Writing Is Clarified Thinking
I always thought writing fast meant typing fast, but it’s more about clarifying thinking.
Short Videos as Digital Folklore by Andrey Mir
Very provocative idea -> Short Videos as Digital Folklore by Andrey Mir and I think it’s right on. I also love the medieval carnival analogy.
A Classic Childhood Pastime (aka Biking in the Neighborhood) Is Fading
Kids biking might be fading, but can absolutely make a comeback -> A Classic Childhood Pastime Is Fading
6 Ways Empire Flippers Beats Other Content Site Brokers
I’ve been buying, building, and selling digital properties for over a decade, and I’ve worked with numerous brokers throughout. Here is what I like specifically about Empire Flippers.
8 Red Flags to Watch for When Choosing a Website Broker
Discover 8 critical warning signs to avoid when hiring a website broker. After a decade of buying and selling digital properties, I’ve seen how the wrong broker can cost you thousands. Protect your investment with these essential red flags.
Dispatch from Disneyland – Cal Newport
Very interesting post – Dispatch from Disneyland – Cal Newport
TIL about Gell-Mann amnesia
Gell-Mann amnesia is where we recognize that the media reports inaccurately on topics we know well, yet trust their expertise…
The Toronto Suburb Where the Humble Bus Is King
As a former bus driver, I love this -> The Toronto Suburb Where the Humble Bus Is King. It’s cheap, it’s effective, and it works.
What The ‘Lentil King of Saskatchewan’ Knows About World Trade
A nice reminder of why trade can be a win-win-win and is so essential to the world we live in.
India’s Collapsing Poverty Rate
Over the past decade, India has significantly reduced poverty. Extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 per day) fell from…
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).
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…
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.
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.
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.
5 Reasons Why Wool Is Underrated
If wool wasn’t already invented by sheep, it would be a magic material.
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.
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.
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 LowFruits SEO Software
LowFruits SEO software is affordable and simplifies keyword research, but it lags behind bigger tools like Ahrefs in data freshness.
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
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…
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.
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.
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…
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…
4 Reasons To Re-Brand a Half-Marathon as a Pythian or Dekatrion
I’ve been able to run several Marathons, Half Marathons, Trail Half Marathons – along with shorter races. I love them…
3 Reasons Why Meat Reducatarianism Is Underrated
In the developed West, we could all eat less meat. It’s better for our health, our wallet, our local environment,…
Who died and left the US $7 billion?
Fascinating financial story about the largest single tax payment ever -> Who died and left the US $7 billion?
What Excessive Screen Time Does to the Adult Brain
Fascinating findings from Stanford’s longevity lab -> What Excessive Screen Time Does to the Adult Brain
Coming home – Creating On Your Own Website
A persuasive & well-written post on doing creative work on your own website -> Coming Home
Private Equity Ruins Tech Companies
Short & sweet context post on WordPress drama -> Private Equity Ruins Tech Companies
5 Reasons Why Mosquito Spraying is a Scam
It’s late summer in Georgia, and mosquitoes are everywhere. Specifically, there are Asian Tiger Mosquitoes everywhere – the invasive, pesky,…
7 Lessons on Lumber & Leaving An Entire Industry
My first corporate job was with 84 Lumber. I started right after college – a few weeks before graduation. It…
3 Reasons Why RSS Is Underrated
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is, like email, one of the foundational technologies of the old Internet. It allows anyone to…
Governments are bigger than ever. They are also more useless [Because Almost All The Money Goes To Old Age Care and Not Investment]
There’s yet another fake fight brewing in the United States (and across the rich world) about government spending and borrowing….
3 Reasons Why Public Domain Magazines Are Underrated
Public domain magazines and newspapers are often overlooked as valuable resources, but they offer a wealth of information and benefits…
Testing Out WordPress -> Mastodon Integration
I posted a picture on Mastodon a few months ago – and now I’m replying to it from WordPress!
Threads’ Deeper Fediverse Integration
Threads made it possible to reply to posts via ActivityPub enabled social networks – including WordPress!
3 Reasons Why Public Domain Software Is Underrated
Public domain software refers to software that has been released without any copyright restrictions, meaning anyone can use, modify, redistribute,…
Expand The House & Pass The Equal Representation Amendment
The US flag and the House of Representatives both used to change regularly to reflect the nation’s growth. Since the Reapportionment Act of 1929, the number of Representatives has been fixed at 435, despite significant population growth. This discrepancy leads to unequal representation and inefficiency. A possible solution is to expand the House to better represent the current population.
