Dandy Cast

It's time for me to ramp things down for the holidays and start taking some time off. I've been talking about it for a while, but I need this time to decompress, think deeply, and just enjoy myself. I want to get outside more, do some creative things, and occasionally sit around and do nothing.I appreciate your continued support and interest in Dandy Cat Design. It's been quite the year for, well, the whole world. It means a lot to me that you would give me your time and attention with all that's going on. I'll be seeing and talking with you soon. In the meantime, treat yourself well. I love you all.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, My Top 5 Indispensable Work Tools—2020 Edition.Let's cap off the year with another edition of my indispensable work tools. This time, I've been focusing on growing my business. That means, instead of relying on creative tools, I've been making use of tools that will help me connect with others. It's a great list of apps and services you can use right now. Get into it!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Vacations Aren't for Working - Dandy Cat DesignMore Movies Please! - Libsyn”Treat Yo' Self” - YouTubeClement Clarke Moore - WikipediaA Visit from St. Nicholas - WikipediaMy Top 5 Indispensable Work Tools—2020 Edition - Dandy Cat DesignMy Top 5 Indispensable Work Tools—2019 Edition - Dandy Cat DesignActually Quite Precedented | Connected Pro - Relay FMThe Queen's Gambit - NetflixHeartworms | The Shins - YouTubeHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy | Jenny Odell - Goodreads

Ah, Thanksgiving traditions. The foundation of the holiday season. That event on which all else is built. The time when we hop into our cars or onto planes and travel long distances to visit with barely remembered family that we only see once a year. The occasion when we all eat far too much delicious food and then crash in a heap before remembering that we haven't even eaten pie yet. Hope you've got a second, dessert stomach inside you.This year, it's also the time when people should be staying home, but probably won't be. Because, you know, family and stuff. There's a pandemic on, people. Stay home! Do what I'll be doing—have your nice meal in comfort. Screw traffic, screw forced socialization, screw getting yourself or someone else sick. Enjoy your mashed potatoes on your own couch.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: The Pros and Cons of Using a CDN for Your Website.A CDN, or content delivery network, can be a powerful tool for your website. With this blog post, learn more about what they are and how they can benefit you. Do you even need to use one? Do you already have one and aren't really aware of it? What is all this internet mumbo-jumbo? Read on to find out!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Quick Tip: The Pros and Cons of Using a CDN for Your Website - Dandy Cat DesignZoopa! Zoopa! Zoopa! - Do By FridayKiss Kiss Bang Bang - IMDbThe Suburbs | Arcade Fire - YouTubeHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy | Jenny Odell - Goodreads

Vote. Seriously, please vote.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How To Organize Your Computer's Files for Maximum Efficiency.You should be backing up your computer all the time. Full stop. If you're not taking the time to protect your important files, then you're just setting yourself up for a bad time in the future. Hard drives fail. It's one of the things they do. Let's talk about a couple different ways you can start backing up your computer regularly today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Vote.orgHow To Organize Your Computer's Files for Maximum Efficiency - Dandy Cat DesignHow Can I Be a Better Cat Parent? With Jackson Galaxy | Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness - EarwolfSex Education - NetflixDignity and Shame | Crooked Fingers - YouTube

I've got some new hobbies in mind for myself and I'm looking forward to getting into them. Now if I could only work up the effort to get out into the world. I'm not looking to spend time amongst other people during a pandemic. That would be the stupidest thing a person can do (I'm looking at you, stupid people). Nah, I'm just talking about taking more photos, going on walks, and beautifying the planet.Still, it's a big ask when you're a huge homebody. You want to go outside and see the world, but your home is comfy, safe, and lovely. New hobbies are worth it, though. I'm developing some for myself and I think you should do it, too. What new and fun things can you do with your time?There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, The Advantage of System Fonts and How To Use Them in Your Website.System fonts can sometimes be thought of as boring. I mean, they're kind of supposed to be that way. However, while they might not be the flashiest things around, they have some major benefits. Let's talk about how to use them to help speed up your website. Oh yes, system fonts can give you a decent speed boost. They're great like that.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Hi, Speed - YouTubeiPhone - AppleiPhone 12 Pro Max - AppleGrabby claw thing - AmazonThe Advantage of System Fonts and How To Use Them in Your Website - Dandy Cat DesignEliza (Entry 404.LK0247) - OmnibusThe Boys - Prime VideoSmother | Wild Beasts - YouTube 

Dude, repetitive strain injury is no joke. Left unchecked, RSI is not only a painful affliction, it can also impede your ability to complete your work. It's a major problem if you let it get out of hand. Luckily for us, it can also be avoidable. Oh yeah, there's loads of stuff we can do to mitigate the strain we put on our bodies.One such thing I recently did was get a new keyboard. It's a mechanical one, by the way, but I won't go on too long about that. My old keyboard was terrible for my desk, and therefore, also my wrists. I was starting to feel some soreness in my joints. A new keyboard, and following the advice in this dispatch, helped a lot.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Vacations Aren't for Working!If you have some time off, then you shouldn't be spending it working. It's your time! You should be doing what you want with it. So let's learn how to rid ourselves of those guilty feelings we might have while on vacation. Treat yourself right. Put your feet up, do something fun, and enjoy your vacation. You've earned it.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:K6 mechanical keyboard - KeychronKeychron's K3 Kickstarter campaign - KickstarterMX Keys - LogitechVacations Aren't for Working! - Dandy Cat DesignI Overspeakered Myself | Connected Pro - Relay FMSuperstore - IMDbAs Long As You Are | Future Islands - YouTube

Burnout is a real thing and we should all be doing a heck of a lot more to help combat its detrimental effects. It's not something you should wait on, either. Keep an eye on yourself. Treat yourself well. Take some time off and just go out into nature, why don't ya?Think of your time to yourself as investing in your own future. How would you rather spend your working life? Do you want it to be a soul-crushing slog or do you want to feel engaged with what you do? It doesn't take a lot to fill yourself up with enthusiasm. All it requires is awareness of yourself and a commitment to your own health.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: How To Make Sure You're Constantly Backing Up Your Computer.Regularly backing up your computer should be considered Computer Usage 101. If you're not backing up your work at all times, then you're setting yourself for a rough time. Don't live your life on this particular edge, friend! Backing up your computer isn't a tough thing to do. Learn how to get it going today and start protecting your digital life.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Job burnout: How to spot it and take action - Mayo ClinicDandy Cast 006: Let's improve your entire freaking year - Dandy Cat DesignQuick Tip: How To Make Sure You're Constantly Backing Up Your Computer - Dandy Cat DesignSolid-state drives - WikipediaSoviet Satellite Hair | Road Work - 5by5The Chef Show - NetflixDiamond Dogs | David Bowie - YouTubeA Visit from the Goon Squad | Jennifer Egan - Goodreads

I've usually got a lot on my plate. I'm working hard at making my online time meaningful, I'm working on expanding my audience, and I've got the usual weekly work to accomplish. Lately, though, I've added something new: making the Conquering Your Calendar instructional series a downloadable e-book/pdf.There's a lot to consider when making something like this. How am I going to craft the thing? How can I sell it? Where am I going to sell it? Can I do all of this in a good amount of time and not go crazy while doing it? They're big questions, but they're part of the fun of creating something. I'm looking forward to working on this.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, 3 Helpful Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic.We can be our biggest cheerleaders, but we can also be our greatest enemies. Our mind is a wonderful thing, but how do you manage self-doubt when it arises? Do you give up and hide away or do you work on silencing that damn destructive inner critic of yours? Let's work on ways to do the second one. It's healthier anyways.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:September 25, 2020 post | Dandy Cat Design - TwitterConquering Your Calendar, Part 1: Introduction - Dandy Cat DesignAffinity Publisher - SerifPages - AppleEPUB - WikipediaBooks - AppleGhostGumroadFreebies - Dandy Cat Design3 Helpful Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic - Dandy Cat DesignThe Jeremies (Fall 2020) | Connected Pro - Relay FMRaised by Wolves - IMDbPerpetual Motion People | Ezra Furman - YouTubeA Visit from the Goon Squad | Jennifer Egan - Goodreads

