Pimping out a Blogger/WordPress blog

Don’t Be Afraid, Hack That Template!

Taught by Jen Simmons and Josh Paul

Tired of having your creative master pieces framed in a blog that looks like everyone else’s? Have you looked at the code for your blog’s template or theme, only to run in fear? No need — we’ll show you how to customize your Blogger or WordPress vlog so it’s as unique as you are. Learn how to customize the visual design of your videoblog with a custom masthead, your own background, your choice of fonts, colors and borders. We’ll show you how to understand the Blogger template code, so you can try out some bold experiments on your own. Or learn how to customize your WordPress blog without knowing PHP. Learn how to install useful WordPress plugins, such as “captcha” for reducing spam comments and WP-iCatter for creating iTunes-compliant feeds.

Find our presentation with links and tips at: http://jensimmons.com/videoblogging/  and http://www.joshpaul.com/downloads/pimp_a_blog.pdf
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Joshua Paul is the author of O’Reilly’s “Digital Video Hacks,” and co-author of Wiley’s “Videoblogging.” His two companies, mFactory Systems, LLC (http://www.mfactory.com) and Aweli (http://www.aweli.com), focus on digital video indexing and third-party viewing verification services, respectively. When he’s not writingbooks or code, he can be found consulting with television productioncompanies about digital video. His personal blog can be found at http://blog.joshpaul.com.

Jen Simmons is a multimedia artist in filmmaker with over 15 years experience in theater, media arts and computer arts technology. She is currently finishing the interactive projection design for Violet Fire:
A Multimedia Opera about Nikola Tesla for its world premiere in Belgrade, Serbia in July and the U.S. premiere at the BAM New Wave Festival in October 2006. Jen also recently wrote and directed two
short films, Bush for Peace and Inclinations, that have screened in numerous international film festivals including Rotterdam, Resfest, Media That Matters, [R][R][F], NewFest, Outfest, and Frameline. This
past year Jen taught to courses on videoblogging as an adjunct professor at the Temple University film school. And Jen’s biggest claimto fame is the two years she spent teaching with Michael Verdi at the
SAY Sí Media Arts Program in San Antonio Texas. Jen also designs standards-based websites for cash, to prevent the starving artist syndrome. Check out her work at jensimmons.com.