A Quiet Simple Life

Sallie Schaaf Borrink

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5 Ways I’ve Simplified My Life This Month

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View Full Post with Embedded Content5 Ways I’ve Simplified My Life This Month

Caroline and I finished up our summer homeschooling yesterday. I now have two weeks off and we’ll start up with the new school year the day after Labor Day. I have been making small and large changes during August that are already paying off in terms of more time and less stress. I could write a post about each of these (and probably will), but for now I’m simply going to list them.

One, I have been steadily removing myself from email lists. I have significantly reduced the amount of email I receive. I’m already pretty careful about this, but have taken it to another level. Anyone who emails too frequently and doesn’t give me an option for less? Gone. Anyone subtly inserting propaganda that makes me feel stressed or angry? Gone. And so on. Even if it’s a company I like and might buy from again, if their emails annoy me they are gone.

Two, I deleted my Twitter account this week. I do plan to write a full post about this. Twitter is by far the most stressful social media I’ve ever used. It’s not even close. I think their algorithm is designed for it. I already feel different today by not having it.

Three, we have been cleaning out each room of the house. Last weekend, David took a carload of donations to a local charity that operates in our part of the county. I decided I didn’t care if there were things I could sell on Facebook for a few dollars. I asked the Lord to bless the people who find the things and provide that money for us in another way.

Four, I’ve been cleaning out homeschooing materials. Now that I know what we’ll be doing the last two years of homeschooling, there is no reason to hang on to a lot of things. I’ve been pitching stuff left and right. Some things will be donated.

Five, I moved all of my media files in posts to my own hosting/server. Every podcast and video I’ve made for both of my sites is now self-hosted. I have left some of them up on other platforms so people can find me, but nothing is embedded from anywhere else. No more adapting to changes on other platforms.

So that’s what I’ve been doing to simplify my life this month. Have you made any changes lately? Please share in a comment below if you have. Maybe your ideas will inspire someone else!

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I Removed Google Analytics From My Website

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View Full Post with Embedded ContentI Removed Google Analytics From My Website

Update April 11, 2023 – I needed to update this post since I had foolishly installed Analytics and AdSense again, but have now removed both. I’m also no longer using one of the paid alternative services I had previously recommended below (Plausible) so I’ve removed that paragraph. Because of these factors, I’m bumping this up to the top of the blog. 

This weekend David and I removed Google Analytics from all of our websites in use and in development (A Quiet Simple Life with Sallie Borrink, Sallie’s Rebuilding America, and David & Sallie). Why am I writing a post about this? Because Google Analytics is an important part of operating an online business.

Or at least that’s what we’ve all been browbeaten to believe about this wonderful “free” tool every website owner needs.

As Jesse Squires wrote in Removing Google Analytics, too:

And of course, Google Analytics was never “free”. A “free” service isn’t really free. It simply means you are the product and the currency with which you are paying is your personal data and right to privacy. In this case, I was volunteering to have my site be commandeered by Google’s JavaScript tracking code.

They’ve convinced anyone from large publishers to indie bloggers to participate in tracking users and collecting users’ data across the entire web. For the benefit of whom? Who owns this data? Why should we allow a private corporation to seize a vast portion of websites that they do not own to execute their arbitrary, proprietary tracking code? What else is this data used for outside of “analytics”?

We all know that Google Analytics tracks everything we do online. We have no idea what it does with our information. I dislike agreeing to privacy policies that pop up on websites I visit and almost never click on them. If I dislike them, why am I asking my own website visitors to do the very same thing?

The challenging aspect of removing Google Analytics is that it’s required for so many things. For example, if you wish to have advertising on your website via the big providers such as MediaVine or AdThrive, you must use Google Analytics. It’s all integrated. I am not opposed to using ads on my site or visiting sites with ads. I know what it takes to run a website and the hours people invest for often very little financial return. I’ve used ads off and on, always uneasy with the entire thing. In deleting Google Analytics, I’ve removed that option from my life.

Gab has already rolled out Gab Ads on the Gab website itself. Eventually website and blog owners will be able to put Gab Ads on their individual sites. At that point, I may opt-in. I’m very interested in helping and promoting American businesses that align with my values. So I am not anti-advertising. I simply want to promote companies I can be comfortable with and help other people find them. I’ve already been exposed to SO MANY American companies (big and small) I would have never heard of except they advertised on Gab. There are literally thousands of companies in the pipeline to advertise on Gab. They are ramping them up as quickly as possible and encouraging people to shop for Christmas with Gab advertisers rather than shopping at huge companies that increasingly control everything we do and, frankly, often work against our best interests.

