Read a Random Blog Post

[Savage]

I've been testing some new WordPress plugins for the blog this weekend. I just installed one that allows you to view a random post. Several people actually requested this.

I'll need to figure out where to add a link to it on the blog, but you can try it here if you'd like:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/?random

If you click this link repeatedly, it will give you a different random blog post every time.

[carenkh]

Hee-hee. That works *so* well for my "message from the universe" need. What shall the Oracle say today?

[Brutha]

What shall the Oracle say today?

Ask your questions and get answered by the Stevakel

[Savage]

I added the Random Article link to the bottom of the "Best of" section of the sidebar on the main site, so regular visitors can have fun with it.

I also went a little plugin happy with new features added to the blog, including "Email this article to a friend" and "Share this" (to add to social bookmarking sites).

[Dive Bomb]

Haha I started a thread inquiring about this feature a few months ago, glad it's been put into action.

[jamestl2]

I'd say the random post is OK, nothing spectacular. It can be fun to get an article not knowing what the result will be, but I don't see much reasoning behind it.

First make sure this plugin is installed, makes everything easier (It's a One-Click theme and plugin installer):
OneClick for Wordpress at Thought Outflux | Anirudh Sanjeev

If you're looking for some new ones to try out, here' some I'd recommend checking out :

How about giving you're readers a sneak peek at your upcoming posts? This'll queue a few drafts you've written:
List Draft Posts: a WordPress plugin : Losing it[1]

Here's a nifty plugin that lets you add and control icons for different portions of your blog, like posts, audio files, links, pages, etc.:
| File Icons | WordPress Designpraxis

Guest Blogging, Not sure if this topic interests you, but it's a great way to give readers a chance to submit some great stuff:
Software: TDO Mini Forms Wordpress Plugin (v0.10.1) [ thedeadone.net ]

Concerning Social Bookmarking, I think AddThis is the best one:
AddThis - Social Bookmarking Sharing Widget Del.icio.us Digg Facebook Button


On the admin side, I use:

To make a custom Dashboard Homepage:
Wordpress Dashboard Editor

To track Blog Stats:
WordPress › WordPress.com Stats « WordPress Plugins

To make sure you're WP version is up-to-date:
Wordpress Automatic Upgrade plugin


Hopefully this list helps all fellow bloggers out

[cylon]

Well I'm to the point where I am constantly reminding myself to focus on what I want, not what I don't. That's my theme for the last few days, and that's the blog entry this got for me "disciplining your mind to become better at manifesting".

Lol, basically what I wanted.

[Joely]

I clicked on "Random" after a weekend with a really bad depressive episode, and the result was "Dealing with Negative Emotions."

Nothing could have been more appropriate.

[Savage]

It's ALIVE!

Maybe all that conscious blogging somehow created a conscious blog....

[Daniel Terhorst]

What I would like is an easy way to get another random article after I am done with the first. For example:

* If the Random Article link were near the top of the page, I could click it again without moving my mouse or scrolling.

* If a temporary HTTP redirect were used instead of a permanent one, I could refresh the page to get another article with a single key.

Either would be convenient, but I would like to see the second one the most.

Thanks,
-- Daniel

[Phill]

I like the random-izer. Placing it under the "Best Of" is good...made me think ONLY your best posts will show up!

AS for plug-ins, is there a guideline on trusting them. Specifically, how does one know if the plug-in has code that might be considered malicious?

Phil
Random Thoughts

[cylon]

This feature has been buggy for awhile now. It's one of my favorite site features but now it only gives you one new article per visit. So you hit "random article" and you get one, if you hit it again, nothing changes until you quit your browser and log back into the site.

I love hitting that button and all the different topics that come up so it would be cool to have that feature working again.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by cylon

This feature has been buggy for awhile now. It's one of my favorite site features but now it only gives you one new article per visit. So you hit "random article" and you get one, if you hit it again, nothing changes until you quit your browser and log back into the site.

I love hitting that button and all the different topics that come up so it would be cool to have that feature working again.

I get a different article every time I click it. I have heard of some people having caching problems with their browsers or ISPs though -- they serve up the same page from the cache each time to reduce bandwidth.

[cylon]

Well that stinks. I haven't done anything differently, the feature just stopped working for me, on both Safari and Firefox for Mac.

Just tried it on my iPhone and it's the same thing. Must be Verizon. Oh well, thanks for responding.

[xeo]

Originally Posted by cylon

Well that stinks. I haven't done anything differently, the feature just stopped working for me, on both Safari and Firefox for Mac.

Just tried it on my iPhone and it's the same thing. Must be Verizon. Oh well, thanks for responding.

It's not just you, it doesn't work for me either. It gives the same article each time.

[cylon]

dagnabit!

One thing that would make this a little more bearable would be direct access to all the articles under a specific topic. Right now if I click a certain category, I only get two article headlines and I have to click the "previous" to see more. I want to see 'em all!

[Lucidism]

I have a caching plugin installed on my Wordpress site, but it only caches for outside users. People who can login (like me, the admin) are never shown cached pages.

This is one possible explanation of why it works for Steve but not for others (including me).

[Savage]

I made some tweaks to the server to see if it fixes the problem. Try it now.

[Lucidism]

It works for me now. Nice! What was the server change, out of curiosity?

[cylon]

Cool! Works again.

[Divajules]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

It's ALIVE!

Maybe all that conscious blogging somehow created a conscious blog....

Ha, I think so! I clicked on it today (as I just now saw the post/link) and what came up was the perfect article for me today - "Goal Free Living". I am trying to find balance in this area and the article was a spot on reminder of this right when I needed it! But then again, OF COURSE IT WAS!

[TonyToneTone]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I've been testing some new WordPress plugins for the blog this weekend. I just installed one that allows you to view a random post. Several people actually requested this.

I'll need to figure out where to add a link to it on the blog, but you can try it here if you'd like:
Failing With Toastmasters

If you click this link repeatedly, it will give you a different random blog post every time.

Good stuff. The second link that came up How Intentions Manifest had some great answers to what I was experiencing today. Thanks Steve.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Ever since Steve implemented this, I've used it at least once or twice a month, just to get a taste of his older articles, which I had mostly long forgotten. There are a lot of gems hidden in his archives that many people either haven't read or have forgotten they read. It is like a refresher course in Steve Pavlina's evolution.

It's kind of like this analogy: I have always been a big Seinfeld fan and I got most of the DVDs (actually seasons 1 through 7). I may have watched them twice. I would rather watch it on TV because it is a "random episode." It's more fun that way to me because I may find one I forgot about, or see one that I had forgotten was so funny. It's kind of like that with the "Random Article" button. I'm glad it's part of this site.

[TonyToneTone]

When I was first learning to drive a car, my drivers education teacher taught me the acronym SMOG, which stands for Signal, Mirror, Over the shoulder, Go.

I actually used this today and it worked, thanks Steve!

[Curtis2011]

I just clicked it and got to read this again....

What Steve actually hears

Steve: I’ve decided to do X.

Cowardly Lion: Bock bock bock. Cluck cluck cluck. I’m scared.

Steve: Step aside please. Coming through.

Cowardly Lion: Huh? What? Um, OK.

Lol....

[carenkh]

Haha - I got Self Magazine Sex Article

with the prophetic line, "it’s nice to see that personal development techniques can even enhance our sex lives", written 4 years ago.

Also loved the "Say yes! to sex", it reminded me of this thread.