Selecting “Manage” on your dashboard allows you to edit nearly everything on your blog.  The “Manage mode” can be thought of as the “editing mode” the manage tab provides tools to edit items on your blog.

Categories - can be anything you want them to be.  Use them to sort your posts into logical groups.  My categories are shown under “wylisa’s musings” on the right side of my blog, that vertical location on a blog is called a sidebar, in my case wylisa’s musings are on the left sidebar. - yes, its the right side of the page but it is the left most sidebar of the two sidebars.

You create categories from the “manage mode” or at the end of a post.  You can assign your post to one or more categories in either the “write” or “manage” post mode .

NOTE - a category will not show up on your blog until at least one post is assigned to the category.

Login to your blog - yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Creating and editing posts

Create a post by selecting “write,” “post” is selected by default.  Notice the “preview this post” option in the screen shot below - you need to save your post once to use the preview option. You will be able to preview your post but no one else will see it on your blog until you set the post to “published.” Change your post status using the drop box below “Publish Status.”  Set the desired status and select “Save.”  You can unpublish a published post at any time.

Select “Manage” to edit posts you have created, “Post” will be the default option again.

My lessons learned from the Alphared fiasco include back-up your files, monitor web chatter about your current host, have an emergency hosting back up plan and make Web Hosting Rating.com one of your “go to” sites.  Web Hosting Rating is a great resource with tons of independent, user generated information about web hosting companies.

The site provides information about hosting plans, pricing and even more important, reviews written by actual host company clients. Web Hosting Rating also publishes well written topical articles, categories include domain names, Linux web hosting and security issues.

The company I mentioned above, Alphared, provided colocation services, meaning the site owner owns the host computer(s) and the colocation company houses the hardware in their environmentally controlled, secure facilities.  Web Hosting Rating’s article Questions to Ask a Colocation Provider provides an excellent resource for someone who is considering a move from a dedicated server to colocation. The site also provides a good article about calculating colocation costs. I’d like to see them an option to suggest article topics. I know many of us have questions that we’d like addressed by a neutral party.

The value of the independent web hosting company information requires user input.  I encourage you to add comments about your hosting experiences and encourage your colleagues to do the same.

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I surely hope people will think carefully about changing their opinion of Rep. Bachmann over a single comment on a heated, liberal slanted political program. I prefer to assume we Americans are an intelligent lot who take the time to do our own research before we cast our sacred votes.

To MN’s 6th district - don’t believe the media hype, do your own homework - look at the facts not the facts as interpreted by media outlets. Visit Rep. Bachmann’s offical US House of Representatives web site and follow links to actual data, her voting record, her offical comments and the issue Rep. Bachmann finds important.

Further to the Hardball comments:

Bachmann told the St. Cloud Times on Tuesday that she “made a big mistake” by going on MSNBC’s “Hardball,”

During an interview with the Times’ editorial board, Bachmann said she walked into a trap and did not bring up the term “anti-American.” Still, she said, “I should not have used that phrase.”

During an interview with the Times’ editorial board, Bachmann said she walked into a trap and did not bring up the term “anti-American.” Still, she said, “I should not have used that phrase.” Bachmann said that while she didn’t question Obama’s patriotism,

“I’m very concerned about Barack Obama’s views. I don’t believe that socialism is a good thing for America.”

Before Friday’s “Hardball” aired, Bachmann was favored to win a second term. National Democrats, sensing opportunity, announced Monday they would pour $1 million into TV ads in the district, which lies on a corridor from the Twin Cities northwest to St. Cloud.

10/21/82 - 6/11/07

Tina from thatcrack sent an email promoting a mixtape with a few Bundles’ tracks released in honor of the slain rapper’s 26th birthday.

Tina quotes a statement released by ByrdGang manager Yandy Smith at the time of Bundles’ murder saying the quote is a good reminder of why we all do what we do in the mixtape game,

“We cannot stress enough that a young star’s light was put out before he had a chance to shine in front of the world,” the statement continued. We would like this to be a lesson to the rap game … too many of our talented artists are losing the battle of life before their voices have a chance to be heard.”

While Bundles hadn’t yet attained widespread popularity, mixtape fans were well aware of Bundles’ lyrical skills. I’ve pulled together some quotes and images for reflection, not just with regard to Stack but in regard to where our own motivation, integrity and support lies - and perhaps put in perspective what’s really behind the grind you hear in mixtapes:

Shaheem Reid of MTV covered Bundles funeral and had this to say, “One of the saddest things to fans mourning the loss of Stack Bundles is that the shining underground-hip-hop crowd-pleaser wasn’t able to realize his potential as a mainstream great.”

