As part of my technical skill development I got my own AWS LAMP server and have installed WordPress onto it and am now using that as my live site
All new updates will happen there – so if you’re interested in any new developments or want to look at my backlog that’s the place!
When I began this journey of 50 for 50 I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve, yet my approach was vague. I jumped in enthusiastically, tackling tasks at random and celebrating early victories. But around the six-month mark, things shifted. The initial easy wins faded, leaving me in what can generously be described as a slog.
At this turning point, I paused to reflect. My loose methodology—guided by unwritten rules—needed structure. I combed through my notes, carefully identifying successful behaviors and pinpointing obstacles. I had my insights, but what now?
Influencers often have catchy acronyms for their frameworks, so I brainstormed names. Nothing stuck until I revisited an earlier entry that emphasized the concept of finishing strong—pushing forward even when victory seemed uncertain. That resonated deeply, inspiring the creation of the finish STRONG framework for goal setting and achievement.
Let’s dive into this empowering framework:
Start Small – Commit to doing just one thing each day to progress your goals. Even on your busiest days, five minutes is enough: read a page, sketch a quick idea, jot down tomorrow’s task. This daily action trains your mind, signaling that your goals matter. Eventually, you’ll instinctively feel the need to keep progressing, and skipping a day will feel like something vital is missing.
Transform Habits – Humans thrive on habits, which makes them powerful tools for change. Start small, choosing manageable habits. The book “Atomic Habits” emphasizes how tiny, incremental changes lead to remarkable transformations. Its key lesson—align your habits with your desired identity—deeply impacted me. While I learned that habits often take longer than the popularly cited 30 days to solidify, persistent effort eventually made these behaviors automatic, seamlessly integrating them into my daily routine.
Rebuild Mindset – Among the framework’s elements, mindset is pivotal. To achieve significant goals, you must reinvent how you see yourself—not as someone who might succeed, but as someone who will succeed. Shifting your self-perception eliminates room for hesitation. My mindset transformation was personal; embracing stoicism profoundly changed my worldview, strengthening my resolve and clarity.
Overcome Obstacles – Despite meticulous planning, setbacks are inevitable. Injuries, overwhelming workloads, illnesses, family obligations—each can derail your progress. But it’s not the obstacles themselves, rather your response, that defines your journey. “The Obstacle is the Way” articulates this beautifully: viewing challenges as opportunities to build resilience and strength. Its three-part framework—clearly perceiving obstacles, taking decisive action, and wholeheartedly accepting difficulties—helps cultivate an unwavering spirit and determination.
Never Quit – You will face moments of deep frustration, when progress stalls or even reverses. Giving up becomes tempting, rationalized by thoughts like, “Who would care if I quit?” The answer is simple: You would care. Abandoning your goals creates subtle self-doubt, convincing you that you lack perseverance. Resist that temptation. Slow down, adjust your timeline, but never surrender. Persistence ensures you ultimately achieve the greatness you envisioned.
Gather Data – Tracking progress became essential in my journey. Initially, I relied on a notebook (OneNote) for quick notes and recaps, keeping everything organized. But it was the Google Sheet that truly elevated my motivation. Each goal had its own tab, and a summary sheet visually tracked my progress through checkboxes and color-coded progress bars. Seeing bars turn blue at 100% completion sparked excitement, reinforcing accountability and highlighting areas needing immediate attention.
This finish STRONG framework transformed my approach from chaotic optimism into structured success, ensuring every step forward was intentional, meaningful, and enduring.
This was an interesting one as the sources of learning ended up being pretty varied. There were two books I read “Co-Intelligence” and “The AI Driven Leader”, I watched a ton of YouTube videos and took a few training classes (some virtual, some in person). I came into this thinking AI could be a useful tool for some automation tasks or research and came out of it with a tool set that would let me use AI to improve almost every aspect of what I do. Learning advanced prompt engineering was the biggest takeaway. AI responds to what you prompt it with – a weak prompt will get you weak results. You can create specific projects that have long detailed instructions that allow you to have custom assistants that behave in a predefined pattern. When I started creating images the results weren’t great until I dug in and learned what the AI needs to create stunning visuals.
I’m going to let ChatGPT take the rest of this post – and explain what AI is and the current AI landscape. Take it away!
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a type of technology that allows computers to think and learn like humans. Instead of just following strict instructions, AI can analyze data, recognize patterns, and make decisions on its own. Think of AI as a super-smart assistant that can understand questions, find answers, and even create new things like artwork, music, or writing.
At its core, AI is powered by something called machine learning, which is a way for computers to learn from experience. Instead of being programmed with every possible answer, an AI system is trained using massive amounts of data. It looks at patterns, makes predictions, and adjusts itself over time. This is similar to how we learn—by seeing, practicing, and improving. AI also uses neural networks, which are computer systems inspired by how the human brain works, allowing it to make more complex decisions.
There are two main types of AI: narrow AI and general AI. Narrow AI is what we use today—it’s specialized and good at specific tasks, like recommending movies on Netflix, translating languages, or helping doctors detect diseases. General AI, which doesn’t exist yet, would be a machine that can think and learn just like a human across different topics, but we’re still far from that.
Since AI relies on learning from data and responding to inputs, the way we ask it questions—called “prompts”—is incredibly important. If we give AI a vague, confusing, or misleading prompt, we’ll get an answer that isn’t useful. This is where prompt engineering comes in.
Prompt engineering is the skill of crafting the right kind of questions or instructions to get the best possible response from an AI system. It’s like giving directions to a friend—if you’re too vague, they might get lost, but if you’re clear, they’ll find their way easily.
Let’s look at some examples:
Bad prompt: “Tell me about history.”
This is too broad. AI won’t know if you mean world history, American history, or the history of pizza. It might give a general answer that isn’t useful.
Good prompt: “Explain the major causes of World War II in simple terms.”
