December 2023 Archive

December 2023 Archive

51

2023-12-08 02:58:50

Damn.

Focused Writing

2023-12-09 12:00:17

I’m continually looking for methods to utilize my devices and software to maximize productivity and today I am focused on utilizing the M1 iPad Pro. Combined with the Magic Keyboard I’ve transformed this into a dedicated writing device, much like a typewriter.

I’ve established the perfect writing environment by organizing my writing apps and customizing my settings. Currently I am using two writing platforms, the first being my very own Fox OS database. Everything goes in here and is backed up to the cloud in .txt files. Text files stand the test of time and are readable on any device. The second platform is a subscription service (yuck) called Ulysses. iCloud based storage helps keep my chapters and verses organized and backed up.

Typewriter mode, Editor Focus and dark mode all help eliminate distractions and helps me crank out words more effectively.


When I’m ready to sit down and start writing I automatically pick up Maximus and I am great to go.

Tesla

2023-12-19 02:26:09

My first exposure to Tesla was a shop in the Galleria Mall featuring shiny new cars. At the time I thought this will never work because they can’t afford to have their own dealership lots and whatever orders they sold, the buyers would have to wait and have them delivered without a test drive. Well I was wrong and happy to admit it. Since then, I’ve watched Tesla expand and become the name brand synonymous with electric vehicles.

Flash forward 15 years later and I finally had an opportunity to drive a fully electric sports car this past weekend. I love this technology and would absolutely own a Tesla given the chance.

One of Tesla’s claims to fame is an instant, seamless, and silent surge of power when you stab the accelerator. The Model 3 is a thrill ride, and on the Gulf Freeway stretch from the airport to the beach, I went from 0-100mph in about 5 seconds. With no combustible engine and no gears to shift the Tesla, silently sliced through the speedometer. I even raced a Porsche down the seawall and it wasn’t even close. Sorry, Porsche.

Tech amenities for this rented model was pretty stocked and did not have the self-driving feature but it did include an eight-speaker audio system; a 15-inch touch screen with a web browser and navigation capabilities; and a wireless charging pad for two smartphones. Driver assists such as adaptive cruise control; automatic emergency braking; blind-spot warning; lane-keeping assist; and front and rear parking sensors are standard.

The interior has a very modern, almost austere feel because Tesla doesn’t use traditional gauges and includes only a few physical controls. The 15-inch touch screen handles nearly every vehicle setting, and you use the steering wheel's scroll and push controls to change settings such as audio volume, as well as to adjust the side mirrors and headlights. This control setup is a departure from traditional switches and dials, and requires a bit of an adjustment. It took me twenty minutes in the rental agency lot to get the driving setup settings the way I needed which is not bad because new owners have guided instructions through the sales people.

When it came time to recharge the vehicle all I had to do was push the “charging stations” button on the large screen and it suggested over 20 locations near me. I picked the closest one as it told me how much energy I had, how much it would use to get there and then to my final destination. Charging was a cinch and very quick with the Tesla supercharger stations. 47% charge to 100% capacity took 15m. There were 8 other Teslas parked and sipping electricity so we all hung out and chatted up our cars and how brilliant they are.

In a short time and with advancements in already brilliant technology, I see Tesla as a threat to any competitor including the traditional fuel-powered cars that manufacturers are still putting out. The model 3 is a technophile’s dream with it’s range, performance and technology.

51

2023-12-08 01:19:00

Damn.

Focused Writing

2023-12-10 01:22:00

I’m continually looking for methods to utilize my devices and software to maximize productivity and today I am focused on utilizing the M1 iPad Pro. Combined with the Magic Keyboard I’ve transformed this into a dedicated writing device, much like a typewriter.

I’ve established the perfect writing environment by organizing my writing apps and customizing my settings. Currently I am using two writing platforms, the first being my very own Grey Matter database. Everything goes in here and is backed up to the cloud in .txt files. Text files stand the test of time and are readable on any device. The second platform is a subscription service (yuck) called Ulysses. iCloud based storage helps keep my chapters and verses organized and backed up.

Typewriter mode, Editor Focus and dark mode all help eliminate distractions and helps me crank out words more effectively.


When I’m ready to sit down and start writing I automatically pick up Maximus and I am great to go.

Tesla

2023-12-20 01:31:00

My first exposure to Tesla was a shop in the Galleria Mall featuring shiny new cars. At the time I thought this will never work because they can’t afford to have their own dealership lots and whatever orders they sold, the buyers would have to wait and have them delivered without a test drive. Well I was wrong and happy to admit it. Since then, I’ve watched Tesla expand and become the name brand synonymous with electric vehicles. 

Flash forward 15 years later and I finally had an opportunity to drive a fully electric sports car this past weekend. I love this technology and would absolutely own a Tesla given the chance.

