• Productivity

    ,

    Thoughts

    As I am writing this, I am petting a cat. My cat. You want to know how? I use a voice to text thing called Super Whisper. It transcribes my audio to text locally. I have a history of my prompts and transcriptions. Incredibly useful.

    Sunday February 9, 2025
  • Productivity

    reply if you see this 🫶

    new pfp?

    Auto-generated description: A digital illustration features a bearded, animated character wearing glasses and a cap, set against a vibrant, multicolored circular gradient background.
    Saturday February 8, 2025
  • DevOps

    ,

    Productivity

    ,

    Online Tools

    You'll never guess what I was searching Perplexity AI for just now.

    You'll never guess what I was searching Perplexity AI for just now.

    - Can you provide examples of successful mini rack builds?

    - What are the main benefits of using a mini rack for a home lab?

    - A mini rack sommelier.

    - I dabble in the racks of mini

    - I'm somewhat of a mini rack connoisseur.

    - Jeff Geerling's sweet MINI RACK

    Ok, if you made it this far, you weirdos. Here is my MiniRack Dojo

    https://www.perplexity.ai/collections/minirack-dojo-qotiBcSJSQekqymojD66Ow

    CleanShot 2025-02-07 at 19.55.25.

    Friday February 7, 2025
  • Productivity

    ,

    Online Tools

    How to Pick the Best Blog or Newsletter Platform in 2025

    Auto-generated description: Text on a purple gradient background discusses choosing a blog or newsletter platform, with a website link included.

    In 2025, blogging and newsletters remain essential tools for creators, businesses, and professionals. However, choosing the right one can be challenging with many available platforms. Whether you’re a beginner, a tech-savvy developer, or an established creator looking to monetize your content, this guide will help you navigate the options.

    Key Factors to Consider

    When evaluating platforms, consider the following:

    Ease of Use: Does the platform fit your technical skills?

    Customization: How much control do you want over design and functionality?

    Community and Discoverability: Does the platform help you grow your audience?

    Monetization Options: Can you earn money directly through the platform?

    Content Ownership: Do you retain control over your content?

    Cost: Does the platform align with your budget?

    Use Cases and Recommendations

    1. Beginners or General Use

    For those new to blogging or looking for simple, user-friendly platforms, these options stand out:

    Medium: Ideal for casual bloggers who want to focus on writing and gain access to a built-in community.

    Micro.blog: Supports short-form and long-form blogging with cross-posting to Mastodon, Threads, and BlueSky. Great for personal sites with minimal monetization needs.

    Squarespace: Excellent for visually appealing blogs with drag-and-drop design and robust hosting.

    WordPress.com: Offers beginner-friendly features, extensive plugins, and SEO tools. It’s a solid choice if you want a customizable blog and don’t mind some maintenance.

    2. Creators Focused on Newsletters or Monetization

    For creators prioritizing audience growth and revenue, these platforms excel:

    Ghost: Combines blogging and newsletters with built-in subscription and membership tools. Ideal for creators seeking an all-in-one platform.

    Beehiiv: Designed for scaling newsletters with robust analytics and monetization options.

    Buttondown: Simple and lightweight, perfect for indie creators starting out with email subscriptions.

    Mailcoach: Self-hosted, providing full control over your newsletters without ongoing fees.

    3. Tech-Savvy Developers

    For developers who want complete control over their blogging setup:

    Hugo, Astro, or NextJS: Static site generators for blazing-fast performance and maximum customization. Requires technical expertise.

    WriteFreely: Open-source blogging software with minimalist, distraction-free writing.

    Hashnode: A tech-focused platform with GitHub integration and a developer-friendly audience.

    4. Professionals and Thought Leaders

    For business professionals aiming to grow their brand or network:

    LinkedIn Articles: A natural choice for thought leadership with built-in networking opportunities.

    Medium: Provides discoverability and a broad audience for professional writing.

    Why You Might Want to Switch Off WordPress in 2025

    WordPress has been a dominant blogging platform for years, but it’s no longer the best fit for every use case. Many users find its maintenance and performance issues burdensome. Here’s why you might consider switching:

    High Maintenance: Regular updates and plugin management can be time-consuming.

    Performance Issues: Without careful optimization, WordPress sites can become slow.

    Better Alternatives for Specific Use Cases:

    Micro.blog: Great for personal blogs or creators who value simplicity.

    Ghost: Modern, fast, and equipped with monetization tools.

    Medium: Excellent for writing-focused creators seeking discoverability.

    Squarespace: A better fit for e-commerce or visually polished websites.

    The Importance of Choosing Platforms with Good Content Policies

    The content policies of a platform shape the kind of community it fosters and, by extension, the broader digital landscape. When choosing a blog framework or newsletter platform, it’s essential to consider how they address hate speech, harassment, and harmful behavior.

    Platforms with clear and well-enforced content policies create spaces where diverse voices can thrive, and users feel safe. By supporting these platforms, we help build an internet that promotes constructive dialogue and meaningful engagement.

    As creators, the platforms we choose reflect our values. Prioritizing platforms with strong content policies isn’t censorship; it’s about ensuring safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can participate respectfully. Together, we can contribute to a better, more responsible internet.

    To help you choose the best platform for your blog or newsletter, I’ve compiled a comprehensive spreadsheet comparing 20 different services.

    This resource covers key details like pricing, ease of use, audience suitability, and—importantly—their policies on hate speech, including links to their content policies.

