Simon Dickson
@s1m0nd.bsky.social
Enjoys cycling in circles: 2x Irish masters medallist & world top 20. Making fun stuff with #WordPress since the noughties.
Nine months in, I realise that the extra-wide 21:9 monitor I bought last year no longer feels ridiculously wide.
Honestly, it was a gamechanger. The more time I spend coding with AI assistance, often using multiple platforms at once, the more windows you need in front of you at the same time.
Honestly, it was a gamechanger. The more time I spend coding with AI assistance, often using multiple platforms at once, the more windows you need in front of you at the same time.
January 19, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Nine months in, I realise that the extra-wide 21:9 monitor I bought last year no longer feels ridiculously wide.
Honestly, it was a gamechanger. The more time I spend coding with AI assistance, often using multiple platforms at once, the more windows you need in front of you at the same time.
Honestly, it was a gamechanger. The more time I spend coding with AI assistance, often using multiple platforms at once, the more windows you need in front of you at the same time.
'If there is one thing worth highlighting this year, it is how AI has impacted the #WordPress plugin ecosystem.' Repository is getting 2x as many plugin submissions as a year ago. make.wordpress.org/plugins/2026...
A Year in the Plugins Team – 2025
If there is one thing worth highlighting this year, it is how AI has impacted the WordPress plugin ecosystem. This impact is evident both in the number of submissions sent for review to be publishe…
make.wordpress.org
January 16, 2026 at 9:38 AM
'If there is one thing worth highlighting this year, it is how AI has impacted the #WordPress plugin ecosystem.' Repository is getting 2x as many plugin submissions as a year ago. make.wordpress.org/plugins/2026...
Probably time I switched my attention over here, instead of that other place. It hasn't been a profitable use of my attention for quite some time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6liD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6liD...
The Specials - Enjoy Yourself It's Later Than You Think (2015 Remaster)
YouTube video by The Specials
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Probably time I switched my attention over here, instead of that other place. It hasn't been a profitable use of my attention for quite some time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6liD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6liD...
Reposted by Simon Dickson
I installed the Fair Package Manager (@fairpm) on my personal site last night. I'm excited to say it worked flawlessly. A couple of plugins were updated from Fastly's servers, & a paid plugin updated from its servers as normal. I'm excited to see what else comes from this interesting development.
FAIR Package Manager Project
FAIR Package Manager Project has 8 repositories available. Follow their code on GitHub.
fair.pm
June 10, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I installed the Fair Package Manager (@fairpm) on my personal site last night. I'm excited to say it worked flawlessly. A couple of plugins were updated from Fastly's servers, & a paid plugin updated from its servers as normal. I'm excited to see what else comes from this interesting development.
Got my new Xiaomi Android phone working exactly how I want it, by: installing the Microsoft launcher instead of the Xiaomi default one, then turning off all the Microsoft stuff. 🪄
May 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Got my new Xiaomi Android phone working exactly how I want it, by: installing the Microsoft launcher instead of the Xiaomi default one, then turning off all the Microsoft stuff. 🪄
I ordered an extra-wide monitor. The more I do with JS, and the more I do with AI, the more I'm finding a need to have multiple windows open (wide) in front of me at once.
Found a great deal on Samsung 34" 21:9 with USB-C. Productivity gains await! amzn.to/4cJANnE
Found a great deal on Samsung 34" 21:9 with USB-C. Productivity gains await! amzn.to/4cJANnE
Samsung LS34C652UAUXXU WQHD Viewfinity S6 34" Monitor - 3440x1440, 1000R Curved, Speakers, USB-C, LAN, Height Adjust
Ultra-WQHD in 1000R curvature Immerse yourself in games, movies or design projects. A 34" 1000R curved display surrounds you with a 21:9 aspect ratio. The curve closely matches the human field of sigh...
amzn.to
April 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
I ordered an extra-wide monitor. The more I do with JS, and the more I do with AI, the more I'm finding a need to have multiple windows open (wide) in front of me at once.
Found a great deal on Samsung 34" 21:9 with USB-C. Productivity gains await! amzn.to/4cJANnE
Found a great deal on Samsung 34" 21:9 with USB-C. Productivity gains await! amzn.to/4cJANnE
'We now have to start acting as if we live in East Germany. And Instagram is the Stasi.' This is a tough watch, but an essential one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZOo...
This Is What a Digital Coup Looks Like | Carole Cadwalladr | TED
YouTube video by TED
www.youtube.com
April 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
'We now have to start acting as if we live in East Germany. And Instagram is the Stasi.' This is a tough watch, but an essential one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZOo...
To mark #stpatricksday ☘️, my three favourite renditions of Danny Boy, starting with this brand new belter. You know, there isn't enough Irish trad punk in the world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K18u...
The Rumjacks - Danny Boy [Official Music Video]
YouTube video by The Rumjacks
www.youtube.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
To mark #stpatricksday ☘️, my three favourite renditions of Danny Boy, starting with this brand new belter. You know, there isn't enough Irish trad punk in the world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K18u...
I built a thing today using AI - well, several different AIs actually - that I don't fully understand, but it all works. Yes this revolution is happening.
March 12, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I built a thing today using AI - well, several different AIs actually - that I don't fully understand, but it all works. Yes this revolution is happening.
