unsweetened.ca

Wrangling Wordpress–need help

As many of you know I’m doing some Wordpress work and I’m bumping heads with the same issue over and over again… so I’m turning to my very smart, very resourceful and very helpful wordpress friends who I’m happy to suck up to in order to get help with the bane of my existence – CATEGORIES!

Here’s the thing: I want a predictable way to know which category is going to show up dominate for a post if I assign 2 categories. Clarification: which category will be used in permalink if 2 are assigned.

Wordpress sucks at this and seems to be aggressively inconsistent or at least if it's consistent I can't figure out the logic.  (I will concede that it’s possible I suck, but my math degree does imply I have some skill in the logic area. (Math degree → logic skilz, Math degree spelling skilz)

Restructuring Unsweetened.ca

The Categories are taking over this blog! 

While I will refrain from any #Occupy-type jokes or metaphors, I’ve realized that the categorization of unsweetened.ca is a mess! 

How do you guys find anything?!? 

So it’s time for a little restructuring at unsweetened.ca and I’m hoping you can help by telling me the 3 topics you read about on this blog. 

They don’t have to be the topics you like just 3 topics I write about and you read about. Though if they aren’t topics you like please tell me that and perhaps include a couple of topics you would enjoy more and/or think should get more attention.

If you are feeling inspired feel free to come up with catchy new categories names for them too.  Naming is not my strong suit!

Thanks!

Here’s a quick poll to get you thinking, but please add your own thoughts:

Almost Famous Competition

I am almost famous.

Famous enough that people I've never met will stop me in the airport to say: "aren't you Alexa Clark?"

But not famous enough to get free plane rides.

Famous enough to have a stalker

But not famous enough that they know they are my stalker.

Famous enough to be considered as a guest judge in the S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef's Competition.

But not famous enough to be invited, just invited to compete.

Perhaps I should back up a little, and make this a lot less about me.

What Comforts You?

What did your mommy or daddy used to make you when you were sick at home? 
And if you have them, what do you make for your kids?

As per my last post, I’m home sick, and a little thought on twitter inspired conversation about what we were given when we were home sick:

alexaclark: Why does it seem SO wrong to eat toast slathered w/ butter & covered in white sugar yet add a little cinnamon it is instantly comfort food?

ccath: @alexaclark Cinnamon toast! It never fails to comfort me as it was a childhood treat for me. When I was sick over Xmas last year and my mum was visiting she even offered to make it for me :)

alexaclark: .@ccath It's funny, I don't think I *have* comfort food when people ask - certainly not the way other people crave KD or chicken soup. But I totally forgot about cinnamon toast until I was snagging "sickie supplies" on the way home Friday. mmmm cinnamon toast!

alexaclark: .@ccath when I was sick mom made me flat ginger ale, #neocitran and moved me into her big bed #sickday

 

wellred: @alexaclark We got flat ginger ale too. Saltines. Not much else, as dad never helped mom clean up if we barfed. He provided hugs though.

 

finalfashion: Hot lemonade with fresh ginger and honey. RT @alexaclark When you were sick at home what did your mom and/or dad make you?

 

destiniya: @alexaclark an indian version of congee w/ basmati, green mung beans, clove, cinnamon, ginger. eaten w/ natural yogurt #comfortfood #sickday

Rickster_CDN: @alexaclark hot rum toddy for me.

 

 

So… When you were sick at home what did your mom and/or dad make you? Inspired by cinnamon toast and @ccath?

How Do You Do It?

Every so often I get bogged down in tools.  Not hammers and screwdrivers but technologies tools that promise the world and deliver, well, mostly a monthly ding on the credit card.

Since watching my roommate Keith design and redesign study organizing processes, methods & charts during university, I’ve been kind of addicted to trying out new and sexy organisation tools.  Over the years, I’ve tried the DayTimer, the index card and the file folders. I’ve used a Psion, a Palm and a smartphone. I’ve incorporated Gantt Charts, To Do lists, a forest of sticky pads and many many online planning, project and task management systems.

I’ve talked to many entrepreneurs about both the need and the eternal search for the perfect system. 

Now with our new office, I’m ready to start fresh with something clean, efficient and effective.