I've made a lot of Pinterest Pins lately. This has all been to help expand and increase my online exposure with people who want to support my work. That's how successful businesses work, when you get down to it. Good exposure equals a larger audience.Why have I been doing all this grueling work? Why make that many images? Thanks to the wonderful Pinfinite Growth course, I understand how to play the Pinterest game better now. Melyssa Griffin has really hit on something here. She's doing great work. I heartily recommend this course for anyone who wants to grow their audience.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why It's Okay To Just Be Okay.We'll probably never be that famous person with the cool, easy life. You know, the sort that we see in magazines. Just doing what you do is both admirable and okay. It's okay to be happy. It's okay to be content with your life, even if your face isn't plastered on a billboard. Let's talk about working on accepting our normal lives and being happy with who we are.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Melyssa GriffinPinfinite Growth - Grow With MelWhy It's Okay To Just Be Okay - Dandy Cat DesignTrojan Horse in My Phone | Connected Pro - Relay FMSex Education - IMDbBlackstar | David Bowie - YouTubePersonal | Lee Child - Goodreads

Prepare yourself for some math because math is what's going to happen in this episode. Wait wait! Come back. It's good math. Cool math. The sort of math that helps grow a business. The sort of math you wish you could have worked on in school. Oh yes, I'm talking about Pinterest math.Well, it's regular ol' multiplication and division, but it's being used to help me figure out how much content I have to post. Turns out it's a lot. Like a lot. When you're playing the game of becoming a success online, it's all a numbers game. Make sure that you're giving your audience the sort of numbers they want to see.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How To Create a Professional Email Signature for Yourself.While we're talking about business sort of things, let's also talk about making a good first impression. A professional email signature is a great step in presenting a good image. You don't want to come off looking like a fool. Luckily, there's a dead simple and powerful tool out there that'll help you make amazing email signatures. You don't even need to know HTML to do it, either! Make your email shine today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Affinity Designer - SerifArtboards Explained - Affinity SpotlightTailwindHow To Create a Professional Email Signature for Yourself - Dandy Cat DesignWhy Tomorrow? | Upgrade+ - Relay FMI Heart Huckabees - IMDbWhole New Mess | Angel Olsen - YouTubePersonal | Lee Child - Goodreads

No, I mean seriously hot. It's been disgusting in Southern California lately. 100-plus degree weather all the time, non-stop sweating, loads of moving. Oh! Did I neglect to mention that my fiancée and I moved in together recently? Well, now you know! We're living together and it's wonderful!The heat might be terrible, but this new development in our lives definitely isn't. I've got a lot to celebrate these days, even if I am in constant danger of melting into a puddle.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Conquering Your Calendar, Part 5: Sharing, Subscriptions, and Tips.It's both a sad and triumphant time today. It's sad because our instructional course about becoming a calendar wizard is coming to a close. It's triumphant because we're learning some amazing new things today. We're sharing calendars, subscribing to them, and learning some valuable tips. Get to reading!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Dandy Cat DesignConquering Your Calendar, Part 5: Sharing, Subscriptions, and Tips - Dandy Cat DesignZ-Ward | Cortex/Upgrade Crossover - Relay FM(No link to this members only episode. Sorry.)Inception - IMDbBon Iver | Bon Iver - YouTubePersonal | Lee Child - Goodreads

Let's keep talking about evolution. It's important, you know? I've gone through many professional changes in my life. I'd say it's a common practice now. Gone are the days where a person can work a single job their whole lives and then retire with a cushy pension. We've got to face reality and reality dictates change.Sometimes those changes won't work out well for you. Some of my ideas turned into flaming wrecks, but hey, at least I learning something valuable from each failed endeavor. That's the important thing about life: you're going to fail, but don't fail at learning a lesson.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Conquering Your Calendar, Part 4: Invite Others.We're continuing our wonderful calendar instructional course by extending the bounds of our calendars outside themselves. We're going to talk about inviting other people to share the events we made in the previous entry to this series. Let's get all collaborative and friendly.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Conquering Your Calendar, Part 1: Introduction - Dandy Cat DesignKrabi - Aspire ThemesSunk cost - WikipediaFallacy - Merriam-WebsterConquering Your Calendar, Part 4: Invite Others - Dandy Cat DesignFlimsy, but Useful | Back to Work - 5by5The Orville - IMDbWe Have Amnesia Sometimes | Yo La Tengo - YouTubeAfter Dark | Haruki Murakami - Goodreads

It's a new day so that must mean it's time for me to change website themes again, right? That's the way things have been going so far. Why muck up this good system we've got going, you know? It keeps people on there toes and it keeps me busy. You have no idea how much of a mess some of those theme's code are in.Hey, evolution is a great thing. It helps us become better people. It helps us understand the world around us. It help our websites look so much dang cooler than they used to. Who doesn't want a cool looking website? I know I want one, hence all the changes. This is for the best, though. I'm very happy with it.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Conquering Your Calendar, Part 3: Making Events.We're continuing our journey of becoming amazing calendar wizards by taking a deep dive into the meat of this whole course. This week, we're learning how to make excellent events within our calendars. This is where the real magic happens, so get to reading this post today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Dandy Cast - Dandy Cat DesignHue - Aspire ThemesKrabi - Aspire ThemesConquering Your Calendar, Part 3: Making Events - Dandy Cat DesignWe're the Bit Company - Accidental Tech PodcastHunt for the Wilderpeople - IMDbAny Day | The Sea and Cake - YouTubeAfter Dark | Haruki Murakami - Goodreads

I've got a terrible, shameful, embarrassing secret I need to share with you. I've... I've been using Twitter again. I know, I know! It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but when you're running an online business, you've got to do what works for you. Let me tell you, Instagram, Facebook, and most other places do not work for me.If you can't tell, I'm more interested in writing than in keeping up a demanding photo-taking and -posting schedule. I tried to do that on Instagram a while ago and it just wore me out. This doesn't mean I'm giving a Twitter a pass on its nastiness, just that it's gelling with my current marketing interests.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Conquering Your Calendar, Part 2: Creating Calendars.In part two of the Conquering Your Calendar instructional course, we're kicking off the serious learning portion by making calendars inside our calendar app. Perhaps that's a little confusing, I know. We're using digital tools, though, and they can do wonderful things. This is the portion that'll help us set the foundation for the rest of the series, plus it's super powerful. Head on over to the blog to give it a read today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned: The Weather Man - IMDbDandy Cat Design - TwitterHow I'm trying to make the internet a better place - Dandy Cat DesignGhostMicro.blog@jack - TwitterConquering Your Calendar, Part 2: Creating Calendars - Dandy Cat DesignChristmas Vacation | Myke at the Movies - The IncomparableThe Great British Baking Show - IMDbHalf-Light | Rostam - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

