Excursions

Yesterday I managed to get all my subscriptions into a single place to check how much I was spending on services. Boy, I was in for a shock. My subscription for media services has grown two-fold. Lockdown is, of course, a cause. So, I will let it float around till normalcy returns outside.

I always had my media and productivity services balanced, of course, it was never intentional. But I guess the addition of a HEY subscription might bring things again in balance. I still have 5 days to decide.

Speaking of tracking subscriptions, I used an app called Bobby while I was on iOS and I sorely missed it since I shifted to Android. However, I've found a brilliant app called (of course) Subscriptions. The app has one job and it does perfectly.

I find it curious that while Apple is rolling out the support for widgets and personalization so late into its existence, Google is doing it late with Airdrop-like functionality in Android. Just highlights the different priorities both the platforms began with. No platform is "late" with a feature.

My definition of magic in the human personality, in fiction and in poetry, is the ultimate level of attentiveness. Nearly everyone goes through life with the same potential perceptions and baggage, whether it’s marriage, children, education, or unhappy childhoods, whatever; and when I say attentiveness I don’t mean just to reality, but to what’s exponentially possible in reality. (...) Why are people incapable of ascribing to the natural world the kind of mystery that they think they are somehow deserving of but have never reached? This attentiveness is your main tool in life, and in fiction, or else you’re going to be boring.

Jim Harrison in The Art of Fiction

Finally, I have completed a pretty tricky exercise that I had started about a couple of weeks back. It wasn't tricky because I wanted to move my website to a different platform. It was tricky because I wanted to do it cleanly. I wanted to retain as many things that worked well for me as I could. I didn't want to break much that was core.

So, after days of experiments and trial runs, and notes and list of reviewed to-dos, I've managed to switch to WordPress. I will note down why someday - one short, but big reason though is editing. I am tired of working custom solutions with Blot -- it's a great service, no doubt. But you need to love your files a lot. I am currently not in that phase.

Anyway, as intended, the core is retained. The links are (hopefully 🤞) not broken. #IndieWeb support was a must, have stitched that in. The option to switch to a dark theme was a must. A simple reading experience was a must. I've managed to get good writing experience too. So, times now to sit back and relax.

Do let me know if see anything that's not working well. I won't mind if you also let me know if everything's working fine.

I am planning to roll out some changes to my blog. I fear there would be many things that would be broken. Most importantly, soon, the RSS feed may not work. So if you are following me via my RSS feed, you might miss my posts. If you do, please resubscribe in a few days.

I find it extremely interesting that I have most things going for it now. I do not know what's even missing. Why can't I just make this my new home? Sure if can't be bad, right?

Let's look at the pros and cons. Rather this is a thought dump of sorts. No pros and cons, just some quick thoughts to compare experiences.

• My existing setup is a terrible writing experience. Every time I had to think where to post from. It is so terrible for instant posts. Not with the new setup.
• With WordPress, I can post from which ever place that works now. I don't have to think to much about writing. Only focus on thought. Good for fixing too. Get things out and forget.
• Theming is so easy with WordPress. No more struggling with files.
• That reminds me. I am tired of working with files. Blot is good with files. But it wants to play with files. Not provide metadata as such. I provide metadata everytime. It defeats the purpose of the simplicity of Blot. Why mess around the frontmatter? I am tired of working that way. I want editor. Write and forget.
• With WordPress though, I lose control and gain headache of managing instances again. Am I ok to sign up for that again? Can I trust myself with it? May be I need to. Let's give it a go.
• Markdown is good but not always. Sometimes it is easier to work with WYSIWYG editors. Just write and forget. Sure markdown is more supported. It is again good when working in files. Not otherwise. Did I say am tired of files?

I am not yet sure how can I live without the quick draft. I need this option so bad. When I have a thought, I want to put it out.

I am about to start an exciting project. I plan to publish a newsletter for writers — a writing toolkit, of sorts. With each short update, I will post a set of helpful/interesting links and tools to get you inspired to write more. I would love to get some feedback on what works and what doesn’t.

