Jordan's Blog

Author: Jordan Atkins

  • Happy New year

    This is what you see after not shooting a pronghorn

    Happy new year…hope you have a great night and pleasant morning.

    This what you drink when you have kids and are almost 40.

  • Just a little deadlift

    Proof that I am getting back into the swing of things.

    Deadlifting 1×405

    Program is the Heavy-Light-Medium (HLM) Andy Baker version for people over 40.

  • Space Force

    It took about a year and a half since President Trump announced the sixth branch of the armed services to be the Space Force, but as of yesterday the Space Force is here.

    Four months ago saw the recreation of the 11th combatant command, the US Space Command, headed by Gen John “Jay” Raymond.

    This is an exciting time for space operations. Once people get over what the uniforms and badges will look like, it should be a good opportunity for working in space.

  • BJJ Belts and pants

    If you need help tying your belt and tightening your pants, go listen to Rener.

  • Privacy: Step 2

    If you really want to hide your digital footprint online, check out this short ebook from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI).

    If you really, really, want to enhance your digital security, buy this book from security expert Michael Bazzell.

    In the near term, some simple steps you can take:

    • Use a password manager (to make it easier to use strong passwords), such as Lastpass.
    • Add a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to your home devices. I use ProtonVPN.
    • Backup your files with a syncing service such as Backblaze, Crashplan, Amazon Glacier, etc.
    • Consider encrypting local folders/directories.
    • Use multiple email addresses based on activity (purchases, social media, personal, work, etc.).

    These are simple steps you can take that aren’t too overly paranoid or complicated.

  • Instant pot bread

    Crusty Instant Pot Sourdough Bread

    Super Easy Instant Pot Yogurt

    I truly appreciate the two instant pots we have in our kitchen.  A month ago I made instant pot “sourdough” bread with wheat bread and yogurt with just milk and yogurt.  The wheat bread tasted slightly gummy and it was enjoyable with the soup we had for dinner, however I’ve found that large quantities of wheat make me incredibly sleepy, so today I made a batch with King Arthur gluten free flour.

    Here’s a month ago:

    Here’s today in the pot…mead on the floor.

    IMG_20191116_080449481

    Go make some fermented foods ya’self.

  • Privacy: Step 1

    I have been using Protonmail (infrequently) for a few years in the event the S&P 500 goes to 0, bullet cartridges become the world, and cans of spam become the new hotness. Essentially it is end-to-end encrypted email with a moderate amount of file storage. This means that neither Protonmail nor other unintended receipts cannot read your messages. Protonmail does not maintain a list of user passwords. As an added security feature/inconvenience, after logging in to the service, you have to unlock your mailbox.

    I won’t and can’t go into a full description of the service, but if nothing else, Protonmail doesn’t parse my email to suggest sentence completions. Additionally, Google will parse your email for travel dates, appointments, and purchase history.

    The company also has a VPN service to further hide your online tracks. Future initiatives include a ProtonDrive and Calendar.

  • Jiu jitsu

    I’ve started training/playing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!  I took the plunge on 5 July and have been going 3-6 times per week since then, excluding when I am out of town.  My primary class has been 0515 MWF, which really serves as a better wake-up than coffee.  Recently I earned my second stripe on my white belt, and am starting to slow down, breathe and plan my moves during rolls.

    Here’s a few thoughts of what I’ve learned so far:

    1. Plan your next move.  Most of the time I still react rather than have a series of moves planned out, but I am making progress on this.
    2. Maneuver.  A strong, frontal assault will likely fail.  I am one of the strongest in the class, but this strength is often my weakness as other more experienced students spin around me, crank my neck, and/or lock my ankle.
    3. Breathe.  It is easy to tire yourself out when holding your breath.
    4. Engage multiple attacks.  Four points of control are more secure than one.
    5. Momentum.  Using your opponent’s energy, velocity vector, or attack for your own purposes is better than trying to fight them directly.

    All of the above five points can apply to life in general, arguments with a spouse, or work negotiations.  I know I will keep learning and continue to be grateful to my training partners for their knowledge.  BJJ is a fascinating sport in which your partner guides you through how to choke them best.

  • Whiskers

    For those of you that use Xubuntu, apparently the “start button” (Thank you, Windows 95…” is called the Whisker menu. Somehow I lost mine and couldn’t figure how to get it back.

    The answer.

  • Unshakeable

    I just finished reading Tony Robbins’ book Unshakeable and found it to be useful, but not for its intended purpose. Much of the monetary advice given is very philosophical or strategic, without tactical steps to implement. I have a hardcover of Money: Master the Game, so I will have to read this to get a better feel if Mr. Robbins has more actionable advice. I found JL Collins and William Bernstein to have better tactical advice with regard to investing…unless you want to leave your financial planning up to Creative Planning.

    The final chapter did have checklists which focused more on being grateful and having a positive, beautiful outlook on life and how this is more crucial than financial wealth. I’m still going to save and invest, but some of these passages remind me to think of other people and their struggles when I get upset.

    Each day we are blessed to get up in the morning and get after it.