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Many years ago, a client of mine was going through a (non-lethal) health issue.

We spoke about it for a while. And at the end of our conversation, one thing that was said struck me as quite odd.

But I kept it in the back of my mind about things one should, or shouldn’t share in business. Because ‘it could hurt my business’.

Before a new year starts, you make this promise to yourself:

• This year it will be different!
• This year I will make things work for me!
• This is gonna be my goddamn fucking year!

The year rolls in, and even though you have the best of intentions to make that/your statement a reality, you stumble into old habits and nothing gets done.

You struggle with knowing where to start.
Then you doubt yourself.
You procrastinate.

That is called the ‘honeymoon’ period. Then shit hits the fan and you’re stuck!

Well, why not change your mindset.

Why not just make the first Monday of February the new January 1st. Kick yourself into gear, and make whatever you need happen!

So if you need the MacJunky or the Tech Minimalist to help you with your goals, get in touch.

Saw some great views. And if you look very carefully, you might see the truck parked on the other side of the valley!

Here’s the thing…

• Weigh the pros agains the cons.

• Marry the person you dislike the least.

• Use tech that works for you, not against you.

So as I sit here in my very warm and comfortable truck while it’s raining, and windy as hell, it makes me think of why the hell would I travel as a nomad like this!

A few hours a go I rolled up to this view and to stay for the night, possibly the weekend.

And as I deal with my emails, I’ve noticed a pattern when I’m contacted about helping people with their Apple devices.

Other than the general questions like…

• Why is my Mac slow.

• Where are my files located.

• Can you help sync my iPhone and iPad.

Yesterday, as I pulled up and parked in this tranquil place with no body else around I thought that I was going to hunker down and enjoy this view for at least 2-3 days.

This morning I woke up to an amazing sunrise, deployed the solar panel, and sat on the beach enjoying the moment, and thinking about next steps with my business.

Within an hour or so, the winds picked up. The solar panel almost flew off its anchor points. There was dust and ocean spray all over the place.

I left. Sad, but I left.

You see, no matter what you feel, how you feel it, or what your surrounding are, things change. And they change rapidly, without notice.

Be ready for any and all eventualities!

Ok, I don’t know exactly how to convey my thoughts on this, so I’ll just call it an enlightened moment and a lapse of concentration for the past 2-3 years.

I woke up this morning, chilled while watching a video that appeared in my timeline. And came to the sudden realisation on how I could, and should, use ai for my own gain.

No, don’t worry. I’m not going senile. And haven’t left my brain in the gutter.

A long time subscriber Mark replied to a previous newsletter about using a second screen. And how using an iPad is helping him make things easier for him.

A nice addition and can be helpful from time to time is that I use my iPad as a 2nd screen. Not all the time, but for some work that is very beneficial.

Mark hit the nail on the head when he noted “Not all the time, but for some work that is very beneficial.”

Here’s the thing…

You don’t have to use something just because it’s there.
You should only use something if it’ll make your life easier.

And far for me to tell you what you should or shouldn’t use, but my experience and working with 1000’s clients over 35 years has taught me two very important things…

First and foremost: You can’t change people’s minds.
And secondly: Many simply have never needed a screen.

So, never be ‘press-ganged’ into anything if it’s not going to work for you.

The picture is of my truck, again in southern Spain whee I stayed for two nights, but you have to really zoom in to see it.

Let me know if you do see it!

It depends on what you ’need’ social media for, but for me, it’s a huge distraction. And I’m fed up with all the rage-baiting, shit-posting, ai slop ‘content’ that’s being posted.

So today I deleted all the apps from my iPhone to regain time, and sanity.

I know, I know, I’ve been beating this drum for a while. But it’s gotten to a stage where I really can’t hack it anymore. It’s not good for my mental health and I’m really just wasting time.

Not only that, but from a business standpoint, it seems I’m getting more work via word of mouth, my newsletter and general SEO than I to by posting on social media.

