Technology Solutions for Everyday Folks

March 2020 Archive

TRIM-ming up for Summer

Trimming a hedge with lawnmower attached to tractor loader

March 09, 2020
3 minutes
automation, inspiration, php, tech

Not really TRIM-ming for summer, but taking the opportunity to briefly write about Rule #1 when dealing with unknown (or incoming) data.

Sanitize. Thy. Inputs.

Without going into great detail (as it doesn't matter at the end of the day), last week I encountered a vendor that apparently doesn't know how to do this very well. Or at all. What ultimately transpired is the complete failure of a reasonably-routine change process to capture a critical failure in production.

March 02, 2020
6 minutes
finance, inspiration, personal

A couple weeks ago, I made brief mention of my financial automation account and how I've come to consider it my "free money" account. I wanted to dig into that topic just a bit more, since it's become a key component of my own regular financial well-being.