I recently came across a brilliant insight about AI prompting that completely changed how I think about working with tools like ChatGPT. The author shared a story about planning a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and it perfectly illustrates what … Continue reading Unlock Smarter AI Chats: The Four-Question Framework That Transforms Every Conversation
For many this is a TL:DR / not applicable, so, don’t fret if it’s not for you ! I’m a privacy advocate, and, have been using VPNs for quite a number of years now. One solution I implemented was what … Continue reading Batch Download ProtonVPN Wireguard Configs (Python)
Discover the Power of Self-Hosting Ollama on Your Own Windows Machine – Take control of your AI chatbot experience with self-hosting Ollama on Windows! Learn how to easily set up Open WebUI and get started with this powerful tool. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just looking for a new way to interact with AI, this tutorial has got you covered. Continue reading Self-Hosting Ollama with Open WebUI on Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide
Looking for a guide on installing and setting up Debian Linux on a virtual machine using VirtualBox? Learn about downloading ISO images, partitioning, software packages, system settings, post-installation steps, updating, software repositories, user accounts, permissions, and the GNOME desktop environment. Discover the power of APT package management and open-source software. Continue reading Getting Started With Debian Linux Using A VirtualBox Virtual Machine
Protect your online presence with VPN and cyber security measures. Safeguard your sensitive information from hackers and phishing attempts. Stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks and keep your IP address private. Ensure data security with strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular software updates. Backup your data to prevent ransomware attacks. Prioritize cyber privacy and stay safe in the digital world. Continue reading Enhancing Cyber Privacy and Security: Additional Insights and Tools
Discover the importance of Wi-Fi hardware addresses, broadcasting, security, and privacy in an interconnected world. Learn about vulnerabilities like fake access points and how to enhance protection through obfuscating techniques. Explore Arduino and ESP8266 for Wi-Fi chip integration, as well as physical disconnection methods. Gain insights into interference circuits, Faraday bags, and wireless signal isolation for safeguarding against unauthorized access. Continue reading Securing Your Appliance: Disabling Broadcasting of Wi-Fi Hardware Address
In today’s digital age, privacy and security have become paramount concerns for individuals who value their online presence. With increasing instances of data breaches and surveillance, many users are seeking alternative operating systems that prioritize privacy and security. In this … Continue reading Exploring Secure And Private Operating Systems: A Peek Into Kodachi Linux And Other Notable Options
Looking for a comprehensive suite of privacy-focused tools? Check out Protonmail, ProtonVPN, ProtonDrive, ProtonPass, and ProtonCalendar. With end-to-end encryption and secure email services, Protonmail ensures your sensitive information remains private. ProtonVPN offers online anonymity and internet security through its virtual private network service. Need cloud storage and file sharing? ProtonDrive has got you covered. Keep your passwords secure with ProtonPass’s password management feature. Stay organized with ProtonCalendar’s scheduling and organization capabilities. With reliable connections, no-logs policy, and cutting-edge tools, Proton’s suite of services provides peace of mind and a seamless digital experience. Protect your personal privacy with Proton’s zero-access architecture, data encryption, and cloud security features. Enjoy a user-friendly interface and seamless integration across platforms. Say goodbye to privacy breaches and data leaks and embrace the power of Proton’s privacy-focused tools for ultimate data protection. Continue reading Exploring the Proton Suite: A Comprehensive Review of Protonmail, ProtonVPN, ProtonDrive, ProtonPass, and ProtonCalendar
Forget Cortana – or any other built in search in Windows … Enter “Everything” …
Have you ever tried to search for a file on your PC, and waited for that progress bar creeping slowly up as the minutes and hours pass, and never actually found the file you were looking for ?
Well, enter “Everything” from Void tools. It finds files instantly. I’ve been using it for years. Continue reading “Everything – MUCH Faster Than Windows Search Or Cortana”
Sticky post
WARNING – CREATIVE WRITING AHEAD
Without freedom of speech, we no longer have freedom of thought. Without freedom of thought, how the hell are we supposed to be creative?
– Source – Someone cleverer than me, probably JP.
Sticky post
Promoting a blog or website is a continuous process, provided that is you actually want people to visit your site. For most individuals/businesses/charities/artists/writers we want people to visit our site, that was the whole point of setting up a website in the first place.
There are many facets and opportunities in promoting, forum SEO just one of many.
