Advice | Words & Tricks

Music library getting dusty? 3-and-a-half websites you may not know (but should immediately bookmark)

April 15th, 2008 | 2 Comments | Posted in Advice by Chris Pommier

Finding that you’ve gotten into a rut with you music? If, as my fellow Twitterer BigBrightBulb said (who blogs here and twitters here), you’ve been filling out your 80’s pop collection based on Muzak from your favorite burrito shop,, then I’ve got some tips for you below. Or, maybe, like me, the hard drive that housed all your music crashed beyond repair. The smell of burning plastic does not bode well for my Tori Amos Discography.

Either way, I’ve got a short list of sites you’ll want to check out.

They’re not as famous or popular as Last.fm, iTunes, or Yahoo! Music, but maybe you’ve already tried those, and just maybe they’re boring you to tears. Especially since you want to find music that challenges you, and pushes your boundaries. You want to find music uncovered by the most music-obsessed people on the planet. Music bloggers.

Look no further.

More »

My single favorite new feature in WordPress 2.5 [Techno File]

April 9th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Advice by Chris Pommier

One-click plugin upgrades.

There is nothing more calming than a sea of light green boxes descending in an ordered column down the page.

My partner told me tonight that I’m a tech nerd. Can you believe that?

Anyway, to extend the basic functionality of WordPress, many of us bloggers and designers rely on third-party bits of code to do the whiz-bang bits of our sites. The “bling,” as it were.

More »

4 differences between Belize and Costa Rica

January 30th, 2008 | 4 Comments | Posted in Advice, Travel by Chris Pommier

While Jonah and I braved the winding mountain roads above Arenal Lake on our way to Monteverde, I couldn’t help but think back to our travels in Belize a year ago. I’m admittedly biased against tropical vacations, and I’m easily distracted. Put those two traits together and I found myself wondering, what the hell was I doing here? Didn’t I see this palm tree last year? I swear, didn’t I hear that same bird in Belize?

To take my mind off the dizzying drop to my left, I listed a few of the differences between the two destinations. Our van dipped and lurched and clambered into the foothills as I counted … More »

Talking Trackbacks

January 29th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in Advice by Chris Pommier

For some reason I’ve always been confused by the process of using trackbacks and why they are important in blogging.

Thank goodnedss for the web. Teli Adlam explain it well
here, at least in terms of WordPress. Considering this blog is now WordPress-powered (I migrated from Blogger), I found it very handy.

Three Things I learned in Belize, plus One

January 15th, 2007 | No Comments | Posted in Advice by Chris Pommier

Here are some things they don’t tell you in the guidebooks:

The food in San Ignacio is phenomenal. No one really made much mention of food, generally saying that it wasn’t much to write home about. But Jonah and I beg to differ. The stewed chicken, rice and beans at Hanna’s in San Ignacio is right up there with the ruins at Xunantunich as one of my favorite experiences on this trip. Everything we had at Hanna’s was just wonderful and cheap! Two people could eat top-notch grub for around $20 US or less. We also recommend Serendib for curry and Sri Lankan food and Cafe Sol for some vegan and vegetarian options.
They don’t believe in sidewalks in Belize. When walking around town, watch for cars! You’ll get crowded onto the shoulder by speeding SUVs, Honda’s Toyotas (which seemed to be the manufacturer of choice down there) and other various and sundry vehicles. Also, watch the hills. Gravel can send you tumbling.
Toilets don’t generally take toilet paper. There’s usually a small waste paper basket near the toilet for your dirty TP. If you try and flush it might not go down. The what are you going to do?

Updated 1/19/07

I just remembered another one. Belizeans like running electricity into your shower. I noticed this my first night when I was in a dumpy hotel in downtown Belize City and reached up to turn the shower head. I thought I felt an electric shock bite my finger. Squinting up through the cascade of water over my eyes I saw a length of electrical cable in a plastic casing running the length of the wall from the ceiling and ending in a dual outlet box right behind the showerhead. I stepped back out of the falling water and noticed, to my amazement the frayed black tape holding the red, black and bare ground wires to white wires going into the showerhead itself. There were droplets of moisture dripping from them. I decided to end my shower. Turns out that’s how most (of not all) showers in Belize operate. When you think about it, why have hot water available in a tropical climate, anyway? Most of my showers in Belize were cool, and I was happy for it.