So I’ve taken another joyful warrior step this weekend to break free from the tyranny of Big Tech. How are you breaking free? I hope you’ll leave a comment and share which joyful warrior choices you are making no matter how big or small they might be. ♥

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Switching To Linux Mint From Windows – My Mega Resource List

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View Full Post with Embedded ContentSwitching To Linux Mint From Windows – My Mega Resource List

I made the switch from Windows 10 to Linux Mint about a year ago. I’ve never looked back. It has greatly improved my work flow and time online. It might sound strange, but becoming a Linux user really is empowering. It is a significant way to break free from Big Tech. We might not be able to do it in every part of our life today, but every bit we can chip away diminishes their power.

I would like to encourage others to find the same freedom so I will continue to write about my experiences. I’ve assembled this post of helpful articles as you think about making your own switch to Linux.

Windows Updates vs. Linux Updates

If I had to say there was ONE thing I hated about Microsoft Windows above all else (besides the expense, rampant security and privacy issues, and the fact that Bill Gates is apparently a psychopath), it was the updates.

There was one massive Windows update a few years ago that took over my computer for literally hours one morning. I had work to do and it was maddening. No warning it would take hours. None.

I normally don’t respond to the “give us feedback” requests at the end of such things. That time I did and they got an earful. That was the beginning of the end for me and Windows.

With Linux it is completely different. You control it ALL.

You don’t dread it. You look forward to discovering the neat new things people have developed that are open source!

And Linux always asks so politely when there is an update to download.

It’s a totally different experience.

Is there a learning curve with Linux? Yes. There are new terms you have to learn and it can be a little overwhelming at first.

Linux is not as “user friendly” as Windows for the average person. But it is so worth the extra effort to be free from Windows and their vulnerability-plagued operating system.

I mean, why do you think Linux servers run a great deal of what is going on in the background of our world? Did you know that?

Regular people use Windows (and Apple) because they have been aggressively marketed to us. A significant number of large corporations and government entities use Linux because it is the best option by far.

I would never go back.

Deciding To Switch To Linux

I wrote my own story of deciding to switch to Linux: I Switched From Windows 10 To Linux Mint

Linux is significantly more secure than Windows. Here’s a brief look at why.

Think about the issues raised in this article. They are important at this point in time.

Choosing A Linux Distro

A distro in the world of Linux is an operating system. Here’s an article that will help you  choose the distro that best meets your needs.

Many people bring older computers back to life by installing an appropriate distro. So find an old computer in the closet and try it out!

Linux Mint

I settled on Linux Mint (Cinnamon) and have been very happy with it. These articles and videos focus on the process of getting Linux Mint set up on your computer.

Linux Mint Reviews

Three reviews of Linux Mint to help you decide if it might be right for you.

Free Linux Mint Wallpapers and Backgrounds Collections

This website post has a really interesting collection of Linux Mint themed wallpapers and backgrounds. Linux Mint comes with quite a few options, but it’s always fun to see something new!

This collection focuses more on nature and such.

Two collections with a focus on sleeker looks featuring the logo

This website has a unique and fun collection.

Helpful Linux Posts, How-To Articles, and Groups

Here are some helpful how-to resources as you get started:

An overview of how to use the terminal:

Real people if you have questions:

If you prefer looking through books, here are a bunch of suggestions. I personally think it’s easier to learn Linux through videos and asking questions in chats/groups/forums, but books can sometimes also be helpful.

Browsers for Linux

I have been using Brave as my main browser and have been happy with it overall. I will sometimes launch Firefox which comes installed with Mint, but I quit using Firefox as my main browser when they went woke.

I’m currently in the process of switching to Vivaldi for reasons I’ll get into in another post. Vivaldi is another popular choice for Linux users. They have rolled out so many fantastic features that I decided it’s time to make the switch.

But both Brave and Vivaldi are highly recommended for Linux if you want something other than the Firefox that comes with Mint.

Linux Apps

These are some of the apps I use and others that come highly recommended.

Ebook Manager for Linux

Bible Apps for Linux

Joplin – Free open-source Evernote alternative for Linux

  • Joplin is newer and therefore has less bells and whistles than Evernote. But it’s free and designed for Linux so wins all around for that! I use Joplin for my homeschooling record keeping.
  • Joplin Forum

Using LibreOffice On Linux

Because David was an adjunct college instructor for so many years, he received Microsoft Office for free. Now that he no longer teaches, his subscription has ended. We really did not want to pay for it if we didn’t need to.

