I do enjoy TV and movies. I subscribe to a couple video streaming services. I still collect DVDs and Blu-rays. I even still have a VCR. But, few shows have inspired and me as much as “The Chosen”, which is a depiction of the people invited by Jesus Christ to follow him during his mortal ministry.

I know artistic liberties have been taken and talented, imaginative writers have filled in gaps. But I love it because it has made the names and people and culture so much more real to me. Reading the Bible is good and important – I believe we should be reading the scriptures daily. And it is good to use your own imagination to try to visualize what you are reading. But we are so far removed from that place and time. We lack experience, context, and knowledge.

Seeing depictions of how people lived during the time of Christ, the dynamic between the Jews and the Romans, the dynamic of the different groups within the Jewish community, the political and religious and cultural tensions and drama – this has provided some very illuminating context to sacred scripture and made it that much more meaningful to me.

I highly recommend “The Chosen” to anyone. Whether you are Christian or not, it's extremely well-written and produced. A compelling story with endearing characters. It's good TV.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 140) #faith #Lent #Christianity #media #TV

The second season moves fast. It has to – they had to condense 4 more seasons of material into one. It's brilliant, but the first season is still my favorite. A lot of people didn't like the pacing of Season 1, but I absolutely love it. The intentionality, the deliberateness of it. So much is conveyed in the drawn-out scenes and moments without speech. The music and thoughtful cinematography in those moments tell important parts of the story that action sequences and dialogue could never tell. They give space for the viewers to contemplate what they've seen and heard. They allow room for imagination.

It's so compelling and meaningful because it's so relatable. And it's also terrifying for the same reason. Just replace some fictional names with some real-world ones, change a few minor details, and many of the sub plots and story arcs of the series could be real-life stories that have played out and are playing out right now.

The stories also apply in different contexts. As I once again reevaluate my relationship with technology, one part of Nemik's Manifesto stood out to me this time.

Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.

It got me thinking, what are acts of technological insurrection?

Any time we choose to use a piece of technology that is not controlled, tracked, or surveilled by Big Tech, it's an act of technological insurrection. Any time we choose to resist the urge to look at a screen for no reason, it's an act of technological insurrection. And no matter how small the act, it pushes our lines forward.

How awful is the current state of things that writing this blog post using my own brain and my own fingers, without the assistance of an AI LLM chat bot, is now an act of technological insurrection?

2025 started strong for me, and then, for reasons I'm still trying to understand and sort out, I took an emotional, mental, and spiritual nosedive to finish out this year.

I have never felt so uncertain, confused, and directionless in my life.

Whether a symptom or a cause, I've been using technology most of this year without restraint and without intent.

I want 2026 to be different. I need it to be different.

My technological insurrection resumes now.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 121) #tech #TV #intentionism #DigitalMinimalistm #AI

Sometimes, when we were in the mood to watch a tape, one of us would stand or sit in front of the VHS shelves and read off titles until there was a consensus among everyone present on something to watch.

Every so often we'd go to a video rental store like Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and bring home a few movies to watch – that was always a treat.

For a while, we lived in a house with a neighbor who had the biggest VHS collection I've ever seen. They gladly lent out tapes to their neighbors – they even had a sign-out sheet and log to keep track of who had checked out which tapes.

I still have a VCR and a very small VHS collection which includes just a few of the tapes from my family's old collection. I even have a tape rewinder. Occasionally I'll bring home a tape from the thrift store to add to my collection.

The picture and sound quality of VHS tapes can't compare to DVDs, of course. But it's not about the quality, it's about the nostalgia. It's about the intentional experience of watching a movie on physical media. It's about the memories, the feelings of peace, comfort, and safety I had in my youth watching movies at home my family.

As convenient as it is today to watch video on-demand, I miss those days when we were limited to watching what being broadcast over the airwaves and what was in the collections of family and friends and video rental stores – and we were happy all the same.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 103) #nostalgia #TV #movies #retro

Spoilers ahead!

