Trying something new for dinner… Broke out the smoker for the first time this year to infuse a little smoke to some chicken breasts before I finish them up on the grill. Pairing it up with grilled corn on the cob.

I picked up an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID today (not the extended model). I’ve been using an Apple extended Bluetooth keyboard forever, so the hand placement feels a little different. I do like the new smaller size under my hands, and thoroughly like the touch sensor being “right here.”

I’ve been weighing the options of sticking with Micro.blog, running my own WordPress server, or going the 100% free route of a Hugo site published on GitHub pages. Cost and effort wise, Micro.blog is the front runner, plus (I’ve said it before) there’s the community. Con is I’m not 100% in control.

Something I do like about the new version of Reeder… When opening a toot from the feed, it gives the full Mastodon thread in context.

Auto-generated description: A social media conversation discusses the features and pricing of Raycast Pro, including adaptive clipboard management and AI usage.

I’m going to throw some knee-jerk observations about Reeder out as I evaluate it… A big thing I’m seeing: If you follow someone/something in multiple places (Micro.blog, Mastodon, RSS), you’re going to see the same post multiple times. That makes for a lot of duplicated noise in your home feed.

I’m giving Raycast Pro a spin to see if it’s worth what they’re charging. ~$100/year seems a tad steep for the pro features, so we’ll see in a couple of weeks if my mind has been changed. I do like the custom window management feature however…

Okay… So I may roll back what I said about Reeder the other day. The new release looks intriguing. I’m going to subscribe for a month or two just to see what it can do. I’m still not 100% sure I want to consume all my content in one place though. 🤔

I got lost in thought and managed to put too much water in my oatmeal this morning, ending up with the consistency of clam chowder wallpaper paste. I’m a chunky oatmeal guy…

I’m considering changing my Apple Music subscription from single-user annual to family monthly to allow my wife and son to play their music on various devices (HomePod) and not interrupt what I’m already playing elsewhere. Anyone else using the Apple Music family plan? Is it worth it to you?

Apple Ditching USB-A on the New Mac mini?

Apple’s rumored Mac mini redesign may ditch the USB-A port - The Verge

Is it time to say goodbye to USB-A? Maybe. Probably. But no matter how you feel about that, it’s absolutely time something new happened with the Mac Mini, the longest-in-the-tooth Apple computer design.

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I managed to wander my way back to Reeder for RSS a little while back, but noticed this morning the app has been renamed to “Reeder Classic” on the Mac App Store. This means a new release is imminent with a new purchase likely needed. I think I’m going to move back to NetNewsWire (again), probably for good this time.

I added a books page to my Micro.blog site today. It’s still a little bare, but I hope to up my reading game going forward. I used to be a voracious reader, but lost the mojo for it over the last decade.

A Tuesday (Monday) morning work rant: If I’ve ignored your unsolicited business email the first three times you’ve sent it, don’t send it a fourth and then fifth time demanding a response from me to take a meeting. You won’t get it, and now you’ve been relegated to the domain block list. Bye.

I’ve started using Omnivore as my read it later app. I’m not sure how I’ve missed this one, but it’s pretty impressive, and open source no less.

I took time this weekend to refresh my Micro.blog theme for about the hundredth time after discovering a nice webfont. As usual, one tweak led to the next and suddenly hours have passed by. I’m happy where it’s at for now, so it’s time to step away.

Scrolling through the macOS desktops from years gone by over at 512 Pixels, I still think 10.4 Tiger is the best looking of all of them…and is the one I’m using today.

My Internet Journey

I remember the first time I touched a computer. I was in my early twenties and worked as a customer service rep for the local water company, which is a fancy way of saying I played in the mud on an almost daily basis.

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A Bicycle and Barbed Wire

Auto-generated description: A barbed wire fence stretches across a grassy field at sunset, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

Here’s another one of those childhood memories that left a scar; literally. This one is about the time I tried to stop my out of control bicycle using a barbed wire fence.

It was probably as painful as it sounds. Honestly, I can’t remember if it was.

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📷 One of the more wacky Huntington Beach Fourth of July parade entries this year. If you grew up on ‘70s sitcoms, you get it… 🇺🇸

A group of people dressed in vibrant, 1970s-style costumes and wigs are marching in a parade, holding a banner that reads "Mrs. Roper Romps Huntington Beach."

Why do I save every work email except the one-line “thank you” emails? So when someone says X and then comes back with Y later, I can joyously screenshot their original thread and attach that sucker to my reply. 💣💥