Going forward I’ll be focusing publishing my knowledge, thoughts, journey etc. on this blog and sharing via the newsletter, and Telegram channel.

And please feel free to share this post/email with those who would benefit from my them. The more the merrier!

What do you think about the direction social media is going?
And, do you see yourself removing yourself from it at some point?

I’d love to know your thoughts.

Below is my reply to John, one of my long time subscribers, about moving to another country and how to deal with how, what, where, when, why etc. It was so good, I just had to share it with you…

I’ve had a few people ask me about power and how I keep my electronics, even my fridge/freezer, powered while I’m nomading in my truck.

Well, it’s via a 400w solar blanket while I’m ‘camped’. And a 1000w DC-to-DC charger while I drive. So I’m never without power.

My cooking is also fully electric. I have an induction stove top and an air fryer that I’ve recently purchased. So between the two, I can eat inside or out.

If there’s a will, there’s a way.

It was DEAD quiet.

You can hear the main motorway, but only if you’re focusing on it.

The only other (non) issue is that there is a bright light in the far distance.

I think it’s the football pitch flood lights, that may be annoying if you don’t cover the window facing it.

Other than that, I think I’ll be coming back to this place for sure!

I’d like to be in Tarifa for Woof!’s birthday (5th Dec)

It also gives me time to be away for a while so I can spend Christmas in the desert in Spain.

If I leave next weekend, I have enough time to get there.

Here’s a picture of Woof! In 2022 at the bench we sat on watching the sunset together.

Man I miss him so much.

That was the title I saw when I ‘Googled’ myself over the weekend.

Firstly, why on earth would I search for myself??!!

You see, I care about my brand, as everyone should. So now and again I check to see how my brand is being presented online. And see if everything I put out into the world is, well… ‘on brand’.

Yeah I know, insane!

Anyhoo…

Daylite is an app I use, and have used, for running my business.

I’ve even implemented the system into many companies that require a simple, yet insanely powerful all-in-one solution that just works!

So when I saw my name attached to an article talking about how using Daylite can simplify your business, I had to check it out!

I wasn’t aware that this was being written, but the author sure does know my inner thoughts about how life and business can coexist without complications.

Go check it out!

The last time I had a Linux OS on a computer was back in 2010, so this’ll be interesting.

Why am I doing this?

I’ve been thinking about moving away from MacOS for a while, but all the data I have has been ‘stuck’ within the Apple ecosystem and I didn’t want to force myself to go somewhere else.

However, when I saw Omarchy last week, I so geeked out over it that I thought…

Why the hell not test it out and see!

I’ve already tested Apple equivalent apps for Linux I can move to, and so far I’ve managed to port a bunch of my data out of some Apple apps already.

The test are working out so far, but there’s more to do.

I’ll be spinning up an old MacBook I have laying around in the studio and see how it goes. It’s like being a kid again with a new computer!

Who knows, I may even move permanently if my tests works out and all my data can be ported into other open source apps.

I’m really looking forward to share my journey.

Watch this space!

If you think about it, there aren’t that many apps you need to do your work. And may of us has specific apps we need for our craft.

However, there is one app that every single one of us use. And that’s is… Email.

Email is by far the most logical, simple and oldest app that we’ve all used to communicate with the outside world.

It’s used for sending responses, transactions, sales, newsletters etc. Oh, and even love letters!

I won’t go too much in to that last one ;-)

Now that we agree that email is great, why is it everyone struggles with it?

Why does it have to be so messy, annoying and damn right complicated!

aaaaggggghhhh!!!

Well, there is a way to simplify your email so that you can do you actual work rather than get annoyed with the mess, the notifications the (dis)organisation of it all!

…And I can help.

There are times when you think you have everything worked out. But after some soul searching you find something slowly eating away at you.

This is how I’ve been feeling for the last year or so about my tech stack.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love my Mac and stack. The way it’s helped me, and my clients, get work done… simply!

But I’ve had this inner urge to find a better, simpler, more privacy focused, more secure, and even more productive way to doing things for me and my business.

