‘Your World Is Burning. Here’s What You Can Actually Do AboutΒ It.’ πŸ”— Joan Westenberg / joanwestenberg.com

You can doomscroll, or you can create.
You can rant, or you can build.
You can theorize, or you can act.
You can wish, or you can work.


The Rest of the Daily shots | February 14, 2025

You can see the daily shot at 365Pixels.

Auto-generated description: A laptop with a patterned screen is open, resting on a surface with a similar swirling design.

The Rest of the Daily Shots | February 13, 2025

You can see the daily shot at 365Pixels.

More experimentation today. Not happy with anything, but learning has occurred. ☺️

Auto-generated description: An aerial view showcases a sprawling urban skyline with dense clusters of skyscrapers and a network of highways.

Auto-generated description: Raindrops are scattered on a window, with blurred views of a road and grassy landscape in the background.

Auto-generated description: A colorful salad with assorted greens, cherry tomatoes, and mango pieces is served on a ceramic plate alongside a glass of water and a napkin on a wooden table.

The Rest of the Daily Shots | February 12, 2025

You can see the daily shot at 365Pixels.

Here are the others from the day I shot and had to choose from. Would you have picked a different one for your daily shot?

Inspired by @maique@social.lol, who posted some rainy-day windshield shots, I thought it was perfect that it was raining in BNA.

Auto-generated description: Raindrops cover an airplane window, offering a view of the wing and several planes on a cloudy day at an airport.


Landing in BHM, I was able to get this shot with the spoilers up.

Auto-generated description: A black and white view from an airplane window showcases the wing with visible flaps and directional arrows.


Waiting for the van I loved the wet curve in the road with the towers in the background. When you see it, you know it needs to be captured.

Auto-generated description: A curved road lined with trees passes by modern rounded buildings against the backdrop of a suspension bridge under a moody sky.


Another variation really captures the lighted concrete towers. I really like the contrast in this one.

Auto-generated description: A black and white photograph depicts a modern architectural structure with elevated walkways and cables, set against a large rounded bush in the foreground.


This was behind the check-in counter at the Hilton, didn’t even need to convert this one to black and white, right out of the camera and added a border.

Auto-generated description: A pattern of white dots is arranged on a black background, resembling a punch card.



This is how we used to change a nose tire on the Twin Otter; this technique is probably frowned upon today πŸ˜†

Auto-generated description: A blue and yellow airplane is parked on a snowy surface surrounded by ice and a few scattered items, with red-roofed buildings in the background.

I spent many hours working and flying on ol' 100AP; I miss that plane.

#oldschool #aviation #arcticmaintenance #twinotter


The Rest of the Daily Shots February 10th 2025

Rusty Student Services

Auto-generated description: A rust-colored wall labeled Chinle Building Student Services is accompanied by small desert plants in the foreground.

Aloe Garden

Auto-generated description: A cluster of green aloe vera plants with thick, fleshy leaves is growing across a dirt surface.

You can see the daily shot here.


KIWIX - A User Report

I’ve seen this posted about Mastodon a lot, and then @amerpie posted about it yesterday, and I thought, why the heck not? Let’s check it out; I’ve got some time to kill.

So, yeah, this KIWIX is really cool. I’m not a Super Bowl kind of guy, so I downloaded Kiwix and then proceeded to download the entire Wikipedia, then iFixit, then Gutenberg. Sheesh, why not? I have a Synology with ample space, so why not lock some of this stuff in and have it on local storage?

If you read some of the reviews on Kiwix, you’d think it doesn’t work well, but I’ve had zero issues with it; I’m using the Mac App. So now I’m a downloading fool, gathering what I can for no apparent reason other than because I can…

Auto-generated description: An offline reader named Kiwix provides access to online content such as Wikipedia, Project Gutenberg, and TED Talks, allowing free use for those with limited internet access.

Here is their Library of downloads. Check it out and see if there is anything you may want to have stored locally.

Some of the files are huge, so good storage capacity is a must, but they have tons of different download options if you are interested in just sections of, say, Wikipedia.

You can even run a local Wi-Fi network from a Raspberry Pi with all your downloaded data. This would be great for classrooms, but I may do this just for the fun of it.

It’s good to have it stored locally, but clearly, the mission is for folks who have limited or no internet access. It’s free to use and looks like a worthy endeavor to support with your skills or finances.

Here is their About Page. Some pretty cool stuff here, like:

The Short Story Did you know that you could store the entirety of Wikipedia on your phone? And read it anywhere, at anytime?

The Long Story We can make highly compressed copies of entire websites that each fit into a single (.zim) file. Zim files are small enough that they can be stored on users’ mobile phones, computers or small, inexpensive Hotspot.

Kiwix then acts like a regular browser, except that it reads these local copies. People with no or limited internet access can enjoy the same browsing experience as anyone else.

The software as well as the content are fully open-source and free to use and share.

The Challenge
50% of the world’s population has no reliable access to the internet. This can be because of cost, lack of infrastructure, or censorship.

The Solution – How Does It Work?
We copy educational websites and compress them into files that people can take with them and browse anytime, anywhere. Kiwix Is Also A Nonprofit Most of our revenue comes from donations. We do not display ads, nor do we collect personal data.


It’s Monday, hang on, it’s going to be another long week…

bee hanging onto a blade of grass.

πŸ”— How Your Thinking Changes at 60 | Andy’s Blog

Then you turn 60. And something shifts.
You stop caring about things that don’t matter.
You don’t need to prove yourself anymore.

You don’t need permission.
You don’t waste time on people who drain your energy.

