Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell

“I think I’m going to take this lounge.”

“Go. ahead but notice there’s no pillow.”

“You’re right. What the heck?”

“Complaints don’t work around here.”

Friday has come. I can’t decide if the week’s been long or short. If you looked in yesterday you know Lucy went to the vet for a teeth cleaning. She is doing well, but needs medication twice a day. If you can picture Lucy sitting still for pills you have the wrong dog. She is great with chewable but needs a dose of peanut butter for everything else. We have two pills that are capsules and one chewable.

I woke up yesterday to the Classic editor being totally shut off. I thought WP was going to continue it for we premium subscribers. Well I was wrong. There was no warning and let me tell you my type of blog with tons of pictures is a real pain in Block editing. I used to be able to download masses photos and now must do it one at a time. On top of that, the captions don’t work well, and oh my goodness what a mess.

I have often threatened to go to the free version of WP if forced to use the Block editor. I’ll give it a bit and see what happens. I wish there was a soul that gave a crap about what we users think but I know such an individual doesn’t exist

Today’s JohnKu talks about being had. I hope you all are blessed with a terrific weekend

Block Editor by John W. Howell (I don’t have my copyright sign or at least I can’t find it) Copyright 2021

Gobsmacked by WordPress,

You would think my blog’s for free . . .

The way they treat me.

150 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF”

  1. Fully agree on the editor issue. Every post I do is now copied from a previous one and reworked. So far, the classic block is still working.

    As for tablets: Trevor has a tablet twice daily to help his arthritis and a few ml of liquid pain meds once a day. The tablets are easy to chew and pleasantly flavoured. Like most dogs, Trevor does not do tablets. He has his morning pill ground to powder and mixed with vanilla yoghurt (which he loves) and a very small amount of meat and biscuits; his evening one is crushed and mixed with his pain meds and wet food. No drama. I just make sure the pestle and mortar I use for his meds is kept separate from the one I use for grinding spices.

    Have a good weekend.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Hahaha. Yes keep the grinders separate. We have done the motor and pestle routine too. Lucy sniffs out the offending med. The peanut butter works great since she loved it so much. Have a good weekend as well. 😊

      Liked by 3 people

  2. I feel your pain. Yesterday, I discovered the same thing when I tried to write a new post. I didn’t have too much trouble with the pictures, but when I went searching for the schedule tab, I inadvertently published the post…oh well. I hope Lucy is feeling better. Have a great Friday!

    Liked by 5 people

  3. Holy crap!! My ability to the use classic editor is gone, too!! No warning, no nothing. I need this like I need a hole in the head. I’m going to bark those WP “people” all the way to Outer Mongolia.

    Liked by 5 people

  4. I love your haiku, John, and fear your comment about the Block editor. I only use WP when writing for Story Empire and my turn is next week. I’m tech-impaired and your heads-up tells me, I have a struggle ahead. Hope you figure it out for all the rest of us! Have a great weekend. 😊

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I’m trying, Gwen. The only suggestion is to maybe set up a classic block and do the post in word and copy it into the block. I’m going to try that today and see how it works. I’ll let you know. 😁

      Liked by 2 people

  5. It looks like I still have my classic but probably not for long, lols. I feel your pain, John. Great Haiku!
    For the copyright symbol … on a mac it’s Alt + G …I can’t remember how to do it on a PC, sorry. Sending hugs accross the miles! Have a lovely weekend with all your girls. Mmmm, I wonder if I can start taking all my pills with peanut butter?!?! 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I have a Mac so alt g works for me. Thank you, Harmony. What a piss this is. Maybe you could take your pills with gin. Much better than peanut butter. I have a fist full and have often thought about that solution. Hugs across the pond. 🤗 I wish for you a peaceful weekend.

      Liked by 3 people

  6. Once again I’m having trouble too, John. I had to delete my Spam one at a time, the comments are like a mass of print, I have to carefully look for the ‘reply’ and ‘approve’. I’m petrified to try and put my next post together. If they want me to quit using wordpress, why don’t they just say so?!!!

