Last week I ventured out to celebrate the ancient “Chinese New Year”, and then realized that a majority of Asian nations also celebrate but collectively call it “Lunar New Year.”
Now on to Houston’s Galleria District for indoor celebrations
While editing this article I was enjoying this soundtrack:
Next week I’ll share some highlights of the nearly 1000’s of murals decorating Houston.
再见, – Chris
It is time for us to create a “television escape club” and it is past time to do whatever we want. During my work travels for the past 15 weeks, I rarely streamed any movies or shows. The hotel televisions gathered dust and I ignored the basketball and football games blaring at restaurants while dining out. ”Oh, there was a Super Bowl?” I remember the hotel concierge asking why I was not watching the match and describing me as she smiled as ”very un-American.” I will take this compliment with a smile of my own.
Do I feel a sense of superiority in all of this(?), not at all. This is simply a choice to remove myself from unproductive viewing. I’d rather read a book these days because my mind can generate those scenes far better than any special effects shown on a screen.
There will be exceptions of course such as the 2024 season of Formula 1 racing as they wave the green flag in Bahrain this next weekend. I’ve already been promised we will re-subscribe and enjoy each race as they travel the world until November. Side note: How the hell do you do better than Team Red Bull winning 22 out of 23 races in 2023?? It’ll be thrilling to find out this season.
There are several books with film adaptations I want to see soon.
Occasionally I’ll stream some brilliant but stupid television show as well.
The idea is to not plop down out of boredom and mindlessly scroll through the tv menu looking for options to waste my time or be lazy. No, the times I spend in front of the tube will be mindful and deliberate.
I would really like to remove a television from our bedroom in favor of watching the television in the living room instead, but I have been currently outvoted. Hopefully this changes soon, like say, during an upcoming move and oops, the screen has cracked or the unit dropped.
Other alternatives include not seeking out new things to watch or not subscribing to new streaming options.
Speaking of options, I am really looking forward to a healthier lifestyle soon and I cannot do this in front of a television.
While typing up this article I was enjoying this album:
2024-02-18
*Author’s Note: I have published this e-mailed newsletter here on the website as a preview/promotion of what to expect when you subscribe For a grand total of $0. Forever.
Hello and welcome to the first edition of this newsletter. Every weekend I plan on sending an update or insight to things that I find interesting from the previous week. It is entirely possible that you may find it interesting as well. If you have something to share based on what you’ve compared to reading here, by all means, comment and share. Now, on to those interesting things…
And that is it for the first edition of the newsletter. Each week I will share something of interest, well, things that I find interesting in hopes that you discover something interesting as well. I will also, in the future, share photographic stories. Hopefully to your enjoyment.
Until next week…
Chris
Thanks for reading. This newsletter is an algorithm-free, advertising-free, monetarily-free, completely reader-supported and hand-rolled joint of a publication.
The restoration and rebranding of my portfolio website is now complete. Formerly known as “Silver Fox Photography” at silverfox.photography, it is back again to photodenbow.com. Now when you click on the Photography page at the top here, it will redirect you to the new website. Go check it out if inclined.
I even slapped a dark mode on to the site.
I am amazed at modern technology that allows me to build my own publishing house with an iPad and a few software applications.
Finally I have streamlined and organized the ability to publish articles, newsletters and podcasts on one device for the entire world to see if so inclined.
Case in point, I am writing this on an iPhone.
My first day back from work travel has already been a pretty full day. Lately, when these precious unscheduled hours present themselves, I usually suffer from paralysis of choice in deciding how to fill them.
Hmm, what can I do…
Read and nap. Or it’s likely I’ll just read and never fall asleep.
Really do enjoy a long-overdue nap.
Write something for my website
Work on the design of my website.
Research some of the ideas that my books generate
Start working on one of 35 novels I have already begun.
I could/should unpack.
Catch up on streaming tv.
Rid my clothes of that travel funk and do laundry.
Delete my old Apple ID account and reclaim my HomeKit devices to the new account.
Rewrite my C.V. since I’ll need one soon.
Practice yoga and/or stretching since I was on my ass most of the day traveling.
Clear out the Inbox.
But first setup the MX mail records on my mail server to the new email address.
Build out my new Mac Mini aka “Minnie” as a web, file, RSS, mail and photo server
And then…
And then…
Obviously, I went with writing this article instead. So again, now what?
