Shared Bits

Italian Seasoned Omelette

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-03

1 - Introduction

In April 2023, I watched a recipe video on the Cooking Everyday YouTube channel. The video was titled 1 Tomato with 3 Eggs and is pretty much an omelette. I made the recipe later and the taste reminded me of eating pizza.

I don’t typically buy fresh tomatoes, so I didn’t want to have to run to the store to buy a tomato every time I wanted to make the recipe. Therefore, I came up with the idea of using ketchup, pasta sauce, or salsa as a replacement. I also came up with the idea of adding an herb blend that gave the recipe an Italian flavor. I modified the recipe a little bit more for my taste and the result was this recipe.

Pro Launcher, An Awesome Android Launcher App

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-09

01 - Introduction

I installed the F-Droid Basic app store app a few months ago on my smartphone. Occasionally, I’d see launcher apps on the Latest page/tab of the app. A launcher is the user interface that controls the home screen and app drawer on an Android device. I looked at a few of them, but I wasn’t impressed by what the launcher apps offered compared to what I already had on my smartphone. In March 2026, I decided to investigate the offerings under the Launcher category on the Categories page/tab of the F-Droid app store app.

I Think I Have Found My Sleep Pillow for Life

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-02

01 - Introduction

I’ve used a number of pillows for sleeping over my lifetime. For years, I wasn’t very picky about the pillow I used for sleeping. However, I began to become picky about the pillows I used for sleeping when I began experiencing sporadic neck pain after a night of sleep.

The first pillow I purchased after becoming picky about pillows was a contour pillow that I purchased at a local Linens & Things store ( Linens & Things now only has an online presence). I used that pillow for years. The pillow was washable, but it took days to completely dry out. One thing I didn’t like about the pillow was that it wasn’t wide enough.

Short Bits 2026

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-29

01 - Check the Ingredient List When Purchasing Baked Goods in the Whole Foods Market Bakery (2026-02-06)

Image courtesy of Arturs Budkevic at Pixabay

If you buy baked goods made by Whole Foods Market bakery, you should check the ingredient list. About a year or two ago, I began to notice that Whole Foods Market bakery began using a GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredient in their cupcakes and in one of their pies. I was dumbfounded…Whole Foods Market, who prides themselves for selling organic food, using a GMO ingredient?! A few months ago, I noticed that they are now also using a GMO ingredient in their cookies. As a result, I choose not to purchase the products.

Linux Resources

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

Introduction

I’ve included Linux resources in prior posts. However, I will eventually archive those posts, so I’ve decided to create a separate post to document the resources.

This is not a comprehensive collection of Linux resources. It’s just a collection of Linux resources I’ve come across in my Linux journey that I’ve found interesting or useful.

Books & Magazines

Conky

Conky is a lightweight system monitor for X, Wayland, and other things too.

Shared Bits 7-Year Anniversary

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-14

Highlights of my life and seventh year of blogging; Oct 2024 - Sept 2025.

01 - Shared Bits

I published 10 posts this year, including this post, bringing total posts published to 82.

Shared Bits visitor count began to increase quite a bit beginning in October last year. Shared Bits reached another milestone this year by exceeding 5,000 visitors per month for four months of the year. For the year, the average visitor count for Shared Bits was 4,053.

Creamy Chili Lime Dip, Salad Dressing, or Baked Potato Topping

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-01

01. - Introduction

I was watching YouTube videos about two years ago and a suggested video caught my eye; oven roasted chili lime garbanzo beans. I decided I wanted to try the recipe, so I purchased a can of garbanzo beans from Wegmans and chili lime seasoning from Trader Joe’s .

I didn’t think much of the recipe and it definitely wasn’t better than popcorn in my opinion. I also didn’t like the chili lime seasoning I purchased from Trader Joe’s. The chili lime seasoning from Trader Joe’s was very bland. Any chili seasoning should have a little bit of a kick to it in my opinion.

Planning to Purchase a Heat Pump? Be Prepared for Sticker Shock!

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-09

One night in December 2024, I was awakened by cold temperature. I program the thermostats in our home to lower to 65 degrees Fahrenheit from 2300 (11:00 P.M.) until 0700 (7:00 A.M) during the colder months in an effort to reduce energy costs. I looked at the temperature on my alarm clock and it showed 63 degrees Fahrenheit. I got out of bed and I checked the thermostat in the master bedroom and it also showed a temperature of 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maxwell June - Convert a Double-Edge Razor Blade into a Twin Blade Razor

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-08

I began shaving as a teen using a cartridge razor and shaving gel. I didn’t know how to properly perform a wet shave, so I hacked my face up repeatedly. I quickly tired of all the nicks and cuts, so I decided to begin using an electric razor . I continued to use an electric razor for most of my life and I still use one to shave my head.

Bad Design Idea ASUS

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Toward the middle of February, I sat down at my desk to use my ASUS AIO ET2322 computer; AIO stands for all-in-one. I keep the computer covered with a flat sheet to keep it protected from dust. When I removed the sheet, I discovered that the computer had been powered on and therefore, it was warm. The computer displayed the BIOS screen, which I thought was due to the computer being a bit too warm. I rebooted the computer and the computer booted fine.

Short Bits 2025

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2025-10-19

01 - Use Honey to Help You Sleep (2025-04-06)

Image courtesy of Sage Ross , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

I have seen manuka honey at Whole Foods Market for years when shopping there, but I thought it was very expensive. A former dental hygienist tried to get me interested in manuka honey a few years ago, but once again I thought it was too expensive, even if it was beneficial for your health.

Sauteed Mushrooms & Onion

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-11

1 - Introduction

In the past whenever I used onion in a recipe, I usually didn’t use the whole onion. I would wrap the leftover onion in plastic wrap twice, place it in a plastic food storage container, and then place the container in the refrigerator. The storage technique helps to prevent the transfer of onion odor in the refrigerator. I would tell my wife that there was leftover onion in the refrigerator and that she could use it if she wanted. However, I usually had to end up throwing the onion away, which I hated because that was food going to waste. However, I couldn’t think of a way to use the leftover onion.

