wait to be seated” sign drew me closer.

Craig Taylor, the organizer, was waiting to be seated … and so we began. We were followed by five more people and the meeting lasted for well over two hours. We discussed various WordPress related topics and sorted out some ideals for future meetings. The attendees (in an order following how we were seated around the table):

• Craig Taylor
• Chris O’Brien
• Martin H
• Joel but you can call me Joe
• Joel’s +1 (my apologies for not getting your information for this post)
• Alex Frakking
• Daria Sukman
• Edward Caissie

To join the group, just follow this link: http://www.meetup.com/WPToronto/

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

I have looked at today as my New Year’s Day for longer than I can remember. There have been years I was introspective; some years were open and exciting; other years passed uneventfully; but, this year … this year starts a new decade!

I see myself continuing in my works with WordPress. I find it interesting; I enjoy delving into and explore its functionality; and, I see it as something to transition with into the future.

I plan to get back to writing, too. Maybe just more blogging, or maybe I will get to that book I have always dreamed of penning.

The imagination is a remarkable place, one without boundaries, waiting to be explored. A great story is only the road map to get you started.

Some interesting items to note from January 14, 1966:

• It was a Friday.
• It was celebrated as New Year’s Day by those following the Julian calendar.
• French-born American Trappist monk Thomas Merton wrote in a letter: “The best way to solve the problem of rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s is to have nothing that is Caesar’s.”
• David Bowie released his first record (Can’t Help Thinking About Me)

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

I am suggesting the twitter hash tags: #wpto (WordPress Toronto) and/or #wptomu (WordPress Toronto Meetup) for following …

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

This WordCamp is being held at the Centennial College Student Centre

941 Progress Avenue (e. of Markham Rd. and s. of Hwy. 401)
Toronto, ON, M1G 3T8, CANADA!

Here is a short link for sharing the location: http://tinyurl.com/wcto2010map (opens a Google map)

From the WordCamp web site:

WordCamp is a conference that focuses on everything WordPress. WordCamps are informal, community-organized events that are put together by WordPress users like you. Everyone from casual users to core developers participate, share ideas, and get to know each other. WordCamps are open to WordPress.com and WordPress.org users alike.

I plan on attending this year’s WordCamp Toronto, are you?

© 2010, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.

First, I do not make New Year’s resolutions. I do not feel it necessary to wait for a specific day to make a change in my life, or start a new venture, or … live.

It was in May of this year that I decided to start developing and designing with WordPress. I had been blogging for a few years; I like to work with graphics; I enjoy resolving issues with web sites; and, WordPress was an accessible platform. It seemed a natural progression to actually focus my attention on it and get to work becoming part of the community.

June 4, 2009 was my WordPress New Year’s day. That was the day I saw the WordPress Themes Team approve my popular Desk Mess Mirrored theme. I still use it at BuyNowShop.com the site I use for focused WordPress related activities. August 15, 2009 I committed my first plugin to the WordPress Plugins repository. BNS Login is used on every blog I manage, and I have even incorporated it into a couple of themes, too.

As I look back and see what I have accomplished with WordPress this past year, five publicly available themes and seven publicly available plugins, I can only look forward and believe there is more.

There is more that can be done.
There is more that will be done.
There is more I will do!

That is not a resolution, resolutions can be broken.
That is a promise, and promises I do not break.

© 2009, Edward Caissie. All rights reserved.