I'm currently obsessed with the Star Wars TV series Andor. Writing, directing, acting, cinematography, music, story – all brilliant. It resonates with me on many levels. I'm watching the first season for the second time and paying close attention. In Episode 7, Announcement, a conversation between Andor and Maarva got me thinking.

Andor is trying to convince Maarva to leave Ferrix with him.

Maarva: I'm staying.

Cassian: But it's... it's not safe.

Maarva: I know all that.

Cassian: I can't be here. You said it yourself, “It's all come undone.” There's an Imperial barracks on Rix Road.

Maarva: Good luck to them.

Cassian: You wanna live under that?

Maarva: It's happening everywhere.

Cassian: Well, we'll find a place they haven't ruined yet.

Maarva: I'm already there. That place is in my head. They can build as many barracks as they like, they'll never find me.

Cassian: What's left to keep you here?

Maarva: The Rebellion.

Cassian: What?

Maarva: Ferrix has been hiding long enough.

Cassian: So now you're taking on the Empire?

Maarva: Laugh if you want to.

Cassian: Who's laughing? This is madness.

Maarva: No, it's not. It's overdue, and probably doomed, and I'm too old, and I don't care anymore. For 13 years, every time I walk down Rix Road, I turn off before I get to the square. I take the long way around so I don't have to think about Clem hanging there. Then yesterday, I heard about this attack at Aldhani. Have you heard about this?

Cassian: What about it?

Maarva: Well, Bee played me the news. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Cassian: Yeah, yeah, the garrison at Aldhani.

Maarva: I heard that, I put on my best coat, and I walked across the square with a smile on my face. If there are heroes brave enough to take on a whole Imperial garrison, I'm brave enough to stick it out here. I... I don't expect you to understand.

Cassian: Aldhani was just a robbery.

Maarva: People are standing up.

Cassian: Yeah, and getting killed for it.

Maarva: But there's work that will need doing.

Cassian: Yeah? What is that?

Maarva: Whatever it takes. I've been lying around waiting to die long enough.

Cassian: You can't beat them, Maarva.

Maarva: Not if I run away.

In the context of the show, the stakes are much higher than they are in my current reality. But the principle Maarva is trying to teach Cassian rings true for many different circumstances.

Social media has been on my mind a lot lately (and the past several years). I think of how it is being used to exploit and manipulate people. To spread misinformation and hate. Being a peacemaker by nature and one who avoids conflict and toxicity, I have almost completely stopped using the popular social media platforms for anything but a few Facebook groups and the occasional faith-related post.

And now we have a wealthy, power-hungry man (Elon Musk) who has swooped in to purchase Twitter, revoke much of their content moderation standards, including their COVID misinformation policy, and reinstate most accounts that were previously banned for violating those old moderation standards. I haven't used Twitter regularly in years, but the latest news reports claim there has been a notable increase in hate speech and misinformation on the platform.

I have been using Mastodon for the past few years and have witnessed the dramatic surge in people leaving Twitter for the Fediverse over the past couple months. And until very recently, I wondered why anyone who disagrees with what Elon Musk is doing would possibly want to stay on Twitter at this point.

But after watching this episode of Andor again, I think I get it. Even amidst the wave of fascist, racist, hateful, and other toxic content on Twitter, good people I know are staying. They continue to post thoughtful, positive, fun, uplifting content. They continue to post what they believe in the face of all of it. The chance of making a difference for good seems pretty slim right now if good people stay. But there is no chance if they leave.

And what is the result of running away? What is the result of ceding the public square (and for better or worse, Twitter is still an influential space in the public square) to hate and misinformation? And how long can we keep running until there's nowhere else to run?

Maybe instead of running away from Twitter, good, decent people who have had enough of this nonsense should be running towards it.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 71) #TV #tech #SocialMedia

Warning: Andor spoilers ahead!

