Greg Falken

Nice chatting with you all. #FreelanceFriends

My Google Pixel does a pretty good job (sometimes too good) at blocking spam calls. I also had Claude write some scripts that move those super-annoying cold emails from my inbox into a separate folder. There are 16 of them in there since yesterday. #FreelanceFriends

Greetings from Sonora, CA, where it has finally rained. #FreelanceFriends

Sorry I was distracted today. See you all next time! #FreelanceFriends

A2: I try to get out for a walk every day - about a 1.25 mi. loop around my neighborhood. It clears my head and I get a surprising number of new ideas and directions. #FreelanceFriends

There is a flock of wild turkeys walking past my office window. Just thought you'd want to know. #FreelanceFriends

Working on a bi-weekly newsletter and website update that I manage for a local advocacy group (engagetuolumne.org). #FreelanceFriends

Greg here - builder of websites in sunny and warm Sonora, CA. I'm keeping one eye on the chat this morning while I work. #FreelanceFriends

Next on my schedule for today: going for a walk. #FreelanceFriends

A2: When there's work to do, I try to be in front of my computer from about 8:30a-4:00p. More than that and I start to get diminishing returns. #FreelanceFriends

A1: I've never found a pattern to seasonal work. It just comes in fits and starts. #FreelanceFriends

Greg Falken, builder of websites in Sonora, CA. I just published this blog post for Gmail users with their own domain emails. www.webdancers.com/gmail-is-end... #FreelanceFriends

A2: I don't do this as much as I should either but I try to turn the things that I'm good at into things that other people (potential clients) would find useful, then write a blog post about it. The post I shared earlier is a good example. #FreelanceFriends

My birthday gift to myself was a trip up to Lake Tahoe to see the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the best touring band on the planet! #FreelanceFriends

A variation on Sandy's theme, that I wrote in April: www.webdancers.com/websites-sti... #FreelanceFriends

I'm Greg, from Sonora CA. I build and manage WordPress websites for small and medium size businesses. It is also my birthday week (8/8). Happy birthday Angela! #FreelanceFriends

Off to that most freelance of activities: taking a walk (before it gets too hot). Nice chatting with you all. #FreelanceFriends

I think "content" is somewhat negative these days, especially with the rise of AI slop. #FreelanceFriends

A1: What I just used here: "I build and manage websites." People understand this and I don't have to call myself a designer or developer. #FreelanceFriends

I'm Greg, from Sonora CA. I build and manage WordPress websites for small and medium size businesses. Lately, I've been working on AI readiness for websites. @sandyhubbard.bsky.social brought me in. www.webdancers.com #FreelanceFriends

After 20 years, I'm no longer checking Gmail. www.webdancers.com/leaving-gmail/

Me: Hey Claude, here's the backup of a database from a #WordPress site. I need to know the values stored for a plugin that I can't remember the name of, that used the shortcode [qafp]. Claude: (After about 7 minutes of cogitating) Sure thing, here you go. We live in amazing times.

My favorite notebook. Lined pages and small enough to fit in my laptop bag. www.amazon.com/dp/B002TDK56... #FreelanceFriends

Uh oh Sandy, don't get me started on pens. My current daily driver is a Parker Jotter XL with a roller ball cartridge. Very smooth and looks nice in a shirt pocket. #FreelanceFriends

Thoughts on building a client-facing #WordPress plugin with AI. www.webdancers.com/building-the...

I keep seeing my friend @sandyhubbard.bsky.social here, so I thought I'd check it out. I build and manage WordPress websites from Sonora, CA. Currently exploring ways of using AI to improve my workflow (that do NOT involve making content). Lots going on in that space right now. #FreelanceFriends

No Kings in Sonora, CA. By far, the largest demonstration ever held in Courthouse Square (est. 1200-1500). #nokings

Metaphor fail. Other than maybe the bakery and deli, grocery stores don't actually make, you know, anything.

I bought a 3/8" o-ring for $1.69. Seems like a lot.

Shorter NWS: Hope you all have other ways of getting your weather info, cause you're not getting it from us. #weather

Courthouse Park, Sonora CA. 800-1000 people turned out in a very red county with a population of 50,000.

Very sad. I've been following him for years and appreciated his data-based and balanced approach.

This spoke to me as the right way to think about our current condition. I will be sharing it where I can.

This has got to be one of the most passive agressive posts ever. Matt and #WordPress are going in the wrong direction. wordpress.org/news/2025/01...

In which I detail my move from #Chromebook to #Linux (yes, I know Chromebooks use Linux - I mean a full Linux OS) after using the browser-based OS since 2015. www.webdancers.com/from-chromeb...

After using a #Chromebook as my daily driver for many years, I wanted to start weaning myself off of #Google. My new desktop is powered by #Linux Mint, running on a teeny-tiny mini PC. Still using files on Google Drive for backwards compatibility. Works quite well!

I'm putting together a Linux system using the GMKtec G5 (N97/12GB/256GB) for developing #WordPress sites. Cute, isn't it?

I have a client who wants to put his age in years on his About page. Rather than having to change it every year, I came up with a #WordPress #shortcode to do the calculation from a given date. The code can be added to functions.php or a code snippet plugin. www.webdancers.com/wp-content/u...

This is Fall in my town of Sonora, CA. Chinese Pistache trees at the "Red Church".

It's nice to get some good news from a hosting company. KnownHost has bumped up my CPU, memory, disk space and bandwidth resources, at no charge. I made a good choice by switching to them earlier this year. Currently on their Semi-Dedicated #hosting plan for my #WordPress clients.

Spent the last couple of hours updating 60+ #WordPress sites to v6.7.1. I could have done them all with a couple of clicks in InfiniteWP but for a major upgrade, I like to watch each one finish and then check the front end. All done now until v6.8 in a few months.

Going for a walk now.

Hello, Bluesky! By way of introduction, I am a child of the 60s, living and working in the beautiful Sierra foothills of CA. I build and manage #WordPress websites for all types of businesses and am not quite ready to quit yet. Other interests include cooking, music and tech. Glad to be here!