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Social Media

Letting Go and Analog Things

Posted on September 19, 2025

With all that’s going on in the world it occurred to me being online a lot and trolling social media is probably a bad thing. Bad for my mental health, bad for my level of anger and just bad in general.

I can’t be angry or anxious or feel bad almost all the time. It’s no way to live.

So, with that in mind I’ve been taking a sorta break from most online things. I still post on Instagram and look at photos or watch YouTube videos, but I pretend most other things don’t exist and rarely, if ever, post anything. No Threads. No Facebook. No Bluesky and certainly no Twitter (I will never call it X. Fuck that).

One benefit of not scrolling all the time is, well, more time. I’ve got more time to do other things. One of the things is writing. I’ve been writing more. It isn’t hard to write more than I had been. Any bit would be more when compared to zero, which is what I had been doing.

One of the ways I’ve started writing again is by doing a journal. Every night before I go to bed, instead of looking at my phone or iPad or whatever, I write in one of my favorite notebooks (the Confidant from Baronfig if you’re curious) with one of my favorite pens or pencils (the Uni-Ball 207+ and/or the Blackwing 602).

No, this isn’t a commercial for those products, they’re just some of my favorites. I do love my pens, pencils and notebooks. Some might say too much. But that’s crazy. You can never have enough. Fight me.

Writing every day and keeping a journal (or whatever you want to call it) has been great. I really like doing it and I think it’s become a habit. It makes me happy.

I’ve also seen quite a few people talking about writing a journal first thing in the morning. Getting all the stuff out of your brain before you start your day. That sounds great too and I will probably do that at some point.

For now, though, I’m happy with my progress and don’t want to take on too much. I don’t want to beat myself up if I can’t journal two times a day or something. I’m happy I’m doing it at least once a day, every day. I’ll take the small victories where I can.

So, if you’re feeling some ways about some things: angry, anxious, afraid, whatever, maybe trying writing those feelings and thoughts down in a journal. You don’t have to show it to anyone or even read it ever again. It’s just for you. It’s just to have a place to put some of those feelings and thoughts you maybe don’t want to keep inside.

I really think it’s working for me. It might work for you too.

With the additional free time I’ve also been reading more and watching some shows. Currently, I’m reading The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. It’s been awhile and I’m enjoying the Apple TV+ series so I thought I’d revisit the books.

I also read this great book called Make Time about, well, time and taking some control over your own happiness and satisfaction during the day and in your life. I don’t usually read this kind of thing (self-help or whatever), but these authors make a lot of sense. It’s definitely made me think about what I do during the day and how I spend my time.

Finally, I’m spending more time with my family, taking some walks and even making the occassional photograph. As always, you can find some of those on my Instagram.

Ok. That’s it for now. Be kind to each other.

I Guess I’m Back

Posted on October 29, 2023

i guess i'm back

I think the great Twitter / X / Medium / whatever experiment is over. I’ve devoted a lot of time and energy to those places and what is there to show for it, really? Not much.

In the case of something like Twitter / X it was nice to meet a few people and nice to engage in some conversations . . . until it wasn’t. Now, well, let’s just say shithole doesn’t really begin to describe it. I do feel bad about it, though. I do. It was sorta nice while it lasted.

As far as Medium, Substack (which has other issues) and sites of that nature, I think I’m done with them too. I wanted to like/thrive at Medium and I did write some articles there. In the end, though, it’s still a place controlled by others and could, on what may be just a billionaire’s whim, turn into another shithole. Or worse.

So, enough if that shit.

I really think I should just concentrate what little time/effort/patience/talent I have on this blog. After all, it’s been with me since 2004 and unless I totally fuck something up (not out of the question) it should be here until they pry it from my cold, dead hands. Comforting thought, that.

So that’s it.

People keep asking if I’m back. Yeah, I guess I’m back.

 

 

Image: Lionsgate

Begun, The Social Media War Has

Posted on November 21, 2022

social media war

Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on with Twitter these days either. Since Musky took over it seems to be going downhill fast(er). Not that it wasn’t kinda a shitshow before he came along and decided he knew best how to run things. Sure, sparky. How’s that going for you?

Even with the increased bullshit I’ve decided to hang in there and not delete my account just yet. Why? I’m not 100% sure. I guess it’s mostly just habit. I’ve been on Twitter since 2007 and I look at pretty much every day. Not saying that’s a good thing, it’s just a thing that happens.

