I Googled Myself (Again) And This Is What I Found

I’ve Googled myself before, but not since Google added an AI search engine feature. I admit I'm pretty salty about AI. I never use that AI search result when Googling anything, preferring the actual results rather than the AI summary that shows up. But. Ummm…maybe I should re-think that. Because when the AI summarized me, it got me pretty well. I mean I don’t know what I’d add here. I searched “SuperLowBudge.” That’s my handle everywhere from Reddit to a Pinterest page I forgot about. 

Google AI Search Results 

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To Blog or Not To Blog (And If So, Where?): A Round-up of blogging platforms

There has been some talk on Facebook and Reddit in recent weeks about blogging--whether it's still relevant, who is doing it, and what is the best platform. Well! It just so happens that I think it IS still relevant (obviously), and I have tried out a bunch of blogging platforms myself over the years. Some others I haven't tried personally, but I follow blogs on them, and have formed an opinion on their look and feel. Here's some personal observations...

Diaryland

Diaryland is the OG blogging platform. That's where I started in 2000. I would probably still be blogging on Diaryland, but for some issues with it. I'll get into those in a minute. An upside to Diaryland is there's still a strong community. You log in there's hundreds (thousands?) of blogs, sorted by most recently updated, and most bloggers display a list of favorite Diaryland blogs. Another upside to Diaryland is it's simplicity--there are exactly twelve templates to choose from. They haven't changed in at least 25 years! The templates each display a main blog area, and has links to the latest entry, an index of all old entries, an email link, and a link back to the main Diaryland site. And that's it! So if you really want to concentrate on just writing, with not a single bell or nary a whistle, Diaryland might be just the thing. There isn't even image hosting, unless you pay for Gold/Supergold membership (which I have, from time to time, over the years). Back in the day, I had an inmotionhosting account where I hosted all my images that appeared in my Diaryland blog and I had to make hard-coded links to them. In fact, you still pretty much have to know at least a little HTML to use Diaryland, to insert links etc. I started so long ago that I do know HTML fairly well, but that's one of the issues with Diaryland--who wants to hand code anymore? Another issue is the tech support--there isn't any. I forgot my password for 17 years, and apparently there was no way to get it back since appeals to Andrew, Diaryland's owner, went unanswered. And my email has changed, but the "change your email here" link doesn't work. Amazingly, I came across my password the other day! So I plan to clean up the old blog. I do have to say, Andrew's been hosting my blog for 25 years at no charge--that counts for something. Pretty amazing. 

Substack

Substack is the new kid on the block, relatively speaking. Launched in 2018 for widespread use, Substack was in fact built to help writers collect email subscribers and to send out paid newsletters. In this newsletter space there's a metric ton of competition, and a quick Google search shows about a thousand articles on what's better, Substack or a blog? Mind you, I haven't signed up for any emailed newsletters (I get enough email, thank you) but I've seen a bunch of blogs. The blog component  of Substack is okay, I guess. I mean, as far as layout goes, the Substack blogs I've seen look decent enough. They just seem kind of...businesslike, I think is the word? I have a feeling that the bloggers who opt for Substack are the "business" bloggers who are more interested in SEO, analytics, paid subscriptions etc than they are in good old fashioned blogging. It doesn't feel like there's a Substack community like there is with Diaryland, Blogger, Tumblr, or even Wordpress. I also checked around online for Substack template designers. Blogger and Wordpress have literally thousands of designers that offer free, beautiful blog templates organized by type, depending on what kind of blog you want. They can be personalized further with some basic HTML. I don't know what designs/templates Substack offers, but to me Substack blogs all look similar. Maybe because of the email thing? Because of the newsletters, Substack wants emails. I thought at first that you are compelled to supply an email address in order to get past the initial Substack blog page, and I was disgusted by that. Having readers enter their email before they can read your blog? Gross. But I was wrong--below the email request is a "No Thanks" option. Well good. I still don't like that an email request is the first thing you see when accessing any blog. I just get an icky feeling from Substack, and can't see myself using it for my blog.

