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Category Archives: Tech tips
[SOLVED – finally!] Windows 10 installation has failed
The beginning of the end (of Windows 8.1 – and my sanity) If you have a PC running on Windows 8.1, you currently have less than a month to do something about that, because Microsoft support for it ends on … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, Computers and Internet, Phlyarology, Tech tips
Tagged 73%, free, Microsoft, upgrades, Windows 10, Windows 10 installation has failed, Windows 8.1
20 Comments
How to use Styles in Microsoft Word (and why you should)
by Dr Bob Rich Word is the most commonly used word processor program, and yet many people have difficulties with its basic features. A very experienced writer in a group I belong to complained that he hates having to put … Continue reading
Posted in collaboration, Communication, Computers and Internet, Education, Tech tips
Tagged Microsoft Word, Style
13 Comments
The yarn that got away
Back in 1982, or perhaps it was ’83, I was working on a short story; it was my first real attempt in my quest to ‘become a writer’. I wrote the story on my first computer (an Amstrad PCW), which … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, art, Fantasy, Flash fiction, Tech tips
Tagged backups, By His Bootstraps, Kriston Masters, Robert Heinlein, Takahiro Miki, The Door into Summer, time travel
20 Comments
My technique for coping with spam comments on WordPress.com
‘Wibble’ began in 2007; a lifetime ago in Internet terms (and of course also for those now aged 15 and under, duh). In all those years, I only rarely had any spam comments to deal with here on Wibble, and … Continue reading
Posted in balance, Computers and Internet, Phlyarology, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged coping strategy, housekeeping, information overload, maintenance, Monty Python, spam, Spam Song, UCE
17 Comments
On expiry of a custom domain name
My post last week, ‘How to ensure that your blog lives forever, revisited‘, needs a follow-up, as an unanticipated situation arose. (I would probably have spotted it myself in time, but then again, perhaps not, and I am indebted to Goldie … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Computers and Internet, Core thought, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged custom domain, DNS, domain name, domain name system, Linkrot, primary domain, World Wide Web
11 Comments
How to ensure that your blog lives forever, revisited
The World Wide Web has a serious design flaw, one that ensures that link rot is endemic. The domain name system (DNS) requires that domains be regularly maintained; a fee must be paid to keep the name in operation. In effect, it ignores the inevitability of death. Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Computers and Internet, Core thought, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged custom domain, domain name, hijacking, Linkrot, primary domain, World Wide Web
46 Comments
The green way to blog longevity via image optimisation
Image optimisation is a neat blogging trick that’s easy to learn and quick to implement. Here’s how to do it – and, more importantly, why you should consider it. Continue reading
Posted in Computers and Internet, Energy, Environment, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged bandwidth, data storage, environment, green, images, optimising, photographs, pictures, resize, speed
53 Comments
Confirmation that two-thirds of headline analyzers spout utter nonsense
An examination of three headline analyzer tools (and whether it’s worth using them), together with a Veritasium video on the effectiveness of clickbait (with transcription). Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, balance, Communication, Computers and Internet, Critiques, Phlyarology, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged clickbait, headline analyzers, Jabberwocky, phlyarology, SEO, transcription, Veritasium
29 Comments
Yes, it IS possible to embed hyperlinks in titles! (but there are caveats)
Ready for a surprise? The title of this post contains two links. The link on the first part of the text is to the post itself; this is quite normal. However, there’s a second link at the end, on the … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, Communication, Computers and Internet, Education, People, Phlyarology, Tech tips
Tagged HCI, HTML, hyperlinks, Jakob Nielsen, mystery links, title
31 Comments
Creating content collaboratively
I’ve been aware of the ‘Users’ option in the WordPress settings for many years. I looked into the facility when setting up the Multiphasic Phylarological University (a site that, unfortunately, I’ve never been able to find enough other interested parties … Continue reading
Posted in ... wait, what?, Communication, Computers and Internet, Education, Strategy, Tech tips
Tagged collaboration, content, contributor, Wordpress
40 Comments
Wibble 