Shortly before the services began, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana arrived in a caravan of cars. Jones wore a black T-shirt, while Santana was clad in a white tee and his trademark bandana, which he removed before entering the funeral home.

“Definitely a lot of supporters out there,” Joe Budden said shortly after the funeral. “He was a great guy — great personality, very humble, just a character in his own right. He was very intelligent; book smart and street smart. It’s a shame he’s gone at such an early age. I’m sure God called him for a reason.”

Regarding Stack’s character, some questioned why Stack still loved the ‘hood, but those who knew him said he refused to leave until he could bring everyone with him. “It’s a wake-up call,” said Maino, a frequent Stack collaborator. “What’s unfortunate about the industry is you get famous before you get rich. Your face is on magazines and your face is on DVD [covers]. Everybody knows you. But you don’t really have the money and means to get up and do what you want to do.”

The ‘hood is going to be the ‘hood,” Maino added. “People are still hungry and envious over what they perceive to be success. … When you in the ‘hood, you could be doing a’ight, but if some people might feel you’re sh—ing on the ‘hood because you coming through in your Caddy truck or Benz. People be like, ‘He thinks he’s all that.’ You trying to keep it real, but sometimes you can’t keep it real in the ‘hood, because it’s a lot of ignorance that keeps going [on] there. … It’s certain things you can do, certain things you can’t do. Stack’s situation reconfirms that.”

“It’s sad,” said a stoic Lupe Fiasco as he exited the funeral service. “Product of the environment. But you know, honor him. Honor him always. Rest in peace, Stack Bundles.”

Tina shared with me a repsonse she received from young rapper from Chicago,

“That’s some real sh*t right there Tina I live in Chicago and these streets are treacherous but I gotta stay focused and grind to get me and my Fam outta here I preeshate that wake up call though sometimes we 4get it’s a blessing to be here”

Here is a link to Tina’s email.

Thanks for the reminder Stack Bundles - your death isn’t in vain, it’s one of the reasons we do what we do.

Zarrella’s article is a must read.

The Washington Post reports: “Citing unnamed sources, The Sun and Daily Mail said the couple hoped to have a divorce finalized by Christmas. The Sun said that Madonna, 50, had wanted to wait until her latest world tour wraps up in Brazil in December before announcing the split.”

So - 16 days until Halloween.  Please note, I actually posted about planning a Halloween party several days ago!  Yeah me. You’ll also note in that post I cop to being less than blessed in the creativity department so yes, - HORRORS - my family wears store bought costumes.

But hey, Halloween costumes have come a long way since the days of plastic “aprony like” costume bodies and plastic masks with the little elastic strap that always seemed to break around house number 4 or 5, or you wished it would because the moisture from your breath and forehead sweat was turning into little ice crystals.

We’ve each got our eye on a few options at Halloween Adventure.com.  I’m pushing for the good versus evil theme - because, of course, I get to be the good one.

Guess who’s pushing for the chamber maid?

What is it about that look?

“Chamber maid, cheerleader or school girl, men are so predictable,” wylisa said with a wink.

With tons of choices for kids, teens, adults and even your best friend be sure to them check out, you’ll be amazed by your options.

I think the best and sometimes trickiest way to arrange Halloween activities including Halloween crafts is to keep the activities and ideas short in terms of time to complete. Particularly at a party, no one wants to spend two hours trying to finish a complicated Halloween craft. The simpler, the better. The quicker, even better!

Are those not the cutest ever! I know - we of average or below average artistic ability have no hope of creating one ourselves! Wrong, check out what Ms. Pumpkin Painting’s book provides:

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You’d be amazed by the number of companies that offer franchising. The web provides a wealth of information to research franchise opportunities. The Red Hot Franchises directory is a great place to start. The site provides an up-to-date, searchable directory of many of the world’s top franchises. Listings are organized by industry and the site even provides information about which franchise opportunities are already approved for potential  business loans by the Small Business Association.  Mousing over a franchise brand provides a quick synopsis of the opportunity along with the average required liquid capital.

As with any investment, your franchise research should be thorough and should include multiple data points. Red Hot Franchises.com is a great launch pad, a reference that should bookmarked and consulted often. I recommend looking at the site even if you’re not thinking about a new business venture - you never know what you’ll find.