One of Tesla’s claims to fame is an instant, seamless, and silent surge of power when you stab the accelerator. The Model 3 is a thrill ride, and on the Gulf Freeway stretch from the airport to the beach, I went from 0-100mph in about 5 seconds. With no combustible engine and no gears to shift the Tesla, silently sliced through the speedometer. I even raced a Porsche down the seawall and it wasn’t even close. Sorry, Porsche. 

Tech amenities for this rented model was pretty stocked and did not have the self-driving feature but it did include an eight-speaker audio system; a 15-inch touch screen with a web browser and navigation capabilities; and a wireless charging pad for two smartphones. Driver assists such as adaptive cruise control; automatic emergency braking; blind-spot warning; lane-keeping assist; and front and rear parking sensors are standard.

The interior has a very modern, almost austere feel because Tesla doesn’t use traditional gauges and includes only a few physical controls. The 15-inch touch screen handles nearly every vehicle setting, and you use the steering wheel’s scroll and push controls to change settings such as audio volume, as well as to adjust the side mirrors and headlights. This control setup is a departure from traditional switches and dials, and requires a bit of an adjustment. It took me twenty minutes in the rental agency lot to get the driving setup settings the way I needed which is not bad because new owners have guided instructions through the sales people. 

When it came time to recharge the vehicle all I had to do was push the “charging stations” button on the large screen and it suggested over 20 locations near me. I picked the closest one as it told me how much energy I had, how much it would use to get there and then to my final destination. Charging was a cinch and very quick with the Tesla supercharger stations. 47% charge to 100% capacity took 15m. There were 8 other Teslas parked and sipping electricity so we all hung out and chatted up our cars and how brilliant they are. 

In a short time and with advancements in already brilliant technology, I see Tesla as a threat to any competitor including the traditional fuel-powered cars that manufacturers are still putting out. The model 3 is a technophile’s dream with it’s range, performance and technology.

Believe In Doubt

2023-12-20 04:25:04

“Life is complicated. It’s filled with nuance. It’s unsatisfying… If I believe in anything, it is doubt. The root cause of all life’s problems is looking for a simple f**king answer.”

Anthony Bourdain

No simple answers- just finding, discovering, wandering.

Lost and stupid sounds great if I can get out of my own head where I frequently feel sure and smart.

Routine

2023-12-21 00:57:27

I’m looking forward to getting back into daily habits such as:

Apple Journal

2023-12-21 03:55:59

It’s finally here and the hype does not live up to the anticipation. It is basic and definitely not a Day One journal killer yet but it is close. Will it take me away from journaling in my FoxOS database or field notes using pen and paper? Not yet, but its on the iPhone and convenient.

Play With The Toys You Have

2023-12-23 10:20:48

Thankfully, after years of curating the perfect device and software setup I am content. I do not need the latest and greatest. With all of the "Pro" computing tools I have acquired, I can rely on years of use and design aesthetics to satisfy.

Gratefully the same applies to camera equipment. I have scaled down my digital cameras to a total of one with two lenses, two different film cameras for different uses and the iPhone.

With Christmas coming in a couple of days and an upcoming move, I am reminded of how much stuff gets acquired and not used. And why accumulate more when you don't play with the toys you have?

Flickr Or Extinguish?

2023-12-23 10:38:57

I am on the fence about renewing the Flickr backup and photo community. I could go monthly at a higher rate or take advantage of their two year plan for a cheaper monthly option. Am I using it effectively? Not for the past 6 months but I do hope to make use of it again. Hmm...

Hipstamatic Model 10

2023-12-23 12:35:47

One of the very first apps I installed as a new iPhone user back in 2014 was the Hipstamatic camera touting that “digital has never looked so analog” and I have been a fan ever since. Recently Hipstamatic has updated their camera to include several new features to enhance the experience such as:

I rarely use multiple exposure but plan on changing this in the upcoming new year. The new delay development mode will allow me to focus on shooting and enjoy the results later.

With an exhaustive supply of lenses, film stock and flash gels the developing of images is limitless in its creativity.

Throw in fun challenges like “Snappy Hour” to shoot one hour before sunset in the golden light and adding stamps to the daily passport and the experience just gets better and better.

Want to see some of the results? Check out my Hipstamatic section on the photography website.

2024 Reading Goals

2023-12-24 02:04:04

Every year I set goals on how many books I want to read in a year and end up exceeding them. In the upcoming 2024 new year, I am going to slow the pace down to savor and appreciate what I am reading.

The titles are already chosen with a more than a few backups for a total of 21 books. As book readers know, there are times you devour it quickly, others are cast aside because it just wasn’t worth your time invested into it. There is also a very real possibility that one book lends itself to another, completely different book not on your list but you feel compelled to follow that path and acquire it. I love it when that happens.

