Tag Archives: experience

A few of my favorite WordPress Blocks…default, JetPack, Classic Editor

The PolyBlog
April 15 2020

I know, I know, you’re picturing me wandering through the Austrian hills singing about WordPress right now, aren’t you? No worries, I’ll wait over here at my computer keyboard while you think of raindrops on roses.

Oh, you’re done? Okay, good. In my last post (Deciding to play with Blocks as an adult), I gave a bit of intro to my decision to finally use the Block Editor on my website. Consistent design for a series of posts, a little bit of improved styling on my overall blog, and some improved efficiencies in workflow got me over the early molehills and ready to conquer the mountain.

Default blocks

The Block Editor comes with a healthy series of default built-in blocks, ready for anyone with WordPress installed to start using. The overarching “base block” is the PARAGRAPH block. In effect, this is like your “NORMAL” paragraph style in Word. If you start typing, this is the block it uses. It is designed for text, and there is some basic formatting available. Mostly things like BOLD, UNDERLINE, colour, etc. Some are at the top of the page, some are in the admin sidebar. ** Note, you only see these if you are in the BLOCK EDITOR mode; if you are in CLASSIC EDITOR mode, it looks like it always did…white text with a style ribbon at the top (like Word).

The second one is Heading block, and it is really nothing more than applying the HEADING style to a bit of text. Pretty basic.

Once you add an IMAGE BLOCK, things get more interesting. For example, it gives you the option to turn your image into a circle layout, something Classic Editor didn’t ever do easily. Not much more in the way of formatting, but decent improvement. An option to create a GALLERY is there, with pagination, but nothing amazing about it. Any decent gallery plugin will do the same, including JetPack.

Further options include a stylized LIST with a few more styling options than normal, a sample AUDIO block that I doubt I will ever use, another image block option that looks a lot like a header called COVER (large images, ability to put text over top of it, like a banner), a FILE block that allows you to click for downloadable content (for which I already have a better plugin), a decent VIDEO block, some basic TABLE options, SEPARATORS / DIVIDERS dividers for content, some CUSTOM HTML text, a strange VERSE block (to publish poetry and control ASCII layout), a couple of decent CITATION and PULLQUOTE layouts that improve considerably on the old QUOTE options, a BUTTON (nowhere near as good as most plugins or shortcodes), some options to have multiple COLUMNS of varying widths (including styling for background colour), options to add a group / “more” or “page break” / spacing options or insert various WIDGETS, and natural embeds from a long list of popular websites.

Out of all of them? I would use the base paragraph block, heading, image block (although rarely), the video block, and one more…there is a MEDIA AND TEXT block that lets you insert an image and put text beside it, as well as some basic formatting of the overall block. That isn’t completely easy to do in CLASSIC EDITOR. I don’t think it gives me enough styling options, but it lays out simply and nicely:

Media to the left, text to the right, un resized. Colour settings allowed.

JetPack

The JetPack plugin adds some extra functionality too. Much of the added functionality is around the ability to embed material from Google Calendar, Calendly, Eventbrite, Map, Markdown, OpenTable, Pinterest, Recurring Payments, Repeat Visitor, and Revue. I could, in theory, see a benefit to embedding a calendar entry or a map int eh future, but the rest are worthless to me.

It also adds options for some extra tools tools like a subscription form (already covered by a better plugin) or slideshows and tiled galleries (already covered). That really only left me two I could, in theory, use. One is another embed option, but this one is from a huge library of GIFs available online. Normally people have these GIFs in their social media accounts or chat messages. This plugin adds it for your website.

Of course one would have to use it sparingly for it to be useful. Another plugin I liked was called Star Rating, and I would consider it for my Book Reviews and other things, if I didn’t already have a better way to show that.

