Next on my schedule for today: going for a walk. #FreelanceFriends

A2: When there's work to do, I try to be in front of my computer from about 8:30a-4:00p. More than that and I start to get diminishing returns. #FreelanceFriends

A1: I've never found a pattern to seasonal work. It just comes in fits and starts. #FreelanceFriends

Greg Falken, builder of websites in Sonora, CA. I just published this blog post for Gmail users with their own domain emails. www.webdancers.com/gmail-is-end... #FreelanceFriends

Gmail Is Ending “Send As” for Custom Domains

Starting in January 2027, Gmail will discontinue two features that affect you if you manage a domain email address through a personal Gmail account.

webdancers.com

A2: I don't do this as much as I should either but I try to turn the things that I'm good at into things that other people (potential clients) would find useful, then write a blog post about it. The post I shared earlier is a good example. #FreelanceFriends

My birthday gift to myself was a trip up to Lake Tahoe to see the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the best touring band on the planet! #FreelanceFriends

A variation on Sandy's theme, that I wrote in April: www.webdancers.com/websites-sti... #FreelanceFriends

Websites Still Matter, Now More Than Ever

There are now two audiences reading your website: human visitors who read your pages, and AI systems that crawl your content and decide whether to cite you.

webdancers.com

I'm Greg, from Sonora CA. I build and manage WordPress websites for small and medium size businesses. It is also my birthday week (8/8). Happy birthday Angela! #FreelanceFriends

Off to that most freelance of activities: taking a walk (before it gets too hot). Nice chatting with you all. #FreelanceFriends

I think "content" is somewhat negative these days, especially with the rise of AI slop. #FreelanceFriends

A1: What I just used here: "I build and manage websites." People understand this and I don't have to call myself a designer or developer. #FreelanceFriends

I'm Greg, from Sonora CA. I build and manage WordPress websites for small and medium size businesses. Lately, I've been working on AI readiness for websites. @sandyhubbard.bsky.social brought me in. www.webdancers.com #FreelanceFriends

After 20 years, I'm no longer checking Gmail. www.webdancers.com/leaving-gmail/

Leaving Gmail (Sort Of)

I recently completed a project I had been putting off for years: moving my business email off Google. Not because of a single dramatic issue, but because enough small reasons had accumulated that I…

webdancers.com

Me: Hey Claude, here's the backup of a database from a #WordPress site. I need to know the values stored for a plugin that I can't remember the name of, that used the shortcode [qafp]. Claude: (After about 7 minutes of cogitating) Sure thing, here you go. We live in amazing times.

My favorite notebook. Lined pages and small enough to fit in my laptop bag. www.amazon.com/dp/B002TDK56... #FreelanceFriends

Uh oh Sandy, don't get me started on pens. My current daily driver is a Parker Jotter XL with a roller ball cartridge. Very smooth and looks nice in a shirt pocket. #FreelanceFriends

Thoughts on building a client-facing #WordPress plugin with AI. www.webdancers.com/building-the...

Building the AI Readiness Audit Tool

It started small, as most projects do. I wanted to know if my website would get mentioned in AI chatbots as an authoritative source for the services I offer. I tried a few online “score my site” tools...

webdancers.com

I keep seeing my friend @sandyhubbard.bsky.social here, so I thought I'd check it out. I build and manage WordPress websites from Sonora, CA. Currently exploring ways of using AI to improve my workflow (that do NOT involve making content). Lots going on in that space right now. #FreelanceFriends

No Kings in Sonora, CA. By far, the largest demonstration ever held in Courthouse Square (est. 1200-1500). #nokings

Metaphor fail. Other than maybe the bakery and deli, grocery stores don't actually make, you know, anything.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last yr.

Tommy Tuberville refers to the US as "the grocery store of the world. You know, we make everything."

I bought a 3/8" o-ring for $1.69. Seems like a lot.

Shorter NWS: Hope you all have other ways of getting your weather info, cause you're not getting it from us. #weather

Courthouse Park, Sonora CA. 800-1000 people turned out in a very red county with a population of 50,000.

Very sad. I've been following him for years and appreciated his data-based and balanced approach.

Josh Marshall@joshtpm.bsky.social · 2y ago

Kevin Drum died on Friday. jabberwocking.com/health-updat...

This spoke to me as the right way to think about our current condition. I will be sharing it where I can.

Dave Troy@davetroy.com · 2y ago

📄 NEW: "Now, we rebuild: Why 'defending democracy' hasn't worked" Defending democracy failed because it also required defending the status quo. Now we are called to create a future worth fighting for. My latest. america2.news/now-we-rebui...

This has got to be one of the most passive agressive posts ever. Matt and #WordPress are going in the wrong direction. wordpress.org/news/2025/01...

In which I detail my move from #Chromebook to #Linux (yes, I know Chromebooks use Linux - I mean a full Linux OS) after using the browser-based OS since 2015. www.webdancers.com/from-chromeb...

From Chromebook to Linux

I’ve been using ChromeOS to run my business since 2015. By moving to Linux, I’m divesting myself of one small piece of my reliance on Google

webdancers.com

After using a #Chromebook as my daily driver for many years, I wanted to start weaning myself off of #Google. My new desktop is powered by #Linux Mint, running on a teeny-tiny mini PC. Still using files on Google Drive for backwards compatibility. Works quite well!

I'm putting together a Linux system using the GMKtec G5 (N97/12GB/256GB) for developing #WordPress sites. Cute, isn't it?

I have a client who wants to put his age in years on his About page. Rather than having to change it every year, I came up with a #WordPress #shortcode to do the calculation from a given date. The code can be added to functions.php or a code snippet plugin. www.webdancers.com/wp-content/u...