Tag Archives: Travel

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Hard Choices: Removing Site Content

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What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

A couple weeks ago I made the difficult decision to cease providing wiki pages and game art galleries for several mobile titles.

I was under a certain amount of duress after receiving multiple complaints and strong suggestions to make a change.

You may know, earlier this year my YouTube channel GameGirlsGallery was shutdown, most unfortunately. Complaints about the amount of sexually suggestive content present in mobile games, ranging from game art to dialog and plot lines, had built up over the years and ultimately killed the channel.

The reasons for the recent site content removal are the same as those that caused GameGirlsGallery to be removed.

The Top Girl / Apex Girl wiki hosted on fatwalletrefugee accounted for nearly 84% of all site traffic. The remainder of site traffic went to the mobile game art and character galleries.

Top Girl had been initially rated mature, but after being removed from the Apple Store and worries over possible removal from the Google Play Store they released several updates that brought the rating down to Teen.

Despite the artistic changes there was still a good amount of sexual suggestion and lewd imagery present. In fact, I think most regular people, if looking at most titles in the Google Play Store rated Teen, might think the games were for Mature audiences, and not be suitable for the age ranges the ratings board has decided on.

Even playing merge and puzzle games rated E for everyone, I still see ads for games rated Mature, AI dating chat bots, hookup apps, romantic story apps, and Harem anime games.

All this plus the mounting complaints and suggestions of actions taken led me to the hard decision to purge the site of all offending content. I deleted all of the posts, pages, wikis, and site media including images and videos that were likely to receive further complaint.

I was contacted by multiple subscribers afterwards asking where everything went and had to explain the difficulties I went through deciding to stop providing that type of content.

I had in fact been expecting to hit the 1 million page views mark by December this year, a new milestone stone for this site. Prior to the content removal, my average daily site traffic in early November was around 6k views. Sadly, now my average is closer to 450 views per day.

A bar graph displaying total weekly site traffic for my website.
Total Weekly Site Traffic

As you might imagine, my ad revenue has fallen off a cliff. While I had recently received my first payout from WordAds since signing up in March of 2024, I am likely not going to receive another payment for some considerable amount of time hereafter.

a bar chart indicating the ad revenues for the month of November. A steep decline in daily revenues is notable on the day after the site was purged of content.

The question as to how to recover from this loss also comes up. I still provide guides for family-friendly mobile games. I am in the process of detailing a guide for Fable Town at the moment. I am also expanding the written content for buildings and units in the Puzzles and Chaos wiki.

I used to get good traffic from Google and Reddit for my game guides, but once I began focusing on Apex Girl and Road to Rich, that traffic dropped and the algorithm sent those folks to other resources.

A splash page screen from the mobile game "Fable Town." Pictured are a pair of capybara sitting down in a hot spring while pink butterflies flit about them. The title of the game hangs just above their heads.
Fable Town: Merge

There is also the Travel and Food section of the site which hasn’t seen much writings since my last trip in 2019. That was originally what started my blog. A trip to New York City to see family prompted me to make kasanje.home.blog and years later I bought the fatwalletrefugee.com domain.

There are also side projects I started but never finished like the FatWallet Forums archives and the Lost Media directory.

Recently, I began redesigning the Travel page and restructuring the page hierarchy for that section. This also involves adding pagess for each US state I have visited and a separate section for my international trips.

My vacation to Washington last month inspired me to travel more locally here in North Carolina. I also was gifted a new camera. It’s an Olympus E-M10 II. There are two swappable lenses, one telephoto and a precision close up, and three batteries.

In the past month I have visited and photographed 6 towns and a state park. I am planning a trip to visit the Outer Banks next year.

Hopefully this move back to this site’s roots will boost site traffic and begin to shift the algorithm back home.

Travel

Brooklyn, NY

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While visiting my father and his partner in Brooklyn, I stayed at their apartment on Flatbush Avenue. This was in 2018.