Classic Paragraph

Last, but not least, I’m including a block that is added by CLASSIC EDITOR. You get one called CLASSIC PARAGRAPH, which is a simple paragraph option but it gives you your full formatting style bar back. Also, while a single default PARAGRAPH is one paragraph per block, CLASSIC PARAGRAPH can have entire posts or pages within them, if you want. It’s better to separate the paragraphs though as you can then move any paragraph around with a click of a button.

Overall? I can get it to do what I want, but I feel constrained still, even with Classic Editor that lets me do anything, without giving me a ton of extra functionality that I’ll use right away.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a really scary button. There are some built-in layout options that come with the defaults, and it is like having templates in Word that you DL from the ‘net. Or buying a theme for your overall site. It is a collection of “sets of nicely formatted and grouped blocks” that with a click of a button will give you an advanced layout.

For me, it is scary because it is not something small like tweaking a block or a paragraph here or there. This embeds huge swaths of design elements all at once — with no real regard for whether any of it fits within your default theme’s settings. It’s powerful, sure, but it seems like an overly blunt tool to me. Some would give you a good starting point though. In the meantime, let’s try some other BLOCK PLUGINS.

Update: To see my current collection of blocks, check out the blocks I use.

Sleep apnea treatment, days 3-8

The PolyBlog
March 9 2016

An interesting experience over the last six days. I am using my machine more and more each night, and sleeping longer and longer each bout. I still wake up once or twice during the night, but that’s better than 3-4. In terms of “incidences”, my AHI index of 124 which is way beyond severe apnea, is down to less than 5 (earlier it said .5, but that was an email typo of my results). So that’s the sleep side, which is the primary goal.

However, I have had fewer foggy incidents during the day too. My head is generally clearer. I have felt a bit light-headed a few times later at night, and my sleep cycle is still off. I did better the first week, better sleep routine, this past few nights I’ve been back to going to bed too late and getting up later in the morning. Which then messes me up during the day, particularly if I compensate with caffeine or more fluid intake after 9:00 at night. In other words, the sleep machine doesn’t cure having a stupid sleep routine that can still screw me up. Or, as Andrea puts it, one week won’t cure your sleep deficit of 47 years. Personally, I’m looking into declaring sleep bankruptcy, starting fresh. 🙂

At the same time, however, I have blood pressure issues from before. About 3 years ago, I was sick and jacked myself full of cold remedies for a week. By the weekend, I had a serious sore ear, and thought it was an infection or something. Nope, glands were fine too. I did however have a BP of 165/100 or so. Stroke range. Got the meds going, can’t take decogestants cuz part of how they work is jacking BP, and the meds keep me pretty even-keeled at 120/80ish. Sometimes 125, sometimes 85, but most of the time it is 120/80 plus a point or two.

However, a friend who was doing great with similar machine noted her BP was way down after a month. So I started tracking it immediately, worried about it going too low. Had a small checkup at doctor’s the other day (with an awesome doctor, surprisingly, too bad I probably can’t keep her there, it’s a teaching clinic), and my BP was down to 114/80 and 111/78. So we’re changing dosage of one of my meds. Definitely an encouraging sign.

There’s also an improvement I think in overall energy levels, but not sure quite how to explain it. Basically, I’m less abnormally tired/exhausted and more normally sleepyish? I’m not falling asleep or anything, but I do find myself yawning more than I did before. A very relaxed sleepy yawn rather than a tense over-tired haven’t slept yawn.

I’m not fog free, I’m not using the machine for a full sleep cycle, I’m not bouncing with energy and glowing as the picture of health, but it’s all going well. I have another three weeks before I go for my follow-up appointment but I’m moving from cautiously optimistic to relatively convinced there are strong treatment benefits if not yet an outright “cure” for my apnea.

The success has also had a few ripple effects on other goals — I’m more motivated to do basic exercise (walking, etc.), I bought a new weight scale with better precision for a guy of my weight/size, I’m tracking my sleep times in my phone tracker too. All seems to be moving forward.