Blogger

Blogger was launched in 1999 by Pyra Labs, bought by Google a few years later, and redesigned a few times. In the Theme menu Blogger offers dozens of templates you can launch instantly, plus there's an endless collection of templates created by talented designers online. The best thing about Blogger is the drag-and-drop template editing interface. It's so easy to add and edit posts, include YouTube videos, add images and drag to change their size, wrap text around images, add as many Pages as you want, all kinds of features. Obviously I use Blogger, and I love it. Some drawbacks that might be deal-breakers for you: Google has canceled the "Subscribe by email" function as of 2021. It's a mystery as to why they would do this, as it places Blogger at a disadvantage to other blogging platforms. It was called Feedburner, and Google didn't install a replacement for it! There are other tools out there that you can install using Blogger's "HTML/Javascript" gadget under Layout, it's just annoying that Google left Bloggers to figure it out on our own. This unfortunately does not inspire confidence in the future of Blogger. Another drawback to Blogger is that lately, users have reported blogs not indexing correctly. This means that the blog post won't be found by Google. You can fix it, but again, does not inspire confidence. Despite those two issues, and my mention of confidence, I can't stress this enough, GOOGLE HAS NO PLANS TO DISCONTINUE BLOGGER! I just doubt they would. There's just too much user support. If you're thinking of starting a blog, may I suggest you go with Blogger? You'd be even more user support for a great blog platform. Couldn't hurt. Did I mention I love Blogger?

Wordpress

These days, Wordpress is a free and totally open-source Content Management System that's used to power something like 40% of the internet. But back in 2003 when it was just a humble little blogging platform, I looked into it. As I recall, with Wordpress you needed a hosting site, like GoDaddy etc.That is not free. And there is a learning curve with the tech--you're not going to accomplish a Wordpress site in a few hours. But, from an article I found comparing Blogger to Wordpress, "...The platform supports thousands of plugins that can add any feature imaginable – from simple contact forms to full ecommerce systems. You can integrate email marketing tools, create membership areas, or add sophisticated analytics." The big question is, do you need all that? Do you want to spend a lot of time on the back-end, constantly making the updates Wordpress requires? Will you be doing eCommerce, newsletters, measuring analytics? For a blog? Another thing about Wordpress is its potentially sketchy security. I don't know, I just can't see worrying about all that. Wordpress is for other people.

Tumblr

Tumblr is like a cross between Instagram and old-school Twitter. With Tumblr you can make short blog posts, and share pictures, videos and music with the Tumblr community of members, follow other Tumbler blogs and re-post other Tumblr posts. I think I made a Tumblr profile but never made any posts. I know that you can customize your Tumblr blog, but I don't know anything about the interface or ease of use.

 

LiveJournal

I actually had a blog on LiveJournal for a few weeks in between Diaryland and Tumblr, before I landed at Blogger. I vaguely remember that the entries were about this strange little thrift store in the neighborhood. I don't remember how I lost the LiveJournal blog, just that it's gone. In any case, LiveJournal was sold to a Russian company at some point. That's the end of LiveJournal I guess.

There are more platforms for posting and sharing blog posts, but these are the only ones for which I  have experience. If anyone has more information about any of these, feel free to leave a Comment or email me. If you blog somewhere else, I'd love to hear about it!

PS: I didn't mention video blogs, or vlogs. YouTube is still the main thing for video. And it's also a Google company, which is why YouTube videos integrate with Blogger easily.

 

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An Anxiety Dream? Again?

"The Undertoad." Pastels on paper.

I had an anxiety dream last night. I haven't had one in over two years. I wonder. I wonder if there have been any studies that correlate a lapse in anxiety/dark thoughts/nightmares with a brain bleed. Because I can't help but notice that my brain, in terms of anxiety/depression, is better, notably in the two years since I've had the stroke. I wouldn't recommend it, as far as improving the symptoms of mental illness. Now I have a whole new set of problems.