This is much better because it specifies the topic and asks for a simplified answer, making it more likely that AI will give useful information.
Another example:
Bad prompt: “Write a story.”
AI could generate anything—maybe a horror story, maybe a children’s fairy tale. It’s unclear what you want.
Good prompt: “Write a short science fiction story about a robot that discovers emotions.”
Now AI has a clear direction, and the output will be more relevant and interesting.
Prompt engineering is essential because it helps users get precise, useful, and creative answers from AI. As AI tools become more advanced, those who know how to ask the right questions will get the best results.
AI is already transforming industries in amazing ways. Here are five cutting-edge uses of AI:
Beyond the flashy tech, AI is also being used in unexpected ways:
AI brings enormous benefits, making life more convenient, boosting productivity, and even saving lives in medicine. It helps automate repetitive tasks, provides better recommendations for movies or products, and assists in solving complex problems. It can also improve accessibility, such as voice assistants helping visually impaired people navigate the world.
However, AI also comes with risks. One major concern is bias—AI learns from human data, and if that data is flawed, AI can make unfair decisions, like discriminating in hiring or loan approvals. Another risk is job displacement. As AI becomes more capable, certain jobs may become automated, meaning some workers will need to adapt or retrain. There are also ethical concerns around deepfakes, misinformation, and privacy, as AI can be used to manipulate information and invade personal data.
AI is evolving rapidly, and in the next five years, we’re likely to see major advancements. AI could become much better at understanding emotions, making conversations feel more natural. We might also see more AI in creative fields, like writing, filmmaking, and game design. In medicine, AI could help develop personalized treatments based on a person’s genetics. AI will also play a bigger role in automation, from self-driving trucks to fully automated smart homes.
As AI grows more powerful, there will be more discussions about ethical use, regulations, and ensuring AI benefits everyone, not just big companies. The key will be balancing progress with responsibility, making sure AI is developed and used in ways that help rather than harm society.
AI is one of the most exciting and powerful technologies in the world today. It can do everything from answering questions and writing stories to driving cars and diagnosing diseases. But to get the most out of AI, people need to learn how to ask the right questions—this is why prompt engineering is such an important skill. As AI continues to evolve, it will bring new possibilities and challenges, shaping the way we work, create, and interact with the world. The future of AI is bright, but it’s up to us to guide it responsibly
Wow. That was quite a journey. I’m honestly still processing the fact that I managed to complete everything. Looking back, I’ve spent over two decades setting goals, and the highest I ever reached before was maybe 60% completion—and that was with a modest list of just ten goals. When I first considered taking on this challenge, I almost talked myself out of it, remembering past failures. But turning 50 flipped a switch in me. I figured I might not succeed, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t even attempt it. Maybe not the most optimistic mindset to start with, but if this experience has taught me anything, it’s that with discipline and structure, you can fundamentally shift how you approach things.
Coming up with 50 goals was an adventure in itself. The first few were easy—I pulled from old, unfinished goals and added new ones that felt both exciting and challenging. But once I hit the 30-goal mark, I struggled. That’s when I had to shift my perspective. I started thinking about what turning 50 really signified. I reflected on what I had accomplished, what I had always wanted to do but never got around to. And then it hit me: I had spent years assuming there would always be time. But what if there wasn’t? Shouldn’t I seize the moment now, while I still had the energy to truly enjoy it? That realization changed everything. Suddenly, the list filled itself. Visiting my father’s hometown in Italy. Buying my dream guitar. Sipping on really old Scotch. Once I reframed the process, it became much easier to round out the list. I even left a few open slots, which I later filled with “Explore AI” and “Complete a Bob Ross painting tutorial.”
As I got deeper into rounding out the 50, I found myself turning to the internet for inspiration. Seeing what others had on their goal lists helped me refine mine. Some ideas resonated, some didn’t, but the process helped me think outside the box. And ironically, one of my late additions—learning about AI—ended up being a game-changer. AI became an essential tool throughout the year. With a goal of blogging about my experience, I faced an immense workload, closing in on nearly 300 posts. Without AI’s help in researching topics, I would have been buried under the effort. I even used AI to critique my writing, offering an unfiltered, sometimes ego-bruising editorial lens that ultimately improved my work.
To keep myself accountable, I knew I needed rules. Once the 50 goals were set, I committed to not altering them to make things easier. But I’m also pragmatic—life happens. In the early months, I tore something in my shoulder, which derailed my fitness-related goals. So, I built in a contingency: I allowed myself to swap out five goals if necessary. This gave me a degree of flexibility while ensuring I didn’t just swap out challenges for convenience. I ended up using four swaps (documented on my website), and two of them were due to physical limitations rather than avoidance.
So how did I pull this off while managing a full-time job, two small kids, and a marriage? With structure. I built a framework that allowed me to make progress without compromising what truly mattered.
The first rule: priorities first. My family always comes first—no exceptions. I didn’t pursue these goals at the expense of time with my kids or my wife. I still coached my kids’ teams, played with them on weekends, and handled all the usual parenting duties. I made sure my wife and I kept our Friday lunch dates, giving us uninterrupted time together. And work? That stayed a priority too. I enjoy my job and wasn’t about to let this project interfere with my professional commitments. With those priorities locked in, anything else became negotiable.
The second rule: do something every day. Even on chaotic days—work was crazy, the kids had back-to-back activities, and my wife was out of town—I could still do something. Read a few pages of a book. Practice Italian on Babbel for five minutes. Write a quick gratitude journal entry. Even brushing my teeth at night, I could squeeze in a small action. The consistency was the key. After a few months, it became so ingrained that skipping a day felt like a glitch in my system. These small, daily efforts accumulated, creating momentum that accelerated progress over time.