Funny thing, I’m more excited to get off my BP meds so that I can take cold remedies again when I’m sick (I have a lot of trouble kicking things now without access to decongestants), but Andrea mentioned — “don’t forget alcohol again too!”. Since I’m such a lush, no doubt! 🙂

Onward. The only way out is through.

Nature vs. nurture vs. choice

The PolyBlog
March 6 2016

Back when I was in my tadpole years (age 29-34), and I was breaking my psyche down into the little component bits, attempting to rearrange them, trying out new formations and configurations, etc., I was forced to confront the age-old psychological & philosophical question of nature vs. nurture. How much of “who I was” was a result of genetic coding and how much of it was the environment in which I was raised?

Yet for me, there was a third variable. How much could awareness of who I was (regardless of nature or nurture) allow me to overcome the “programming” inside and create different outcomes? In short, how much would awareness give me choice?

Today was a good test of that conundrum.

By nature, I’m smart, but an analytical introvert (AI). And as an AI, I distrust others by instinct, don’t like relying on others for things, and generally would rather do without something than ask for it from someone else who could just as easily say no as yes.

By nurture, I’m a pessimist, routinely suspicious of others and the fickle finger of fate. One of my brothers is like that — he feels like everyone is out to get him, government and business will always screw the little guy, and at the smallest sign of failure, he assumes the sky is going to fall. I don’t have it quite as bad, but I do sense it from time to time clouding my approaches to certain things.

By choice, I try to choose optimism for outcomes, I try to rely on others even if my instincts tell me not to do so, and I ask even when I could easily presuppose a “no”. Each day is a daily struggle to choose to fight my instincts, some days are more successful than others.

So here’s the scenario…we bought all our kitchen pieces for our renovation back in August / September. There were a couple of reconfigs in there, so some changes to design and approach, and some more pieces in October. When all was said and done, we had some shelves, cupboard doors, and some drawer fronts left over. In short, a bunch of unopened and opened packages, maybe 20 in all. Andrea and I finished the reorganization in early January, and we still had about 15 packages left over, of which 12 were unopened.

Now here’s the rub with Ikea — their general return policy is 90 days. After that, it’s a bit discretionary, but you need the receipt regardless. I talked to the kitchen people, they said it would be at the discretion of the Returning officer, but “worth a shot”. My nature worked against me for a bit, partly because I could go ask at the desk, or I could take everything with me and ask, or I could just presuppose a negative outcome and do nothing. Paralysis by analysis.

Two weeks of leave in February put me back in control of my life, and so I was more motivated to do something about it, and my wife gave me a small kick in the pants today too. So, while Jacob and Andrea went tobogganing, I took the 12 unopened packages over to Ikea. A choice that goes against both nature and nurture.

Now I know lots of things about negotiating techniques, how to do it from strength, how to do it from weakness, how to impose my will through aggression, etc. Most of them are distasteful, manipulative. And if I’m going to “choose” to be someone I’m not, that isn’t the guy. So I decided I would leave the stuff in the car, go up, be completely transparent, tell them I expected a “no” but wanted to ask anyway, no pressure, just a conversation. They said yes, sure, bring it on up. Small hesitation, not much. Now Ikea is known for better-than-average return policies, but still, this is six months later. Would have to be store credit, which is fine with me (we have a small list of three shelving units we or rather I want anyway).

Back downstairs, loaded up, upstairs, different woman, a little grumpy, and so she wants the receipts and some ID, and onward. I said I wasn’t sure what it would show up as on the receipts as the name on the box didn’t seem to match the receipt names, but maybe I was looking in the wrong place. No worries, she scanned the receipts, and then scanned each of the 12 items. None of the items matched my receipts i.e. I’d brought all the receipts I had set aside, but apparently missed some in my paper tracking. Crap. One rule they have is you need the receipts. So I figure I’m going back home, blah blah blah, my nurture side telling me the likely outcome.