First up! We've got the brand new instructional course on becoming a bona-fide calendar wizard. Stop wondering why you keep missing out on the important events in your life and start remembering them. It's all thanks to the powerful calendar information and tips that I've written about in this course. Get into it today.Next up! We've got the Dandy Cast. Wait, isn't this the Dandy Cast? You're right, my dear friend, I'm indeed writing about the podcast you're listening to right now. I've got things to debut, though, so bear with me. Ahem, I've got a podcast to accompany the Dandy Newsletter now! If you don't want to read all my words, try listening to them instead.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Conquering Your Calendar, Part 1: Introduction.In part one of the Conquering Your Calendar instructional course, I'm giving you a rundown of what you can expect from the subsequent four parts of this series. I've also included some recommendations for calendar apps that you can use on your quest toward calendar wizardry. Head on over to the blog to start learning today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Dandy Cat Design membershipHow to Cook Pasta Perfectly | America's Test Kitchen - YouTubeDandy Cast - TransistorHagrid | Harry Potter - FandomConquering Your Calendar, Part 1: Introduction - Dandy Cat DesignKevin Conroy | Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - SimplecastThe Invisible Man - IMDbDreamland | Glass Animals - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

I've been late to the game on many things and I've always kicked myself for not getting into them sooner. Writing blog posts for Dandy Cat Design, beans, tracking my time. They've all been great additions to my life, but boy did I drag my feet to get going with them. I've always had a talent for procrastination.But I shall procrastinate no more on them, especially the tracking my time bit. Not only do I have a better idea of where my time is being spent, but I also feel more productive than I ever have. In fact, I'm tracking the time it's taking me to write these here show notes. The system is working!There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: How To Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor.Did you know you don't have to kill your wallet to get yourself a larger canvas for your computer? You can use the iPad you may already have as a second monitor for your Mac! It's an amazing, built-in tool that I use every single week. Follow the link to this week's blog post to learn how to extend your desktop with an iPad today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Myke Hurley - Relay FMCGP GreyCortex - Relay FMThe Theme SystemTogglTimeryMore Movies Please! - LibsynQuick Tip: How To Use Your iPad as a Second Monitor - Dandy Cat DesignBig Shoes to Phil | Connected Pro - Relay FMVeronica Mars - IMDbHearts Beat Loud soundtrack - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

The Internet, with a capital I, has been around for a whole lot longer than many of us can probably imagine. Seriously, its beginnings can be traced all the way back to the late 1940s! I mean, it was mostly a theory at that time, but the point still stands. Since then, it's had a long and storied history. Now we're here in the today times and it's gotten a little less cool and a little more bleak.Instead of letting the darkness of the Internet take over our lives, I entreat you to give it the finger and make your own online happy place. This is your own online community of interested, good, like-minded people who want to see what you create. Could it be amazing stories? Sure. Nonsensical photos of pie? Yeah, why not? The point is to create something that can beat back the darkness. It's well worth your time.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Should You Charge an Hourly or a Flat Rate?Trying to figure out what you want/need to charge for your products or services is always an exercise fraught with confusion and doubt. Let's work to dispel some of those bad feelings by examining the pros and cons of each possible charging method. This is an excellent post that may help you answer that tough question. Give it a read today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:History of the Internet - WikipediaARPANET - WikipediaPacket switching - WikipediaWeb 2.0 - WikipediaWho watches the Watchmen - WikipediaDandy Cat Design's Twitter profileDandy Cat Design's Pinterest profileDandy Cat Design's microblogDandy Cat DesignParadox of tolerance - WikipediaPhilosopher Karl Popper - WikipediaShould You Charge an Hourly or a Flat Rate? - Dandy Cat DesignThe Rocketeer | Myke at the Movies - Relay FMThe Death of Stalin - IMDbVoices | Max Richter - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

I'm feeling a little embarrassed—me, a self-styled productivity lover, have been feeling over-stressed because I haven't been organizing my days well. Instead of letting the shame mark me, however, I've chosen to do something about it instead. Cue the scheduling!I've used a technique called time blocking to categorize my days and fit in all my tasks. I've now got a well-ordered calendar, and best of all, I'm feeling less anxious than ever. I believe that time blocking is a wonderful tool that can help many people. Must be why I recorded a whole episode about it.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Understanding the Dynamic Content Blocks in Ghost.I've loved hosting the Dandy Cat Design website on Ghost. It's simple to use and more powerful than I could have hoped for. Its crowning jewel is the writing experience. They give you many different tools to take your written text and turn it into a vibrant, interactive experience for your site's visitors. Read this post today to learn how to use them all.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Fantastical”How to manage my time better” search - GoogleKnucklebones - WikipediaMore Movies Please! - LibsynUnderstanding the Dynamic Content Blocks in Ghost - Dandy Cat DesignGhostThe Velcro Side - California KingBatman: Gotham by Gaslight - IMDbLet England Shake | PJ Harvey - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

Hey, Dandy Cat Design has a new URL (in addition to its current one). I was feeling a little jazzy lately and decided to really lean into the cat theme. Now, you'll be able to get to the website by going to a far simple dandy.cat. Yep, there's a .cat domain and your boy went and got one for his site.Does this mean that I'll be dropping the other URL that I've been using for so long? Nah, I don't think so. No need to rock the boat when it's sailing along just fine. I mean, a part of me wants to do it, but there are people who wouldn't want to make the change. Where would I be then? It's not good for a business to lose potential customers. That's just Business 101.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Do You Need to Bullet Journal?Bullet journaling was a pretty huge things a few years ago. It was the Furby of productivity tools. Luckily, it's tuck around a lot longer than the Furby did. The excitement around it may have died down a bit, but it's still a great tool to have. If you're looking to boost your daily productivity, be sure to give this post a read.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:dandy.catHoverTop-level domain - WikipediaDo You Need to Bullet Journal? - Dandy Cat DesignBullet JournalRyder CarrollBig Sur Sosumi | Upgrade - Relay FMCougar Town - IMDbMarry Me | St. Vincent - YouTubeThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards - Goodreads

My favorite computer, hands-down, is my iPad Pro. I've had several amazing computers over the years (and some not so good ones), but this thing is just the gift that keeps on giving. Not only does it help me get my work done every day, it's also a great media viewer, communication tool, and even a pretty decent gaming platform.With all it's got going for it, I don't really get the incessant refrain that it's not a computer for “real” work, whatever the hell that means. This thing is amazing. I won't have any of that naysaying. It's exactly what I need it to be, it's gorgeous, and I'm happy to use it every day. It's the best of many worlds and it should get more respect.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: Why I Use Trello for My Project Management.Trello is a phenomenal tool for managing projects, either by yourself or by working collaboratively with others. It can be dead simple to use or you can scale it up to be a capable as you want it to be. I don't know where I'd be without it. Read this post today to learn why I use it for my own project management and how you can use it for yours.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:UlyssesWWDC - AppleiMac G5 - WikipediaStar Trek - WikipediamacOS Big Sur - AppleEqual Emphasis - Accidental Tech PodcastJune 22, 2020 entry to the Dandy Cat Design microblogXcode - AppleFinal Cut Pro X - AppleQuick Tip: Why I Use Trello for My Project Management - Dandy Cat DesignTrelloPsychologically Prepared | Road Work - 5by5Justified - IMDbSteppenwolf Essentials - Apple Music