The third rule: find hidden time. It’s there if you look for it. That hour-long commute? Perfect for listening to educational podcasts or checking off an album from my music list. Instead of doom-scrolling my phone during lunch, I’d read, write, or learn something new. Even waiting for my kids to finish practice became an opportunity—reading on my Kindle, researching goals, or sketching ideas. Once I stopped treating time as something to kill and started seeing it as something to use, my productivity skyrocketed.
The final rule: track everything. This was huge. I needed to see my progress at a glance, so I built a spreadsheet with progress bars and a dashboard to keep me motivated. If one goal was lagging, I’d shift focus to bring it up to speed. As the months passed and those bars turned blue, I felt the inertia pulling me forward. That visual reinforcement made a huge difference. I also used OneNote to collect ideas, notes, and drafts, which kept me organized and efficient. These tools gave me a comprehensive view of where I stood at any given moment.
As the year progressed, I started identifying areas of wasted time and replacing them with intentional actions. Little by little, I started to see myself as someone who followed through, rather than someone who set goals only to abandon them. That shift in self-perception was a turning point. Once I hit 75% completion, I could see the finish line. In the last 60 days, I went into overdrive, laser-focused on getting everything to 100%. I don’t think I could have sustained that level of intensity for an entire year, but as I neared the end, it felt like shifting from marathon pace to an all-out sprint.
But of course, there were downsides. Sustaining focus for an entire year was mentally exhausting. Between work, family, and this challenge, there were weeks when I was completely burned out. Fortunately, some of my goals—meditation, hiking, drawing—helped counteract the stress. On particularly rough weeks, I leaned into those activities, taking long hikes with my kids to reset. Still, there were stretches, especially in the summer, where I did nothing, and guilt crept in. Eventually, I realized that guilt was unnecessary. I wasn’t trying to become a productivity guru or a social media influencer—I was just a 50-year-old guy trying to accomplish something meaningful. And as I watched my goals falling one by one, I realized that even with breaks, I was still on track.
Another major downside? Free time took a massive hit. Movies, TV, video games—I barely engaged with any of them. I didn’t play a single hour of video games all year, missed most new film releases, and barely kept up with my sports teams. (Not that the Jets gave me much to miss.) These things might not be “productive,” but they’re enjoyable, and I realized I missed them. Sometimes, you just want to unwind and watch your favorite team blow a late lead.
Ultimately, I learned so much from this experience—not just about discipline and productivity, but about balance, adaptability, and what really matters. There were tough moments, but overall, I’m glad I did it. And now, looking ahead, I’m excited to see where these lessons take me next.
Now this one was a bit of a stretch. As I was looking for goals to round the total out to 50 this one kept popping up on a lot of the lists of goals people were setting. It seemed like a bit of pop psych or new age silliness but once I started doing some research (noted below) I saw that there are scientific papers backing up the practice and showing it has clear benefits.
I simply didn’t have the bandwidth to commit to a daily entry – but twice a week? I mean that’s doable. I was always able to come up with something I was grateful for that week or some kindness that came my way (or opportunity for me to show kindness – also very important) It really wasn’t too difficult and sometimes a bit of time would go by before I sat down and did it but the intent was there and I think that’s the point.
I’m not sure if there were any huge benefits I noticed but it did feel nice to remind myself of some of the awesome things I have in my life so I enjoyed doing this.
[Research]
Embarking on the practice of maintaining a gratitude journal can profoundly enhance your overall well-being. This simple yet powerful habit involves regularly recording aspects of your life for which you are thankful. Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that such a practice offers numerous psychological and physical benefits, making it a worthwhile endeavor for anyone seeking to improve their quality of life.
Psychological Benefits
One of the most significant advantages of keeping a gratitude journal is its positive impact on mental health. Regularly focusing on the positive aspects of life can lead to increased feelings of happiness and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 64 randomized clinical trials found that participants who engaged in gratitude interventions experienced greater feelings of gratitude, improved mental health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Moreover, they reported a more positive mood and emotions.
The act of writing down things you are grateful for shifts your attention away from negative thoughts and fosters a more optimistic outlook on life. This practice encourages mindfulness and helps break the cycle of rumination, which is often associated with depression and anxiety. By consciously acknowledging the positive elements in your life, you train your brain to focus on what brings joy and satisfaction, thereby enhancing overall mental health.
Physical Health Benefits
The benefits of gratitude journaling extend beyond mental health to encompass physical well-being. Research indicates that individuals who regularly practice gratitude experience better sleep quality, reduced blood pressure, and improved heart health. A study by UCLA Health highlighted that practicing gratitude can help with depression, anxiety, and stress, and also noted that the benefits of being thankful include improved sleep and heart health.
Engaging in gratitude practices has been associated with a reduction in stress-related symptoms, which can have a direct impact on cardiovascular health. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, gratitude journaling may contribute to lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of heart disease. Additionally, the positive emotions elicited by gratitude can lead to the release of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and mood elevators.
Enhanced Relationships
Expressing gratitude can also strengthen your interpersonal relationships. When you regularly acknowledge and appreciate the kindness and support of others, it fosters a sense of connection and encourages reciprocal positive behavior. This can lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships and a robust social support network.
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude is linked to prosocial behavior and can enhance social bonds. Participants who expressed gratitude were more likely to engage in helpful behaviors and report stronger relationships. By recognizing and appreciating the contributions of others, you not only enhance your own well-being but also create a positive feedback loop that benefits your social circle.
Neuroscientific Evidence
From a neuroscientific perspective, practicing gratitude can lead to lasting changes in brain function. Research has shown that gratitude activates regions in the brain associated with reward, morality, and positive social interactions. A study highlighted by Mindful.org noted that the science of gratitude shows it can support greater health, happiness, and wisdom in ourselves and our communities.
