jamesritzman.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Lots going on lately... still working on the web project, plus one of my own. Talking to some recruiters, but no interviews yet. Doctor follow-up appointment went well, but I need to be more active during the day (I work standing at my desk, which is better than sitting, but still sedentary).

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

I've been doing a good deal of work on a web project that I can't talk about (NDA). It has been (mostly) fun, but it is speculative (no pay). I've got so many other projects to do, and I need some paying work soon. Getting antsy... and a bit worried.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Not wrong. I just wish there was an alternative we could choose. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dify...

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

Mundane daily update: yesterday I Photoshopped a number of pics from a shoot last weekend, I set up a Facebook page for a photography project and paid to boost the first post (though I hate giving Meta any money), and worked on a couple web projects.

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social is honestly of no value to America. Bad speaker. Uninspiring. Just watch his interview with Jon Stewart (if you can). Even 70-something-year-old Trump has more energy than Hakeem. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaGV...

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

One way to stop supporting Google, given that it has decided that maybe "evil" isn't so bad after all, is to make something other than Google your default search engine. It is pretty easy to do in Chrome (see screenshot). www.cnbc.com/2025/02/04/g...

submitted 26 days ago • 1 comment

What was that about "don't be evil?" I guess that was thrown out the window a while back, and now this: www.cnbc.com/2025/02/04/g... #alphabet #google #sundarpichai

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

I know I do my fair share of complaining about Donald and MAGAs, but perhaps I (and you) would do better to spend that time planning how to get revenge instead. People that stupid, selfish, and short-sighted deserve to suffer in retaliation for the suffering they are causing.

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

submitted 30 days ago • 12 comments

Taking care of financial stuff today, then an oil change, then prepping for a shoot tomorrow. Hopefully at least one of the models actually shows up...

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday's meeting with a web designer about a new project idea actually went really well... but now for the details. I also started scheduling amateur models for a shoot on Saturday. Hopefully the snow waits until Sunday. Attended an estate planning seminar today. Educational.

submitted 32 days ago • 0 comments

OpenAI scrapes (steals) the internet to create an AI model, doesn't actually make the model open source (as their name implies), and then changes from a non-profit to a for-profit company. Chinese company scrapes (steals) OpenAI's code, uses it to make a better AI, and then gives it away for free.

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

Did a photoshoot a couple days ago with Kat Keen - it was great to work with her again! Been organizing my photo catalog in Lightroom. Might join the MTLK Terrace Chamber of Commerce. Have a meeting tomorrow for a potential web dev project. #seattlephotographer #fashionphotographer #katkeen

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

In other news, Sundar Pichai licks Trump's ass crack. #sundarpichai #bootlicker #coward #gulfofmexico www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/g...

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

American corporations: Capitalism is a superior economic model because it creates more value. China: So, what if we create the same value as you do, but we give it away for free? What happens to your corporations then? America: ...Can we get back to you on that? #deepseek #capitalism

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

The past couple days I have been organizing legal documents from photo shoots, such as release forms and photo IDs. Very tedious. Today I watched a video on lighting for product photography. Then I did some Photoshop work and made a few prints.

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

If the (multi) billionaires have all the money, why aren't they paying all the taxes? Because they need more billions to start companies where they can underpay workers so as to make more billions? That's not what they do will their billions.

submitted 39 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday I watched a course on Next.js at LinkedIn Learning, but it wasn't the greatest so I want to try another course. Today I attended a small business event and made a couple contacts. Also updated ritzmanartsllc.com and ritzmanweb.com

submitted 40 days ago • 0 comments

Recent doings: helped my dad set up a new tv; had a Zoom video call with my mom and my brother's family; (finally) started on some video editing; been watching a lot of chess; planning on learning some back-end development in hopes that tech hiring might pick up :\

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Daily progress: Finalized putting a photography proposal/estimate together and sent to possible client. Had dinner out with a friend. Replaced battery in APC unit. Video interview with a tech recruiter. Cataloging of video and photo files.

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

Truths www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxn-...

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

I prepared a document, um, documenting some issues with a sort-of client's website, and proposing solutions, so that the sort-of client can forward it to their web people. I also started on the photo services proposal that I met with someone about yesterday. Worried I may need a PT job soon.

submitted 48 days ago • 0 comments

Had a meeting with a potential client today. Seems promising, but I need to put a proposal together. I also submitted a couple pictures to SEAF that are a bit more "artsy" than my usual style. I also started putting a document together for the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce to help with a web issue.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday I did some test photography of some jewelry with my new "light cones" and it went fairly well. I also found my light meter, which had gone missing. Today I bought a case to store it and some other pieces of gear, so that I'll always know where it is. Progress...

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

Reflecting... I used to be energetic, confident, and mentally positive/resilient. Now I often feel like I just don't care (about pretty much anything), have little confidence in my skills as a photographer or web developer, and I feel discouraged, jaded, and cynical (about pretty much anything). :|

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

Today: email communications with potential clients and a model. Bought a gift for my dad. Bought some accessories for my stuff. Checked PO Box. Might try some more photography with my light cones before heading to a friend's place.

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Today's (yesterday's) progress: I have been updating my photo biz site with sample images, and formatting for mobile. Printed a large photo/poster. The printer seems to be ok (so far), after an incident with a sheet of labels. Don't print Avery labels on a $1000+ printer. ritzmanartsllc.com

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Some more truth... economics this time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqi9...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

I love this series www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk7W...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

I can't believe I forgot that Epic Rap Battles is the best thing on the internet. I literally had to pause this one because I was laughing so hard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=abKA...

submitted 54 days ago • 0 comments

So far today: I woke up in time to attend the chamber of commerce breakfast and possibly made a contact to do some photography work. While there, I donated soup to their food bank, and donated a framed print to their raffle. Talked to a scam artist (recruiter). Did some Photoshopping.

submitted 54 days ago • 0 comments

I'm going to try posting here more often, as a way to document mini-achievements so that I have a record to look back on. I'm sure I'll have plenty of failures as well (mini and otherwise) but let's see how it goes.

submitted 54 days ago • 1 comment

Happy New Year! I'm hoping my 2025 will be better than my 2024, but that's not a high bar to cross :/ With my photography biz going not as well as I hoped, I'm thinking of returning to tech, as hard as that is. Might have to get a random PT job in the meantime.

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

I have always had pretty traditional and drama-free Thanksgivings, so to me that is the norm. If that's NOT you, I'm sorry that your holidays aren't more enjoyable. It can suck to have "just another day" while it feels like everyone else is celebrating.

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

On a positive note, I had a nice Thanksgiving. A nice meal with family. I feel luck to have a traditional celebration drama-free. On the down side, I had another shoot planned but the models both canceled the day of. I can't even give my photography away for free.

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

I have tried starting to advertise on Facebook, but they rejected one of my ads, and they don't give specifics because it is an automated process. How am I supposed to "fix" my ad if I don't know what's wrong? Maybe I should try advertising here instead... Time to make some accounts for my brands.

submitted 106 days ago • 0 comments

Hello, Bluesky (or is it BlueSky?). I'm curious to see if this platform continues to expand beyond the bump it is seeing post-election.

submitted 108 days ago • 0 comments