"Lloyds Track Super League" 🤨
We’re British Cycling and this is our story… 🚴🏻♀️ 🚴♂️
Today we’re pleased to start a new chapter for the sport in this country as we launch our brand-new strategy.
Read more – including our full strategy – here: bit.ly/43yh33t
Today we’re pleased to start a new chapter for the sport in this country as we launch our brand-new strategy.
Read more – including our full strategy – here: bit.ly/43yh33t
March 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"Lloyds Track Super League" 🤨
The BBC News app really has stretched the definition of 'breaking news' this week. Not good.
March 8, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The BBC News app really has stretched the definition of 'breaking news' this week. Not good.
Reposted by Simon Dickson
18F, the federal government’s technology shop, was demolished by Musk’s team shortly after midnight. It was a cost-recoverable org, charging agencies for their expertise, using a consulting model. Its cost to government was negligible, its benefits huge. My team there once saved DoD $500 billion.
March 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
18F, the federal government’s technology shop, was demolished by Musk’s team shortly after midnight. It was a cost-recoverable org, charging agencies for their expertise, using a consulting model. Its cost to government was negligible, its benefits huge. My team there once saved DoD $500 billion.
Reposted by Simon Dickson
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
Netflix cutting both its Six Nations and Tour de France series? It didn't help either one that they decided to release it the week before the next real-time edition. I'm a fan of both and I didn't watch either in full.
February 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Netflix cutting both its Six Nations and Tour de France series? It didn't help either one that they decided to release it the week before the next real-time edition. I'm a fan of both and I didn't watch either in full.
The best way to follow the British track cycling national champs today is via PDFs in a Dropbox folder. 🤦♂️
February 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The best way to follow the British track cycling national champs today is via PDFs in a Dropbox folder. 🤦♂️
The digitally added ad boards on the NHL's TV ice hockey coverage are remarkable. If you didn't know, you wouldn't know.
February 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The digitally added ad boards on the NHL's TV ice hockey coverage are remarkable. If you didn't know, you wouldn't know.
Love this stat from last night: There were 120 Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park in total in all competitions. The record has seen both sides win exactly 41 games each and share the points on 38 occasions. (Google/NYT)
February 13, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Love this stat from last night: There were 120 Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park in total in all competitions. The record has seen both sides win exactly 41 games each and share the points on 38 occasions. (Google/NYT)
I didn't expect to see media coverage of cycling included in Ars Technica's rundown of the continued en💩ification of modern online life; but its place is fully deserved. That's not good company to find yourself in, TNT Sports. arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
Ars staffers take aim at some of the web’s worst predatory practices.
arstechnica.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I didn't expect to see media coverage of cycling included in Ars Technica's rundown of the continued en💩ification of modern online life; but its place is fully deserved. That's not good company to find yourself in, TNT Sports. arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
Running out of reasons to keep opening X now.
February 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Running out of reasons to keep opening X now.
I tried DeepSeek (running locally) on a coding job today. It explained eloquently how it would do the thing I asked. It did not actually do the thing I asked.
Gemma did it almost immediately.
Gemma did it almost immediately.
January 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I tried DeepSeek (running locally) on a coding job today. It explained eloquently how it would do the thing I asked. It did not actually do the thing I asked.
Gemma did it almost immediately.
Gemma did it almost immediately.
Eurosport / Discovery / WBD / whoever was getting the most money out of me, net, when it was £40 a year for GCN+.
Since GCN+ shut I have chosen which months to pay for D+ at £4-7/m, total £30-ish over the past year. I don't see myself paying for more than a single month per year at £31/m.
Since GCN+ shut I have chosen which months to pay for D+ at £4-7/m, total £30-ish over the past year. I don't see myself paying for more than a single month per year at £31/m.
January 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Eurosport / Discovery / WBD / whoever was getting the most money out of me, net, when it was £40 a year for GCN+.
Since GCN+ shut I have chosen which months to pay for D+ at £4-7/m, total £30-ish over the past year. I don't see myself paying for more than a single month per year at £31/m.
Since GCN+ shut I have chosen which months to pay for D+ at £4-7/m, total £30-ish over the past year. I don't see myself paying for more than a single month per year at £31/m.
FYI: If you're prepared to swallow a 2.3x price rise switching from Discovery+ to TNT Sports Premium - they offered me a 6-month 50% discount as the final step of the D+ online cancellation process.
I still cancelled.
I still cancelled.
January 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
FYI: If you're prepared to swallow a 2.3x price rise switching from Discovery+ to TNT Sports Premium - they offered me a 6-month 50% discount as the final step of the D+ online cancellation process.
I still cancelled.
I still cancelled.
I just cancelled my subscription to Discovery+ as a direct result of their announcement of a 4.4x price hike, closing down Eurosport in the UK, and forcing everything into a TNT Sports premium sub.
Here's what I'll miss? You know what, I think I'll cope.
Here's what I'll miss? You know what, I think I'll cope.
January 28, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I just cancelled my subscription to Discovery+ as a direct result of their announcement of a 4.4x price hike, closing down Eurosport in the UK, and forcing everything into a TNT Sports premium sub.
Here's what I'll miss? You know what, I think I'll cope.
Here's what I'll miss? You know what, I think I'll cope.