Regular engagement in gratitude exercises can enhance the brain’s sensitivity to future experiences of gratitude, making it easier to access positive emotions even during challenging times. This neuroplasticity suggests that the more you practice gratitude, the more attuned your brain becomes to recognizing the good in your life, leading to sustained improvements in mental health and well-being.
Implementing a Gratitude Journal
Starting a gratitude journal is a straightforward process. Set aside a few minutes each day or week to reflect and write down things you are grateful for. These can range from significant events to simple pleasures. Consistency is key; regular practice maximizes the benefits. Some studies suggest that writing in a gratitude journal once or twice a week can be more effective than daily entries, as it prevents the activity from becoming routine and losing its impact.
Incorporating prompts can also enhance the depth of your reflections. Consider questions like, “What unexpected kindness did I experience today?” or “What aspect of my health am I most grateful for?” By diversifying your entries, you can gain a more comprehensive appreciation of the positive facets of your life.
Conclusion
Incorporating a gratitude journal into your routine can lead to substantial improvements in both mental and physical health. By consciously focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you can foster a more optimistic outlook, enhance your relationships, and even rewire your brain for increased happiness. Given the extensive scientific evidence supporting its benefits, starting a gratitude journal is a simple yet effective step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Self-discipline is often seen as something reserved for high achievers—athletes, CEOs, military leaders—people with an almost superhuman ability to resist temptation and power through obstacles. The Power of Discipline by Daniel Walter dismantles that myth, arguing that discipline isn’t an inborn trait but a skill that anyone can develop. The book makes a strong case that success isn’t about motivation or talent—it’s about consistently doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like it.
At its core, The Power of Discipline is a guide to understanding why we struggle with self-control and how to build habits that make discipline automatic. Walter explains that most people rely too much on willpower, which is both unreliable and finite. When you force yourself to resist temptation through sheer willpower, you’re fighting an uphill battle that you’re bound to lose eventually. Instead, discipline is about setting up systems that make good decisions easier and bad decisions harder. The key isn’t to have endless self-control—it’s to remove the need for self-control in the first place.
One of the most important takeaways from the book is the idea that discipline isn’t about making radical changes overnight. People fail at self-improvement because they try to do too much at once, burning out before real progress happens. Walter argues that discipline is built through small, consistent actions. Whether it’s waking up earlier, cutting out distractions, or sticking to a workout plan, the trick is to start small and build momentum. By doing something every day—even if it’s just a tiny step—you train your brain to follow through, making discipline a habit rather than a struggle.
Another powerful concept Walter explores is the role of delayed gratification. In a world of instant everything—instant entertainment, instant communication, instant food—it’s easy to get trapped in short-term thinking. But true success comes from prioritizing long-term rewards over immediate pleasure. The book reinforces this idea with research on how the most successful people are the ones who can consistently delay gratification, choosing to do what’s beneficial in the long run rather than what feels good right now. Whether it’s saving money instead of spending it, choosing a healthy meal over fast food, or putting in extra work when no one is watching, self-discipline is about making choices today that your future self will thank you for.
Walter also challenges the common belief that motivation is the key to discipline. The problem with motivation is that it’s unreliable—it fluctuates based on mood, environment, and external circumstances. People wait for motivation to strike before taking action, which is why they struggle to stay consistent. The book flips this thinking on its head: action comes first, and motivation follows. The more you take action—even when you don’t feel like it—the easier it becomes to keep going. Discipline isn’t about waiting to want to do something; it’s about doing it anyway, and letting motivation catch up later.
Another major insight from the book is the impact of environment on discipline. Most people fail not because they’re weak-willed, but because they set themselves up for failure without realizing it. If your phone is next to you while working, of course you’re going to get distracted. If junk food is in your kitchen, of course you’ll be tempted to eat it. Walter emphasizes that discipline isn’t just about resisting temptation—it’s about removing temptation altogether. Setting up an environment that supports good habits is one of the most effective ways to stay disciplined without constantly battling distractions.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of The Power of Discipline is that it reassures readers that self-control is a muscle that can be strengthened. No one is born naturally disciplined, but by practicing small acts of discipline daily, you build the mental toughness needed to achieve long-term goals. It’s not about perfection—it’s about persistence. You will slip up, you will have days where you don’t follow through, but the key is to keep going. Discipline isn’t about never failing—it’s about getting back on track every time you do.
What makes this book stand out is that it strips away the excuses people use to justify their lack of discipline. It doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that discipline requires effort, but it also makes it clear that anyone—regardless of background, personality, or past failures—can develop it. If you’ve ever felt like you lack the willpower to stick to your goals, The Power of Discipline offers a straightforward, practical roadmap for developing the habits and mindset needed to take control of your life. In a world where distractions are everywhere and self-control feels harder than ever, this book serves as a much-needed reminder that discipline isn’t a talent—it’s a choice.
Throughout this challenge I came across alternate ways of making pizza dough using interesting raitos, methodologies or ingredients. Since I usually just made a cheese pizza with each of them (a nice baseline that lets me judge solely on the crust) I don’t think they need their own post, but I’m going to touch on them here and provide some notes
Rye/Wheat Pizza dough (Nancy Silverton)
This pizza dough was getting a lot of hype online and I was curious what the addition of rye flour would do for a pizza dough. So I tracked down her recipe and gave it a shot. The methodology was simple – it used a sponge (or biga) to preferment and the folding technique. The rest of the steps were easy enough to follow. The resulting pizza was tasty and definitely had an earthier flavor than I was used to which was kinda of nice. I think the issue I has was the recipe I was using was adapted for home ovens, and I cooked them at 900 in my outdoor pizza oven so they dried out a bit. I think I’d like to give this a go again but use the high heat formulas
No knead cast iron pizza
No kneading? No complex formulas to create a delicious pan pizza? Sign me up -I’ve got a cast iron pan and some time so lets go! There’s a bunch of versions of this out there but the most referenced one is here . It really couldn’t be simpler: Mix the ingredients then cover and wait. That’s it. Once the dough has risen put it in the pans, then rise again until they’re puffy. Sauce, cheese and fire on a baking stone or steel. The resulting crust was open and airy and crispy from the oil used and the cheese at the edges got crispy. Overall this was a really good pizza, and super easy.