But I think last night's anxiety dream...a nightmare, if I'm honest...shows that the anxiety is always right there, under the surface, always waiting. Like the Under Toad in The World According to Garp. I suppose it will always be there.🛌

 

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Throwback to Morning Cuddles: January 1st 2018 (Video)

 

Joe is irresistibly adorable in the morning, hugging the Bear and telling me he loves me. I mean, can you even? 💓 

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Currently Listening: Jellyfish, Spilt Milk

Today, I have been writing and listening to my favorite records. A lot of my favorite records, few have heard. But everyone should hear Jellyfish, Spilt Milk. So gorgeous! You know, there was a time, like thirty years ago, when I used to review local music. You had to describe music with words, crafted in such a way so as to have the reader able to "hear" it, to decide whether or not to support those musicians by buying the record. These days, you can just share the record--Bandcamp or Youtube, etc. Just, "Here, you'll like this." No need to elaborate.

 

 

 

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(x)anthology: My Idea For A Gen X Periodical That Never Came To Fruition

 

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House hunting has begun...

I posted this news on Next Door and Facebook last August: We have to move, you guys! I know, as if Joe and I don't have enough going on. 

Fifteen years we've lived here. And loved it here. But alas, now, sometime in the next year, we have to go. Joe has already started to make plans for a big purge. We have dead electronics taking up space, and we both have collected way too many clothes. Things like that. We have time, we can sort thru and call some charities and junk removal services. But where to? 

I have taken on the task of researching apartments. I have already been doing it for about three months in anticipation, because T gave us a heads-up. I have looked at Dorchester, Roslindale, Medford, Somerville, Dedham, Brighton, Chelsea, Lynn. Jamaica Plain, Salem, Abington and a lot of other towns where there are still rents for around $1900-$2300. 

I have looked at Connecticut. New Haven, Bristol, Southington, Plainville, New Milford, Southbury, Mystic. 

I have looked at Providence. 

I have even looked at Portland, OR. 

Here's what I'm hunting for...and hear me out. We have plenty of time so we're aiming for as many of these parameters as possible. We're realistic--probably not all of these will be met. But we'll try. 

• A city or town with a walkable neighborhood. Joe doesn't drive, and I can't anymore due to the stroke. I haven't owned a car in twenty years anyway. We WALK to get groceries, prescriptions, coffee, the library. (We get some things delivered.) 

• 2 bedrooms. Or a 1 bedroom plus office.

• At least 1000 sq ft. We have a baby grand piano--a small one, but still. It's sentimental. Hate to part with it.

• Not in a building. We did that. We lived on Comm Ave for years. We want to live in a house, 1st or 2nd floor (I can get up to the 2nd floor here just fine, I think 3rd floor is pushing it.) 

• A covered porch. An open porch or patio probably won't work for us. We are both on medication for which we need to stay out of the sun. But we've gotten used to having that sweet outdoor space.

• Anything but electric heat. Oil or gas.  

• Gas range. It's really the only way if you're serious about cooking.

• Washer/dryer, or at least hookups. You would not believe the number of places that have no laundry on site, or have shared coin-op machines. Who has coins these days? We are too old to be schlepping to a laundromat, and by "we" I mean poor Joe who had a heart transplant, and will be 55 in April.

• A kitchen of such a size that two people can occupy it at the same time, and has room for my baker's rack and my kitchen island. On Comm Ave our kitchen was so small you couldn't open the fridge and the oven at the same time. We can't go back to that.

• A living room and dining room, even if it's all one big space.

• Well-rated hospital and docs nearby. I really think we would have lost Joe two years ago if we did not have Tufts. 

We're great tenants. We don't smoke. We don't have pets. We don't need parking. We don't need a yard. We can pay 1st, last, and security. We have excellent credit. We have excellent references. So, let the search go on...🔎

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Stroke/Heart Transplant/August 2023

I'm off Facebook for awhile, but the last thing I did was look up some of the old posts from August 2023. That's when I had my stroke, and Joe had a heart transplant. This post from August 6th 2023 posted by my brother-in-law is quite chilling.

"This situation just became much more complex. As some of you know, our sister-in-law Michelle suffered a stroke last week. She is currently in the ICU and working on the long road to recovery. The update is that her husband (Jennifer's brother), my brother-in-law, Joe suffered a heart attack 2 days after Michelle was admitted. He is also in the ICU right now (same hospital as his wife) waiting for surgery to repair the damage. Jennifer and I were with him yesterday when his friend Thalia took him to the ER for himself due to extreme fatigue, and after testing, hearing the reveal that he had a heart attack 4 days earlier, which was why he was so exhausted.

