JuTaRo :emacs: ☕

I'm just another guy on the interwebs.

website/blog ➔ www.taonaw.com

These days mostly at jtr@taonaw.com. Privacy, Emacs, Linux, macOS, photos and technical writing, and sometimes human OS-related stuff as well.

Public Key

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NIP-05 Address

jtr@fosstodon-org.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqszzqyehpw2xaaxzthaxy5par2d855hraypvhvf4hfusslfdwhdjkgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsn5ze8l

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relay.damus.io

nos.lol

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Last Notes

2026-05-04 12:51:38 UTC

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@nprofile…0pqp Oh, those... ok. Didn't connect earlier. Story:
My partner recently ordered a chair that was on sale (not on Amazon but something similar, I forget, I think wallmart) and got nothing but the shipping slip in the mail. No chair, not even a a piece of wood.
The most annoying part was that he waited for weeks because the chair delivery was "stalled" by customs because terrifs or what not. He got nothing but a piece of paper.
The money was refunded, thankfully.

2026-05-04 11:10:26 UTC

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@nprofile…0pqp is there an example you can share? particularly if it's something she likes (and why if possible)?
Did the AI create something for her that she wants or needs and she can't get by other means?

2026-04-04 17:41:30 UTC

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@nprofile…0pqp ha. Similar with me, though every now and then I choose a stupid movie on purpose (to relax, to laugh, whatever) and come out surprised - though that hasn't happened recently.

2026-04-01 10:51:07 UTC

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@nprofile…hlfd I love gameranx on YouTube. Their lists are pretty good for discovery.

2026-04-01 10:48:59 UTC

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@nprofile…65q8 I'm also grumpy and I tell you people who need Starbucks coffee like this should not be taken seriously. And I used to work for Starbucks, for years.

2026-03-31 22:07:19 UTC

Mushroom Soup 🍜: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/31/mushroom-soup.html
A first attempt at homemade mushroom soup. This came out pretty well, and I have a couple of ideas for next time.

2026-03-31 13:01:54 UTC

‘Tis the season…
Gesundheit!
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/323/917/092/770/539/original/cc492c370677dda0.jpg

2026-03-30 16:40:01 UTC

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@nprofile…ujul yes that's definitely a different environment than a stuck subway elevator (that's what happened to me). On the other hand, I wonder what kind of drawings that will inspire...? Haha. Not that I wish it on you or anything!
Really like the drawing:)

2026-03-30 15:20:51 UTC

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@nprofile…ujul wow. Can I get stuck with you in the elevator next time this happens to me?

2026-03-29 13:24:39 UTC

Seems like some of the pages on my blog are now working as they should. There’s supposed to be an introduction for the Archive page and the Emacs page. I’m using Tiny Theme, and the HTML for those micro-hooks is in place, which makes me think something went wrong with the update I did about a month ago.
I guess rebuilding the blog is the next step - which usually breaks the movies page… stand by….

2026-03-29 13:05:12 UTC

Hank Green on why AI scares him:
“People tend to prefer their choices to be taken away.”
(The link below will take you directly to that part)
It’s an hour and a half long video with a long introduction and a video thrown in the middle, probably one of the longer rants by Hank Green, with an interview in the middle by Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University.
I’m still watching this conversation. It’s a lot ... https://taonaw.com/2026/03/29/hank-green-on-why-ai.html

2026-03-28 15:52:39 UTC

I find myself highlight gems like these every 2 pages or so. The Cunning Man
Of Frued:
"mankind, as always through history, has half-heard the call of the prophet, half-understood what he says, and vulgarized and cheapened whatever of his teaching may come its way." https://micro.blog/books/0771025815
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/307/601/526/053/196/original/546bed2cda84e893.jpg

2026-03-27 11:00:29 UTC

Oddly Satisfying. 📷
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/300/790/360/741/593/original/5962f126ea83eda8.jpg