“72+” Pizza (extreme fermentation)
I’m usually a 24-48 hour pizza fermenting guy – 36 hours is usually the sweet spot where the yeast has put in the work and the flavor and rise is where it needs to be for an amazing pizza. I found a pizza formula for 72 hours and decided to make three dough balls and make them at 72, 96, and 120 hours. It obviously used very little yeast and relied on time to make it happen. The dough at 72 was super easy to open and felt a bit delicate so I was careful to top and bake quickly. The dough definitely had a nice flavor and cooked up crisp. The 96 was a bit more delicate and I had to use a a bit more bench flour to ensure I didn’t rip the dough when opening it and it cooked up a bit flat – I suspect the yeast was starting to give out. The 120 was a problem as it felt like it would tear if I looked at it funny – so I setup the pie on parchment paper and shaped it gently into a square shape as opening it didn’t seem possible. What came out of the oven wasn’t that great it didn’t have a great bite and was almost a flatbread. I suspect if I wanted to ferment that long I’d need to change the yeast ratios to account for it as the original formula was only for 72.
Thin Crust (Bar Pie)
Who doesn’t love a cracker thin crust? Crispy yet tender this bar pie style pizza is super easy to shape as you roll it out with a rolling pin (so much easier with an industrial roller, but all I have is the pin, so..) parbake it to ensure the sauce doesn’t make it soggy then top and throw back in the oven. Charred edges, crispy crust lots of ‘ronis and you’ve got a good Friday night. This goes really good with an ice cold beer which makes sense!
Sourdough Pizza
What to do with all this sourdough discard I was creating in making a sourdough starter? The very first thing that came to mind was making sourdough pizza of course. I did some research and found a few common methodologies and the one that made sense was to use the discard with some fresh yeast to refresh the rising ability a bit. It was also useful in that I could make it in the morning and have pizza at night since the starter delivered most of the flavor elements a long rise in the fridge would give it. The first attempt wasn’t that great, I think the starter was a bit weak so I fed that bad boy a bit more frequently and the next time the dough rose much better and the pizza had a great sourdough flavor note. I suspect I’ll be using this a lot as I go through my sourdough phase.
Tortilla Pizza / Naan Pizza
Is this cheating? Probably but I wanted pizza and didn’t have dough available. What I did have was a bunch of flour tortillas in the pantry. So I looked online and I found a viral video of tortilla pizzas and decided that sure this could work. Dear readers – it did not. If you aren’t a pizza person and just want a hit of sauce and cheese then sure, this could work for you. I suspect that one of the issues can be that I had ‘extra soft and fluffy’ tortillas because that’s what my kids like. If I used standard thin tortillas maybe it would have been a different experience?
Building on this, I also has some garlic naan leftover and said – well what if I throw sauce and cheese on this? The first try was a disaster as naan is designed to absorb liquid and that’s what it did turning into a soggy mess. Try #2 was me putting down a solid layer of cheese first then saucing it and that one was actually pretty good.
Bear with me here – I know these are pizza hacks. They are no substitute for a real dough that is made with love but if my research showed me anything its that a lot of people are doing this and who am I to judge their pizza happiness? One of my favorite memories as a kid is making hot pockets (back before they actually existed) by buttering two slices of bread and filling it with sauce and cheese and using that old school sandwich press. If doing these hacks makes people want to learn how to make their own pizza, isn’t that a good thing?
That’s what it all comes down to. Pizza is happiness – you make whatever pizza makes you happy. Except pineapple pizza. Stop it.
OK so this one is bound to generate arguments. I again used ChatGPT to collate a list from as many sources as possible and come up with a consensus top 50. Some of the albums I was familiar with, some I’ve never heard of so I knew this was going to be an adventure.
I actually went out and got some high quality headphones so I could experience them with as much audio fidelity as possible. I was pleasantly surprised at what a difference they made from my $10 amazon headset I was using!
Some of the albums were sonic masterpieces.. While others were a struggle for me. I mean I understand why Patti Smith is highly regarded but her music was a slog the same for the velvet underground. I listened to every song on every album and I feel like I get why some of these are so highly regarded – I mean what’s going on is such a great album that I listened to it again as soon as I was done.
The one thing that this challenge did was improve my Apple music algorithm – I mean it was pretty polluted from my kids asking Alexa to play Taylor Swift and dinosaur songs so injecting the algorithm with some quality music really helped balance the scales!
I got interested in the evolution of music and wish I had followed the movie goal and selected albums from each decade as I think that would have been a more interesting experience but I still managed to dig deep and explore why these albums are so well regarded and how they might be connected to each other.
[Filter by music tag to see individual reviews]
Google’s NotebookLM is an AI-powered research and writing assistant designed to help users synthesize and interact with their own notes, documents, and ideas in a more intelligent and intuitive way. At its core, it allows users to upload files, input text, and link sources, then leverages Google’s advanced language models to provide summaries, generate insights, and answer questions based on the specific materials provided. Unlike traditional AI chatbots that rely on broad internet knowledge, NotebookLM focuses on personal and curated content, making it particularly valuable for deep research, writing projects, and knowledge management.
One of the most obvious applications of NotebookLM is for students and researchers who need to digest large amounts of information efficiently. By uploading lecture notes, research papers, or even entire books, users can get concise summaries, cross-reference concepts, and generate study guides without having to manually sift through pages of text. Writers and journalists can also benefit by using it to structure articles, generate outlines, or even fact-check details against their own sources, ensuring accuracy while streamlining their workflow.