I Finally Broke Down and Purchased a Two-Stage Snow Blower

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-02

For years, I’ve used a Toro corded electric single-stage snow blower to clear the driveway and the sidewalk in front of our home. The Toro snow blower worked, but it was very light and therefore could be somewhat difficult and time-consuming to use to clear heavy snowfalls.

In January 2016, a historic one day blizzard hit the area in which I live, dropping over twenty inches of snow. Initially, I shoveled the snow by hand because I didn’t think the Toro corded electric snow blower could handle the amount of snow, but after shoveling some of the driveway and a path through the back yard most of the night, I decided I had had enough of that. It took me another two days, about 8 hours each day, to finally clear the driveway and the sidewalk of all of the snow. I used a shovel to break down the height of the snow to be able to blow the snow with the Toro corded electric snow blower.

Try a Portable or Travel Bidet for Hemorrhoid Relief

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2024-12-22

Years ago I encountered a period where I experienced really bad constipation. The constipation was so bad that I had to strain to have a bowel movement. I was aware that straining while having a bowel movement could lead to hemorrhoids, but having to delay a bowel movement was uncomfortable. Sure enough, I ended up with hemorrhoids.

Initially, I was able to manage hemorrhoid flareups by using Preparation H suppositories. Using Preparation H suppositories for hemorrhoid flareups worked for a few years. Although they worked, I didn’t like using the suppositories because they were messy. Additionally, I had to wear an adult diaper when I used the suppositories.

Gluten Free Oat Bread

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

1 - Introduction

Just over three years ago, I watched a video on the Fy Nyth YouTube channel. In the video, Ariel McGlothin mentioned a gluten free oat bread recipe that she planned to do a video of in the future.

At the time, I was buying Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White gluten free bread from Walmart . The bread was just okay, the loaves were very small, and the bread was quite pricey; $5.99 per loaf and that was three years ago.

Shared Bits 6-Year Anniversary

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-14

01 - Overview

Shared Bits set another milestone this year. In November 2023, I surpassed the 2,000 visitor hurdle. Although visitor counts can be exciting, the counts are tempered by the fact that not many people spend much time on my site.

I published 6 posts this year and retired 2. Therefore, Shared Bits now has a total of 72 published posts, including this post.

I like to replace the main site header image and the site identity icon image every three years. Since this is the sixth year of my blog, I replaced both images on 09/11/2024.

My First Yellow Jacket Nest Elimination

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-08

I’ve heard about yellow jacket nests being in the ground, but I’ve never encountered one in the past. I’ve heard about people getting stung multiple times because they weren’t aware that a yellow jacket ground nest existed until they walked across one.

On July 05, I went outside to set up another rat trap to catch chipmunks. While walking back toward the exterior basement walkup, I noticed yellowish-colored insects flying from the ground close to the edge of the top of the exterior basement walkup. I then peered down into the hole from which the insects were flying and I observed yellow and black faces lined up around the perimeter of the hole (scroll about 3/4 of the way down the page)…yellow jackets. Great, like I needed more things to do.

Replaced the Original Water Heater Anode Rod with a Corro-Protec Anode Rod

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

Our last water heater, a Rheem 75-gallon gas water heater, lasted about 17 years. I never replaced the anode rod in that water heater and I wondered if it would have lasted longer if I had. The replacement 75-gallon gas water heater, made by A.O. Smith, cost my wife and I $1,810. I didn’t realize that water heaters were so expensive, so I endeavored to do everything I could to keep the replacement water heater for as long as possible.

Short Bits 2024

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

Image courtesy of FAI

01 - Dalton Thomas Resigns from Frontier Alliance International (2024-02-19)

Updated on 2025-08-18

I was getting ready to contribute to the Five Dollar Monthly Giving Campaign at Frontier Alliance International (FAI) in the early morning of Feb 08. A banner at the top of the organization’s site stated that Dalton Thomas, the founder and president, had resigned .

I loved Dalton Thomas. He was the best teacher of the Bible I’ve ever encountered. I was dumbfounded when I read the details about his resignation. I’m very saddened, hurt, and confused about what Dalton did. How could he continue to falsely represent himself as a man of God and hold the leadership position that he held at FAI while having an adulterous relationship?

Japanese Seasoned Loose Meat Hamburger

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-11

1 - Introduction

In March 2022, I was reminiscing about a dish I had one time when I was in Tokyo, Japan. I was in the military at the time stationed at a base about an hour train ride from Tokyo, but I don’t remember why I was in Tokyo.

I got off at a train stop and I began walking around. I was hungry and I saw a restaurant with a caricature of a steaming bowl. The smell eminating from the restaurant was delightful, so I decided to go in. The restaurant served what I ended up calling Japanese beef bowl; thinly sliced beef in some kind of flavorful sauce over a bed of rice and topped with a fried egg. The dish was delicious.

My Failed Experience Monetizing My Blog Using Ads in 2023

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-08

01 - Introduction

I finally made time early in 2023 to begin researching ad providers in an attempt to monetize my blog.

I knew I didn’t want to use Google Adsense or an alternative ad service provider that is associated with Google Ad Manager ( AdPushup , Ezoic ) because I knew my blog would not be approved. Therefore, I did quite a bit of research to find alternatives and I compiled seven different lists. After much review of all of the lists, I initially decided on a couple of candidates. However, my first two choices didn’t work out, so again I went through the information I obtained through research and I chose additional candidates.

Shared Bits 5-Year Anniversary

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-14

01 - Overview

Five years ago I began my blogging journey. The average life of a blog isn’t very long, so I’ve reached an admirable milestone. Blogging has kept me busy, given me something productive to do, and has been a very rewarding experience.

Unique visitor count was on a nice upward trajectory the first few months, but then fell over the summer. Hopefully the unique visitor count will pick back up again. Average unique visitor count for the year was 1,119.

Five Ingredient Lower Oxalate Trail Mix

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-01

01 - Introduction

In January 2023, I suffered the third kidney stone of my life and less than 4 years after my second kidney stone . I had to give up eating a number of snack foods which were high in oxalate content .

