Category Archives: Tech tips

The yarn that got away

Posted on May 24, 2022 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , , | 7 Comments

My technique for coping with spam comments on WordPress.com

Posted on April 19, 2022 by peNdantry

‘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 , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

On expiry of a custom domain name

Posted on February 15, 2022 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , , | 11 Comments

How to ensure that your blog lives forever, revisited

Posted on February 8, 2022 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , | 46 Comments

The green way to blog longevity via image optimisation

Posted on November 9, 2021 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Confirmation that two-thirds of headline analyzers spout utter nonsense

Posted on September 14, 2021 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Yes, it IS possible to embed hyperlinks in titles! (but there are caveats)

Posted on August 24, 2021 by peNdantry

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 , , , , , | 31 Comments

Creating content collaboratively

Posted on April 2, 2021 by peNdantry

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 , , , | 40 Comments

How to time travel using WordPress

Posted on February 23, 2021 by peNdantry

Disclaimer: this is how it currently works; I offer no guarantees that this information is valid in your epoch! The only constant is change. Heraclitus (c.535 BC – c.474 BC) The ‘permalink’ Each WordPress post is allocated a permalink (short … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, Communication, Computers and Internet, Education, Phlyarology, Tech tips | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

How to quote someone else’s words in a WordPress comment

Posted on February 22, 2021 by peNdantry

A couple of people (Sam “Goldie” Kirk and… someone else, whose comment I’m unfortunately unable to find) have asked me how I quote others’ words in WordPress comments, so I thought I’d pen a quick blogette about it. For many … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Computers and Internet, Education, Tech tips | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments