Weeknote 38/2018

This week I’ve been:

• Sending out Issue #316 of my Thought Shrapnel newsletter. This one was called ‘Is that better? 🙄 🙄 🙄 ’. Apparently, after everyone hated the previous week’s redesign, it was. Thanks to those who back me via Patreon plus those who continue their support via Gumroad!
• Trying to find a new social network for our family to use, after Path announced that it’s shutting down next month. We’re currently experimenting with Vero.
• Working on the MoodleNet project (Mon-Fri):
  • Finalising the contract with our favoured candidate for the MoodleNet backend developer (Elixir) position. He starts on Monday.
  • Preparing for, and travelling to London.
  • Participating in a front-end development workshop with Mayel de Borniol (Technical Architect) and Kayleigh, Sam, and Rob from Outlandish. We made lots of useful decisions that you can find out about here.
• Reading a couple of excellent books:
  • Four Futures: Life After Capitalism (Peter Frase)
  • So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed (Jon Ronson)
• Running a couple of times, including hill sprints up the steps at the Emirates stadium, home of Arsenal football club.
• Going out for a great curry at Tayyabs in Whitechapel with Mayel, Oliver Quinlan, and Bryan Mathers.
• Curating interesting things I came across on the Thought Shrapnel blog:
  • Why badge endorsement is a game-changer
  • Internalising the logic of social media
  • The Digital Knowledge Loop
  • The rise and rise of e-sports
  • A portal into a decentralised universe
  • (Educational) consulting for the uninitiated

Next week, I’m working three days for Moodle (Mon-Weds) and onboarding a new member to the MoodleNet team. I’m then planning to head up a mountain.