I began eating dried, sliced cranberries, raisins, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts as a snack, mixing one dried fruit with one of the seeds or walnuts. I also use the same dried fruit, seeds, and walnuts in another recipe that I make (future blog post). Thinking about the other recipe, I came up with an easy-to-make trail mix recipe in May 2023 that is healthy, tasty, and low in oxalate content.

Stories to Ponder When You Are Feeling Sorry for Yourself

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

A Year Without a Kitchen Sink (2023-06-22)

In September 1996, Roxy Whalley fled an abusive husband after years of mental and physical abuse, eventually becoming a mobile nomad. Following is her story.

A Year Without a Kitchen Sink

Case Study of Failed Posterior Spinal Fusion (2023-06-22)

In the following videos, Dr. Douglas Gillard discusses a failed posterior spinal fusion suffered by a Middle Eastern man who became severely disabled as a result. You’ll be aghast at what the quack doctor did to the unfortunate man.

Not Again! - Kidney Stone 3

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-09

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

I began having periodic episodes of dark urine in March 2022. My urine was the color of swamp water on the first occurence in March 2022. A visit to a satellite emergency room for a local hospital the day following the first occurence resulted in the diagnosis of hematuria . However, that diagnosis was based on my description of my symptoms as my urine had cleared up by the time I gave a urine sample at the emergency room. I continued to have episodes of dark urine though.

Short Bits 2023

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

01 - Discovered Two New Cereals (2023-03-08)

In early February, I went shopping at Whole Foods Market and I decided to check out the cereal aisle to see if there were any new cereal offerings.

I began experiencing symptoms of my third kidney stone in January, so I had decided to start a low oxalate diet . Some of the cereals I had been eating have ingredients that are high in oxalates according to the Oxalate Counts Android app (no longer available); e.g. amaranth, buckwheat flour, chocolate, cornmeal, peanut butter, and quinoa. Therefore, I desired to replace the cereals containing high oxalate ingredients with cereals that have lower or no oxalate ingredients.

Maytag MVWC565FW1 Washing Machine - Dead After Only 3 Years

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-08

In 2019, our Maytag Atlantis washing machine finally died after providing over 17 years of service.

For our next washing machine, I wanted to buy a different brand because the Maytag Atlantis washing machine gave us problems. First, after about 5 years, the washing machine began to intermittently leak. Second, the washing machine was very loud during the spin cycle. Third, the machine easily became imbalanced, sometimes rocking so hard that the machine would move from its location.

Homemade Yogurt Using Milk and Probiotic Capsules

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-02

01 - Introduction

In April 2022, I watched a video on the Mary’s Nest YouTube channel about making your own yogurt . I had just successfully made my first batch of ghee , so I was intrigued about being able to make my own yogurt as well.

I consume a lot of yogurt; currently about 6 quarts a month. I eat yogurt mixed with fruit preserves as part of my breakfast on a daily basis. I also have a few bread recipes that call for yogurt. Lastly, I use yogurt as a dip, salad dressing, and baked potato topping .

How I Organize Blog Post Image Files

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-02

If you don’t organize your blog post image files correctly, managing them can become tedious and time consuming. When I began blogging, I had the foresight to name my image files in a manner that enables me to know to which post they belong. With a bit of fine tuning over time, following is the format I currently use to name my image files:

YYYY-###-##_post-title_image–title_###x###.ext

where:

YYYY-### is the calendar year and blog post number
-## is the post image number
###x### is the image resolution (e.g. 640x460)
ext is the image file format; jpg or png (usually jpg)

All of my post header image files (image at the top of a post) get a post image number of 00 and an image title of post-header:

Creamy BBQ Dip, Salad Dressing, or Baked Potato Topping

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-01

Introduction

In the past, I used hummus and sometimes oil-based salad dressings as a dip for carrot and celery sticks, but I kind of got tired of both options. I also desired to use a yogurt-based salad dressing versus an oil-based salad dressing when I ate a salad. I saw yogurt-based salad dressings in the produce section at a local Wegmans , but the salad dressings contained preservatives.

Early in 2020, I decided to research yogurt-based vegetable dip recipes on the Internet. I found a number of yogurt-based dip recipes, two of which I began using as a vegetable dip and also as a salad dressing:

Shared Bits 4-Year Anniversary

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-13

Wow, what a busy year it has been. I think the past year has been my busiest year blogging yet. I published 13 posts over the past year, including this post. My total post count since starting my blog now stands at 58. My most popular posts continue to be the two posts on a usable Debian Linux installation.

I received a Wordfence Security notice on 10/15/2021 that the Slimstat Analytics plugin I used for visitor analytics appeared to be abandoned since it hadn’t been updated since 10/15/2019. Comments on the plugin’s Wordpress.org page seemed to indicate that something had happened to the developer. I opted to begin using AWStats . Later this year, I found out that someone else began developing the Slimstat Analytics plugin again, but I’ve elected to stick with AWStats. I think AWStats provides better analytics since it operates on the server side and it is not as resource intensive as the Slimstat Analytics plugin.

Haines 2-0 Solar Cooker First Use

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-02

I decided to purchase a solar cooker during the summer of 2020 for emergency preparedness and to enable me to bake some things during the warmer months. I don’t use the oven when the outside temperature is forecast to be 70 degrees fahrenheit or higher to prevent heating up the house.

I did a bit of research and based on weight, perceived ease of use, and cost I opted to purchase the Haines 2.0 solar cooker and a dutch oven. The dutch oven is basically a stainless steel pan with a black coated bottom and a vented tempered glass lid.

Fastmail Email Service Review

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-31

When I initially began using personal email years ago, I used the email service offered by my Internet service provider. As the years passed though, the spam I received was ridiculous. They supposedly had spam filtering, but it didn’t seem to work.

I then discovered the Spamex email service and I used that for 2-3 years. Eventually, my Spamex email addresses began getting spammed and my questions about the spam directed to Spamex went unanswered. So, I began searching for another email service provider and I discovered Fastmail .

My First Attempt at Making Ghee - SCORE!

