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  • January 29, 2022

    Must-Have Safari Extensions

    Must-Have Safari Extensions

    With iOS/iPadOS 15, you’re finally able to install browser extensions in Safari. There are a lot of great ones out there, but now that it’s been possible for a few months, I thought I’d briefly share my favorites.

    One quick disclaimer: My favorites may change over time, but I’m not going to keep this list up to date. Consider this list accurate as of today, and less accurate as time goes on. 🙂

    • Firefox Focus: This private browser extends its tracker blocker capabilities to Safari. It’s not as extensible as other ad/tracker blockers, but consequently, it gets the job done without any bloat.
    • Noir: Dark modes are finally coming to sites across the net, but not soon enough. This extension applies a decently improvised dark mode to any site that doesn’t have one after your device switches itself over to dark mode. No more blown-at eyes at night!
    • Vinegar: YouTube’s player has been becoming messy/noisy lately. This handy extensions replaces all of that with a simple video player.
    • Amplosion: Ever open a link that takes you to a badly formatted mobile page that looks nothing like the original site with “amp” in the URL? That’s Google’s attempt at automatically generating mobile-friendly content, and it’s usually not great (and packed full of trackers). Amplosion says a resounding “No!” to those links and redirects you back to the original content.
    • Mapper: Kind of like Amplosion, have you ever clicked an address or a map on a page only to be sent to Google Maps (which you probably don’t have installed)? This handy app opens those links in Apple’s Maps app instead.
    • Achoo: From the developer of Amplosion, Achoo allows you to easily and cleanly view the HTML source of any site you’re visiting. No more tethering your phone to your Mac just to inspect a mobile page.

    And, for even more good news, all of these extensions (except predictably Amplosion and Mapper) are available for Safari on your Mac too under macOS 12.

    I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

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    Technology
    apple, extensions, ios, ipados, macos, safari

  • January 25, 2022

    WordPress 5.9 Released

    WordPress 5.9 has been released! Among a few smaller changes, WordPress 5.9 introduces full site editing, which is bound to turn some heads. For specifics, check out the changelog.

    624 volunteers contributed to this release, and at the time of writing this, WordPress 5.9 has been out for just a bit over a day, and has already been downloaded 2,520,582 times!

    All users can safely update from Dashboard -> Updates or download and update manually, though you should probably backup first just in case, unless you’re already using Jetpack Backup, which you really should be.

    One quick personal recommendation, if you’re having trouble with the new full site editor, you may simply be using the wrong theme, trying to make it fit a purpose it wasn’t designed for. Try a different theme instead to find out.

    If you run into any problems, stop by the known issues first, and if it’s not covered there, please let us know in the support forums!

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    WordPress

  • January 14, 2022

    Hawaii in 2022

    I haven’t seen Mom since 2 years ago, so even with the pandemic sadly not over (and sometimes I feel like no end in sight), Sarah and I decided it was time to go back to where Mom lived, Hawaii. We’re vaccinated, boosted, and we packed KN95 masks from Project N95 exclusively. We wouldn’t have gone otherwise. We’re also isolating until our test results come back, and 3 days later, we have no symptoms. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, and we can beat this thing if we all just try.

    Overall, we had a great time all things considered. The beaches were a bit rough for swimming this time, as you’ll see, but they were great for simply reading.

    Kona Sunset
    Kona Stars
    Kona Grass
    Kona Sunset 2
    Coral and Lava
    Kona High Surf
    Akaka Falls Greenery
    Akaka Falls
    Hilo Coast
    Hilo Sunset
    Kona Coast Sunset
    Kona Coast
    Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site 2
    Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
    Mahukona
    Harbor Sunset

    Oh, and if you followed me on Tumblr, you would have seen these photos as close to realtime as Hawaiian cell coverage allowed. 😉

    Update: COVID test finished, we’re negative! Two 6-hour flights, 1 week in Hawaii, 0 COVID. Folks, you can do it too! Get vaccinated, get boosted, and wear a non-counterfeit KN95 or better mask around people unless you’re outdoors.

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    hawaii

  • January 1, 2022

    Happy New Year! the 2022 edition

    Happy New Year! the 2022 edition

    2022 begins today, and looking back, the top post here was How I Make GIFs. That process has changed significantly, so I guess I’ll need to write an update. Maybe that will be the top post this year?

    A quick list of favorites this year, I hope you enjoy them too:

    • Movie: The Matrix Resurrections
    • TV: Ultraman Orb
    • Game: Mini Metro
    • Comics: Batgirls
    • Book: Star Wars: Ronin a Visions novel

    Consider sharing your voice and experiences with the world this year. If you don’t have a place to write yet, launch your own site with WordPress (and Jetpack) or WordPress.com, or if shorted content is your thing, take Tumblr for a spin. Don’t know what to write yet? Join the Bloganuary Challenge!

    May your new year be what you make of it.

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    Technology, Video, World
    2022, new year, tumblr, WordPress

  • December 9, 2021

    Thoughts on The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition

    Thoughts on The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition

    For The Fellowship of the Ring‘s 20th anniversary this month, yes 20th, we sat down and rewatched The Hobbit Extended Edition and The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition. We didn’t binge it, goodness no, but we rewatched one film a night. Originally, this was going to be a Rewatch review, but while watching, one particular thought kept gnawing at my mind.

    I have seen both the theatrical versions and the extended editions many times (I love these films, ok?). The theatrical versions always felt too long, excessive even, a slog. But, the extended editions? The ones that add even more content (some almost an hour)? They feel just right, they’re enjoyable, the time spent watching practically flies.

    I’m not going to list the new and extended scenes, because it’s not about them specifically, it’s about their context. They aren’t really meant to be noticed, but their absence can be felt, and I think that is overall why the theatrical versions feel longer than the extended editions. Sure, a lot of films get away with deleted scenes, it’s still a popular bonus feature these days, but these scenes weren’t cut because they were poorly done, unfinished, or didn’t fit. They were cut simply because there was too much material for the average theatergoing audience. When you cut apart films this big, you’re going to be cutting scenes that the rest of the film relies on.

    Something a character does 2 hours into the film seems very out of place, but only because about 5 minutes were cut from the first hour that would have informed their decision. Little things that don’t make sense can build up and become a distraction. If you make enough cuts like that, your 3-hour film becomes a 2-hour confusing slog that feels somehow longer than the original version. If you take the time to give that context, everything makes sense, and you’re just along for an enjoyable ride.

    By the way, I don’t blame Peter Jackson for any of this. He had an excessive amount of material to adapt, but he also had to consider the attention span of the average theatergoer. I’m just thankful that he released the extended editions in the first place.

    If you weren’t a fan of the theatrical versions of these films, grab the extended editions, sit back, and enjoy. You can stream The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on HBO Max, but you’ll need to buy or rent The Hobbit Extended Edition from your platform of choice. Hopefully you’ll notice the same difference I did.

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    Nostalgia, Review, Video
    film, lord of the rings, The Hobbit

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