{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Brad Enslen", "icon": "https://micro.blog/bradenslen/avatar.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://ramblinggit.com/", "feed_url": "https://ramblinggit.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/10/currently-reading-fool.html", "content_html": "

Currently reading: Fool Moon (Dresden Files Book 2) by Jim Butcher đź“š

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-10T07:56:10-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/10/currently-reading-fool.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/10/i-hate-time.html", "content_html": "

I hate time changes.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-10T05:20:31-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/10/i-hate-time.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/09/things-i-learned.html", "content_html": "

Things I Learned Today: There is such a thing as Womens Rugby which I think is cool. Mainly because I think we need more rugby as a sport here in the USA but also because it’s another opportunity for women.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-09T09:51:48-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/09/things-i-learned.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/08/currently-reading-storm.html", "content_html": "

Currently reading: Storm Front (Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher đź“š

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-08T17:32:04-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/08/currently-reading-storm.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/08/the-worst-sin.html", "content_html": "

“The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-08T09:45:32-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/08/the-worst-sin.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/08/fountain-pens.html", "title": "Fountain Pens", "content_html": "\n\n

A few years ago I got into fountain pens and experimented with them for awhile, then cleaned them up and stored them away. I don’t even remember what I have and which ones I liked. I should have kept notes.

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Flashback

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I think when I was in my tweens, fountain pens became popular in school. At the time you could buy a cheap Scheaffer cartridge fountain pen anywhere they sold school supplies. I used one quite a lot. I found it was better than a ballpoint for compositions because I could not write as fast with a fountain pen. This allowed me to think more about what I wanted to write.

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In High School I reverted back to ballpoints, and somewhere over the years the cheap Scheaffer fountain pens disappeared from the school supply shelves at the local drug stores and super markets.

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Now-ish:

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Of course the Internet changed everything and niche products like fountain pens got a new, wider, life. They were available again.

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I Buy a New Fountain Pen

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I decided to rethink this fountain pen thing and try to define what worked for me the last time and what didn’t work. Why had I set them aside? I think I got caught up in experimenting and trying different pens and bottled ink too much. Generally for daily things that I use, the KISS model works the best.

\n\n

So on this reboot: pick one pen and really use it, cartridge pen, medium nib, reasonable quality, forgiving for beginners. I bought a simple Pilot Metropolitan medium. Still made in Japan. Preliminary tests: it writes well, very smooth - it glides, even on cheap paper. The black ink is very black, dries quickly and does not bleed through too much. It writes well on index cards.

\n\n

Cartridge ink is more expensive, but a lot less fuss and mess - which is probably a better choice for me. KISS.

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Now I have to retrain myself how to write with a fountain pen. Again.

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I’m going to use this Pilot as my exclusive fountain pen and if I stick with it, I’ll see what other cartridge fountain pens I already have that I can use, because it would be handy to have a second.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-08T07:38:33-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/08/fountain-pens.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/08/when-a-major.html", "content_html": "

When a major company like Automattic sends you to Github to update to the next version of Simplenote for Linux you know you are screwed. Github is for coders, NOT the general public. True to my prediction, it didn’t go well.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-08T05:54:38-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/08/when-a-major.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/07/i-dont-have.html", "content_html": "

I don’t have cable at home and rarely watch TV anyway. I had to be in a place that had Fox News on for a couple of hours. It sounded more like brain washing to me than anything.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-07T19:15:42-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/07/i-dont-have.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/07/oatmeal-its-for.html", "content_html": "

Oatmeal, it’s for supper too.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-07T18:56:54-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/07/oatmeal-its-for.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/07/microblog-migration-adjustments.html", "title": "Micro.blog Migration Adjustments", "content_html": "

Moving back, full time to Micro.blog hosted blog from self hosted Wordpress, went far smoother than expected. For the most part the experience has been interesting.

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It’s interesting to try and replicate some of the features of Wordpress on MB without having the crutch of a massive library of Wordpress plugins available, which means that for some things, like Related Posts and outside Comments one must find a third party provider and do some theme editing on MB.

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Tools effect behavior and I’ve noticed some effects on me with the differences between WP and MB. Some of these are good, bad or neutral, but all are something I notice.