I wrote this article while listening to this:
Welcome to my newest digital home, https://chrisdenbow.website
Like any new move there is going to be some things that are unpacked such as my archives that go back to 2001, a few design tweaks (like fresh coats of paint, wallpapering), and the constant re-arranging of furniture.
While I wanted the previous Silver Fox persona to shield my privacy and anonymity, it was a fun experiment but that was the problem, it wasn’t me. Since 2001, this website was all about me. I wrote it for myself first, but people eventually tagged along and joined me as I threw my life out there. Then the guests grew to almost a thousand visitors coming and going as they pleased and I was trying to be a good host but it didn’t matter. More on that later, but now, it is time for a tour of the new place. Yes, I know I write this for myself, but eventually I will have guests, so why be rude and not show them around?
As my website analytics show (don’t worry, I don’t track or use this information for nefarious reasons, that’s rude), most people come to visit on their mobile devices. If this is you, then you are able to click the two horizontal bars in the upper right hand corner. This is the menu bar that displays all of the pages. If you are visiting on a computer, which I suggest to get the full effect, the menu bar is up top in the middle. Up first, is the Archives.
A backlog of articles from 2001 to present. Coming soon.
Since this website is all about me, you get to have a peak into my life such as what I am reading or have read in the recent past. In here I have a list of books of 24 books in 2024 to read. I have read five so far and I am ahead of the curve so far and have even given them a 1-5 star review. You’ll also see what I am currently reading and down below, books I have re-shelved after use.
The Colophon page tells a story of how this website has been designed, updated and by which tools I have used to create. Along with a contact section to reach out to me. I love emails and I love responding to them even more. This helps make my site better so feel free to drop me a line to hello @ chrisdenbow.website
When you click on this page, it will automatically re-direct you to my digital photography studio website, SilverFox Photography. Yes, eventually I will want to move that back to photodenbow.com, but that will be further down the road. Until then, take a look at my photo portfolio while there? But bookmark that for later, because there is more of this new home to show you.
It wouldn’t do to have a Foxcast when that old site goes away, would it? Say hello to the Radio Denbow podcast. The format is still the same, however. Photography, book reviews, geocaching or anything else I find interesting, all in 5 minutes or less.
In software development, a Read.me file is a small text file that is part instruction manual and part introduction to the code writer of that software. Here, it is a little insight about me.
Clicking this will simply bring you back to the front door of the website.
If you are not visiting with your mobile device but on a computer instead, you will enjoy a much better view. All the pages are on display at the top, the images are wider and more visibly pleasing.
There are multiple ways to consume this website and all can be enjoyable, one of these is called Really Simple Syndication (RSS.) All of my websites have the ability to send code to a feed aggregator into the feed reader of your choice. I use both FeedBin and Reeder. Think of them as a podcast player but for text. Mine is chrisdenbow.website/rss/ so every time I post an article here, you do not have to come back to this website, you can read it in your feed reader, along with all the other websites you have chosen to enjoy with no ads, no tracking. RSS is the backbone of the old internet and is still thriving to this day. Advertisers hate it because they haven’t figured out how to monetize it after all these years.
That word, subscription, has bad connotations these days, but not here, no way. If you want to stay up on the latest articles, you can have them delivered to your email inbox instead. As I have always said, no spam. No advertising. No B.S. not ever. Your information and privacy never leaves my web server or will get sold.
By subscribing, you also have the ability to leave a comment on any web article. I highly encourage this. The internet, the WWW, was founded on websites. The social web, not social media is where it is at. It was done by linking to each other and commenting on everyone’s own website. If you like an article, tell me! If you want to share something related to an article, then please do!
By subscribing, you will have access to a special email, one article that is separate from the website. A blend of text and photography that doesn’t have a place on either my text or photography websites. It will be more personal.
Navigation
Search Feature- if you click the magnifying glass, you can search by topic and it will pull up any article using that reference.
If you click on an article category such as “Reading” or “Journal” or “Photography” in an article it will display all articles that have been referenced.
Finally, at the bottom of every article, there are 1-3 other articles of interest to prompt you to read if interested.
ChrisDenbow.website is managed on a virtual Ghost server and maintained by myself.
The color mode does automatically shift between day and night modes for easier reading. I am proud of that particular feature 🙂
The colors and fonts used here are inspired by the Mercedes Formula 1 racing team.
Change Log & Version History
24-02-11: Version 1.0 installed onto Ghost server
I was listening to this brilliant and technically perfect album while editing this article:
The time to start taking care of myself is past due. Now that I have some time to focus on myself (not selfishly), I want to start with the simplest option and one of the most rewarding- meditation.