I’ve been using LibreOffice ever since I made the switch to Linux Mint several months ago. I had ZERO problems making the switch. David decided to try LibreOffice on his Mac (which is NOT running Linux). He said it’s better than Microsoft in so many ways. Best of all? It’s free and open source!

Even if you don’t switch to Linux right away, you can get rid of Microsoft Office and use LibreOffice!

And the really important question – Adding Times New Roman to LibreOffice

Best Email Options For Linux

I returned to Thunderbird when I switched to Linux. After doing a lot of research, I decided it was the best option for me at the moment (plus it is free). I only use Thunderbird for email so I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles. Here are several options to consider.

Linux Phones

Many people not only switch to Linux on their computers, but their phones as well. We have not been able to make this jump yet because Linux phones are pricey. But I would switch in a heartbeat if I could.

I hope you find this information helpful as you think about making the move to Linux and greater freedom from Big Tech!

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“Surely not, Lord!” – Returning To Facebook

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View Full Post with Embedded Content“Surely not, Lord!” – Returning To Facebook

I quit Facebook in April 2018. I’ve never looked back other than missing some people with whom I no longer interact for various reasons. I’ve sacrificed quite a bit in making the choice, but it was so clear to me that Facebook was doing a great deal of harm to our country with their censoring and shadow banning that I did not want to stay on there any longer.

I’m sure my talking about how evil Facebook is amused some people. I’m sure others thought I was loony. I don’t care. I do what I believe I should do. Given what we’ve learned over the past two weeks about Twitter, I expect that Facebook will be exponentially worse when the truth about the government involvement there is revealed. Google (especially the search engine) will be that on steroids when it comes out. (If you don’t know what I’m taking about, you’re not getting real news and are completely out of the truth loop.)

A few months ago, the thought quietly came to me that I should go back on Facebook. I briefly turned that thought over in my head and moved on. The thought came again quietly weeks later and I discussed it with a friend a few times off and on. But I made no move to act on it since I didn’t sense it was clearly from God and I had no interest in going back on Facebook.

(Just ask David about how often I still rant about the evils of Facebook. I rant softly, but it’s still a rant.)

In the past few weeks, it’s become increasingly clear that God is telling me to go back on Facebook. I was in the shower this past week and the thought came to me again. The first thing that popped into my head was this bolded phrase from Acts 10 (NIV):

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

This is the exact phrase that instantly popped into my head at that moment. I’m not saying my situation is just like Peter’s, but there is a degree of similarity in terms of being directed to do something you find completely objectionable out of belief or principle.

At that point, I was fairly certain I was hearing it from God, but I told Him that I absolutely did not want to do this unless I was CERTAIN it was Him telling me to do it. I told Him I needed Him to make it really clear. Not out of a lack of faith, but because it is a significant thing for me to do this. I truly despise Facebook and suspect Zuckerberg has been a tool of the devil in undermining our country. Not as badly as TikTok and Instagram, but right up there.

(I’m not exaggerating when I say this is what I think. I believe everyone will fully understand what I’m saying in time.)

The next day He sent two clear messages from two different out-of-the-ordinary sources that had no connection to Facebook but were clearly meant for me that day.

(Insert crying emoji)

Why the crying emoji? I wrote this to that friend in an email:

Re: Facebook. I told God the other day in the shower that I did NOT want to go back on there unless He really wanted me to do so. I needed Him to be very clear. Within 24 hours he sent TWO more clear as a bell signals from not normal places about Facebook.

I didn’t fully realize how much I did NOT want to do it until He made it really clear I’m supposed to do it. But since I don’t want to end up in the belly of a whale, I need to get it done.

So I’m going back on Facebook. I have no idea why other than God has repeatedly put battle imagery in front of me in recent weeks so I suspect it’s because it’s time to do battle in some way. I have had no further direction regarding what I’m supposed to do once I’m back on there.

So I will be stepping out in obedience and awaiting further instructions.

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I Switched From Windows 10 To Linux Mint

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View Full Post with Embedded ContentI Switched From Windows 10 To Linux Mint

I have long been intrigued by Linux as an operating system, but it felt overwhelming to consider making the switch. Through a series of events which I believe God orchestrated, I took the plunge and switched from Windows 10 to Linux. I am SO HAPPY I did.

