Journal
Functions.php is a little known wordpress template file. Not many themes take advantage of it but , used properly, it can be incredibly powerful. The file can be used as a way to add your own functions to wordpress themes (hence the name).
One of the common misconceptions, at least based upon my experience with a past wordpress tips and tricks post, is that editing functions.php involves changing core wordpress files - meaning there will be issues when you upgrade wordpress.
I am against changing core files in wordpress. This makes upgrading a nightmare.
What functions.php does is let you create functions you can reuse in the theme. It works like a plugin file, being loaded when the theme is first loaded. You can then use the functions inside for anything you choose. For example in my first tips and tricks post I suggested using it to separate trackbacks …
May 23, 2007 | General
A couple of weeks ago I installed a plugin that tracks what people search for on my site. I wanted to see what people were interested in and, more importantly, what they were searching for that I don’t actually talk about here.
Unsurprisingly Harry Potter (or Harry, or Potter) was the number 1 thing people are looking for here, but there were quite a few unexpected search queries.
A disturbing number of people are searching for sex, or sex based searches. I have only mentioned sex a few times, mostly in regards to video games, so I suspect the results were unsatisfactory. I’m sure the person searching for Penis Enlargement Reviews was also disappointed, although I have received a number of emails on the subject so if you want to give me your email address I can forward them on?
Below I am going to go through some of the more sensible queries …
I’m pretty sure that my friends and family think I spend all day at work surfing the web and playing with toys, so I thought I would point everyone to this recent interview with my boss, Rob Small.
Most of Miniclip’s gamers are regulars, coming back several times a month. The challenge, with more than 100 million visits a month, is to keep coming up with new games.
That’s why Small fills the office with kids’ toys; it helps the developers to empathise with their target audience. Miniclip releases a couple of games every week, and each is around three months in the making.
Now that you all know what I do (although a while ago I did mention a few of the things I have done at work) maybe I can get some real work done!
May 22, 2007 | Links
Found this the other day and thought it was great. Recently the amount of violence around the world seems to be increasing dramatically.
What the world needs is more hugs - if you agree then you should join in with the Free Hugs Campaign.
Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven’t compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.
For those interested I found it at TrentAdams.com
May 20, 2007 | Links
Pronet Advertising have made a write up for the recent set of viral advertising for the new Batman movie (the good Christopher Nolan ones). I am rather looking forward to the film, partly because I enjoyed the first one, Batman Begins, and partly because pretty much anything Nolan touches become great.
The viral advertising they used for this film is very cool. It combines teaser posters, with film world advertising (Vote Dent) adding in some preview images (the Joker and Dent).
The way they have done it is very cool, and almost guarantees that the people they are targeting, tech literate teens, will find out about the movie.
Bravo Warner Bros.
BTW the films website can be found here 
I love the Spiderman movies. I’ve seen all three at the cinema, and own the first two on DVD - I am officially a fan. So, last weekend, I went with my girlfriend to watch the latest in the series and thought it was very cool indeed.
There are spoilers ahead so keep away if you’re worried about that sort of thing.
Spiderman 3 follows on where the second left off, with Harry Osbourne upset at Peter Parker for killing his father, Mary Jane going out with Peter, and Peter saving the day as Spidey. Things in the film happen at a crazy pace. Uncle Ben’s “real” murdered has been found and he has just escaped from prison, and some black gunk has fallen from the sky and seems to be hunting down Peter.
There is absolutely loads going on, I wonder if it’s too much, but it’s pretty easy to follow …
Binary Moon
Seths Puzzle Boxes
ExGen
Bubble Blitz
Rocket Boards