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-08

I use DMSO topically for pain relief on a number of areas of my body. One possible side effect of using DMSO topically is eczema . Therefore, I apply natural moisturizers on the application areas both after applying DMSO and after bathing.

In the past I’ve used Great Value brand organic virgin unrefined coconut oil from Walmart and I’ve also used Badger Balm for Sensitve Dry Skin . I kept a tin of Badger Balm for Sensitive Dry Skin in my bathroom for use during the warmer months because virgin unrefined coconut oil has a melting point of 76 degrees fahrenheit. While there’s nothing wrong with melted coconut oil, I prefer using something solid because it’s less messy.

Keep Working Hard So These Fools Can Continue Wasting Your Money

Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

According to a November, 2016 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture , $0.23 of every food stamp (now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP ) $1.00 was spent on candy, desserts, salty snacks, sweetened beverages, and sugar. Assuming the aforementioned amount of every SNAP dollar is still being spent on junk food, almost $25 billion of SNAP benefits was spent on junk food based on total benefits for 2021 as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Remembering Those Who Have Passed Away

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

What will we do now, now that you leave me here? Even though the dark blue sky is still radiant & filled with the comforting sadness that holds us together. -- Hope Sandoval

This post will appear as the first post (stickied) on the first page of my blog during the month of May.

Kathryn Black

Image cropped from a group photo sent by my mother and touched up to remove writing.

Kurt's Quotes

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-24

I began recording quotes I came up with back in 2009. I thought it might be a good idea to publish my quotes so that I can officially say I am the one who came up with them. If you are easily offended, if you think political correctness is a virtue, or if you are of the left-leaning political persuasion, you probably shouldn’t read some of them.

WordPress Security and Spam Prevention Tips

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-20

1 - Introduction

As of the date of this post, I’ve been blogging for almost 4 years and I’ve compiled and use a collection of tips for securing WordPress and preventing spam. I thought it would be helpful to display the tips in one post so that others would not have to search for them like I did. Most of the tips I came across via Internet searches when trying to resolve a security or spam issue I encountered, but I encountered one tip just by reading aother blog.

Acorn Squash and Rice Bowl

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

Introduction

I began eating squash and rice again in 2019 in an effort to eat healthy, but cheaply. I was purchasing frozen cubed butternut squash, but it was tough even after heating in the microwave, making it difficult to mash.

My wife makes a kabocha squash soup, which brought back memories of my first assignment to Japan when I was a member of the U.S. Air Force . I attended a local Japanese church and after service, I would go to a local restaurant or grocery store, purchase something to eat for lunch, and then go back to the church to eat. Sometimes I would buy cooked rice with some kind of black seed sprinkled on top and what was probably steamed/boiled/baked kabocha squash, which I enjoyed.

Short Bits 2022

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

01 - What Is He Wearing?! (2022-01-26)

Did I become a crossdresser? No. Did I become a transvestite? No. Did I become a gender denier? No. Depending on what part of the planet you visit, the garment goes by a number of different names. Throughout the remainder of the post I’ll refer to the garment as a sarong . The sarong is worn by adults and children, male and female.

Lands' End - Not the Same Company I Used to Know

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2022-11-09

My History with Lands’ End

I began shopping at Lands’ End back in 1987/1988 when I was a member of the U.S. Air Force . At that time, Lands’ End was a mail order only retailer. I loved the variety and durability of the clothing Lands’ End offered, the reasonable prices, and the no questions asked return policy. I still use pairs of supplex nylon shorts I purchased from them over 20 years ago.

Save Space When Storing Image Files on Your WordPress Hosting Service Account

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

1 - Introduction

When I began blogging back in 2018, I came up with the idea of storing my blog post images on the Postimages site in an effort to save space on my WordPress hosting account. Storing my blog post images on PostImage seemed to work for awhile.

However, on November 15, 2020 the Postimage site went down for at least 14 hours, meaning that the majority of my post images didn’t display since most of my post images were stored on that site. It’s quite possible that the site being down has happened before and I just didn’t know about it. Images are an important part of my posts, so it’s important that they always be available. Therefore, I decided to begin storing all of my images on my WordPress hosting account.

Shared Bits 3-Year Anniversary

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-29

The past year was a productive and busy one for my blog. The good thing is I’ve been able to blog the whole year, unlike last year .

My visitor counts have not increased the way I had hoped they would. Last year, there were 4 months where I had 200 or more visitors and one month with over 300 visitors. I’ve only had one month this year so far where I’ve had over 200 visitors. My monthly visitor counts have been fairly consistent though, averaging over 170 visitors a month. Visitor counts are according to the Slimstat Analytics plugin. AWStats , provided by my hosting provider, reports much higher visitor counts. I’m not sure which one is correct.

Toilet Tank Rebuild

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

My first draft of this post was about trying something different during a recent toilet tank rebuild. However, due to a leak issue after the first rebuild attempt and then shelving the idea I had, I decided to re-write the post about my rebuild experience.

Towards the end of last year, the toilet in our powder room began making a high pitch sound after it was flushed. We had a Fluidmaster fill valve and a little bit of Internet research turned up two possible causes: grit in the fill valve seal or the fill valve seal was shot.

Suffering from GTPS Pain? I Have Some Tips for You

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

1 - Introduction

On May 13, 2020, I experienced a recurrence of thoracic spine pain. I believe the pain recurrence was the result of temporarily discontinuing use of arthritis-strength acetaminophen, which had been helpful in managing the pain since 2018. It was very painful to have pressure applied to the thoracic area of my spine, so I began sitting on the sleeper sofa in the family room, using sofa pillows from the living room sofa in an attempt to relieve the pain while allowing me to sit with back support.

Installing and Maintaining Debian Unstable

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-08

1 - Introduction

Debian Unstable , also known as Debian Sid ( Sid being the Toy Story character who likes to destroy toys), is part of the development process for Debian Stable . Packages typically flow in the following order during the Debian Stable development process:

Experimental
Unstable
Testing
Stable

Approximately every two years, development is frozen and eventually Debian Testing becomes the next Debian Stable release.

