Author Archives: Joe

Reclaiming My Creative Life With Vintage Macs: The Home Stretch

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Joe

Over Memorial Day weekend I tried installing Linux Mint XFCE on the 2012 Mac Mini, paired with a new OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual — a dual-bay external enclosure that holds two 3.5″ drives.

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RIP Joe Brown

Posted on May 31, 2026 by Joe

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Italian Market staple Joe Brown Tartaglia. Shopping on 9th Street will not be the same.

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Truck Mascots: Hoist the Jolly Roger

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Joe

This truck mascot was spotted on Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia. I call this urban phenomenon “Truck Mascots”: the practice of truck drivers attaching decorative figures to the grills of their rigs. These mascots are usually discarded toys or cheap … Continue reading →

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Back in the Saddle

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Joe

…or at least trying to get there.

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It Wasn’t the Worst Little Sketchbook

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Joe

I wasn’t crazy about this discounted discount sketchbook when I first got it, but now that it’s gone, I realize it wasn’t that bad after all!

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Back to the Drawing Board

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Joe

I’m going back to the real world drawing board which is a nice change being that I have been so ensconced with the digital world of late. Breaking out the graphite and the ink has been a welcome change from … Continue reading →

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The Snow is Snowing…

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Joe

The Blizzard of 2026 has started and it’s coating Philadelphia with snow. It’s pretty right now. I’m not sure it’s going to be so pretty in the morning.

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It Never Ends!

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Joe

Two Mac minis dating from 2012 are pictured above. The one on the left has an Intel i5 processor and it was running happily with an installation of Linux Mint. The machine on the right is a new acquisition. It … Continue reading →

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Caturday

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Joe

Photos of Felines in and around Philadelphia Continue reading →

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