Creating the function

We are going to define a function; search_cat_dropdown() which will return the HTML code required for a dropdown list populated with all the categories with at least a post filed under them.

Copy this snippet of code into your functions.php

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

function search_cat_dropdown() {
    $post_cat = $_GET['cat'];
    $categories = get_categories('type=post&hide_empty=true&orderby=name');
    $html = '<select name="cat">';
 
    foreach ($categories as $cat) {
        $html .= '<option value="' . $cat->cat_ID . '"';
 
        if ($cat->cat_ID == $post_cat)
            $html .= ' selected';
 
        $html .=  '>' . $cat->cat_name . '</option>';
    }
 
    $html .=  '</select>';
 
    return $html;
}

Now all that is needed is to call this function at where your search form HTML codes are residing.

Add this line just before the start of the submit button code for the form.

<div><?php echo search_cat_dropdown(); ?></div>

Just so you know, when searching by category, pages will not be included in the result.

When I first knew of the existence of such a phenomenon, I was captivated by its beauty and have fallen in love with it ever since. Waterfalls still excite me, just add auroras to the list.

By nick_russill

By alf07 °,°

By blueforce4116

You can find plenty of amazing Aurora Borealis pictures on Flickr.

It is a real pity that to see one, you have to go all the way out to places like Greenland and Alaska. It could take many trips before one can actually see them as they do have their occurrences throughout the year.

I envy those living in countries which the Northern Lights circle as the Aurora Borealis is a common sight. People living in the other parts of the world like me will probably not see it unless we specially make an effort to do so.

Well, that is one of the many dreams I have.

On a scale of 10, I rated the pain at a range between 6 to 7. You don’t just feel it at the ankle, but in many different areas of the foot. Even when at a resting position, I can feel the burning pinch. And it hurts.

The first question coming from any medical professional who has seen my foot is whether I have taken an X-Ray or not. Yes, I have already taken one last week.

For a change, I was being assessed and asked to move my right foot through different motions. Quite obviously, there were some I couldn’t manage due to the excruciating pain. To ease the suffering, I was injected with a painkiller in the rear. Till now I am still feeling the numbness on my right butt cheek. I didn’t get any of those in my first visit.

A more detailed X-Ray was done, 4 different views of the ankle. I really hate doing them as it puts a huge painful strain due to the angle I am supposed to position my ankle. But it is certain, there is no fracture.

Another 7 days of MC was given, totaling to 12 now. I was referred to an orthopedic specialist and our appointment has been set in a fortnight. In the mean time, I will need to rest and minimize any form of movement. What that means is more time spent being depressingly cooped up at home.

I would give anything to be able to have a smashing workout right about now.

After the match ended, I was sent to a clinic to check things out. The doctor suspected it was a fracture and wrote a memo for me to undergo an X-Ray at a hospital.

On reaching the A&E, I was put on a wheelchair by a nurse. I waited for a good 2 hours, thank god there was a wireless@SG network to cure my boredom.

After the X-Ray, there were no signs of a fracture. It has been deduced as a sprain for now, the doctor was unable to confirm if there is a crack or not.

For my troubles, I have been given a 5 days MC for my troubles and if it still hurts after that, it is probably more than a simple sprain and I have to return for a followup.

For now I am on medication to stop the pain and my ankle is wrapped up nicely. I am still unable to walk properly. Hopefully soon, it will not be a chore.

What irks me most is having the excitement of finally stepping onto the pitch in 2 weeks cut short and be out for another couple of weeks.

I am very thankful for all the support I have received thus far. I could not have managed at the hospital on my own. Right now, I am fully concentrated on getting past this setback and come back stronger. Hopefully I would be able to be running on the pitch sooner rather than later.

I still remember me mischievously playing some football on the eve of my E-Maths paper instead of preparing myself for it.

It has been a good while since 2003 and just for one day, I was able to turn the clock back. We went on a trip to the city no different from our past meetings, our schedule however packed with things almost every 16 year old would do as a pastime.

By Ignacio Guerra

Things like:

1. Taking a neoprint - Not many places left to do that now
2. Catching a movie at student prices – SGD $10.00 for a weekend movie is just absurd
3. Playing pool - The first thing to do when you reach 16

Somethings do not change. I am still as bad in decorating neoprints and my pool skills have turned a tad rusty.

There are probably others like LAN and video arcade gaming but we didn’t go into all that. I may have even missed others myself. Do refresh my memory. Even in my younger years, I never really took a fancy to the former. Probably because I was real bad at it.