I reinstalled the Book Tracker app and added the titles I want to read and then I will update the progress accordingly. Because without it, I consume too much and forget what I’ve read previously. I also signed up for a relatively new social book site called Literal to help track reading goals and discover new titles socially.

The Libby software app requires a library card to download e-books which will help download desired titles and can also be transferred to the Kindle e-reader.

Also, the Library page of this website has been neglected so that too will change and get updated with current read and previous reads.

The Fox Den’s Library page

Book Tracker app

Literal website

Rabbits

2023-12-26 00:58:01

Currently Reading:

12/26/2023 to ? https://literal.club/bookfox

365/2024

2023-12-28 13:48:26

.I need a photo project and have always wanted to do a one photo of the day every day for a year. Well, with the new year coming up soon, it’ll be a great chance to launch this project.

The camera I will be using is the aforementioned Hipstamatic model 10 with a variety of lenses, film and flash gels to keep it interesting. 

I hope to do this project mindfully but on the off day when that isn’t possible there is always “snappy hour”, a prompt from the camera to shoot one hour before sunset to capture the best light of the day. Every day an image is snapped, the camera will stamp the photographic passport to keep me going. 

I’ll post some worthy images on the photography website and all of them will be on the Flickr gallery page.

Novel Ideas

2023-12-28 16:44:32

I have been an avid reader since I can remember, and that memory goes back quite the distance. And in that whole time I’ve always felt that there is a story for me to tell, something that hasn’t been written yet and it was up to me to tell it since no one else will. The trick is to tell a compelling story that is unique or maybe offer a small twist. I do not have lofty aspirations nor fancy myself as a brilliant writer- at all.

Now that the disclaimer is out there I can proceed.

The idea of a my first novel came from a photo book documenting the Angkor province of Cambodia from the Khmer Empire, a topic that hardly anyone knows anything about so of course I was intrigued and have been pursuing research and ideas on how to tell a story there. That has been burned in my brain for the past thirty years.

During this past month I was in a hotel room alone with my thoughts and there were plenty of thoughts for other novel ideas. Work by day then come back to the hotel at night to read and write. As I said, for one month I have generated almost thirty-five (35!) novel ideas and concepts. I have even gone so far as to come up with plot lines from start to finish on most of these. At least ten unique characters to be interjected as well.

To break them down I’d say at least 20 of these are novel sized with the remaining 15 are more like individual short stories that can/will be combined into one overall story with a common theme.

My brain and fingers are swollen from over use but I am pleased.

There are so many issues though with the most difficult being- which story do I want to start first? Which one do I invest my time in research and development? Should I start on a smaller series and build from those small victories?

All titles shown are incomplete, personal property and are subject to change

Atari 2600+

2023-12-30 18:24:20

So that happened this weekend. Time to dive back into 8-bit graphics and challenging game play.

Kindle Unlimited

2023-12-30 23:13:20

Let’s ignore the fact that I already plotted which novels I am going to read in 2024 and have more than enough, but what if some of those picks were duds and I wanted more?

Well Amazon made me an offer I did not refuse and that was 3 months of Unlimited reading for $0.99USD. Right away I snagged three titles and added them to the list. It didn’t help that I received a paperback book 1 in the murderbot series, “All Systems Red” for Christmas and KU has the rest of the series listed there so consider that money well saved when I do get around to starting/finishing the series?

So many books and not enough time is a blessing/curse!

Site Health

2023-12-31 15:43:18

I spent some time cleaning up this website with the backend protocols, database and overall performances. It is streamlined and ready for the new year which is great because I plan on tweaking some more coding and giving it a fresh coat of paint soon.

Hard Reset: DeBug Life

2023-12-31 16:18:43

  "version": "2023.12.31",
  "configurations":
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch 2024.01.01",
      "name": "Launch Program",
      "skipFiles": ["<node_internals>/**"],
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}\\app.js"

Debugging, in computer programming and engineering, is a multi-step process that involves identifying a problem, isolating the source of the problem and then either correcting the problem or determining a way to work around it. The final step of debugging is to test the correction or workaround and make sure it works.

This is the last day of 2023 and tomorrow begins the hard reset, or rebooting the system for a fresh start. After that I will begin to run some routines to help debug my personal operating system.

There are a few known issues, or bugs in my personal life that I need to identify, isolate and correct the problem.

Bug #1: To maximize system performance, I need to focus on the overall health of the personal operating system and that is to stay physically fit. Sure, the outdoor work that I do does help but there is more I can do. Time to access the walking and yoga sub-routines. These will both be done on a daily basis. Yoga in the morning to stretch out and purposeful walking for cardio.