My favorite TV show of 2022 – and probably my favorite TV show ever – is the Star Wars series Andor. I have been watching its debut season again and loving it even more the second time around. In Episode 5: The Axe Forgets we learn a little more about the beloved character Nemik – a young Rebel idealist who is in it all for the cause – so much so that he creates a Manifesto which is referenced prominently later in the season.

In Ep. 5 we get a taste of Nemik's brilliance in a little exchange he has with Andor:

Nemik tinkers with old navigational device.

Andor: That's an old one.

Nemik: Old and true. And sturdy. One of the best navigational tools ever built. Can't be jammed or intercepted. Something breaks, you can fix it yourself.

Andor: Hard to learn.

Nemik: Yes, but once you've mastered it, you're free. We've grown reliant on Imperial tech, and we've made ourselves vulnerable. There's a growing list of things we've known and forgotten, things they've pushed us to forget. Things like freedom.

This got me thinking: what is the equivalent of “Imperial tech” in our world? And then my mind flashed back to a line from Episode 3:

Luthen: Rule number one, never carry anything you don't control.

If you don't have 100% complete control the computer technology you use – software, hardware, firmware, everything – it's “Imperial tech”. And these days, you have to be very intentional – and give up some conveniences – to completely avoid using Imperial tech.

My iPhone? Textbook definition of Imperial tech. I can't install whatever software I want on it, and I'm completely dependent on Apple for updates and support. Apple (or whoever has the power to influence Apple) have it within their power to render my iPhone completely useless, or worse, use it for nefarious purposes without my knowledge.

My laptop and desktop? They're not Apple products and can run the software of my choosing, but they still have some proprietary (not free-as-in-freedom and open source) firmware. Also, I'm currently running Microsoft Windows 10 on the desktop, which is definitely Imperial tech. My laptop is running Linux (Pop!_OS). Overall they're both still much better than my iPhone, but still technically Imperial tech.

And what about the other computer-related tech in my house? Roku? Amazon Fire TV? Google WiFi mesh routers? Brother laser printer? My car's infotainment system? All Imperial tech.

Just like the protagonists in Andor, we can't completely avoid using Imperial tech. It has become too pervasive and integrated into too many aspects of our lives.

So what can we do? A big step in the right direction is just becoming aware that we're using Imperial tech and how it has made us vulnerable. We can be more intentional about how we use it. And we can seek out and use non-Imperial alternatives whenever possible. Sometimes that means using older tech.

Like Andor said, non-Imperial tech can be hard to learn. It can be less convenient. But like Nemik said, it's usually sturdier, easier to repair, and once you've mastered it, you're free.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 70) #tech #TV #FOSS

My new Andor sticker arrived and it looks great on my laptop!

It's been a long time since I have been really excited about new TV shows, and this year there have been three that I have thoroughly enjoyed:

• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Captain Pike may very well be my favorite Star Trek captain now)
• Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (a solid 8 out of 10 for this non-die-hard LOTR fan)
• Andor (my favorite of the three and my favorite Star Wars production ever)

I'll write another post about Andor once the series is through, but suffice it to say, I have enjoyed every moment of it and couldn't resist getting the sticker when I saw it.

There is still room for more stickers! I better get looking.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 53) #tech #hobbies #TV

With one exception: I am a huge fan of the Star Wars TV series Andor (you need to watch it whether or not you are a Star Wars fan), and I will be streaming that when new episodes are available on Wednesdays. Unfortunately there is no other way to watch it right now and I am too invested in it.

Aside from that single exception, I will be relying on physical media or digital files already on my computer, as well as old-fashioned over-the-air broadcast TV and radio.

Perhaps I will get a little extra reading and music practice in, as well. I just started Book 4 of the Wheel of Time series. And while my clarinet will be in the shop for a few weeks, I have my penny whistles, recorder, and Native American flute!

Can I survive without YouTube and Apple Music??!?

(Yes. Of course.)