Nope, she waived it, gave me a store credit for all of it, signed a receipt, all done. No muss, no fuss, and $500 back in my pocket. Because I fought against nature and nurture. Now, of course the success this time won’t make any difference next time, I’ll still have to fight. But it’s nice to see the choice side win so clearly once in awhile.

Thanks Ikea, Andrea, and the fickle finger of fate that pointed good luck in my direction today.

Sleep apnea treatment, day 2 results

The PolyBlog
March 3 2016

So I went to bed just before 11:00 last night, and fell asleep well enough after I got over my initial hyper-ventilating. I think I need to let my body relax a bit, settle for a minute or two before I put on the machine, maybe while it is warming up the water. Then I slept until after 1:00. That might not seem like much, but it was well over the 90 minute sleep cycle I normally have i.e. it pushed through it.

The problem was I felt like (a) I needed to go to the bathroom eventually / not urgently and (b) I had a tickle in the back of my throat I wasn’t able to clear. Took a break, got up, went to the washroom, And the tickle became reflux. Not sure if that was a reaction to swallowing too much air, or something else. Going to try clearing my throat more before I start tonight.

Went back to bed eventually, decided to try it again anyway, vomiting or not, and had no issues — slept again for more than 2 hours. So it’s working, and I slept more than the previous night with the machine (about 4 hours the first night, probably about 5 hours the second).

And I woke up this morning with my head the clearest it has been in months. I felt great. Until I got up and started doing stuff, and then some of the fuzzies came back in. And this evening I was really tired and partially two-headed again, but it held off longer than usual today, another encouraging sign. Plus my right jaw cracked this morning, releasing a lot of tension, which I think is because I haven’t been clenching and grinding as much either. Another bonus.

Still cautiously optimistic.

Sleep apnea treatment, day 1 results

The PolyBlog
March 2 2016

As noted yesterday (Nervous yet resolute), I picked up an APAP machine yesterday to see if it can help with my sleep apnea. I set it up last night, adjusted the straps on the head gear, filled up the water reservoir, adjusted pillows and setup of my night stand to accommodate everything, and gave it a whirl.

In the first couple of minutes, I felt like I was hyper-ventilating. Likely a combination of it being APAP not CPAP, so it actually ramps up from air pressure of “5” to a maximum of “16” for me (range is 0 to 20 for the machine, and in contrast with CPAP that just has steady number the whole time, mine will also decrease if I’m not needing the higher number), and that whole nervous thing I mentioned in the title of the post.

I waited a few minutes, tried again, got it set up, and waited. Wondered if I would be able to fall asleep with it on. Apparently I can. My wife came in a little while later and noticed (a) I was asleep, (b) I was lying on my back which is unusual as I’m a side sleeper and back sleeping makes me snore, and worsens apnea, and (c) I was sleeping completely peacefully with my mouth closed (there’s another first).

That lasted about 80 minutes or so and then I woke up. It felt like my headgear was squeezing my head too much — not so much a suction problem, more like the straps were too tight. Adjusted things, took a break for a bit, went to the washroom, reattached everything, good to go again. And slept for about 90 minutes. That’s my standard sleep cycle anyway.

I can’t remember if I tried for awhile without it then or later, but did another round in there for about 90 minutes or so, and eventually got up around 5:00 and went to the washroom again (I drank way too much water later in the evening that I would normally, I was dehydrated from dinner and trying the different headgear). I also took some medication about 3 hours later than normal, which always messes my sleep too.

Back to bed around 5:30 or so, tried again, and laid there for about 30-45 minutes before I packed it in. I was not going back to sleep. I felt fine, still “sleepy” but not “dead sleepy” as I am usually at that time.