Forum SEO has garnered a recently “retired” WordPress.com support volunteer over 8 MILLION hits on their relatively mediocre site. So, it’s a strategy that IS very VERY powerful.
(That’s enough blogging for one day – time for some downtime)
No need to tell me the right answer, I’ve heard it on TV relating to UK 5G deal with Huawei.
But when I first saw the name on a phone in the phone shop … well … I tried to guess :
“Who are we”
“Who a wee”
“Who’re wee”
“Who way”
And then I’m joking with a friend, and I’m like
“Who the hell are we ?”
(It’s funnier if you try to pronounce it in English out loud)
Kind of ironic though, with the controversy surrounding the company, and then the UK government striking a deal with them, whilst the rest of the world don’t want to touch them with a barge pole.
Comments invited 🙂
Cheers
Don Charisma
ffmpeg is one of the most powerful video/audio enoding/decoding/etc tools out there. It’s been around for donkey’s years, and used by amateurs and pros alike.
The main downside is that it’s a command line only tool, so if you’re not willing or able to “get your hands dirty” then probably just do a next on this post. If you want to to try it out, there’s plenty of guides accessible via Google et al which will shine a light on the path for you.
ffmpeg is available for Windows, Linux and Mac. ffmpeg has codecs included for just about every photo/audio/video imaginable. As one comment I spotted online eluded – ffmpeg is very very smart, more than people give it credit for.
Continue reading “ffmpeg One Liner – Still Photo + Music File = Video File”
One thing I’ve started to find a minor annoyance is the adverts that YouTube inject into my watching and listening experience on their site. Frustratingly, the adverts here are in Thai language, so not really relevant to me.
After a little research and some geek magic and I came across something really very useful. It’s called “youtube-dl”, and basically it’s a Linux (and Windows) tool to download YouTube videos so one can watch them locally. AND YES WITHOUT THOSE DAMN ADVERTS.
Continue reading How To Download YouTube Videos Using youtube-dl
You toiled for hours, days, weeks to make that prefect creation, create that perfect storm, that special something that’s just spot on and MUST be acclaimed widely … Matt Mullenweg told you you’re gonna be a star … a shiny new blog super hero …
My business partner called me a few months ago. “We’ve been hacked” he said, and “the hosting company has shut down our hosting account”. Wow I thought, it can happen to us … Hackers can really make you have a bad day !
Continue reading “How To Survive A Denial Of Service (DDOS) Attack On A WordPress Site”
I “inherited” a hosting account with Greengeeks via my business partner. Our sites used to be hosted with them, but we’re currently moving away from them, because, to be blunt, they are awful in so many ways.
Robert Lee had this to say, which pretty much sums up how I feel about them :
“Poor customer service. Slow Servers. DDoS Attacks. Customer Support SUCKS” – Robert Lee @ trustpilot.com
Continue reading “Greengeeks are … Crap, Rubbish, Awful, Terrible, Horrible, Slow, Waste Of Money”
I’ve received now a second email from an unknown source that masquerades as an official PayPal email. The idea of the sender is to get me to disclose my login details of my PayPal account, so that they can rob me, basically.
Usually my iCloud email puts these straight in the spam folder, but for whatever reasons iCloud doesn’t recognise these emails as spam.
Continue reading “WARNING – Beware Of PayPal Phishing Emails”
For those who haven’t tried out Google’s version of the old classic Pacman game, check out a great layout from the streets of Hong Kong. Would love to try out your favourite Pacman streets…Post them in the comments so we … Continue reading Pacman eats Hong Kong
Simple answer – Microsoft are predominantly and historically a software manufacturer, whilst Apple are both a hardware and software manufacturer. Apple OSX is propriety software, which is copyrighted (and probably trademarked and patented) by Apple. Apple only support it for … Continue reading Why Microsoft Cannot Run OSX BUT Apple Can Run Microsoft Windows
Dropbox don’t pay me to write blogs. However I use Dropbox daily and have been very happy with their (free) service for many years now. So praise where it’s due. It seems that Dropbox have bought Cloudon, and offering customers … Continue reading Dropbox Just Gave Me An Extra 1GB Storage For Free 🙂
While we all love Madonna and what she has done over the years, it does show we can all have a bad day at the office. She certainly knows how to upstage everyone. To be fair, she did carry on and finish her song, even smiling at the end! I wouldn’t want to be the guys who pulled her off the stage though. Absolutely live, two minutes after co-presenter Laura Whitmore said ‘Who knows what will happen…It’s Live!!’ Continue reading OMG – Madonna falls off stage at Brit awards LIVE
A few new bloggers have been asking me for blogging tips … so here you are … Personally I don’t see other bloggers as competition, so I wouldn’t call researching other blogs as “competitor research” more “colleague research”. Why I … Continue reading How To Blog Like The Best Of The Best – Poweblogger’s SEO
Some people’s experience of technology is “FaceTube”, that is Facebook and YouTube. Linux, Shmninux, what the hell do I need Linux for ? Pretty much where I’ve been with Linux since it all started a couple of decades ago – … Continue reading Why Linux Will Replace Microsoft Windows And Apple OSX
In a nutshell – cost, time and ease of use. Development of a website using WordPress is quick (compared to older methods), because of it’s modular nature, and is therefore relatively inexpensive. Once operational it’s a very very easy system … Continue reading Why Choose WordPress for Web Development ?
