function related_posts() {

        global $post; //this is used by the loop down

        if (!$this->is_single) {
            return;
        }


        if (td_util::get_option('tds_similar_articles') == 'hide') {
            return;
        }

        if (td_util::get_option('tds_similar_articles_count') == '') {
            if (td_global::$cur_single_template_sidebar_pos == 'no_sidebar') {
                $tds_similar_articles_count = 3;
            } else {
                $tds_similar_articles_count = 2;
            }

        } else {
            $tds_similar_articles_count = td_util::get_option('tds_similar_articles_count');
        }




        $buffy = '';
        $buffy .= '<div class="art-img-text-down similar-articles">';


        $args = array();

        switch (td_util::get_option('tds_similar_articles_type')) {

            //by tag
            case 'by_tag':
                $tags = wp_get_post_tags($this->post->ID);
                if ($tags) {
                    $taglist = array();
                    for ($i = 0; $i <= 4; $i++) {
                        if (!empty($tags[$i])) {
                            $taglist[] = $tags[$i]->term_id;
                        } else {
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                    $args = array(
                        'tag__in' => $taglist,
                        'post__not_in' => array($this->post->ID),
                        'showposts' => $tds_similar_articles_count,
                        'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
                    );
                }
                break;


            //by title
            case 'by_auth':
                $args = array(
                    'author' => $this->post->post_author,
                    'post__not_in' => array($this->post->ID),
                    'showposts' => $tds_similar_articles_count,
                    'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
                );
                break;


            //by category
            default:
                $args = array(
                    'category__in' => wp_get_post_categories($this->post->ID),
                    'post__not_in' => array($this->post->ID),
                    'showposts' => $tds_similar_articles_count,
                    'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
                );
                break;
        }



        if (!empty($args)) {
            //do the query

            $post_categories = wp_get_post_categories($this->post->ID);
            $cats = array();

            foreach($post_categories as $c){
                $cat = get_category( $c );
                $cats[] = array( 'name' => $cat->name, 'slug' => $cat->slug );
            }

            $my_query = new WP_Query($args);
            if ($my_query->have_posts()) {
                $buffy .= '<h4 class="block-title"><span>' . __td('SIMILAR ARTICLES') . '  -  ' . $cat->name . '</span></h4>';

                $td_template_layout = new td_template_layout(''); //invalid sidebar position, it will default to 2 + 1

                if (td_global::$cur_single_template_sidebar_pos == 'no_sidebar') {
                    $td_template_layout->set_columns(3);
                } else {
                    $td_template_layout->set_columns(2);
                }


                while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post();

                    $buffy .= $td_template_layout->layout_open_element();
                    $td_module_6 = new td_module_6($post);
                    $buffy .= $td_module_6->render();
                    $buffy .=  $td_template_layout->layout_close_element();

                    $td_template_layout->layout_next();
                endwhile;

                $buffy .= $td_template_layout->close_all_tags();
            }
        }




        $buffy .= '</div>';

        wp_reset_query();

        return $buffy;
    }