Category: Blog

  • Embracing the Power of a Centralized Writing App: Intial Impressions of novelWriter

    Embracing the Power of a Centralized Writing App: Intial Impressions of novelWriter

    Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

    As a digital advocate, I’ve always been passionate about empowering individuals to retain their digital rights in a world that often prioritizes centralization. In the realm of writing, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring various tools and apps to help me stay organized and focused. While I’ve dabbled in writing podcast notes, poetry, lyrics, and blogs in various apps, including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Obsidian, I’ve recently discovered a game-changer that has revolutionized my writing experience: novelWriter.

    My friend and fellow Linux enthusiast, neigdoig, introduced me to novelWriter, and I’m forever grateful for the tip. In a matter of hours, I set up a project in the app, and my writing life has undergone a significant transformation. With novelWriter, I now have a comprehensive, bird’s eye view of my book, from the grand plot arc to the intricate details of my characters and locations. The app has allowed me to seamlessly organize my thoughts, and I’ve even experimented with multiple scenes in chapters and rewritten an entire chapter, introducing a new character with their own narrative journey.

    The features that have won me over are numerous:

    • A clean and elegant interface that stays out of the way, using Markdown syntax
    • A comprehensive tool for tracking character descriptions, plot lines, and locations
    • The ability to experiment with multiple scenes in chapters and revise with ease
    • A bird’s eye view of my entire project, allowing me to visualize the larger narrative

    If you’re a writer or blogger looking for a powerful, centralized tool to help you stay organized and focused, I highly recommend exploring novelWriter. Your writing life will thank you!

    As a sneak peek into Echoes of Freedom, I’m excited to share the following schedule:

    1. The Great Escape (Published) – A thrilling start to the series
    2. The Invitation (2024/10/16) – A pivotal moment in the story
    3. The Enigma (2024/10/23) – A mystery unfolds
    4. The Hunt for Echo Begins (2024/10/30) – The beginning of a high-stakes adventure
    5. The Watcher (2024/11/06) – A new character’s journey begins
    6. Welcome to The Safe House (2024/11/13) – The longest chapter so far
    7. The Web of Deception (unscheduled) – The plot thickens
    8. ? (not yet finished) – The story continues to unfold

    I encourage you to subscribe to neigdoig’s YouTube channel, where he shares valuable insights, great music and creative tips. Together, let’s empower ourselves and others to maintain control over our digital lives and write with freedom.


  • The first chapter of Echoes of Freedom drops tomorrow!

    The first chapter of Echoes of Freedom drops tomorrow!

    Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

    So as it turns out writing a fiction book is a royal pain in the ass. But, man is it fun! You think you’ve got it just like you want it but then you lay down and try to go to sleep. Just as you are almost to sleep BOOM a great plot line pops into your head. And you think “I’ll write it down in the morning” only to realize you’re not going to make it to tomorrow morning before you forget it. So you hop out of bed and jot it down.

    I literally just finished up chapter 6 and the story is progressing rather nicely. I dont know if any of you ever read my other fiction. I tried my hand at writing a horror scifi thing called “The Organix” back when I was driving truck. I only got 4 or 5 chapters in before I gave up on it. It was extremely cheesy and just plain dumb. I couldn’t even stand it. I still have it on a hard drive somewhere in this office. If I can find it I will put it up.

    But The Organix did have did have one thing that this one doesn’t have yet. Art work. I still need to find something to use for the artwork. I might go for something AI generated but I dont really want to go that route. AI art just has that “look” to it. So I hope you are subscribed to the RSS feed. Chapter 1 hits tomorrow at 5am EST. Then a new chapter posts every Wednesday following that. If I get any farther ahead than what I am now I will start dropping them every 3 days.

    If you run across any artwork that is creative commons licensed that you think would fit the story please let me know at email at unklebonehead dot x y z.

    I’m loving this story and where it’s going.


  • So, I started writing a fiction book

    So, I started writing a fiction book

    Photo by cottonbro studio

    I started writing a fiction book. Why? Because it sounded like a fun thing to do and it’s something I can do in my free time as the creative moments hit me. Which isn’t as often as they used to be anymore. I have the story mostly fleshed out and it’s heavily inspired by The Diary of Anne Franke. It’s set in modern times and is about a 17 year old German-Jewish girl’s path to online Freedom and what she does to liberate the internet from centralized corporations and authoritarian governments.

    I did not choose to make the protagonist as a German Jew for any other reason than to pay homage to the inspiration of  Anne Franke. There is no religion, sex or diversity of any kind in the book. My goal with it is to entertain the reader without pushing social agenda’s while showcasing the strength and resiliency of the human spirit.

    Story Tidbits

    So far I have 9 characters, a prologue and the first 3 chapters complete. The characters are:

    Our protagonist is Maya aka Sara – a brilliant 17 yr old Jewish hacker and coding whiz, known only by her online alias, “Echo” who always felt like an outsider in her own world.

    Her father and mother are David & Rachel. Her siblings are in elementary school and named Asher & Ava.

    The Architect – creator and operator of The Safe House which is a hidden online forum inside Virtual Reality. It’s something much bigger than a simple online community. Its a movement, a collective of individuals united in their quest for digital liberation.

    I also have 3 more characters I will be introducing somewhere around chapter 5. They are current members of The Safe House.

    Jax, a former whistleblower who had risked everything to expose corporate corruption.

    Leila, a brilliant hacker who had been persecuted by the authorities for her activism.

    Marcus, a young artist who used his talents to create subversive digital art that challenged the status quo.

