100 words

  • I came across a story today with the headline How your smartphone’s battery life can be used to invade your privacy. I only read part of it, but I assume it’s completely sensational nonsense. So for today’s post, I’d like to make up some more sensation headlines about privacy.

    Using deeply personal device that is constantly connected to Internet may compromise privacy

    Posting your activities online may be used to invade your privacy

    Doing things outside may compromise privacy

    Telling people what you did last night may be invasion of privacy

    If you do anything people might know

    Please. Stop.

    August 5, 2015

  • I don’t fancy myself a designer in any sense. Yes I make websites and tinker with Photoshop. I’d like to be one. But I’m not.

    That said, Sticker Mule recently had a Dribbble Contest to show off your favorite summer activity and I decided to try my hand. It would be a fun way to get better.

    Sticker Mule then asked if I’d like to list my design on their marketplace and I obliged! You can now buy my sticker, Summertime Cigar over at Sticker Mule. I ordered a 5 pack for myself and can’t wait for them to come in!

    summertime-cigar

    August 4, 2015

  • I finished reading Ready Player One yesterday, continuing my summer where I actually read books. It was a truly fantastic, easy, and entertaining book. I strongly recommend it. 

    I’ve really enjoyed taking time out of my day to just read. Usually I’ll go to my roof with a paperback and read up there, cigar in hand. There are no screens to distract me; just the sounds of the city, the sunset, and a book.

    It’s a very peaceful experience and a nice way for me to log off for a couple of hours. I think I will keep it up.

    August 2, 2015

  • Remember that time I referenced a post I hadn’t written yet? Well here it is! I was discussing the apparent topic of the week: my soon to be revived TIL podcast. I mentioned that I decided not to do another general learning podcast because, well, there’s a lot of them. About 8 months ago, I wrote a post about which ones I listen to. Here’s an update to that post.

    All great podcasts (and Lore is new). All have a great hook.

    July 31, 2015

  • I’m getting the itch to write another book. It’s been about 2 years since I really got into the groove of writing Responsive Design with WordPress and about a year and a half since it came out.

    I’ve been kicking around a lot of ideas to coincide with other projects I’m working on, including 100 Words and TIL Podcast. Perhaps a book of short stories or something.

    I do have other ideas for tech books – specifically WordPress – but I want to seek a broader audience. I’m not sure I’m ready to write a fiction book yet, but something with more appeal, definitely.

    July 30, 2015

  • I’ve been thinking more about the TIL Podcast and what I need to do to make it a show people will actually listen to. I need a good hook to draw people in, and I’m not entirely sure one that’s just, “I learned stuff,” is good. See Friday’s post for why (spoiler: there are a lot of them).

    I’m thinking about doing, “Things I Learned Offline.” It might be a good hook and there is human interaction. I can build a story about how I came into the info, and the present the fact at the end of the show.

    July 29, 2015

  • When I woke up this morning I though, “I’m going to get a bunch of stuff done before work.” It’ll be a productive day! Then I spent 20 minutes wrestling with Chrome.

    My account needed to be re-verified. Fine. 2-factor auth. Great. “Your sync passphrase is different from your Google password. It was set 2.5 years ago.” What did I use 2 and half years ago?! I figured it out. Then I get an SSL Error on this site. I use a self-signed cert since I’m the only who logs in. I can’t seem to make this a verified source. Switching to Safari.

    July 28, 2015

  • On Friday I was presented with a problem that I had no idea how to solve. Unfamiliar with most aspects of it, I did what any reasonable person would do. I freaked out and went to bed.

    After a solid night’s sleep I did some research, came up with a plan, and by Sunday afternoon, I had a good solution to this problem implemented. It was frustrating, but invigorating when I finished.

    My favorite part about programming is just that. I went from “no idea where to start” to “working solution” in less than 48 hours. Problem solving at its best.

    July 27, 2015

  • Yesterday I mentioned that I’ve been kicking ideas around for the third iteration of TIL Podcast. The key is just putting it in a format that I can and will actually do.

    While the 1st format (a group of my friend and me talking about stuff) was great, it was difficult to coordinate. The same goes for the 2nd format: a one-on-one discussion.

    The other problem was making it weekly. That’s simply too much for me, right now. Making it every two or even three weeks, will allow me do it and do it right. Here’s to making it work.

    July 26, 2015

  • So much for writing a lot this week! I’m hoping Sunday will provide me ample opportunity for reading, writing, and R&R.

    I’ve been kicking around lots of ideas for my seemingly defunct TIL Podcast. Now that I have a nice new mic (Blue Yeti – thank you Prime Day) I’ve gotten a second (third?) wind for doing it.

    My latest ideas are to either: go back into old blog posts and do updates on the podcast, or jot down some things I learned over 2 weeks and talk about them.

    Either way, much like Justin Timberlake, I’m going solo this time around.

    July 25, 2015