Welcome to 30 Elm

Everywhere I look, I see posts about scams, layoffs, or the state of the job market. Those are important, but today I want to share something different: my motivation to keep going each morning. For me, it starts with waking up to clean blue skies in a town that looks like a Norman Rockwell painting…

My brother sent me a batch of electronic parts, and in that box sat this contraption. Take two seconds, look at the image, then close your eyes and answer: When I first got it, I laughed. Instead of spending hours online digging through forums, I snapped this picture and dropped them into ChatGPT. W…

AI workforce transformation is not a distant trend, it’s happening right now. When Roman Yampolskiy recently warned that AI could cause up to 99% unemployment by 2030, many dismissed it as alarmist. Yet Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “godfather of AI,” has spoken of “massive unemployment” as well…

This morning LinkedIn told me I would be a top applicant for a Fitness Coach role. I had to laugh. After twenty years in IT, my idea of exercise usually means crawling under my desk to hook up a new keyboard. That may count as stretching, but it does not qualify me to lead a… Read More &…

Today I got an unexpected boost, a care package during my job search. It came from my brother, who knows how much time I spend looking for the right role. Some days it’s 8–10 hours of searching postings, talking with recruiters, and trying to get noticed. He’s even connected me with his own contacts…

Are you sending emails and no one is receiving them? Do your messages keep ending up in the spam folder? You’re not alone, this is one of the most frustrating issues for both businesses and individuals. At one point in my career, I managed the domains and email servers for more than 300 top hotels&h…

So, what did you do for your Labor Day weekend break project? Me, I had to take a break from job hunting. There are only so many times you can check the boxes for white, male, non-veteran, no disability before it starts eating at you. Even the search algorithm got tired of me, it started…&nbs…

Part of my daily job hunt routine is sitting down at my computer, heading to LinkedIn, setting my filters, and working through the listings. With the instant apply option, you’re allowed 50 a day, so I knock those out first before moving on to other applications. I don’t apply to everything, just th…

On July 1, 2025, astronomers spotted a new interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS, making it only the third confirmed interstellar visitor to enter our solar system. Following in the footsteps of 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), 3I/ATLAS is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing discoveri…

Well, I hit that point where I’m being hit with a new type of spam. Yesterday I got two, and this morning I just got another one. Here’s how it works: Someone replies to one of your posts with something like: “There is currently an open IT Manager position available at [a well-known large company],&…

Every day I sit down at my computer to search for jobs, and every day I run into the same thought: Why hasn’t the hiring process evolved? Back in the old days, companies posted jobs in newspapers or local job boards. Applicants mailed resumes, crossed their fingers, and hoped the phone would ring. F…

My home NOC setup is where coding, testing, and real-world operations meet. On the left is my desk; on the right is my wife’s. The tablet, laptop, and center server are federated so I can use them as one workstation, and detach the tablet or laptop in seconds when I need to be mobile. Under…&…

Ever feel like applying for jobs is a full-time job itself? Welcome to the job seeker’s nightmare. You polish your resume, hit “apply” hundreds of times, and what do you get? Crickets. Unless you count the friendly scammer who insists you’ve just been hired as a “remote package quality inspector” fo…

In 2025, cybersecurity is more critical than ever. Yet surprisingly, the biggest security mistakes companies make in 2025 are often the same ones that have plagued IT for years. These oversights continue to put businesses at risk of costly breaches and downtime. Let’s break down the top three mistak…

My new brakes were delayed and now won’t arrive until 8/21. That’s fine, I can limp by for now. But it got me thinking about brake maintenance and IT department comparison—and how alike they really are. Just like car brakes, IT departments are often ignored until something goes wrong. The only other…

I’m back to being active on LinkedIn. Sadly, I tend to spend more time here when I’m looking for a job. The process is familiar—update the resume, polish the profile, connect with recruiters, and fill out job applications. I wish I could hang out here year-round, but work usually keeps me too busy. …

Since my job ended, I’ve committed fully to my job search journey 2025. I updated my email server, revamped my resume, and refreshed my LinkedIn profile. I started sending my resume to recruiters and set up web crawlers to track down new opportunities. The social side of job hunting is just as impor…

AI Tools for Streamers & a Much-Needed Chill Night After a long day of work, gas stops, and food shopping, I’m finally settled back at my desk and ready to explore some exciting AI tools for streamers. The weather outside is cold, rainy, and just generally nasty, but I’m happy to be inside where…