    Liked by 4 people

    2. I feel the same way, GP. I could not believe it. I had all the photos of Lucy and Twiggy and then had to figure to how to get them into a post. I’ll tell you I had a neckache from hell once I was finished. My Grammarly doesn’t work, so now I broadcast to the world how really idiotic I am. Well, I’ll just have to suck up my pride and go forward. Maybe a note from WP telling me to get lost might be the humane thing to do. This is torture. (Thanks for listening GP.) 😳

      Liked by 2 people

      1. No problem. I’m just glad I already decided to go down to one post a week. It’ll probably take me that long to get one together!! 🤪

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Here’s how to get it back GP.
          Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
          Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
          Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
          Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

          Liked by 2 people

  7. All is not lost. Here’s a link with instructions on how to return to the old wp-admin navigation sidebar. It worked for me.

    Once you’ve done that, here’s how to post and edit in the Classic editor (at least, it’s working for me, and for those I’ve recommended it to).

    On the Admin sidebar menu, hover above the third icon down — the little pushpin that’s labeled “Posts.” At that point, DO NOT click on “Add New.” That will take you to the Block editor. Instead, click on “Posts” or “All Posts.” That will open a page with another “Add New” link at the top, with a drop-down arrow next to it.

    Click on the arrow, and you have a choice between the Block editor and the Classic editor. Click “Classic,” and you’re in business!

    Notice, too, that when you get to the page that shows all your posts, both published and draft, if you hover over a title, you can choose to edit in the classic editor. That option’s right below the title.

    Once I got it down, it’s easy as can be. Since I post so often, I leave that “All Posts” page open in my browser as a tab. All I have to do is click on it, and I’m ready to go.

    I hope that makes sense, and is helpful.

    Liked by 7 people

    2. That is how I used to work, Linda. The link you sent me takes me right to the new sidebar. So, let me hunt around and see if I can find another way. Thank you for taking the time to help. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The first time I tried it, it didn’t work, but I suspect that was due to ‘operator error.’ Once I found the account settings through the new admin menu, I was able to make the changes.

        Liked by 3 people

  8. John, my blog is free as I keep down the number of pictures in the file. They still hint I need to pay but I know better. Darn if I’m going to pay when I don’t write my own material for now. There are some things with WordPress that haven’t worked well for some time. I ignore them and find ways around them. All the best in your battle for justice. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 4 people

  9. I have battled with WP over captions for almost two years, John. I still have to use classic blocks for photos. Premium users get treated a little less badly than free.

    Liked by 4 people

  10. Realizing change was inevitable, I went to the Block Editor with the new blog. The transition wasn’t too bad because my posts are relatively simple. Besides, I do not draft or write in the editor. Have a good weekend … and hoping Lucy continues feeling better. After all, the Little One is ready to play.

    Liked by 5 people

  11. Once I adapted to the new editor, I found I liked it better. I didn’t know they’d be changing the dashboard, though. That happened to me yesterday without warning, and I loathe it. I guess I’ll figure it out.

    Sorry about Lucy’s medicine. My dogs always found ways to spit theirs out, too. Even around cheese or PB. Clever guys. I hope you have better luck with Lucy.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I find that if I hide the pill in peanut butter and then put more on another finger which I put neat her mouth right after the pill she doesn’t notice the pill. She is swept up in peanut butter bliss. Thanks, Staci.

      Liked by 2 people

  12. Life is no better on the free side. Mine all changed a week ago and it sucks. Fortunately, you and I have access to some wonderful folks who’ve figures some of this out. I’ve been using the block editor to create new posts. I miss the old editor for fancying them up.

    Liked by 4 people

        1. open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
          Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
          Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
          Then, you will have the same admin page as before.

          Liked by 2 people

  13. I haven’t made a post yet this week, so I didn’t know about the classic editor going away. Every time I try the blob text is a mess. It’s so frustrating and ungainly. I heard that WordPress bought the program and that’s why they’re sticking to it. Pride and money stopping them from listening to the complaints. At least allow for both versions to exist and give us choices.

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Same thing happened to me with classic editor in October – no warning at all. It didn’t take as long as I’d expected to learn Gutenberg – once I quit shouting obscenities and actually did something about it, lol. Good luck, John!

    Liked by 3 people

  15. Hi John – oh no that’s such a pain. It is hard to adjust to new formats, etc. I just noticed on this blog (a free one) that I no longer have a dashboard. I hate that. I like to look at my Site Stats and now I can only see a summary. I still have a dashboard on Book Club Mom (also free). I was thinking of upgrading Books To Pen. I wonder if I’d get my dashboard back if I did? I can’t use the Classic Editor on this one. It’s been an adjustment.