A basic method is to focus your attention on your own breathing—a practice simply called “mindful breathing.” After setting aside time to practice mindful breathing, you’ll find it easier to focus attention on your breath in your daily life—an important skill to deal with stress, high blood pressure, and negative emotions. This also helps with concentration.
Let’s start out with at least 5 minutes daily for a week, keeping in mind that meditation mindfulness increases with practice
Preferably sitting in a quiet space either in a comfortable chair, the bed or even a car seat (great for those long traffic light waits.) Your eyes may be open or closed, but you may find it easier to maintain your focus if you close your eyes.
Mentally focus on your head, will yourself to relax the tension there, then go lower to your neck and shoulders. Keep going until your toes are relaxed.
Then just simply do what you’ve done since birth. Breathe. Relax and inhale the delicious oxygen.
Sure, your body may be calm, but your mind is all over the place because it isn’t use to peace, quiet and a lack of distraction. Just redirect your thoughts to the feelings of your lungs expanding and deflating rhythmically.
Keep it simple, don’t overthink it. Repeat this practice as needed, but definitely do it daily.
If you have an Apple Watch, there is an app dedicated to Mindfulness and specifically breathing. Set a reminder in the app to schedule this practice. I have mine set to 6am & 6pm.
Woosah,
Chris
I was listening to this while I was editing the article:
Or, why I am done traveling for work
Since October 2023, I have been traveling for work at a grand total of fifteen weeks. Fifteen weeks of lonely nights in cheap hotels, a measly per diem that allows for groceries and fast food only and a longing for home. From Cincinnati, Ohio to Houston, Texas and all points in between.
This next week will be my last run before I turn in my truck and equipment back home into an uncertain future.
I say uncertain because eventually, I will be back on the road but this time to move cross country to the gulf coast of Florida and a new life. I do not know where I will be employed, what I will be doing or if this is a smart move. It feels right and I want a new life with new opportunities and a launching point for another location out of the country.
But first, I have five more days to get through. I was listening to this while I was typing the article.
Happy trails,
Chris
The idea of creating a brand new, anonymous digital identity was a good idea, until I decided it wasn’t. This wasn’t the first time I have flipped/flopped from a generic and private website, back to a domain with my own name in it. Currently it is silverfox.website. And now, I have decided that it is time to revert to what you see here, chrisdenbow.website. After recent price increases, subscription fatigue, privacy concerns and probably long overdue contentment, it’s time for a change. I’ll be withdrawing more from technology, technology blogs and restructuring everything to maximize privacy, reduce monthly subscription spending and pursuing avenues of personal interest.
I am heavily embedded into the Apple eco-system after decades of using Windows/Android. I have stuff scattered all over the internet, cloud storage and external hard drives with almost zero organization. That’s changing as of today.
I purchased a new web (chrisdenbow.website) and email address (hello AT chrisdenbow.website) to match it and then made THAT one the new/updated Apple ID. The hard part is switching everything from contact information to businesses and services I use over to the new account. Sure, I’ll lose a lot of subscriptions, but I am pairing them down and prioritizing anyway.
With iCloud+ services such as Private Relay and “Hide My Email” I can create generic, disposable email addresses. Apple then allows me to use random, generic passwords and will even store them for me using their KeyChain.
When all of this is sorted I need to discipline myself to keep it organized, unlike my previous attempts. Maybe then I can get back to enjoying what I love in peace such as photography, reading and geocaching.
This post was written with this song playing in the background:
Or, why I am done traveling for work
Since October 2023, I have been traveling for work at a grand total of fifteen weeks. Fifteen weeks of lonely nights in cheap hotels, a measly per diem that allows for groceries and fast food only and a longing for home. From Cincinnati, Ohio to Houston, Texas and all points in between.
This next week will be my last run before I turn in my truck and equipment back home into an uncertain future.
I say uncertain because eventually, I will be back on the road but this time to move cross country to the gulf coast of Florida and a new life. I do not know where I will be employed, what I will be doing or if this is a smart move. It feels right and I want a new life with new opportunities and a launching point for another location out of the country.
But first, I have five more days to get through.
Happy trails,
The Silver Fox
This book, like the Rabbits novel is not an easy read and requires patience and concentration. There are so many layers and even a soundtrack to listen to complete the novel (much like the Rabbits podcast). This will take some time.
