Lifehacks, GTD, Wordpress, Webdesign

I wanted to split test my post footer in Wordpress so I could try out two different Aweber forms. However the forms didn’t display in the way I wanted.

The code I ended up using:

$chosen = mt_rand(1,3);
switch($chosen){
case 1:
include ‘first.php’;
break;
case 2:
include ’second.php’;
break;
case 3:
include ‘third.php’;
break;
default:
echo ’something went horribly wrong’;
}

From: Random HTML snippets with PHP include?

This worked very well for me. I simply removed case 3 and changed mt_rand(1,3); to mt_rand(1,2);

This then randomly chose between my first block of text and my second block of text. This meant I could split test their effectiveness by embedding two different aweber forms. When the first form is randomly loaded it counts it in Aweber and then when the second form randomly loads again the results are counted. This meant I could customise the text in a way I wanted and not have to use Awebers built in e-mail forms which were not effective and looked ugly.

Hope this helps someone looking to randomise the way content appears on a page.

Right, I’ve decided to redesign my blog about cycling in London. My designer has already finished a PSD drawing for an expensive fee and now after seeking out someone to convert my PSD to HTML I have gone with http://mypsdtohtml.com/ and a guy called Andres. So far the service seems good and the replies have been prompt. I couldn’t argue with the price as it is extremely competitive and they seem to understand my additional requirements. I’ll post up a full review when the project is done.  In the mean time check out one of my articles from that blog on bicycle insurance. Wish me luck with the design!

So I moved over my hosting plan from Dreamhost to Doreo and moved over the databases, files etc etc and began to notice various errors. In the admin panel I could not minimise the sidebar, or click the dropdown button, or add new tags or choose from the most used tags. Basically everything that revolved around javascript was not working.

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I like what Tim Ferriss does. The ideas behind accelerated learning, not wasting your life on the things that don’t matter etc are all excellent. But, Tim, bless him, is a busy guy. He has been coming up with content faster than you could apply and use it! Here is a collection of some of his best stuff, mainly from outside his blog (as I assume you know how to navigate around that!), that you may have missed.
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Just a quick plug for my website on cycling in London. You may want to check out these cycling games that I posted up there earlier.

After having spent 20 months with my Nokia N95 it was time for a change. That change was to take the form of a Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 mobile phone.

What a terrible mistake!

I go to write a message and it rotates, I try to scroll the screen and it zooms in, I try to quickly search for my friends name in my contacts and it takes for ever.

The other day I went into a mobile phone shop and I overheard the guy in front of me complaining to the shop assistant about how hard the Omnia is to use and can he exchange it. Get in line mate.
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This guide is focussed on the Nokia N95 but should be useful for all Nseries devices.

Have you ever wondered how best to use your Nokia Nseries phone? I have had my N95 for over 18 months and have been actively seeking out all the alterations I can make to improve my phone. In this guide I will cover the applications and tweaks that I have come across which will have the biggest impact to your experience. This guide will not cover some of the smaller changes. For that I recommend the N95 Best Tips and Tricks.
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There is an excellent post on the Glitch about Removing Store Icons from iTunes 8. I have always hated these and I’m glad there is a way of getting rid of them.

1 month around Eastern Europe. So I am going to take with me:
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Recently I was unlucky enough to have my Nokia N95 battery cover and battery fall off. Don’t ask me how! But I did. I was faced with the task of finding a new genuine Nokia N95 battery.
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There is a lot of research suggesting music is capable of focusing the mind and relaxing the body. Everyone has their own preferences but I like listening to the following on my iTunes. (Click on the iTunes link to listen to previews)

• Board of Canada
  Tracks: Constants Are Changing, Sherbert Head, Slow This Bird Down etc
  Album: The Campfire Headphase
  Reason: Very chilled out, can play in background without noticing
• Portishead
  Tracks: Strangers, Sour Times, Pedestral
  Album: Dummy
  Reason: Like the big room feel to it and the trip hop genre in general
• Cinematic Orchestra
  Tracks: The awakening of a woman
  Album: Cinematic Orchestra
  Reason: So cinematic, plays in the background without realising
• Moby
  Tracks: Down Slow, Run On, The Sky Is Broken
  Album: Play
• Elbow
  Tracks: I’ve got your number, Buttons and Zips
  Album: A cast of Thousands
• Thievery Corporation
  Tracks: Marching The Hate Machines, The Cosmic Game, A Gentle Dissolve
  Album: The Cosmic Game

Obviously some people will look through the list and think awesome this guy knows his stuff, others will think who the hell are they? and some of you will head off and download some of the tracks and find that it works for you. Zen Habits also suggests a good tranquil music list.

If your a music person then post your favourite tracks for relaxing in the comments.

I am officially in love with Wordpress 2.5! It is so much easier to use and there are so many more features that are essential when writing a good blog. Part of the fun of setting up a new blog is all the little tweaks you have to make. This article/tutorial/work of art will take you through some of the things you should change to get your Wordpress blog looking good.

I am going to assume you have installed the blog and have logged in as a user into the dashboard. Ready? Lets go!
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