Stick around until the end to experience the beatmobile…
In this issue:
- GoDaddy invests a cool half-million to back the WordPress community.
- Post Status is transitioning into a Dutch nonprofit, and the reactions are quite positive.
- The internet has finally reached a consensus on how to pronounce GIF.
Just In: What’s Happening?
Hope everyone is enjoying this fine January 76th! This meme nicely captures the vibe:
But anyway, here’s what’s been up so far this year:
Woah Daddy!
GoDaddy (or maybe we should call them SugarDaddy) recently revealed that they’ve contributed $520,000 to support the WP Community Collective, a project aimed at funding and enabling WordPress contributors.
According to the GoDaddy announcement, the funding will assist in financing the collective’s “programs and partnerships that enhance open-source communities, drive innovation, and foster collaboration.”
GoDaddy employs two full-time developers, Kira Schroder and George Mamadashvili, who focus exclusively on WordPress core development. They also support 46 contributors, devoting 255 hours per week to WordPress across 17 teams.
WPCC President Sé Reed mentioned that the influx of funds will help them implement more sustainable paid Fellowship opportunities, allowing more individuals to dedicate their time and skills to WordPress development. This aligns perfectly with Ryan McCue’s recommendations in his blog post last October, “A Stronger Foundation for the Ecosystem.”
If you’d like to contribute and support the collective too, you can sign up here. (No worries, memberships start at $5 if you don’t have an extra half-million lying around. 
)
New Core Interface, Who’s This?
As you might have noticed, the WordPress.com user interface underwent a change last week.
Everyone is familiar with the custom “Calypso” interface for registered WordPress.com users, but as mentioned in the blog post detailing the update, having two distinct interfaces between .org and .com was becoming “increasingly challenging.”
Thus, all WordPress.com users were moved to the standard wp-admin .org interface, promising them a “consistent and intuitive experience no matter where you WordPress.”
The reactions? It’s uh… not entirely optimistic. Some users welcomed the change, but many commented on the post expressing their dissatisfaction with the sudden switch and stated they found Calypso to be more efficient and user-friendly.
The expression, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” came up more than once. 
What’s your opinion on the update? Are you in favor of it, or do you believe it simplifies things for the WordPress team while neglecting user needs? Share your views in the comments!
Post Status Receives an Update
Founders of Yoast SEO Joost de Valk and Marieke van de Rakt have disclosed that they’ve acquired Post Status, the esteemed WordPress business community. They plan to transform it into a Dutch nonprofit foundation, benefitting from the country’s solid privacy protections and legal framework.
With a Slack channel boasting over 1700 active members, a buzzing job board, and a weekly newsletter, Post Status has become a vital component of the WordPress ecosystem since its inception in 2013 by Brian Krogsgard.
Joost de Valk informed members on Slack that the membership fee would be lowered, making use of Slack’s 85% discount for nonprofits.
Tia Wood, Founder of TheWPGirls.com, expressed, “So thrilled that the de Valks have acquired Post Status and are converting it into a nonprofit. You two are amazing Joost & Marieke. Kudos to everyone involved.”
Developer and consultant Carrie Dils also celebrated the acquisition, remarking, “I recall Post Status’ groundbreaking period with @Krogsgard, the leadership under @LindseyMillerWP & @corymiller303, and am excited for its future as a safe haven to gather and exchange ideas.”
Astonishing Facts & Stats
- According to the State of Enterprise WordPress 2024 report, 61% of enterprise organizations contribute to the WordPress project. That’s a phenomenal jump from 38% in 2023! (Source)
- The OOPSpam 2024 Annual Spam Report has been published. Can you believe that the USA and China account for nearly 58% of global spam? Yikes! (Source)
- Plus, nearly 69% of spam targets WordPress sites, which is unsurprising given its popularity. Ensure your site is secure and updated, everyone! (Source)
- Based on this survey, 84% of individuals are correct in using GIF as in gift over JIF as in giraffe. The remaining 16% are mistaken. #fightme (Source)
Must-Read Blogs & Resources
Is organizing your workflows a goal for 2025? Abby Wood’s comprehensive guide on project management tools might just be what you need. | Considering whether to accept that job offer? This quick test provides clarity. | Looking to schedule a call with that client far away? This might be the best visualizer we’ve found for pinpointing a convenient time for both of you. | The nomination deadline for 2025 Core Team Reps is January 31st, so click here to nominate people (or yourself!)
Fun Break Distractions
Have kids and want to teach them coding? Scratch is a fantastic kids coding platform.
Think you’re fast on the keyboard? Test your typing speed here.
Not satisfied with your typing speed? This is a great touch-typing tutor that can help you improve.
When you find the ideal film to watch, this is how you’ll likely appear.
And lastly, my dream car isn’t real…. (Wait for the rear view mirror harmonica!) 
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