When you want to embed a map of a location on a webpage the first place to go is Google Maps. This process is slightly complicated for me as I am using the Maps Preview which removes the default sharing options. Maybe this is a plan by Google to move all developers onto the Google Maps JS API. Though how that benefits normal users who don’t know what Javascript is I don’t know. The original method however was to generate an <iframe> HTML block to put in your site. This was to me essentially undecipherable. All the options were cryptic URL parameters. Using a little Javascript is much simpler. You define all your options and then add your map to the relevant <div>. Here is an example:

See the Pen bfdLj by Jonny Barnes (@jonnybarnes) on CodePen

I’ve decided to stop using my DumbQuotes library on my site. I found that there were too many issues. Primarily with raw HTML and code-blocks. The straight-quotes in these sections all needed escaping so my library didn’t mangle anything. So I am now manually typing in curly-quotes using the appropriate keyboard shortcut. This is much simpler to maintain and keeps my markdown clean.

I have also slightly redesigned my site. I was using Skolar and Myriad Pro but found this a little clichéd. I am now using Prenton for titles and Livory for my body text. I’m liking the look so far. For readability I’ve also increased the font-size slightly.

Dan Pallotta gives an excellent TED talk about the differences in how the non-profit and for-profit sectors spend money. In summary, he suggests that our current attitude that charities must spend as little on overhead as possible is actually limiting the amount of good they can do. Who cares about the overhead, what matters is how much money actually gets spent on doing good. In order to grow that number then money will have to be spent. This shouldn’t be stigmatised like it currenly is.