    When will they be published? I honestly havent decided yet. But you can read the prologue and decide if it sounds interesting to you or not. You can read it here.
    I’m currently considering dropping a chapter each Wednesday morning. Since I will be fleshing out the story more as I go I should be able to stay 3 – 4 weeks ahead of you all reading it.

    From what I have in the first 3 chapters I think this is a good foundation for a series. Im thinking of calling it The Safe House Series with each book being from the point of view of the different characters. The same events in all of them but told from their respective point of views.

    For some disclosure

    I am writing this with the assistance of an open source AI desktop app called Jan. It is not writing the story for me but it is rewriting it into a grammatically correct flow and form for me. Since I talk like a truck driver I write like one as well.  In fact most of the posts on this site have been rewritten with AI to make them look and sound somewhat more professional. Most of what I’ve done with AI so far has been with the desktop app Msty, which is not open source, or OpenWebUi. I really like OpenWebUI but it requires you to manage Ollama on your own. Which means you have to maintain two apps. Ollama and OpenWebUI. Where as using Jan its all in one app. If I uninstall Jan the whole thing is gone and I dont have to chase down a bunch of configs for 2 apps.

    Check out the story and let me know what you think. If it gets popular enough I might do some live streams when I’m writing it and let the audience write it. Lol. That would be interesting.


  • Embracing Digital Liberty – The Power of Locally Hosted AI

    Embracing Digital Liberty – The Power of Locally Hosted AI

    As we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, it’s becoming increasingly crucial to prioritize our online freedom and autonomy. In today’s interconnected world, our data and personal information are more vulnerable than ever to external threats and exploitation. That’s why I’d like to propose a game-changing solution: locally hosted AI.

    What is Locally Hosted AI?

    Locally hosted AI refers to the process of running artificial intelligence models and algorithms directly on your own computer or device, rather than relying on cloud-based services. This approach not only enhances data privacy but also reduces our dependence on centralized systems, ultimately fostering a more decentralized and self-sufficient digital experience.

    Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels:

    The Benefits of Locally Hosted AI

    1. Data Sovereignty: By hosting AI models locally, you retain full control over your data and personal information, eliminating the risk of unauthorized access or exploitation.
    2. Improved Security: With AI processing happening on your device, you’re less susceptible to cyber threats, as sensitive information remains within your own ‘digital perimeter.’
    3. Faster Processing: Locally hosted AI models can process information more efficiently, reducing latency and improving overall system performance.
    4. Enhanced Transparency: When AI is locally hosted, you have complete visibility into the decision-making processes and algorithms used, enabling greater trust and understanding in the AI-driven systems.

    Why Locally Hosted AI Matters for Digital Liberty

    1. Privacy Protection: By keeping sensitive information on your device, you’re better protected from data breaches, surveillance, and other privacy concerns.
    2. Decentralization: Locally hosted AI promotes a more decentralized internet, where users have greater control over their online experiences and interactions.
    3. Reduced Dependence on Cloud Services: By processing AI models locally, we can reduce our reliance on cloud-based services, which can be subject to downtime, outages, or political pressures.

    Summary In today’s digital era, it’s essential to prioritize our online freedom and autonomy. Locally hosted AI offers a powerful solution for achieving this goal. By embracing decentralized AI processing, we can safeguard our personal information, improve system performance, and promote greater transparency and control over AI-driven systems. It’s time to reclaim our digital liberty and take charge of our online experiences.

    Feel free to share this post with others who care about their digital freedom!


  • No More Local Accounts?

    No More Local Accounts?

    The latest news from Microsoft has sparked a fire within me, and I’m compelled to share my thoughts with you.

    Microsoft’s decision to remove documentation on converting local accounts to Microsoft accounts is nothing short of a declaration of war against digital autonomy. In an era where we’re already drowning in a sea of targeted ads and data collection, this move reeks of a company that wants to control every aspect of our online experiences.

    Photo by Yusuf P on Pexels:

    Let me make one thing clear: I’m not opposed to the concept of Microsoft accounts or even the idea of using them for specific features. What bothers me is the subtle coercion Microsoft employs to get users to sign in with an account. It’s like trying to sell a siren song – beautiful on the surface, but hiding a deadly trap beneath.

    The removal of documentation on converting local accounts is a calculated move designed to make it more difficult for users to opt out of this digital encampment. By erasing the instructions, Microsoft effectively renders the choice between a local account and a Microsoft account null and void. It’s a clever tactic that preys on the ignorance of users who might not know how to bypass the sign-in process.

    But here’s the thing: we, as users, are not sheep. We can still find workarounds, just like those clever folks at Tom’s Hardware and the Internet Wayback Machine did. And let’s be honest – Microsoft isn’t fooling anyone with their “repeated ads and reminders” about signing up for services we don’t need.

    This is a battle for digital freedom, and I’m not alone in this fight. The likes of Apple and Google are already doing things differently – they respect our right to choose how we want to use their software. Microsoft should take note: we’re not pawns to be manipulated; we’re humans who deserve autonomy over our online experiences.

    As I strum the final chord on my guitar, I realize that this is a fight worth waging. We must stand together against the forces of digital coercion and demand the right to choose how we want to use technology. The era of digital freedom is upon us, and it’s time for Microsoft to take notice.

    Workarounds Are Not the Solution!

    While workarounds are available, they’re not a long-term solution. We need a fundamental shift in how companies like Microsoft approach user data and online experiences. It’s time for them to recognize that users have the right to choose how they want to interact with technology – without being forced into a digital encampment.

    To be blunt, Microsoft’s removal of local account documentation is a step backward in the fight for digital freedom. As we move forward, it’s essential that we demand more from our tech companies and respect for our online autonomy.

    The battle has begun, and I’m ready to join the charge!