    Liked by 4 people

  16. OK.. John, open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
    Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
    Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
    Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

    As for this post… I feel your pain! It was a long-short week for me too!

    Liked by 7 people

    1. OMG, Dale!!! You are my hero for all time!!! It worked! (So far.) Why do they do things like this? I’m OOOOOOLD. I don’t like change very much. It gives me palpitations. Don’t they know I could keel over from shock???

      Okay, maybe it wouldn’t kill me, but I spent yesterday in a state of what my husband calls extreme pisstivity. (Excuse the language.) I’m now singing and dancing, and heading off to do this on my public blog, too. (I tried it out on my private one, just in case it went even farther off course just to spite me for all my complaining yesterday.)

      THANK YOU SO MUCH!! *happy sigh*

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Yay Marcia! So very glad it helped!

        I LOVE pissitivity. I am so using that from this day forward.

        And WordPress are total A-holes for doing this to all of us writers who are NOT looking to bang our heads against the wall in an attempt to write a bloody story…

        You are very welcome! Spread the word! 😀

        Liked by 5 people

      2. I’ve already copied your instructions and emailed them to several people, and I think I’ll do a post about it on The Write Stuff later this afternoon. I KNOW there were a whole lotta angry folks yesterday. Bad enough to do it at all, but do it with no warning? Not cool. Not at ALL cool! Feel free to use Mark’s expression. He omits that second “i” but either way, it gets the point across, doesn’t it? 😀

        Liked by 4 people

      3. Dale, I plan share your instructions on my blog, The Write Stuff, as I know plenty of people woke up to a horrible shock yesterday. I’ll also include the link to your blog at the end, as well, so that some new folks will stop by for a visit there, as well.

        Liked by 4 people

  17. Love the haiku, John! And you aren’t alone in finding a NIGHTMARE awaiting you upon rising yesterday morning. I’m so mad I could spit. Fire. Yeah, I could spit fire! They SAID we’d have the option until 2022. I’d checked numerous times, and was thinking I still had time to learn the block editor. But no. (There’s an old movie line from Joe Pesci about what they do to you at the drive-thru. For some reason, it keeps running through my mind, but I shall be a lady (snort) and not repeat it here.)

    If you think adding images is a pain, try having a private blog where you share chapters of your current WIPS with beta readers. 3,000 word chapters with lots of dialogue and therefore, lots of paragraphs. (Would you believe SIXTY?) And each one has to be formatted separately if you want BLACK text, BOLD, and slightly larger than default. Which I do, because I have trouble reading the tiny little print, otherwise. I thought I would lose my mind. WHY is there no “Select ALL” options, except within a block. And why can’t you have more paragraphs within a block???? Doing a short blog post is doable, though not fun, but doing a full book chapter is the stuff of nightmares!

    I know exactly how you felt yesterday. And probably still feel today. OH, by the way, you can get the “Classic Editor Plug-In” but only if you convert to a business blog for $300. I’m so mad, I’m considering it, even though I do not intend to sell my books from my blog. And I guess that’s what they wanted.

    End of rant. Still love me some Lucy and Twiggy, and I do hope Lucy feels better and will soon be done with her meds. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Did that a couple of hours ago as soon as I saw it, and have thanked her here. I’m also planning to do a post with her instructions today on The Write Stuff, to lessen the number of folks still tearing their hair out. She was a life saver!!! 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

  18. Click here if you would like a tall glass of sand to wash down your pain pill for the new block editor. Click harder. It really is a great new feature. No really. Sorry our happiness engineers are busy choking on sand and peanut butter. Click here to break out a bottle of commiseration sauce. Don’t forget to click harder. Oh don’t forget to pick up Toto and click your heals together three times.

    Liked by 6 people

        1. It is won. We have figured it out. In case you want to do the same here is the process. Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
          Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
          Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
          Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

          Liked by 2 people

  19. You are not alone, John. I struggle with the block editor too. Far preferred how WP used to deal with images. However, they’ll probably change it again at some point, maybe even for the better. My dog also loves peanut butter.

