Bristle Software Mailing Lists

I mail out occasional short tips about Mac, Windows, Unix/Linux, Internet, etc. A separate mailing list for each. Also computer programming tips for Agile, Python, JavaScript, Java, XML, Ajax, SQL, NoSQL, Android, etc., each to its own list.

Plus a few business-oriented lists like Career Tips, Job Wanted, Consultants, Finance, Coronavirus, etc. And some social lists, like Jokes, Ping Pong, Golf, etc.

All lists are:

Private: I'm the only sender
Invitation-only: I know all my subscribers. Send me email to join.
Spam-free: I never reveal your address
Low volume: Less than 1 message/day to all lists combined
Useful: See the archives: http://bristle.com

On a typical day, I mail a tip to one list. Otherwise, I may send a joke to the Jokes list. Or an invite to one of the social lists (lunch, golf, ping pong, etc.)

Each tip is a stand-alone bite-sized nugget. One screen or less. Delete if the subject or 1st sentence doesn't grab you. Otherwise learn something useful in 30 seconds. Don't let them pile up.

Computer user lists:

Internet user tips
My least focused, but most popular list. Concise tips about using Google, YouTube, Drobox, etc. Also, general tech trends, news about Google, Amazon, etc. etc., with a short bullet summary and a link to more detail.
Everyone should be on this list!
AI user tips
Generative AI, ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, MetaAI, Grok, etc.
Hallucinations, Injection/Exploits, Alignment, Transparency, Fine-Tuning, AutoGPT, Neural Net, Weighted Graph, RLHF, Crowdsourcing, Prompt Engineering, CoT, Glorified auto-complete, NOT aware of a 2-party conversation, Transformer, RAG, Agents, Evolving Viruses, Grandmother exploit, TaskRabbit, etc.
Integration w/email, word processors, spreadsheets, meeting software, etc.
Everyone should be on this list too!
Cloud Computing user tips
Mac user tips
Unix/Linux user tips
X Windows user tips
Windows user tips
Computer Security user tips

Business/career/finance/news lists:

Consultants
Work wanted, worker wanted, advice to consultants (buying your own benefits, negotiating contracts, etc.), questions for consultants, etc. Full-time and part-time gigs advertised.
Job Wanted
People who are actively seeking a new job. Only on the list until they find something. I occasionally forward job ads that come my way. Also advice on job hunting, networking, etc. A short list of very focused people, so I may violate my policy and send more than one message per day.
Career
General career advice. How to stay employed, how to find a new job, how to retire at age 40, etc. Good tips to forward to friends, kids, etc. Or have them subscribe directly.
Finance news/tips
Tax tips, financial planning, retirement planning, "live cheap and retire early", etc. Volume may be higher. Why wait to send a short, sweet, valuable nugget that saves you money? I'm not a CPA or a CFP, so check with your experts.
Coronavirus news/tips
News and tips about the 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. No gloom and doom. Just useful, practical tips.

Computer programmer lists:

Agile software development tips
Python programmer tips
JavaScript programmer tips
Java programmer tips
Philly area Java programmers
Groovy/Grails programmer tips
XML programmer tips
SQL programmer tips
NoSQL programmer tips
Android programmer tips
Perl programmer tips
C++ programmer tips
MS VB programmer tips
MS ASP programmer tips

Other lists:

Jokes
Family-friendly, non-offensive, G-rated.
Other jokes
May not be G-rated.
Golf
Occasional golf outings
Ping pong
Occasional ping pong outings at my house in Malvern PA or at the local club in Coatesville PA
Lunch
Occasional lunch outings near Malvern PA
Local friends of Fred
Things I'd only send to local friends. Referrals of local businesses of friends, shore houses for rent by family members, etc.
Remote friends of Fred
I send to both this list and the local friends list for things that are not local to the Philly area that I want to share with all my friends.
Penn grads
Carroll grads
Dell owners
Voting tips
Tips about voting (registering, absentee ballots, etc.) Plus some political analysis/commentary. Mostly liberal. I don't like to get my news second-hand. Don't want to be swayed by potentially right- or left-leaning news sources. I don't echo them. Mostly things I've observed directly.
Political rallies
Alerts about upcoming political rallies. Black Lives Matter, Women's March, March for Science, etc. Various liberal/progressive causes that Trump doesn't support.

This is a big part of how I keep in touch with folks and give back to the community. In nearly 30 years, I've rarely had an unsubscribe request. But I do honor any such requests immediately.

Lists are invitation-only. No automated sign-up page. Click here to send mail asking to be added. Tell me which lists and what email address.

Some of my most popular tips: