I just upgraded my WordPress to 2.5.1 and to celebrate as well as promote WordCamp Vancouver this week, I’ve recorded a quick little screencast.

I just used my MacBook’s internal mic so I know some folks will be cringing at the audio quality (and the sound of my keyboard strokes) but hey, it’s more “organic” that way…. isn’t it?.

The super cool plugin in the video that John and I have been using for the last year or so is called “Flickr Photo Album“. This is the latest version and works beautifully with WP 2.5 and up. More to come at Wedneday’s WordCamp.

You may have noticed a small triangle popping up in the corner of your Flickr contact’s images lately. Fear not, there is no small grey triangle conspiracy, it’s actually to indicate that the image you’re seeing is simply a thumbnail of a brand spankin’ new Flickr Video.

Video! Video! Video! The rumours are true and “soon” is now. We’re thrilled to introduce video on Flickr. If you’re a pro member, you can now share videos up to 90 glorious seconds in your photostream.

90 seconds? While this might seem like an arbitrary limit, we thought long and hard about how video would complement the flickrverse. [Flickr Blog]

Things I like about Flickr Video so far:

Dislikes:

It’s been pretty fun during the whole two days I’ve been using it although there are Flickr purists who aren’t as pleased that the photo site is now intermingling with video.

“The big issue is the way it was implemented,” said Jason Bouwmeester, a systems analyst in Canada and one of the group administrators for No Video on Flickr. “There was no public beta…. They just reset everyone’s settings.” Users have complained about the video features causing the whole site to slow down, a possible influx of YouTube junk and the deviation from Flickr’s original purpose — photography. [Wired.com].

Regardless, I don’t think it will replace YouTube by any means (or become YouTube-like), but since I was recently on the lookout for a simple alternative to online video sharing, I’m glad I now have this option.

After a tumultuous week in the blogosphere I usually have to pull myself back and discover real life and real love all over again. Don’t get me wrong, I love the blogging and the community that’s embraced me, but sometimes you just need those… tangibles.

I’ve written a post about The Things that Matter, which holds true today and is ever more convincing after reading posts like this from my friends. I had planned on writing about social media news releases today, the new Eagles in the City and a few more items but after being up all night waiting for my baby nephew to arrive into this world - there’s nothing more important than him right now.

There’s no telling where I would be without my sister, honestly. She’s been a best friend, a mother, and a constant supplier of reality checks for me throughout my life. Last night we sang my niece a lullaby (which was kind of cruel since my sister and I are pretty tone deaf) and went back downstairs where her contractions drew closer together, each one lasting longer than the one before. Her doting man at her side, and me on the other she looked across the room and said, “I forgot it hurts to have babies”.

I wanted to cry for two reasons, one of the people I love most in the world was in so much pain but also I knew she’d be bringing another gorgeous, sweet, innocent child to life.

I’m the proudest auntie ever and have been blessed four times now with such an honor. I am constantly in awe of the love and support this growing family has for each other, and I’m so incredibly lucky to be a part of it all.

I’m sorry Moo, I always thought you were cool. I jumped at the chance to order you during your inaugural Flickr/Moo love promotion two years ago and I’ve been pleased to exchange your cards ever since. This time however, I’m not so sure I feel the same glee and excitement as everyone else.

First of all, I received confirmation that my cards were in the mail on February 6th, given the estimated arrival time of 5-7 days, the four weeks they’ve taken to get here is somewhat disappointing. I know that sometimes Canada Post is not the most reliable carrier, but some warning about a backlog would have been nice in the least (if such was the case).

You’ve also let me down in the quality department. I decided to use my logo and profile image from Flickr and I have to say, I could print out better cards on my Brother MFC. They’re grainy, spotty, and the colour is even off. It looks as though I have a dusty halo around my head in the profile logo, giving the depiction of myself a “Pigpen” effect and that’s not so hot, Moo.

Finally, upon receiving the note in my mailbox to pick up my parcel from the Post Office I arrived this afternoon to be told I had to pay $9.23 in customs charges. The package had already been opened by customs to boot.

Not only have I been waiting an extended period of time for these little cards, they look awful, and have cost me close to $50 (fabulous pink case included). I’m sorry Moo, next time I might have to find another option for my mini-card needs.

