# On Media Formats

The Free Thinker writes about media formats in 2025 [0]. I wrote
about a related topic last year [1], mainly how the streaming
services have gone to shit and I rely more on DVDs and self-hosted
streaming solutions like jellyfin. This is still the case, and is so
convenient and superior in every way that I can't see going back at
this point.

I don't have lots of VHS tapes anymore, I left them to sit too many
years, and bitrot has consumed them. I do have a blueray player, but
I have only one blueray disc. The rest are DVDs, which I prefer.

On my mobile device, I've removed the stock youtube app that likes
to intercept youtube links from firefox, and replaced it with
newpipe, which seems to be able to keep up (so far) with google's
anti-ad-blocker/downloader crusade.

[0]: gopher://aussies.space/0/%7efreet/phlog/2025-01-26Video_Varieties_2025.txt
[1]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/%7eslugmax/phlog/2024-01-27-new-year-media-mess

                           ~

# Why I Blog

Alex Schroeder talks about why he blogs [2]. For me, it depends on
the medium. I have an offline, hand-written journal for personal
thoughts, and the gopher phlog. The latter is whatever pops into
my head on a given day, typically driven by what I've read online,
which is now mostly gopher content. Whatever I write always helps me
sort out my thoughts on various topics, so nowadays I write mostly
for me, but also as a sort of legacy for when I'm gone.

As for the blogging questions, I answered most of them in 2019 [3],
but here is a synopsis.

## Why did you start blogging in the first place?

Way back in the early 2000's it would have been as a way to get
business and share technical knowledge. I care little for any of
that now.

## What platform are you using to manage your blog, and why do you
   use it?

Nowadays, just plain text on gopher, written in an editor (usually
emacs but sometimes mg or vi or ed). There is nothing simpler and
faster to just get your words online. I used to use slerm or other
phlogging scripts I created, but now my workflow is just 1) write
post and 2) copy to phlog directory and update gophermap by hand.

## Have you blogged on other platforms before?

Yes, lots - WP, geeklog, blogger, (py)bloxsom, and other SSGs like
bashblog.

## What's your favourite post on your blog?

I have more than one. I enjoy writing when there is a phlog
"conversation" taking place. The one about simple living is a
favorite [4], as it the one about pseudo-anonymity online [5] and
library nostalgia [6]. There are a couple on privacy I like [7],
[8].

## Any future plans for the blog?

Other than continuing to blog simply on gopher, no.

[2]: gopher://alexschroeder.ch/0/2025-01-25-why-blog
[3]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2019/2019-12-13-on-16-years-of-blogging
[4]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2017/cabin
[5]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2018/reply-to-solderpunk-thoughts-on-pseudo-anonymity
[6]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2019/2019-08-17-library-nostalgia
[7]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2019/2019-08-14-privacy-is-dead
[8]: gopher://republic.circumlunar.space/0/~slugmax/phlog/2019/2019-08-22-privacy-replies