2026-03-26 11:25:29 UTC

Yesterday morning, I imported an old-blog post of mine, which discusses org-id and UUIDs in org-mode. It’s a bit of a deep dive into how org-mode works. I find that I don’t do those as much anymore - probably because I mostly use Emacs “as is” with a few packages I use day to day, and my workflow has been pretty much the same (capture templates not included) for the last two years or so. https://taonaw.com/2022/03/15/org-id-org-attach-better.html

2026-03-26 10:40:40 UTC

I was a paid subscriber to 404 media, but I decided to let my subscription run out this year around. They started to feel too one sided and tend to focus only on AI. Still excellent reporting though, for those things.

2026-03-24 01:16:31 UTC

I found a post on my old blog that I wanted to bring over, but I ran out of time today. I could copy it as is, but I want to read it again and probably update it.
It was a jolt to get back to work today. Feels like my job is to poke different people to do different things, and they poke others. if you have one or two projects like that, that’s one thing. If your entire agenda revolves around email chains like this, nothing gets done.
At ... https://taonaw.com/2026/03/23/i-found-a-post-on.html

2026-03-23 20:25:39 UTC

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@nprofile…r3v4 I use denote.
In the past, I had a large wiki file, but it was too messy and got out of control. Denote's focus on naming conventions and dynamic useful functions changed all that.
https://taonaw.com/2026/01/25/why-i-use-denote.html

2026-03-22 17:50:10 UTC

Using AI to edit and polish posts: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/22/using-ai-to-edit-and.html
Tired of Grammarly ghosting me on Linux and inspired by Doctorow, I hired an AI editor (Kimi via Kagi). It edits my posts, checks for repeat rants, fixes links, and suggests hashtags. Here’s what it looks like.

2026-03-20 17:45:58 UTC

A good day to have a blog: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/20/a-good-day-to-have.html
Since waking up early in the morning (sleep? What sleep?) I’ve been active around my blog and enjoyed dedicating time to this personal work that doesn’t get much attention during my day-to-day.
Here are a few things I got into:

2026-03-20 12:29:07 UTC

About Stable Products: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/20/about-stable-products.html
I wanted to write a comment to Pete about his Stable Products post, but it turned into a whole rant, then a post with footnotes. Stable products can and do exist, but the US economy is not meant to support those (I told you it’s a rant).

2026-03-20 12:01:40 UTC

Kagki just included a screenshot of my blog in their Kagi Small Web news! 🤯 https://kagi.com/changelog#10140

2026-03-19 19:18:53 UTC

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@nprofile…p426 apple has something similar going with anti theft protection. Perfect role model, I know - but it seems like they’ve been copying from each other for years. If apples can get away with it, so can they… 🙄

2026-03-19 14:20:39 UTC

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@nprofile…65q8 happy I'm not using Adobe anymore. Got me to look into other tools too

2026-03-19 13:17:39 UTC

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@nprofile…0pqp first of, yes, just patent that cat thing and make money.
Second, I have a story how I joined a yoga place, realized it was some sort of a cult, and ran away. Yoga and meditation attract cultists like magnet. I guess it's part of its nature, unfortunately, and there are many who approach yoga and already have issues (which is why they want to try it) so it's a circle like that. At least that's my opinion 🤔

2026-03-19 11:25:15 UTC

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@nprofile…r0xq thanks for letting me know. Now fixed.
I'm in the process of going over my content I'm eazh platform manually and it can be a lot... (Wrote another post on it not too long ago)

2026-03-19 03:04:17 UTC

This is a better video than I expected.
The main idea is nothing new, but the video games he mentions are perfect examples: I’m also looking for my next game after Hades 2, and I think thanks for this video, I found it. It’s about cats, how can you go wrong?