Let’s just say this Tech Minimalist, that was ‘The MacJunky’ since 1986, may possibly be moving to linux!

And over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing the approach, the pitfalls and the wins.

Are you fed up with Apple/Windows. And have had thoughts like…

“There’s gotta to be a better way!”

I’d love to hear your story!

After a hectic few weeks of cat sitting for my best friend, while packing my storage space to move. And the unexpected bad news about Woof! I’m exhausted!

However, life, and work, doesn’t stop. Not only that, I can’t sit still and wallow in self pity.

I’ve grieved, I’ve felt every emotion run through me. And I’m guessing it’s going to take a while to get it out of my system.

Hence an email rather than a video (for a while).

Anyhoo…

I wrote about my site being slow a few weeks back. It was annoying me no need. Even after back and forth with the support team, I got so frustrated and fed up, I caved and got myself a VPS (Virtual Private Server).

I initially got it purely for speeding up my website. And it’s really speedy now!

But I got to thinkin’…

Why not use the server for more than just a website.

I got to work and thought about all the services, their respective monthly payments, and whether I could securely host everything I needed.

Yes. The answer was Yes! I can move a bunch of stuff, self host. And it’ll be WAY cheaper.

And here’s the list…

– Website
– Analytics
– Podcast
– Newsletter
– Email server

Setting up the Website, Analytics, Podcast and Newsletter were simple. However, the Email server needed for the Newsletter to be sent, was a little tricky.

But once you navigate the techno babble, it too was rather quite simple. And it only took me about a week to do it all.

One of the issues with hosting your own Email server, or SMTP service (the protocol that send email via the internet) is that the server, IP and hostname has to be ‘warmed up’ so that it doesn’t land in/on a block list, and for other servers to ’trust’ it.

That can take quite a while, 1-3 months (!!)

And although it’s all running perfectly, I’m going to be warming it up by only sending the newsletter to a select few from the new server for a while.

What really helps with the ‘warm up’, and would help me greatly is for my newsletter recipients to reply.

Here’s the thing…

Apart from wanting to self host, and save money. I wanted everything to be on brand. Especially the Newsletter.

I want my newsletter to be an ‘Email’ not a ‘Flyer’.

Not just something that sounds like a sales pitch. But more importantly, it doesn’t look like a freaking sales pitch!

Like 99% of all newsletters out there!

I think I’ve succeeded, you be the judge…

Did you receive my old ‘Flyer’ style newsletter? Or are you one of the lucky ones who received the new improved super-duper ‘Email’ style newsletter?

Hit reply and let me know!

Kia.

P.S. Oh and do let me know if my newsletters are going into Spam automatically too!

P.P.S If you too are fed up with paying for software and tools you could self host and want help, hit me up!

Yes, LinkedIn is cringe. And I hate it with a passion. However, I’m still drawn to posting my ‘BS’ for ‘reach’, but guess what…

I get better connections, conversations, feedback, and even better (more) work, via my ‘What would Kia do?’ newsletter!

I think I’ll be deleting that shit hole of a ‘social media’ pretty soon.

Do you have a newsletter or blog I should know about? Hit reply (below) and let me know!

This is frustrating as hell!!!

After an insane amount of time spent optimising everything, the speed is just crap!

The server host is saying “we don’t know. Why not upgrade”.

“We don’t know…” is not something I want to hear when talking to ANY support ‘champion’.

Time to look for a new host. Anyone know of a good one?

Hit reply below and let me know if you have any questions recommendation.

Via.

I made a automation (oh how I hate that word) workflow to auto publish my posts from this site to my Telegram community channel.

Make, the automation platform, makes it easy to pull an RSS feed then post directly to Telegram via a Bot I created.

It makes my life a little easier now that I’ve moved away from social media and purely concentrating on my own platform and community.

This will only apply to AI tools that respect this setting

Well there goes that.

