The Blog of Michael Lee Mitchell

I really wish Google would update and modernize Blogger. It feels outdated compared to other platforms. One of the biggest frustrations is how unreliable IFTTT is when posting from different blogs to Blogger. I constantly get errors, making automation nearly impossible. I can't even set up different sources to post here smoothly. Google, if you're listening, please give Blogger the update it deserves!

Currently reading: Who is Jesus– Really? by Josh McDowell 📚 from Michael Mitchell https://ift.tt/7GHeYZk via IFTTT

This meme first appeared on Twitter a few years ago, and it had me laughing non-stop. If you’ve ever listened to podcasts, you’ll appreciate the humor—it’s just too good to keep buried in the archives. The creative genius behind this meme is Jonathan Ogden , a talented Christian musician. His unique sense of humor shines in moments like this. If you’re curious about his work, check out his Twitter handle or explore his contact information .

Just finished watching. Not bad, seen worse. #TheWildRobot #Movies #Entertainment #Streaming Posted on Micro.blog

This week, I’ve been reflecting on an upcoming medical procedure scheduled for Monday—a routine colonoscopy. While the procedure itself isn’t bad, I truly dread the day before. Preparing for it is unpleasant, but I know it’s necessary for my health. Since I’m high-risk due to previously discovered benign polyps, I need to have one every 3 to 5 years. It’s an expense I’d rather avoid, but it’s essential for peace of mind. I’ve also been contemplating blogging. Writing has always been a cathartic outlet for me, a way to process my feelings and reflect on life. It’s interesting to look back on how my thoughts have evolved over the years—some things have changed, while others remain constant. In a way, my blog posts capture my growth and maturing. Even if no one reads my writing, that’s okay. Who knows? Maybe a hundred years from now, someone will stumble upon my words. Perhaps they’ll laugh, cry, or even pause to think. Now, if only I could get back into reading this year. #Health...

January 19, 1977 I remember this day vividly. It was a Wednesday, and I was there, playing in the snow for a bit. I also remember waking up from my afternoon nap (I was in elementary school at the time) and wondering, where did the snow go? It had melted by the afternoon. That’s the only time I recall snow being on the ground in Tampa, Florida. #Nostalgia #SnowInFlorida #1977 Posted on Blogger to Micro.blog via IFTTT.

I noticed a couple of days ago that DSLreports.com stopped working. I thought maybe they were doing some maintenance or having a problem. After a couple of days of trying and doing a little research, and admittedly finding no firm answer, the consensus is that it is offline and has shut down permanently. It shut down unceremoniously and without warning. That site was a great resource for finding savings with your ISP and checking if you were the only one experiencing service problems. It will be missed, and I’m not sure if anyone could step in, though I hope so. This seems to be a trend happening more and more. The things I use are either dying off or being taken over by billionaires who turn megalomaniac. That is why I am turning more and more to self-hosted or managed hosting for some services that I feel are better suited for frequent upgrades and the ability to handle traffic. # DSLReports # TechShutdown # SelfHosting # ManagedHosting from Mitchell Report https://ift.tt/Ha...

In my ongoing effort to learn new things and make better use of the tools I’ve already paid for, I finally set up my own IFTTT triggers. This was made possible with help from ChatGPT—another reason I’m considering paying for ChatGPT. If everything works as planned, I’ll only have one more issue to tackle: figuring out why Blogger won’t import posts from Write.as. Posted on [Blogger](https://blog.michaelleemitchell.net) to Write.as and Micro.blog via IFTTT.

I’ve been trying to become more self-sufficient with technology lately. I’ve recently started dabbling with setting up a Raspberry Pi and self-hosting different services. I began with Pi-Hole because I’m just tired of all the ads. While this hasn’t eliminated all of them, it’s removed about 80 percent, which is a big improvement. I’m also moving away from shared hosting (once my contract ends) because of the WordPress kerfuffle, the high pricing of my shared hosting, and WordPress nickel-and-diming for every little add-on. On top of that, I’ve grown frustrated with how complicated WordPress has become. I believe I’ve found the perfect solution, but all of this comes at a cost. I’m definitely stretching my comfort zone with technology and encountering new challenges along the way. One challenge I’ve encountered is that most of the best blogging tools are only available for macOS, iOS, or iPadOS. Since I use Windows and Android, I often feel left out in the cold. Writing once and then ...

Blog post Television By Michael Mitchell Jan 11, 2025 My Television Habits Have Changed Drastically I was thinking the other day about how much television I used to watch. I used to sit down about a month before the new TV season began, just after Labor Day, and map out all the new shows—what nights they were on and when they were starting—so I could watch them. I would then make a note or create a makeshift calendar for when the TV shows I watched were returning and check out new shows. Then, in the days when I had a TiVo and later a DVR, I made sure everything was set to record each episode in case I was working, so I could watch it when I got home or had time off. I barely watch TV anymore, and when I do, it’s usually reruns of old TV shows on live TV. Most of the new series I watch are on streaming platforms, but even that is becoming less frequent. The main reason streaming is falling off for me is that there’s no longer a set month or day for new seasons to...

Well, this is my first post since the end of an era. Things have certainly been happening! Who knew billionaires would blow up their investments and companies? Since Automattic's owner has gone off the deep end, and I never really got into WordPress (too complicated for my taste), I decided to close my Inmotion Hosting shared web hosting account. I'm currently in the process of setting up Micro.blog, which I really like. It will likely become my primary source of posting. However, I also have a Write.as account at michaelmitchell.blog, and I'm reviving this blog as well. While I suspect Google may someday kill Blogspot, I'll keep using it for now. In the meantime, I'll be making regular exports and keeping things shared on my Mastodon account with the help of Bridgy, hopefully. We'll see how everything works out. I did a lot of cleanup over at my Micro.blog account and will be changing the domain to mitchelltribe.com before the end of February 2025. #blog #googl...

2025 has been a difficult year so far, particularly for California with the devastating wildfires. I really hope the LA area gets the fires under control and that more people don't lose their lives or property. Let's pray for a calmer remainder of the year. #2025 #CaliforniaWildfires #Faith #Prayer