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  1. I post less on MB. I’m not sure if this is good or bad. On WP I had bookmarklets and browser extensions that made sharing URL’s and snippets of interesting articles to Wordpress very easy. MB has none of that so there is more friction to sharing. I find myself using the Pinboard bookmarklet much more and saving as a bookmark to Pinboard instead of sharing. That’s kinda not good.
    2. \n
  2. Markdown - I had harbored thoughts of making long posts on MB in HTML. But, having learned a bit of Markdown, I use Markdown. Not good or bad, just different.
    3. \n
  3. Draft Posts - I really miss being able to save half finished posts as drafts to work on later. I’m using Simplenote as my work around. I compose most everything on Simplenote and then paste to MB.
    4. \n
  4. No spell check in the Web UI on MB. It’s a real pain in the rump. It is also a part of posting less in point #1 above. (If they have it, please don’t tell me that the Mac and iOS apps have spell check. That was never irritating to me until I became totally dependent on MB. Now it grates. Deeply.)
    5. \n
  5. Comments from the Indieweb - one of the things I truly loved on WP and miss deeply on MB was receiving Comments and mentions from both other Indieweb equipped blogs and Twitter and the Micro.blog timeline and having them all displayed on the proper post page (after moderation.) Hopefully MB will grow into that. Soon.
    6. \n
  6. No more Scud Hunts - the bad thing about WP was - WP is such a mess. Things would constantly break, which would lead to my wasting a lot of time trying to find the source of the WP breakage in a Scud Hunt. On MB all that stuff is managed and support is excellent and that is no small thing. I spend a lot less time fixing things and worrying about things on MB.
    7. \n
  7. I’m still getting used to Themes Without Sidebars (one column themes).
    8. \n
  8. I added a third party comment host to MB. To my surprise, it’s been used much more than I ever thought it would by three groups: a. Micro.bloggers that want to comment but don’t want the comment to appear on the MB timeline, b. Indieweb people who realize they can no longer contact me from their own blogs, c. total strangers. I added commenting, because I was leaving Facebook and some very dear friends behind and I wanted to give them a chance to comment on the off chance that they might be reading my blog blatherings. I never expected this much use, so I’m doubly glad I added comments.
    9. \n
  9. Syndication: On WP I was using JetPack to syndicate to Twitter and it worked. But I think MB does a better formatting job on syndication to Twitter.
    10. \n
  10. Built-in Social network: Never underestimate the value of having a really good social network intertwined with your blog. This is where Micro.blog blows away the competition. A lot of old time bloggers, back in the 00’s quit blogging not because of Twitter and Facebook, but because they got tired of having no feedback other than spam. We blog, publicly, partly for interaction and when you don’t get that occasionally it’s hard to keep talking to yourself.
    11. \n
  11. Micro.blog is great for posting photographs and is easier than WP. I say this not that I think I’ve found the cure for my sideways photo syndrome. For awhile there I wasn’t sure if it was me, Android or an Essential phone problem. I think I fixed this.
    12. \n
  12. Even though I’m getting used to single column themes on MB, I have to say the stock theme selection on MB is, IMHO, quite good. Limited, but quite good.
    13. \n
  13. The third party “Related Posts” service I used isn’t very good at figuring out which posts are “related” to the current posts. I renamed it to “Recommended Posts” in the interest of truthiness. But, when positioned directly beneath the content, they do get used. So a few people are exploring deeper into the blog because of this.
    14. \n
  14. I still have not added a third party email contact form to my MB blog because I don’t have a compelling need for it other than my conviction that it should be a standard option. But I can see that people using a Micro.blog hosted blog for business or authors, freelancers, journalists etc. blogging on MB would really want a contact form. I did put a email address up, but its encrypted so that most spambots cannot read it. Not as good as having a form though.
    15. \n
  15. Markdown does not appear to have nofollow or open in new tab or window type links.
    16. \n
  16. I really like the Indiepaper, read later service bookmarklet and it’s integration with Micro.blog.
    17. \n
  17. I also like using Indiebookclub which Micro.blog gives me access too.
    18. \n
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-07T09:34:55-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/07/microblog-migration-adjustments.html", "tags": ["Microblog"] }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/07/lots-of-news.html", "content_html": "