 

We're not sure how much Michelle knows at the moment, as she was intubated and sedated when this was going on (she has been extubated as of this morning) and has had communicating difficulties because of the stroke. We will be talking to everyone at the hospital this afternoon and will do what we can to update all parties as we know more.

 

Jennifer and I will be heading back to the hospital today to visit with them both and do what we can. Jennifer is juggling a lot with communication between doctors (thank goodness she speaks "health care"), family, friends, etc. She is a rock but it's a lot. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions to save her a cut and paste. She is happy to respond but be wary that she's getting a lot of duplicate questions in an active situation."

Wow. Well, munk says they don't know how much I knew. Actually, I was totally out of it. I don't recall when I learned that Joe was in the hospital, but I remember my ICU nurses braiding my hair, then wheeling me in to see him. I remember him talking to me, but not what he said. Or what I said. Jen later sent me a picture she took of us talking. Then some transport guys came to get him, taking him off to Tufts. I knew he was being transferred to Tufts, but I didn't know why, and was too out of it to ask.

In the following weeks, I remember Jen and my mother-in-law visiting me, and I remember that I asked, "Can I talk to Joe?" And Jen answered, "Not yet." I had a hard time completing sentences. I fell asleep while they were there.

Then I was at rehab, and doing a little better. And one day the phone rang, and it was Joe! I was SO HAPPY to hear from him. After talking for a bit, he said, "What's going on here, is a heart transplant." I remember that I was shocked. But I was talking with my sweet love, so I was okay.

The past two years have been quite the journey of recovery for both of us. Hundreds of doctor appointments. Many hours of physical therapy. And mental health therapy. And feeling intense gratitude for Jen and munk, our landlady Thalia and her wife Heather, and our vast network of friends and family for rallying around us. We're okay. I think we're gonna be okay.💓

 

 

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My Mother-in-law Is Brainwashed By Fox News And I Don't Know What To Do

MIL: Says a Democrat

Me: What do you mean?

Me:Nothing? Nothing to add? “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” —Mark Twain

Me: Every day it’s more dangerous. You have to stop watching Fox News and get on the right side of history.

 

MIL: maybe CNN, MSNBC, etc are the ones spreading false news. They never show both sides, only theirs.

Me: Well, what’s the “other side”?

Me: For the record, we haven't watch "CNN, MSNBC, etc" in many years. We are getting information directly from Trump's own words. And his supporters. That's how I know “Republicans stand for raw, unbridled evil and greed and ignorance smothered in balloons and ribbons" is a fact. I didn't hear it on CNN nor MSNBC. Frank Zappa has been dead for 31 years. And Frank Zappa sure didn't hear it on MSNBC because MSNBC wasn't around in his lifetime. But even if he did, and even if we tuned in to those networks, while they may be left leaning in terms of commentary, these news sources have been proven to report FACTS. And Fox News has been proven to be unreliable opinion-based commentary. Opinions that are based on falsehoods and exaggeration. I don't know how else to reach you. What else do need to hear out of Trump or his acolytes before you stop believing he is anything less than raw, unbridled evil? 

MIL: they have been proven wrong so many times. That's why their ratings are so low and Fox is #1. You should tune into Fox sometime. You might learn something.

 Me: As I said—we don’t watch them. It doesn’t matter if they were proven wrong at any point. I’m sure they were, as have any news outlets since the beginning of time. You still haven’t answered me: what does Trump have to do to get you to see the truth about him? Does he have to personally come to our house and punch one of us in the face? Can you not see that we are fast becoming a fascist country?

As for tuning into Fox News myself, I have done that plenty. I also used to listen to Rush Limbaugh. I also used to listen to Howie Carr every day on my drive home. You see, I went to college. I am always ready to “learn something.” What I have learned is that you are being brainwashed by the MAGA cult. Dot, you may be a Republican. But these are not Republicans. These are fascists. You’re a nice lady. Do you not see that you are on the same side as Nazis?

 

MIL: Really? Nazis id where you're going? And Fascists? One of us is brainwashed and it's not me.

 

 

 

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