So rather than go through another round of testing all the solutions out there, I’m turning to your for your advice:  What to is your go to system for keeping on top of your projects and life? 

Tool, device, method, process, software – all are up for discussion.

What do you use and how do you use it?

[if you read this on f*book or another social network, please add your answer to my blog so we can share ALL responses.]

The Smell of Hot Pavement

The smell of hot pavement makes me crave a new skipping rope.  A brand new, pink plastic, skipping rope.  I can feel myself stretching it, my right foot holding it on the ground while I pull up as hard as I can on both handles.

I can feel myself swinging and skipping and tripping and looking around to see if anyone notices. Hoping no one did.  Stopping to stretch the rope a little if there was anyone watching, as if the 1/4 inch give was what caught up my feet and not my winter of unused skipping muscles.  Stretch, stretch.

Then starting all over again.  Back and forth. Forth and back. skip, stumble, skip, skip, stumble, stretch, stretch, skip, skip, stumble.  Until I can skip the whole block without getting out of rhythm.

All sensation triggered by the smell of hot pavement.

Dad says that for him the smell triggers memories of new lacrosse sticks.

Where are you transported when you smell the sun on the pavement?

photo - lili skipping - thanks to: phitar

Technorati Tags: smell, spring, skipping rope, childhood, pink skipping rope, lacrosse, memory, scent memory, play

I Read My Email Upside Down

I've done it all my life
It make time feel funny
But it minimizes strife.

I'm sitting at my desk, going through my email and reading 3 nearly identical suggestions to the same query.  Don't get me wrong, they are the same suggestions I would make, it's just that I already know they've been made because I read my email Last-In-First-Read, instead of First-In-First-Read.

That means I've read the last email in the conversation thread first... so I can skip reading those other emails.  If a reply is still warranted, I can send one reply to the entire conversation hopefully adding value or clarification to the suggestions already made. (Or just skip it and move onto the next, last, email.)

Cool New Blog Toy

MyfriendisKate just pointed me towards this cool new little blog widget - post reach's ClickComments.

It adds a set of icons that let you vote/comment on your opinion of a post.  You can add just the positive icons - (cool)(fun)(insightful)(great find); but I decided to include the negative ones too... (fell asleep) (I'm confused) and of course(I disagree) - which between you and me looks more like (this post is crap!)

 

post reach says:

ClickComments makes it easier for your readers to express
    their thoughts and appreciation with just one click.

ClickComments keeps your readers on your blog longer
  by suggesting your other blog posts that will interest them

So I've decided to add it and see if either of those statements are actually true.  Besides, I like cool new toys and blog widgets are the easiest, cheapest toys to play with these days.

Let's see if anyone clicks the icons, and see if it will help you "find other blog posts that will interest" you.

What do you think of this post.

Recent CEOT Posting

• What Are Your Must Try Dishes In Ottawa?
  CEOT is building the list of 100 must try dishes in Ottawa and 20 spots have been reserved for your suggestions. An active discussion is underway in the comments section - check it out!
  (tags: ottawa cheapeatsottawa bestof food ceot restaurants)
• Shawarma Debate - Chicken or Beef?
  Out of the Top 100 Dishes discussion, we've got a little side discussion started on which is better Chicken Shawarma or Beef Shawarma.
  (tags: shawarma ottawa food wraps handfood chicken beef cheapeatsottawa fastfood ceot)

The Generous December Group Writing Project

Kate, of Baby Lune, is running a blogging contest and the winners are your favourite charities.

The best new blog post about your favourite charity, social cause or helpful organization will garner a donation to the charity you are talking about.  Just add a comment to Kate's post with a link to your post and you are entered.

"Tell me, and our readers, why you believe your special organizations are helping to make the world a better place. Tell us why you support them and why we should too."

Kate adds "Write your post to inspire others to take an interest, make an effort, volunteer their time, show their support or to give. Naturally, you should also link to the organization’s web site and their contact information. "

Deadline: Dec 19th @ 11:59pm

Kate has done a write up on the submissions so far which include the Steven Lewis Foundation, Save-a-pet, YWCA, Operation Kid Comfort. Continue reading here...

 

What's your favourite charity?

Technorati Tags: blogging, bloggers, contest, generous december group writing project, baby lune, kate baggott, charities, charity, social cause