Rachael Ashe on Flickr

If you were fortunate enough to attend PhotoCamp 2008 that took place at Northern Voice then you’re probably familiar with Rachael Ashe’s latest work - light painting. Rachael is a creative photographer who also founded the popular Vandigicam Flickr Group. She’s passed some information my way about the following event:

Yaletown Gallery will be featuring the photography of some of Vancouver’s most captivating Flickr’ers in Landscapes of Vancouver.

You may recognize some of these names or they may even be a contact of yours on Flickr: Alexander, Clarke, Evans, Forrester, Goldsmith, Johnson, Liu, Logan, Loh, Lovgren, Marshall, Maughan, Mazloum, Morkunas, Simpson, Snow, Taylor, Tsang, Wakelin.

The show opens Friday February 29th, 2008 @ 7:30pm to 9:30pm and runs until March 16th at the Yaletown Gallery, which is located at 123-1208 Homer Street.

Like most folks planning to attend Northern Voice this year, I ordered some Moo cards. This is only the second time I’ve done so, and the first was during their free promotion when they first came on the scene.

Photo Credit: photojunkie on Flickr

Unfortunately everyone I know who has ordered cards, has yet to received them. Could it just be a back up due to a rush from 300 Northern Voice participants? Or is there something else holding up these brilliant little cards? Maybe they’ll post something soon on the Moo Blog (if it is a serious issue). Regardless, my confirmation of shipping date was February 6th so let me ask:

When were your cards shipped and have you received your Moos yet?

Leading up to that special day that Hallmark created for us this Thursday, I want to feature things that I love, or maybe even just like-like a lot. Sure, my husband, family and friends are a given but these are some of the intangibles, some things that honestly, I wouldn’t be able to be without every day.

Part one: Flickr and Wordpress.

WordPress

Update: The following refers to a WordPress install on a host with a database via Wordpress.org and NOT a Wordpress.com web-only interface).

Dear WordPress,

At first I was hesitant to move my blog over to your rich and functional CMS. It was almost two years ago that I decided to remove myself from the shackles of Blogger and succumb to your interface. Categories, Meta Tags, Plugins, and most of all - Google love, are really the things that drew me to you, and keep me here. I’ve maintained and managed four WordPress sites, and created two more from scratch. Ripping apart CSS and writing PHP code is all a gal like me could ask for, and more. Having resources like Lorelle’s tips and your Codex just make you that much better, and you also give my buddy Duane a lot to talk about too.

Even though when I go to download a plugin to use I can never find the “download here” button on the creator’s site, all your features and customization make me swoon. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2.5.

Thanks WordPress, for making Miss604.com what it is today.

Flickr

Dear Flickr,

You started out in Vancouver, are now a part of the Yahoo! empire and after the recent Microsoft scare, honestly, I was afraid I would lose you. It takes an event like that to make me realize how valuable you are to me. From your groups like Vandigicam that first got John and I out of the house in 2006 to meetup with other fine folks in this city, to your sets and collections that I can solely dedicate to my geeky t-shirts, and narcissistic ways. Your tags help me find photos to use in my posts and you’ve even let me create a pool for readers’ images. Better yet, people have created some super awesome plugins to help you work well with Wordpress and that makes me happy. From FlickrRSS to Flickr Photo Gallery, you compliment my blog in such a way that I cannot repay (except with the $20 or so annually).

Thanks for being there Flickr, for reminding me of good times, walks in the park, vacations, and holidays.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Things I Love: Gmail and Google.

It’s a commonly-known fact that I like to use Flickr photos in my blog posts. If not my own or my contacts’, then those that are listed as “Share Alike” on Flickr, or even “All Rights Reserved” with permission. I’m a big supporter of Creative Commons and usually like to leave a link on the photo I used in order to a) let the owner I’ve used their photo b) share some link love. The photo gets attributed, we all get links, and everyone’s been pretty happy with that method thus far.

View from the Numinous.ca Webcam

This afternoon I decided to create a Flickr Group that anyone can join. If you then upload photos to Flickr, or have any existing photos that are Vancouver-related, you can share them with the Group. Benefits being I won’t have to spend half an hour searching Flickr for a photo I can use in the post to illustrate a post, AND the owners get full credit and possibly even more views of their fabulous shots.

Simply go to the Group, click to join, and “add to group” any Vancouver-related photos you wouldn’t mind me using in a blog post. You can view all photos added in the pool as well.