Tidbits from Brian - Issue #1 (previously woorkup.com)
Hey everyone, it's been a while! 👋
Just a heads up that I've moved (and renamed) my newsletter to Revue. Why? Because I love Twitter and the integration is awesome. Being a WordPress fanatic doesn't mean you have to use it for everything. Always do what works for you. Simplifying my newsletter gives me more time to focus on content.
Fresh content ✍️
Living with an autoimmune disease, I'm always trying to better myself with what I call "life hacks." One of these is my standing desk. It's one of my secret weapons. What's better than burning calories while you work?
Social media is growing faster than we can even keep up. And that’s not necessarily a good thing. It's always good to keep a healthy balance. Check out how I stay sane and productive among social media distractions.
Clients and bloggers are always asking what settings I recommend using with Cloudflare. I wrote up a detailed post on every setting I use on my WordPress sites with Cloudflare. ⚡️
I use Grammarly daily. Check out this little trick I use to combine Grammarly Dark and a Chrome web app. It's the best of both worlds, especially since they don't have an M1 optimized app yet.
Interesting things 🔎
Updates
You can now create and route email addresses with Cloudflare Email Routing (currently in beta).
Kinsta launched more granular control on live and staging environments with selective push.
Perfmatters version 1.7.9 with dynamic preloads is now live.
macOS Monterey is officially available. Love the new wallpaper!
Performance
Salman published a great article on how to fix WooCommerce performance issues using Kinsta APM (+ real-world examples).
I'm all for a jQuery-free world. Check out the real performance impact of using jQuery in WordPress themes. It might shock you. ⚡️
There is a proposal in the works for an official performance team responsible for coordinating efforts to speed up WordPress. Yay!
WordPress
Mark wrote a very interesting piece on the future of small WordPress businesses. I also shared my thoughts.
Speaking of businesses, Awesome Motive has acquired Easy Digital Downloads. And Pippin is stepping away from WordPress.
Crypto (not financial advice)
Web 3.0, blockchain, and decentralization are the future. Take the time to learn what's happening right before our eyes. It's exciting!
Robinhood is launching crypto wallets in early 2022. If you're a user, make sure to sign up for the waiting list. 🔑
There are now Bitcoin Futures ETFs. A great first step. It's only a matter of time until we get the first Bitcoin Spot ETF.
You can now get paid in Bitcoin. Using Strike, you can choose how much of your direct deposit you want to receive in Bitcoin.
Tip: Gemini's ActiveTrader is what I use to purchase most of my crypto. Low fees, no crazy spreads, and free withdrawals.
With the holidays coming up, make sure to take some time to mentally recharge. Don't be afraid to enable Do Not Disturb or turn off your phone once in a while.