It's a quote that's often misattributed to Gandhi. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on who said it, but that doesn't make it any less of a good quote. And it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately and trying to make some changes with it in mind.

“I wish more people would __________.”

“If more people would __________, I would, too.”

There a lot of things that I'm not doing that I wish I was doing, because they just make sense to me and I feel that they're good and right. But I don't do them, or I give up when I try to do them, because they're hard. Or nobody else is doing them. Or any number of other excuses I come up with.

But my conscience nags me. It's relentless. And maybe some of the discontent I feel is because I'm not doing as much as I could be doing to better align my actions and behaviors with my values. Maybe it's time for me to start trying to live the kind of life I wish I could live.

Lent has already been a time of spiritual change for me. I intend to keep working on that area of my life, but I've started making some temporal changes, too, and I will be sharing my experiences in all areas over the coming blog posts.

In this post I'll share some changes I'm making with regards to the technology I personally own and use, starting with my personal computers.

Aside from the company-issued laptop I use for work, I currently own three desktop computers and two laptops:

• HP Z240 Tower Workstation
• Acer TC-1760 Mini Tower
• 2019 iMac
• 2017 MacBook Air
• HP Laptop

I feel I need to reduce this list down to one machine instead of five, and I have chosen to keep the HP Laptop for a number of reasons. It's lightweight and versatile. I can use it in my home office or on the go. It takes up much less desk space than a desktop. It's much newer than the MacBook Air (which is long past its official support from Apple) and has much better specs.

I've also installed Pop!_OS on the HP laptop and have committed to using Linux as my primary personal computing OS going forward to reduce my dependence on proprietary non-free software (more on this in an upcoming post).

The HP Z240 workstation was my streaming PC for over a year and did the job admirably. But I recently acquired the Acer mini tower as its upgrade/replacement. I feel I can let both of these go because I've decided to stop streaming on Twitch and stream exclusively on PeerTube (more on this in an upcoming post) with a greatly simplified and less resource-intensive approach compared to what I was doing on Twitch.

I also am fine getting rid of the desktops because they tempt me too much to play video games, which I enjoy playing, but they tend to suck me in, make me lose track of time, and neglect more important things in my life.

The 2019 iMac is a fairly recent acquisition (it was given to me for free) and while it is still a very nice machine – especially with its beautiful 5k Retina display – I find that I prefer the more versatile wall-mounted dual monitor setup I have in my home office, which frees up more desk space. And I can use them for work and personal use, connecting them to either my work laptop or personal laptop as needed.

Another reason I want to let go of the Macs is because I would like to reduce my use of and dependence upon Apple products as much as possible. As with other Big Tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, etc., I don't trust Apple to do what's in the best interest of their customers – or humanity, in general.

This week I shifted to using the HP Laptop exclusively and will be looking for ways to sell or re-home the other computers, preferably to people who truly need them. Doing so will help me to simplify and streamline how I use computers and reduce the amount of proprietary “Big Tech” products I use. The reduced clutter and cables in my office are going to be most welcome, too.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 160) #tech #DigitalMinimalism #HomeOffice #laptop #intentionism

It doesn't help that, in addition to taking a break from Twitch, I deleted my Discord because I don't trust the company anymore. So I've been trying to seek out other online communities on IRC, Jabber, etc. but not really finding any that click with me.

I plan to reengage with Twitch before Easter while trying to be careful about not using it as mindless entertainment or background noise.

But I also realized: I have no real-life friends that live near me. My only IRL social interaction is with my family and my church community. I love my family dearly, but we need friends, too. And I love my church community, but I don't interact with them much outside of church meetings – with the exception of occasional visits in their homes as part of my leadership role, which I absolutely love.

Online friends are great, and I have met some genuinely good people that way, but electronic interaction is no substitute for in-person interaction.

We need people. And I need to make more friends in real life.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 156) #faith #Lent #Twitch #family #friends #loneliness #tech

I've already written about this but it bears repeating: if you do not have control over the tech you use, you should assume that it can – and probably will – be used by those who control it or later gain control of it for nefarious purposes.

This is why I have never owned a smart speaker, smart doorbell, or other such devices, and why I am constantly wary of using an iPhone or a conventional (“Googled”) Android phone.

I understand that my iPhone is not truly mine. Apple ultimately decides what software I am allowed to run on it and they have the ability to completely brick it or turn it into a surveillance tool without my knowledge or consent.

So why do I keep it? Because I'm expected to use a phone for work and church purposes, some of the apps I need to use do not run on de-Googled Android, and from my perspective, “Googled” Android phones are even more of a privacy nightmare than iPhones. So it's a situation where I have to choose the lesser of the evils.

To mitigate risk, I try to use my iPhone only for the purposes required, and I have a second phone running de-Googled Android with OS-level tracker blocking (/e/OS) for everything else. It's not perfect, but it's better than doing nothing.