Lots of news about Amazon getting deeper into the bricks and mortar grocery business. I have not seen any mention about how this would give Amazon a new outlet for their housebrand products: paper towels, facial tissues, cleaning produacts, etc. Those are not groceries, but every supermarket carries them.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-07T09:04:13-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/07/lots-of-news.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/06/if-there-was.html", "content_html": "

If there was a web based version of Pile of Index Cards personal database it would be a great system. Doing it manually with paper, not so much. If I sat at a desk all day it woould work better but, I mostly work from the Ultimate Command Recliner with a laptop so shifting stuff around to alternate between online and writing or typing file cards is a pain. Some sort of journal or notebook would be easier.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-06T15:38:08-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/06/if-there-was.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/06/aquired-olympia-sm.html", "content_html": "

Acquired: Olympia SM-3 Refurbished. 1950’s

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\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-06T13:16:05-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/06/aquired-olympia-sm.html", "tags": ["Typewriters"] }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/05/changed-theme.html", "title": "Changed Theme", "content_html": "

Kewl. I was getting bored so I just switched my Micro.blog hosted theme from Marfa to Typewriter, which somehow seemed appropriate. Both my Related Posts and Intense Debate comments moved to the new theme. Yay. I added a DuckDuckGo site search to the Footer. That’s enough High Level Coding excitement for me today.

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Eventually, I want to add a site search form somewhere in the header space but I need to figure out where and then try to find the template it should go in and where on that template it should go, so it needs some study.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-05T09:15:35-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/05/changed-theme.html", "tags": ["Microblog"] }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/05/does-anyone-have.html", "content_html": "

Does anyone have recommendations on where to get business cards online?

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-05T09:01:57-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/05/does-anyone-have.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/04/from-earlier-i.html", "content_html": "

From earlier: I am Starting Pile of Index Cards System Call it a personal database or a commonplace book (done with index cards) it amounts to the same thing.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-04T22:57:09-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/04/from-earlier-i.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/04/our-local-white.html", "content_html": "

Our local White Castle shares space with a gas station. A few weeks ago I noticed both were closed because they are digging up the underground fuel tanks at the station. I’ve been craving While Castle ever since. Hurry up with the work!

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-04T16:05:10-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/04/our-local-white.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/04/i-am-starting.html", "title": "I am Starting Pile of Index Cards System", "content_html": "\n\n

I’m going all in and trying the Pile of Index Cards system as part of my Commonplace book. By doing this I’m dividing things into:

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I’m not sure the the PoIC system is the best system for me as opposed to a bound journal, but I won’t really know until I give it a fair try. I feel more confident in taking blank index cards with me if I travel and file them when I get home, rather than bringing a whole journal. If I should loose the journal I loose everything, whereas with cards I loose just a few cards.

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IF, the PoIC system does not work out I will sit down and examine what is wrong, is it the card size, or my own squirrelly brain or habits or what. If I can’t make adjustments to the card system the my backup plan is to go to a bound paper journal.

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My Modifications:

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Some modifications from the system outlined at the link above.

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    \n

  1. Colored index cards: I’m going to use different colored cards to denote the 4 different card types rather than guide marks at the top edge of the card.

    2. \n\n

  2. 4 x 6 note cards instead of 3 x 5. More room, easier to use in typewriter.

    3. \n\n

  3. 3 x 5 index cards (grid) for notes and a shirt pocket briefcase, when out and about, instead of a Field Notes notebook. If need be I can tape a 3 x 5 card to a colored 4 x 6 card for archiving.

    4. \n\n

  4. Instead of wooden “docks” I’m using a Cropper Hopper Photo Case, Blue for my 4 x 6 cards.

    5. \n
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Predictions:

\n\n\n", "date_published": "2019-03-04T13:38:07-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/04/i-am-starting.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/04/things-to-look.html", "content_html": "

Things to look forward to file: Will this next batch of Olympia typewriter ribbons arrive with all the spools broken or not?

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-04T13:26:51-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/04/things-to-look.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/03/ive-finished-all.html", "content_html": "

I’ve finished all 3 seasons of episodes of Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games and i’m missing the show already. The three staring actors have been making these for 9 years so I suspect they won’t be making more.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-03T15:50:47-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/03/ive-finished-all.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/03/duckduckgo-site-search.html", "title": "DuckDuckGo site search box for Micro.blog", "content_html": "

Just a re-reminder for Micro.blog users: you can get the customizable code for the DuckDuckGo site search here. I thought I would repeat this in light of our new ability to customize our hosted blog templates on Micro.blog and where more people might want to add site search to their hosted blogs.