I mostly get why people don't like subscriptions. There's a lot of good stuff out there and no one's got the money to pay for everything. Watching something you've paid for once go down the subscription route can be a frustrating thing. Who wants to keep paying for something they've already paid before?This happened with the amazing calendar app, Fantastical. They chose to become a subscription-based app and the App Store was not having it. While I understand what's causing the frustration, it's also ridiculous to expect developers to only be paid once for their work and continue to demand new things from them. If you want to continue to have new features, then you'll need to pay for them. Simple as that. Maybe start treating developers like the people they are, eh?There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why It's Okay and Necessary To “Kill Your Darlings.”When doing any sort of creative work, it's eventually going to need an edit. Remember, your first draft is rarely your best draft. It's essential that you learn to not be so stinking precious about what you do. I mean, like it, sure, but be prepared to slash it down to make it better. Read this post today to learn why killing your creative darlings is essential to any creative process.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Apple approves Hey email app, but the fight's not over - The VergeHeyAuto-renewable Subscriptions: Revenue After One Year - AppleApp Store Connect - App StoreFlexibitsSay hello to the new Fantastical for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch - FlexibitsFantasticalJanuary 29, 2020 entry on the Dandy Cat Design microblogSubscribe to Dandy Cat DesignWhy It's Okay and Necessary To “Kill Your Darlings” - Dandy Cat DesignRussell Brand | Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend - EarwolfJustified - IMDbI Am the Fun Blame Monster! | Menomena - YouTubeGrave Peril | Jim Butcher - Goodreads

So Basecamp put out a new email app called Hey. It's pretty nifty and does a decent job at helping you manage your unruly inbox. All was well and good until Apple had to go and stick there nose in a good thing. I mean, come on, Apple. You had a good thing going, but now I guess you're just the same as any other greedy company that's ever been.In the midst of corporate boot-to-neck behavior, inconsistent treatment of larger companies, and some pretty gross press responses was an app that just wanted to do something clever with your email. See, this is why we can't have nice things...There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How You Can Learn More about Yourself by Asking the 5 Whys.The 5 Whys is a tool you can use to get to the bottom of your most pressing issues. It's simple, ask yourself “why” to a successive number of statements and get to a deeper problem. If you've got a problem that's leaving you wondering what to do, then give this one a read and learn how to manage your issues with greater clarity.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Basecamp, the companyBasecamp, the serviceHeyEU opens Apple antitrust investigations into App Store and Apple Pay practices - The Verge youdownloadtheappanditdoesntwork.com Apple Q2 2020 Results - $58.3 Billion Revenue  - MacStoriesApp Store Review Guidelines: “Reader” apps - AppleInterview: Apple's Schiller says position on Hey app is unchanged and no rules changes are imminent - TechCrunchHEY Email - App StoreWWDCHow You Can Learn More about Yourself by Asking the 5 Whys - Dandy Cat DesignA New Widgety World | Cortex - Relay FMDredd - IMDbEverything Else Has Gone Wrong | Bombay Bicycle Club - YouTubeGrave Peril | Jim Butcher - Goodreads

Oh my stinkin' goodness. It's WWDC time! The Worldwide Developers Conference was upon us and it... was... amazing! This is the time of year when we get to find out what amazing new things Apple's been cooking up for us. New iOS, new iPadOS, new macOS, new watchOS! Oh, also new tvOS usually. That's not always the most exciting thing.This year was a doozy for all the platforms. We're getting widgets on iOS and iPadOS now. Whoo! This should fundamentally change how we interact with our most treasured devices. The updates to macOS are also kind of jaw-dropping. Seriously, this is the biggest change in nearly two decades. I am so ready for it.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why You Should Pursue Not Only “Less,” but “Better.”In our pursuit to have less things in our lives, we need to make sure that we're not just getting rid of things willy-nilly. We also need to ensure that the things we do bring into our world are also of good quality. Luckily, we can have both fewer and better things. No need to sacrifice one for the other. Read this post today to learn how.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Worldwide Developers Conference - AppleWWDC 2020 - AppleiOS 14 - AppleiPadOS 14 - ApplewatchOS 7 - ApplemacOS Big Sur - AppleScreenshot of the original iPhone homescreenSleep CycleApple Q2 2020 results: $58B revenue, but no guidance - Six ColorsApple Silicon - WikipediaChrome High CPU Usage - Driver EasyPatch this Google Chrome security flaw now, or risk attack - Tech RadarDeveloper Forums - AppleWhy You Should Pursue Not Only “Less,” but “Better.” - Dandy Cat DesignEqual Emphasis - Accidental Tech PodcastWestworld - IMDbA Larum | Johnny Flynn - YouTubeGrave Peril | Jim Butcher - Goodreads

We could all stand to be more graceful in our lives and interactions with others. It's a good quality to have. You'll be more pleasant to spend time around. You'll be kinder to people. You'll be able to take criticism better than you've ever done before. To put it plainly, grace is a necessary component in life.You're going to be criticized for what you do. There's no getting around it. However, what's going to set you apart from those who bristle at criticism is how well you respond to it. Trust me, you don't want to be the sort of person who throws a fit over any negativity aimed your way. That's not a good look.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: So Your Squarespace Trial Period Is Ending…You've got a brilliant looking new Squarespace site going. Good on you! However, your free trial period is ending. What's a person to do now? Well, you should read this blog post to learn the exact steps you need to take to ensure you start your new website off the right way. Give it a go.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Grace - Merriam-WebsterSchadenfreude - GrammarlyQuick Tip: So Your Squarespace Trial Period Is Ending… - Dandy Cat DesignHow do extended trials work? - SquarespaceSquarespace CircleDon't Talk to Dongus | Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannWestworld - IMDbPony | Orville Peck - YouTubeGrave Peril | Jim Butcher - Goodreads

After much pondering, I've decided to turn the Dandy Newsletter into a podcast. Well, I'll be recording a podcast accompaniment to the Dandy Newsletter, but still, it's going to be a thing. Instead of reading all my many words, let me speak them into your earholes instead.Some people would just much rather listen to what I've got to say. That's fine and dandy. I want to give those people the opportunity to get the most out of my work. So, that's what I'll be working on. Of course, reading all this in the show notes for said podcast is a little, I don't know, redundant? Regardless, here it is!There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why It's Okay To Change Your Passion.Saying goodbye is always tough, but sometimes it can also be the best thing for you. When it comes to a passion in your life, that process is especially difficult. Look, I'm not saying it's easy. I am saying it's okay. I did it for myself. Now I'm feeling pretty dang great. Read the post today to learn why changing your passion can be a good thing.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Myke Hurley - Relay FMConnected - Relay FMCortex - Relay FMThe Pen Addict - Relay FMRelay FMStephen Hackett - Relay FM5 Simple Tips on How To Improve Your SEO + 1 Complex Tip - Dandy Cat DesignUlyssesBueller? | Ferris Bueller's Day Off - YouTubeThe Podcasting World Is Now Spotify Versus Everybody Else - The VergeMore Movies Please!Why It's Okay To Change Your Passion - Dandy Cat DesignSix Fax Machines | Reconcilable Differences - Relay FMPredestination - IMDbHope She'll Be Happier | Nick Mulvey - YouTubeA Wanted Man | Lee Child - Goodreads

Frivolity gets a bad rap. Seriously, I don't know why everyone's so down on doing things that don't really matter. Wasting time, if you've got time to waste, has got some pretty negative connotations around it and I don't think it should be that way. If you want to waste some time, then do it with a smile on your face.I'm planning on wasting some time soon by getting myself a Raspberry Pi. This mini computer is a tinkerer's dream machine. You can do so many things with it! Perhaps I'll turn it into a Plex server. Maybe I'll make it a web server. I might even use it to start my own hacking career! (Just kidding, NSA. I'm not crazy like that.) Whatever I end up doing with the thing, you can bet it'll be entirely frivolous.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why I'm Going All in on a Single Platform (and Why You'd Want To).I'm ditching Google. Well, as much as one can ditch Google. YouTube and its search engine may be an impossible thing to give up at this point. However, I'm an Apple fan and have invested heavily into that ecosystem. If it works for my personal life, why shouldn't it work for my business life? I'm going all in on Apple. Read this post today to learn why you should consider a single ecosystem for yourself.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Raspberry PiPlexPi-HoleI've Looked Across the Internet | Analog(ue) - Relay FMCasey LissWhy I'm Going All in on a Single Platform (and Why You'd Want To) - Dandy Cat DesignConan O'Brien | The Three Questions with Andy Richter - EarwolfMythic Quest: Raven's Banquet - Apple TV+What Now | Sylvan Esso - YouTubeA Wanted Man | Lee Child - Goodreads