My Linux journey started when someone shared on Telegram that a man named Jeffrey Peterson was starting up a Linux channel on Telegram. The goal was to help people break free from from Microsoft and Apple tyranny. I have long despised the way Windows controls my computer so I was more than ready. I did not want to spend one penny more on their products so moving to a free, open source option sounded fantastic in multiple ways. I was one of the first few hundred people to join the channel that has swelled to tens of thousands. A chat group was also created (JP’s Technology Chat) as well as a forum. (Jeff is also a Christian with a wonderful story of faith.)

After observing the massive conversation threads going on in the chat group and learning about Linux simply by reading and watching various recommended videos, David and I decided to purchase an inexpensive HP laptop for taking our first steps into Linux. I did not want to tie up my main computer that I use daily and we knew there was a chance that it would take longer to get it done than we anticipated. That was a smart move. If we had had an older extra computer that would have worked just as well, but we always get rid of computers when we’re done with them. MANY people in the Telegram group have dragged old computers out of the back of the closet and made them like new with Linux.

I wrote about the first part of my journey in Highlights From My September Weekend. At that point, I was trying out Linux Mint Cinnamon and that is what I chose to keep. There are so many distros (distributions) to choose from. Some look more like Windows and others like Mac. There are distros that work well with older computers that need something very lightweight. Almost anything you could want, you can find. I chose Mint because from all I read it sounded like it made the switch from Windows to Linux very easy. It definitely does. I love it.

After I was sure I wanted to make the switch, we partitioned my main computer to be half Windows and half Linux while we set up the new Linux system. Because I have an internal server program (WAMP on Windows, LAMPP on Linux) for my 2,000+ unpublished archived blog posts, it took a bit more work to get things switched over to only Linux. Once that was taken care of, David removed the partition which removed Windows from my life hopefully FOREVER.

I love that everything on my computer is what I choose to put there. My computer is not filled with programs I don’t want and can’t delete. It’s not loaded up on junk that tracks me. I make of it what I want. It’s so much fun to find free Linux programs and add them to my computer. Two of my favorites so far are Calibre (e-book management) and Joplin (like Evernote). I’ll write more about those in separate posts.

For now, I just wanted to share that I made the complete jump to Linux. I hope to write more posts about this to encourage as many of you as possible to consider doing the same thing. If you use your computer basically for email and surfing, there is no reason why you can’t move to Linux. The only things we have found tricky in our situation is that David is heavily dependent on the Adobe Creative Suite for our business (graphic design and websites) and Caroline is heavily “dependent” on Roblox. Neither one will run on Linux which is really frustrating. For now, he will have to keep his Mac and she will stay in a Windows environment. If we could, we would switch both of them to Linux in a heartbeat. Otherwise, there is a Linux program for almost anything you are using in a Windows environment.

I strongly encourage you to break free from big tech tyranny as much as you can.

Follow-up post: Switching To Linux Mint From Windows – Mega Resource List

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Highlights From My September Weekend

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View Full Post with Embedded ContentHighlights From My September Weekend

This was a full and interesting mid-September weekend for our family. I plan on writing posts about most of these topics, but thought I would share some highlights in the meantime.

As I said to David, you just never know where life with me is going to take you! LOL!

First up was purchasing a very basic, inexpensive HP laptop in order to install and learn Linux. This is my next step toward ridding myself of Big Tech. I chose to start with Linux Mint for reasons I’ll explain in a post. David helped me and we used a YouTube video to follow. It’s not nearly as difficult as it sounds. One part is a bit tricky and that’s where he helped me. I’m loving the Telegram group I’m in about ditching Big Tech and moving to Linux. It is incredibly supportive. (I shared about it in Finding Better News and Information Sources.)

First picture is the installation. Success!

This is with my new desktop picture.

In my spare time, I’ll keep learning how to use the operating system. My goal is to completely ditch Windows and be free of them and the cost within the next month or two. Having a second laptop makes it possible for me to play with Linux as much as possible and not worry about messing up my main computer I use every day. If I successfully switch to Linux, this small investment will pay for itself many times over in the future.

Preview hint: If you have old computers and laptops around your home, you may want to hang on to them. With the growing computer chip shortage, you have something valuable. Many people in the group are taking older computers and installing Linux.

Second, David and Caroline built a ground feeder for the squirrels, chipmunks, birds, etc. I’ve mentioned in the forum that Caroline and I enjoy checking out a particular webcam in Akron, Ohio. David received a supply of drywall for redoing a wall of the garage. It came on a pallet. So he took apart the pallet and used the wood to make the feeder like the one on the webcam.

