How To Explore My Website
This is my digital home & personal website. I work in marketing, live in Atlanta, have done quite a few…
GardenHood in Grant Park, Atlanta
There aren’t that many independent garden shops around. But GardenHood is one that is a hidden gem on the east side of Atlanta. For such a small space, they have a great selection of plants, trees, and shrubs. Their space is always fun to meander through, even you have no plans to purchase that day.
Gwinnett Stripers at Coolray Field
There’s nothing like Minor League Baseball.
Beach at Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island is one of Georgia’s natural treasures. Most of the Georgia coast is protected, but Cumberland Island is not only *completely* protected, it’s also huge and intact.
Forest Road in the Oconee National Forest
The Oconee National Forest does not have the mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest, its northern partner, but it does have plenty of scenery and diverse flora & fauna.
Old Beaver Lodge
Around Murray’s Lake in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the beavers have completely taken over. The wetlands upstream from the (man-made) lake have a series of dams with old lodges and lots of fallen trees. It’s so cool to see in person.
Georgia House of Representative’s Minority Leader Tanya Miller’s Closing Speech
Tanya Miller is my Representative in the State of Georgia House of Representatives. She is one of those rare individual politicians that I actively vote for (rather than ticking a box for an abstract person / party).
Night Baseball Game At Truist Park
Baseball is so much anytime, but is especially fun at night.
Constitution Springs in Grant Park
Atlanta is, curiously, the headwaters of two major river systems (Flint & Ocmulgee). The Flint starts underneath the airport runways. This spot is one source of Intrenchment Creek, which flows to the South River, to the Ocmulgee, to the Altamaha, to the Atlantic. It’s also a lovely spot to enjoy historic landscape architecture.
Appalachian Trail, Southbound at Hogpen Gap, Georgia
The Appalachian Trail is such an incredible achievement in construction, planning, coordination, and *maintenance* – props to the many volunteers and Forest Service land managers who keep this trail wide open and wonderful.
Redbud Budding Out
I never notice Redbuds until the Spring, when they really show out.
Hickory Ridge Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness
The Hickory Ridge Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness in the Chattahoochee National Forest is a favorite interior trail of mine.
Adair Park, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is a city full of hidden gems. And one of the best hidden gems is in the neighborhood of…
Why School Vouchers Are Awful
There is a lot that’s wrong with education in the United States. And there are a lot of potential solutions…
The Technium: 50 Years of Travel Tips
This is a legit list -> 50 Years of Travel Tips
Cash Flow Businesses vs Cash Suck Businesses
I’ve read a lot of business books and talked to business-owners, but I wish I had just seen this illustration years ago. Very smart, worth a thousand words…or thousands of dollars.
Wikenigma – A Website of Unknowns
Ohhh…I love this -> Wikenigma – A Website of Unknowns
How To Use Claude / ChatGPT To Improve Budgeting & Spending
Like eating better, reducing spending is both extremely difficult…and not difficult at all. There are a million reasons why humans…
Vanguard Explains Cryptocurrency in a Portfolio
So concise & succinct -> Vanguard Explains Cryptocurrency in a Portfolio
How To Evaluate Professional Opportunities
Love this flow chart.
18 Life-Learnings from 18 Years of The Marginalian
I love these kinds of lists, especially from people living a non-traditional life -> 18 Life-Learnings from 18 Years of The Marginalian
How To Use ChatGPT To Find The Perfect Next Book Read in 4 Steps
So far, the generative AI tools have been amazing at recommending new books and authors. They take the old trick…
A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers by Henry David Thoreau
In 1849, Henry David Thoreau published a book about a boat trip he took with his brother.
50 things I know by Sasha Chapin
Long, but funny and useful -> 50 things I know by Sasha Chapin
Everyone’s a sellout now
Wow, this article resonates -> Everyone’s a sellout now
Cows Chillin’ in the Snow
My cows have grown a nice coat for winter.
Heretic by Catherine Nixey
Heretic by Catherine Nixey is about the hundreds, if not thousands, of versions of Christianity that flourished in the hundreds…
52 Things I learned in 2024
This guy finds the best stuff, every year -> 52 Things I learned in 2024
Things to argue about over the holidays instead of politics
All of these lists are hilarious, useful & awesome -> Things to argue about over the holidays instead of politics
I Have a Few Questions
Very thought-provoking -> I have a few questions by Morgan Housel
4 reasons Why Georgia Cracked Down on Wildlife & Animal Practices Circa 2014
The 2014 National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking didn’t sit on a shelf – it led to real, tangible change.
