Expectations are Everything
WordPress 5.0 is coming out tomorrow. You should make sure you’re prepared. Also, we can learn a lot about communication from the frustrations and confusions surrounding this software update.
Blog
Importing Tags Instead of Categories with the WordPress RSS Importer Plugin
The official WordPress RSS Importer plugin is pretty crude and has some limitations. I ran into a few of those and solved them, specifically turning RSS categories into WordPress Tags.
WordPress 5.0 is Not Ready
WordPress 5.0 contains a massive change to content editing. Without working through a systematic review of what’s been built, I don’t know how anyone can be sure that it is ready for release. The project needs more time and public validation that it’s ready.
Website Basics for Small Nonprofits Webinar & Slides
Last week, I had the pleasure of giving a new webinar for Washington Nonprofits. It covered a lot of information in just under an hour, and we got great feedback! So nice to be reassured that a SIMPLE start is o.k.! The site can grow over time! Webinar Participant The presentation specifically speaks to smaller … Continue reading “Website Basics for Small Nonprofits Webinar & Slides”
“Engaging” “Interactive” Websites & The Pepsi Challenge
As a web designer, one of my jobs is to understand people’s design preferences before I put pencil to paper and mouse to screen. Looking at other websites as examples of design is important but provide misleading reactions when it comes to make decisions. Using Example Sites to Guide Design Projects Looking at examples of … Continue reading ““Engaging” “Interactive” Websites & The Pepsi Challenge”
The Curb Cut Effect & Your Website
I’m a big fan of the podcast 99% Invisible, and have even blogged about how an earlier episode of theirs related to web design. I’ve got another one to share now! Episode #308, “Curb Cuts”, looked at the “curb cut effect”, in which an accessibility accommodation proves useful to just about anyone. Curb cuts are … Continue reading “The Curb Cut Effect & Your Website”
Chronicle VII & Upcoming Events
A much belated update on upcoming events, personal life, and work life.
Why I Like Being a Nonprofit Consultant
A link and some thoughts about why I love working with nonprofits and what makes nonprofit clients different from business clients.
WA State Nonprofit Conference: Quick Wrap Up
Yesterday I attended the Washington State Nonprofit Conference for the first time. As I often do, I wanted to quickly report back on what I did and some quick takeaways. Beth Kanter on Nonprofit Self-Care & Burnout Beth Kanter was the morning plenary speaker to kick off the conference. She talked about burnout among nonprofit staff … Continue reading “WA State Nonprofit Conference: Quick Wrap Up”
Cancelling my Seattle Chamber of Commerce Membership
Read the letter I sent to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce asking that they cancel my membership in light of their recent advocacy against a tax on high-earning businesses for funding affordable housing in Seattle.
Final Thoughts on Codeacademy’s Learn JavaScript Course
This is post 2 of 2 in the series “Learning JavaScript” After sharing some thoughts a while back as I got started with Codeacademy’s Learn JavaScript course, I wrapped things up yesterday. Then I cancelled my subscription. Let’s start with the good stuff first though. The Good Parts of My Codeacademy Experience I was motivated … Continue reading “Final Thoughts on Codeacademy’s Learn JavaScript Course”
Nielsen Norman Group on Dealing with “Bad” Design Ideas
The Nielsen Norman Group article on handling design feedback is jam-packed with great information.
It’s Time to Ditch WordCamp Tracks (and What to Do Instead)
The idea of conference tracks is enticing and well-intentioned, but it doesn’t work very well for many WordCamp attendees and is counter productive in many ways. Here’s why WordCamp Seattle 2017 didn’t have tracks and what we did instead.
Thoughts on Starting Codeacademy’s Learn JavaScript Course
This is post 1 of 2 in the series “Learning JavaScript” One of the hardest things as a freelancer is keeping your skills up. This year, I’m trying to invest time getting better at the JavaScript programming language. While I’ve tinkered with JavaScript for years, I’ve never been comfortable with it and have usually turned … Continue reading “Thoughts on Starting Codeacademy’s Learn JavaScript Course”
WordCamp Speaker Diversity, Blind Reviews, & Selection Criteria
Using a blind review process for WordCamp 2017 resulted in a focused initial review of speakers and a diverse final speaker lineup that reflected the demographics of the heavily recruited applicant pool.
More Code Contributed to WordPress 4.9!
Two versions of WordPress in a row have had my code in it! How cool is that! Best yet, the latest bug fix came straight out of a client project, proving once again that nonprofits and open source mix wonderfully.