Author: Ross Wintle

Just added me a “/now" page. Might be of interest. Or might not. Complete vanity.

https://rw.omg.lol/now

Every time I go and do stuff on omg.lol I'm reminded of what a brilliant little place it is. Long may it live!! @prami

Wow. Tech friends…

Setting up your parents’ Smart
Energy Tariffs and configuring their solar inverter is the new “making your parents printer work”.

Only it’s about 15 times harder.

Awful experience.

I don’t know what to say about this other than this is a podcast where a person interviews ChatGPT (v4) about AI.

It’s fascinating in both direct and “meta” ways. Worth a listen, if only to hear what ChatGPT thinks about itself.

A note/content warning: this podcast is about … hmm … let’s call it “spirituality” but “faith”, “church” and “Christianity” may all apply. Some may think it heretical.

I present it neutrally as “a fascinating thing”.

Interview starts at 19:13

https://pca.st/episode/0c0bcc99-a9b5-4a30-a467-284a42219f8c

Apple Watch users… how do I:

– Have a morning alarm
– That sounds (audible) on my watch
– While wearing my watch while sleeping
– But in silent mode (all other alerts are haptic)

I’m honestly so confused. About to buy a simple loud clock for my bedside!!

I’d love to see more #WordPress folks in the @wpwatercooler Discord because:

1. Slack just feels so much like _work_ doesn’t it?
2. They’re not trying to sell you anything or discuss their course or product. It’s not even sponsored.
3. I dunno. Just. Feels like where the geeks should be.

I’m too old for Discord. I can barely post a Gif. But I can chat. So…

Maybe see you there?

https://wpwatercooler.com/2021/05/04/join-our-discord-and-chat-with-the-wpwatercooler-community/

A pile of swear words that describe how I’m feeling right now.

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<Insert a list of your own favourites. You can well imagine how this week has gone.>

UK Climate Policy. It’s so important and I’m so angry that it shouldn’t be content warning’ed, but I’m sticking with convention.

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Wow. Rishi Sunak on full-on robot mode. This should be an issue that evokes so much passion and energy. But he here is droning with the zeal of a piece of toast.

Also: if you have to do THAT much pre-announcement explaining, then it has to be a bad thing and you know it.

Sad for my country.

UK Climate Policy. It’s so important and I’m so angry that it shouldn’t be content warning’ed, but I’m sticking with convention.

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Jacob Rees Mogg doing some complete word vomit on the radio.

“We don’t want people to be cold and poor”

No, actually, you really do. That’s pretty much been you policy for the last 13 years. Your take is that if people are cold/poor it’s their own fault for not having a job and not working hard enough.

Your quasi-Victorian give-a-shit-ometer is stuck on zero.

Here’s one thought… friction… not in physics, but in work.

There is good friction that slows you down a bit but has purpose. Sometimes… but not always… you want more of this. Like locks on doors. Or code reviews.

And there is bad friction.

My best analogy for this is “sludge” in Tears of the Kingdom. It’s annoying. It’s random. It slows you down. And your quest is to eliminate it! (But to do so you must wade through lots of it). Like broken systems! Fix them!!

I have so many opinions today that I might have to start a podcast!

My brain is so full.

Of everything.

Passkeys are awesome.

Can we get 2-factor with passkeys in #WordPress core yet please?

Has anyone invented a school version of ChatGPT yet that I can forward a zillion complicated emails to and then ask stuff like: “What days does little Johnny need to take his PE kit this week?”

Imagine if “household concierge service” was a company benefit/perk. Could really improve employee productivity.

(Sure, it would be run by some big corporate that distributes the money to other big corporates rather than local tradespeople. That would be a downside. But…)

Is there, like, a concierge service for household stuff? Someone that can coordinate multiple trades and services with minimal fuss?

Like “Please arrange to have my gutters cleaned, my toilet fixed and I’d like to speak with three reputable people about a kitchen redesign. Thanks.”

Well. In an unexpected turn of events, after this week I would place “work for large corporate” way above “contribute to well-known open source project” in terms of things that seem positive for my life.

Never thought I’d be here.

Announcement on The Tube (London metro):

“All folded and unfolded eScooters and eUnicycles are prohibited on…”

Hang in, WHAT? eUnicycles?

This can’t be what I think it is!!

So my work backpack – which is basically my office in a bag – has given up on me.

Any recommendations for something that will survive years of cycling back and forth to my office while carrying a 16" metal-cased laptop and a drawers worth of gadgets, cables and stationary?

Needs:
– Pockets
– Padded straps and back
– Tough fabric and zips
– Pockets
– More pockets