Seems like they’ve removed the ‘respect this setting’ text from the new version of the layout, but do you trust that it won’t be if you set it

Simple tools to get shit done
Powerful tools to get more shit done
Privacy tools so your shit doesn’t get stolen

Everything else is just marketing shittery.

This morning I commented on a Substack Note, and thought I’d share it with you.

Yes, it’s about ai.

The plan was to publish a Friday Fury episode yesterday about ai, but so much more information is coming my way that I wasn’t able to record it in time.

But it will be coming, and it’s going to be the most fierce one I’ve ever done.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on ai, so send me a (comment: )

Anyhow, enjoy your weekend, and I’ll see you next week at some point!

Problem?

Well not really a problem, but I want to read better quality posts.

I find social media, and LinkedIn specifically (as I’m on here quite often) isn’t great for personal insights on subjects.

All I see is more and more fluff, back-patting and sales.

Yes they have a place and LinkedIn is the place for that, but there are better platforms for find more in-depth articles in a particular topic.

So I’m going to give Substack a try to see what’s there.

Mind you, I won’t be using it as a newsletter, as I have my own, but it’ll be nice to see actual articles from real people that aren’t just ‘selling’.

You can follow my on Substack here… @kiakamgar

So you have, or know of a Substack I should read? (comment: text: let me know!)

I was born to a generation that could buy things once - and keep them.

A CD.
A movie.
A piece of software.

Your were given a physical thing with a set price that you controlled.

Now, everything is a ‘subscription’.

More expensive over time.
Taken off you for ‘violating’ terms…

— Alexandra Marshall (@ellymelly) July 16, 2025

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I know we can’t take things with us when we go on our long holiday, but to be able to pass the things that ment a lot to us down should be preserved.

I’m so passionate about my disgust of ai that I went through my whole LinkedIn connections and disconnect with all who have shoehorned ‘ai’ into their tagline.

No regrets.

Ooops, I mean related.

*sorry not sorry!

When I scroll through social media, especially LinkedIn, I get hit with the a wall of ai related posts that do nothing to help anyone.

The ‘LinkedIn ai experts’ are all trying to make a name for themselves in the space by throwing away their dignity and shit posting for clicks and attention.

I mean fine, if that’s what you want to be known for.

But even some of them are starting to publish posts on how ai is taking over the timeline!

You can’t make this shit up!

How do you feel about ai?
Has it impacted you in a negative way at all?

Send me your (comment: )

Are non binary people allowed to use computers?

— Lee Hurst (@LeeHurstComic) July 14, 2025

It’s a simple video that shows life back in 1967 when the track was released. You can just feel the atmosphere. So awesome! And on repeat!

Desmond Dekker & The Aces – 007

I’d like to bring your attention to a great short film by Ali Gallop about what the internet is supposed to be.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d know how I feel about social media, and more importantly ai.

Why do I hate ai so much?

I know people use ai for all sorts of things. I also know that it can be a valuable resource of knowledge.

But at what cost?

The cost I foresaw was the downright thievery of the data set.
The ai slop we all now see over taking social media.
The bombardment of shit blog posts with no soul.
The dangers of powerful ai content to sway public opinion.
The emergence of ai expert tech bro gurus

etc.

So the ‘dead internet theory’ isn’t/wasn’t a myth, but it wasn’t 100% correct either.

What the Ali’s video shows is that there are many more real people creating great art, and many of them share that art on…

THE FREE INTERNET!

So keeping the internet open and free, away from big tech, large corps., money hungry tech bros and the like is OUR responsibility.

So what’s the best plan?

To keep posting your thoughts, ideas and sharing knowledge via your own platform and stop feeding ai with your hard work.

Read what’s going on and use tools like Cloudflare to block ai from the scraping your art!

Hit reply to this email, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Not I.

Life (and work) isn’t a competition to see who’s got the busiest calendar.

Sometimes being still with your thoughts and the ones you love are the only thing one needs.

Yes I do work, everything is within Basecamp. And no, I’m not a bum or ‘billy-no-mates’ I treasure and guard my time with a passion.

