Let’s see if this works

[pb_vidembed title="Leanne And Walter's Wedding" caption="" url="http://www.layneheiny.com/wp-content/uploads/videos/LeanneNWalterWedding.mp4" type="op" w="600" h="480"]

• Awful Technology
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A few minor corrections were fixed for the network and plugins were updated. The biggest update was BuddyPress to version 1.5.

The idea, though, is clever. There is more engagement on G+ – and more likely for an audience to be gained.

As an experiment, I’ve changed the domain LPH.ME over to my Google+ profile. It’s easier than telling people my G+ profile address.

My students loved the Answers theme from Templatic. It was easy for them to ask and answer questions. The section, though, overwhelmed the rest of the site. After changing themes to BuddyBoss, I started to look around to find a way to get the smoothness of the Q & A feeling. The Q & A plugin was just the ticket.

Installation was the typical ftp upload to the plugins directory and activation in the control panel. Next, settings were adjusted. In order to customize the sidebars, it was important to copy the php files from the default-templates directory of the plugin into the root of the theme. A missing file is the sidebar-question.php file. Additional CSS was necessary to get the sidebar to match the rest of the site.

A quick test run of the plugin appears to work. Since the school year is basically done, students will probably not use the section until the fall. At least it’ll be ready for them.

Today was my last day at Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, CA. I’ll be moving to AV High School.

AV High School has been struggling for decades. It has one of the lowest school ratings in California. My cousin graduated from AV High School in 1981. Most of the school board members graduated from AV – before the school took a turn for the worst.

Administrators are hoping to turn the school around by selecting staff from across the district to help the students do better. We start in a few weeks.

1. Several of us are already looking at lesson plans for the fall and trying to determine how we are going to improve them for the kids.
2. Administrators have promised Promethean boards (but nothing has been ordered).

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And there she is – 7th row on the inside end.

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And here it is trimmed to just Elizabeth.

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And around the corner she comes.

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BuddyPress forums (modified bbPress) were installed last year. Posting through the forum/index.php page has been possible, however, students dislike waiting for the “Ask a Question’ button to load. Many students start adding information into the form before the page is fully loaded. A single page dedicated to posting should make it easier.

A template (named question.php) with the following code was uploaded:

<?php
/*
Template Name: Question
*/
?>

<?php get_header(); ?>

	<div id="bp-container">

		<div class="padder">

			<div id="new-topic-post">

			<?php if ( is_user_logged_in() ) : ?>

				<div class="info">

				<p><h5>How To Ask A Great Question And Get It Answered</h5>
				Maybe you are stuck on a homework problem or do not understand a particular concept. Don't panic. TheChemBook.com is a great place to ask your questions.
				First search to see if someone else has asked about the problem. Next, search <a href="/wiki/index.php/">The Chemistry Text</a> by reading the section on the topic.
				If none of this helps, start a new topic by completing the form below.
				Start with a great headline. Avoid saying, "I'm lost" or "how do I do problem 12?"
				A great headline might be "Determining Significant Figures - Captured Zeros"
				Next, type as much detail as possible, for example, add the exact wording of the problem you are trying to answer.
				Finally, explain the problem <strong>and what you have tried</strong>.
				The more details you add then the faster someone can help you.
				Teachers are available at irregular intervals, therefore, make sure that you help others with their questions, too.</p>
				</div>

				<br><br>

				<?php if ( bp_has_groups( 'user_id=' . bp_loggedin_user_id() . '&type=alphabetical&max=100&per_page=100' ) ) : ?>

					<form action="/tutoring" method="post" id="forum-topic-form" class="standard-form" enctype="multipart/form-data">

						<?php do_action( 'question_before' ); ?>

						<a name="post-new"></a>
						<h5><?php _e( 'Post a New Question:', 'buddypress' ); ?></h5>

						<label><?php _e( 'Question:', 'buddypress' ); ?></label>
						<input type="text" name="topic_title" id="topic_title" value="" />

						<label><?php _e( 'Content:', 'buddypress' ); ?></label>
						<textarea name="topic_text" id="topic_text"></textarea>

						<label><?php _e( 'Tags (comma separated):', 'buddypress' ); ?></label>
						<input type="text" name="topic_tags" id="topic_tags" value="" />

						<label><?php _e( 'Choose the Best Forum:', 'buddypress' ); ?></label>
						<select id="topic_group_id" name="topic_group_id">

							<option value="">----</option>

							<?php while ( bp_groups() ) : bp_the_group(); ?>

								<?php if ( bp_group_is_forum_enabled() && 'public' == bp_get_group_status() ) : ?>

									<option value="<?php bp_group_id(); ?>"><?php bp_group_name(); ?></option>

								<?php endif; ?>

							<?php endwhile; ?>

						</select><!-- #topic_group_id -->
						<br /><br />

						<?php do_action( 'question_after' ); ?>

						<br /><br />

						<div class="bp-submit">
							<input type="submit" name="submit_topic" id="submit" value="<?php _e( 'Post Topic', 'buddypress' ); ?>" />
							<input type="button" name="submit_topic_cancel" id="submit_topic_cancel" value="<?php _e( 'Cancel', 'buddypress' ); ?>" />
						</div>

						<?php wp_nonce_field( 'bp_forums_new_topic' ); ?>

					</form><!-- #forum-topic-form -->

				<?php else : ?>

					<div id="message" class="info">
						<p><?php printf( __( "You are not a member of any groups so you don't have any group forums you can post in. To start posting, first find a group that matches the topic subject you'd like to start. If this group does not exist, why not <a href='%s'>create a new group</a>? Once you have joined or created the group you can post your topic in that group's forum.", 'buddypress' ), site_url( BP_GROUPS_SLUG . '/create/' ) ) ?></p>
					</div>

				<?php endif; ?>

			<?php else : ?>

				<div id="message" class="info">
					<p>You need to <a href="<?php echo site_url( 'wp-login.php' ) ?>">log in</a> <?php if ( bp_get_signup_allowed() ) : ?> or <?php printf( __( ' <a class="create-account" href="%s" title="Create an account">create an account</a>', 'buddypress' ), site_url( BP_REGISTER_SLUG . '/' ) ) ?><?php endif; ?> to participate in the tutoring area.</p>
				</div>

			<?php endif; ?>

			</div>

		</div>

	</div>

<?php get_footer(); ?>

A page was created, choosing the template question, so that the form for posting loads. Here is the result:

Problems left to resolve:
The bb-attachments plugin does not load on this new page. To test, I’ve written a hook and function, placed these in different locations, and tried to figure out why the plugin will not load.

Let me know if you have any ideas!

Now, on the right side of twitter is usually a list of people to follow. Not today.

Man, this sucks. No one is in the box for me to follow. Do you have any suggestions?

The quality of the streaming on the Apple iPad application isn’t bad but the calendar alarms stop the program. Battery life is also quickly drained. Still it was a fun exercise having the cable station going on the Apple iPad2 rather than sitting on the couch in the living room.