Twenty-seven
Personal
Today is a fun day — 2011-1-11 (not 1:11 PM anymore, I’m a slow writer) and I’m turning 27. This is the time of the year I always look back, and from last year’s resolutions I actually did pretty well. I was able to simplify a number of areas of my life, including reducing the number of computers running in my place. I bought my first apartment and remodeled it. I slowed down my eating by chewing more, a vignette that made Tim’s new Four Hour Body book. Redesigned this site. I didn’t bike at all, but walked a ton. I started exercising with a kettlebell over the summer and was pretty consistent about it until last month, with some noticeable improvements in strength and energy. Got all the old photo galleries imported going all the way to 2002.
I petered out on Farscape, and didn’t display my photography anywhere in print, so a wash there. I spent a week in the woods with Beau at Tracker camp. I joined the board of the non-profit Grist, and was able to expand charitable donations to cover more organizations than previously, including Charity: Water, FSF, Apache, Archive.org, Samasource, EFF, and GAFFTA. I had a tweet go viral and end up on Time and CBS (I still need to blog about that), and a blog post about shipping go viral and get over a hundred thousand visitors. (With an interesting traffic pattern too — lots of Twitter and Facebook like you would expect, but 92% of the traffic from the long tail or blogs like Daring Fireball.)
Speaking of launches, was lucky to hit all the big ones I had planned in the beginning of the year in that abbreviation-coded list: VaultPress, new Akismet, mobile WordPress apps for every platform, Ma.tt themes, Audrey Capital, WordPress Foundation. Also hired 28 new Automatticians, added 7.2 million blogs to WP.com, and had 38 million downloads from WordPress.org.
This year, along lines of simplifying, I have six main goals:
- Increase the release frequency of core WordPress, I think we can hit our goal of three major releases this year. (Only did one last year — 3.0.)
- Keep reading the New Yorker every week, and hopefully work in a few more books every month.
- Launch a new jazz-related site I’ve been working on sporadically.
- Finally upload my un-uploaded photos for 2005-2010.
- Keep exercising regularly. (The first time I have a health-related resolution, if you believe it!)
- Launch secret new thing, code abbreviation JP.
It’s not a resolution, but I think I’m going to spend a lot more time in Houston in 2011. As for some other stats: 208 posts here on ma.tt (up Y/Y for first time since 2007), 535 posts on my moblog, 4,456 comments, and posted 2,432 photos. The top five posts were 1.0 Is the Loneliest Number, Wildcard DNS and Sub Domains, The Headers of Twenty Ten, Change OS X Computer Name, and Sonos vs Squeezebox, but most of the traffic was to the home page. My top emailers were Toni, Rose, Paul, my Mom, and Raanan with 3,028 emails between them. I sent 10,813 emails to about 2,228 people.
According to TripIt, which I love and use constantly, I was on the road 227 days out of the year, traveling 122,066 miles across 59 cities and 17 countries.
27 is a really awkward age — I’m not young anymore but still before the looming 30. It’s inbetween. That said, I think 2011 is going to be a year where a lot of things come together and a lot of the foundations laid down in 2010 (and when I was 26) come to fruition.
This is the ninth year I’ve blogged my birthday: 19, 20, 21, 22 (this one is funny), 23, 24, 25, and 26.
A very happy birthday to you Matt, think yourself lucky. I turn 30 next Christmas :p
Yay, Houston!
Congrats on all your awesome accomplishments… and happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Matt!!
Happy birthday fellow Capricorn. May this be the year more wonderful things come together for you and you fulfill even more of your dreams.
Looks great! Happy Birthday Matt thanks for all the good work.
Happy Birthday! May each year be better than the last!
It’s JazzPress, right?
Happy B-Day … Great Day right? 11-1-11
Albeit you’re not 11 y.o 
It would be funny for someone who celebrate 11 y.o on 11-1-11 
Happy birthday Matt. May you spend #27 kicking the crap out of your resolutions and then some
Happy best bday man. The world needs some good people like yourself! Enjoy, keep jazzing and good luck with JP
Happy birthday! You surely have far awesome things coming this year. Best regards.