This is just one of many adjustments I have made by assuming that tech I don't control can be used to spy on me.

Beware of the dangers of using Imperial tech and make adjustments accordingly. Every change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 129) #tech #privacy #AI #smartphones #internet

It actually stopped recognizing the SSD altogether. So I thought maybe the SSD went bad and I bought a replacement. It wouldn't recognize the new one, either. The RAM tested ok, so I suspect it was a motherboard issue. I didn't have the time or patience to fiddle with it any longer, so I abandoned the experiment. It was a free laptop – one that its previous owner basically threw away. I guess I know why, now.

There is still a future for Linux among my personal computers. The only working laptop I personally own at present is a 2017 MacBook Air. It's usable, but struggles. I have an old HP desktop that I use for streaming on Twitch, light gaming, ripping CDs and DVDs, and other things. It's still running Windows 10 and I refuse to put Windows 11 on it. It's getting extended updates from Microsoft through October 13 of this year. I'll probably put Linux on it before then.

But I'll need a new laptop before the end of the year, and I keep waffling back and forth between getting a newer MacBook and sourcing a good laptop to put Linux on.

The reason a MacBook is in the running is because my wife gave me an iPhone 17 for Christmas, which I use for work, church, and travel. And a MacBook would play the nicest with that phone and all the Apple things.

But I also have a second phone – a Motorola One 5G Ace running a de-Googled version of Android – /e/OS. For the sake of privacy, I use that phone instead of the iPhone when I can. I'd like to have a laptop or desktop running Linux for the same reason.

I'm leaning towards getting a Linux laptop and trying to make that work. If necessary, I can always get an iPad for the Apple-y things I might need to do.

I'm going to have to wait a few months before I make any big purchases, though. Money is always tight this time of year and who knows what tax season will bring.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 127) #tech #Linux #laptop

Watch the video and check the website for more details, but I'll give a quick summary of each product and my impressions.

Power Keyboard

This is a bluetooth keyboard that you can pair and use with any device that supports bluetooth keyboards. But what's unique about it and made me pre-order it is that it can attach to my iPhone 17 via MagSafe and I can use it as a slider keyboard in both portrait and landscape.

I had been seriously considering buying a Clicks keyboard case but I didn't hesitate to pre-order the Power Keyboard because of its versatility. I can easily attach it to my iPhone when I want to use it and remove it when I don't. And I can use it for other devices (tablets, Apple TV, etc.), as well.

As someone who loathes typing on glass, this was a no-brainer. Especially since it's cheaper than their keyboard cases!

Communicator

If you are familiar with Michael Fisher (aka Mr. Mobile) and his content, you know how much of a Trekkie he is and there's no doubt he had something to do with the name of this phone. (And I'm pretty sure most of the folks behind Clicks are all Star Trek fans because they're nerds like me.)

A phone that looks like a BlackBerry that was made by BlackBerry fans and former employees! Finally!

The recognizable form factor and minimalist default launcher instantly hooked me, but what sealed the deal for me is when they announced it will have a SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack! This is how I know Clicks means what they say about giving customers choices and being intentional about how they designed the Communicator, because I believe the real reason both of those features have been removed from mainstream smartphones is to make more money by forcing people to pay for more internal storage and buy wireless earbuds or headphones whose batteries eventually fail, requiring them to buy regular replacements.

I haven't pre-ordered the Communicator yet, but I am very seriously considering it. Given the current state of tech (and everything in general), prices are only going up. So I think the regular price of $499 USD for the Communicator is a steal in a world where $1K+ smartphones are becoming the norm. But the pre-order price of $399 USD is almost too good to pass up.

The only reason I hesitate is that, as part of my personal efforts to reorganize, consolidate, and be more intentional about the tech I use, I am in the market for a new laptop – likely a new MacBook, but I am not 100% settled on that yet.

I also am trying to figure out the best arrangement for my smartphone use. Right now I am using my iPhone mostly for work, church, travel, and iMessage and FaceTime. I am using my Unihertz Jelly 2E as a secondary personal device, mostly for listening to podcasts and music right now, but also for some communication and light app use.

I'm not sure if I need the Communicator if I have the Power Keyboard for my iPhone.

But, without question, I want the Communicator! And if money were no object, I'd pre-order one now. I just need to decide what my my focus and priorities are and whether what I currently have in the way of mobile phones is sufficient, so I'll wait a bit and think about it before pre-ordering one.

Kudos to Clicks

I'm pleased to hear about any tech company trying to make products that bring back intentionality and choice to the devices people use every day. Sometimes, less is more. Tried and true designs and features don't need to be forced into obsolescence.

It seems like Clicks is on the right track – their keyboard cases have clearly appealed to enough people that they are in a position to take their offerings to the next level.

I wish them success and am excited to get my hands on the Power Keyboard for sure and, perhaps, the Communicator, too!

