Bird Cottage
Tag: art
Delete the App, Use the Browser
My Love And Hate With Social Media.
If, like me, you don’t want to give up social media, because it’s not going away, but you do need a way to seriously cut back, the best way I have found is go off the usual path by deleting the apps and using a browser to access your accounts instead.
Many people don’t think of the browser as its own app or operating system, however, when you use a browser like Vivaldi it also blocks ads and trackers unlike using the apps.
Both the mobile and desktop browser versions are similar to using the social media apps, but with many of the same reduced features distractions. And if you are on Instagram (which I am no longer), then look at this feature of the Vivaldi browser.
You see, I learned from Cal Newport this solution that works extremely well at curbing my social media usage, the pared down version gave me a noticeably better experience. Less distractions, no noise, and better protects you from tracking and data mining.
One thing I do as an artist to keep it manageable, is follow no more than a dozen other artists whos work inspires me. Then a couple times a week I login to check out what they are doing, while I post my latest works. And doing it this way you don’t have to worry about the data mining as much, though it is still a good idea to use a privacy centered browser and platforms.
One final thought is to download the Vivaldi browser for desktop becuse it has a great side panel that makes social media like platforms shine. And their mobile browser works very smooth with platforms like Mastaton and MeWe.
Walking In The Raindrops
The Thing About Email Domains
Just thinking, I have to say that email service domain names are a bad online ID that we use for most everything. We all have an email address, or usually need one for subscribing to social media and the like, even though an email address was never meant to be secure (but that is for another blog post). Many of us got our first email address from our phone company or Internet Service Provider (ISP), but they all have awful domain names that benefit the brand more than those of us using them. And the free and paid services have mostly done the same. The two exceptions I know of are mail.com and fastmail.com, they have both a good brand name that says what they do and benefits the user, plus they offer dozens of other domain names to choose that say what we do. On the other hand, protonmail had a good name until it went to just ‘proton’, and vivaldi.net (I have to mention because it hosts this blog) is a memorable name, though I think should do the opposite and change to vivaldimail.net (or vmail.net or VM.net), it has a better ‘ring’ to it and personally makes me smile. As humans we often take the path of least resistance, and this is why I think there is no real demand for better email service domain names. As long as the service works and meets our needs, we don’t care if it benefits the brand we are using, never mind the best way for them to be in business is to serve the customer.
Spring Storm Clouds At Sunset
The Journey of Life
A pathway was created during the hard winter with deep snow, around the flower bed to the back of the yard.
Now that the snow is almost melted, before you know it the pathway will be gone.
Such as in the journey of life …
We hopefully find a pathway to success, only at the end of life to leave the memories of the experiences we’ve had with others and the environment.
Dog At Peace
After a swim in the lake he sleeps in peace.
Have you noticed how dog’s have a way of bringing peace to the stress of a family or household?
They are filled with unconditional love, when we look for it … and learn from it.
Which often makes me ask the question then, and now I ask you, how does your life bring peace to others … and to the world?
Enjoy your day.
What’s In Your Heart
Whats in your heart.
We all make decisions every day.
When we say ‘yes’ to one thing, then it is at the cost of many ‘no’s’.
We all have a hole in our hearts that need to be filled. What we fill into that void determines our world view.
Said another way, what goes into your mind is what’s in your heart. If you want to change your life, change what goes into your mind.
For example, focus on serving others, and less on self.
For those of us who believe, when we open our mind and say ‘yes’ to God, and let Him dwell in our hearts, then what we say ‘no’ to is a sacrifice that makes life worth living.
We no longer feel that void, because our hearts are overfilled with a true joy and love that radiates to others, and makes the world a better place to live.
Enjoy your day.
The Blogging Newsletters Problem
With blogging and newsletters, there’s a new problem – email service providers and email clients can’t keep up with privacy measures and deliver on the marketing promises in their ads.
Readers are missing important email content and it seems to be getting worse.
In an industry that is constantly moving forward, the future of publishing seems to be about meeting the reader/viewer/listener where they want to be. But I say speak from where you are, and make your content attract them.
These days, that means embracing the antique nature of RSS.
RSS is an old technology that many people still use, and it’s perfect for publishing because it allows you to send updates to your readers with a true “open” network.
Pet Prints In The Snow
The Thoughts Behind My Thinking 