Info on Shared Bits

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.