Zemanta Related Posts Plugin — It’s Alive!

Image via CrunchBase

I felt bereft about the sudden removal of the Zemanta related content (images/text) plugin from WordPress on January 2, 2014. Hunting for (and crediting) images took 20 minutes (compared to a minute before with this handy little tool). Appending Related Articles to blogposts — now that was completely impossible.

I was quite inconsolable (almost as if I had lost a beloved pet). After extensive poking around in the WordPress forums, I discovered that Zemanta still does exist, albeit in

Happy 2-Year Anniversary Trophy from WordPress

WordPress 2-Year Anniversary Award

Not for the lack of anything to write today, and apropos of nothing at all, but just a few minutes ago, I was given this notification today by WordPress: “Happy Anniversary! <insert icon here> You registered on WordPress.com 2 years ago! Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging!”

This little pick-me-up comes on the heels of a rather slow start to the year, not for likes, but in terms of actual blog visits (for which I hold the much-loathed WordPress Reader accountable, as opposed to my ability to generate interesting content). 🙂

What happened to my 1st-Year Anniversary Wish Award from WordPress? It’s AWJ (Absent With Justification), in all probability because I neglected to maintain my newly launched blog after the first few months of 2012, effectively making it the equivalent of a New Year’s Resolution.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beginning

There is something primeval and awe-inspiring about the mighty Fraser River, raging through the narrow passage called Hells Gate. This ferocious traverse has happened for thousands of years, and predates the encroachment of humankind. It is a time of beginnings, when mountains, sky, and turbulent waters reigned supreme.

Purple Orchids

Orchids are the national flower of Singapore, but they are a popular ornamental addition to any home. This is a striking fuschia variety with giant yellow Chinese bamboo grass (phyllostachys edulis ‘bicolor’) behind and to the left of it.