The Digest 06/04/25

Writing

Even more beautiful software, for which I have absolutely no use. There's some wonderful "local first" software out there. Anytype is a privacy-conscious Notion or Craft. Well worth a look.

Anytype

Anytype is beautifully marketed. For someone like me, suddenly concerned about data privacy, cross-platform, and worried about “Big Tech”, it hits all the notes. “For those who celebrate trust and autonomy.” It’s a nerd war cry!

Writer, interrupted.Stuart Lennon

And of course, stationery. This week, a sharpener from Blackwing.

The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

They’d hate me for saying it, but Blackwing and Moleskine sell nostalgia. Their products are echoes of stationery past. Both brands hark back to windswept and interesting people who used their tools.

Writer, interrupted.Stuart Lennon

Shopping

Last week, I wrote, "Looking to avoid Amazon has massively reduced my ability to fritter." Then, I came across Tuxedo. My wallet is less pleased, now. In a couple of weeks, I should be writing this digest on a Linux machine. What could possibly go wrong?

Surfing

De-googling involved me setting up Proton drive as my repository for photographs. That's fine, but the photos sit in a disorganised mass. Proton Drive is a cloud service, not best-suited to organising snapshots. Naturally, I took to the internet and, through the excellent Privacy Guide site, found Ente, which at first glance looks just the ticket.

The Trump show continues, this week dominated by the launch of trade tariffs. That's aid removed from the poorest countries, and now trade too. I wonder what that will do to migration?

Keep Calm and Carry On.