You Need a Portfolio (and So Do I)
Somewhere along the way to becoming Extremely Online, we’ve lost the art of curation. It’s time to reclaim our artistic truths.
Expressively publishing on the open web since 1996.
Entranced by Portland, Oregon since 2017.
Hello and Welcome!
I’m Jared, an award-winning essayist, Rubyist, and podcaster who’s been commenting on and building for the web since Mosaic was a thing. (Yup, it’s true! 😆)
In my spare time I travel around Portland 🌲 and the Pacific Northwest and shoot cinematic-yet-quirky vlogs. 📹 📺 In addition, I compose and produce 80s-flavored retro electronica. 🎹 🎶
This is my home base on the internet. I hope you enjoy browsing around! 📍
P.S. What am I doing now? That’s what the Now Page is for! ⏱
P.P.S. What’s my favorite (fill-in-the-blank)? Find out in About Me. 😃
Things I Do
It would seem I’m always but one step away from reaching for an endeavor to occupy my time with at any given moment. Besides what’s obviously available on this website…from Bridgetown, a Ruby-powered site generator, to Yarred, my musical alter-ego, there’s something for…well…somebody.
Newest Posts
The Recumbent Bicycle: Reasons to Buy
“ While traditional bicycles have been the staple for decades, there’s a fascinating alternative that’s been gaining traction in recent years – the recumbent bicycle. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or someone looking to embark on a new biking adventure, recumbent bicycles offer an exciting departure from the ordinary. But why switch?
One of the aspects of the “new age” of #micromobility I’m so excited about is the experimentation around form factors. Yes, of course we’ve been seeing many fascinating variations on e-scooters & e-bikes come out in recent years, but even the tried-and-true category of 100% human-powered vehicles has witnessed a recent surge of design variety and innovation.
Watching what people ride here in #Portland has been nothing short of fascinating. And if you get the chance to head out to some of the bike-oriented get-togethers in town, you’ll see some pret-tay, pret-tay, pret-tay intriguing vechicles. I just love it. ☺️
The Underestimation of a Gentle Spirit (Movie Review of Perfect Days)
The strength of character needed to perform the best work you can, to care deeply about the welfare of others, to admire the beauty of Mother Earth, and to stay in tune with your hidden self—finding that is true nobility.
They Forgot It’s “Bicycle for the Mind”—not “Jet Airplane”
It’s impossible to know what Steve Jobs would think of where computing has brought us today. But I know what I think. And I believe we should remember something crucial he once taught us about the ultimate purpose of technology.
Stay in the Loop
Look, I get it. You already subscribe to too many newsletters. So much to keep up with. But guess what? I only send out a newsletter once a week. And if you‘re feeling curious, peruse the Creator Class archive. You might find something that resonates with you! It’s a great way to stay current with what I’m publishing, and newsletter recipients always get some extra insight just for them. So what are you waiting for? Let’s roll!
Podcast
A weekly show where we discuss the business, the art, the ethics of content creation on the open web. Hosted by Jared White.
Good Vibes, Fediverse Rising
Why has the mood changed so suddenly on Threads? How has Meta dropped the ball at this pivotal moment for the nascent social network? Meanwhile, other social networks and the Fediverse as a whole are kicking some serious ass. It’s a real shift in a short amount of time from just earlier in the summer, and I’m here to talk all about it…and how much I just love Mastodon 4.3 + Tangerine UI 2.0.
Photos
That is one cool cat hanging out at Ankeny Square in #Portland. (And ironically, he’s red hot! 🔥) #OregonExplored
I’m always trying to take pictures of the glorious hanging baskets of #flowers we have here in #Portland and surrounding towns all summer. But the photos never do them justice.
I finally got a good angle, thanks to my #NikonZfc and 40mm prime, and went with a bit of a Wes Anderson vibe in post. How’d I do? ☺️ #OregonExplored
If this is hell, I don’t wanna go to heaven.
Happy Labor Day weekend y’all! 🥳
Videos
Midsummer Adventures at Mt. Hood
You can rarely go wrong visiting the tallest mountain in Oregon and a true jewel of the Cascades: Mt. Hood. This time, I visited in August 2023, taking the ski lifts up the slope from Timberline Lodge and then hiking back down while enjoying the epic views. Then I dropped by Trillium Lake for the first time. Wow! This location was definitely worth the hype. Gotta go back…
Lan Su Chinese Garden for Father's Day WOW!
For Father's Day, the kids "treated" me to a wonderful excursion to Lan Su Chinese Garden, a treasure of downtown Portland which exhibits one of the most authentic gardens outside of China itself. Enjoy the magnificent sights!
Ice Cream, War Movies, Monochromatism, and Reclaiming My Identity
This year I want to make a bold statement with what I do and how I live—only this time not as a desperate attempt to appease a deity, but as a way of expressing the core values that make me Me.
The Three Vital Landmarks Along the Road to Success
There was a time not long ago when my life was in a major upheaval. Signs of online success were slim to none. I wasn’t sure if anyone out there would really care if I were suddenly Thanos-snapped out of existence. Yet the valuable lesson I came to learn during that dreadful time was how to become intrinsically motivated, the significance of value creation, and the trick of cultivating T-shaped skills.
The Web is the Opposite of Dead
It's taken a global pandemic for many of us to realize something profound about the web. It isn't just a technology which helps the world go around. Today, on a certain level, is IS the world.
What It’s Like to Live in Portlandia
This may sound like the craziest thing you’ve ever heard, but I watched a TV show called Portlandia and then I moved to Portland. No joke.
Parents: You're Not Going to Break Your Kids
When we have difficulties helping our children learn new skills or cope with the tumult of everyday life, it's tempting to want to blame ourselves. But we can choose to see the learning opportunity inherent in every emotional moment.
Making the Mental Breakthrough that Depression is Rooted in Fear, Not Sadness
If you think as I did a couple years ago, you probably assume that people who struggle with depression must be sad a lot and just need to be cheered up or adopt a more positive attitude. Well, as I came to discover, that notion is dead wrong.
The Writing Legacy of Medieval Celts
Presenting two brilliant examples of the classic wit, spiritual depth, and surprisingly fresh language found in millennia-old Celtic verse
The Absurdity of Fatherhood
When you become a dad, it's much harder to stay stuck on self. Your kids won't let you.