Great job on last year’s resolutions and on some great ones for this year, too. I can’t wait to find out what JP is, and for what it’s worth, I’d take 27 over 32 any day. Cheers
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Happy Birthday!
Hope you’re having a grand old time at #wptybee and the alcohol isn’t getting in the way of any meetings? — I didn’t think Automattic had hired 28 people throughout 2010 anyway, almost crazy figures (in a good way though right?)
I wonder what JP could be, I’ll have to get my detective hat on. But I also wonder why bbPress never got a mention for the year ahead? You could say I’m slightly curious in fact, considering the fact you talked about integration (half-way through the year) being a vital part of the puzzle, and the vision of seeing bbPress function as a WordPress Plugin!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy(ed) the day, and don’t let me get in the way!
The bbPress plugin will happen this year, but it’s not a resolution.
You spoke about goals though, and not resolutions which was why I even mentioned it in the first place!
— Going to be a pretty big thing regardless, launching/releasing something new (in theory) even if it isn’t in name?
But would you stop getting older, I’m trying to catch up with you and it just isn’t happening!
I reckon you’re right. Quack!!
Happy Birth Day Matt
Do you’ve any plan to visit Pakistan? It’s a great country with lot of WordPress lovers.
You are my inspiration, I’ll give you the treat of “karahi gosht” from my pocket if you are really interested
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Happy Birthday Matt!
Congrats on the year that was and good luck with all your goals for 2011! Love your work!
Can’t wait to find out more about the new secret thing,’JP’. Can’t you give us a hint about it haha? Like is it a WordPress thing or the next hit from Audrey Capital?
Matt 2.2′s facial hair module was working overtime in 2010.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Ma.tt =)
All the best. Looking forward to another fun year of WordPress, BuddyPress as well as bbPress.
Happy New Year, Happy Birthday and may all your fortunes bring you happiness.
You’re doing really, really good so far so keep it up!
Especially the kettleball.
Congratulations Matt!
May the worst in 2011 be better than the best from 2010!
Happy Birthday Matt! it’s too bad you can’t come to Wordcamp Indonesia 2011, but it’s Ok. Hope there’s a chance to meet and talk to you (many Indonesian Wordcamp Enthusiast feel the same
)
Wish you have wonderful moments in 27.
Cheers
Happy Birthday Matt!!
Congratulations, you have made great things at your 27
You always inspire me (I’m turning 27 next month)
Bonne fete et je te souhaite que de belle chose pour l’année qui s’en vient.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday, baby boy.
Thanks mom.
Well Happy Birthday Matt! Everything before 30 is nice. I am saying that for last 5 years
Finally, a successful person who is not younger than I am! (Getting older is taking some getting used to.)
Awesome socks! And what a kicky day, 1/11/11! Congratulations on your 27th spin around the sun, man! It’s a blast!
Happy Birthday, Matt! Thank you for all you do. Best wishes for the coming year.
11:11 pm, Happy Birthday Matt!
CST
Happy birthday Matt! Hopefully I can help with that last one.
Happy Birthday, Matt! I thought Twenty Seven was a new theme; possibly a sequel to Twenty Ten.
Happy birthday Matt. Congrats on an excellent year!
இனிய பிறந்த நாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள் (iniya pirantha naal vaalthukkal)…thats how we say “Many more happy returns of the day” in Tamil (ta) spoken mainly in Tamil Nadu, India.
Thanks Matt for wordpress, I am now running my own business with your help
Happy birthday, Matt! As a 36er I can give you this tip if any: Do exercise. It’s unbelievable how quickly I grew fat and not even noticed it! Now I’m exercising to get back in shape, which I believe is less fun than being in shape and exercise for fun…
Anyway, thanks for WordPress and all! Make it a good year!
Congratulations on your growth last year Matt and Happy Birthday!!
We share a birthday (albeit, I have a couple more years than you do).
Happy Birthday – and here’s to a great year.
“Increase the release frequency of core WordPress”
Is that really necessary? Better one solid release per year than three shoddy ones.
Otherwise, happy birthday, and congratulations on your achievements.