Am I thinking about removing some personality from my website? Yeah, but it's not because I want to have the world's most boring site. Who in the world would want something like that? We live in the web 2.0 era, for cryin' out loud. We don't need to subject our audiences to HTML only sites. Fancy things are still nice.I do, however, want to have a speedy site. Like, the speediest site around. The best way to do that is to remove the things that are taking up loads of space. In my case, I'll be removing the custom font I had been using and replacing it with a system font. Standard? Yes. Boring? Hell no! Speedy? You bet your butt.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, The Top 3 Color Mistakes (and How To Avoid Them).Employing a sensible and appealing palette of colors in your design work is a must. However, it's all too easy to slip up and make devastating mistakes. This week, I'm talking about the top three mistakes that people make when working with color. Knowing about these pitfalls is the easiest way to avoid falling into them. Read this post today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:What's the Difference Between a Font and a Typeface? - Mental FlossAbstract: The Art of Design - NetflixTidying Up with Marie Kondo - NetflixClean Your Desk to Feel Better - Dandy Cat DesignDandy Cat DesignNunito - Google FontsHelvetica - WikipediaSan Francisco typeface - WikipediaGhostSegoe UI - WikipediaThe Top 3 Color Mistakes (and How To Avoid Them) - Dandy Cat DesignOriginal Shame | Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannJojo Rabbit - IMDbSylvan Esso | Sylvan Esso - YouTubeA Wanted Man | Lee Child - Goodreads

I've wanted to be a lot of things in my life: a teacher, an actor, a cinematographer, and heck, even a sign language interpreter. I didn't want to be president or anything like that because who would want that insane job. Suffice it to say, though, I wanted to do creative work and I wanted to be well known for it.That's been a hell of a thing to get over, let me tell you. Why in the world do we convince our most impressionable people that you're only worth something if you're famous? Why aren't we spending more time and effort telling people that they're going to be amazing even if they're not famous? Heck, especially if they're not famous! Being “just okay” is underrated.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Easily Move Your Blog To/From Squarespace.Moving your blog to Squarespace is a piece of cake. Moving your blog away from Squarespace is also a piece of cake. If you're considering a move of this sort, you've got an easy process in store for you. Can I promise you actual cake? No, but I can promise that your blog is going to have a wonderful new home. Read this post to find out how to move your blog today.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Arsenic and Old Lace - WikipediaEasily Move Your Blog To/From Squarespace - Dandy Cat DesignCopy Copy Copy, Paste Paste Paste Paste | Upgrade - Relay FMThe Kominsky Method - NetflixSet My Heart on Fire Immediately | Perfume Genius - YouTube

Can 2020 become any more of a burden? No wait! Don't answer that. I don't think I want to know about how much more it can suck. You probably don't either. If you're anything like me, you're feeling worn out from all this nonsense and would like a good reprieve.Let's try and create a more peaceful life in whatever way we can. Let's think of some activities we can do that'll get us (safely) out of the house, having more fun indoors, or creating something meaningful. Just because the world is sucking right now doesn't mean we need to let it mess with us.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Relying 100% on Social Media for Your Business Is Foolish.Social media is a phenomenal tool for getting you and your business the attention it deserves. However, it's not the basket in which you should be putting all your eggs. If you're relying on a single service to help you operate and fund your entire business, then there could be a very unpleasant awakening for you if that service ever goes down. Click through the link to learn what ubiquitous service is the more reliable one.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Animal Crossing: New HorizonsNintendo Switch - NintendoApple Arcade - AppleSneaky Sasquatch - Apple Arcade19 Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners - The Spruce Crafts16 Free Hat Knitting Patterns - The Spruce CraftsHomemade Pasta - Love & LemonsRelying 100% on Social Media for Your Business Is Foolish - Dandy Cat DesignOne Dollar Cat | Reconcilable Differences - Relay FMHeat - IMDbSeptember Again | Nation of Language - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

No, it's not about taking over the world. I'm going to leave that task to some of the more capable mice in the world. Nah, the pondering I've been doing has been all about how to become a more contemplative person. What do they call that? Recursive action?There are some serious benefits to becoming a more contemplative person. You can develop greater recall of the events that happened in your life. You can formulate better arguments and opinions. You can become one of those wise old people that everyone looks up to. I mean, that sounds like it's all upside to me.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, 3 Ways To Fall in Love with Your Junk Drawer.Most of us are embarrassed by our dreaded junk drawers. It's where we keep all of our junk, for crying out loud! Hey, I get it, but we don't have to live like that. We can have junk drawers that not only hold all our miscellaneous items, but we can also be proud of them. Click through the link to learn how to fall in love with that messy junk drawer of yours.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:The Design SquiggleJohn Roderick - WikipediaThe Long Winters - WikipediaRoderick on the Line - Merlin MannRoad Work - 5by53 Ways To Fall in Love with Your Junk Drawer - Dandy Cat DesignThe Walking Dead - NetflixQuarantime | Cortex - Relay FMTautology I | El Ten Eleven - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

Seriously, like knee-knocking fear. And you know what's causing it? Pinterest. Freaking Pinterest of all things. Yeah, that place with all the recipes, knitting patterns, and The Top 10 Rundown Barns in Central Ohio that You Should Totally Reserve for Your Next Marriage!Look, I'm not going to say this fear is something I'm proud of, but it's what I'm working with right now. Let's look on the bright side: this fear is just a new opportunity for me to learn how to overcome something that's holding me back. Fear sucks, but let's learn how to use it to our advantage.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, 5 Pitfalls To Avoid When (Re)Launching Your Business.Launching or relaunching a business is a task that's full of both excitement and peril. Hopefully, everything's going to so as well as it can, but there's always the chance you can fall victim to one of these pitfalls. Click through to learn how to avoid the most treacherous mistakes you can make at the outset of a business.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Dandy Cat Design's Pinterest profile5 Pitfalls To Avoid When (Re)Launching Your Business - Dandy Cat DesignDope - IMDbDoc Ames | The Dollop - All Things ComedyNighttiming | Coconut Records - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

Last time, I encouraged you to make your own podcast (because they're fun and you really should). This time I'm giving you a quick but thorough guide on how to make your own podcast. “Teach a man to fish...” and all that, you know.Making a podcast takes work, but it isn't an impossible thing to do. In fact, it's probably easier and cheaper than you might be thinking it is. You probably have everything you need to get started right now! Check out this episode for a great rundown of how to start your new favorite hobby today!There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: How To Create an Automated Welcome Message in Mailchimp.An automated welcome message is a wonderful tool to help greet people to your email list. Hey, they granted you access to their inboxes. You'd better be grateful about that, right? Learn how to make this process a whole lot easier by setting up welcome message in Mailchimp. Read this post today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Avengers: Endgame - IMDbSM7B - ShureHeil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Microphone - AmazonYeti condenser microphone - Blue Designs2100x-USB dynamic microphone - Audio-TechnicaNeweer Pop Filter - AmazonMudder Microphone Windscreen - AmazonLogic - ApplePro Tools - AvidGarageBand - AppleAudacityLibsynMore Movies Please! - LibsynTransistorQuick Tip: How To Create an Automated Welcome Message in Mailchimp - Dandy Cat DesignBosch - Prime VideoInformation Retrieved | Pinback - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

