Newsletter

Odin Hails from Mid-May!

Odin's got articles on the best audiobook platform, thoughts on ActivityPub and LLMs, Taoist exploration, and more!

6 min read May 19

Spirituality

Beyond the Easy Answers

In hard times, I reflect on Chapter 20 of the Tao te Ching. In uncertain times, fluidity brings about hope.

3 min read May 18

Internet

Why You Should Switch to Firefox

Switch to Firefox for powerful extensions: support striking workers, block ads, bypass paywalls, enhance YouTube, and ensure privacy.

3 min read May 17

Call to Action

The Audiobook Platform Putting Amazon's Audible to Shame

Discover Libro.fm: The Audible Alternative Audiobook Experience that Supports Local Bookshops Globally

3 min read May 13

Spring

The Budding Twigs Spread Out Their Fan to Catch the Breezy Air

This week's newsletter has a lot of content awaiting you. I was busy this week with finals for my MLIS program, job interviews, and life-related-variety, but I still carved out some time to write.

4 min read May 12

Interview

Spooky-Daggers' Fallout Meme: Blazing a Trail from the Wasteland to the Web

Spooky-Daggers’ Fallout meme goes viral, sparking the delight of fans worldwide and capturing the attention of the studios behind both game and show.

6 min read May 8

TV Series

Fallout is More Than Simply Okey-dokey: It's The Millennial Reality

Fallout is a television series for the modern Millennial: stressed, exhausted, and still saying "Okey-dokey" as we try to keep a roof over our heads.

6 min read May 8

News

Evergreen State College Champions Ethical Investment and Student Activism

Pioneering change through student engagement: Evergreen College takes bold steps toward social responsibility and honors Rachel Corrie’s legacy, providing a model for good academic governance.

3 min read May 6

News

Under the Microscope - The H5N1 Outbreak's Unsettling Spread from Birds to Dairy Cattle

The 2024 H5N1 "Bird Flu" crisis is expanding. Dairy cows provide a dangerous new space for viral mutations, and the CDC director in charge of the problem isn't sleeping so well.

3 min read May 6

Privacy

Dangerous Oversight - How the House's KOSA Bill Threatens Free Speech and Privacy

The House's version of the Kids Online Safety Act remains a dangerous mess, threatening free speech and privacy under the guise of protecting minors.

2 min read May 5

Newsletter

May the Fourth be With You

Odin's newsletter, "The Halvorson Times," is back on its weekly schedule! I chat about joy and shared communities of geekdom, but also delve into the heavy subjects of our time.

4 min read May 4

Technology

Pikapods!

Pikapods makes hosting anything, from Nextcloud, to Wordpress, to Audiobookshelf, a total breeze!

4 min read May 3