2026-03-14 19:40:26 UTC

We were sitting at their bar, but we also had a mocha and a cappuccino toward the end. Something about the flag and the security camera above it makes things feel relevant and eerie.
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/229/224/786/033/434/original/b177aced9f334378.jpg

2026-03-14 01:04:57 UTC

Diablo IV (2023) - ★: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/13/diablo-iv.html

2026-03-11 20:59:44 UTC

This weather is driving me nuts. I want to go out all the time. To walk, to jog, to just go to the bakery and grab something… but work, but projects, but but but… it wasn’t that hard when it was in the single digits shakes his fist at the wonderful weather

2026-03-09 13:16:03 UTC

It was annoying to write this post, and that's the point. I think.: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/09/it-was-annoying-to-write.html
I want to engage with more people where they are, but the problem is engaging with more people where they are. Wait, what? Exactly.

2026-03-09 12:04:01 UTC

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@nprofile…az0m Thanks 👍
https://fosstodon.org/@jtr/116199082939530084

2026-03-09 11:54:55 UTC

I can already tell the espresso puck screens I got are going to become a regular part of my espresso-making routine. Glad someone brought it to my attention.
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/199/082/780/638/410/original/524ced6989f4773f.jpg

2026-03-09 09:15:17 UTC

Test interaction
#test #123

2026-03-08 17:45:00 UTC

Display images with Org-attach and org-insert-link quickly and effectively: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/08/display-images-with-orgattach-and.html
Did you know: You can insert images you included with org-attach by using org-insert-link; they’re there already by default. You just need to delete the suggested description to have them display inside your org buffer. I didn’t know that.

2026-03-07 16:51:45 UTC

shutout to TinyLytics and Vincent who helped me figure out why my kudos button didn’t work - I needed to get the right plugin for my theme 😅
TinyLytics is an ethical, down-to-earth version of Google Analytics, managed by a small human team. Love it! https://tinylytics.app/

2026-03-07 14:31:46 UTC

On my way to get some fresh vegetables for my usual soup. It’s a good day for that.
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/188/374/973/262/928/original/5a30f01f7183b260.jpg

2026-03-06 23:55:56 UTC

It’s time to do some updating/house cleaning.
The theme I use, TinyTheme, is a couple of versions behind. I also wanted to add a kudos button, which seem to need me to re-build my blog (which usually causes issues, especially with my Movies page). There are a few weird CSS things I need to fix. So, if things seem a bit broken soon - you’ve been warned… https://tiny.micro.blog/

2026-03-06 19:36:48 UTC

So emacs plus (through homebrew on macOS) keeps giving me this error: Invalid function: org-element-with-disabled-cache.
Does anyone know what this is about, and why it’s happening? No issue with Emacs on Linux (same config) or when I had emacsformacos (same config)

2026-03-06 02:02:08 UTC

I hope it doesn’t surprise anyone that I love a good checklist. After all, checklists are what got me started down the path of Emacs about 7 years ago. I love a good checklist. It tells me what I need to do, in what order, and allows me to get back on track after I get distracted. A good checklist can really make a day go right, and it’s a good idea to start the work day with one.
My new morning checklist is still a work in ... https://taonaw.com/2026/03/05/i-hope-it-doesnt-surprise.html

2026-03-05 13:07:05 UTC

I thought it would be fun to buy a small pack of stress balls for Nat and me. I like to keep my hands busy in meetings and when I talk to someone. Man what a crappy quality. And they smell. And I don’t like the glitter and the stuff inside. Where are the good ones? Can’t find any.

2026-03-04 04:03:56 UTC

Managed to get Diablo 4 to install and run on my Linux Desktop running Kubuntu. It was actually quite easy with Bottles, using a Proton launcher made especially for that game. I’m not sure exactly what goes into creating those launchers, but glad it works. https://usebottles.com/

2026-03-03 22:25:52 UTC

Thelma, 2024 - ★★★: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/03/thelma.html

2026-03-02 13:00:33 UTC

A new Emacs annoyance: org-capture: Capture abort: Invalid function: org-element-with-disabled-cache when I try to use org-capture. Fails the first time, works the second. Where did it come from and how do I get rid of it…?

