Updated 03-Aug-2025
This will be updated throughout 2021. For now, we start with John Mueller's take from SMS Virtual 2020.
Markdown Syntax Cheatsheet
Updated 03-Aug-2025
Markdown makes editing easier and faster. It is faster to use markdown than having to reach for the mouse to format things, and even if one wants to use the mouse there are markdown editors that provide. Markdown is very portable and since it is in plain text can be used across a plethora of devices and interfaces. It is highly readable without hiding any detail.
Google PageSpeed, SEO, UX
Updated 03-Aug-2025
Google PageSpeed and web vitals are clear: a relevant site must load fast and not messily. The should be a speedy first contentful paint (FCP), and there should be little cumulative layout shift (CLS). A better user experience means a better search engine optimization.
Optimizing Images: Sprites, SVG, WebP
Updated 03-Aug-2025
Image optimization is a big deal when it comes to Google PageSpeed. There are several things to consider with images: compression, image dimensions , file format, and number of files.
WordPress to Pelican
Updated 03-Aug-2025 WordPress is highly functional, yet expensive to run in terms of resources (ram, processor), and maintain (time). Static site generators are meant to reduce this by a factor of 5 or more. However, there is a lot of functionality to support with the new system as well as a basic learning curve. Let's ... Read more
Pelican SSG
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Pelican is a python-based static site generator (SSG). Pelican has been around for a while (~10 years). It takes files, control files, and template files and generates static pages. Those pages can be kept inside git and then pushed to GitLab Pages or CloudFlare Workers. Installing and Configuring Pelican Installing Pelican Pelican Wiki ... Read more
Python
Updated 03-Aug-2025 First up, Python 2 is dead dead dead. Long live Python 3. Here are some steps to perform: Update alternatives for Python update-alternatives --remove python /usr/bin/python2 update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3 10 Edit ~/.bashrc to include an alias to python3 nano ~/.bashrc alias python=python3 Install the python-is-python3 application sudo apt install python-is-python3
Static Site Generators
Updated 03-Aug-2025
The future of the web seems to be the past, namely static sites produced by static site generators. These effectively remove the database component (or reduce it tremendously) so that websites become much faster and easier to scale. This is not to mention the great impact that PageSpeed and Web Vitals are having on increasing the need for speedier and better user experiences on the web.
Web Publishing Platforms
Updated 03-Aug-2025
WordPress, which we've used for years, is the most popular publishing platform. However, it is not the only one and there are definitely better options, depending on one's needs.
Cloudways Managed Hosting
Inkscape SVG Editor
Updated 03-Aug-2025
Open Source Vector Graphics Editor
Inkscape is an amazing vector graphics editor. It is free and open source and works on a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows and OSX. Inkscape replaces Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator and can read their files, and is a first class citizen among these other editors.
OKRs (Objectives, Key Results)
Updated 03-Aug-2025
OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results. Those two terms show a fundamental relationship (goals are vague and need to be instantiated through measurable key results). However the complete picture of this goal-setting and goal-tracking method is more complex and much more rewarding.
Monthly Tempo of Change
Updated 03-Aug-2025
There are two SAAS companies that provide a significant tempo of change worth of emulation: Telegram and Gitlab. Both have large scale and use, and provide monthly updates. This tempo is something that even small companies can emulate and manage. Monthly updates provide discipline and expectations both from customers and endusers, as well as employees and partners.
Book Reading List 2020
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Here are some highlights from my reading from 2020, though certainly the books were not all published in 2020. Because I didn't produce this list for 2019 I will cheat and include a few from the second half of the year in this list. I get my reading list from several sources: firsthand ... Read more
SPF, DKIM, DMARC Email Security
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Email for personal use and the enterprise tends to come down to only a few providers, based on the leveraging of email into an office suite: Google Workspace (formerly Gsuite, Google Apps for Domains) Microsoft 365https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365 (formerly or including Office 365) That said, in reality there are still a preponderance of providers and ... Read more
Advice for a 25 year old
Updated 03-Aug-2025 To my daughter Amanda, > We can be knowledgeable with another man's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with another man's wisdom. -- Montaigne Is Advice Even Possible First off, it seems to me, reflecting on my own 25-year-old self (of thirty years ago), that advice is nearly impossible, unless one can actually ... Read more
WordPress Theme for SEO – GeneratePress
Updated 03-Aug-2025
We've used WordPress for more than 15 years, long before Lanna Digital was established. Finding a good framework has been a challenge. There are several factors that are important (and not necessarily obvious) when selecting a framework (a theme framework, a theme builder, or any combination).
KeePass, OTP, and Themes
Updated 03-Aug-2025 Originally published 2018-09-06, updated 2022-09-05 My beloved KeepassX has not seen a release since 2016, but a newer fork entitled KeePassXC has. The latest version looks very much the same when viewed from LMDE3 with a dark theme. The added functionality is quite nice: A TOTP Seed and Code Generator. For native theme ... Read more
Keto diet
Updated 03-Aug-2025 There are several advantages to a ketogenic or keto diet. The main problem is that one is faced with having to battle one's culture to do it. Keto as culturally rare Most developed or developing (non-hunter-gatherer) cultures are heavy consumers of carbohydrates: rice, pasta, bread. This is not to mention the impact of ... Read more
Facemask use for Covid-19
Updated 03-Aug-2025 See all Covid-19 articles: Covid-19 Updates Covid-19 Vaccines Facemasks and Covid-19 Herd Immunity and Covid-19 Why People won't get Vaccinated Facemasks in the United States During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO and CDC initially performed a disservice by downplaying the advantages of facemasks. This was due to the critical shortage of these ... Read more