You’ve seen enough trends, fads, and “next big things” to know they all pass.

And most importantly, you realize time is no longer on your side.


Carl Griffith’s 1847 Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter

Want a Sourdough Starter that’s been active since 1847? I can’t verify that the offer is still active, but we did it several years ago. Follow the directions exactly, or they won’t send it to you.

‘Source’ πŸ”— Griffith / carlsfriends.net



Exposed to Light | 02 - Hippo Love by Unknown

Photographer: Unknown.
Camera: Unknown.
Title: Unknown; I’m calling it Hippo Love.
Link: Unknown.

I have two desktop screens. One’s background picture constantly changes; the other has this, which never changes. The love, care, and trust that this picture imparts makes me smile every day. I would love to know the background of this shot. I would love to talk to this man and find out about his relationship with this hippo. What is the hippo’s name? How long was he a part of this hippo’s life? Was this a daily ritual? How long did they sit there? Who took the picture?

I love the working-class feel of the picture. I had that lunch box for a while growing up. I love the tape on it. Mostly, I love the hippos' look of complete security and peace. No matter what was going on in this hippo’s life, at this moment, all was well with the world.

When I look at this picture first thing in the morning when the computer whirls to life and the screens pop on, all is right in my world, too.

Auto-generated description: An older man with a hat sits beside and rests his arm on a resting hippo, creating a calm and intimate scene.

The Rest of the Daily Shots from Friday, February 7th 2025

Left Base - Almost Home

Auto-generated description: An airplane wing is visible against the illuminated grid-like cityscape at night.

Power To The People

Auto-generated description: A black and white view of an airplane window seat area, featuring a safety information card for a 737-MAX8 and a tray table marked Literature Only.

You can see the daily shot here.



This is not good. πŸ˜” Nome was home for many years…

Breaking: Bering Air flight into Nome overdue with 10 aboard; search is on - Must Read Alaska


Short Walk in Las Vegas

Auto-generated description: A black and white street-level view showcases a traffic light and the iconic New York, New York hotel signage in Las Vegas against a dusky sky. Auto-generated description: Shelves stocked with various bottles of alcohol and adorned with numerous labels and stickers in a bar setting. Auto-generated description: A striking modern building with a patterned facade and the word Prada is framed by tall palm trees against a clear sky in a black-and-white photograph. Auto-generated description: A grayscale close-up of the Statue of Liberty, focusing on the torch and upper portion with a slightly tilted perspective. Auto-generated description: Large, metallic Hershey's Kisses are displayed in front of a building with illuminated signage. Auto-generated description: A towering, intricate metal sculpture of a dancing figure is silhouetted against the sun in an urban setting. Auto-generated description: A dynamic sculpture of a human figure in mid-leap is set against a backdrop of modern skyscrapers. Auto-generated description: A cozy, ornately decorated seating alcove features a cushioned bench with throw pillows, framed artworks, and warm lighting. Auto-generated description: Several bottles of La Gioiosa Asolo Prosecco are displayed on wooden shelves with rows of upside-down wine glasses beneath them. Auto-generated description: A neon sign in a bar or restaurant displays the phrase IS YOUR HEART WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE?.

Las Vegas for 19 hours, time to head out and get my daily iPhone shot for 365Pixels.


Short Walk In Tampa

A paved walkway with a metal railing casts long shadows in a black and white setting, leading toward distant buildings and trees.A rocky shoreline with scattered stones, grass, and palm trees overlooks a calm body of water under a clear blue sky.A tranquil black and white scene of a sunny beach with rocks in the foreground and a vast open ocean extending to the horizon under a clear sky.Two birds are perched on posts beside a calm body of water, casting long shadows on the pavement.A wooden post stands on a sandy shore overlooking a calm body of water with a single cloud in the sky.Two foldable chairs face a calm body of water with distant cranes on the horizon and a cloudy sky above.

#crewlife


CABIN Book Cover

(⭐️3.75/5) - Finished reading: CABIN by Patrick Hutchison. It’s a good book, makes you laugh, and brought back many memories for me building forts in the woods as a kid. A writer with zero handyman skills buys a $7000 cabin in the woods of Washington State and tells the adventures of fixing it up along with the joys and life-changing memories of having an off-grid cabin that eventually changed his life and career. πŸ“š


What TV series intros do you watch every time?

Does watching the intro to every episode mean something?

Netflix, AppleTV, Hulu, etc., allow you to skip intros. What does this say about the intro quality or the show? Or about us as humans who are always in a hurry. This behavior of skipping intros may reflect our impatience and desire to get to the main content quickly. As a designer of intros, do you get the data on how many people skip your intro? Does it make you want to change it? Why do some shows change each season’s intro and others do not? Budget? How much does it cost to change the intro each season? Is this a metric that is used at all?

Such curious questions.

What we do: We always watch the whole intro of the first episode; it can be a source of insight into the show, somehow set the tone, or even give hints, and then we don’t watch it again until the last episode. But there are exceptions. When the intro is fantastic, the show is an all-time favorite, or it seems an essential part of the show, or maybe it’s because you don’t want the show to end, and you want to watch every second of it. This has been the case for Chefs Table, Game of Thrones, Murders In The Building, Severance, Westworld, and others.Β 

What about when the intro or trailer is better than the show itself? Maybe the folks making the intro need a raise because they condensed your mediocre show/movie into something good!

I’m talking just about intros, but the same could be said about the credits. How many times do you watch the credits? For me, it’s rare, but when I do, it’s because I want to know where it was filmed, the names of the people who made such an amazing piece of art, or the show was so powerful that you want to absorb every last drop.