    I created this spreadsheet by thoroughly researching each platform’s features and policies to provide you with the essential information needed to make an informed choice…

    👉 Here’s a link to the spreadsheet 👈

    I hope that it saves you time and helps you find a platform that aligns with your values and goals.

    Substack: A Troubling Example

    Substack is popular for newsletters but criticized for its approach to hate speech. The company has stated it won’t remove Nazi content or other white supremacist ideologies unless it incites direct violence. This permissive stance has made it a hub for harmful ideologies.

    Ask Yourself:

    • Do you want to support a platform that tolerates Nazi content?

    • Are you comfortable associating your brand with Substack’s content policy?

    Platforms With Stronger Content Policies

    Ghost: Enforces clear guidelines against hate speech and white supremacy.

    Medium: Takes a strong stance against hateful content, fostering a positive community.

    Buttondown: Ethical and straightforward, with a commitment to inclusive content.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Thanks for reading

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    This guide has been helpful as you consider the best platform for your blog or newsletter? Well, I hope anyway.

    Remember to be thoughtful about your choice; not just for features but for the online environment you want to support.

    If you’d like to stay updated with more posts like this, consider subscribing to my newsletter.

    Saturday January 11, 2025
  • Productivity

    ,

    Programming

    🚀 Mastering Cloud Storage - Smmall Cloud vs. The Giants! 🚀

    Just published a new Article!

    Dive into my latest blog where I compare cutting-edge cloud storage solutions like Smmall Cloud, Dropshare, CleanShot X, and Google Drive. Discover which service truly stands out in the realm of digital storage efficiency and innovation.

    🔑 Key Insights:

    Smmall Cloud’s unique features and how it stacks up against established players.

    The practicality and cost-effectiveness of each service.

    An intriguing peek into building your own cloud storage!

    🎁 Exclusive Bonus: Grab a 10% discount on any Smmall.cloud plan inside the article!

    Don’t miss out on these vital insights that could transform your approach to digital storage. Click to read and find out which service fits your needs best!

    👉 GitConnected

    #CloudStorage #TechBlog #SmmallCloud #DigitalInnovation #StorageSolutions

    Monday December 18, 2023
  • Productivity

    Tips for dealing with companies phone menus

    Suppose you frequently call services with automated phone menus (phone trees or Interactive Voice Response, IVR) and would like to skip these prompts to reach your desired service or person more quickly. In that case, you may add a certain pause or wait for characters in the phone number stored on your device. This will allow your phone to automatically dial extensions or menu options after connecting to the main number. 

    Here's how you can do it on both Android and iOS:

    **For Android:**

    1. Open the Phone app and go to the Contacts tab.

    2. Tap on the + button to add a new contact.

    3. Type the main number in the phone number field.

    4. Tap on the menu button (three vertical dots) at the top-right corner.

    5. Select "Add pause" or "Add wait" from the menu that appears.

       - A "Pause" inserts a 2-second delay before dialing the next digits. A comma usually represents this (,).

       - A "Wait" inserts a delay until you press a key to proceed. A semicolon usually represents this (;).

    6. Type the extension or menu numbers you want to be dialed automatically.

    7. Finish adding the contact information and save the new contact.

     

    **For iOS:**

    1. Open the Phone app and tap Contacts.

    2. Tap + to create a new contact.

    3. In the phone number field, input the main number.

    4. On the bottom-left of the keyboard, tap "+*#”.

    5. Here, you can add a "Pause" or “Wait”.

       - A "Pause" will add a comma (,) which is roughly a 2-second delay.

       - A "Wait" will add a semicolon (;) which will pause dialing until you tap Dial.

    6. After the pause or wait character, Input the extension or menu numbers.

    7. Fill in the rest of the contact's details and tap Done.

     

    **Example:** If you often call a customer service line at 123-456-7890 and need to press 2 for English and then 5 for customer service, you would save the number as follows:

    - On Android with pauses: 1234567890,,2,,5

    - On iOS with pauses: 1234567890,2,5

    The number of commas or pauses can be adjusted based on the phone tree's timing. Some systems might require longer pauses.

    Please note that effectiveness can vary depending on the specific phone system you are calling. Some systems may not respond correctly to quickly dialed numbers or might have random lengths of introductory messages.

    Friday June 16, 2023
  • Productivity

    Evernote Gets Acquired and Increases Prices 200%

    Well, Evernote, this might be the year we part ways. 

    CleanShot 2023 06 01 at 19 28 07

    (click the image for the source)

    The new prices are effective starting May 1 for new subscribers and starting end of May for existing subscribers. We’re notifying all customers who are impacted 28 days before their renewal date.

    You used to cost me $5.83 / month for about the last 5 years. 

    Now Evernote will cost $10.83 / month.  That is a 186% increase in price. 

    My renewal is up in September. What-A-Hassle. 

    Found a blog post on Evernote's Pricing strategy from 2018, and they concluded that people are likely to pay as much as $10.72 per month. Seems Evernote’s new owners read this and saw a business opportunity. 👻

    Thursday June 1, 2023
  • Productivity

    The Aiko app is pretty neat.

    You can record audio and transcribe it locally using Open Whisper from OpenAI.

    It's easy to use too.

    Here's a link to the Aiko app from Sindre Sorhus. 

    sindresorhus.com/aiko

    Monday April 17, 2023
  • Productivity

    Is there a way to quickly switch default browsers on Mac OS? - I decided on the opensource Browserosaurus - github.com/will-ston…

    Sunday April 16, 2023