3 Reasons Why Public Domain Databases Are Underrated
The first time I found data.gov…I was blown away. There was more original, raw data about all the things than…
3 Reasons Why Town Mascots Are Underrated
Japan has them. US cities have them via their sports teams. And there should be more of them!
Health benefits of pedestrian and cyclist commuting: evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study
This study, based on a large representative sample followed up for 18 years, provides robust evidence of lower risk of…
3 Reasons Why Radio Is Underrated
It’s a hundred years old, but should be better than ever.
3 Reasons Why Online Libraries Are Underrated
Most everyone in the US has access to an online version of their library. But I can almost guarantee that…
3 Reasons Why Adopting a Tree Is Underrated
No, I’m not talking about some official program. I’m talking about literally noticing a single tree, naming it, and declaring…
What’s with the hostility towards personal publishing?
CJ Chilvers wrote a good reminder about personal publishing on the Open Web in a world of AI writers.
3 Reasons Why Tech Sabbaths Are Underrated
A Tech Sabbath or Tech Sunday is simply picking one day per week to severely limit your use of modern…
5 Reasons Why I’m (Temporarily) Switching Back from an Electric Car in 2024
I have owned an all-electric car for more than seven years. Even though I’ve only put ~21,000 miles on the…
No, People Are Not Watching 4-Hour YouTube Videos
News outlets have been breathlessly reporting a trend in 2024 around ridiculously long YouTube videos. Today, NPR ran a story…
3 Reasons Why Personal Websites Are Underrated
Personal websites and blogs are not as cool as they were in the early 2000s, but they have never been…
Whitley Gap Shelter on the Appalachian Trail
One of the best short day hikes in Georgia is up to Cowrock Mountain from Tesnatee Gap. However, the hike…
Why Is Australia So Athletic & Good At Sports?
The Olympics are coming this summer. And there will be one thing for sure – Australia is going to win…
Cemetery in Bainbridge, Georgia, USA
I love old cemeteries in the South. Bonaventure in Savannah and Oakland in Atlanta are obviously the best. But there…
3 Reasons Why Libraries Are Underrated
I love libraries and will never pass up a chance to visit. But I’m still finding out awesome things about…
Some blogging myths
Julia Evans has an excellent post on blogging myths.
Is Mangools Legit? 9 Pros & Cons of Using Mangools SEO Tool Suite
I’m a huge fan of Mangool’s SEO tool suite. They have incredibly cost-effective pricing, especially for agencies, small blogs, and…
7 Best Mangools SEO Use Cases for Small Website Owners
I’m a huge fan of Mangool’s SEO tool suite. They have incredibly cost-effective pricing, especially for small websites. I’ve been…
9 Ways Mangools Outperforms Other SEO Tools (like Ahrefs & SEMrush)
I’m a huge fan of Mangool’s SEO tool suite. They have incredibly cost-effective pricing, especially for small blogs and local…
9 Unlikely Tips for Using Mangools SEO Effectively
I’m a huge fan of Mangool’s SEO tool suite. They have incredibly cost-effective pricing, especially for small websites, agencies, and…
9 Ways I Use Mangools for Small Blogs & Local Businesses
I like to use Mangools for bulk keyword research, general competitor research, and understanding keyword intent.
The Death of The Follower & The Future of Creativity by Jack Conte
This is a long presentation from Patreon CEO Jack Conte, but absolutely essential watch for anyone who creates anything on…
Blogging Principles I Use
I’ve run this site for more than 14 years now. I haven’t published consistently for years at a time, but…
Progression of The Web with Trail Websites
There is a lot of digital ink being spilled by whether the Web is dying, dead, or being reinvented. I…
3 Reasons Why Open University Courses Are Underrated
Unless you need a piece of paper proving that you know something, skills and knowledge are wide open now.
Best Campfire Firewoods
One of the most useful pages of Bushcraft by Dave Canterbury was this chart on the burnability (word?) of different…
Who I’m Voting For in the May 2024 Primary Election in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Here is the problem that I run into every 2 years. I’m sold on the idea that voting in every…
What To Read In Addition To Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt has created a lot of chatter and concern among parents and policymakers. With the United…
Don’t Install Sod
Sod is held together with plastic netting. The netting reduces shipping costs and makes for a more consistent, better-looking product…