Month: March 2024

Nice BBC article on aphantasia (not being able to see images in your mind):

Aphantasia: Why I cannot picture my children in my mind https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68675976

Next up in my “readable code tips” series:

There is a balance to be found between "inlining" multiple expressions, and using temporary variables.

You may also learn about “short-circuit evaluation” here if you don't know what that is (or you may just put a name to something you already know).

https://rosswintle.uk/2024/03/readable-code-tips-dont-inline-everything/

A while ago I found crosshare.org

The little daily puzzle has become part of my day. But you can make them too! And the constructor is very good.

My kid (8) and I have made a couple of puzzles. They are MOSTLY hers, but I’ve chipped in a bit.

Enjoy!

https://crosshare.org/crosswords/1Bqixf9crDP7jVPiR907/rabbiting-on

https://crosshare.org/crosswords/9x7JGmoJ2bGfre5oVzrQ/adas-first

This smartphone desktop robot thing does look super cute and fun. But also looks super data-slurpy:

“All your precious, ephemeral moments are now kept by him”

“Always observing his surroundings… LOOI can analyze everything he sees”

Also they overdid the gimmicks. And I’d never buy hardware on kickstarter.

Fun idea though.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tangiblefuture/looi-robot-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-desktop-robot

Idea: Gyms should have “quiet sessions” for introverts and neurodiverse folks. The lights and music are SO annoying. 😬

I’ve decided that my new primary KPI at work will be MCPW (Meetings Cancelled Per Week)

😃

This was written specially for @nathan , eh?

😉

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-do-canadians-say-eh

Yes, I AM continuing the series of readable code tips. Here's number two in the series:

Readable code tips: Extract complex conditions

https://rosswintle.uk/2024/03/readable-code-tips-extract-complex-conditions/

Nice. @tmeister has made a new and developing unofficial docs site for #WPCLI.

https://wpcli.dev/

He says:

“What I want is to create more deep content around it… Tutorials on specific commands, how to migrate sites, maintenance routines for comments, users, security, extends the cli with custom commands, etc.”

#WordPress

It's just amazing what's stuck in the back of your brain, waiting to be coaxed out by a few musical notes.

My kid plays this tune from the video game Deltarune today:

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XH1ibcc_MpQ&si=y7gDPB8YDE-b4ORw

And I'm instantly humming the demo tune from the ancient Casio VL-TONE keyboard that my sister owned back in about 1985.

https://youtu.be/yMMnj5FfgHU

Trusting code…

You kinda have a relationship with code from your projects. You probably have feelings about it.

As I've been thinking about code style, I've also been thinking about how it's important to build up trust in a code base.

https://rosswintle.uk/2024/03/trusting-code/

Ah poop. My only decent local bike shop just closed. Sad times. Need a service and maybe a new freewheel too. Where do I go now‽

Dear Parents

**PARKING SAFETY**

I’d like to draw your attention to the increasing problem of dangerous parking on the school grounds.

There have been recent incidents involving a large carriage and a submersible boat.

There are clear markings and rules around parking. And contravention of these rules poses a danger to students, staff, and the local community.

Mr Snape will be patrolling the grounds to make sure any illegally parked vehicles are moved on.

Best wishes

Prof Dumbledore

Dear Mrs Weasley

We are writing to inform you that Ginny had an accident at school today. It’s nothing to be concerned about. She has been to the medical wing to have the wound cleaned and a plaster has been applied.

It seems she got into an altercation with another boy in the playground who was wielding an enormous and very dangerous snake-like creature.

The boy has been reprimanded and we shall take steps to ensure this does not happen again.

Regards,

Prof McGonagal

Has someone done parody Hogwarts School Comms yet? Like:

Dear Mr Granger

We have accumulated a large number brooms in the broom shed that seem to have been abandoned.

Can you please ensure that your child’s broom is removed at the end of term. Any brooms left
in the broom shed will be disposed of during the holidays.

Mr Dumbledore
Headteacher

Let’s go over the basics of applying for jobs again shall we?:

1. Read the posting. Don’t apply if you can’t demonstrate the core skills.
2. Do what the posting says.
3. Spell names right. Double check that you spelled names right. (I’ve had a “Dear Rose” and a “P Engine” this week)
4. Express excitement for the actual job that you are applying for. Boilerplate excitement will be detected and ignored!
5. Give some evidence that you can do the job.

This is the bare minimum to get past step 1.

Holy shit. This is amazing!! Insta-purchase! https://mastodon.social/@marcmagnin/112141300273384408

Popped back onto Twitter for some time this week. The spam replies problem there is frickin' huge and awful. How do people cope?

As well as a developer position in my team at WP Engine, there’s also a Web UX Designer role going.

Needs:
– 5 years of experience
– WordPress admin experience
– Excellent web/UX knowledge and capability

Let me know if interested. I can get you the job spec and refer you in. Thanks!