Bug #2: Nutrition is a crucial component to all of this because I have not eaten well the last quarter of 2023. 2024 will be a rocky start since I will be traveling for work but I will be mindful and look for healthier food options.

Bug #3: Smoking pipe tobacco and drinking alcohol is inserting bad code into my system and so, once again, I will work towards debugging those substances to enhance system performance.

Each month, and the corresponding day, I will run a systems diagnostic and report on either the overall performance or list any bugs that may still need to be addressed. The first diagnostic and reporting will be done on February 2nd or 2/2. The following will be on March 3 or 3/3, etc etc until December 12 (12/12.) Then one year from now on 12/31/2024 I will run more more systems check and prepare for another hard reset.

Inputs

Other applications will be used to maintain the mental health of my personal operating system such as:

Overall, these benchmarks for analyzing and evaluating overall performance will help maintain my personal operating system for years to come.

Website Refresh

2023-12-31 19:16:00

Aaaaand to ring in the new year I have done a little redecorating to the website by adding new layouts, fonts and colors. The colors are lifted inspired by the Mercedes Formula 1 team colors

#111111

#C6C6C6

#00A19C

2024 Reading Goals

2023-12-25 02:12:00

Every year I set goals on how many books I want to read in a year and end up exceeding them. In the upcoming 2024 new year, I am going to slow the pace down to savor and appreciate what I am reading.

The titles are already chosen with a more than a few backups for a total of 21 books. As book readers know, there are times you devour it quickly, others are cast aside because it just wasn’t worth your time invested into it. There is also a very real possibility that one book lends itself to another, completely different book not on your list but you feel compelled to follow that path and acquire it. I love it when that happens. 

All titles subject to change based on nothing but a whim

I reinstalled the Book Tracker app and added the titles I want to read and then I will update the progress accordingly. Because without it, I consume too much and forget what I’ve read previously. I also signed up for a relatively new social book site called Literal to help track reading goals and discover new titles socially. 

The Libby software app requires a library card to download e-books which will help download desired titles and can also be transferred to the Kindle e-reader.

Also, the Bookshelf page of this website has been neglected so that too will change and get updated with current read and previous books read.

Hard Reset:

2023-12-31 21:19:00

"version": "2023.12.31",  "configurations":      "type": "node",      "request": "launch 2024.01.01",      "name": "Launch Program",      "skipFiles": ["<node_internals>/**"],      "program": "${workspaceFolder}\\app.js"

Debugging, in computer programming and engineering, is a multi-step process that involves identifying a problem, isolating the source of the problem and then either correcting the problem or determining a way to work around it. The final step of debugging is to test the correction or workaround and make sure it works. 

This is the last day of 2023 and tomorrow begins the hard reset, or rebooting the system for a fresh start. After that I will begin to run some routines to help debug my personal operating system.

There are a few known issues, or bugs in my personal life that I need to identify, isolate and correct the problem.

Bug #1: To maximize system performance, I need to focus on the overall health of the personal operating system and that is to stay physically fit. Sure, the outdoor work that I do does help but there is more I can do. Time to access the walking and yoga sub-routines. These will both be done on a daily basis. Yoga in the morning to stretch out and purposeful walking for cardio. 

Bug #2: Nutrition is a crucial component to all of this because I have not eaten well the last quarter of 2023. 2024 will be a rocky start since I will be traveling for work but I will be mindful and look for healthier food options.

Bug #3: Smoking pipe tobacco and drinking alcohol is inserting bad code into my system and so, once again, I will work towards debugging those substances to enhance system performance. 

Each month, and the corresponding day, I will run a systems diagnostic and report on either the overall performance or list any bugs that may still need to be addressed. The first diagnostic and reporting will be done on February 2nd or 2/2. The following will be on March 3 or 3/3, etc etc until December 12 (12/12.) Then one year from now on 12/31/2024 I will run more more systems check and prepare for another hard reset. 

Inputs

Other applications will be used to maintain the mental health of my personal operating system such as:

Overall, these benchmarks for analyzing and evaluating overall performance will help maintain my personal operating system for years to come.

Hipstamatic Model 10

2023-12-23 21:30:00

One of the very first apps I installed as a new iPhone user back in 2014 was the Hipstamatic camera touting that “digital has never looked so analog” and I have been a fan ever since. Recently Hipstamatic has updated their camera to include several new features to enhance the experience such as:

I rarely use multiple exposure but plan on changing this in the upcoming new year. The new delay development mode will allow me to focus on shooting and enjoy the results later. 

With an exhaustive supply of lenses, film stock and flash gels the developing of images is limitless in its creativity. 

Throw in fun challenges like “Snappy Hour” to shoot one hour before sunset in the golden light and adding stamps to the daily passport and the experience just gets better and better. 

Want to see some of the results? Check out my Hipstamatic section on the photography website.