iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/05/2026

Fun with that disco ball profile pic let me to hours of iterating designs/prompts to generate profile pics for loads of US & global holidays. So, now my profile pic changes based on holidays/seasons. In memory of those who died so we could live free. Happy Memorial Day.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 19/05/2026

Finally! A trend I was literally made for!

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 22/03/2026

Dropped a new release of my Weather extension for Command Palette. Dock support included with current conditions + hourly/daily forecasts. Pick it up on the MS Store (and Winget soon.) apps.microsoft.com/detail/9N01D...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 14/02/2026

Rebuilt my website recently and my favorite new feature is blog post previews before they're released. 7 days before a post is released it shows on the website as a teaser. Also, new post coming Monday...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 02/09/2025

Still using .ToLower() for string comparisons in .NET? You need to stop! New YouTube video drop explaining why and what you should do instead. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzA...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 27/07/2025

Ever had a side project that was so fun you spent all your free time working on it? Feeling very lucky tonight that my fun "side project" is my work project. Also, grids are coming in hot to Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys. Feedback? Suggestions? Let me know in my PR. Link in thread.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 18/07/2025

Did you know that nearly every day I live stream building Command Palette for Microsoft PowerToys on Twitch? Heck, some of the UI design & features have come straight from viewers. This week we're working on extensible filtering. Still a WIP, but we're close. bbb.dev/twitch

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 11/07/2025

The ability to pin apps to the top level of Command Palette? Yes, please. Coming soon. ™ Got other ideas for Command Palette? Check out the repo at github.com/microsoft/po...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 01/07/2025

✅ Microsoft PowerToys ✅ Dad Jokes ✅ Lofi beats Looks like we're ready to build in public. Join the stream on twitch.tv/baldbeardedbuilder

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 26/06/2025

Yup. We're live on Twitch building Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys. Bring suggestions and coffee. bbb.dev/twitch

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 18/06/2025

Microsoft PowerToys is open source. So, letting you watch me work on the Command Palette is totally cool. Come hang out and give me feedback about what you'd like to see it do. bbb.dev/twitch

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 11/06/2025

Doing some real *vibe* coding on Twitch today and every day. bbb.dev/twitch

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 04/06/2025

Shipped off two daughters on mission's trips this week. They're headed in different directions, so we've got Jolley Ranchers all around the globe this summer. Proud of what they'll be doing and can't wait to see them again in August.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 05/05/2025

No more watering my raised beds by hand. Drip irrigation is installed and crushing it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLH...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 29/04/2025

Me and 16 making #gains. I don’t know how motivated I’m going to be this summer when she’s gone to Asia on a mission trip.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 12/04/2025

Preparing soil might be the most important step in gardening. Funny how it might be the most important part of most things we do… www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4tR...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 09/04/2025

That's right. New BBB YouTube video drop tomorrow. bbb.dev/youtube

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 26/03/2025

Ctrl+Alt+AI is back! And we're explaining retrieval augmented generation (RAG) in under 8 minutes. 🚀 Hold on to your seat! www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUCW...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 19/03/2025

Styling your WinUI app can get super unmaintainable. Let's talk about styling our WinUI app with XAML. We'll cover overrides, resource dictionaries, and even touch on good patterns for keeping your code manageable for future you. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ROC...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 18/03/2025

What does healthy eating look like? For me, it includes the same salad everyday for lunch. Preferably, outside with some sunshine. I’m one of those lucky folks that can eat the same thing everyday as long as I enjoy it.

Grilled chicken, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, pepperoncinis, oil & vinegar

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 17/03/2025

1.5 months of eating right, sleeping right, and working out 6 days a week = 20 lbs down. Half way to my goal of 200lbs by 2026 and it’s only March. 💪

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 07/03/2025

Hey Michael! How's filming going at Jolley Ranch this week? It's been better...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 04/02/2025

Oh... I may have gone too far this time. Ohh, yeah... Video in thread.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 30/01/2025

And so, it begins. The journey of the Jolley Ranchers begins. How does a 20+ year software engineer and his family of 5 transition from the suburbs to an off-grid homestead. Come along for the ride and find out.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 20/01/2025

After our first date, where we talked for hours and laughed until we cried, I knew this one was different. It's her birthday today and on Wednesday we celebrate 25 years of marriage. She deserves nothing but the best. Unfortunately, she got me. 😁

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 16/01/2025

Spent the day with the wife going to shops, eating, and visiting small towns we’ve not been to before for our 25th anniversary. Driving down Main Street in one of those towns I spot this thing. Had to turn around and get my picture taken with it… in the middle of nowhere Alabama.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 06/01/2025