It took me some time to adjust to the subway system, but once I felt comfortable, I began visiting local parks and taking lots of pictures.

My visit coincided with the arrival of my uncle from England. We had a good visit and got to see local venues including the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

The museum had two exhibit’s running, Black Freedom and Korean Art. We also visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The photos were taken with a Fujifilm Finepix HS 25 EXR.

Museum of Art – Black Freedom Exhibit

Museum of Art – Korean Exhibit

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Errant Literary

Surprise DIY Project

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Last week, while sweating buckets out under an especially enthusiastic Mr Sun, I asked myself why on earth I had “fixed” the deck stairs the way I did.

What should have been a simple stair replacement morphed into a full removal and replacement of the staircase on our back deck.

Perhaps I got tired of the work years ago and decided to call it “good enough” and pat myself on the back for struggling through. Any future problems could be handled by my future self.

So, here I am, Mr Future-self, and I am shaking a fist at my past-self for being such a putz.

After some confusion logging into my Lowe’s account, I managed to put together a full list of items I would need for the new stair project.

As I was about to place the order, my mother reminded me that we could charge it to our Home Depot card and also get some rewards if we shopped through MyPoints.

So, I emptied my cart and navigated to the Home Depot site and filled it anew in the shopping cart. The lumber was available right away, but the metal brackets would need to be shipped to the store.

I bought two 5-step stringers and two 2×6 boards, 12 feet in length. The help file on the site said they would cut the boards in-store to fit in the car.

The Pickup

The next day, we left the house at 2pm and drove to the Home Depot to pick up the wood. We also had a doctor’s appointment for our cat Mei Mei at 4pm.

We arrived at 2:40, pickup was quite quick, and an employee delivered the lumber to the cutting shop.

Several uncut wooden boards in the Home Depot cutting department. The boards are sitting on an orange cart.

I was told the employee who cut the wood was occupied moving lumber, but he would be available in 2 minutes.

40 minutes later and after multiple requests for assistance, I finally managed to get the wood cut. Unfortunately, my ride had left for the doctor’s appointment at 4pm.

several cut wooden boards measuring 2in x 6in x 3ft sitting on an orange cart in the Home Depot.

So, I sat on the floor near the entrance to wait for her to return. That’s also when I decided to write this post.

The store was busy, and the staff appeared physically exhausted, but at least the work got done.

The next steps of my project include staining the wood and pre-assembly. I still need the steel brackets, which should be shipped to the store next week.

The Assembly

I swung by the store to pick up my order a few days later and then went home and procrastinated the project for about a week.

Once I got myself together, I went out and stained the stringers one morning, and then over the course of several days, I managed to get the steps stained as well.

I decided it would be simpler to pre-assemble the deck near the basement door and then drag it up the hill to the deck. This sort of worked, but I ended up only attaching two of the five steps cause it was damn heavy.

It was an absolute struggle trying to do this without another person handy. The stairs just wouldn’t stay in place long enough to nail them in place. I had to get something to prop them up so that my hands were free to handle the hammer and hold the joistner in place.

Once I got the joists solidly attached to the deck, things got easier. I screwed the joist in place and then drove several nails through the eyelets, into the top of the stair stringers.

The hillside was sloped, so the stairs weren’t properly level, but I was able to use some shims to balance it out. I may need to drive some stakes into the ground and attach them to the staircase as additional support later on.

After I got the staircase lined up, I noticed that there was a gap on either side. Somehow, I missed that the old staircase was four feet across, and I had asked for 3-foot boards at the store.

The Last Step

The new stairs are 3-footers. Not a crazy change, but it does seem a bit off.

The next step was to add the remaining steps and then finish it off with an extra coat of wood stain. For the fifth step, I reused some of the older two-by-fours from the previous set of stairs. I forgot to stain these, though, so they only got a top coat and not an undercoat or the sides.