I Went from Reading 40 Books a Year to Reading 0
Very interesting post -> I Went from Reading 40 Books a Year to Reading 0
How To Compose a Successful Critical Commentary
If you disagree w/ someone and want them to actually listen – express their position better than they can; list any points that you agree with; say what you’ve learned from the position; only then can you express disagreement.
Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park
Ruby Beach is beautiful, rugged, and powerful.
Why Movies Are Played Rather Than Watched Now
Casual Viewing: Why Netflix looks like that is a absolutely brilliant, deep-dive into how business model incentives drove every cycle of media into…not what we all wanted.
5 Initial Lessons from Buying a Cow & Calf
I now own three cows. I’ve quickly learned that cows have a lot of variables…and they are the odd asset with living personalities.
7 Notes On Visiting Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is small & compact, but very underrated. It’s a very special Park.
Calm Gulf of Mexico on St George Island
The Gulf of Mexico is often calmer than many lakes.
7 Notes on Visiting Olympic National Park
Olympic is one of the most underrated National Parks.
8 Pros + Cons of the Banjo Brothers Bike Panniers
The Banjo Brothers bike panniers offer great design, durability, and storage but can be uncomfortable to carry and require careful loading.
5 Reasons Why Wool Is Underrated
If wool wasn’t already invented by sheep, it would be a magic material.
Canyon Floor at Providence Canyon State Park
The erosion that formed Providence Canyon just keeps on going.
3 Notes on Attending an Atlanta Falcons Game
I got to go to an Atlanta Falcons game. I grew up going to Atlanta sports as well as college…
4 Reasons To Try Bicycle Tours of Atlanta
Bicycle Tours of Atlanta is the perfect way for anyone visiting, moving, or living in Atlanta to get to know the city.
Michelle Obama Trail Through Kudzu Along The South River
Kudzu is the iconic invasive plant of the American South.
7 Notes on Visiting Seattle
Seattle is a city in an incredibly beautiful setting that is surprising in several ways.
7 Pros + Cons of the MeowApps AI Engine WordPress Plugin
The MeowApps AI Engine plugin for WordPress offers cost-effective, flexible AI integration but requires experimentation and AI knowledge for best results.
10 Pros & Cons of MailPoet Email Marketing for WordPress
MailPoet is a user-friendly email marketing tool for WordPress, offering seamless integration, a free plan, and RSS features, but lacks advanced options.
7 Pros + Cons of MailerLite Email Marketing
MailerLite offers affordable pricing, high deliverability, and useful automation tools, but lacks advanced features on its free plan.
7 Pros + Cons of LowFruits SEO Software
LowFruits SEO software is affordable and simplifies keyword research, but it lags behind bigger tools like Ahrefs in data freshness.
7 Pros + 4 Cons of the LinkWhisper WordPress Plugin
LinkWhisper is a WordPress plugin that simplifies internal linking, saving time and offering customization, but requires SEO knowledge and careful setup.
8 Pros + Cons of the Lasso Affiliate WordPress Plugin
Lasso is a WordPress plugin that simplifies affiliate link management with a user-friendly dashboard, but its high cost and aggressive upgrade ads can be frustrating.
10 Pros + Cons of InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting offers reliable business-focused web hosting with solid performance and customer support, but lacks top-tier features and scalability.
7 Pros + Cons of Flippa for Buying & Selling Websites
Flippa is a popular marketplace for buying and selling websites, offering diverse options but has issues with low-quality listings and trust.
7 Pros + Cons of BrightLocal SEO Software
BrightLocal is a specialized local SEO tool with an intuitive interface, reliable data, and affordable pricing, but lacks broader SEO features.
7 Pros + Cons of Blinkist for Book Summaries
Blinkist offers quick summaries of nonfiction books, saving time while providing essential insights, but its focus on social features and AI-generated content can detract from quality.
8 Pros + Cons of the WP All Import & Export WordPress Plugin
WP All Import & Export is a powerful WordPress plugin for bulk data management, offering reliable imports, scheduling, and extensive compatibility, but it has a steep learning curve and high upfront cost.
8 Pros + Cons of Rocket.net Hosting
Rocket.net offers fast, user-friendly WordPress hosting with great support, but is costly for small sites and limited to WordPress only.
8 Pros + Cons of the RankMath SEO WordPress Plugin
RankMath is a stable, feature-rich SEO plugin for WordPress, but it has a pricey Pro version and some modules may underperform.
7 Pros + Cons of Namecheap WordPress Hosting
Namecheap offers affordable and user-friendly WordPress hosting, but has limited server access and slow support. Ideal for small businesses and beginners.