Happy Monday. ✅ Finally feeling "over" the flu. ✅ One more week of vacation ✅ Getting a ton of honey-do's done ✅ Hit 6k subscribers on YouTube Great start to the New Year. 🎉

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/12/2024

When my rural Alabama and developer personalities collide, my terminal gets PowerShell aliases like "gitrdone" that grabs the current branch name, checks out main, and then deletes the other branch. Code committed, pushed, and PR'd? gitrdone

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 13/12/2024

This is a truck in my area. You can rent it to take the family looking at Christmas lights. It's wrapped in 25,000 lights.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 03/12/2024

How did I not know this feature existed!? I've wasted so much time searching for online tools when the Windows Start Menu had it all along. 😭

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 28/11/2024

Thankful for my family, friends, health, and that guy who died so I could live. And that’s just the start of what I have to be thankful for. Look out turkey, cause here I come!

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 26/11/2024

I've been having a blast learning about AI, but did you know that AI models and algorithms are different? I shared how in this clip and recorded a longer explanation of models on YouTube. Check them both out and gimme dem likes/comments/subs so I can keep going! www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjGd...

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/11/2024

Okay. I’ll never get an #mvpbuzz disc again but that last 5 year blue disk was a banger! On to life with a blue badge.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 13/11/2024

How do you learn new keyboard shortcuts? The Shortcut Guide PowerToy can help you with those Windows key shortcuts. Watch below... but if you want me to keep my job, click on that link in the thread to like/comment. Seriously... I have kids' educations to pay for... 😁

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 07/11/2024

It's so easy for me to get distracted while I work. One notification and I'm chasing squirrels for an hour. But Windows 11 added a new feature that's helping me stay in my flow state. 🚀

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 04/11/2024

GitHub Copilot... but in Windows Terminal? I've used it for a few weeks and holy crap is this fun. Actually, this now brings Copilot to VIM or NeoVIM with WSL. 🤯

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 02/11/2024

Love this and would love to help, but your settings don't allow DMs from those you don't follow.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 01/11/2024

Recording a video about oh-my-posh and Windows Terminal. Take a break for socials and see this. First, Amazon is listening to my conversations to show me ads, now PowerShell is telling @jan.ohmyposh.dev about me!? 😁

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/10/2024

I'm this old. Here's my first PC. Yes, those are cassettes for applications rather than disks. No, it couldn't play the mixtapes I made from recording songs from my FM radio.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 11/05/2024

Birmingham sky was looking mighty fine from my POV last night.

Image of the geomagnetic storm of 2024 over Birmingham, AL.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 09/06/2023

New keyboard has arrived. I dig it! Also, got some additional switches to finish the Corne keyboard build. Looking great on the pegboard.

Unopened Miya PRO keyboard on a wood desk next to a Rodecaster Pro II sound board and GitHub coffee mug filled with my favorite coffee, Sloth Dispelling Breakfast Blend from Mad Priest Coffee.

Opened Miya PRO keyboard sitting on my wooden desk next to a Rodecaster Pro II sound board and GitHub mug of coffee.

Ikea Skadis keyboard mounted on a wall with LEDs behind it illuminating the three keyboards, including the new Miya PRO keyboard.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 05/06/2023

Who builds a keyboard that needs 42 switches, but only orders 40? This guy. Let's be honest... I'll never use those keys anyways.

Skadis pegboard with 3d printed spacers & LEDs holding two mechanical keyboards. One is a split Corne keyboard missing two switches... because I'm a winner.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 01/06/2023

Built 3 raised planter boxes from cedar this winter. So far, so good. Time to eat soon. On tap: broccoli, brussel sprouts, garlic, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, three types of bell/sweet pepper, sweet potatoes, cilantro, sweet mint, peppermint, cantaloupe, and watermelon.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 25/05/2023

Sometimes you shard the database. Sometimes you shard yourself... We'll be sharding live on stream today at 2PM ET at bbb.dev/twitch. Bring hand sanitizer.

Scene from The Princess Bride where Inigo Montoya says "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/05/2023

Thought about this during my evening walk. I propose renaming to "Racing stripe."

A Dodge Viper on the road with blue paint and two white racing stripes down the middle.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 23/05/2023

My 7yo has been asking for a faux-hawk for weeks. The origin has never dawned on me. Call me a child of the 80s, I would've believed Mr. T coined the phrase. Heck, everything I learned came from the A-team. And now you know... and knowing is half the battle. (Okay, I learned from GI Joe as well)

Mr. T grimacing and pointing to the viewer.

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Michael Jolley @baldbeardedbuilder.com · 19/05/2023

Reviewing your own PR is like Stuart Smalley looking in the mirror and quoting "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And dog gonnit, people like me."

Stuart Smalley from an SNL skit, looking in a mirror, saying "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog gonnit, people like me."

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