Pushed a minor update to my site last night to use the new CSS Grid Layout Module for its layout. There are still a few quirks here and there, so please let me know if you spot anything out of place.
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822Having worked in Uganda on a project dedicated to improving financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa, I’m incredibly saddened to hear that the Ugandan government is considering a tax increase on mobile money transactions.
If you want to get a sense of the injustice being inflicted on the people of Uganda by the telecom industry and their own government, read this article.
※ Permalink for “The Death of Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in Uganda” published on date_to_rfc822There is a chance that these were among 11 lions poisoned at Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda this past weekend. Yet another reminder that life is fragile.
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822Since returning to full-time freelancing this past February, I’ve been using Cushion to track my time, submit and track invoices, and forecast my income and expenses. Even though I’m not yet using the product to its full potential, the value I’m getting out of it is tremendous.
Recently, Cushion released an update to the user interface that I have found greatly improves the usability of the app. In his post explaining the reasoning behind the change, Jonnie Hallman promises to share more about the design process and technical challenges they faced. This is my public reminder that his team’s fans are patiently waiting 😉
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822I’ve made some changes to the layout of my site. If you’d like to see an overview of what’s changed, I have added screenshots to the pull request I created to make the update.
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822I am really enjoying this album by Made Mountain. It’s very musically interesting without being extravagant. It has the feeling that a group of musicians sat around in a studio one Saturday and jammed out a great record, so it came as a surprise to see the majority of the instruments were played by one person: Robbie Manson.
On his beautifully designed website, Manson also wrote what I wish I had available to me over a decade ago when I recorded and released my first EP: instructions for how to self-release an album.
(via Chase Reeves)
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822I was in the rec room in my aunt and uncle’s basement when I first saw Hulk Hogan bodyslam André the Giant. It’s been 30 years since I saw my first WrestleMania on a VHS tape. While like most people my interest in the world of professional wrestling has ebbed and flowed. But tonight, my interest in the product is at an all time high.
I thought I’d share my picks for the matches on the main card.
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship)
Brock Lesnar legitimately is the Universal Champion. No one, not even Roman, is bigger. They’ll give it to Roman, but only because they still have plans for Brock and don’t want to feed him to Braun Strowman just yet.
That said, I could see Roman benefitting from having Paul Heyman turn on Brock. It won’t hurt Brock, but could give Roman a far bigger platform.
Roman defeats Brock
AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Championship)
The least exciting buildup for what will likely be the most exciting match. Yes, WWE, it’s a dream match. But not because you said so over and over and over again.
Nakamura defeats AJ
Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon
I predict Rhonda breaks HHH’s arm.
Rhonda breaks HHH’s arms
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Asuka (Smackdown Women’s Championship)
Charlotte losing to Asuka tonight all but guarantees a Charlotte vs Rhonda rivalry for this year, giving Rhonda a legitimate challenge before climbing the ladder to meet the Empress at next year’s Wrestlemania.
Asuka defeats Charlotte
Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (If Owens and Zayn win, they will be reinstated)
I am so intrigued by this match. These guys are clearly the most over talent on SmackDown, but I don’t yet see how this leads to what ultimately matters: Daniel Bryan getting his chance to win the WWE championship at next year’s Wrestlemania.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defeat Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon
The Miz (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor (Intercontinental Championship)
The Miz is awesome.
Finn Bálor defeats The Miz and Seth Rollins
Randy Orton (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev (United States Championship)
I want Jinder to win this title and rub it in America’s face.
Jinder defeats Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, and Rusev
The Bar (c) vs. Braun Strowman and unnamed partner (Raw Tag Team Championships)
Braun brings out a cardboard cutout of himself to stand in his corner. Wins in under a minute.
Braun and a cardboard cutout defeats The Bar
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax (Raw Women’s Championship)
I am actually very emotionally invested in this match. Growing up, I too was ridiculed for being fat. Nia Jax is the Braun Strowman of the women’s division and deserves to demolish everyone who stands in her way.
Nia devours Alexa Bliss
The Usos vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers (Smackdown Tag Team Championships)
The Usos need to win this match, but I’m scared it will be given to the Bludgeon Brothers, the worst gimmick given to two of the most badass looking wrestlers ever.
The New Day throws pancakes
※ Permalink for “My WrestleMania Predictions for 2018” published on date_to_rfc822Spent an hour today debating a street preacher in order to prevent him from spewing his hatred at people on the street. Just doing my part.
※ Permalink for post published on date_to_rfc822I still remember the first time I met Amy. Her family had just moved to Dorchester and was visiting our family’s home for the first time. She was my first female (half-second) cousin who was the same age as me.
While we attended the same elementary school, we did not share the same group of friends. However, we would smile and nod in acknowledgement of our familial connection when we would pass one another in the hallway or on the playground.
Eventually we wound up working at the same local grocery store where we were able to develop a closer friendship. Around this time, we discovered a shared interest in web design. Like me, Amy was frustrated by designers too lazy to understand the medium for which they were designing. In our minds, a web designer who didn’t know CSS was no web designer at all.
It was so cool to see someone I knew personally achieve so much in our industry. Her work was fun and playful and stood out in a very tough industry. She was even featured in the design publications I read which only made her even cooler in my eyes.
Her eventual move to England to be with her partner, Chris, whom she met through conversations about the UI he was developing for his online fitness community, truly opened my eyes to the power of the Internet to connect people in real life all across the world.
Amy and I fell out of touch in recent years. However, she did ping me a few months ago to laugh about a song I recorded back in high school called “Jesse Spano is a Speed Freak.” She may have been the one and only fan of that song.
My condolences to Brian, Sharon, Justin, Nick, and Chris. As evidenced by the wonderful joy she brought to the world both before and after her disgnosis, she will be dearly missed.
※ Permalink for “RIP Amy” published on date_to_rfc822Turns out, patdryburgh.com is pretty cheap.
※ Permalink for “What Does My Site Cost?” published on date_to_rfc822