Google notches up the war on adblockers

Some months back, I noticed more and more people I follow on Mastodon were commenting, or forwarding posts of others, on how they’ve noticed warnings on YouTube about users employing adblockers on their browsers. Adblockers, for those not well-versed in internet parlance, are tiny third-party programs you can add onto your browser that literally prevent … Read more

Givin’er a go

I recently recommended a book I was reading about a new take — or at least, a take now getting a bit more attention — about how bodies do what they do, and what happens to them that causes illnesses.Part of the heart of that book was that we’re eating too much too often. Ours … Read more

What I read this month

No books finished this month, sadly. In dealing with typically working seven days a week, and the unexpectedly hectic and involved process that is high school applications for the newly minted teen of the household, November was pretty jam-packed top to bottom. I’m still reading The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a … Read more

The streak is dead. Long live the streak.

Like all things we wish would stay around, those that become solid streaks eventually end. So it is with my run of several years of doing something creative every day. In retrospect, I should’ve avoided sitting in one of our newest, most comfy reading chairs that has a tendency to put me to sleep. That … Read more

What I read this month

A month of finishing a long-term book and starting a couple of others with very different appeal. ReadSavage Sword of Conan compendium(!) ReadingBird Box – Josh MalermanThe Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6’4” African-American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, and Stand -Up Comedian – W. … Read more

A new era of ethics

I recently wrote about one aspect of the advent of technology like ChatGPT, specifically in regard to the blurry legality of how it “learns” by scraping anything and everything online. But I’ve been thinking recently about the ethics of using something like ChatGPT for various other purposes. I just wanted to touch on a few … Read more

Eco-friendly clothing innovation

There are times I love innovation for what it does and provides. But I really love innovation that isn’t just to make something new and useful but that actually helps do the environment good at the same time. The world’s first fully biodegradable shoe definitely falls into the latter category. Eric Liedtke had nearly 30 … Read more

What I read this month

A decent month as far as reading (and listening to books) went. ReadNoir – Christopher Moore (audio book)The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind – Jackson Ford Started and StoppedLamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal – Christopher Moore ReadingSavage Sword of Conan compendium One angle I was concerned about when … Read more

Reviewing one process of reviewing: Zero stars

Anyone who knows me and has had occasion to be with me in a location with no fixed address, where we split up and get together again later, has heard me sing the praises of what3words. It’s an organization that created a free-to-use system in which the entire planet was covered in a grid of … Read more

The dodginess of reward point systems

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, as they say. And reward card systems are no exception. I can’t speak to all of them everywhere, but can say with confidence that broadly speaking, if you’re seemingly getting something for nothing — i.e. if a bank or grocery store chain offers you free points if … Read more