While the primary purpose of Debian Unstable is for the development of the next Debian Stable release, it can also be used as a daily operating system. Used as a daily operating system, Debian Unstable is considered to be a rolling release . In other words, unless the installation breaks, you should never have to install it again. However, you need to know quite a bit about maintaining Debian Unstable as it is prone to breaking if you don’t know how to use and maintain it.

Spreadsheet Grocery Budget Management

Fri, 07 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-14

The process of using a spreadsheet to manage my grocery budget began in 2018 when I put together a LibreOffice Calc spreadsheet workbook (file of multiple spreadsheets), titled price–history, to track prices of purchased items. I wanted to keep track of prices so that I could recognize price increases, both obvious or phantom; e.g. quantity reductions for the same price. I mainly use receipts from my shopping trips to populate the spreadsheet, but I sometimes go from memory and I’ve also taken pictures of shelf prices using my smartphone.

Sleeping in a Hammock

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-14

I’m a side sleeper and I began suffering from pressure point issues in my shoulders and hips sometime during my fourth decade of life. I read somewhere that Tempurpedic mattresses were supposed to be good for relieving pressure point issues. Therefore in 2004 or 2005, I decided to purchase a Tempurpedic mattress with a 3-inch built in topper.

I absolutely loved my Tempurpedic mattress and still do, but the pressure point issues eventually returned again, well before the end of the warrantied 20-year life of a Tempurpedic mattress. Additionally, I disliked the weight of my mattress and foundation; 76 pounds for the foundation and 148 pounds for the mattress for a total of 224 pounds. I still remember the team of 3 delivery guys who huffed, puffed, and grunted to get the mattress up to the second level of my home. There’s no way I could move the mattress on my own, other than to lift the edges of the mattress just enough to tuck a fitted sheet.

Emacs - I Finally Got It

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-31

I was a member of a team working on an Oracle project the last nine months of my last job. My company was the prime contractor and we didn’t have any available company staff who knew Oracle, so the Oracle work was subcontracted to an Oracle subcontractor. One of the Oracle subcontractor employees sat in a cubicle next to me and we began talking about Linux one day. As our conversation went on, he began talking about Emacs , how he loved using it, and how powerful it was. He was contemplating starting a blog about Emacs.

Short Bits 2021

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

1 - Burned Three Times on Amazon Purchases (2021-02-08)

Image courtesy of Peter Ziegler at Pixabay

I’ve been burned three times within a four month period on purchases I’ve made on Amazon. The first incident occurred in September 2020. I purchased a 3-pack of Champion boxer style underwear. I didn’t notice that they were size medium and I usually wear a size large. The underwear were sold by a third party vendor in New York city.

My First Experience with Oat Beverage...Pleasantly Surprised

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

My interest in milk alternatives was piqued after watching a video on the Torin by the Ocean YouTube channel about two years ago. I wasn’t interested in replacing milk with a milk alternative, but I thought I might be able to save some money by buying less milk. At that time I was buying organic lactose free milk which has become quite expensive. I made it a point to check out the milk alternative offerings the next few times I went grocery shopping.

Penclic, My Favorite Keyboard

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-09

In 2016, I experienced an episode of repetitive strain injury (RSI) . I have suffered sporadically from RSI for a number of years, although at that time I didn’t know what the condition was. After my RSI flareup in 2016, I performed a search on Amazon and discovered the book It’s Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals , written by Suparna Damany, MSPT and Jack Bellis. According to ergonomic guidance in the book, using a large computer keyboard can result in RSI issues because you have to reach further to access computer pointing devices. At the time, I was using the Logitech illuminated keyboard , which I loved because the keys were very easy to depress and they were also backlit.

Braun Series 7 Model 7893s Electric Shaver Battery Replacement

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2022-08-05

1 - Introduction

I purchased my first Braun electric shaver, a Braun Series 7 model 7893s, in 2017 at Costco . I’ve used electric shavers for most of the time I’ve shaved and the Braun Series 7 model 7893s is hands down the best electric shaver I’ve ever used. A site dedicated to electric shaver guides and reviews thinks the same about the Braun Series 7 in general, although not so much the newest iteration of the series. Two to three months ago, I began noticing that my electric shaver needed recharging after fewer shaves. Time to replace the rechargeable battery I thought to myself. The owner’s manual had a section on how to access and remove the rechargeable battery and the process looked simple, so I decided to attempt to replace the battery myself.

Share One Rainlendar Calendar in a Multi-Boot Linux Environment

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-11

Introduction

Rainlendar is hands down, my favorite calendaring app under any operating system. I began using Rainlendar under the Microsoft Windows operating system years ago. When I decided to switch to the Linux operating system full time in 2012, I setup a multi-boot environment so that I could still access a few Windows programs when needed.

I didn’t want to have to manage separate Rainlendar calendars under each operating system that I used, so I did a bit of tinkering and I figured out a way to share one calendar with all installed operating systems. In this tutorial, I’ll detail how to share one Rainlendar calendar in a multi-boot Linux environment, but the steps are similar if you use Microsoft Windows in your multi-boot environment.

Shared Bits 2-Year Anniversary

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-29

I can’t believe it has been two years already since starting this blog. Once again, I’ve made a number of changes to the blog. Including this post, I’ve published a total of 31 posts. I wasn’t able to maintain my goal of publishing at least one post a month over the past year, but more about that later.

Sometime during the last 3 or 4 months of 2019, I decided to change the layout of the site main page by removing the rotating sample of prior posts. The rotating sample feature took up too much screen real estate in my opinion. I opted to implement a theme feature that provides suggested posts near the bottom of each post.

Logging Linux Package Activity (Installs, Removals, Upgrades)

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

1 - Introduction

I learned the importance of logging package activity when I began using Debian Unstable . Because you can encounter breakage or a problematic package(s) when performing package upgrades under Debian Unstable, logging package activity can prove to be useful for troubleshooting purposes. Logging package activity can be also be useful for reference and historical purposes. In this post I will share how I log package activity, specifically upgrades, for Debian and Solus , the Linux distros I currently use as my daily operating systems. While not covered in this post, I also use the same technique to record manual installs and removals; i.e. I initiate the installs and removals.