I also don’t want some chode to come along and take the @ChrisU handle. That’s mine you fuckers. I got it on day one (or day three or at the beginning anyway) and I’m going to hold onto it. Keep your grubby paws off.

So even if I stop going to Twitter and disappear from it entirely, I’ll likely just disable my account and not delete it. That way, it won’t fall into the “wrong” hands and I can always go back one day if things improve. But really, at this point, I don’t know exactly what I’ll do.

Meantime, I’m also making accounts at all the other places people seem to be going. Like Hive, for example. Again, why am I doing any of this? And again, I’m not 100% sure. I enjoy some of the interactions I’ve had online so I guess I want to try to find that positive side of it again . . . if that’s even possible anymore.

I am enjoying Mastodon so far. Sure, it’s a bit wonky and the people running it aren’t always great at communication or tolerance for newbs, but I think they’re trying. I know the attitude has put a few people off so far and that’s not great for potential future community interaction. But everyone is getting used to a new platform and a new system with new rules and guidelines, there’s bound to be some growing pains. Let’s hope they don’t last too long.

I’ll probably hang in at Mastodon for the time being as I’m not having much of a problem figuring out how to make it work or talking to people. So far, everyone has been pretty cool. I’ve tried my best to be nice and people seem to respond in kind.

Don’t be an asshole and maybe people won’t be an asshole to you? It’s so crazy an idea it just might work. I just try to be kind and see what happens. It doesn’t always work out, though.

Some people are just giant dicks for no real reason. Shocking, I know. I tend to just block them and move on. You should try it.

As far as other social media sites go, as I said I’m on Hive now and I even took a look at my old Tumblr to see if that was interesting to go back to. Still looking at that one. I’m also on Instagram, Flickr, my other website, Facebook (yes, I know) and a few others I’ve probably forgotten about. And I’m still doing the podcast every week. You should listen to that, It’s fun.

Of course, I still have this blog you’re reading too. It’s been around longer than Twitter and a lot of other social media sites. Since 2004, if you can believe that. Hey, maybe that’s the answer?

Maybe we should all just go back to blogs. Those seemed to work pretty well for me and a bunch of people I know . . . at least for awhile anyway.

If I’m being totally honest (and why not?) I don’t know exactly what to do. You may have guessed that. I’ve also said it a few times already. Keep up.

Like it or not Twitter is a part of my life, for good or bad. It used to be good but I’ve been on it less and less the last couple years and maybe I should just deactivate it and commit 100% to something else like Mastodon? I don’t like the direction Twitter is going and I don’t know if it can be saved at this point.

Or, maybe it’s time for a total break from social media? That probably couldn’t hurt either. Lots of things to think about, anyway.

If you’ve left Twitter, where did you end up? I’m always interested to hear about other people’s experiences.

No matter where you go, always try to be kind. We need that now more than ever.

 

Note: The title of this point is not my joke. I can’t remember where I saw it so I can’t give credit. Thank you person on the Internet who said it first. Your sacrifice has not been in vain. 

Image: Disney / Lucasfilm

Moving Day

Posted on November 10, 2022

Yes, that “brilliant” dude Elon purchased Twitter at the bargain price of 44 Billion, or something like that. And yes, he now seems to be tanking it for whatever reason. Cool.

Hey, it’s his (or someone’s) money, so what the hell, right? He’s so brilliant and all. Such a genius. So smart and so funny. How could it ever go wrong?

Nah, fuck that guy. Don’t like him. Don’t trust him. Never will.

All this is to say I’ve set up over at Mastodon. You should probably do the same. If you want to find me, I’m right here: @ChrisU@mastodon.social

See you on the other side.

Trying Something New at Micro.blog

Posted on May 5, 2022

micro.blog

By now many people who care are either outraged or happy Elon Musk is (probably) buying Twitter. There’s also some people who land in the middle.

Those people are concerned about what might happen but not enough to leave Twitter in protest. Instead, preferring to stay and get into some “good trouble.” For the moment, I’m in that camp.

But even if I do stay on Twitter, I’m also exploring other options. That brings me to Micro.blog.

It’s like Twitter in some ways but different in others. To really know what I’m talking about, you should probably just check it out for yourself. If you want to follow me over there, I’m @ChrisU

I also bring this up because I’m going to let Micro.blog start cross-posting to this blog. It’s a test to see if it’s more useful than annoying. I guess we’ll see.

