mcdonald Photo: Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana, 2023. I'm trying to eliminate distraction and the hurry in my life to be able to focus on ...
I feel like I exist in my own little camp when it comes to this planet. I'm sure there are people that agree with my worldview besides the couple of people I know that do. However, it seems like it's a fairly rare view. I am a Christian. I am also someone who greatly values security and privacy. These views don't seem to intersect with many people. The majority of Christians I know completely…
I've recently been feeling that a big hole in my life is a way to express myself, and I can't seem to choose how I want to do it. Over the course of my life in different seasons, I've been a writer, a digital painter, a musician, and a photographer. I have the most experience as a musician, having played in worship bands in addition to on my own. However, it shifted from me playing my main…
We should all have a digital space of our own. It should be a place where we own our data, cannot be easily de-platformed, and where we can be ourselves. When you routinely only post on X/Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, what-have-you, you are at the mercy of that platform. The platform might allow you to export your data, but you need to remember to do so regularly, and if you're caught with your…
Updated July, 2025 I'm currently stuck in decision paralysis because I care greatly about free open source software and privacy. However, some proprietary software just works better without as much setup. I want to focus more on creating than just configuring my systems. I'm also starting to care more about data portability and using the best tool for the job than strictly having access to source…
Photo: Colorado, 2025. We live in an unprecedented time in history. There has never been a time with more access to books, movies, tv, video games, places to visit, etc. With the internet, we can download every hit movie, tv show, video game, or album. With modern vehicles, we can fly, drive, or boat nearly anywhere if we have the funds for it. When someone suggests a new movie that we "have to…
Credit: The Verge. I've changed a lot over the years. As a teenager and into my early adulthood, I was the stereotypical techie with a bent towards free software. I went to school for Computer Science, and my dream was to work for Google. I wanted the latest smartphone and features. I followed advancements almost religiously. A lot of that has changed. I now distrust Google completely for a myriad…
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched yesterday, and I was lucky enough to be blessed with one. It was totally unexpected, and this is the first device I've ever gotten right at launch. It's such a fun experience. In the couple hours I've used it so far, I've had a constant thought that I wanted to share, so here are my first impressions. It is so evident that we live in the super refined computing space…
Photo: Colorado, 2023. That's what the Lord told me this week. And I bet you do too. You probably find your validation and worth solely in your performance at work or school, maybe at home with your family or spouse. Your image is important to you. You want to be liked, maybe even loved. You want to succeed. You're trying to create your identity. The world says you're worthless if you don't…
Photo: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, 2018. I'm a follower of Jesus, and this is my story. I grew up in a fairly Christian household. It wasn't something that was super pushed. We stopped going to church when I was 9, and I don't really remember going to church as a family. Occasionally in middle school, I would sleep over at a friend's house Saturday night and go to church with him…
I want a space on the internet where I can share my thoughts. Obviously, this site is one such space. This is yet another attempt at blogging. I've tried numerous times over the 00s and 10s. This last time I fell into the wonder that is digital gardening in public instead of blogging. I published my notes via Obsidian Publish. It was pretty great because I felt like I was actually able to get my…