Being able to indulge in the favorite past times of a 16 year old again made me reminisce a little about being a teenager without any responsibilities. Well, except for doing well in the O’ levels.

6 years later, it is still good fun.

There was an ongoing student promotion at that time, they were trying to offload the remaining 2G sets to welcome 3G. As a result, I was able to get a SGD $365 rebate which pretty much means that the iPod Touch is a free gift. I am not complaining.

To officially induct the iPod Touch as my 2 year plus old iPod Video replacement, I took a screen capture (Lock + Home button) of the home page display.

I also splashed out USD $4.95 to upgrade the software version to 3.1.1 just so that I can enjoy the latest, more cooler apps available on the App Store.

The lack of ways to use a data plan means I am not connected on the go. My only chance of getting connected is at home or where there is a good wireless network.

One of the things about the iPod Touch is that it cannot be mounted as a disk drive. I could sync it with a folder containing my photos but what about the other way round? Just copying the files since it is not even listed in Finder is not an option.

Thanks to @charholly9 for a straight off the shelf answer – importing through iPhoto. It is a little unnatural but I guess over time I would get used to it.

The iPod Touch is primarily my music device but there isn’t a night now that I would not have it in hand, playing the downloaded games or actually browsing for more apps.

I was terribly excited about the album, not the free gift. I gave a shot at Hougang mall’s CD Rama one fine Saturday but to no avail. After a good fortnight since it was released, I have finally gotten a copy of the album; as a belated Christmas gift from Vickie.

Track Listings

1. 雨愛
2. In Your Eyes
3. 青春鬥
4. 調皮的愛神
5. 摺疊式愛情
6. 匿名的好友
7. 要我的命
8. 絕對達令
9. 新流感
10. 二度戀愛

Raincoats are just not my kind of thing. I don’t ever wear them, except during my BMT days.

I would much rather get drenched than be spotted wearing a raincoat. If any of you are interested in having it, do leave me a comment.

As always, support Rainie. Purchase her originals.

Not too short ago, I received the letter. It was an order to report for service on the 3rd of February 2010. And to think that it wasn’t that long since I completed my NS. Perhaps ever since my PES status got upgraded, I am suddenly so much more valuable.

I immediately contacted NAAEC and made a request to defer any call ups till after the completion of my studies. I know it is probably futile as I am still after all studying in a private school. Things would have been different if I was in one of the 3 local universities. Ah nonetheless, I tried.

It is coming near to a whole month and a reply on its status would really come in handy now. As it stands, I would probably have to follow the schedule and report on the allocated date. Just to be on the safe side, I would make a call down to the hotline.

A neat haircut is what we are supposed to be spotting. I would have to carefully plan my next visit to the hair stylist to avoid looking like a dork during Chinese New Year.

Without a day to day job, I could really do with the recently increased service pay for NS Sergeants, even if it is only a portion. Rumor has it that for the first 2 years, I am in for some intensive training. That has gotten me pretty excited and I can’t wait.

On a not so positive note, I won’t be grinding it out with any of my NS mates. It would be a totally whole new start with new friends and acquaintances.

This time round, I am quite certain that I won’t be taken away for more than a day. As stated on the slip, it is just a briefing. But one can never be too sure.

Right now, all there is are speculations. I will only get a clearer picture after 3rd of February 2010. Wish me luck.

One fine day in 2008, I was contacted by a very passionate and knowledgeable Laziale after he found a post written by me on the HardwareZone forums. In time and gradually, we were building up a fan base in Singapore. However, we are still just a few and always looking out.

If you are a Laziale residing in sunny Singapore, do give us a shout on Facebook and we will get in touch with you. Or if you have any friends who are avid Laziali, point them here.

At long last, we had our second official gathering, I missed the first.

From left to right: Jon, Harun, Nigel, Stefano and Darran

It is nothing serious, just something very casual. It was good fun talking about everything Lazio and beyond, no different from a mingling session with a group of friends, only that these are hardcore Laziali who never once abandoned the team in its most difficult times.

Another year of failing to achieve my 2009 new year resolutions – getting a gold for my IPPT. This is getting quite a habit. I guess it is harder than it actually is since my emphasis will always be on bulking up and building muscle mass.

Training for a 9:45 mins timing for my 2.4km run will in fact go against what I have set out to do all this while. But I will not give up trying.

Let’s focus on 2010 instead by taking a brief look at my targets.

New Year Resolutions for 2010

1. Get my driving license
2. Bump my weight to an ideal 70kg while looking ripped
3. Not fail any of my Computer Science subjects

Yes, the last one is not a joke.