Memorable Moments from USAF Basic Military Training

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

1 - Introduction

I’ll never forget the thoughts, emotions, and events from my time in basic military training, even though it has been many years ago. I suppose most individuals who have been through basic military training, also known as boot camp, would probably say the same thing. To say that my world as I knew it was turned upside down would be an understatement.

I originally contemplated joining the military as a reservist to help pay for college. I was able to complete my first two years of college at a local community college by working at McDonald’s over summers and working a job in the community college library year round. However, I would not be able to fund the cost of continuing my college education when transferring to a local 4-year university.

Pure Water from the Megahome Water Distiller

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

I became concerned about the water I drank a few years ago after reading about some of the things that cannot or are not removed from tap water; e.g. excreted pharmaceutical medicines, hormone disrupting chemicals, etc. I had been buying and drinking bottled spring water, but I got to thinking that maybe even spring water might have contaminants in it. Therefore, I decided to start drinking distilled water .

I was familiar with distilled water since I have used it in the past for steam irons and ultrasonic humidifiers . Steam irons usually require distilled water because the minerals in tap water can result in mineral buildup in the steam vents. Using distilled water in ultrasonic humidifiers results in easier cleaning and lower operating costs since you don’t have to buy a filter that some models offer to remove the minerals and chlorine in tap water. I’ve also used distilled water for automotive applications such as topping off lead acid batteries and diluting anti-freeze for engine coolant.

Short Bits 2020

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

1 - Shoutout to the Keter Company for Great Customer Service (2020-01-17)

My wife gave me a nice Christmas gift of cash in December. I had been wanting to purchase a plastic storage shelving unit for use in my study. I borrowed two shelves and four posts from a unit in our basement to store distilled water in 1-gal jugs, but I also wanted to store some small kitchen appliances that I had been placing on the dining room table. Now that I had some extra money, I decided to purchase a new plastic storage shelving unit from Home Depot .

Debian With Openbox and Tint2 - Part 2 - Usable System

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-22

As of 09/12/2025, I am no longer using the Openbox window manager and Tint2 panel to simulate a desktop environment. This post will remain for a period of time for informational purposes, but will no longer be updated except for minor changes.

In part 1 of this series, I provided details on installing Debian , a Linux distribution, using the Network Install method. Be sure to check out that post first if you haven’t installed Debian.

Debian With Openbox and Tint2 - Part 1 - Debian Network Install

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

Over a month in the making and many hours of work, this is part 1 of a 2 part tutorial on using the Openbox window manager and the Tint2 panel as a desktop environment under Debian , a Linux distribution. In part 1, I provide details on installing Debian using the Network Install method. As Luis Fernandes might have said, this is a ginormous post.

Bunions and Bunionettes - Could It Be Your Footwear?

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-20

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

I’ve had very few problems with my feet in the past. Things began to change though in 2010.

I had a fairly long commute to work in 2010. I began experiencing pain on the outside bottom of my right foot just behind the small toe when I walked from my car to the office after my commute. I had recently purchased two pairs of Clark’s shoes and I thought maybe the shoes were causing the pain. Eventually, the pain stopped, only returning sporadically.

Shared Bits 1-Year Anniversary

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-29

Shared Bits went live in September 2018. What a first year it has been. To date, I have written 26 posts (including this post), 2 of which have been deleted. I have learned so much and I successfully cleared a number of hurdles over the year.

I spent quite a bit of time over the past year tinkering with the Ashe Blog Pro theme that I use for my blog. My blog landing page has seen a number of changes and I’m quite happy with the current settings.

Starting a Blog: My First Experience

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

01 - Introduction

Running a blog is a lot of work in itself; e.g. planning, writing, administration, comment moderation, etc. However, the considerations and research required before even starting a blog can take quite a bit of time as well. I spent a number of days researching and planning all of the details that should be considered prior to starting a blog.

02 - Subject Matter, Blog Name, Domain Name

The very first thing you should think about when considering starting a blog is what you are going to write about; i.e. the blog subject matter. In conjunction with considering what you will write about, you need to come up with a name for your blog and if possible, a domain name that is similar to the name of your blog. I briefly tried blogging in 2016 on the Ghost publishing platform, so I already knew what I wanted to write about, what the name of my blog would be, and I hoped I would be able to use a domain name that was similar to my blog name.

My Recent Experience With Switching WordPress Host Providers

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-09

01 - Introduction

Earlier this month, I began thinking about the need to renew my WordPress hosting plan with SiteGround . I first renewed my domain name registration for another year with Namecheap . I then logged into my SiteGround account and went to a page to renew my hosting plan. I received sticker shock when I saw the renewal rate. I had forgotten how much the renewal rate would increase since my initial year of hosting was at an introductory rate. There was no way I could afford to renew my hosting plan with SiteGround at the renewal rate, so I began looking into alternatives.

Nubian Heritage Body Lotion in a User-Friendly Container

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-09

Introduction

I began to look closely at the ingredients of all personal care products I used after being diagnosed with atopic dermatitis on my face in 2016. The body lotions I used at the time had at least one preservative ( phenoxyethanol ), synthetic fragrances, and other ingredients that caused me concern. I spent hours attempting to locate a body lotion that didn’t contain preservatives, synthetic fragrances, or other suspect ingredients. I finally discovered Nubian Heritage body lotions, most of which do not have preservatives and none of which contain synthetic fragrances.

Manage Separate Pots of Money in GnuCash

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-04

1. Introduction

In this post, I will talk about how to manage separate pots of money in GnuCash . If you would like a bit more detail about GnuCash, please refer to my prior post on managing medical costs using GnuCash.

Why would you want to have separate pots of money? Having separate pots of money can prevent unpleasant financial surprises, can lessen the impact of large bills, and can help you achieve future financial goals. For example, on a monthly basis I used to set aside a set amount of money for automobile insurance, which I paid on a bi-annual basis. Other uses could be to setup: an emergency fund, a future automobile purchase fund, a vacation fund, etc.

