Today is August 5, 2026, The “day after”. I came home from a long, physically exhausting day at work, scrolled through “the socialz,” and everyone was talking about the same thing: Ray Bradbury ’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains.” Jason Snell pointed out that the irony of setting up Home Assistant in his house today was not lost on him. Then I saw a few more…
Finished Listening to…: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green 📚 This book wasn’t even on my radar until I had to order it for my daughter’s summer reading assignment. It is definitely a stark difference between this book and Joan Didion’s “Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays” that I just finished , not too long ago. This book was not all…
Finished listening to…: Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays by Joan Didion 📚 This was a great book of essays, albeit, not always a happy one. It was a window into times and places that existed long ago, before my time. Didion’s writing is so vivid, that I can still “see” the portrayal of her experiences even after finishing it. The narrator, Maya Hawke , had a lot to do…
Often, my ideas come at random times and places and I need to jot them down before I forget them. I began looking for a quick solution to get my thoughts down, but I can’t use my phone’s on-screen keyboard comfortably for longer writing and I can’t always dictate. I wanted something as minimal as possible. I figured pairing the iPhone I always have with me with a small mechanical keyboard and the…
As a visually impaired person, I tend to listen to most of the content I find on the web, whether it’s blog posts or social media entries. As a rule of thumb, I rely on the built-in text-to-speech feature on my iPhone, iPad, and Macs. It’s great in the sense that it lets me “read” almost anything I come across, and it’s reliable. I love it for the freedom it gives me.…
Finished Listening to…: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius by Donald J. Robertson 📚 The audiobook, “ How to Think Like a Roman Emperor” by Donald Robertson was narrated by the author himself, which is usually not my preference. However, Robertson did a fantastic job bringing the book’s message and tone to life. He spoke in a slow, clear voice with…
Finished Listening to…: Apple The First 50 Years by David Pogue 📚 I really enjoyed this audiobook. David Pogue did a phenomenal job reading it himself. I especially enjoyed the actual audio clips he inserted of historical talks or Mac sound effects. There is also an easter egg in there 😉. I also purchased the hardcover version, so I can see the color pictures of things he talked about. I…
🎧 Listen to this post. Audio was generated using ElevenLabs . So, what do I think of typewriters? I’ve always liked them. But about a year ago, my casual appreciation turned into something much deeper. It started with a documentary I stumbled across on YouTube called California Typewriter (2016), directed by Doug Nichol. The film features Tom Hanks, John Mayer, Sam Shepard, and other…
🎧 Listen to this post. Audio was generated using ElevenLabs . When I bought my indigo MacBook Neo a few days ago, I had one clear goal in mind: a small, capable machine I could take to on-site tech jobs without lugging around a full-sized laptop. The Neo itself checks every box so far. But a great laptop is only half the story. The other half is what I pack with it. The Neo comes with two USB-C…
Photo taken at my local Apple Store Today, I opened the Apple Store app on my iPhone to see if either of the two Apple stores near my house had the new MacBook Neo in stock . No luck. Both locations said they were unavailable in-store but could be ordered for pickup on March 19, 2026. I closed the app and figured it just wasn’t meant to be. I’ve been looking for a small laptop for travel and…
How I Use My Notebooks: Writing Letters Without Posting Them : Since November 2023 I have picked up a new habit of sorts – writing letters without posting them. What a great idea! I believe it is incredibly important to think on paper. Writing things down helps us process tangled thoughts and complex feelings that we otherwise may not know what to do with. Like the article above describes, writing…
Just downloaded the Halide app on my iPhone and was playing around with their MKIII Preview when I saw this beam of light coming in through my window. I set the app to Process Zero , tilted my phone a bit and took this shot. It reminded me of a light saber from Star Wars, which I thought was pretty cool. After I took the shot, I touched it up a bit within the Halide app (film grain and all) and…
Inspired by The Pen Addict Ep. 704 and their accompanying blog post , I created my own page listing my Analog Defaults . Of course, I did not stop there. I also created a page for my App Defaults , after seeing Robb Knight’s apps page . I was surprised that I use a lot of the same apps he does. But wait… there’s more. I also added my Ham Radio Defaults , too. Check it out!
I am lucky to work in a school system that provides lots of materials for me to use with my students. However, sometimes I am left looking for resources that are strategically tailored to meet my students’ needs that day. While I can usually search the web for ideas, I often cannot use them because they are not aligned with our standards, require a purchase, or are simply not that great to begin…
I usually listen to the Mac Power Users podcast on Mondays, but I couldn’t wait this week. I just finished listening to Mac Power Users #836 with Stephen Robles as the new co-host a few minutes ago, and he nailed it! For those of you who haven’t heard yet, Stephen Hackett has stepped aside to focus on other projects, so David Sparks needed a new tech partner. After searching high and low, I…
I decided to re-download Simplenote and give it another shot. I wanted to see if it could fit into my current workflow, especially given its reputation for speed and simplicity. What I Like It lives up to its name. It is refreshing to use a tool that is genuinely simple. No bells and whistles. It is strictly for creating notes. There are no distractions to get in the way of writing. Fast sync. The…
Winter Field Day is an exciting annual event for amateur radio enthusiasts, taking place on the last full weekend of January. It offers a unique opportunity for radio operators to set up field operations in remote locations, enabling them to connect with other participants worldwide. Winter Field Day is finally upon us this weekend! It is the perfect time to test your gear in less-than-ideal…
I’ve reached the stage in my career where former students and their parents are reaching out to ask for letters of recommendation. I just wrote one this morning, and I couldn’t be happier to do it. It brings me true joy to see these young people growing up, doing the right thing, and bettering themselves in every way possible. I’m proud to have played even a small part in their…
The PLAUD NotePin is an audio recorder. It is about the size of a large paperclip and looks like a big pill. It has AI features if you pair it with the iOS or Android apps. Once paired, you can transcribe the recordings, or you can summarize them. It seems convenient to wear. It attaches magnetically to your clothing, or it can clip onto a shirt or anywhere else, like a hat. You can even wear it…
just finished listening to the audiobook “Empire of AI” by Karen Hao (wrapped it up on December 30, 2025), and I have to tell you, if you still think OpenAI is just a bunch of benevolent geniuses trying to save the world, you need to grab this book. Although the book focuses on OpenAI, this can probably be subsituted by any of the other major AI companies out there today. Hao’s central…
Finished Listening to…: Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao 📚 If you care about privacy or just want to know who is actually pulling the strings behind the curtain, pick this one up. There is more to these A.I. companies, than you may think.
I like finding practical solutions to my problems. I love finding practical solutions to my problems when I can use tech and don’t even have to leave the house to do it . I’ve been trying out a lot of pens and pencils with my notebooks lately, but they’ve been scattered all over my desk. I decided I needed a proper place to put them. Instead of going out to the store and buying something, I…
12 Days of Winter Wonder Photo Challenge ❄️ Nothing says 'home' like your favorite corner of the house. #MicroBlog #WinterWonderPhotoChallenge2025 #WWPC2025
12 Days of Winter Wonder Photo Challenge ❄️ Christmas brunch #MicroBlog #WinterWonderPhotoChallenge2025 #WWPC2025
12 Days of Winter Wonder Photo Challenge ❄️ Traveling in style! #MicroBlog #WinterWonderPhotoChallenge2025 #WWPC2025