Black Bear Ventures

Archive for September, 2009

Working with the internal WordPress editor gets old rather quickly. The small working window and the fact that WordPress will “correct”  or otherwise change code that you manually enter into the html view gets annoying. Not having a table utility among the default editing tools is also bothersome – you need to install a plug-in to get it in there.

I like to get around the above limitations by using a more full-featured external editor to make up more complex pages/posts. I then just cut and paste the externally generated code into the html view in WordPress. If you happen to be using a Mac, the free SeaMonkey browser suite has a nice, full-featured editor that works great for formatting up pages for pasting.

For Windows users, Windows Live Writer is a free download that allows you to author posts, connect and publish to one or several blogs. Its editor is comprehensive and very functional. It really comes into its own when you start arranging pictures or other media within your posts.

 I like using Windows Live Writer as a one-stop-shop for managing several blogs. Note that if you are using Live Writer with WordPress, you will not be able to connect until you first login to your WordPress admin area. Choose Settings, then Writing. In the Remote Publishing Section, make sure the XML-RPC box is checked.

At the bottom of the Northeast face of Mount Temple in the Lake Louise area, there is a wonderful little lake bounded by a high, but accessible pass into Paradise Valley to the West.

It’s a steep ascent but the views into Paradise Valley are drop-dead gorgeous and well-worth the climb. One day, as I was toiling up the avalanche path, this mountain goat appeared above me on the cliff bands and kept a close watch for several minutes as I slogged upwards. I finally figured out that he/she was posing and expected me to get out my camera and take the shot.