While all eyes are on how Elon Musk is handling the blue checkmark over at Twitter and debating the checkmark's value and devaluing, I submit the checkmark isn't just a Twitter problem but also a social media problem no matter what platform you're using. Over the past couple weeks, I've come to the conclusion that it is a huge mistake to confuse verification with designating someone as notable or not. The use of verification for only notable users, which in turns designates the remaining users as non-notable, is divisive and never should have happened. While I reluctantly have sided with Mr. Musk that it was time for the legacy blue checkmark to exit Twitter, I also see him also making the same mistake with verification and Twitter's paid subscription, Twitter Blue. 

At the risk of dating myself, I’ve been writing and posting articles online since the 1980s. Back then we didn’t have the Internet but we did have dial-up modems and bulletin board systems (BBS) hosted by computer enthusiasts. When the Internet, blogging, and self-hosted websites became popular in the late 1990's and early 2000’s I was also there. For awhile I hosted a website focused on content management systems that in its peak easily received over 100,000 unique visitors a month.

I have no idea what the future holds for Twitter. I do know however that the recent changes at Twitter by Elon Musk continues to bleed cash, staff, and community. A lot of people are currently seeking social media networks that aren't Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. I've been there myself. In the past, I've always reached the same conclusion that I have too many friends, family, and acquaintances I value still remain on the Big 3 as I don't want to leave them behind. Until now. Increasingly, I'm starting to soften my stance from I'm not leaving Twitter to starting to tweet out loud that I may be leaving Twitter.

​​​​​​Running my weather station and media server on a Mini PC. Beelink's Mini PC and those like it are the future.

A few months ago, I purchased the Beelink U59 Pro Mini PC with only a few reviews available at the time. Despite being a longtime Windows and Linux PC I've been skeptical of the mini PC market  in general and have avoided making a purchase in the past. So much skepticism that my first introduction to this small form factor was last year's purchase of an Apple Mac Mini M1 despite not being a huge fan of the macOS operating system. Luckily, this Beelink Mini PC has convinced me that "small is better" for Windows and Linux as well.

A year ago I purchased for home use Apple's Mac Mini M1 with 512 GB SSD built into the computer. Coming more from a Windows and Linux background, it wasn't the operating system or Apple services that lured me to make the purchase but instead its small footprint in both size and presence. While the Mac Mini is a neat computer on its own, there are a couple tradeoffs. The negatives include fewer ports and the lack of ability to upgrade both memory and internal storage. I was afraid to turn this around, I was looking at unattractive cables to external devices spread across my desktop making that "small footprint" no more. Luckily, I looked and found a more elegant solution with my purchase of the newly released Qwiizlab UH25 SE USB C Hub.

I've been struggling as of late trying to find the time to write articles for my blog and websites. It's actually caused me some stress to not be writing because there is so much I want to say and share. I always feel that I'm so behind in my writing. This has been an ongoing theme for me but it's not because I don't have the time but instead because I have chosen higher priorities with my time than blogging.

I'm intentionally choosing to experiencing all that I can with my family. I don't want to miss the moments because of the glow of the computer screen in front of me. The crux of the matter, my son is off to college this Fall. I want no regrets that the time we spent as a family and exploring the world was missed because I was at the keyboard and not there at their side.

Living in South Dakota, most of the motorcyclists around here don't really get their bikes and trikes out until May. However, as one that likes to ride all year around, I'm in full swing by the start of April. Yesterday with the temperatures in the 50s, I decided to take a solo ride to knock the winter dust off my Can-Am Spyder. I had no destination in mind beyond finding some county roads I've never ridden on before.

My catch phrase when riding is that "Random roads take me to random places. I like it!". In this case the South Dakota roads took me to Parker, Monroe, Lake Vermillion, and Montrose. From Montrose I took Highway 38 back to more familiar well-ridden territory of Humboldt, Hartford, and of course Sioux Falls. 

With temperatures in the 50s, our dog Jasmine wanted to hit the bike path.

She's had enough of winter, the pandemic, and possibly humans.

Skunk Creek in the background is still pretty much frozen over due to the cold temperatures we have had the past several weeks.