“Do one thing every day that scares you,” said Mary Schmich. I am shit-scared of getting myself into another side project. But the concept of this newsletter excites me and I want to take a go at it. So, do let me know if you would be ok to help me with your early and frank opinion.

The first issue of Slanting Nib & A Keyboard is ready and scheduled for delivery!

Another test post, from the WordPress editor. Things look absolutely fine from here. They aren't wrong.

Why does it matter how they look on the inside? Will I ever want to look there? Possibly not. Then why does it matter? Why can't I use this as my editor of choice?

I am surprised there aren’t more television sets that support Bluetooth to pair the headsets. Why do I have to decide if I want the larger screen or immersive sound? There are times when I want to watch a movie on the larger screen, but alone without disturbing others.

Why do I make things complicated for myself? Why can’t I keep it very simple? There is no need to spend too much time on fighting or working on something that’s not perfect or not exactly the way you want it to be. But it is manageable. Why is manageable not ok for me?

Being satisfied with manageable saves so much time, so much energy. Why do I then waste the time unnecessarily working on finding a solution which anyway won’t be perfect? Sure, may be it would good enough for me. Is that what I want? Manageable, but on my terms? Yep. Absolutely.

I have decided I will learn to live with manageable. At least, attempt to. Somethings are just not worthy enough to spend too much energy to get them perfectly to your liking.

Only a child’s mind can dream up a multiplayer game of Marble Run by stitching Jenga and playing cards together. The family had an evening full of some brilliantly close races!

The only way for you to Indiewebify your WordPress blog is to subscribe to a business plan? That can’t be right because that plan’s not cheap. #indieweb

Can I reset my resolutions that I started the year 2020 with? I didn’t get my full quota of 12 months to royally mess them up like I do every year.

Absolutely loved, loved Onward. Such a simple story, but told with so much affection, so much heart. Pixar is a master at weaving stories around families you start caring about just in 90 minutes of runtime. Exciting action. Brilliant drama. Had a lump in my throat at the end.

With the whole world with their faces behind masks, I’m surprised not enough energy is spent yet on finding ones that let you keep your spectacles on. I’ve tried 3 different types of masks till now and all make my spectacles go foggy just through my breathing. Can’t be just me.

NYTimes decision to publish an opinion very clearly unfit leaves me uneasy. The publications need not lend a platform for all voices through their editorials; they need not publish all opinions. You need selection/edits - that’s why they are called “Editorials”.

The choice from The Atlantic to only provide annual subscription plans isn’t working well. As much as I respect what the publication reports, I can’t sign up for this long commitment. Plus it becomes costly to get in.

The time capsule tells you so much about how thoughtful the little girl is. Look at all the items she has selected to speak for her. And then the mushy little gems in envelop! Brought a smile on my face.

This is absolutely gold — Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

“It also made me realize that even amongst the structures and pavements and powerlines, how interesting nature can be in a single suburban backyard if you really stopped to look.”

The #GeorgeFloydMurder protestors in US are just people, asking for justice. I see no arms with them. Why are police afraid of and hostile to them?

From outside, the protests for “Open America” looked a lot more harmful to me. They were freaking roaming around with guns.

What if we decide that Thrusday is the start of a week and we get two days off in middle of the work week? Will we feel better? I feel by calling it “weekend” we put unnecessary pressure on Friday of reaching a logical closure.

I received a call today from an unknown number. The lady at the other end wanted to know if I was interested in a new credit card. I patiently listened as she explained all the benefits I stand a chance to receive. When she was done, I calmly declined. Normalcy felt good.

My 6-year old casually asked me today, “When I will grow up and go to space, way beyond the sky, will I see God?” I don’t think I have an answer for any that? Go with spirituality or science? And I am completely blown by her cursory reference to the travel to space. She believes it is going to be as easy as buying a ticket and getting onboard a rocket.

She continued, “And when the satellite is this small, why do they have such a huge rocket surrounding it? Why can’t they make just the satellite to fly away?” Any answers of mine did nothing to quench her curiosity.

I firmly believe the curious minds of kids should contribute to defining the next problem statements for science. There would be many that the jaded minds would not have thunk.

If you can write more than 2K words reviewing a small music app, it is the writing part you enjoy more. Start writing fiction.