After I finished the project, my mother reminded me that we needed a railing. So that will be the next “last step.”

Travel

Delta Skymiles Blue

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Over the years, I have used my Delta Blue to fly to JFK in New York City a couple of times to visit family. I also had a wonderful flight to Guadaloupe for a Caribbean sailing trip.

Earlier this year, I gifted my accrued miles to my mother so she could fly to Lisbon, Portugal, to visit her guru, Mooji-baba.

I’ve had my Delta Blue since 2018.

Before that, I had a Delta Debit card from SunTrust. I didn’t stick around for the merger with Truist, so I retired my Debit and opted for the nicer Credit card.

Of all the credit cards I have signed up for, I think the Delta Blue is my favorite. A close second was the Capital One Walmart card that was recently discontinued. I had an 11k limit on the Wally card, much more than the 4k limit I have with my Delta card.

But I rarely charge more than 1k on my card in a month. I make it a point never to leave a balance on my cards month to month. I still rely on many of the tricks I learned on the old Fat Wallet Forums.

More recently, I have been using the Skymiles card as my default payment source on PayPal. When I pay for shipping labels on eBay, the charge to the card earns me some extra miles. I’ve stacked up 6,678 miles from the labels since I began Thrifting in July.

I am planning a trip to Seattle, WA, next year to see family members. I expect I will be booking that flight using miles alone if eBay sales continue at the current rate.

The point-earning categories are a bit limited with this card. I get 2x points when I buy anything from Delta, 2x points when I hit up Starbucks or go to Wendy’s, and 1 point on any other spending. So for every dollar I spend at Goodwill or the Treasure Hunt store, I get a mile.

There’s no annual fee since this is considered an entry-level Delta card. The downside with that is you don’t get any of the perks that come with the higher-end Gold or Platinum cards.

A consolation, perhaps, is that neither the Gold nor Platinum gets lounge access. That perk is only available for Reserve cardholders. But those poor souls are eating a $640 annual fee.

There is a signing bonus of 10k miles if you spend 1k in the first three months. That’s fairly standard with lowbie cards like this.

There are no foreign transaction fees, and you get a small discount on in-flight purchases. I got a pink vodka lemonade with lime on my last flight.

Anyways, getting to the point of this post, as you probably guessed, I have a referral link. Ha Ha, big surprise, right?

No Pressure…😈

Here’s my Amex referral link. Use it, and we could both earn rewards if you are approved and get a Card. Check out offers and Card benefits.

Errant Literary

Car Adventures (part 2)

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Car Adventures (part1)

Yesterday I went to the Raleigh-Durham airport to pick up my mother after her trip to Portugal. I was doing fairly well, I thought, right up until I accidentally exited off of the highway exit to Aviation Parkway.

What followed was a confusing mess. I found myself once again in Brier Creek. I had the presence of mind this time around to find a turnaround right away, rather than going off into the sticks out of town.

I got back on the road that led to the airport, and there was this red sports car ahead of me that seemed to be in a hurry I incorrectly assumed they were also heading to the airport, so I followed them.

Unfortunately, they were going to Durham.

Once more I exited off of Aviation Parkway and now I was heading to Durham. Luckily, I noticed a turn-off that was marked Raleigh. This spun me around quite a bit and I ended up in a section of orange cans and traffic cones as construction was underway all over the roadway.

I slowly followed the road signs while this old car behind me kept revving its engine. I thought that they were maybe impatient, but as we rolled up to a stop light I heard their engine stall and stop. The other car managed to start up again and the driver pulled off the roadway. It was a very old car.

Once the light went green I pulled away and left the old beater by the wayside. Following the cones I eventually found myself on a northbound route to Raleigh. Some way down the road there was another exit to Aviation Parkway, which I happily took. This was sort of good but by this point, I had already overshot the airport by a great distance, and I was now traveling south.