No cost except keeping it filled!

Third, I made white pine needle tea for the shikimic acid. Our family is unvaccinated and concerned about the shedding of spike proteins. Shikimic acid helps remove the spike proteins from your body.

A relative has a large supply of white pine needles and has used this successfully. The results in this person’s case were remarkable and overwhelming real. We were able to get the white pine needles from this relative via the mail.

Lastly, I pulled everything together for our homeschooling this year. We’ve started slowly. Really slowly. But this week should be when we are hopefully fully ramped up. I’ll write a post about what we are doing and the curriculum we are using. I had an epiphany a few weeks ago that made it clear how to proceed so I was very thankful the Lord made me realize the best way of going about this.

I realized I need to take careful notes during this four year process because I think at the end of the four years I will have a helpful guide or book to write. Our high school experience is going to be very different from the “norm” due to Caroline’s unique learning needs. If I don’t write it all down, I won’t remember half of what I’m thinking about by the time we get to June let alone three more years after that.

So that’s my weekend! What did you do this weekend? ♥

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5 Ways Old-Fashioned Blogging Is Better Than Social Media

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View Full Post with Embedded Content5 Ways Old-Fashioned Blogging Is Better Than Social Media

I realize a significant number of women who now use the internet were not around for the initial rise of blogging. It’s hard for a Generation X-aged writer to communicate to someone who has always been online how paradigm-shifting blogging was. But it was in many ways. It offered to average people an opportunity that had never existed before. It also created an entire new community model that isn’t available anywhere else unless you deliberately seek out old-fashioned blogs.

Blogging hit its zenith in the 2005-2011 timeframe. Once social media, especially Facebook, took off blogging was never the same again in terms of its influence and reach. But in the end, old-fashioned blogging is still superior to social media for many reasons. Here are a five.

Old-Fashioned Blogging Helps You Meet the Real Person

When you read someone’s blog, you get to know them in a way that you don’t on social media. While nothing can take the place of in-life relationships, following someone’s blog over the years allows you to see their children grow, follow their life experiences, learn about their particular gifts and abilities, and more. That doesn’t happen in the same way when you quickly scroll through short bits on social media.

Old-Fashioned Blogging Is Real

When blogging started, it was simply people sharing their thoughts and bits of their life via short little posts. It was mostly unpolished. Pictures were ordinary. It was real in the sense of real life, not in the contrived sense of being “real” in order to attract more social media numbers. Those who still do old-fashioned blogging continue to bring that realness to life.

Old-Fashioned Blogging Is Generous

This is one of the biggest differences and one that may only be readily apparent to those who were around for the start of blogging. Old-fashioned blogging is generous. It’s about blogrolls in your sidebar and helping readers find similar interesting people. (You can’t even get a blogroll widget now for a WordPress site.)

Blogging includes lots of link-sharing to other blogs. Rather than hoping to keep people on your website to increase your advertising analytics, you are happy to share links to other interesting posts and content.  It is about giving “hat tips” to thank others when you find something interesting to share with your readers. Contrast this with social media that is far more interested in what a person can get rather than share.

Old-Fashioned Blogging Is Slow

Although I think the entire “slow” thing has been overused, there is an element of truth to it when it comes to blogs. Blogs are meant to be enjoyed slowly. You don’t scroll through it in a few seconds and glance at it. You stop and read. Instead of hitting a like button or emoji, you write a comment with real sentences and original thoughts.

Because of this slow aspect to it, old-fashioned blogging builds communities. You get to know other women with similar blogs. You become acquainted with women who comment regularly. Blogging slowly connects people over weeks, months, and years.

Old-Fashioned Blogging Bypasses the Control of Social Media

Perhaps most importantly today, old-fashioned blogging allows bloggers to get around the necessity being heavily dependent on social media. Rather than focusing on getting algorithms to show their followers what they have written (or even paying to be seen in feeds), bloggers create their own community apart from the necessity of big tech overlords. Once that community is established, social media has no way of encroaching on it or breaking it up. Only the bloggers themselves can do that because they “own” the community they have built.

At one time, bloggers held the majority of the power. Many slowly gave it away to social media tyrants who now weaponize it against them. The old-fashioned bloggers still hold a great deal of power and continue to create small communities that bring value and joy to the lives of many people.

We need old-fashioned blogs today more than ever.

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