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-30

In 2016 I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. There is no specific known cause for the skin ailment, but there are suspected triggers such as synthetic fragrances, artificial preservatives, and certain foods. I’ve also discovered that anything that boosts or modulates the immune system, specifically certain herbal remedies, triggers atopic dermatitis flareups for me.

Our family has just about always used Tide laundry detergent. I began using Tide Free & Clear due to concerns about the synthetic fragrances used in the scented versions and their effects on humans and the environment. However, I later read that Tide laundry detergent has a chemical called 1-4-dioxane that seems pretty nasty, so I began using Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent.

My Second Kidney Stone Attack

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-16

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

My first kidney stone attack occurred about 23 years ago. I awoke in the morning of April 15 this year with pain in the lower right quadrant of my back while lying on my left side. I was groggy from being asleep and thoughts about another kidney stone ran through my mind. I turned over on my right side and the pain subsided. I immediately experienced the same pain again when I got out of bed, so my fear was confirmed. I was experiencing my second kidney stone attack.

Short Bits 2019

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-14

1. Cleaner Method of Measuring Honey for Recipes (2019-04-11)

I recently tried a recipe that I’ve had for some time that called for the use of oil and honey among other ingredients. I didn’t plan it, but I measured the oil first and then used the same measuring cup to measure the honey. All but a very small amount of honey slid right out of the measuring cup.

Loaded Baked Potato: My Version

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

When I was younger, I enjoyed going out to dinner with my parents and siblings at Ponderosa Steakhouse for steak, baked potato, and salad. I always liked to put sour cream on my baked potato.

As a working adult, I began eating a baked potato for lunch. However, I learned that using plain yogurt as a replacement for sour cream was a healthier option. I began mixing in a cup of plain yogurt with the baked potato and then commenced to eat the whole thing, skin and all.

Using an Amcrest IP3M-941B IP Security Camera Under Linux

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2024-12-16

I’ve desired to purchase additional security cameras to monitor the exterior areas of my home for quite some time after purchasing a Sharx SCNC2606 IP security camera in 2011. Although the Sharx IP security camera has been useful, the video quality and resolution of the camera (640x480), the limited field of view, and the lack of some additional desirable features left me longing for something better.

Manage Personal Medical Costs With GnuCash

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

Introduction

In early 2017, I experienced a recurrence of lumbar (lower) spine issues. Toward the latter part of 2017, I also began experiencing pain in the thoracic (middle) area of my spine. After doing some research about spine issues, I determined that I needed to see someone before my issues became worse and as a result, possibly became permanently debilitating.

I saw a number of medical providers for diagnosis, imaging, and procedures. I initially used a LibreOffice Calc spreadsheet workbook in an attempt to manage all of the medical bills from the different providers. Using a spreadsheet workbook to manage my medical costs worked, but I found it somewhat cumbersome to manage.

Markup a Bible for Chronological Reading

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-06

Introduction

I set a personal goal a few years ago to read the entire Bible. I have now read the entire Bible twice, although I skipped over the genealogy parts both times and the instructions from God for the building of the temple on the second read.

The second time I decided to read the entire Bible, I wanted to read the Bible chronologically; i.e. in the order of events. I decided to purchase HCSB Reading God’s Story: A Chronological Daily Bible by Dr. George H. Guthrie (henceforth called the HCSB chronological Bible). HCSB is an acronym for the Holman Christian Standard Bible, one of many Bible translations . I found reading the Bible in chronological order to be a more enjoyable and enlightening experience. However, the HCSB chronological Bible would not make a good reference Bible. If you needed to look up a particular book, chapter, and verse, how would you do that? I also much prefer the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation of the Bible.

Credit Card Fraud: Something Needs to Change

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2021-08-12

I have one of my credit cards tied to my PayPal account specifically for making purchases and donations. I recently made a purchase and opted to pay for the purchase using my PayPal account. I never received the product and never received a response from the vendor after sending two separate emails to their customer service department, nor did they respond when I filed a complaint with PayPal. The company has yet to respond after escalating the issue with PayPal in the form of a claim.

TreePad: A Free-Form Database Program

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

The TreePad database program is no longer available. I’m leaving this post up for informational purposes. Links have been changed to point to collected links on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine because www.treepad.com now points to a marijuana dispensary. Thank you to a reader named Chip who brought this to my attention.

Years ago, at the nudging of a former co-worker and friend, I decided to try working in the IT field as a Lotus Notes developer. About 2 years into my IT career, I determined that I needed a way to store code snippets and tips so that I could have a handy reference that allowed easy and quick retrieval of information for use on any project on which I was working.

Things to Consider When Buying a Home

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-18

01 - Introduction

In this post, I want to share some things I’ve learned from buying two homes. Any home purchase will probably be the most expensive purchase you will ever make and you definitely don’t want to have buyer’s remorse. Hint: I have buyer’s remorse. I realize that everyone is different and what bother’s some, may not bother others. I’m not even going to discuss the subject of conflicts with neighbors.

Learn LibreOffice

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-04

I made two wonderful learning discoveries two to three weeks ago. I decided to learn database technology using LibreOffice Base. I currently use spreadsheets for many of my data storage and manipulation needs, but I wondered if putting some of the data in a database would be more beneficial. I didn’t know much about LibreOffice Base other than that it was the database component of the LibreOffice suite. So, I did a quick Internet search and came across a site called The Frugal Computer Guy with video tutorials on many of the LibreOffice components.

Eat the Gelato, Reuse the Container

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-11

I discovered Talenti gelato a few years ago while trying to pick out ice cream at Whole Foods Market . Previously, I bought Stonyfield ice cream, but Whole Foods Market slowly decreased the number of flavors offered for that brand. I then started eating a frozen dessert made from soy milk, for which there were many flavors, but I became concerned after reading that it wasn’t good to consume large amounts of soy, especially if you’re a male.

Creating a WordPress Staging/Testing Site

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-28

Introduction

This is a lengthy tutorial, so grab your favorite beverage before commencing.