    Liked by 5 people

    2. open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
      Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
      Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
      Then, you will have the same admin page as before.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Oh, dear, I’ll have to check WP later (I’m on my iPad and do not post from the WP app, only read and comment). I’ve been using the block editor because I didn’t see that I had a choice. It’s clunky and overkill for the kind of posts I write. I don’t know why WP thought block editor would be great. It’s not user friendly. However, I’ve been getting used to it bit by bit. Of course, I only post about once a week, so my WP frustration threshold has not yet been breached 😉 Glad to “see” that Lucy is better. Have you tried to pill a cat lately? Years ago we had a small cat, Elodea, who had jaws of steel. It would take two of us to pill her: one to hold her and the other to pry open her jaws and push the pill in. She couldn’t be fooled by putting the pill in a pill pocket or mixing with food. She’s no longer with us, but I’ll never forget the ordeal of pilling her 😬 Happy Friday, John!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Yes on the cat. I had a technique that was a thumb to the back of the cat’s jaw and then slipping the pill in. I have had many punctured thumbs. If you want to get to classic here is a way. Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
      Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
      Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
      Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Oh, no, John! I had not checked in to my blog for a few days and everything has changed. Before I could still use Classic but it is gone. I hate the Block editing too when I tried it. Ugg! I see in the comments that there were some work-arounds. Will try some -thanks to those who gave advice. Gobsmacked by WordPress indeed!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Here is the work around Jo. Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
      Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
      Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
      Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

      Liked by 2 people

  23. Pingback: #EditorWars – #BlockEditor vs #ClassicEditor | The Write Stuff

  25. That stupid block editor is cheesing off many of us (and I tried twice to go with it but reverted back since I thought I’d lose my mind or hurt someone). You should be able to revert by clicking on site settings, tab over to writing (on my site I am set up with default setting rather than block editor). Hope it works for you. Otherwise you can contact WP and express your displeasure. They may be able to get you fixed up. Rotten jerks. Ear scritches for sweet Lucy and hope she feels better soon.

    Liked by 4 people

  27. I was frustrated with the new editor as well John. Pulling my hair out in fact. Then I vented on Twitter and a lovely woman by the name of Janet Emson taught me how to get the old editor back. I will be forever in her debt. I can send you the instructions John if you want.

    Liked by 4 people

  28. Best wishes for the dog, John. Our dog, Daisy, hated taking Brevecto until she was out on a gastrointestinal prescription can food, Royal Canine Lo-fat (she’s been having stool problems for two months and it’s been challenging to find a solution). She loves the canned food and she takes her pills eagerly when we give it with the food. We make a ‘meatball’ and squish the pill into it. As for classic editor, what is the problem. Whenever I start a new story, it gives me the Block style but I can switch to the Classic, then back again.

    Liked by 4 people

  29. Excuse my French here Boss, but fucking A. They can mess with me all they want, but you? Nope . . not having it.

    I hope Lucy is doing okay. No doubt you stocked up on the peanut butter . . .

    Liked by 4 people

        1. Here is how to get it back, Jennie,
          Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
          Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
          Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
          Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

          Liked by 1 person

  30. Well, now I’m not sure I want to post anything. This feels par for the course for me. When I finally figure out how to use something (this covers most technologies), an “upgrade” forces me back to square one.

    Liked by 4 people

  32. I saw the writing on the wall last year and switched over to the block editor. It definitely has a learning curve, but I’ve figured out with some help here and there via tutorials how to do what I need to do. I hope they don’t change it again too soon!

    Diva Dog loved peanut butter and cream cheese so we’d use those to get her to take her pills. It made it easier for us both.

    Liked by 5 people

  37. My classic editor was shut off a few days ago. No heads-up, just boom! I haven’t adjusted at all. If you have a different blog site, I will jump ship with you, John. Gulp!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Here is a way to stay with Classic
      Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
      Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
      Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
      Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic. 😁

      Like

    1. Here is a workaround if youwould like to go back to classic.
      Open your WP, click on your face (or whatever image you use) in the circle at the top right in the black bar. Right beside the bell.
      Once you have clicked there, it will bring you to your profile. On the left side, choose account settings.
      Scroll down until you get to Interface settings and there is a slide bar under Dashboard Settings. Click on that, go below the colour options and save.
      Then, you will have the same admin page as before. Just like the last time when they pulled this nonsense! You can then click on posts and then add new and choose classic.

      Liked by 2 people

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