Bernie Goldbach

Glad to get my mid-term ballot. Thanks Democrats Abroad.

I am from Lancaster PA and registered to vote in the US midterm elections. Thanking Democrats Abroad for helping with their ever-vigilant citizen activism.

Glad to get my mid-term ballot. Thanks Democrats Abroad.

Trump in Clare and Deep MAGA in Kerry

This weekend, Donald Trump and his posse are in holiday mode along the Irish coast in County Clare. Trump’s hotel is a nice venue, but not as classy as The Dunloe where the cover shot of this post was snapped.

Trump in Clare and Deep MAGA in Kerry

Learning while listening to imaginary friends

I learn from peers who share as they learn. Recently, I started chatting with Simon Toon via asynchronous audio and Signal texts. Here’s one of the chats.

Learning while listening to imaginary friends

The best wall charger I own

The best wall charger that I own is Anker’s 100W GaN smart charger. Here’s why.

The best wall charger I own

Blessed with Kerrygold Everywhere

I feel so blessed to get two little servings of Kerrygold butter whenever I stop for morning tea in local cafes. Last year, Kerrygold sales surpassed a billion dollars in the United States for the first time.

Blessed with Kerrygold Everywhere

Towards a comfortable focus please

I’m getting best value from a Personal Knowledge Management system that does not chase the latest tools or “must have” plugins or extensions. The value is in the focus. On actually getting things done. Producing value not just using popular things.

Towards a comfortable focus please

My Crystal City friends can use Claude again

Defense Secretary Kegsbreath launched a broadside against Anthropic a few months ago and he restricted the use of Anthropic products from both his corner of the Trump Administration as well as anyone holding a federal contract.

My Crystal City friends can use Claude again

Wondering if Monique flew gliders

I don’t know if Monique Christine Petersen was a D-day girl, but something in my fading memory connects her teens to French Resistance. I’m thinking about these things because of an early morning group text chat with two college classmates.

Wondering if Monique flew gliders

Using a bloated daily checklist. My choice.

I’ve been exchanging audio notes with Simon Toon about using Obsidian. Today I offer a look at the checklist nature of my Obsidian Daily Note.

Using a bloated daily checklist. My choice.

I survived Geisterfahrers

When living along the German autobahn in the 1980s, I survived two Geisterfahrer events. Specifically, I was on the A3 before midnight one evening when a unlighted Mercedes zipped past me above 140 kph.

I survived Geisterfahrers

North of Arctic Circle with my Map Case

While listening to Simon Toon reminisce about his early days with modems and the internet, I thought back to the days when I would carry a map case to Norway containing alligator clips and an acoustical coupler.

North of Arctic Circle with my Map Case

Hard to make things affordable again

It’s been a year since I left behind comfortable wages with as a university lecturer. I should have downshifted significantly because now I am feeling the pressures of affordability in daily life.

Hard to make things affordable again

Once again I am a digital hoarder

I need to follow up on the things that I save for later. I am getting worse. Here is a watch list of one-tenth of the content I saved into Fabric last week.

Once again I am a digital hoarder

Relayed with Obsidian and @sm2n

I’m enjoying an unexpected connection powered by both three channels. One of the channels is a shared Obsidian Vault that uses a Relay Community plugin.

Relayed with Obsidian and @sm2n

Visited a Man Cave and a Viewing

I went to Waterford to explore a N3 Man Cave and then onward to Dungarvan to attend a viewing of a former colleague. Along the way I made a short audio note to myself.

Visited a Man Cave and a Viewing

Little things from organic harvests

In our back garden we are between harvests from vines and harvests from stalks and trees.

Little things from organic harvests

Into the wood chipper

I am reading “Into the Wood Chipper” and hope Elon Musk never sheds that phrase of endearment. Musk’s shockingly ignorant, callous, and bigoted perspectives about America’s humanitarian institutions seep through the 209 pages of this page turner.

Into the wood chipper

Tipping and tech at Brekkie

While in the Lyrath Estate for the Amplify 2026 conference in mid-June, I enjoyed a lovely five star breakfast in the Eden Bistro and then saw how a hospitality worker could earn a tip without actually working a table

Tipping and tech at Brekkie

Welcome rain in Ireland

After a long afternoon shower, I can now smell grass clippings and wind-blown pollen. It’s good to reacquiant myself with Irish mist.

Welcome rain in Ireland

Reading from the Book of Miessler

Since the beginning of citizen journals, back in the time of Live Journal and Geocities, reading text gave me a direct route to thoughtful people. Daniel Miessler, in his post Text is Thought, and Thought is Holy reverberates this essential truth

Reading from the Book of Miessler

From my war planning notebook

In the 1990s, I worked as a military planner alongside colleagues from NATO. When we reviewed potential conflicts, we knew there was never going to be a single war. We knew any conflict in the late 20th century would be a stress test of our global operating system.

From my war planning notebook

Chill Work Desk

One of the problems with my current work desk is my laptop doesn’t recognise my face. And I have to share my bench seat with my cat.

Chill Work Desk

Sharing my Pentagon Perspective on TippFM

I shared a few thoughts about how Trump won The Iran War Participation Trophy on TippFM, our local radio station. He plans incursions on a different level.

Sharing my Pentagon Perspective on TippFM

Respect for braided cables

I have new-found respect for braided USB-C cables. Mainly because they are the only device that can keep all my equipment running.

Respect for braided cables

Shopping with smart glasses

In 2023, we would go shopping with smart glasses because they often told us things we didn’t know just by reading the labels.

Shopping with smart glasses