Thoughts

Reading Trackers

Thoughts, Web

This past year was the year to really try out some new reading websites. Goodreads is the OG tracker for me. I started using it in 2010. Amazon purchased it several years ago and at the time it was disappointing news but I didn’t really make any moves as there wasn’t any other web based reading tracker that was as useful at the time. And yet, over time the site more or less stagnated. Somehow it still has value for referring to book reviews but other than that it’s a pain to use on mobile devices.

In 2020 when people had more concentration at home time, a few new sites popped up claiming to be the next alternative to Goodreads. Several of the options I signed up for go heavy on stats. But both Hardcover and Storygraph are only as good as their book matching. Even Goodreads wasn’t perfect still does have the best reference library to different publication formats. So as Hardcover and Storygraph try to lean heavy into things like format delineation, sometimes I just have to default to whatever is available.

Hardcover was the first one I came across that seemed legit. Looking at it now compared to when I signed up has updated a lot more features and community. Last year they did a 2024 Year in Books and I look forward to what they put out for 2025. I think the data will get better over time as more people use the service.

Example of stats Hardcover provides. This goes as far back as what I had captured in Goodreads. That’s why 2009 has a crazy uptick as that was most likely when I signed up and just kept adding books to my profile.

I also signed up for StoryGraph when it started getting attention. This one has more of a LLM backend and a focus on stats. I’m not so impressed with the LLM generated reviews as it is more of a morbid curiosity. They generate a synopsis based on user reviews and then they try to make a user custom review on whether or not you, based on your history, would like the book.

Funnily, I recently started reading some non-fiction books and the generated synopsis made it sound like I wouldn’t like it. Even for normal book reviews, I don’t let reviews sway my decisions unless I already had an inkling something was going to be bad. In this case, was a bit disappointed that the LLM generated synopsis took my history and suggested that I wouldn’t like this type of book, which I think for others who take that kind of feedback seriously, would stop people from exploring something new.

Stats from StoryGraph for 2025. Much like the stats on Hardcover, it really comes down to whether or not you log progress and if they have the right format listed.

LibraryThing is cute in that older web style with updated features. It has way more support in metadata from an open source Dewey Decimal system. I really like using this more for library and cataloguing. I will most likely spend more time cleaning up my database here. They also provide some stats and in this case for my year in review for 2025, it’s my whole library of things because I joined this year.

The last website I found a few weeks ago was Pagebound. This site is also on the cute side from a modern web design. And they use emojis as part of the rating system. Their 2025 wrap up is a bit more basic. It’s still fairly new and not as robust, but I think that’s why I like it.

Now that it’s 2026, I think I need to make a decision on which services I’d like to keep up. Honestly, leaning into LibraryThing for keeping track of the books I own. The rest are seriously a toss up. I was favoring Storygraph as it seems the most similar to Goodreads down to the free book raffles. Then at the end of the year, Hardcover really updated their UI. Pagebound is so cute and simple. Ugh. But then do I give up and keep Goodreads because my friends are still on there?

Happy New Year 2026

Inspiration, Thoughts

I realized I have a few New Years posts in my drafts section over the years that I just never finished posting. At least I will post this one.

The day was bright, woke up late, kiddo stayed up til midnight for the first time to ring in the new year, and so the day was relaxing. Finished watching Incredibles 2 for the nth time, saw some amazing floats in the Rose Bowl Parade, and then tuned in to the inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of NYC.

This really was the most uplifting thing to watch to bring in this year. It’s not really about him in particular. It’s about the community he helps represent. The speeches and the people attending were really what made this significant. The music played during the event was not typical either, the performances also represented community which is consistent with his campaign.

But it matters. Because these are the people that are given a responsibility to do the work to make a city function. And it is plainly just refreshing to hear the heart that some of these representatives have for the job they were given, the job they chose to take on.

If you have the time, the speeches are worth listening to and thinking about wherever you live. Thinking about the things we expect of our community and contribute to in this country. A new years wish would be wanting this synergy to survive the year into the next and spread to the rest of the country.

Generation Net

Thoughts

Just in time for the year to end, but ideas and thoughts wait for no one. I’ve decided I wanted to get back into blogging again back in July. I dipped my toes back into Tumblr when I realized it’s now owned by wordpress people (that’s what this thingy is on). It’s fun over there. Random. Like a closet that you just put stuff in you want to sorta keep and maybe get to again.

But here. I want to really think out loud again. I think the best days of blogging were when my friends did it too – Xanga and Livejournal days. It felt like a different way to hear my friend’s thoughts and communicate with them. But you guys don’t keep blogs anymore T_T (this is a crying face in case you don’t keep up with emoji).

