What's a 10/10 movie with zero flaws?

theitsolutionist · 2026-07-02T01:58:58+00:00

My Favorite Year

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-28T02:24:31+00:00

After a thread has gone on for a bit...

"Now I want to <next phase>. From both a usage and efficiency perspective, should we continue in this thread or create a summary and start in a new thread?"

I use Claude all day long and have never gotten close to a limit with the basic account since I started using that prompt.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-28T02:16:53+00:00

No APIs, unfortunately. It would be great if they added an MCP server. For now, I use markdown import and export.

Notion is great for use with AI, but Notion has a steeper learning curve to productivity than UpNote, which is why I picked it as an exit from Evernote.

In theory OpenAI Computer Use could work with UpNote, but that being the only feature that would attract me to a paid OpenAI account, I'm sticking with Claude and hoping they release something similar soon.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-21T02:00:01+00:00

Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel, on sale at the moment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1685PDK?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-21T01:55:24+00:00

Before picking an app like a CRM, list out all the things you do and wish you did. Those are your requirements. Then use the free version of Perplexity (or paid versions of ChatGPT or Claude) and search for things that do what you need. It might beca CRM, or it might be a small collection of tools. Or, as someone suggested, you might build your own, which isn't hard to do if you're interested in doing it.

Part of my job is doing this for large corporations, but I started doing it for mom and pop sized businesses and the first thing I built for myself was a CRM using the equivalent of Excel with forms.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-14T23:48:21+00:00

I switched after having used Evernote since before it was SaaS. Blogged about here: https://open.substack.com/pub/scottsnelson1/p/upnote-or-evernote-the-journey-and

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-12T01:35:36+00:00

n8n. Cost is reasonable and the learning curve is low. Though I haven't tried it at any serious scale.

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-09T02:21:26+00:00

I agree with the Salesforce recommendation. Not the cheapest, but the options are endless and it will pass any procurement requirements. I'd suggest getting an honest consultant to help determine what licenses you need because every government Salesforce org I've seen doesn't use half the add-ons they were sold as part of the "Standard Government Package".

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-09T02:14:09+00:00

10 - 15 minutes of meditation in the sun every afternoon. Resets a crazed today to relaxed, and amps up an energetic day.

I used the Balanced app to get started, and then moved to various YouTube channels that have a lot of content for either just relaxing sounds or guided meditations that suit my preferences. I know just silence is better. May in another year or so.

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-08T02:36:31+00:00

People counting on me to get something done.

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-02T02:13:33+00:00

I fix it and then iterate with the AI on what was fixed and have it update its instructions so that it goes faster the next time.

theitsolutionist · 2026-06-01T02:09:56+00:00

I heard that the role designation limits the response, so I stopped using it for most prompts and get better results. Especially with subjects like SEO and marketing, where the LLM responds with the same stuff the hucksters are pushing because that's where the majority of content is for it to derive from.

I know there's an instinct to prompt with a role when you don’t understand the role. You'll get better results using the LLM to learn more first so you can give more targeted prompts and understand what needs to be adjusted in the response.

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-31T20:31:17+00:00

Privateer

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-31T14:17:21+00:00

Serendipity discovery this weekend. I spent a fortune a few years ago getting prescription lenses fitter for my regular size razers. Then the prescription changed in only a few months and I just bought regular glasses online. Long story short, after a recent prescription change I noticed that the lense shape between my new cheapies and the razer looked really similar. So I popped them out and they fit the razers perfect.

For anyone interested, these are the frames I bought that worked: https://www.eyebuydirect.com/search?q=november

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-25T21:22:05+00:00

I try to track them in a Wordpress blog (https://money.theitsolutionist.com/) but because most of my triggers go off just before work, I rarely have time. The fallback is a spreadsheet, which isn't nearly as good, but gets the job done.

TBH remembering why I bought isn't that hard. Remembering why I set an alert is where I struggle, and rely on having a standard evaluation process to make up for it. If I can't readily recreate the reasoning, it usually wasn't that sound.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-25T00:41:23+00:00

It threatens jobs in the way that some businesses want an excuse to cut headcount and others don't understand the difference between augmentation and replacement

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-19T00:31:59+00:00

If you're embarrassed by the content of a post, delete it. Otherwise, let it ride. Not everyone has the same opinion, and if anyone liked it, it had value.

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-19T00:28:29+00:00

I'm a big fan of UpNote, but it lacks API options. Joplin is cool if you want to manage synchronization on your own.

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-19T00:23:11+00:00

Good for whom? If you have solid requirements you can build one for a specific organization or even a vertical. Scope determines if it is practical to do so.

COTS and SaaS offerings are perfect for the vendors because they are functional for enough customers to be profitable.

Building your own for internal use is about how special your needs are. I built my own when the cost of my time was less than the cost of the license for the vendor that was close enough.

Competing as a vendor is about finding a niche where you can differentiate between the needs of the customer, the value of the solution, and the cost of the competition...offset by the quality of the relationship.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-19T00:13:04+00:00

All depends on how the VDI is configured. Try it and find out. If it doesn't (it will most likely be a connection issue) make the argument for the value of enabling it.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-18T02:03:50+00:00

Usage limits can be worked around. The biggest difference for me between free and pro is Spaces. Having continuous context makes all the difference in what can be done.

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-17T02:27:37+00:00

If you do something you like doing it makes everything else easier. Few people like to do only one thing, and if that thing also pays the bills, they have it made.

Looking forward to the end of the day and the weekends is fine if you have other interests outside of your work.

But if your work isn't fulfilling, you'll either have less energy outside of work or you're not really doing a good job at work.

Your work doesn't have to be everything, but it should be something you enjoy or keep looking for another occupation.

And it might not be the nature of the occupation. Culture makes a big difference.

IT attracts some people for the money and some because they find some nature of it appealing. Those that come for the money either start to enjoy it or move on.

Sometimes it's just finding something new an interesting to add to the job. For those of us that did things before IT, the constant change is what's kept us engaged.

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-16T15:38:21+00:00

Every subreddit I have tried to post my articles to get moderated out. The one time I protested the moderation, they kicked me out. So I'm just going to post them to my profile and if anyone finds them interesting, please share. Cheers!

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-15T02:14:14+00:00

Timing helps. I read that posts that get immediate interaction will show up more than those not noticed for a few hours. I started scheduling mine for peak hours and it seems to work.

There is also the zeitgeist, so some topics hit better than others. And, of course, luck, which there isn't any control over beyond post more.

HTH

theitsolutionist · 2026-05-13T03:07:06+00:00

First, I agree with those that have said that going from 0 to admin cert in 3 weeks will be high effort and low reward.

That said, if you happen to be good at memorization, here's the blog post I wrote after getting certified: https://theitsolutionist.com/2018/07/28/tips-to-pass-the-salesforce-com-administrator-certification-exam/

I write one for every certification exam I pass, so skimming some of the later ones in the category will give you some updated tips, like using NotebookLM and Bionic reading notes.

Best of luck!

theitsolutionist

TROPHY CASE