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 124) #tech #smartphones

I had a 720p flat screen TV in there with a Roku, blu-ray player, VCR, VHS tape rewinder, and some VHS tapes. I moved all of that into my office. I put the devices on a small TV stand, and the tapes into one of the cubes in my Kallax shelves.

I moved one of the three desks (IKEA tables which I had positioned to form a large L-shaped desk) from my office into my bedroom where the TV used to be.

When I want to read, study, write, or just think without being distracted by or tempted to use a device with a screen, the bedroom desk will be my go-to place of refuge.

I may take devices to the bedroom desk with me when I need them for something intentional – like using the internet for research or study, or listening to a podcast – but I will not keep any chargers in there. When I'm done using them, all devices will be returned to my office, which is where they will “live” from now on.

I hope this will help me to be more intentional about how I use technology at home, and I look forward to breaking the habits of checking my phone first thing in the morning, using my phone in bed, and watching TV in bed.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 122) #tech #intentionism #HomeOffice #LessConvenient #writing

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

There are several different free DNS providers who can do this, but I went with AdGuard for now. I reviewed their Privacy Policy and they make it clear that they do not process personal data via their public DNS.

Below is a link to instructions on how to use AdGuard public DNS servers on your devices. You can either use their apps or configure DNS manually.

Connect to public AdGuard DNS servers

I've already noticed the lack of ads in a few apps that are notorious for them and it's been wonderful. I'm going to set it up on my wife's phone next.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 110) #tech #internet #smartphones #privacy

I told him community is important, humans need it, and that if I had to choose between using proprietary software and being isolated and lonely, I'd choose proprietary software.

He installed Zoom. I look forward to hearing about his experience.

I have been struggling to reconcile a lot of conflicting concepts and values like this in many areas of my life, lately. But an acquaintance recently tipped me off to a talk by Dallin H. Oaks from 1986 that has helped clarify some things for me:

We should also remember that the principle that the Golden Rule governs our earning activities is difficult to apply in practice. We should not consider employees responsible for policies they regret but cannot control. A decision that is made by the owner of a market should not inflict feelings of guilt on a conscientious but powerless Christian who runs the checkout stand. Similarly, a part-owner does not have freedom to impose his standards on business policies if he has partners who do not share his moral concerns. An incorporated business may be controlled by stockholders who have no concern for the destructive human effects of a profitable product or policy.

We live in a complex society, where even the simplest principle can be exquisitely difficult to apply. I admire investors who are determined not to obtain income or investment profits from transactions that add to the sum total of sin and misery in the world. But they will have difficulty finding investments that meet this high standard. Good things are often packaged with bad, so decisions usually involve balancing. In a world of corporate diversification, we are likely to find that a business dealing in beverages sells milk in one division and alcohol in another. Just when we think that our investments are entirely unspotted from the world, we may find that our life insurance is partially funded by investments we wish to avoid. Or our savings may be deposited in a bank that is lending to ventures we could not approve. Such complexities make it difficult to prescribe firm rules.

We must rely on teaching correct principles, which each member should personally apply to govern his or her own circumstances.

I also told my friend that we live in a fallen (imperfect) world and we have to do the best we can with what's available to us. But God knows our hearts.

I believe that if we are seeking to become more aware of the huge gap between what we do and what we know we should do, who we are and who we know we should be, and we are trying our best to close that gap, it is enough. We will always fall short on our own. But God's grace – the grace given through the atonement of Jesus Christ – is sufficient to bridge the gap and then some.

But choices still have consequences. So I will keep trying my best to align my thoughts, words, and deeds with correct principles, re-calibrate and adjust as I learn new information, and trust that God knows my heart and will accept my meager and imperfect efforts. I have to trust that, or none of this would make any sense to me at all.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 108) #faith #life #tech #Christianity

I'm reminded of the old addage: “never put all your eggs in one basket.” Yet it seems that is exactly what we have done with modern internet infrastructure. And so outages that impact web-based apps and services on a global scale have become the norm.

Today's Cloudflare outage took down X, ChatGPT, Spotify, AWS, PayPal, and scores of other popular products and services.

In an ironic twist, I found that both the website and web app of Element – a free and open source messaging application based on the Matrix protocol – was impacted by this outage.

Their website, when it is up, contains such statements as:

We've built Element on the Matrix open standard so you're not locked-in to a proprietary vendor.

and

Stay independent of proprietary platforms outside your control.

Now, I get it. And I'm not going to tell everyone to stop using Element over this. Despite their clearly stated core values of an open and independent internet, if Cloudflare is really the only vendor doing what they do on the scale they are doing it, Element has little choice but to use them.

But is Cloudflare really the only option? I really don't know. But if they are the only option, why? And if they aren't the only option, why use them? They are an obvious, serious potential (and actual) point of failure that can take down half the internet

I know it's easier said than done, but isn't it obvious we need to work on decentralizing our internet infrastructure ASAP?

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 107) #tech #internet #decentralization