Spring Snow and Streaming Setup Adjustments Today was full of surprises—including snow in late March! It’s a mix of cold, rain, and yes—even snowflakes. While nothing stuck to the ground, it’s safe to say we’re all beyond ready for some consistent warm weather. On top of that, I’ve been making a few…

Twins’ Birthday, Murder Drones & Stream Setup Upgrades This weekend was packed with celebration, productivity, and a bit of chaos. First, we celebrated the twins’ birthday with ice cream cake and a casual family watch party featuring Murder Drones. Not everyone in the house had seen the show yet…

Label Printer Setup – More Printer Chaos Begins! One receipt printer is working, so why stop there? Tonight, I’m starting the label printer setup and adding another fun challenge to the mix. The biggest issue? Finding the power cord. Unlike standard cables, this printer requires a priority one power…

A Fun Weekend: St. Patrick’s Day, House Projects & The Electric State Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Hopefully, everyone is celebrating and having a great time. Friday night, we finally watched The Electric State. Despite mixed reviews, I really enjoyed the visuals and the atmosphere of the world. It …

A Sleepless Night and a Rough Morning Wednesday morning at 4 AM, I got a rude awakening—a work alert on my phone. After checking, I realized it didn’t involve me, but by then, I was wide awake. I tried to get back to sleep, but at 5 AM, Stacie woke me up again, thinking I… Read More &raq…

Making Grounded Progress While Battling the Weather The weather has been insane. Today, we hit a high of 50°F, but it’s about to drop back down to 11°F overnight. I just wish it would make up its mind already! Most of the snow has melted, leaving behind a muddy mess. But our back porch is…&nb…

First Day Back After the Time Change & Quitting Smoking Progress The first day back at work after the time change felt a bit strange. Waking up to darkness was rough, but at least it was still light outside after work. On a more important note—tomorrow marks three weeks of quitting smoking at wo…

Back and Ready for Another Grounded Game Night! After taking a break over the weekend, we’re jumping back into Grounded tonight for another Grounded game night on stream! We made a lot of progress last time, and we’re excited to pick up where we left off. Friday and Saturday were spent working on ho…

Grounded Night on Stream – Family Gaming Time! We had a blast playing Grounded last night, so we’re doing it again tonight! This time, I’ll be playing with my kids for a full Grounded night on stream. Since we’re focusing on gameplay, I’ll be pausing stream updates for the night. However, StreamerBo…

Stream Fixes and Hoping for a Smoother Night Tonight, I’ll be working on stream fixes to make everything run even smoother. After going back and watching some of last night’s YouTube stream, I noticed a few issues that need to be addressed before going live again. One of the biggest problems was tha…

Stream Changes and a Fresh Start After taking a few days off, I’m excited to get back into things with some big stream changes. Lately, I’ve been feeling exhausted, so I took a step back to rest and recharge. Stacie thinks I’ve been doing too much, and honestly, she’s probably right. For the past fe…

Sasha’s Vet Visit and a Long Day on the Road Talk about a long day of driving—I spent nearly four hours behind the wheel today. I left work at noon, came home, and picked up Stacie and Sasha before heading out to Sasha’s vet visit. Once we got there, they weighed her, checked her temperature,&hellip…

Quitting Smoking Progress and Small Wins It’s Monday, which means back to work, but I’m feeling a little proud of myself. Despite a setback with smoking over the weekend, I managed to not smoke at all while at work today. Right now, my plan is to take a few puffs in the morning, then wait…&nb…

Exciting StreamerBot Upgrades and a Productive Sunday Today has been all about StreamerBot upgrades and making our stream setup even better. The morning started with a relaxing session of YouTube while curling up with the pup pups. A great way to ease into the day. Then, I saw that a new version of …

Quitting Smoking: A Tough Road Ahead Quitting smoking has been a real struggle for me. After work yesterday, I got gas, had my glasses fixed, and went food shopping. By the time I got home, I felt shaky, dizzy, and like I was going to vomit. I’ve been smoking since before I could drive and…&n…

Day 2 of Streaming Server Migration: Progress and Challenges We’re now on day two of using a dedicated streaming computer, and while there are definitely some growing pains, I think it’s going to be a big improvement once everything is fully set up. Off-stream, we tested out the projector, and it’s …