Short form video, I just can’t really get into it. When I use Instagram, I have my phone on mute all the time anyway. I miss old Insta. That was really how my friends still “blogged”. A quick photo, quick blurb, just life things. Even Tumblr does images better. It feels like channel surfing and I really don’t hear my friend’s real voice, just the random thought bubble. Sure, I enjoy the every so often meme. I’m guilty of reposting those videos too. Lately, I’ve subscribed to all the PBS accounts, NASA accounts and overall education focused stuff to beat back the constant selling of random product. Overall, It’s just not the type of experience I want to have all the time.

I prefer reading. Which is what leads me to Reddit a lot. It’s annoying though that AI junk has made it’s way in so many places. I use Reddit more for current events at this point but it’s still the activity of see reddit post -> try to go to a different news source -> ask myself questions on the validity of anything that’s said. It’s just a lot of mental workload lol.

So, if you don’t mind reading blog posts again, let me know! I think this blog allows for email subscriptions if you still use email. I might just find a way to text out blog posts for fun or something.

Blogging again

Thoughts

I miss blogging. It’s been a while since I last posted here. So much has happened that it would be a disservice to try to recap it all in one post.

Then let us forget the past, the time in between and let’s just keep moving forward.

I’ve began using that mental construct a lot more lately. There will always be a certain element of understanding how we got to where we are. But I’ve seen this happening at places like work. Where the people continue to dwell on explaining why, as if defending themselves even though nobody is asking. But it doesn’t contribute to the discussion of moving forward.

And that’s why my focus, my goal, my modus operandi, whatever will be — is not asking why things are the way they are. Then change that question to what can we do next?

Journaling: an obsession

Thoughts

If you have ever kept a notebook and wrote notes about your day or lists of ideas and things to do, you would know a little about what gets people into journaling. Then there is a point when this habit becomes a hobby.

Sometimes a hobby can be a borderline obsession.

I’ve come to the conclusion that stationery and journaling as a concept has become an obsession that I need an intervention for. It’s one of those things that with an enough income available, you start spending on the really nice stuff. But then again the really nice stuff isn’t what you want or what you need. When the nice stuff is just overkill because journaling doesn’t require much at all.

I may toss in the ole social media trope with this one. Spending way too many hours on Instagram or Youtube without a real need for information has become one of those bad habits. I made a new account because I just didn’t want to use my old one with the intention of posting stuff. The most popular accounts will post page spreads. I’ve found that I don’t want to post that much because it’s just too personal. But… I did just use it to buy some custom fountain pens.

At this point, it’s also an obsession because I have a surplus of stuff. It’s not hoarding… yet. But when I’ve got so much ink, pens, pencils, markers, stickers and notebooks that I don’t think I’ll be able to get through them in my lifetime (I’m seriously looking at putting the collection in my will), it’s a bit of a problem.

I’ve got to tell myself I’m done acquiring anything new. And I’ve got to stick to it. The resolution before the new year. ;_;

Yearly Goals

Thoughts
  • make time for the things you want to do
  • don’t fear missing out on anything
  • write about hopefulness, and looking forward to change, acknowledge uncertainty

Journaling: A Starter

Thoughts

Sometimes we all need a time to think out loud. Writing down our thoughts and decisions to emotions and anxieties can provide clarity or even release from stress. I’ve gone through so many different approaches to writing things down over the years, it’s become a hobby. I’m hoping to share the ones I’ve tried to help inspire others to express themselves. 2020 is turning out to be fairly stressful, so let’s talk about ways to take care of ourselves 🙂

Notebook 

Bottom line up front, this is my defacto medium for journaling. A simple notebook can be pretty inconspicuous in most social situations, or when you can’t bring along your own phone or computer.

ProsCons
– Offers the most flexibility to express oneself by using any writing medium, stickers, pasting things in, drawing, etc
– Doesn’t need batteries
– Any size and shape book, you can even make your own 		– In a digital world, we take a ton of photos. Finding ways to print them and paste them into your notebook isn’t that easy 
– Will need a flashlight or lamp to write at night
– Paper can get heavy if you’re trying to travel light

Examples: composition notebook (the ones you used in school), sketchbooks, pocket books, etc.

Blog

I’ve had a few blogs over the years. I still have one now that I self host, but once I started working and friends when off and Facebook took over people’s lives, it doesn’t fit the same as it used to.

ProsCons
– A lot of free options, or can self host
– You can find communities of other people who talk about the same things you do
– Easier to accommodate digital assets like photos and links
– Might have a phone or tablet app for on the go posting/socializing
– Searchable (if you can’t remember what day you wrote something)		– Not inherently private depending on the site, more value in community than privacy
– When writing longform, you’ll probably want a full size keyboard which could hamper your traveling light style
– Some of those freebie sites, depending on who owns them, sees the user as an asset (think about what you write before you post because they are watching)
– When you write for an audience other than yourself, you may not write as freely as you think
– You can customize to the extent of the application

Examples: livejournal, wordpress (hosted and self host options), blogger (google owned but kind of neglected), tumblr (now owned by verizon)

Journal Apps

At this point, almost everyone has a sort of smartphone. Naturally, most people don’t leave home without it.