(Update: Well, I guess I’m a bit dumb. Turns out I can post to Micro.blog from here but not, as yet, the other way around. So yeah, you won’t be seeing anything from Micro.blog on here until they work out how to do it. As you were.)

So, (don’t) expect frequent short posts on here in addition to the longer ones that appear, well, not as often as I’d like. I know, I know. I’m working on it.

That’s it for now. Try to be kind to each other. We need it now more than ever.

2022 Continues to Be Okay I Guess

Posted on April 26, 2022

I didn’t mean to leave you hanging this long. My apologies. In my last post I said I’d come down with “something” that may or may not have been COVID.

Long story short, I don’t know if it was COVID but it only lasted a week or so and I feel fine now. I did end up finding a way to get tested, though. The kid’s school has a deal with some testing sites and he and I went to one, waited three hours, and got a swab shoved into our nostrils so far it came out our ears.

No, not really. It just felt like it. Of course, I went first to show him it was no big deal. He was very brave, especially after the first nostril. We got ice cream after, as you do.

We both tested negative, so who knows? He did end up up getting sick too and lost his sense of taste and smell for a couple days, which seemed like COVID to me. But again, he tested negative so we’ll never really know I guess.

We’re both fully vaxxed, by the way. If we did have COVID, I’ll assume that’s why we didn’t have more serious symptoms. I’m must glad it wasn’t more serious no matter the reason.

Since then, we’ve avoided any more sickness at the house and Summer is a month away. Fingers crossed we make it without further incident. The kid continues to wear a mask at school, even though it’s not “mandatory” anymore.

Removing the mask mandate was yet another fucking stupid decision on the part of our government, but I’lll try to keep my rants to a minimum this week. No promises, though.

Let’s just say I’m still not impressed with the way our governments, Federal, State and local, have handled the pandemic. We’re just lucky it wasn’t much worse. Of course, tell that to the families and friends of all the people who’ve died from COVID. They’re probably not too impressed either.

And as if we didn’t have enough problems, it looks like man-child Elon Musk is buying Twitter. I’m sure he’ll make it a much better place to socialize. Yeah, no doubt in my mind whatsoever. Yeah . . .

In unrelated news I’ve started to explore alternatives to Twitter. So far, I’ve landed at Micro.blog. I’m @ChrisU on there, just like on Twitter, so I should be easy to find. You may want to check it out.

I’m also making The Flickcast podcast every week with my pal Joe Dilworth. It’s going great and still fun, so I plan to continue doing it until people tell me to fuck off. So far, so good.

Finally, I’ve started drawing and painting again. I was inspired by my friend Dave Caolo, some books I saw on Urban Sketching and the Urban Sketching World website. Basically, you go to a place (city street, cool building, wherever) and sketch/draw it with pen and ink and then add some color with watercolor paint.

It’s really been fun, even though I’m not very good at it (and that’s being kind). Still, art of any kind is wonderful. It’s also great therapy and allows you to free your mind and not think about horrible shit all the time. Not that I do that.

I only think about horrible shit the appropriate amount of time.

Okay. I’ll try not to make the time between posts so long from now on. I know you all miss me when I’m gone too long.

Oh, that’s one of my drawings at the top of this post. It’s a photo of it from my sketchbook. Yes, I have a sketchbook. I’m an artist now, don’t you know.

It’s not the worst I’ve done and I don’t hate it, so that’s something. I’ll keep at it.

Okay. Gotta go. Until next time, be kind to each other.

Rethinking Facebook

Posted on April 10, 2014

facebook-dislike

Like many of you, I have a personal Facebook page. It’s right here. I also have one for The Flickcast. That’s right here. I do spend some time on Facebook interacting with a few friends. I don’t spend as much time as I used to, however.

This is mostly due to having less free time in general, but also because over the last couple of years I’ve found Facebook to be less and less useful for promoting my various endeavors, which is one of the reasons I got on it in the first place.

Now I understand why.

Over at Booooooom, they’ve posted a couple videos highlighting what’s wrong with Facebook and why many people are leaving it. It all makes sense now.

Given the state of things, I may be joining the exodus soon enough.

Because I like you and don’t want you to have to click anything and go to another page, the videos are below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfHeWTKjag?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ZqXlHl65g?rel=0&w=560&h=315]