Category Archives: Announcements

Announcements

Issue with Leaving Comments?

A while back WordPress.com rolled out an option for commenting that required logging into WordPress.com, which requires having a registered username. It was unannounced and most bloggers remained unaware of this possible dilemma (I call it a possible dilemma because not every blog on WP.com had that option toggled) unless they checked the WP.com forums – the way I first found out about it, in this lengthy thread, plus conversation on Twitter – or somehow their readers communicated this to them, if possible. As it may be expected, this change has had mixed reactions from WP.com bloggers.

I have talked about this at least a couple of times on my Twitter and thought it would be a good idea to post about it here in case you’ve missed it, and or have been experiencing this issue with leaving comments as well. I understand that not all of my readers may be on social media such as Twitter or Facebook.

The good news is, I have never had this option enabled that you must be registered and logged in to leave a comment. You are required to fill in your name and email (which is never used by me) to leave a comment, unless you login using Twitter or Facebook, but that is all. If you should ever see a message that requires you to login to leave a comment, it is probably a glitch, in which case try to reload the page, or you tried using an email address associated with a WordPress.com or Gravatar account in which case you will be prompted to login. (See this forum post.) Note: please copy and paste your comment before clicking submit in case it gets wiped from the comment field! If the problem persists, please contact me and I’ll try to get it sorted out as best I can that is within my power.

Extra note to any of my readers who are also WordPress.com bloggers — the setting that makes your readers have to login to leave a comment is the one circled in red (“Users must be registered and logged in to comment”) in the screenshot below. It’s accessed from your Dashboard > Settings > Discussion.

In most instances, it is recommended that this option setting isn’t checked (enabled) as most people do not want to login or make a username in order to just leave a comment on a post. It will drive your readers away. (I have a similar issue with blogs that use Disqus for comments.)

(This may or may not have affected those blogging with WordPress.org. Please check your discussion settings under your blog’s dashboard to make sure.)

About these ads

Introducing: WordAds on Z’s Cup of Tea

Hello Readers,

If you visit Z’s Cup of Tea on a computer, you’ll have noticed ads appearing above the header and in the sidebar, above all my other content. Previously I have stated that ads placed on Z’s Cup of Tea were from WordPress.com and that I did not receive any compensation for these ads. They did not reflect my personal views or what I blog about.

In November of last year, the WordPress.com team announced on their blog a new venture with their own advertising program called WordAds. In partnership with Federated Media, this offered WordPress.com bloggers a chance to make some monetary gain from their blogging, which was previously unavailable as WordPress.com doesn’t allow advertising otherwise (including Google’s AdSense).

I signed up for the program at that time and in April, last month, I received an email asking about my interest expressed in the program. Another email later, I had instructions for activating WordAds. Since then, I’ve had some back and forth emails about the ads themselves and their content as well as some other areas of the WordAds Terms of Usage, all in making sure that I was clear in my understanding.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. I am currently a student and I hope to make enough from these ads to continue my studies as well as buying ingredients for new recipes I’ve been waiting to try. It would also help me pay for domain hosting for Z’s Cup of Tea and any upgrades, which are purchased and renewed every year, in the future that I might want to add to make Z’s Cup of Tea a better experience.

In signing up with WordPress.com’s WordAds program, I now receive monetary gain from ads displayed on Z’s Cup of Tea. I have no control over the ads or their content, though I’ve been told that ads are different for US and international visitors.

Update 6/27/12: If you see an ad that you don’t agree with, please take a screenshot of the offending ad (here’s how to take a screenshot) and email it to me at contact@zscupoftea.com and I will get in touch with the WordAds team.

Consequently, these ads do not reflect upon my personal views or interests or what I blog about here at Z’s Cup of Tea. They also have no influence on what I shall continue to blog about. So if you see an ad for a cheesy, gluten-filled pizza or a cupcake, for example – and I’ve already seen them – that does not reflect upon what I share here. The same goes for any fad diet related ads (here I am NOT referring to gluten-free or any other diet followed for health and/or medical reasons). At this time, it’s difficult for the WordAds program to match niche market ads to any individual blogger’s blog content.

If you’re on a mobile device, you may not see the ads. I can’t see them on my iPod touch or iPad, the latter thanks to the special iPad layout. You can see them if you are surfing in a browser on a computer, however.

I have already addressed this change on my FAQ page, so a post announcing compensated advertisements should be brief but I wanted to acknowledge this change and let you, my readers, know this and be aware.

Sincerely,

Zoe of Z’s Cup of Tea

Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten-Free! Fictional Food

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It’s April 1st – and in most parts of the world, that means it’s April Fool’s Day. (In some countries, such as Canada, the pranks only last until noon but I don’t know how widespread that is that it’s actually practiced. That’s also according to Wikipedia.) Believe me, though, I’m not fooling you when I welcome you to this month’s theme of Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten-Free! This month’s focus is on Fictional Food – Treats and Dishes from Children’s Stories.

This theme is all about food inspired by books you read as a child or children’s books that perhaps you came to later in your life, such as reading a book to your younger sibling, your own child, or if you’re babysitting… Whatever the case may be, this is a theme for all ages, no matter what your age. This is an opportunity for you to try making something from your favourite book that you always wanted to make, but haven’t yet. Or maybe you did before, but have to change it now because of changes in your diet.

Plus, isn’t this a more than timely theme now that the series of Harry Potter books and movies are over and we can wax nostalgic over them now (especially if you grew up with them)? Plus, the first Hunger Games movie was released, while causing an explosion of inspired recipes in its wake. (Note I’ve not actually read or seen the Hunger Games but I did like reading this post about the interesting similarities between the Hunger Games and Franz Kafka’s A Hunger Artist.)

N.B. If you’re going to submit a Hunger Games-inspired recipe, please only do so if you can guarantee it is tasty. I’ve heard that the food in the books doesn’t taste that great, so deviate a bit and inject some juiciness into it if that’s your inspiration. (Ha! April Fool’s. But seriously – please make sure it tastes good.)