Heather, our technical writer intern has kindly sent me over an update. I feel it’s important to keep readers updated on how it’s going, and so Heather can share what experiences she’s had in our intern program. Heather’s words : “Another … Continue reading Internship Update #4
Heather, our technical writer intern has kindly sent me over an update. I feel it’s important to keep readers updated on how it’s going, and so Heather can share what experiences she’s had in our intern program. Heather’s words : “I … Continue reading Internship Update #3
INTRO FROM DON – Heather as most of you know is our technical writing intern. Heather and I worked hard on this the first article we’ve published – it’s on Web Design. She’s done a great job of explaining the … Continue reading What Is Web Design?
Heather, our technical writer intern has kindly sent me over an update. I feel it’s important to keep readers updated on how it’s going, and so Heather can share what experiences she’s had in our intern program. Heather’s words : “Heather … Continue reading Internship Update
Heather, our technical writer intern has kindly sent me over an update. I feel it’s important to keep readers updated on how it’s going, and so Heather can share what experiences she’s had in our intern program. Heather’s words : “Don … Continue reading Internship Update
I’m currently following everyone back on Google+, so rather than following everyone individually, please follow me and I’ll follow you back. Free SEO tip – Google plus is probably the most significant social network after facebook and twitter. The main … Continue reading Please Circle Me On Google+
I’ve been asked indirectly to give some advice on promoting and marketing a Book for a friend. This is probably starting to fall under the category of work, and generally my work is paid for. However part of marketing oneself … Continue reading Promoting And Marketing A Book Or An eBook
INTRO FROM DON – This is Heather’s submission for the intern selection process. In my view she’s done an extremely good job at writing about this subject. It’s also much more in depth than the article I wrote for comparison. In depth is a … Continue reading How Google Search Really Works
Google, they are the big boys in searching for stuff on the internet. But who and what are they really ? To put it simply Google’s search is an artificial intelligence engine. That’s right like a computer that thinks like … Continue reading How Google Search Really Works – Don Charisma
For some reason people seem to think I blog opinions of what’s going on for me right in that moment. Occasionally that’s the case. Often it’s not. Sometimes it’ll be something that’s current, something a commenter will have said or … Continue reading “Lonely” – Don Charisma’s Opinion
It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who’ll put there hands up to an opportunity, and then flake out under any kind of pressure – “oh work you say, hmmm, no that’s not for me”. Success involves … Continue reading Intern Selection Process – WE HAVE A WINNER!
Search Engine Optimisation is the process whereby a website owner or webmaster makes his website more accessible and organised so that internet search engines find it easier to index and serve his(/her) pages to searchers. SEO has been adapted and added … Continue reading Intern Selection Process – Article One – SEO
I’ve discussed with business partner Danny, and we only have the resources to manage one (maybe two) intern(s) on this the first Don Charisma intern program. We’ve had 6 applicants. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS INTERNSHIP, PLEASE APPLY FOR … Continue reading Intern Selection Process – Writing For Don Charisma
Blogging and watching stats since Jul-2013, I’ve noticed a pattern on my blog. The latest three posts get the most attention, in of course descending order. What I’ve noticed is that readers will read the latest the most, and then it … Continue reading “You’re Only As Good As Your Last Three Posts” – Don Charisma’s Opinion
A little maths problem I posted on my blog became one of my most popular posts, and still draws traffic daily from Google. Here’s something for … Continue reading Maths Trick To Fool Your Friends
Don Charisma 