At this point, I knew I needed some help. I pulled over to the side of the road and checked my map. For today’s trip, I had the good sense to bring an old phone that had Google Maps on it. It doesn’t have a SIM card, but the GPS worked enough that it could pinpoint my position after a few minutes. It doesn’t work for real-time navigating but I could at least see where I was concerning the airport.

After I got my bearings, I found a street where I could do a U-turn and I got myself headed back north. I was close enough now to the airport that I could see the big black signage indicating the terminals. I had intended on using the Cell Phone Lot at RDU as a waiting area until my mother’s flight had landed. I got lost trying to follow the directions I had written down and I gave up and instead used the parking garage.

Most of the floors were listed as OPEN in green letters on the electronic board, but when I started climbing up the round tower thing, each entrance was blocked with signage saying it was full. I did manage to find a spot on the 4th floor, quite far from the elevators.

Once I had parked, I took some time to breathe and congratulate myself for surviving the trip. The trip back was much easier as I had my knowledgeable mother with me in the car and she knows these streets very well.

While I was at the airport I took some pictures of the planes and the facility.

Questions or comments, put them below. Thanks for reading!

Errant Literary

My First Car Adventure

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Yesterday, I drove my mother to the airport for her vacation trip to Portugal. I drove her car there and back, a round trip of 70 miles on the fast expressway. The journey there was relatively simple with my mother’s guidance. However, the return journey turned out to be a challenge.

Everyone was driving so fast (70 MPH), so I decided I would hang out in the rightmost lane and go a bit slower. Unfortunately, I realized too late that I was on a Right turn-only exit off of the highway much too early.

I ended up stuck in Briercreek, just outside of a subdivision, and lost inside a shopping area. It took me twenty minutes to finally figure out how to get back to the highway. Not only had I never been to that part of the state, but I also had a clamshell-styled feature phone that could not use apps. I had no map to base my decisions on or a robotic voice to guide me to the highway entrance.

It was a game of eliminations. I managed to drive all the way outside of the shopping area and out into the suburbs where I turned around and backtracked my route. I made several wrong turns until finally, I began to see intersections that looked vaguely familiar.

I’m not sure when it happened, but I realized that the exit from the expressway should also be close to the entrance back onto it. Once I understood that I was able to make my way back to the exit but from the other side of the road. Sure enough, I could see the big blue sign marking the entrance to the 540 highway.

After I got back on I had no qualms with “going fast,” and I kept to the center lane the rest of the way home. It took me two hours to get home instead of one.

When I get my car, later this year, I will get one with onboard navigation. I swear this will never happen again.

Car Adventures (part2)

Errant Literary

My Hometown is Pretty

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I had one of them fancy new AI things write this up. If I were to write this thing up myself, all I would have to say is that Port Townsend is the BEST. End of story.

Nestled at the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State lies the picturesque town of Port Townsend. With its rich history, stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts scene, and unique Victorian architecture, Port Townsend offers visitors a truly unforgettable experience. Let’s delve into what makes this charming town a must-visit destination.

A Historic Haven

Port Townsend’s history dates back to the mid-19th century when it was originally established as a seaport town. Its strategic location on the Puget Sound made it a hub for maritime trade, and remnants of its maritime heritage can still be seen today in its well-preserved Victorian-era buildings and historic waterfront.

One of the town’s most iconic landmarks is the Port Townsend Historic District, which boasts over 50 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stroll down the streets lined with ornate Victorian homes, browse the quaint shops housed in historic buildings, and immerse yourself in the town’s rich maritime history at the Northwest Maritime Center.

Sailing along the waterfront
Sunset mountains

Natural Splendor

Beyond its historic charm, Port Townsend is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. From the rugged coastline of the Olympic Peninsula to the lush forests of Olympic National Park, outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to explore.