2026-03-01 18:03:31 UTC

Harp is org-mode medical app for Android: https://taonaw.com/2026/03/01/harp-is-orgmode-medical-app.html

2026-02-28 21:12:56 UTC

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@nprofile…az0m will look it up. I also should clean my more often

2026-02-28 18:31:52 UTC

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@nprofile…az0m hmmm tell me more? I don't have a screen in my espresso machine. Is it an extra?

2026-02-28 13:44:36 UTC

A proper weekend & birthday plans: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/28/a-proper-weekend-birthday-plans.html
What does it mean to dedicate time to personal events and people, especially when working to no end? Here’s my answer.

2026-02-27 19:01:02 UTC

Non-helpful UI by Microsoft strikes again.
I know everyone likes to hate the new design when they see it, and that’s a matter of taste. My problem is that this is the Windows logo. It’s confusing - people are looking for RDP, not to install Windows on their Macs.

2026-02-26 12:55:35 UTC

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@nprofile…wps4 what's the cost to mass order this vs existing packaging? Is there a video or a breakdown somewhere? Curious.

2026-02-25 13:46:38 UTC

I think I found what crashed my Emacs on macOS: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/25/i-think-i-found-what.html
My Emacs crashed on my Mac, and after attempting different things, I believe I found the reason: large images in org files - dimension, not file size.

2026-02-22 17:41:44 UTC

Not much to say today, so I went to my old blog to grab an old post and bring it here. The merge I’m talking about is still, in many ways, incomplete, and that desire to write documents has not diminished. https://taonaw.com/2022/02/22/feb-updates.html

2026-02-22 14:41:15 UTC

Going out quickly before the snow buries us here in NYC. How much does a shoe cobbler charge to fix a heel of a flat shoe where you live?

2026-02-21 21:28:15 UTC

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@nprofile…7yuj how does this affect Linux distributions? What if a distro is too small and doesn’t have the means?

2026-02-21 13:13:01 UTC

Doctorow on POSSE and AI usage: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/21/doctorow-on-posse-and-ai.html
Cory Doctorow reflects on his blogging experience and advocates for embracing technology like AI, despite its controversial origins

2026-02-20 18:12:21 UTC

I love how Microsoft makes its products less and less useful.
In Teams chats, there used to be a tab for the chat itself, and then Shared for files (it used to be called Files, which makes more sense, but whatever).
Now we have Chat, Recap, Attendance, Breakout Rooms, Q&A, and Meeting Whiteboard, none of which are removable.
I’m glad I have an Ultra Wide screen, because my project layout in Excel is all the way to the right, ... https://taonaw.com/2026/02/20/i-love-how-microsoft-makes.html
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/104/307/652/098/854/original/41911e98f5bd78a8.png

2026-02-19 21:39:53 UTC

At Gregory’s for some coffee after a quick doctor appointment. Working from coffee shops is fun, though it’s not always doable.
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/099/461/373/720/334/original/8017cc6ad8a4abaf.jpg

2026-02-19 13:00:45 UTC

About living in Madhattan: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/19/about-living-in-madhattan.html
A year ago, we moved to this apartment. Time to reflect and assure you all that I’m crazy.

2026-02-09 21:13:35 UTC

Greenland? Nah, just the Hudson, NYC.
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/042/734/915/928/877/original/e55015afb9ba52ee.jpg

2026-02-09 16:34:39 UTC

Iron Lung, 2026 - ★★★: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/09/iron-lung.html

2026-02-02 12:25:43 UTC

Ok enough with the cold and the snow that doesn't go anywhere. I get it, it's winter, it's cold, yes yes very nice. We need our trash picked up, mmmk?

2026-02-01 15:03:50 UTC

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@nprofile…ql90 it's now up in case you want to see: https://taonaw.com/2026/02/01/org-files-to-beatiful-docx.html

2026-01-31 15:29:31 UTC

Of compliments: give them when the person you give it too has your attention and is not distracted. Be specific, not generic. Give it once, mean it, and do not repeat unless it’s something else. Do not expect a thank you automatically, that’s not the point.

