Blog

  • So, this happened…

    So, this happened…

     

    Yesterday I noticed that grey gradient at the bottom of my Macbook Pro screen – it's the 2016 model and just 11 months old. For clarity in the screenshot I've hidden the dock and put a white background on.

    It appears over the top of anything on the screen but due to its relevatively small size it's not (yet) a bother. I assume it's backlight issue of some kind but not sure what exactly would produce that kind of pattern – consistent right across the screen.

    Thankfully my employers swap out our devices after 18 months, so I've only got to live with this (if I want to) for 7 months. The majority of the time I use an external monitor and only really use the laptop screen whilst mobile. But, still, it's a little odd!

  • The week I was in a Russian boy band

    The week I was in a Russian boy band

    For some reason my co-workers in Automattic's VIP team seem to be gripped by this story and thought I should share it, so here goes.

    First of all, some back story. I've been performing in amateur musical theatre for about 15 years. I can single and act reasonably. I can dance badly.

    Cue misty, dreamy clouds that take us back to 2013…

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  • Fish on Tour

    Fish on Tour

    Last night I went to see the excellent No Such Thing as a Fish on the first night of their UK tour. It was a fantastic show and I highly recommend it.

    It consisted of two parts – an initial 45 minutes with the "Elves", each doing their own presentation about the year. There was then an interval followed by an hour long segment, during which they recorded a podcast for broadcast next Friday (once released I'll add a link to it in this post). It will be interesting to see what is included and what's not (the Podcast is usually 40-45 minutes, including ads).

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  • A Year of WordPress Plugin Updates

    A Year of WordPress Plugin Updates

    Today marks a momentous occasion – for most of this year I’ve been trying to bring my 18 WordPress plugins up-to-date and, as of this morning, it’s now complete.

    You see, I’d allowed my WordPress plugins to fall behind in their updates, for various reasons, and changes were required to them all – not enhancements but basic maintenance tasks.

    Why did it take me so long? Quite simply, time. With a new job, I need to prioritise that above everything else. Now, more settled I’ve been able to find the time to get this work done. And, my work also allowed me time to complete one of those tasks – learning Github enough to be able to start hosting my plugins there – as Github knowledge is of use to my role as well.

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  • Why can’t Jo Malone change your account’s email?

    Why can’t Jo Malone change your account’s email?

    This all started, innocently, yesterday as I was going through some online accounts that I have registered to an old email address.

    I bought my wife some Jo Malone perfume last year, I think, and, as a result, I now have an account on their site. But, and unfortunately they’re not the only site to do this, they don’t provide a way for you to change your email.

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