I've been listening to podcasts nearly since they became a thing so many years ago. I'm a huge fan, but that's also had the unfortunate side effect of making me pretty opinionated about them. But hey, I can speak at great length about them, at least.I believe they're an important medium, so I'm not too keen on what Spotify's been doing. They're starting to become “the man” in the podcast world, although I'd bet they would disagree. What's to be done about this sort of thing? Well, I want to encourage everyone to listen to more actually free podcasts. Heck, even make one of your own. Stick it to the man by creating something new!There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How To Save Time by Making a Squarespace Blog Post Template.If you've got a blog going, you should also have a blog post template. Seriously, you're probably wasting huge amounts of time if you don't have a nice template to use every time you make a post. Learn how to make an excellent Squarespace blog post template by giving this one a read today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:More Movies Please! - Apple PodcastsSteven ReyesSModcastSerialThis American LifeConan O'Brien Needs a Friend - EarwolfDavid Tenant Does a PodcastLeVar Burton ReadsRSS - WikipediaApple PodcastsPocket CastsHow To Save Time by Making a Squarespace Blog Post Template - Dandy Cat DesignInside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates - NetflixDiviner | Hayden Thorpe - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

There are some people I really like and, you know what, they deserve to be celebrated for being wonderful. So that's exactly what's going to happen today. I've got three people who you should really know more about. They're all lovely and just kick butt at what they do. Check ‘em out!There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How To Take Advantage of the Incredible Cursor Support on iPad.The iPad has a cursor now. Whoo! Seriously, I'm so stinking excited about this new feature. My iPad is already the device I want to do all my work on. This just brings me so much closer to the wonderful reality than I've ever been. Learn how to use it in your workflow by reading this post now.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:WoodbodySammi ScottoAshlyn CarterHow To Take Advantage of the Incredible Cursor Support on iPad - Dandy Cat DesignThe Shape of Water - IMDbDead Man's Party | Oingo Boingo - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

Yo, mental health is a subject that's massively important, so why aren't people talking about it more than we already are? Why is it still such a taboo subject? That just doesn't make much sense to me at all. We need to wake up and realize that our mental health is one of the most important things in our lives. yes, even more important than sportsball or ice cream or whatever.I'm working on keeping myself sane these days. It's important that I don't get too caught up in the troubles of the world. How am I doing this? Why, by ditching news! News, and especially the garbage that passes for news on social media, can be a cancer if it's not done well. Unfortunately, a lot of it isn't done well. Today, I'm looking for better sources of high quality information.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: Use SVG Files to Speed Up Your Squarespace Site.I talked a bit about wanting to have the cheetah of websites a little while ago. Using small image files is one of the best things you can do to speed up your site. SVG files? Well, they can make your images super small. They're just little bits of code that you can place in your site. Read this post today to learn how to make good use of them today. Watch your site start zooming!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Excessive social media use is comparable to drug addiction - MSUTodayClickbait: The changing face of online journalism - BBCThe elements of journalism - American Press InstituteI worked on political ads at Facebook. They profit by manipulating us. - The Washington PostReutersBBCAssociated Press99% InvisibleHow Did This Get Made?Reply AllThreedomRelay FMAccidental Tech PodcastQuick Tip: Use SVG Files to Speed Up Your Squarespace Site - Dandy Cat DesignDickinson - Apple TV+In Colour | Jamie xx - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

I don't want just any ol' fast website. I want to have the fastest dang website on this here side o' the Mississippi River! Weird prospector talk aside, seriously, I want to have a blazing fast website. The sort of website that feels like a joy to visit. A website that laughs at page loading times.There are a few good ways to make this happen. Mostly, it comes down to making everything as small as possible. There's no room for enormous file sizes anywhere on the internet. We've got fast wifi and cellular speeds, but they're not that fast yet. Maybe one day in the future, but we'll get there when we get there.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, An Updated Guide on How To Stay Sane While Working from Home.2020 sent many of us into a tailspin. The luckiest of us have been able to transfer to working from home. It's been fine for me since I've been working from home for a while now, but it's not something everyone is comfortable with. This calls for a new guide on how to make working from home actually bearable. Read this guide today to save your sanity!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:CNNNPRBounce rate - WikipediaSkinny Images = A Speedier Site - Dandy Cat DesignUnsplashContent delivery network - Wikipediafueko.netLyra theme | Ghost - GithubAn Updated Guide on How To Stay Sane While Working from Home - Dandy Cat DesignDickinson - Apple TV+The Long-Awaited Album | Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

There are several things that make me happier than a clam, as they say. There's a heaping carton of vegan ice cream. There's petting dogs and cats. There's sleeping in on a free weekday. Oh hey, there's also a bunch of other things. Too many to name in this particular paragraph, so listen to this episode and check out the links below, why don't ya?Look, when times are tough (and they're certainly tough as hell right now), it's important to keep your spirits up. That's why I made this list of things I love watching, listening to, and reading for your pleasure. Give them all a go, you wonderful person you.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why It's Okay To Work a Lot (or a Little).Some people like working a little bit. Some people like working so much that you wonder if they might actually be some kind of robot. Whatever the case may be for you, it's all good. You should work how you prefer to work. Just make sure you get everything done, you take care of yourself, and you read this blog post.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Good Mythical Morning - YouTubeThe Nicest Place on the Internet - YouTubeThe Chef Show - NetflixChef - IMDbConan O'Brien Needs a Friend - EarwolfThe Big Ones - EariosSModcastMore Movies Please! - LibsynGood Omens - GoodreadsGood Omens - Prime VideoWhat If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions - GoodreadsXKCDThe Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Andrews McMeelAlton Brown's Handwashing Tutorial - YouTubeWhy It's Okay To Work a Lot (or a Little) - Dandy Cat DesignLocke & Key - NetflixExcitable Boy | Warren Zevon - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

There's a change coming to the Dandy Cat Design website and it's all about comments, or rather the lack thereof. There had been a comments section, powered by Commento, at the end of each post, but now it's looking like it's not long for this world. Pour one out for a dearly departed feature.But hey, it's not like you won't be able to contact me. There's still my contact page. I've still got an active Twitter profile going. If you've got some thoughts/grievances about a blog post, then give me a shout out in one of those place. I'd love to hear from you... just not at the end of my blog posts anymore.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Do Yourself a Favor and Create an Ideal Client Avatar + FREEBIES.If you've got an online business of any sort going, then you really need to do an ideal client avatar for yourself. Seriously, this is one of the most powerful and useful exercise you can do for you and your business. Learning more about the people who want to give you money is one of the best ways to ensure you're a success. Learn how to make one and get a really awesome FREEBIE with it by reading this post today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Dandy Cat Design microblogDandy Cat Design's profile - TwitterZapierCommentoDo Yourself a Favor and Create an Ideal Client Avatar + FREEBIES - Dandy Cat DesignLocke & Key - NetflixComing Home | Leon Bridges - YouTubeThe Stand | Stephen King - Goodreads

Do you know you're being tracked? Like, everywhere. Everything is tracking us all the time and I for one don't appreciate it one bit. I don't find myself needing personalized ads. If I have to have ads in my browser, then at least show me some that doesn't convince me I'm being watched 24/7.Unfortunately, you can also find this tracking technology in the emails you receive, too. Sure, they're used to track opens and click-throughs, but how much of that information is actually valuable and how much of it is actually creepy? My money's on the creepy side. Let me tell you what I'm trying to do about it for Dandy Cat Design.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How to Add a Sidebar to Your Blog (and Why You'd Want To).Adding a sidebar to your Squarespace site can boost your audience engagement to some pretty excellent heights. Who wouldn't want to encourage their visitors to spend more time on their site? Sounds like a good thing to me. Learn a couple powerful ways to add a sidebar to your Squarespace website by reading this post today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Spy - Paul JarvisFacebook Pixel - FacebookHow to Add a Sidebar to Your Blog (and Why You'd Want To) - Dandy Cat DesignI Am Not Okay With This - NetflixLadies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space | Spiritualized - YouTubeThe Dark Tower: The Gunslinger | Stephen King - Goodreads