Why rush around from meeting to meeting?
Why fill your day with every and any kind of stimulation?
Why be busy with nothing when you can feel the things around you?

That’s not for me. Nor should it be for you.

Yes I get it, we need to keep track of things.

But if you rely on technology to remind you to brush your teeth (yes I have seen this!) then you’ve lost the idea of being a human.

Relax.

P.S. If you really want to simplify your tech, let’s connect.

A great short from about the state of the internet by Ali Gallop.

I have a love relationship with the internet. However, I have a hate relationship with the way big tech and corporations are trying to take it away from what is was supposed to be.

And I’m seeing more and more posts and videos like this one that brings me hope that we can pull it back form the clutches of the greedy and back into the hands of us who simply want to share out passions, hobbies and life.

The first step is to remove oneself from their platforms, buy a domain name and start posting and connecting.

“We’re treating our free time like it’s another job we’re not getting paid for.”

The digital age has been great. But it’s turned us into soulless robots that’s crying out to be accepted, at any cost.

“Make art. Not content.” has been my mantra for years. So when I see posts or videos online where others have had the same thoughts, it light up my day.

Social media has turned into a shit-show of tech bro mafia boss type figures who don’t give a shit about you, your art, or society.

They only care about quantity and the profits they can make from your limited attention spans. Hence why ai is being push to heavily

There’re times when you’re head down in the zone that you forget things that you should do.

It’s unavoidable, annoying, and anyone can fall victim, no matter how well organised you are.

I’ve become one of its victims!

For the last few months I have been head down working on a large project and it’s been taking a lot of my time, and I’ve been in the zone and loving it!

Hence the lack of posting, making videos and doing TikTok dances from me. (The latter is on my private OnlyKia site)

The new project a slight departure to what you may know me for, but being a self-proclaimed Tech Minimalist/Generalist, even though generalists are often frowned upon, I wear it as a badge of honor.

It’s has grown me as a person. Also, I now have yet another tool in my professional toolbox!

I can’t talk too much about the details, but one of my very first MacJunky clients contacted me to help them build a website. Ok, nothing too complex I thought, until we had the meeting.

It’s turned into a full e-commerce site with connections to SAP, to be available in 3 different world regions, and with a bunch of external connection points.

Ok, not just a simple ‘website’ then.

So don’t ever listen to the ’expert’ online gurus who tell you to specialise in one singe area and ’niche down’, because it’s a lie, for most.

Having a general niche that you’re known for is always a good thing, otherwise you won’t ever be able to market yourself.

If you market to to everyone, you market to no one

– Some boffin at some point has said this.

There are MANY people out there, like me, who are interested in many things and only by doing them will you understand your full true worth.

Also this past few months, I’ve been building barns and doing some ground work for an open air art museum for my cousin, and even rebuilding and upgrading parts for my truck.

You are capable of everything and anything, it’s just your mind holding you back due to lack of experience. And experience, as you know, comes from doing, not (over) thinking!

Anyhow, hope to post more soon about the project, but for now here’s a random post

Have an awesome day!

Kia.

So we went to the doctor for a check up.

The diagnosis…

It’s bleeding here, here, here, here here, here and here.

We need to replace this, this, this and this.

And upgrade these, these, these, these, these, these and these two.

It’s fun having a classic car!

Hey! It’s been a while!

The past few weeks I have been insanely busy with getting the truck ready for a road trip.

Aside from that I’m working on a massive project that I will share more of the finer details soon.

But let’s just say it’s a slight departure from what I’m known for, but here’s the remit from the client…

Get it built right. We’re fed up with how it currently works. It’s too complicated for staff. And we’re losing way too much money!

Well, that’s what the Tech Minimalist does best… Simplify and remove tech friction!

Again, will share what I can very soon.

It’s a great project to sink my teeth into and I’m loving it. Hence why I haven’t been too active on social media and other channels.

Although sometimes I do post photos of nice places I’m at.

Kia.