2026-01-26 15:36:03 UTC

I’ve had it with Orion’s tabs. Since Zen has been a good experience on Linux so far, I decided to reinstall it on my Mac. To my surprise, workspaces did not sync even when turned on, so I ended up creating a new workspace. There’s also the weird issue that Grammarly works on Mac, but not Linux.

2026-01-25 18:22:26 UTC

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@nprofile…ql90 I'll get to it too... It's another post. Not that I have much to do today with all the snow

2026-01-24 14:49:23 UTC

Spent the last day and a half on and off figuring out how to use pandoc to make my org-mode files in pretty, readable docx files, including tables. It was a challenge, but it’s worth it. The key is to use a reference doc and to know how to use it. Need to expend on that.

2026-01-21 14:21:03 UTC

Denote on Emacs is the only note system that can keep up with me. I keep wanting to use TiddlyWiki, but it’s too distracting; I want to change the colors, the font, add a log as to why I did a certain thing… my brain is too wired to resist. Denote keeps me focused.

2026-01-16 22:12:20 UTC

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@nprofile…ldnq not sure if it's no period or not forcing it down your throat. I voted on the second one; plenty of good (and sometimes ethical) ai tools - just don't force me to use it. Options, please.

2026-01-16 22:09:57 UTC

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@nprofile…65q8 hi, I'm a trained technical writer (not anymore, but used to) and I totally agree.

2026-01-16 22:06:15 UTC

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@nprofile…nqt9 lol fair...

2026-01-16 16:58:21 UTC

I wonder if there’s a way to silence/delete any news brief or summary that starts with “Trump said…” It would help a lot. I’ve been avoiding news altogether for months, but some items I actually want to read about.

2026-01-15 13:38:36 UTC

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@nprofile…gj0l the Flintstones played console as well, you know 😉

2026-01-03 04:43:42 UTC

The Expendables, 2010 - ★★: https://taonaw.com/2026/01/02/the-expendables.html

2026-01-03 01:51:22 UTC

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@nprofile…g8a0 thanks! I will check it out. Question will come, I'm sure.

2025-12-27 16:56:28 UTC

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@nprofile…mlwx god how can anyone use this thing as their personal computer anymore is beyond me.

2025-12-20 02:54:11 UTC

Ah ok. KeePassXC doesn’t work with Waterfox or Zen Browser because these two come as Flatpak on Linux, and these are restricted in a way that prevents connection to KeePassXC. I do have FlatSeal… does anyone have any idea what permissions are needed?

2025-12-16 17:54:42 UTC

If I were home now, I’d make myself a nice spicy vegetable soup. I don’t have many good vegan options here.

2025-12-16 13:31:58 UTC

I think I’m going back to clocking in and out of sub-tasks, even though I said I wouldn’t. It’s easier not to, but the end result, I think, is messier, and I can’t get the clock reports right… on the other hand, it’s kind of an overkill. 🤔 https://taonaw.com/2025/11/14/handling-project-in-emacs-the.html

2025-12-13 19:23:29 UTC

I couldn’t finish Primitive War 🎥. The story is just too… cliche? Hard to believe? Don’t know. Wasn’t my thing. https://letterboxd.com/film/primitive-war/

2025-12-13 17:51:06 UTC

Is it just me, or is Apple Workouts acting up? Since the update, it ends walks without prompting while I’m still walking home. During weight training, it aggressively asks if I want to finish after pausing of over a minute I think. I’m multitasking dude, chill!

2025-12-11 20:53:42 UTC

Sometimes a short nap is all I need. A bit of a snooze and the battery is full after a short night sleep. And in this cold weather… Even more inviting.

2025-12-10 14:35:54 UTC

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@nprofile…ey55 what in the actual.... 😂

2025-12-10 00:25:32 UTC

Today I figured out how to play the very first part of Fur Elise without writing down the notes. It takes me forever, but I think something gets through my thick skull.

