Not only is a new (and hopefully improved) version of WordPress 2.5 available, WordPress.org has a new website design. Could this be a sign of good things to come with the new installation? The category and slow speed bugs fixed? Well, the only way to tell is to go ahead and download and install the bloody thing, right?
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The reason the WordPress PAD was off for a couple of weeks recently is because I was working on a new project dear to my heart. Oh, My! Oakland is a blog, directory and all around homage to the City of Oakland, where I live, work and play. Months and months ago I wanted to create a directory of Oakland businesses because I love Oakland and unlike other major and more organized surrounding cities like San Francisco, Oakland has a scattered web presence as far as websites dedicated to Oakland entertainment, information, business or anything for that matter outside of newspapers and official City of Oakland websites. A couple of weeks ago I decided to take the Oakland Photo Blog I created months back and expand it to a website completely devoted to promoting the positive in Oakland which includes a directory of other websites that are Oakland-centric. using a fabulous WordPress Directory Plugin that is truly impressive and customizable.
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On the Blog Herald yesterday there was an article about preparing a checklist before upgrading to WordPress 2.5. Now you’re probably wondering, isn’t WordPress at version 2.3.3 now? What happened to 2.4? Well, it got canceled, or rather delayed and then skipped over. Read more about WordPress 2.4 skipped to WordPress 2.5. Anyway, this got me to thinking about troubles I’ve been having with a recent installation of WP 2.3.3. A quite frustrating experience. Nonetheless, It got me thinking about how important it is to due more testing and creating your own checklists before launching blogs or regular websites when using third party open source software even as popular as WordPress. Something to think about, I think.

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One of many personal / business projects I have been working on is creating a business network for small business owners and self-employed individuals such as myself that works similar to BNI. I want this network to have an online presence, a members only secured area that requires password entry, and a home web page for anyone to view and learn about the network before requesting membership and access to the members only area. Initially I started with a Ning network account but wanted more control over what got displayed and how without too much hacking and also without hacking to pay for upgrades when otherwise Ning is free. Plus Ning has annoying adsense ads on the right (which I got rid of. ask me how). Well, I thought, WordPress is very extensible, I’m sure I can create my business network with WordPress by password protecting the WordPress blog installation and customizing the WordPress login screen.

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Another fabulous WordPress development. In July of 2007 WordPress launched WordPress Jobs at jobs.wordpress.net. Here you can find WordPress specific blog design and development work and place your own WordPress design and development projects you would like a WordPress designer or developer to do for you. WordPress Jobs has a simple and attractive interface and is easy to navigate through, just like WP itself. You can also subscribe to job feeds for all jobs or specific job categories. The categories available are general positions, WordPress blogger positions,  WordPress designer positions and WordPress programmer positions. And posting a job, as far as I can tell, is FREE. Well, what are you waiting for, go find a job or get a job done at WordPress Jobs.

This is a lovely new WordPress Theme, The Wind Cries Mary (fabulous name too!!) I recently found on Weblog Tools Collection. See demo.

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What can’t WordPress do??!! Scholar Press has a great WordPress Plugin that lets you manage a class using WordPress:

“ScholarPress Courseware enables you to manage a class with a WordPress blog. The plugin give you the ability to ad and edit a schedule, create a bibliography bibliography and assignments, and manage general course information. Designed primarily for use in higher ed courses, but could easily be adapted for other uses.”

Visit Scholar Press
Download the Scholar Press WordPress class management Plugin SP Courseware

Welcome back to Our Love Affair with WordPress. In last month’s Episode 3, we customized the Harmony WordPress theme for a fictitious bra-fitting business. In this final Episode of Part 4, before we move on to Part 5 in the series, I’ll cover how you can add a little finesse, searchability and optimization to your weblog once you have the blog design, layout and basic elements down. The following are a few enhancements to your WordPress blog (or blog-powered website) that will make your blog more dynamic, optimized and user-friendly.

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