Why can't hobbies just be hobbies? I mean, seriously people. There's nothing wrong with just enjoying things for the sake of enjoying them. We don't have to turn everything into a money-making venture just because somebody with a YouTube channel told us that's the only way to be happy in life.Perhaps we could try just enjoying life for the sake of enjoying it? Hey, there's a lot of good in this world! No need to muck it up by tossing business things into the mix. LLCs? Lawyers? Etsy?! No, thank you.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: Adding a Background Color to Squarespace Gallery Blocks.Gallery blocks on a Squarespace site are already pretty eye-catching, but why not jazz them up even further? You know what, let's not stop at jazz... Let's throw some pizzazz in there, too! With this informative quick tip, you can learn the simple CSS code needed to add a background color to your Squarespace Gallery Blocks today!We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:More Movies Please! - LibsynCompass boom arm - Blue DesignsYeti microphone - Blue DesignsATR2100x-USB - Audio-TechnicaQuick Tip: Adding a Background Color to Squarespace Gallery Blocks - Dandy Cat DesignWestworld - HBOMellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | Smashing Pumpkins - YouTubeThe Affair | Lee Child - Goodreads

I really like some things and those things are really likable. I mean, do you know about Micro.blog? You should. It's an incredible blogging service that's worth checking out. My iPhone is pretty dang dandy. I can do so many great things with it! I also love my fiancée because she's just the bee's knees. The bee's knees and the cat's pajamas!I think it's important to celebrate what you like. That's exactly what I'm doing in this episode. I hope this will inspire you to consider what you've been really loving these days.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Suck a Little Bit Less Every Day.We should all make it our personal duties to be less sucky every single day. Now, I'm not saying that you're a jerk, just that your life should be all about trying to be better than you were before. You should try to improve yourself every single day. In this week's blog post, I'm discussing why we should try to suck less every day and how we can always be working on self-improvement. And if you are a jerk, then just stop it.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Micro.blogThe Dandy Cat Design microblogSuck a Little Bit Less Every DayHomecoming - Prime VideoRemain in Light | Talking Heads - YouTubeThe Affair | Lee Child - Goodreads

I really dislike the term “guilty pleasure.” Man, we should all like what we like. There's no reason to feel guilty about anything we enjoy. I mean, I really like watching the Oscars every year. I've done it since I was in high school and I'll probably keep doing it until I'm dead or the world ends. Although, if the world ends, then I'll probably also die as a result. Anyway...Stop thinking of the things you like as something you need to feel bad about. There's not a dang thing you need to be ashamed of. If you like the Oscars, then watch it. If you enjoy drinking pickle juice, then you do you. If you like Family Circus comics, then damn it, you check in on what little Billy is up to these days. Feel proud of liking what you like!There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, 5 Blogging Mistakes That'll Cost You Big Time.Running an online blog is a great way to be creative while also possibly making some good money (if that's your thing). However, there are some serious pitfalls to avoid if you want to have any chance of your blog being read. Hop on over to the post to learn how to avoid some of the biggest blogging mistakes that many people make.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Little Women - IMDbThe Farewell - IMDbMartin Scorsese: I Said Marvel Movies Aren't Cinema. Let Me Explain. - The New York TimesBeginners - IMDb5 Blogging Mistakes That'll Cost You Big TimeHomecoming - Prime VideoSun Coming Down | Ought - YouTubeThe Affair | Lee Child - Goodreads

Entrepreneur is a word that's guaranteed to make me gag a little bit. It's really unfortunate that so much of running an online business depends on buying into the idea of being your own “entrepreneur” and then telling everyone you meet about how much entrepreneuring you've been doing. Entrepreneur all day! Entrepreneur all night! Now take my business card and only call me when you have money to give!I could do without that sort of culture for, well, ever. For... ev... er. It's not a healthy way to do any sort of business. Instead, I prefer a much better sounding moniker. Why not “business owner”? What the heck is so wrong with that one? Not a thing, in my opinion.There's also a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Clean Your Desk to Feel Better.A clean desk and workspace is something that not only helps you work better, it also helps you feel happier. I believe that with my whole being. It's the hill I'll die on. A clean desk is something you should have and I'm going to help you get there. Stop thinking a messy desk means that a lot of work is being done. A messy desk is just a messy desk.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Entrepreneur - Merriam-WebsterBusiness card scene | American Psycho - YouTubeClean Your Desk to Feel BetterThe Mandalorian - Disney+Silver Tongue | Torres - YouTubeThe Affair | Lee Child - Goodreads

I don't think it's possible to find the ideal workflow, the ideal computer, or well, the ideal anything. That's not going to stop me from trying. I've used the G Suite service for my business needs for a long time, but I've come to the conclusion that it's not really needed for me anymore.That addiction I'm talking about? Clearly, it's about not being satisfied with the perfectly acceptable tools I use. I start using something, wonder about what else is out there, and then change it all up. Happens like clockwork. On the other hand, we get to talk about using shiny new and useful services. That's always worthwhile.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: Focus on More than Just the Pictures.Sure, photos and video rule everything online, but if you're just focusing on those aspects, then you're missing out on great engagement potential. You could be connecting in deep ways with news fans by focusing on more than just the pictures. Head on over to this blog post to find out what you should be focusing on instead.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:G SuiteVimeoHoverExclusive: Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained - ReutersQuick Tip: Focus on More than Just the Pictures - Dandy Cat DesignDexter - NetflixShark Smile | Big Thief - YouTubeThe Affair | Lee Child - Goodreads

Should I be more active on social media? Should I not even think about it because they're all so terrible? Is there something out there that could actually speak to me and bring me joy? Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?!Cue Micro.blog, the independent blogging service with a delightful social media component. With this service I've not only found a place where I can write freely and at length, but is also full of the most wonderful people you can find online. It's a social network that's looking to do things differently, and that's a good thing.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, 3 Clever Ways To Use the Squarespace Cover Page.I may not be using Squarespace for my website needs any longer, but that doesn't change the fact that they're pretty awesome. Oh, and they've got some amazing website building features. Read on to this blog post to learn how to make the most out of the Squarespace Cover Page.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Micro.blogManton Reece's Micro.blog Kickstarter Project - Daring FireballWhy I created Micro.blog - Micro.blogMicro.blog community guidelines - Micro.blogThe Dandy Cat Design microblog3 Clever Ways To Use the Squarespace Cover Page - Dandy Cat DesignDexter - NetflixThe Pure Piano playlist - Apple MusicThe Woman in the Window | A.J. Finn - Goodreads

The King is dead. Long live the King!The Dandy Cat Design website that was made on Squarespace is no more. It's kaput. Hey, the start of a new year is the perfect time to make huge changes in your business, right? If you're not moving forward, you're moving backward, as they say.Who says that? Me, I guess.Tired of the annoyances that Squarespace was giving me, I've chosen to move my whole website on over to the wonderful Ghost platform. Not only is it much more focused on delivering a great writing experience, you can also support direct membership payments on the platform. Sounds like a win-win to me.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Why Every “How-To” Guide Sucks (Including This One).How-to guides, self-help books, whatever you want to call them... Well, they all suck. Just straight-up suck. They major in suckitude. Luckily, their suckiness comes from one major omission. If they start fixing it, then they could be a lot more helpful. Read this post to find out what they're missing.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:GhostUlyssesPaige BruntonKerstin MartinLauren HookerWhy Every “How-To” Guide Sucks (Including This One) - Dandy Cat DesignThe Theme SystemFor All Mankind - Apple TV+Delinquent Session (Live at BBC Maida Vale) | Team Picture - YouTubeThe Woman in the Window | A.J. Finn - Goodreads