Beyond these expected use cases, NotebookLM has the potential to be a game-changer in more unconventional ways. For example, a legal professional could use it to analyze contracts and legal documents by asking it to highlight key clauses, compare different agreements, or explain complex legal language in simpler terms. Similarly, entrepreneurs and product managers might find it useful for competitive analysis, feeding it market reports and customer feedback to extract key insights and trends that inform business strategies. Even artists and creative professionals could leverage NotebookLM in unique ways, such as using it to organize scattered notes, develop thematic connections between ideas, or even generate poetic interpretations of their own past writings.
Another less obvious but powerful application is in personal knowledge management. Users who keep extensive journals, meeting notes, or personal reflections can use NotebookLM as a kind of second brain, allowing them to surface forgotten ideas, track recurring patterns in their thinking, or even generate personalized recommendations for self-improvement based on their own writing. It could also be valuable for historians or genealogists, who could feed it letters, old documents, and historical records to uncover new insights or narratives within archival materials.
By grounding AI-generated responses in user-provided content, NotebookLM bridges the gap between personal knowledge and artificial intelligence, making it more than just a generic chatbot. Whether used for research, creative exploration, or business intelligence, it redefines how individuals engage with their own information, unlocking new possibilities that go beyond simple text generation.
I immediately had two use cases for Notebook LM. The first was feeding it all the information on the 50 for 50 program and having it provide insights on things that I accomplished. It was able to answer basic questions like how much time I spend each month on a specific task but since it could also search the web I was able to feed it information that would bolster the information I provided. It did a great job of making connections I didn’t see and the ‘make your own podcast’ feature was amazing. It spit out a 20 minute podcast as if I was a guest on it and it was pretty seamless and even let you tweak it to focus on specific things if you wanted.
The second was feeding it all my book notes and chapters and asking it questions based on the world lore and character bios. Thinks like ‘would this character actually behave this way?’ The more information you feed it the smarter it gets on the specific topic you’re developing. I can see a huge opportunity there as I build out the ideas and add characters and world lore. You can also feed it writing guides (like Orson Scott Card’s on writing fantasy and science fiction) to give it a framework to evaluate what you are writing. Really amazing stuff and I can’t wait to keep working on it and discovering new use cases!
1 year ago
Caldren wasn’t one for taking risks or making foolhardy choices but he knew if followed procedure gave that book to his superiors he would lose his chance to track down the explorers writings and find that map he had made. He quickly hide the slim book on the inside of his robes and made some excuse that he was unwell and forced himself to walk slowly back to his quarters to hide the book behind a loose stone in the walls of his living quarters.
He read that entry and every other one written in the journal daily, imagining finding this lost school of mages that the imperial pogrom failed to uncover. He spent his time not in the library searching for copies of books by the explorer and putting out a quiet word to some less than official contacts that the he would pay good coin for a copy of the explorers writings.
Months had gone by and he was starting to despair that there wasn’t a surviving copy of the book when he got a message slipped under his door to meet a man at fishmongers the next morning at first light to discuss certain books that he was looking to procure. He immediately grew nervous as the fishmongers were a set of ramshackle stands down by the docks that were far away from the city center and the watch that patrolled it. As he was considering his options he started with a sudden fear that his superiors had somehow found him out and he was being setup to be quietly eliminated in a place where no one would see. He barely got any sleep alternating between excitement at possibly getting his hands on the map and the anxiety of being robbed, imprisoned, or outright killed for violating imperial law.
The next morning found him walking carefully down the fog shrouded streets wrinkling his nose in distaste as they changed from the well maintained city streets to dirt roads caked in mud and debris. In his excitement he hadn’t thought to change into more appropriate clothing and his scholars robes and sandals were quickly caking with mud. As he was getting closer to the waters edge the pungent smell of rotting fish and the low tide added to his tally of miseries for the day. He started his trip jumping at every sound and motion in the corner of his vision but now he marched doggedly up fishmonger square looking at the etchings on each stall to find the correct one wanting to get this over with so he can go back to the library with its polished floors and incense scented air.
As he was walking around the market searching for his contact he was starting to draw looks from some of the men sitting on the seawall waiting for the day’s catch to be brought up to the market so they can start gutting the fish. Caldren tried not to draw any attention as he kept searching for the right stall but he could feel them looking at him and he suddenly remembered the large sum of coin he had hidden beneath his robes. Did his contact set him up to be robbed? Perhaps these men just saw him as a target? While there would be repercussions if an imperial scholar was killed, rolling his body off the side of the boat was skirt any entanglements with the watch.
“Hey Book Boy, maybe I can help you find what you seek” one of the gutters yelled as he levered himself off of the seawall and slowly walked over to Caldren, swinging his gutting knife slowly on the catch rope in an almost hypnotic pattern. Caldren hurriedly kept looking for the correct stall cursing the size of the market. While he understood that the bay was a critical commercial element of the city right now he found its size more frustrating than helpful.
“No, I’m OK I think what I’m looking for is right over here” he said angling towards a section of the market that already had some stalls up and running, mostly selling food and supplies for the fishermen. It was better lit and had witnesses who he belatedly noticed were finding anywhere else to look but at the scene unfolding in front of their stalls.
Caldren reached for his belt knife which was substantially shorter than the blade the gutter was still twirling around as he approached. It was then that he really wished he had paid more attention to his father when he was trying to teach him how to hold and use a blade. Caldren had little patience for martial training as it took time away from his books and as such gave only a token effort before his frustrated father would rap him with the wooden training sword hard enough to bruise,then walk away without word.
The gutter got close enough that Caldren could make out the scars that crisscrossed his arms, evidence of a lifetime of using that sharp blade that he now realized was pointing right at him. When did they get that close?