ProsCons
– A lot of free options and paid options
– Easiest to accommodate digital assets like photos and links if you do most of your photography on your phone and internetting
– Can post at any time in almost any environment since a phone has backlighting
– Depending on the application, there may be ties back to desktop apps and web versions
– Searchable (if you can’t remember what day you wrote something)
– Some have reminder features to poke you to write everyday		– When writing longform, you’ll probably want a full size keyboard which could hamper your traveling light style
– Some of those freebie sites, depending on who owns them, sees the user as an asset (think about what you write before you post because they are watching)
– You can customize to the extent of the application
– Some apps want you to pay subscription for most features
– Be careful about getting your data locked into an app, look for export as an included feature

Examples: Notes (this one is Mac, but pretty much any note taking app can become an impromptu journal), Day One (iphone and android), Journey, 5 Minute Journal, Momento (iphone only and geared towards social media aggregation)

Now I avoided mentioning social media apps as they aren’t really inherently geared towards journaling. But there are plenty of people using facebook, instagram and twitter as “journals”. Personally, I’d advise against using those mediums as a personal journal unless you like shouting on rooftops. It’s too easy to get sucked in to what everyone else is posting rather than focusing on your own thoughts which undermines the whole point.

If I didn’t find the most flexibility with a notebook, my top fave for each would be WordPress and Day One. Honorable mention to 5 Minute Journal, but it’s really not a full fledged journaling app.

Happy 2019

Thoughts

Welcome to the last year for this decade! Cue every time I write the date down with the wrong year for a few weeks. Haha!

What does this new chapter mean? Well, it means continuing the story of what every year before meant. I’ve got new goals this year, some are the same from last, but the point is just having something to work towards. And I’ve done that every year I new I was capable of deciding my own life. As a kid, I just went along with whatever came because that’s what being a kid was like 😙

I won’t go into all my goals; there’s many and they sound simple but they can become complex. This one goal is something I’ve already started and will be a goal into following years – owning my online self.

The net is a playground and a tool and it’s taken over the world. As much as I consciously get dressed and curate my image before I walk out my house, that is the maintenance that should go into my projected self, my internet self. Just like the clothes that I’ve given away because fashion changes, how I want to dress changes, cleaning and maintaining my closet translates digitally. Spring cleaning isn’t just for spring and it feels good to do anytime of the year.

Cheers to a new year! 🍾🥂

Hello November

Thoughts

National Novel Writing Month is here. Some folks look forward to the holidays or to the gifts that come with those holidays, but the end of the year I look forward to the most is that crazy literary challenge in November.

When I first started taking on the challenge, I would fly by the seat of my pants. A “pantser” as people in the crowd call it. But I do feel like with the practice of trying it out year after year that I’m transitioning to more of a planner.

Even though the challenge focuses on the quantity, not quality, it’s been difficult to get to the end of a story. How do I get my character from A to B when I don’t really know what B is supposed to be? Well, this time around I wrote up A to G to P. Which is way more planning I’ve done ahead of time than in the past. And yet I still find myself in the struggle 😅. Granted other life things have come up in the first few days. So, hopefully, week 2 will even it out.

the data life

Thoughts

Time passes and things change. People do it every day, every minute. So, I can’t expect any less from corporations. The net has brought about so many interesting things and avenues of communication. It felt pretty free and naive at the beginning. A lot of that data was impermanent. Were people’s lives even referred to as data then?

Kind of like cleaning out an old closet is the same thing to apply digitally. Even though space seems almost endless, it still isn’t. It’s immense, but at the same time, who really wants to maintain all that data? If you’ve got accounts out there that you never use anymore, that already means you don’t want to maintain it yourself. I find that I too, no longer use accounts I’ve made over the years. As I learn more info on what is happening to these start ups or other companies, it definitely turns me off using the service.

Livejournal, I’ve deleted. Tumblr, I’m cleaning up also. Facebook is on the list, once I figure out a way to export some contacts. Instagram I’m torn over. It’s owned by FB but people actually still use it. It must absolutely be a tool for corporate, but perhaps if I continue to control what I post, maybe I’ve convinced myself I’m in control. Maybe not. Snapchat seemed to me like an interesting alternative, but even now I can see people use it a lot less. At least it’s still a company on it’s own, but you and I know that it’s probably only going to follow in FB footsteps as it struggles to be a profit making company. Not going to lie, just contemplating how to get out of google’s or amazon’s grasp is a doozy. Yahoo is one of my oldest accounts and I’m pretty annoyed that it’s probably going on my hit list next. Check out “How to opt out of Yahoo Mail’s invasive data scanning” if you still use Yahoo too.

I know some people will say it’s too late, corporate has everything on you. Just remember, yes they have a lot, but they do not have everything. Time passes and things change and the person you were at that time when you made that post 5 years ago, may not be the same person who shops for whatever now. You should be the only one in control of your life, your date. Right?