Streaming Server Migration: Fixing Our OBS Crash Issues Our streaming server migration is officially underway! When I got home today, I saw that OBS had crashed again, which made last night even more frustrating since it had already crashed three times. That was the final straw—we needed to move eve…

Delayed Amazon Order and Life Up North Thanks to the weather, our Amazon order is delayed by a day—or at least, that’s what they’re saying for now. Hopefully, it’s just one day, but living up north, you never really know. If you’re used to next-day Amazon shipping, that’s not how it works up here. T…

Snowstorm Aftermath: Digging Out and Dealing with Drifts The snowstorm aftermath has been brutal. Our driveway had to be plowed twice on Sunday, and even today, we’re still having trouble getting in and out. The snow hit harder than expected, and with wind-driven drifts piling up, it’s making travel…

Snow Incoming: How Much Will We Get? The snow is incoming, and while forecasts are all over the place, we know one thing for sure—it’s going to hit. We decided to stock up on dog food and snacks before the worst of it arrives. Now that the snow is just starting, I can’t help but… Read Mo…

Valentine’s Day is here, and so is the snow. What better way to spend the weekend than staying inside with someone you love? The timing couldn’t be better—it’s starting on a Friday, setting the tone for a cozy and relaxed weekend. Since work kept me busy all week, I didn’t have much time for Valenti…

How are you greeted when you get home? For me, it’s by three wonderful pups, each excited in their own way. No matter how long or stressful the day has been, their enthusiasm always makes it better. This week was a rough one. I had to be at work by 4 AM on Wednesday, which… Read More &ra…

Woot! Hot Pockets for dinner tonight! After a long weekend of deep cleaning, we’re finally back to streaming. It feels good to settle back into the routine, even if we’re still a little worn out. I need to clean up my streaming desk and take care of a few other odd jobs. Not sure exactly…&nbs…

Why wasn’t there a stream this weekend? Simple. We took the time for some much-needed deep cleaning. It’s something we try to do 3-4 times a year, and honestly, we were overdue. Keeping up with regular cleaning is one thing, but sometimes, you have to go all in and reset everything. This wasn’t just…

Late-Night Stream After Food Shopping We’re on late tonight because we had to do some food shopping. It always amazes me how these trips have evolved over the years. I used to take the kids with me, picking out groceries while teaching them about prices, budgeting, and making smart choices. Back the…

Wind Advisory and Snowstorm Aftermath I made it to work before the snow hit, but the ride home was a mess. We still got hit hard during the day, making for a slow and careful drive home. Now, we’re under a wind advisory, and you can hear the gusts howling outside. The wind is so… Read Mo…

Blizzard Incoming: Another Brutal North Country Night Just another cold and brutal winter night in the North Country. But tomorrow morning, from what I’m hearing, we’re in for a blizzard. That should make the ride to work fun—nothing like navigating whiteout conditions first thing in the morning! Fo…

Snowstorm Shut Down Our Stream Last night’s snowstorm made streaming a challenge. We had brownouts, and one was so bad that it rebooted our computers. That was our sign to call it a night. Instead of fighting the storm, we spent the rest of the evening giving the pup pups some much-needed attention.…

Icy Roads Are Making Travel Dangerous The icy roads have been brutal today! First, the temperature climbed above freezing, bringing rain and sleet. Now, it’s snowing and dropping to 19°F, which means all that slush is freezing solid. The roads are a mess, but at least up here, people know how to dri…

Another Brutal Night: Frozen Pipes and a Chilly House Last night, the temperature dropped to -15°F, which made for a very cold morning. The first floor sat at 56°F, and the kitchen cold water line froze—not exactly the start I was hoping for. The first order of business was getting the house warmed …

The Cold Returns: Back to -11°F Our short-lived heat wave is over—it’s dropping back down to -11°F tonight. After hitting a warm 27°F yesterday, this is a brutal reminder that winter isn’t done with us yet. Thankfully, we stayed inside today, so it wasn’t too much of a concern. Small Projects and St…

Friday is Here and It’s Time for Stream Upgrades! Friday is finally here! Good thing I was up until 3 a.m. working on OBS and Streamer.bot last night. I managed to finish the startup and ending screens, which feels like a big win. Next on my list are the Be Right Back screen (I’ve got… R…