“Hey now lad – how about I guide you to your location and you can pay me.. let’s say the standard navigators fee. I’m sure you’ve got enough coin to cover that as well as some extra coins for good service an’ all”
“I’m afraid I don’t have much coin on me, I’m here to uhh.. get some fish for the school and I’m looking for the correct place to pick it up”
Caldren hoped the lie was convincing enough as he edged his way towards the stall he was pretty sure was the one mentioned in the message. The gutter kept pace with him seeming to give Caldren’s excuse some thought
“Well, I’m sure for a school they need plenty of food to feed you, so I’m thinkin’ you’ve got some coin there that could be diverted towards more deservin’ folks, wouldn’t you agree?”
As his back slammed into a pole Caldren realized he’d run out of room to backtrack and started calculating ways he could get out of this without having any parts of himself filleted. It didn’t take long as the only options he could see were to throw the bag of coins on the ground then run like mad hoping the thug would more concerned with grabbing the money than stabbing him, losing out on the only lead he had in years or try to escape through the mud in long scholar robes and sandals, probably get stabbed and robbed and thrown into the bay to be a fish’s breakfast.
“I don’t suppose there’s an arrangement we can come to that doesn’t involve you robbing me of everything or stabbing me?” Caldren ventured
“Not as such – now slowly take off your robe and leave it on the block there, that should be nice on the cold nights on the waterfront. Then put anything you have that is valuable on top of the robe and take three steps back. I don’t want to stab one of you imperials but mistakes can happen”
Caldren swore under his breath, his cowardice winning out over his desire for knowledge. He raised his hands slowly and started pulling the robe over his head. As he finished pulling it off and went to put it down he started as they were no longer alone.
The gutter had dropped his knife and had his hands up as there was a sword point pressing lightly into his neck. Caldren frowned and his eyes followed the sword from the point to the man holding it. He was of medium height with long sandy brown hair tied back with a black ribbon. He was wearing dark blue shirt with silver lining and a black cloak with blood red trim . His eyes were pale blue and hard with anger as he regarded the gutter at end of his sword. Caldren’s eyes widened slightly with recognition and he scrambled back unsure of who to be more afraid of.
“You were trying to rob me” the newcomer growled moving his sword point ever so slightly causing a trickle of blood to run down the gutter’s neck.
“Wait! I’ve never seen you before sir I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding” the gutter was looking around the best he could without moving his neck to see if he had any support but everyone was still studiously looking in other directions including his comrades on the seawall who Caldren noticed had all vanished when the stranger had appeared.
“This man is here by my invitation to make an exchange. In attempting to rob him you were in fact stealing coin meant for me”
“I wasn’t stealing – I was trying to simply collect a fee for guiding him to the right location!”
The newcomer raised and eyebrow and turned to Caldren with an inquisitive look
“Oh, no. He was most certainly trying to rob me”
“Then what do you suggest we do in this situation?
Caldren really wanted to suggest he stab the gutter through the neck and throw his body into the bay but he was not a violent man by nature and couldn’t bring himself bear the burden of someone’s death so he tore his gaze away from the bright blood at the gutter’s neck and looked him in the eyes
“Go – run. I want no blood on my hands today – especially yours as you stink. I don’t understand. You’re literally right next to the water, maybe once a week or so jump into the water and swim around a little. There’s no reason for you to smell like that”
The man lowered his sword and the wide eyed gutter took off running back into the market quickly losing himself in weak early morning light. Caldren slowly turned towards the man in the cloak and weakly said “Are you here about.. the book?”
The man was still staring into the gloom as if he could still see the gutter running then slowly turned back towards caldren.
“Well done scholar – its a measure of a man how he acts when he has another in his power and I’d have been disappointed to have had cut that man down as he is beneath me and such acts bring no honor”
Caldren swallowed hard. He knew this man to be dangerous and he didn’t want to offend him in any way. “I’m sorry sir you had to deal with that” he stated and started to bow.
The man raised his hand to cut him off “Please scholar – do not address me by title or name. Today I am simply a bookseller looking to sell an old book to a scholar of such tomes”
He reached into his satchel and took out a thin book, worn with age and held it almost reverently. He looked at Caldren and asked “why do you seek this book scholar?”
Caldren ran through all the lies and excuses he’s used over the years while tracking down the book trying to decide which one would work best in this situation but something in the man’s eyes told him that only the truth would get him what he sought. The only problem is the truth might also get him cut down as a heretic as this man was an imperial officer.
Caldren right then wished he’s been stabbed and robbed instead as that seemed preferable to the situation he was in now. He fought an internal battle between his cowardice and the desire for the knowledge he spent years chasing. The man seemed to sense his fear and smiled slightly sheathing his sword. “Do not worry scholar – I am not here to arrest you, I simply wish to ensure that this book is given to someone who understands what is contained in it and what they plan to do with that knowledge.”
“What is that supposed do mean?” Caldren ventured, unsure of what was happening. Why was an imperial officer here in the the fish markets before sunup and why did he seem to know more than he let on about the book? Overwhelmed by indecision he took an involuntary step backward and froze when he heard the sharp rasp of a blade being drawn.
“Make no mistake” the office said – you will answer, and answer truthfully. I have seen the recognition in your eyes and I cannot let you leave here with that knowledge until I am assured of your answer”
Caldren got a sinking feeling that if the officer didn’t hear the answer he wanted he was simply going to cut him down where he stood. He wasn’t going to let him walk out of here with the knowledge of who he was and what he held in his hands. So he gathered himself and took a deep breath and raise his eyes to me the officers
“I seek a map contained in that book – one of the eastern mountains. I believe the map will lead me to a place of learning. My interest in one of a scholar seeking knowledge.” Caldren hoped this half truth would be close enough to the real truth to fool the officer and get him out of this mess.
The officer’s eyes held onto Caldren’s for what seemed like forever before they softened and he spoke, his voice which was until now filled with the command of his station became a whisper. “I’m sorry scholar – that is not the answer I sought” and he drew his blade.