Of course, the unstated assumption is that we’re improving quality of releases at the same time, and I think we would if the releases were smaller, more frequent, and more focused.
Happy Birthday Matt
A very happy b’day, Matt. You are my inspiration in many aspects. Thanks for all you do!
Happy 27th Matt! It’s my son’s first birthday today. Westley was born on 01-11-10. A binary palindrome. Good to know he shares a birthday with the man behind WordPress. Speaking of which, is 1 too young to have a WP blog? I don’t see an age limit on WordPress.com. Or maybe we’ll get him his own .org install. 011110.com, although we’d have to give it the subdomain moc. for it to work!
B
Merry new year to you, Matt!
Happy Birthday Matt
Hi Matt,
belated HaPpY Birthday wishes to you..
Have a great year ahead!
Happy Birthday, Matt. For some reason, I thought you were 30!
BTW, please include writing more essays (frequently) as one of your resolutions of this year. Have you noticed it? The essays are the best part of this blog, and please keep them coming more often!
Destination Infinity
Three WordPress Major releases? Very good, Matt! Only a dream for them: will them reduce my 40+ plugins installed?
Twenty-seven – sounds like a new WP theme that comes with the installation.
Happy birthday Matt!
Happy Birthday Matt! Wish you all the best and may you have more birthdays to come.
Happy birthday, Matt!
Your 26 was a great year
First time to leave a comment on your blog. Best wishes to you! I think you’vd done great job for bloggers who want to own their individual ones.
happy birthday matt
Happy birthday Matt! Being 33 I can tell you that 27 is still young, so enjoy it and leave that hint of feeling old for post 30… You have accomplished a lot and should be very proud. Congrats
From one 27 year old to another, happy birthday. Certainly looks like you put those 365 days last year to good use.
JP FTW!
No, Matt, 27 is young.
“27 is a really awkward age — I’m not young anymore but still…”
Oh Matt, please call me in 20 years so we can laugh about this perspective of yours.
But more importantly, happy 27th.
Happy [belated] Birthday, and thank you for your contributions to our industry! You have vastly influenced the careers of many. I can speak especially for mine!
Oh please 27? You still have time before you’re “over the hill” and 30. Quick do something useful with your life.
HBD to you!
Hi Matt,
You made my day today, you made my week, you made my last year and you will make my recent year (and the following one too >;o) I wish you all the best and all the energy to accomplish all those wonderful things for us WPaholics!
Happy Birthday from Austria!
Matt,
Mind sharing one philosophy you subscribe to that has contributed to your success?
And Happy Birthday!
Thanks,
Brad
Nothing immediate comes to mind.
You mean there’s no get-to-be-Matt-quick scheme? I was really banking on that.
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Happy birthday Matt! I’m particularly pleased with your increase in posting frequency, I wish I could do the same for my site too!
Hope to see you in WordCamp-PH again this year.
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Happy birthday (though I’m a little slow on that…) and hope this year you make at least as good as last year – and continue tu support so many helpful organizations.
Happy bday ma.tt!! hope 2011 brings out some more new and excitiing stuff from you guys!
Here’s a little something I believe you will enjoy from an up-and-comer in the jazz world (who I believe is also 27): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz44BqxRobc
2011 is looking pretty good to me.
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It is inside a person’s head that says how old someone is. Stay young, live life to the fullest! This 22 year old (52 on the outside) wishes you a great birthday!
Can’t wait to see your jazz site!
Happy belated birthday. I had a ton of fun between 27-30 and I wish you the same amount. Age is a number. I know 23 year olds who are older than me – just blah, boring, not living. Betsey Johnson, Lauren Hutton, Mary Quant, Exene,and Iris Apfel. Just never stop going forward. You’ll know if you do because you’ll find yourself listening to oldies all the time. Peace.
I am looking forward the jazz-related website project.
Happy belated birthday. Hope you could do more with WordPress <3
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Hey Matt,
just stumbled over this article and one of your six goals:
Finally upload my un-uploaded photos for 2005-2010.
It would be great if you could upload your pics of WordCamp Germany. It was held on the 14th of Feb 2009 in Jena.
Regards,
Nick
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