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By Bryan Ruby, 17 January, 2022
Screenshot of socPub, CMS Report, and After Work Pub

Trying to find my niche with three websites

It make take awhile but when I make a mistake I will eventually admit and correct the error of my ways. Half a decade ago, I turned my back on supporting niche websites and focused all my effort in creating a new multi-topic website which you now know as socPub. As counter-intuitive that it sounds, the more diverse and interesting topics we published under this website, our number of loyal visitors to the website decreased in numbers. I found this analysis to be alarming and discouraging.

By Bryan Ruby, 16 January, 2022
The path I took from Garden City to Sioux Falls in blue in 1992.

Thirty Years in Sioux Falls

Thirty years ago, I moved from Garden City, KS to Sioux Falls, SD for the National Weather Service. At the time of the move, I had only planned to be in Sioux Falls for a few years as in those days it was difficult (and maybe still is) to get promoted on site. Plus, if I'm being honest, I really didn't want to live in South Dakota longer than I had to as I always thought there would be day I would return to the Kansas City area. Three decades later, I've served four different positions at the same office (Meteorologist Intern, Forecaster, Lead Forecaster, and Information Technology Officer), found the love of my life, and raised a family. 

By Bryan Ruby, 14 January, 2022
Snow blower and Spyder in the garage

Can-Am Spyder vs Winter

From a pleasant Wednesday here in Sioux Falls with a high temperature of 51 to a day of Winter Weather Advisories with temperatures in the 20s, it can be a frustrating time for any motorcycle rider. Today, both of our Can-Am Spyders sit in the cold garage as I prepare the EGO snow blower to do battle with the snow. The batteries are fully charged and I'll be out in the elements once the snow stops falling. The fact that I won't be riding the Spyders for awhile just makes the snow sitting on my driveway look deeper than it should be. 

By Saturday morning, I'm trading in my motorcycle helmet for a stocking cap any my motorcycle for a snow blower that goes goes from 0 to 3 MPH in 10 seconds.

By Bryan Ruby, 1 January, 2022
Sioux Falls - Memorial Park Estates Weather Station

My Backyard Weather Station

Since 2008, I've been collecting weather observations in my backyard with a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Wireless Weather Station. Beyond routine maintenance and an occasional replacement or addition of parts, the weather station has been rock solid.

By Bryan Ruby, 30 December, 2021

Breakthrough COVID cases in South Dakota

I've heard lots of opinions these past couple months from family and friends that vaccines against COVID-19 work. I've also heard from other family members and friends, some of them anti-vaccine folks, that if/once you have survived COVID-19 you have natural immunity that protects you during future exposures to the virus. To me, the comforting news is the numbers collected here in South Dakota, both sides of this discussion are correct.

Month after month, analysis by local papers and our hospital system have consistently shown the following to be true.

By Bryan Ruby, 27 December, 2021

My Most Productive Time of the Year

When I'm not able to visit with family or travel to some place warm during the holiday season, my most favorite time of the year to work is the week between Christmas and the New Year. For the holidays, most of the office staff is on vacation, most of my organization's leadership is on vacation, and most on-going projects have been put on hold. In other words, I have found there is no other week of the year with fewer distractions than this week.

By Bryan Ruby, 13 December, 2021
Various LP Records

Vinyl Records Haven't Sold This Well in 20 Years

It has been no secret that since the start of the pandemic, I've been obsessed with vinyl records all over again. Part of my interest is out of nostalgia for my old records but I've also bought a lot of new music also being released on vinyl. And you know what? I'm not alone. Weekly sales in the United States of vinyl albums jumped to their second largest week since the MRC Data tracking of sales in 1991. According to Billboard.com:

By Bryan Ruby, 11 December, 2021
Drupal Olivero Theme showing Bryan's Blog

What's new in Drupal 9.3.0

The third feature release of Drupal 9 recently became available. New features and improvements in Drupal 9.3.0 include:

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Recent Articles

Twitter Alternatives: Spending my time on Bluesky this Month

1 day 18 hours ago

My other websites are running Drupal 10

4 weeks ago

This Website is Running on Drupal 10

1 month 1 week ago

Thought of the Day: Positivity

1 month 1 week ago

Out with the Old, In with the New

1 month 1 week ago

Popular content

Today's:

  • My review of the Snow Joe Two-Stage 80V Cordless Snow Blower
  • My Review of the Fluance RT82 Turntable
  • Twitter Alternatives: Spending my time on Bluesky this Month

All time:

  • What we know about EGO's new Select Cut Cordless Lawn Mower (LM2130SP)
  • My review of the Snow Joe Two-Stage 80V Cordless Snow Blower
  • My Review of the Fluance RT82 Turntable
  • I purchased an EGO Power+ Self-Propelled Mower
  • My Massive Google+ Blogroll

My Elsewhere

  • Post.News
  • Spoutible
  • Bluesky
  • SocPub
  • After Work Pub

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