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“Marfa” theme already has a site search box built in near the bottom. It got me thinking that if I ever wanted to change themes I’d definitely want to add DDG site search boxes to the theme: probably one search box near the top right above the content and another near the bottom. This saves a lot of scrolling on long posts.

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I like the DDG search box because you can get rid of all branding and just have a plain box.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-03T10:14:20-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/03/duckduckgo-site-search.html", "tags": ["Microblog"] }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/02/some-supplies-to.html", "content_html": "

Some supplies to use with typewriter: 2 part carbonless copy paper and 3 part carbonless memo forms.

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\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-02T10:04:02-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/02/some-supplies-to.html", "tags": ["Typewriters"] }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/01/in-case-you.html", "content_html": "

In case you missed it: People, the Analog and Shaping our Society

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-01T18:49:41-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/01/in-case-you.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/01/im-thinking-im.html", "content_html": "

I’m thinking. I’m thinking pizza sounds good for supper tonight.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-01T15:20:35-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/01/im-thinking-im.html" }, { "id": "http://bradenslen.micro.blog/2019/03/01/people-the-analog.html", "title": "People, the Analog and Shaping our Society", "content_html": "\n\n

The inspiration for this post comes from Smokey: On the World Our Lives and Personhood

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But instead of inventing more “efficient” ways to cram things into our modern lives and cut out human interactions, instead of changing our lives to match the tempo and ethos of the modern world, what if we changed the world to fit our lives?

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Some of these points below may seem silly, but they are about re-taking control. If you are using an app, you are at the mercy of the developer, if you do the same thing on paper, even if it is a small thing, you are retaking control. Also, it’s important to make tasks fun if we can and to bring an element of play into our efforts.

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This is not about giving up on digital, just reigning it in.

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Some of the points below are inward looking and some are outward looking. Both are needed: the inward looking things are important too, you can’t change your world unless you, yourself are grounded.

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R. E. M. has a lot to say about this in their song lyrics for, “Stand”

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Stand in the place where you live

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Now face North

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Think about direction, wonder why you haven’t before …

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I encourage you to read all the lyrics at the link above and think about them in the context of grounding yourself.

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15 Points of Analog and Reshaping Our World

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  1. Subscribe to a local print, dead tree, printed, newspaper. Make that your news source. Make it as local to you as you can.
    2. \n
  2. Try writing letters, notes, postcards to friends and family in the mail.
    3. \n
  3. Buy a fountain pen and practice your cursive handwriting. See also #2 above.
    4. \n
  4. Buy a working vintage manual typewriter. See #2 above.
    5. \n
  5. Start a paper journal or commonplace book or PoIC.
    6. \n
  6. Quit Facebook.
    7. \n
  7. Unfollow anything or anybody you find toxic on Twitter.
    8. \n
  8. Read more books, especially those by independent authors. Increase pleasure reading.
    9. \n
  9. Make it a point to get out and congregate with other people regularly: worship services, town picnics, join a lodge or service organization, volunteer at the library or with Boy or Girl Scouts, meet with friends regularly for coffee and chat.
    10. \n
  10. Start attending your town government meetings: inform yourself about what is going on right where you live.
    11. \n
  11. You are not obliged to have “a cause”. You can if you want to but you are not obliged. Likewise, you do not have to have an opinion or position on everything.
    12. \n
  12. Draw something - anything. Make your own comic strip.
    13. \n
  13. Take a daily walk. Observe your neighborhood. Smell the flowers. Talk to neighbors.
    14. \n
  14. Start a garden or plant trees.
    15. \n
  15. Be still.
    16. \n
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Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and listen. No more is needed.\n– Eckhart Tolle

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Added: The list is just suggestions. Pick and chose whatever seems right for you. You don’t have to do them all.

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This was also posted to\n/en/general.

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-01T08:43:05-05:00", "url": "https://ramblinggit.com/2019/03/01/people-the-analog.html" } ] }