Take a leisurely hike along one of the many scenic trails in the area, such as the Larry Scott Memorial Trail, which offers stunning views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Or, for a truly unique experience, head to Fort Worden State Park, where you can explore abandoned military bunkers and enjoy panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Art and Culture

Port Townsend has long been a haven for artists and creatives, and its vibrant arts scene reflects this heritage. The town is home to numerous art galleries, studios, and performance spaces, showcasing the work of local artisans and performers.

Victorian Style Homes

Be sure to visit the Port Townsend School of the Arts, where you can take workshops and classes in a variety of mediums, from painting and pottery to photography and fiber arts. And don’t miss the numerous festivals and events held throughout the year, including the Port Townsend Film Festival, the Wooden Boat Festival, and the Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Culinary Delights

No visit to Port Townsend would be complete without sampling the local culinary delights. The town boasts a thriving food scene, with an abundance of farm-to-table restaurants, cozy cafes, and artisanal bakeries.

Indulge in fresh seafood straight from the waters of the Puget Sound, savor artisanal cheeses and chocolates from local producers, and sip on craft beers and wines from the region’s many breweries and wineries. And be sure to check out the Port Townsend Farmers Market, held every Saturday from April to December, where you can sample the best of the region’s bounty.

Orca pod (killer whale)

Community Spirit

What truly sets Port Townsend apart is its strong sense of community. Despite its small size, the town is a vibrant and welcoming place, with a tight-knit community of residents who are passionate about preserving its heritage and fostering its cultural richness.

Whether you’re attending a local community event, volunteering with a local nonprofit organization, or simply striking up a conversation with a friendly local, you’ll quickly feel at home in Port Townsend.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Port Townsend, is a hidden gem of the Pacific Northwest, offering visitors a unique blend of history, natural beauty, arts, and culture. Whether you’re exploring its historic streets, hiking its scenic trails, or indulging in its culinary delights, you’re sure to fall in love with this charming town. So why not plan your visit today and discover all that Port Townsend has to offer?

Townsend in relation to the Olympics
Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

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My favorite place? It’s hard to choose just one. I’ve been to so many places.

Many a childhood Summer was spent with my father sailing. We would mostly go up through the San Juan Islands and into British Columbia. Although, once we went to Seattle and used the locks to enter the inner-bay.

We never made it as far as Alaska, not that we didn’t want to, we just lacked enough available time to make the journey.

Later in life, after finishing my tour at the Job Corps Center in Astoria, OR, I travelled again with my father, to visit my uncle in England. We stayed and visited with family for a time before shoving on to the next leg of our journey.

We flew down to the city of Toulouse in France and rode the trains, stopping off in small towns along the way. I got to visit castles which I was always fond of since a child.

WyrdLight.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After France, we took a bus into Spain and then another train as we made our way into to Barcelona. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the journey, culture shock, and the language barrier by this point.

My father and I decided to head back at this point. We travelled northward along the Mediterranean coastline and sampled those foods unique to the regions.

photos by Stephan Audiger of Hotels.com

Eventually we got back into France where we rented a car and returned to visiting yet more castles. I still have my commemorative coins from the sites we visited; there were little coin-operated vending machines supplying the collectibles.

I think my favorite place was Villandry. It has these elaborate decorative gardens, and Japanese koi swimming in the waterways around the grounds.

The last site we visited was Mont Saint-Michel. We took a bus from the port town and spent the day there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many tourists in any one spot as at Mont Saint-Michel. The parking lot was packed with buses and the causeway up the hill was full of people.

photos by Robert Lio

I lost all of my photos from the trip quite sadly. I had uploaded them to an early cloud-storage site which traded hands a few times before going out of business. They were asking for outrageous sums of money to download my own photo catalog before the server shutdown.

We took the ferry from Saint Malo back to Portsmouth where we were met by my uncle. I stayed there for a few days and then flew back to the states. My father returned to his trip. He went down to Portugal and found himself a crew position on a catamaran making the return journey across the Atlantic and back to the US.

Many more trips would occur in the years to follow. But, I’ll save those for another day.