If there are two things we can know with certainty at the start of every new year, it's this: Everyone and their mother is going to be making well-intentioned resolutions that they're for sure going to stick with this time. All those people and their mothers are for sure going to fail at sticking to those resolutions. It's just the way the cookie crumbles. Resolutions suck. I mean, they really suuuuuck. Luckily, there's a better method out there and it's called The Theme System.Instead of making yet another resolution that's doomed to fail, make a yearly theme for yourself. This isn't an activity to accomplish; it's a path, a guiding directive, to follow as you make your way through a new year. Less stress and more success is always a better way to live.There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, My 2019 in Review.Speaking of yearly things, I'm recapping everything that happened in 2019 in this week's blog post. The good, the bad, and the not so pretty is all waiting for you in there. If you want to learn some hard-fought lessons with me, then this is the post for you.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Myke Hurley - Relay FMCGP Grey - YouTubeCortex - Relay FMThe Theme SystemMy 2019 in Review - Dandy Cat DesignDexter - NetflixHere Come the Warm Jets | Brian Eno - YouTubeThe Woman in the Window | A.J. Finn - Goodreads

There's some trouble a-brewin' and it's looking like it's TikTok's fault. Is it any surprise, given how many people use it, how much information is fed into it every day, and just exactly who owns it? **cough** CHINA! **cough**.So is it really the danger that some of the more paranoid amongst us think it is or is it just some never-ending time-suck? At this point, who knows? One thing's for sure, though: it's not something I ever want or need to use for Dandy Cat Design. I've got more important things to do with my time and energy than giving myself yet another feed to mindlessly scroll through.I ain't no zombie!There's a brand spankin' new blog post waiting for you. It's called, The Best Squarespace Template (and Why You Should Use It).Last week was all about leaving Squarespace. This week is all about finding out which template you should turn to first when making a website on that platform. Hey, I did say last week that Squarespace is a great service. Unfortunately, choosing a template to start with is a daunting task. Read this post to make it a whole lot easier on yourself.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:China brings in mandatory facial recognition for mobile phone users - The GuardianFacebook: Cambridge Analytica took a lot more data than first thought - ZDNetFacebook says nearly 50m users compromised in huge security breach - The GuardianFacebook Is Giving Advertisers Access to Your Shadow Contact Information - Gizmodo‘Beyond Sketchy': Facebook Demanding Some New Users' Email Passwords - The Daily BeastHow TikTok Holds Our Attention - The New YorkerTikTok Said to Be Under National Security Review - The New York TimesThe Best Squarespace Template (and Why You Should Use It) - Dandy Cat DesignTravelers - NetflixIt's a Wonderful Life | Sparklehorse - YouTubeWorth Dying For | Lee Child - Goodreads

So Squarespace is pretty dang great. I'm not denying it and I don't believe anyone else is denying it either. Well, except all those people at Wix. I'm just going to assume that there's a dart board with Squarespace's logo taped to its front somewhere in Wix headquarters.Those guys must be so salty!Squarespace is great, but I've come to the conclusion that it's just not for me or Dandy Cat Design anymore. The needs of this business are growing beyond the capabilities of what it can provide for me. As all things in this world must, it's time for Dandy Cat to grow up and become a part of something better. Enter Ghost...There's a brand new blog post waiting for you. It's called, How To Learn To Use CodePen.CodePen is a brilliant tool for the web developers of the world. Why waste loads of time opening up your heavy IDE when you can hop onto CodePen and write and test your code snippets online? Plus it's crazy intuitive and snappy to use? It's a win-win. I'm talking about how to use it in this week's post.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:SquarespaceWixSquarespace's new 7.1 platform - SquarespaceCodePenHow To Learn To Use CodePen - Dandy Cat DesignTravelers - NetflixA Deeper Understanding | The War on Drugs - YouTubeWorth Dying For | Lee Child - Goodreads

It would be completely fair to call me an old guy for not really getting into or even understanding a lot of the social networks out there. Also, music was better back in my day and so on. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate it when Instagram decides to do something like hide the like counts on users' posts. So that's what I'm doing in today's episode.Hey, a good thing is a good thing, even if it's being done by Facebook. Anything that helps improve the mental health of many people around the world should be celebrated.There's a brand new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Quick Tip: Give Someone Squarespace Account Permissions.Squarespace is a great tool for the solo workers of the world, but it's also a phenomenal tool for the multi-person business. Many people can be invited to work on a single website, whether as an administrator or just as someone who can publish a blog post every once in a while. If you're looking for a stellar collaboration tool for your Squarespace site, then this post is something you must read as soon as possible.We're wrapping things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of media that's worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:WIRED tweet about Instagram's decision to hide like counts - TwitterInstagram ranked worst for young people's mental health - Royal Society for Public HealthQuick Tip: Give Someone Squarespace Account Permissions - Dandy Cat DesignTravelers - NetflixZen Drums | Bibio - YouTubeThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Goodreads

The internet's tendency to spout off without thinking is the topic at hand for this week's episode. We all have our opinions about the things that happen in the world, but do we need to immediately broadcast our knee-jerk reactions to the world? What inspires this? Does anyone actually care about other people's hot takes?And just what the hell is going on with that pointy "vehicle" called the Cybertruck? Clearly, Elon Musk is trying to say the '80s were the best decade ever. Or maybe he just wants to put everyone's eye out?Oh, look at me go, writing a bunch of hot takes. Knock it off, Sean!There's a brand new blog post waiting for you. It's called, Your Tools Don't Matter.Wait, really? Bu my computer is the latest and greatest thing. It can compute a quadrillion teraflops of shmackideedoo every millisecond and the heat it creates can warm my home during the harsh winters. The answer to that is, Nope, your tools don't matter. All that matters is talent, skill, and hard work. Read the post today to learn why you should value yourself over some expensive, shiny computer or whatever it is you use.We'll wrap things up with what I'm watching, reading, and listening to this week. It's a great assortment of things that are worth your time.Links to stuff that was mentioned:Tesla Cyberturck - Tesla'Armour glass' windows on the new Tesla Cybertruck shatter during demonstration - YouTubeTweet from @elonmusk - TwitterApple iMac G3 - WikipediaThink Different ad | Apple - YouTubeThe Dandy Resource Library - Dandy Cat DesignYour Tools Don't Matter - Dandy Cat DesignThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - Amazon PrimeThis One's for the Dancer & This One's for the Dancer's Bouquet - YouTubeThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Goodreads

In the inaugural episode of Dandy Cast, Sean talks about the subtle way that the online business world requires everyone to do things as they've always been done. If you're not out there every day, blasting your products or services with a cheery face, then are you even businessing?Instead, he wants to encourage himself and everyone else to just do things the way it'll make us happiest. Heck yeah, we should be able to run our businesses the way we want!There's also a brand new blog post in store for you. It's called, You're a ____? You Need a Website.A website is a real must these days and one of the best ways to get people to take notice of your business. Best of all, creating one for yourself has never been easier. You don't need to learn a single bit of HTML to craft yourself something good looking and effective.As he will always do, he wraps things up by talking about what he's enjoying this week.Links to stuff that was mentioned:How I Slowly Grew My Blog My Own Way - Cait FlandersYou're a ____? You Need a Website. - Dandy Cat DesignAtypical - NetflixThe Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth | Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - YouTubeThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Goodreads