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 46) #music #TV #movies #tech

Pluto TV is a free online video streaming service that works like traditional over-the-air TV in that it has channels and each channel is just a continuous broadcast of content with commercial breaks. You just “tune in” to a Pluto TV channel and watch whatever is on at the time.

When my favorite Star Trek series (TNG, DS9, and VOY) disappeared from Amazon Prime and Hulu, my brother told me there was a Star Trek channel on Pluto TV. I started checking out their other channels and bookmarking a few.

Then I found their Dog the Bounty Hunter channel. I remembered watching and enjoying that show back in the day. So I watched a few episodes and I was hooked (again). It's entertaining. But I also find it uplifting.

Duane “Dog” Chapman and his family are larger-than-life people. And, for the most part, I think what you see on their show is what they're like in real life. They're flawed, rough around the edges, and sometimes over the top. And I can't help but love them because, while I certainly have not had many of the life experiences they have had, I can relate to them on a human level. At the end of the day, they're just trying to make their way in the world like the rest of us and do something good despite their shortcomings.

I wanted to learn more about Dog, so I read his books. It took me only a couple days to read them both. His first book, You Can Run but You Can't Hide, is important to read to understand his background and what he went through to become the Dog we all know today. Parents beware, it has profanity, crude language, and has pretty graphic depictions of sex, drug use, and violence. Parts of it were difficult for me to read, as I typically avoid that kind of content. But I don't regret reading it, as it gives important context for who Dog is and why he is the way he is. After reading it, you will realize what a miracle it is that he is even still alive. And you will appreciate even more how he has managed to turn things around and try to do something positive and meaningful with his life.

His second book, Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given is definitely more family-friendly and, in my opinion, a better book than his first. He does cover some of the same ground covered in his first book, but goes deeper into sharing his feelings, thought processes, and outlook on life and what he does. He spends considerable time apologizing for and clarifying some past controversies. He shares some ideas for law enforcement and bail reforms. He speaks words of advice and encouragement to those struggling with addiction.

I like Dog. He can stand toe-to-toe with the meanest, toughest people on the planet, yet he is a God-fearing man, sensitive and caring enough that he can cry at the drop of a hat. He will hunt down his targets relentlessly and ruthlessly until he has them in handcuffs. But once caught, he will try his best to get through to them on some level, to show them some love and grace, to help them understand that they have it within them to turn their lives around. I believe he has a good heart. Though he is haunted by his past and struggles with human weaknesses like the rest of us, I believe he is genuine when he says he loves his family and wants to help and lift up other people.

I think he does come across as a little too full of himself sometimes, but I don't think that's intentional. The man is confident in himself and his ability to do anything he sets his mind to, but he's quick to acknowledge that he wouldn't have been able to do any of it without God's help.

Dog said his grandpa taught him that the difference between a wise man and a fool is that a wise man learns from the mistakes of others and a fool learns only from his own. I've sure made some big mistakes in my time. I'm glad Dog has been gracious enough to let us learn from his.

#100DaysToOffload (No. 11) #books #TV

Topics of Focus

#faith – thoughts related to my religion #tech – self explanatory

Other Topics

#100DaysToOffload #accessories #AI #automobiles #Bandcamp #books #business #cassette #charity #Christianity #Christmas #ChurchOfJesusChrist #climate #community #compactDisc #contention #COVID19 #decentralization #DigitalMinimalism #economy #electronicMusic #EveryDayCarry #eWaste #family #FOSS (free-as-in-freedom and open source software) #friends #gratitude #haiku #health #hobbies #HomeOffice #humor #intentionism #internet #laptop #LessConvenient #libraryMusic #life #Linux #loneliness #media #meditation #mentalHealth #misc #movies #music #news #nostalgia #physicalMedia #planning #poetry #politics #privacy #prophets #retro #smartphones #SocialMedia #synthwave #travel #TV #Twitch #unity (not the game engine) #Utah #vaporwave #writing