2025-12-09 16:09:46 UTC

18 In New York City today, and this office is so hot (it’s an old building with steam heat), I had to turn on an AC, because it was going over 80 in here, and I’m layered like an onion… 😒

2025-12-04 15:09:18 UTC

KDE backups and permissions: https://taonaw.com/2025/12/04/kde-backups-and-permissions.html

2025-11-29 16:54:11 UTC

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@nprofile…a555 ok I will follow up in email.
It gets weirder.
Your Exif tool is not available on my Linux Emacs, but it is there on the Mac. I think I installed both of them through package-list-package on Emacs.

2025-11-27 14:12:12 UTC

Do we need LEDs on everything?: https://taonaw.com/2025/11/27/do-we-need-leds-on.html

2025-11-22 16:15:07 UTC

I’m backing up saved games before wiping my PopOS desktop and switching to Kubuntu. Forgot the Bottles directory includes symbolic links. Realized my mistake after a 2-minute job took over 20 minutes. In my infinite wisdom, I stopped it DELETED everything. symbolic links included… 🤦‍♂️

2025-11-19 14:26:24 UTC

Started (it’s a 2.5 hours long…!) watching: Frankenstein 📺. It’s a Del Toro movie, no mistaking it… the costumes, the buildings, the choice of the story, of course. Still have an hour and change ahead of me. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1062722

2025-11-18 15:39:25 UTC

#sysAdmin and tech folks, where do you usually get news of outages and such (like #cloudflare today)? I know of a Bleeping Computer, they're pretty good.

2025-11-16 15:45:35 UTC

It is a nice day and I will go on a walk. I will see some trees and get some sun. I will grump about tech later. Day’s short.

2025-11-15 15:35:56 UTC

Sometimes I power up Hedwig, my Pop OS linux, and I have the itch to wipe it and start fresh with Linux Mint. I always loved Linux Mint. Pop OS is OK, but it’s a bit behind, and I miss the Cinammon desktop - maybe I even want to try Plasma again.

2025-11-09 12:42:10 UTC

Plain Org works well with Synctrain, as does Journelly. Once I figure out the attachment linking issue (probably a path problem) I’ll have something solid - and a post, naturally. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plain-org/id1578965002

2025-11-07 17:28:49 UTC

Somehow, Better Call Saul S5E4, Namaste 📺 almost relaxed me. I think it’s more in the sense of “at least I don’t have these problems… https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/60059/season/5/episode/4

2025-11-04 14:53:13 UTC

Micro.blog wiki: Freshing up: https://taonaw.com/2025/11/04/microblog-wiki-freshing-up.html
A new wiki for Micro.blog has been created to distinguish it from the existing personal wiki. It now includes a log feature to document changes and updates.

2025-11-02 23:36:31 UTC

Ughh. I’ve been playing with Synctrain since the morning, with non-consistent results. Even with the Shortcut in place, the files don’t sync constantly. It’s not reliable. I really don’t want to use iCloud for syncing…

2025-11-02 20:02:12 UTC

Really want to try pixelmator but don’t want subscription or something that would be included in Apple photos soon

2025-10-31 17:42:20 UTC

So affinity is now free… hmm. Maybe that’s what I will end up using.

2025-10-31 14:11:14 UTC

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@nprofile…ldhh any idea who is this model?

2025-10-28 12:21:36 UTC

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@nprofile…39zk what is this...? where from?

2025-10-25 22:17:24 UTC

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@nprofile…a555 I need to do a bit more experimentation, and it's a bit difficult to replcate once it's failed once. I think it happens once I use my Linux machine.
I have a Linux desktop syncing to a folder that is also synced to iCloud. I suspect it's an issue with syncthing confusing iCloud, but so far only journelly seems infected. I'll keep experimenting; I now know there's a syncthing client for iOS so I might use it instead.