Trying to assess preliminary results is foolish, but I’m going to do it anyway:

  • I was tired today, but more sleepy than exhausted, which is probably an improvement;
  • Oddly enough, I felt like I had an air-conditioning hang-over, or as if I had been on an airplane too long. It’s a really hard feeling to describe, but I feel almost two-headed — like my physical head and my subconscious mind are not perfectly aligned along the same axis. This has been going on for quite some time though, no apparent cause, and while it was worse today than it has been in awhile, it’s still within the normal realm of “me”;
  • My jaw was less sore today than usual, makes me think I might have avoided grinding somewhat too; and,
  • My right ear “popped” today — not a air pressure clear, more like my jaw cracked, which sounds almost like it’s in my ear when it happens … often if I have a pressure or tension headache, the pressure goes away or at least decreases significantly if I can get my ear / jaw to pop / crack. If not, I have to do TMJ-style massaging along my jawline to get the muscles to relax. I haven’t been able to get it crack in months, today the right one went no problem, and my left one felt like it was ready to go, just not there yet. An audible release they call it when it goes; relief is what I call it.

Overall, my first night with the machine wasn’t an unqualified success, but I didn’t feel horrible doing it, I did sleep with it on, not 100% of the time, but at least 50-60% which is a good start considering it takes some getting used to in terms of the air of course but also the head gear too.

My sleep study produced a more accurate “Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)” number, of course, as it has lots of sensors. The AHI is the number of incidents recorded per hour. Depending on the geographical area and who the governing council is, the standards are usually that < 5 incidents per hour is considered minimal or non-existent apnea. Mild would be 5-15 events per hour, moderate would be 15-30, and severe would be over 30. My official number from the whackjobs at the sleep clinic was 124. Severe severe severe why is he not dead yet apnea. According to the standards. However, first I’m not positive the sleep clinic was entirely reliable (low efficacy as per the previous post), and second, the woman teaching me the new machines was like, “Yeah, it’s high, but not anywhere near the highest, maybe above average but not big time.” Personally I think 2 per minute sounds like a lot from the original study.

The reason I mention it however is that the machine estimates how many you have based on the way you breathe in and out. It’s not as reliable as the sleep study, of course. But the machine knows when you’re inhaling and exhaling as it affects the amount of resistance it registers. And the machine comes with an SD card, and a modem to transmit my sleep data directly back to the company during the day. My numbers for last night? 0.5. A “half” of an event. I don’t even know what half an event is, but still, it basically registered me as having no apnea with the machine running and the air blowing in.

That’s pretty dang impressive.

I’ll keep at it. There are also some potential short-term benefits besides just better sleeping, including a small amount of weight loss (partly due to decreased bloating, metabolic improvements or more accurately, stopping things from screwing up your metabolism) and a reduction in blood pressure. I’m happy but a little nervous about my blood pressure potentially going down too far as I have meds that are supposed to regulate it low already, and the meds work pretty well. I’m going to monitor my BP twice a day for the next month or so, just to make sure nothing dramatic happens and my BP suddenly plummets without me knowing.

The only thing that presented a real challenge to me, and it’s a bit funny, is trying to yawn with the mask on my nose.

With the nose mask on, as soon as you open your mouth, there’s essentially a bit of a vapour lock as the air comes in your nose and out through your mouth and nothing goes down. Your mouth may even make a vibrating noise as it opens and closes a bit. Very disturbing. Anyway, I tried yawning and my mouth kind of blew an inverted raspberry (hard to explain, almost more vacuum in than blowing out as the vapour lock wants your mouth to slam back shut even as you try to open it). I asked the tech, she laughed and said, no, there were no special techniques she knew of to do it. I found out though that if I put up my hand and cover my mouth (like you would in polite company anyway), it creates enough of a shield for you to open your mouth without the machine clamping it shut or your lips/cheeks/mouth doing a concert. Doesn’t sound like much, but the alternative was very unsatisfying stifled yawns as I was getting really sleepy. 🙂

So I’m trying again tonight, hoping I can hold out to 11:00 or so to go to bed so I’m not awake at the crack of stupid. Wish me luck.