The workers who were up until now pretending they didn’t see anything bolted into the shadows. One look at the way the man held his blade as he advanced convinced them that there wouldn’t be any witnesses left alive.
Caldren couldn’t run. The fear overwhelmed him and he stood there staring at the blade as he saw all his dreams coming to a swift and abrupt end. Time seemed to slow as thoughts rushed through his mind. Why did he take such a foolish risk as to seek the book in the first place? Why did he come down here to an isolated location before dawn? It’s pretty much the perfect place to kill someone why was he only thinking of this now. As he saw his death approaching he thought of his mother and the promise he made to her.
“I just wanted to find the magic” he closed his eyes and whispered
The killing blow never landed – the officer altered his swing at the last moment shallowly slicing across Caldren’s arm, leaving a gash which started to bleed freely. Caldren fell to his knees, grabbed his arm and kept his eyes shut thinking that maybe he just missed the first swing and the killing blow would be coming very soon.
The officer was quiet a moment and Caldren cracked one eye open to see him standing there looking at him, absentmindedly wiping blood on a cloth like it was an ingrained habit perfected by repetition- The officer, having finished cleaned his blade looked over at Caldren with a thoughtful gaze and repeated his first question “What do you want this book for scholar?”
Caldren shocked by the fact he wasn’t dead and reeling from the pain of the sword cut spoke the words he never dared to speak out loud, the secret he held in his heart since he was a child “I seek a way to learn magic, not the sanctioned magic of the (find a neat work for imperials mages here)the old magic thought removed from the world by the empire”.
He knew those words were heresy and punishable by imprisonment or summary execution and here he was telling them to an imperial officer. He just shook his head wondering what he was getting himself into. He had a nice safe job in the library, he was a scholar and from what he heard, on track to be promoted to the central library. He was set for a life of relative ease and comfort why was he here on his knees on the hard cobbles among the detritus of fish guts and human refuse, bleeding freely, a red bloom staining his already filthy robes. I don’t die in the next few minutes, this is probably going to be infected” he mumbled to himself as he tried in vain to get the bleeding to stop.
The officer crouched down close to him and said in a low voice “Look at me scholar”. Caldren looked up but couldn’t meet his eyes, afraid of what he would see. The officer continued “Your lies could have cost so much more than just your life, Scholar”
“What does that mean? Why are you here – if not to arrest me? What secret were you ready to cut me down to protect? I’m just a scholar looking to fulfill a promise I made a long time ago I’m not even sure what to do even if I found what I’m looking for” frustrated tears filled Caldren’s eyes as the emotions started to overwhelm him. “What do you want?” He cried out softly
The officer paused again tilting his head as if he was trying to hear something then nodded to himself and sheathed his sword. He carefully placed the book on the ground right in front of Caldren and stepped away. “What I want scholar is the same thing as you. Why I want it, is my business alone. I’ve sent many of my agents to try to find this place but they all came back empty handed. So either the entire thing is fabricated or it is hidden in some way that my people cannot figure out. You, however, have dedicated your life to this secret and my hope is that your study will be able to discover what has been lost and return it to the world. I cannot spare anyone to accompany you as this must remain a secret and there is no one I trust with this knowledge”
Looking around the market to assure himself they were still alone he lowered his voice so that Caldren could barely hear him and anyone hiding in the shadows would certainly hear nothing. “Scholar, I hope you find what you seek. Be wary however, if you seek to use this power and unleash it upon the world again you will hunted and no where will be safe for you. You will spend your life on the run and as long as the emperor sits on his throne his hounds will sniff you out and they will not be gentle. Knowing the risks you must decide if taking up this power is worth the cost. “
“So it’s either travel halfway around the world, by myself, and seek to find answers that may set an entire empire against me or be cut down right here and now by you to protect this secret”
“I don’t think that will be necessary” The officer chuckled which seemed so out of character that Caldren started to laugh as well, just at the ridiculousness of the situation he found himself in.
The office rested his hand on the pommel of his sword and tapped it slowly then nodded to himself again and looked to the east where the sun was starting to rise above the horizon spilling a soft light that infused the fog with a soft pink color. “There is a wagon that leaves here in a week as part of a caravan to the city of Riverside which borders the gap that leads to the eastern mountains. I’ve secured you passage under the guise that you are a scrivener bringing documents to the imperial offices there. Once you are there deliver the packet and then find a reason to leave the city. The path to the location mentioned in the map is blazed with a small imperial sigil look for it among the roots of the trees. These will guide you to where the expedition was camped. After that, you are on your own.”
While it was infuriating Caldren knew the officer was right – he was going to take the book. He’d spent ten years of his life searching for this knowledge and while he was terrified of pretty much everything after that part he had a promise to keep. He reached down quickly and slipped the book into his pocket. His hand brushed up again the money he had brought and he hesitatingly asked “So… do you want the money that we agreed on?”
The officer had pulled his hood up to hide his face but Caldren saw a slight smile on his face “Oh no, Scholar you are going to need that money much more than I am” then he turned and walked away quickly fading into the growing crowd.
With the sun now rising higher in the sky, Caldren felt a bit safer but he started picking up his pace wanting to put as much space between him and the fish markets as he could. As he reached the docks he saw that the gutters were all back on the seawall and were staring right at him, so he broke into a full run which didn’t last very long as he leaned towards a sedentary lifestyle but it was enough to get him to the watch post between the fish market and merchant’s square where he collapsed against the wall breathing hard from the exertion.
The watchman on duty leaned out to look at him, saw him sprawled on the street his dirty robes caked with blood and raised an eyebrow as if to say “I see you, but I don’t want to fill out any paperwork today”. Caldren tiredly waved him off, got up and trudged back to the library.
50for50tony.me 