8 Pros + Cons of Namecheap Shared Hosting
Namecheap offers affordable shared hosting with user-friendly tools, but has limits on resources and lacks free SSL certificates.
8 Pros + Cons of Namecheap Domains
Namecheap offers competitive domain pricing, a wide selection of TLDs, and strong privacy support, but lacks phone support and has rising costs.
8 Pros + Cons of Motion Invest for Buying & Selling Websites
Motion Invest offers strong support and quick sales for buying and selling websites but has lower-quality listings and a basic interface.
8 Pros + Cons of the MeowApps Social Engine WordPress Plugin
The MeowApps Social Engine plugin offers free and affordable social media management with WordPress integration, but has some setup challenges and interface flaws.
7 Notes on Visiting Mt. Rainier National Park
Mt. Rainier National Park is an incredible, beautiful, and underrated National Park.
Biking The Michelle Obama Trail along Georgia’s South River
The PATH Foundation has been building out an entire network of protected trails around Metro Atlanta.
Bluesky and ensh***ification
Yup. This post is right on -> Bluesky and enshittification
What I want from Mozilla
Well-done post -> What I want from Mozilla
5+ Reasons To Buy a Hunting & Fishing License (even if you don’t hunt or fish)
If you are able to support environmental causes, look at buying a hunting / fishing license. It’s leveraged & incredibly effective.
Fog on Chestnut Lead Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness
The Cohutta mountains in Georgia’s section of the Appalachians are not especially high, but their topography is unique enough to generate their own weather.
Empire Flippers Review: 7 Pros & Cons of Selling My Website via Their Brokerage
In September 2021, I sold the shivarweb.com website on the Empire Flippers marketplace. Shivarweb.com was a website that not only…
ZipCar Review: 5 Notes on Renting a Daily Car
We went several years owning a Nissan Leaf and a mid-size SUV. But when the SUV was in the shop…
Kubota Garden in Seattle, Washington
Looking over the pond at Kubota Garden in Seattle, Washington
Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
The last collection of detective stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle is still surprising, fun, and better than most detective fiction today.
Private Equity Is Coming for Youth Sports
Youth sports aren’t what they used to be.
How Fraudsters Are Bilking the Government Out of Billions of Dollars
Fascinating podcast episode from Odd Lots -> How Fraudsters Are Bilking the Government Out of Billions of Dollars
Sloth was not the right answer
Love this post about the intersection of politics & culture -> Sloth was not the right answer
Murals in Cabbagetown, Atlanta, Georgia
Cabbagetown in Atlanta has devoted entire blocks to massive murals.
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch is a doorstop of a book that is readable, fascinating, and approachable.
Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park
So lovely, peaceful, but full of energy, but also not the place to sunbathe.
Mt. Rainier National Park Needs To Calm Down
Mt. Rainier has too much beauty for one place.
Longmire Cabin In Mt. Rainier National Park
The Longmire settled the land around Mt. Rainier in cabins that still exist today.
Atlanta Skyline From Grant Park
Why hello Atlanta!
TIL That Beach Logs Do Kill
Mother Nature doesn’t want you goofing off on the Pacific Coast beaches.
Murphy Ave, Beltline, and MARTA
Walking around Atlanta where there’s constantly changes coming.
Creek in Olympic National Park
Some of the creeks in Olympic NP look like are from a storybook.
How To Have a National Park All To Yourself
Our National Parks (along with every other tourist destination) suffer from overcrowding. Even some places with infrastructure and thoughtful visitors…
Health Is Not That Hard – Behavior Change Is
Exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, eschew cigarettes, limit alcohol consumption and nurture meaningful relationships.
Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier is one of those rare places that’s truly difficult to overhype.
Barack Obama on Connected Disconnection
We live in a time of such confusion and rancor, with a culture that puts a premium on things that don’t last: money, fame, status, likes.
TIL about Mimetic Desire
Mimetic Desire is the idea that we want what other people want. Beyond the absolute basics of bodily need, our…
How Will You Save Small Midwestern Towns without Mass Immigration?
Thoughtful post on a hot topic -> How Will You Save Small Midwestern Towns without Mass Immigration?
TIL about Taste Games and Status
One of the favorite reads this year was Status Games. It’s a brilliant tour of how humans cooperate in groups…
Chattahoochee River at Florence Marina State Park
At Florence Marina State Park, the Chattahoochee River pools into the Walter F. George Reservoir (aka Lake Eufaula).
TIL Narcissism of Small Differences
The Narcissism of Small Differences is the idea that the more a relationship or community shares commonalities, the more likely…