Initially, I was going to follow guidance from two different sources for setting up a staging/testing site under my SiteGround account, but then I looked around in cPanel and I noticed a site cloning feature and thought that might be easier, which turned out to be true.

What are some of the reasons for creating a staging/testing site? First, to test new features, plugins, or themes you may be considering for your live site. Second, to test plugin, theme, and WordPress updates to make sure nothing breaks your live site. Third, to experiment without interrupting or breaking your live site.

Devices & Resources for Back Pain or Spine Issues

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-08-30

Disclaimer: The following is not medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

I have suffered from back pain and spine issues since 2011. In my quest to learn as much as possible and my desire to alleviate my back pain, I’ve come across a number of devices and resources that might be helpful to others suffering from back pain and spine issues.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with a herniated L4 disc. The diagnosis resulted from an MRI that was ordered by my primary care doctor because I was experiencing sciatica in my lower left leg and foot, as well as foot drop in my left foot, due to the L4 herniation pressing against the L4 nerve root. I had heard about disc herniations but didn’t know much about them, so I decided to see what Amazon had in the way of books on the subject. I came across an excellent book that covers disc herniations and other spine issues, as well as a number of tips and recommendations to prevent provoking back pain. The book is titled, Herniated Disc: A Survival Guide , written by Dr. William E. Morgan . Unfortunately, the book is only available in Kindle format. I haven’t been able to find a printed version anywhere.

Moleskine Pim Hack

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-08-26

01 - Introduction

In 2009 I was searching the Internet for ideas of how to make a paper PIM (personal information manager). I came across a blog post by a Japanese lady named AK, where she detailed how she used a large Moleskine squared hard notebook to make a personal PIM/diary.

Note: The link to AK’s blog post may generate a javascript error window. If so, just click the OK button. The post is old and probably uses outdated javascript code.

Body Wash by DreamSideOut

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-08-26

In 2016, I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis on my face. One of the things I was told not to do was to wash my face frequently with soap and water. I have oily skin, so I still needed to clean my face about every 4 hours. I tried gentle facial cleansers, but I couldn’t find a gentle cleanser that didn’t have chemicals, preservatives, or artificial scents, all of which can also aggravate atopic dermatitis.

WordPress: Use Image URLs to Save Space on Your Hosting Account

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated on 2026-09-20

01 - Introduction

I recently took an online introductory WordPress course in preparation for starting my blog. In a lecture on optimizing images, the instructor recommended storing images of a certain resolution and file size. Otherwise, you risk quickly fill up your hosting space.

The first thought that came to mind was, can you store images elsewhere and use links to point to those images? I learned about using the technique through my frequent use of Linux forums. I learned about a site called Postimages from a Linux forum I used to frequent. Postimages is what I have used to store images for forum posts, utilizing forum thumbnail links. Couldn’t you use a similar technique to show images in WordPress?

Onis 2.5 Free Edition Under Linux

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-08-30

Introduction

Onis is a DICOM image viewer for the Windows OS. DICOM images are normally generated and provided on a CD when you have MRIs or CT scans performed and sometimes for X-rays. What makes Onis so special? Well, if you have an MRI of your spine, axial (horizontal) and sagittal (vertical) slices (images) will be taken. With Onis viewer, you can open a set of sagittal images in one window and a set of axial images in another window. When you do that, a slice line appears enabling you to know what you’re specifically looking at. Dr. Doug Gillard did a video about using Onis 2.5 Free Edition to read MRIs and explains it much better than can be explained in text.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

r+++ aliases = ‘/my-repetitive-strain-injury-rsi-experience/’ canonicalURL = ‘ https://www.sharedbits.net/posts/my-repetitive-strain-injury-rsi-experience/' description = ‘I sporadically experienced hand pain for years and no health professional could correctly diagnose the cause. Then one day, I self-diagnosed the issue.’ draft = false image = ‘shared–bits_2020-007-00_my–rsi–experience_post–header_1024x680.jpg’ image_caption = ‘Image courtesy of Pete Linforth at Pixabay .’ lastmod = ‘2026-09-11’ post_id = ‘2020-007’ published = ‘2020-10-23’ tags = [‘ADPE’, ‘Health’, ‘Info’, ‘Input-Devices’, ‘RSI’] title = ‘My Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Experience’ toc = true +++ Updated on 2026-09-11

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Updated 2026-09-29

Welcome and thank you for visiting my blog. My name is Kurt Meyer.

Initially, I began sharing interesting links with co-workers, friends, and relatives via email in a shotgun fashion. Later, I came up with the idea of compiling commentary, info, links, reviews, and tips and sending the compilation in a weekly email. One of the recipients of my weekly emails suggested starting a blog.

I played around with the Ghost publishing platform for a few days in January 2016. Hosting costs with Ghost.org (even more expensive now), and the thought that I really didn’t have enough to write about to run a blog, quickly led me to abandon the blog idea.

Monthly Links and Quote; Recommended Read

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Links for October 2026 and recommended read:

Link of the Month

How Products Are Made

Music Video of the Month

Puddle of Mudd - Drift and Die

Quote of the Month

You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.
Walter Hagen

Video of the Month

Unlimited Heat for Your Home or Greenhouse - No Electric Needed

Privacy Policy

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Effective date: 2022-09-07

Shared Bits (“I”, “me”, “my”, or “myself”) operates the https://www.sharedbits.net website (hereinafter referred to as the “Service”). This page informs you of my policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal data when you use my Service and the choices you have associated with that data. I use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact me .

Saved Articles

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Verifying Shared Bits File Downloads

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Shared Bits public key ; decompress after downloading.

Shared Bits public key fingerprint:
A958 85E5 D7CE 620D D1E1 8ADF BCED 3F59 0458 2990

You’ll need an application that can verify GPG signatures:

Linux: Gnu Privacy Assistant , Kleopatra , or Gnu Privacy Guard (command line app; may already be installed - try gpg -h)
macOS: GPG Suite
Windows: Gpg4Win

Tutorials on verifying signatures from the command line in Linux. The tutorials should give you some idea about verifying signatures using a GUI application in any operating system.