FeedCity

Starting to roll out some improvements to the Micro.blog “marketing” home page, for new users or when you’re signed out. The content isn’t really different yet. I’m sticking with the full-screen paintings, and several layout and link problems are fixed, especially on mobile. Still work to do.

Advice from a longtime developer. 1. If you think "I should do a backup," do it. Now, don't wait. 2. Make it really easy to do a backup. Choose a menu item that's always available when you're working.

I needed a tiny feed reader for an app I was working on.

When I was having trouble getting into my AWS account last week, I ordered a Yubikey, which everyone says is the best way to go. I thought I'd set it up first thing Monday morning (ie now) but it turns out it's a major undertaking? Why does this have to be so hard? I guess I'll find out, but not today. I want to make some progress on my development project first. Maybe later.

Another criticism of the Bluesky API. They make each developer do the support for Open Graph metadata, when it would be much more efficient for them to support it on their end. I would be happy to give them the code. It's not that complicated. But translating the OG format, which for crying out loud is a huge standard, into their arcane format which is only supported by Bluesky, is going in the wrong direction, and frankly is ridiculously arrogant. Show a little humility. Facebook is huge, and the format isn't just used by Facebook, everyone uses it.

For this month’s IndieWeb Carnival Nick has picked the topic of do-overs and the more I think about this topic—in the context of going back and doing something differently—the more I can’t find an instance where I’d want to give something a crack a second time. Not because m...

Rumors from Ming-Chi Kuo have Apple smart glasses about two years out, mixed reality glasses three years. I assume there is nothing set with dates that far away. Looking forward to seeing what Apple can do with glasses, but it’s all pinned on Siri getting much better.

I just got FreePBX up and running and connected to a WiFi phone and my doorbell and video intercom system! I have two way calling between every device, I can even connect analog phones!

What shenanigans should I rig up next? I'm thinking maybe an old payphone at the street, or maybe an old 1920s style phone for the speakeasy...

Benjamin Wittes: "It’s remarkable how many non-New Yorkers seem to care who the mayor of New York City is." They do and they're right to, the same way we were concerned how the Governor of California and Mayor of Los Angeles would react to the invasion of the Marines and hi...

Second Sunday session

"I’m a political scientist, and I found that Americans were far less likely to publicly voice their opinions than even during the height of the McCarthy-era Red Scare."

Andreas Deja blogs about the upcoming 40th anniversary of The Black Cauldron:

…our inexperience as young film makers really shows in the film. Many of us were straight out of art school with little experience in animation. But…I keep meeting young people who are very fond of The Black Cauldron.

Here’s a story from the dark ages of video releases. I really wanted to watch it, but the VHS version wasn’t released here until years later. Someone from Europe sent me a copy in exchange for another video release from the US. I brought the tape to a local company to convert from PAL to NTSC. 🤯

The Internet Archive has a blog post reacting to last week’s Anthropic case and its potential effect on libraries:

This decision reinforces the idea that copying for non-commercial, transformative purposes—like making a book searchable, training an AI, or preserving web pages—can be lawful under fair use. That legal protection is essential to modern librarianship.

Speaking of Texas state parks, over the weekend I dug into confusion about the number of parks. There are two new parks in development, but not yet open:

• Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area
• Powderhorn State Park

Going to update my list later, bumping the count from 88 to 90.

Mineral Wells State Park. The hike down to the lake and back was a little steeper and more rocky than we were expecting. Great morning but too hot.

Sunday session

Last weekend I visited The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, an art collection that showcases mainly Impressionist and Medieval art, with some other genres too. The gallery was unlike any other I have visited. The outside of the building was modern: constructed with grey lim...

A shed in JFK Plaza, Philadelphia, painted with a red background and the city skyline that says, in beautiful lettering, “love”