# also blocking (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover also blocking. Page: Feed: --- ## [We had a great summer](https://valerakushnir.com/blog/we-had-a-great-summer/) _2026-08-13 · valera · Welcome!_ As summer was approaching, I was concerned about our plans. In somewhat overthinking manner I am super aware that we only get a handful of summers with our kids and it hits me hard. I wanted it to be the type of the summer where we get time with our kids and they enjoy their summer with us. This is a brief post to just share that our summer was awesome. We did a variety of things and had… ## [Childhood dream: playing music loud](https://valerakushnir.com/blog/childhood-dream-playing-music-loud/) _2026-06-28 · valera · Welcome!_ I grew up on the outskirts of one of a major city in Ukraine. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment, that was literally a 2 room apartment. There was a small kitchen, shower and toilet rooms, small hallway, and 2 rooms: living room where I slept on an unfolding couch, and a bedroom that was my mom's. The building was exactly as you would imagine Soviet concrete jungle to look like. When I was 7, I was… ## [Learning to drive a manual](https://valerakushnir.com/blog/learning-to-drive-a-manual/) _2026-06-22 · valera · Welcome!_ I've been driving a 6 speed manual car for 1500 miles now. Besides spending time to understand how a manual transmission works, I've never driven a manual. Well, there was that one time, where my BIL was trying to teach me and I almost drove his little Ford Ranger into a pool. But, that's for another time... Why I started itching to drive a manual still remains unclear to me, and is worth its own… ## [S&P 500 rejects SpaceX, also blocking entry for OpenAI and Anthropic](https://valerakushnir.com/blog/sp500-rejects-spacex/) _2026-06-06 · valera · Welcome!_ \* Not a financial advise, and my personal opinion, not of my employer Just came across this article about S&P 500 rejecting SpaceX, also blocking entry for OpenAI and Anthropic . I was concerned about this and have been actively looking into moving away from VTSAX and similar funds into funds such as FLCOX that are less impacted by tech companies. My thinking is simple, and would love to hear if… ## [Get your kids to play never have I ever](https://valerakushnir.com/never-have-i-ever/) _2026-05-21 · valera · Welcome!_ The other night we had to run an errand and kids wanted to play "never have I ever" in the car. It was hilarious in the most possible way. "Never have I ever hidden candy in my room" - oh, turns out they have. Noted! "Never have I ever hidden mess under the bed when cleaning the room" - "I put everything under the bed and cover it with the blanket". It was cute and innocent and they completely… ## [Moving from Github to Codeberg](https://valerakushnir.com/moving-from-github-to-codeberg/) _2026-05-17 · valera · Welcome!_ Moving from Github to Codeberg for code repositories ## [YouTube Music Not tagging AI Generated Music is a Problem](https://valerakushnir.com/youtube-music-ai-generated-music-is-a-problem/) _2026-04-26 · valera · Welcome!_ Some thoughts on the AI generated music: YouTube Music is actively suggesting/recommending music generated by AI and it's become a frustration point. The algorithm seems to go into overdrive if you don't recognize a song for being AI and like it or add to the library. The following recommendations become overwhelmingly AI and it's very frustrating. AI (well, LLMs) are here. If I ignore a bunch of… ## [2025 Default Apps and Tools](https://valerakushnir.com/2025-default-apps-and-tools/) _2025-12-23 · valera · Welcome!_ Building on the post from last year . Not much has changed! Which, for a dabbler like myself, is a bit of good news. Means I spent less time on "productive" procrastination. 2024 2025 Mail service Fastmail Fastmail Mail client Fastmate Fastmail client Notes Obsidian + Apple Notes Obsidian + Apple Notes To-Do Things3 + Reminders Things3 + Reminders Calendar Fastmail Fastmail Contacts Default… ## [Couch to 100 Miles](https://valerakushnir.com/blog/couch-to-100-miles/) _2025-12-06 · valera · Welcome!_ I was cycling a lot at the beginning of the year and signed up to do a century (100 miles) with a friend of mine. The pace was going to be faster than I wanted to do it, but I began training and thought there is a chance I could manage it. As I was preparing for the ride, I did a 75 miler and it wentalright, but the next day I came down with the flu. Looking back, I was already on the verge of… ## [Retro Grid Dungeon Crawler (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/I9OCgqqVz4kI) _2025-12-06 · **Sponsored**_ Retro grid movement with first-person combat, loot and skill-tree progression. ## [Become a dripping faucet to your local government](https://valerakushnir.com/become-a-dripping-faucet-to-your-local-government/) _2025-11-26 · valera · Welcome!_ We all know that the government moves slowly. But it moves even slower when nobody is voicing the concerns repeatedly. Admittedly, I understand this will not work for everything. About a year ago the easement (an underground area where utilities are running) began collapsing. 2-3ft deep holes in the side yard after each rain as the soil would wash away. We opened tickets with the city and they…