Stick around until the end to discover the most troublesome convenience store you’ll ever find.
In this edition:
- The WordPress Training Team unveils their 2025 aspirations for global influence (but in a positive way.)
- Just a heads up: Your flip-flops and short shorts are NOT welcome at WordCamp Asia. #keepitclassy
- An insightful article from Sunita Rai featuring nearly every WordPress Wapuu ever created.
Fresh from the Presses: What’s Happening?
Currently engaged in a trendy challenge named February, where the goal is simply to survive each day of February.
So far, so good. 
Quick public service notice before we dive in:
Alright, let’s get into what’s new!
Training Team 2025 Objectives: Demystifying WordPress
The WordPress Training Team has ambitious plans for 2025, particularly if you’ve ever done a Google search for “how on earth do I solve this in WordPress?”—this is promising news for you.
First up, they’re taking their agenda across borders. Expect more languages, improved localized content, and enhanced support for individuals learning WordPress beyond the typical English sphere. If you’ve ever struggled with a poorly translated tutorial, you’ll appreciate this effort.
They’re also putting more muscle into marketing their educational resources, so rather than clicking through documentation blindly, you’ll actually discover what you’re looking for. The ultimate aim? To encourage greater use of Learn WordPress.
A More Intelligent Method (With More Spreadsheets, Likely)
The team is focusing heavily on data to assess what’s effective and what isn’t. Anticipate fewer outdated guides and a wealth of up-to-date resources. Along the same lines, they’re refining the contributor handbooks so that new volunteers don’t have to play detective just to figure out how to contribute.
Enhanced Community, Reduced Confusion
Ultimately, they strive to transform contributing to WordPress training from a lonely mission into a collective initiative. Expect greater transparency, improved communication, more accessible learning opportunities, and a more inviting atmosphere overall.
They are also in search of Deputy Team Reps to assist their Team Reps, serving as a backup whenever a Team Rep is unavailable or requires help. You can apply for this role here.
Quickly Update That Plugin, Alright?
If your site is utilizing the “Better Find and Replace” plugin, halt your activities and ensure you are updated to at least version 1.6.8.
Why should you care?
This widely-used “Better Find and Replace” plugin (with over 50,000 active users) facilitates fast text replacement across your posts, metadata, and database.
However, because it permits search/replace in the database directly, it poses a significant risk.
Patchstack reported that a subscriber was able to “search and replace” their way to a promotion as an administrator—an obvious security threat. 
Fortunately, the developers have remedied the flaw by implementing strict checks for adequate permissions—so you can upgrade with peace of mind knowing your subscribers can’t just elevate themselves to Administrator status behind your back!
Privilege escalation can be a considerable issue with certain plugins—Patchstack also reported another affecting the “View Admin as Role” feature in the “Admin and Site Enhancements” plugin.
For additional information on this issue, SolidWP has a handy guide on How to Safeguard Your WordPress Site from Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities.
Wapuu, What Are You?
You’ve likely encountered Wapuu—the adorable creature resembling a cat (or maybe a dog? Pikachu-like? What is it actually?) hugging the WordPress logo.
Sunita Rai from SiteSaga chronicles the history of Wapuu in this engaging and detailed blog article—complete with a chronological timeline stretching back to 2009.
Did you know Wapuu originated in Japan, and there are over 145 distinct versions celebrating local communities? It’s fascinating to see how each culture is represented—like the lobster version for WordCamp Halifax, the wine-sipping Wapuu for WordCamp Porto, or the colorful puppet-inspired version for WordCamp Jakarta.
Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Prepare for WordCamp Asia 2025 (And Don’t Forget Your Closed-Toed Shoes!)
WordCamp Asia 2025 is set to take place in Manila from February 20th-22nd, and it’s likely to attract over 2000 participants from 70+ countries. Will you be attending?
The event will kick off with “Contributor Day,” where you can actively contribute to shaping the future of WordPress instead of merely discussing it on Twitter (or X, depending on what we’re calling it nowadays). Following this, there will be two days filled with talks, workshops, and networking opportunities with some of the industry’s notable figures, including StellarWP’s Director of Community Engagement Michelle Frechette and Gutenberg’s lead architect Matías Ventura.
This year, the organizers are going all out with side events, including Ctrl+Alt+Run, a fun run for anyone looking to work off some of those networking cocktails.
However, before you start tossing your suitcase with flip-flops and tank tops, you should be aware of the dress code. The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) is a government facility, so it has some strict guidelines: no open-toed shoes, no shorts, and no sleeveless shirts with “sun’s-out-guns-out” vibes. 
Therefore, if you were considering arriving in your best beach attire, you might want to reconsider and opt for a more formal look unless you wish to be denied entry. (You can always sport your casual outfit at the Pinoy Fiesta after-party, of course!)
Oh, and in relation to Wapuu, this event’s character is unbelievably cute. “Tahopuu” represents a vendor selling the traditional street-food treat taho, made from silken tofu, arnibal (caramelized sugar syrup), and sago pearls. Umm… doesn’t that sound scrumptious?!
Fascinating Facts & Stats
- Is WordPress putting the Press in its name? According to the State of Enterprise WordPress 2024 Survey, 31% of enterprise brands utilizing WordPress are in the Publishing and Media sector. That’s the leading category, with Technology following closely at 29%. (Source)
- The Gender Equality in WordPress Business report reveals that women are nearly twice as likely as men to be mistaken for individuals in more junior roles at work, and 20 times more likely to have their decisions questioned due to their gender.
(Source) - Equalize Digital audited 17 WordPress sites, 5 plugins, and 2 JavaScript applications and uncovered a staggering 255 unique accessibility issues! A shocking 84% of these wouldn’t have been detected by automated tools, which is why manual testing remains vital. (Source)
Blogs & Resources Worth Your Time
In her HeroPress essay, MK Keefer, founder of Frameworks Marketing, discusses how WordPress serves as the “fertile soil” for her growth.
Are you searching for an open, decentralized, and federated alternative to the billionaire-owned social media app you can’t quit? Seth Goldstein writes about Fediverse alternatives to the dominant platforms.
Bob Dunn from Do the Woo has hinted at the release of a new newsletter post WordCamp Asia in late February that will be filled with practical short tips—even the title is yet to be announced!
Matt Medeiros, the founder of The WP Minute podcast, has debuted a new podcast titled CMS Minute—a limited series that will extend beyond WordPress to uncover the world of various CMS platforms.
Eric Karkovack mentions that accurately estimating the cost of a WordPress project requires you to “think like a private investigator” and “uncover every project detail.”
Did you know you can integrate your WordPress site with Canva to streamline image designing? Check out this awesome integration created by DataPocket.
Building a business that grants you the freedom to spend quality time with your family? Priceless, as Cheryl Hock puts it.
Coffee Break Diversions
You probably didn’t realize that QR codes trace back to 1825 with a painter named… Samuel Morse.
Can you believe it’s possible to play DOOM in a PDF?
Flip the cards and find matching pairs. Accuracy wins, so try not to guess too much!
And lastly…
Found this intriguing? Share it with someone you think might appreciate it too! 
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