The Weekly Write-Up #31
Warfare, Bosses, Security Systems, and More!
The Weekly Write-Up has a NEW LOGO! I created a new one to better represent what I’m writing about in my newsletter and because it is more original and aesthetically pleasing. From now on, I will be using the new logo, which can be found on my website. Also, since yesterday was Mother’s Day, I gave my editor (my mom) the day off from editing my newsletter, hence why this one is a little late. Lots of great stuff to talk about, so let’s get going!
In this newsletter…
This is one of my new favorite book series!
Is this tech YouTube channel the boss of them?
Is Ring security secure and worth it?
3 really fun activities I enjoyed this weekend!
Literary Picks
THE CODEBEARERS SERIES
A series that could be added to my favorite series of all time? Yep, you heard that right! The Codebearers Seriesby Christopher and Allan Miller is a great adventure series that I would recommend to most people! I talked about this book series a while back, but I incorrectly called it Hunter Brown while the real name of the series is The Codebearers Series. I started this series about two months ago in the middle of March and just finished it last weekend.
The Codebearers Series is about a teenage boy, Hunter Brown. After discovering a peculiar book, he gets transported to the world of Solandria. In Solandria, he discovers that life in the Veil (normal life on Earth) is not as it seems, and there is an Author who is over everything and writes the story. Hunter learns new truths about the Author and joins forces with The Codebearers to fight against the evil Sceleris and his followers. As the series goes on, Hunter must face many challenges, both mental and physical, in his pursuit of the truth and special mission to help the Author and Aviad (the Author’s son) save everyone from Sceleris’ rule!
As you can see by my long summary, I really enjoyed this series! This is easily one of my new favorite series, and one that I highly recommend. My main reason for this is that this series is very captivating. Like most excellent series, the book kept me on the edge of my seat and hungry for more. The end of the series was slightly predictable, but I still thought that the ending was good! Part of the reason the plot was good was the intense action scenes and everything surrounding those. Finally, the Miller Brothers craft outstanding characters that you will grow to love/hate as you read the series. I will note that this series is a little dark in parts since there are multiple deaths, evil spirits, horrific creatures, etc. It is written from a Christian worldview, though, so it deals with these themes and elements in an appropriate manner. Overall, I think that 11-16 is the ideal age range for these books.
Like I already mentioned, the Miller brothers write this series from a Christian worldview, and the whole series is an allegory to the Gospel found in the Bible. Nonetheless, I think a non-Christian could enjoy this series because you can totally read it without inserting the Gospel. Still, Christians are probably the target audience in this Christian fantasy book. Those who enjoy a captivating plot, intense action, and amazing characters will love The Codebearers Series! You can purchase the first book here.
Watchlist Wonders
MRWHOSETHEBOSS
Yes, yes, I know. I’ve already talked about two tech YouTube channels (Daily Tekk and MKBHD) in previous newsletters. Now I’m talking about a third one? Well, yes, but what else do you expect from someone who loves technology? I have to get all of my knowledge of technology from somewhere. So, with that, another tech YouTube channel!
Mrwhosetheboss (watch this video to find out why it is called that), run by Arun Maini, is a fun tech YouTube channel that I watch more for enjoyment than education on technology. Allow me to explain. Arun certainly does do tech reviews and comparisons (and good ones at that). He discusses the smartphone (for example), its capabilities, compares it with other phones, etc. So, his tech reviews are excellent, and I have watched multiple, but I really enjoy his fun videos. Arun does mystery unboxing (of extremely rare and expensive phones), tech fails, crazy inventions, and tons of fun YouTube shorts. The shorts usually focus on concepts like weird products, tech pranks, stupid social media challenges, drop tests, and short tech reviews. I really enjoy watching his videos, not only to learn about tech, but also just for fun.
I definitely recommend this YouTube channel even if you aren’t a big tech fan. Arun’s tech reviews and comparisons are also great if you are needing to compare phones before purchasing one. Be sure to check out the Mrwhosetheboss channel and subscribe if you enjoy the kind of content Arun is putting out! (He is trying to beat the Apple YouTube channel in subscriber count, and he is getting pretty close). So, is Arun the boss of all YouTube tech reviews? Maybe...watch some of his videos and decide for yourself.
Tech Thoughts
RING SECURITY SYSTEM
A few weeks ago, I had a subscriber reach out to me asking about Ring security system and whether she should purchase one for her house. I know a lot about technology (especially when regarding Apple products), but Ring and security systems in general is something I haven’t branched out into. So, I did my research and this is what I came away with…
What are some pros and cons of the Ring security system? One of the biggest pros is the wide variety of products they sell. They have outdoor cameras, indoor cameras, doorbells, alarms, car cameras, lighting, and multiple accessories to add onto the products. You can also set these products up yourself, without paying a professional to do so. Of course, you can hire a professional if you want to avoid doing it yourself, but you don’t have to. I think the coolest part of a Ring security system is that you can view the live camera feed, move the camera (with certain models), receive security alerts and notifications (which can be snoozed if you want), and do basically everything else from your mobile device. This is very useful for when you are on the go and need to check your security feed and make sure everything at your house is going well. It can also integrate with your smart home (Apple HomeKit, Google Home, etc). Ring isn’t perfect though, and there are some cons to owning a Ring security system. Some people have reported having their security system hacked and people being able to access their security cameras since the data sent to the app is not always encrypted, but I’m not sure about the validity of these statements. Another problem is if they go offline, you have to manually reboot them to resolve the problem. A final con is that while they do have many security products, they don’t offer other home “security” equipment like water leak detectors, glass break detection, etc. Some other companies like Wyze or Kangaroo have these pieces of equipment. Overall, there aren’t many cons to a Ring security system, and most of them are minor.
Let’s talk pricing… Ring is actually on the cheaper side when it comes to pricing. While their equipment can be a little expensive, it is still cheaper or equal with many other security products (not to mention that you don’t have to spend any money to install since you can do it yourself). As for the monthly subscription cost, Ring is cheaper than many other security companies (depending on the plan), including ADT, SimpliSafe, and Vivint. Though it is cheaper, you still get the same quality from Ring products as you would from other products. So, it appears that Ring is a great option for the price. Would I recommend Ring security system? Not having used it personally, I can’t really say for sure. Judging from the reviews, it is a pretty solid security system that will keep you and your family safe. You can go to Ring’s website to learn more. If you are looking for a security system, I would check out Ring (obviously because I’m writing this), Wyze, and SimpliSafe. I hope that this helps if you are looking for a security system and/or are considering Ring security!
Wild Card
FUN ACTIVITIES, VOL. 3
This weekend, I got to enjoy some time doing three fun indoor activities that I really enjoyed. Those activities were candle-making, duckpin bowling, and writing!
Candle-Making: Candle-making is something I thought I would enjoy doing, but not as much as I did enjoy it. I had never made a candle until this weekend, so I didn’t know what to expect. It is a lot of fun, though, to create your own candle. You get to choose whatever scent(s) you want, and once it is done, it will make whatever area you set it in smell exactly how you want it to. The process of creating it is fun, and the result is really cool! I recommend Penn & Beech Candle Co. if you intend to do this activity.
Duckpin Bowling: I’ve shared how fun bowling is in a previous newsletter, but duckpin bowling is also really fun. I had never been duckpin bowling until this weekend, but I found it is something I really enjoy! Duckpin bowling is basically regular bowling but with three main changes: 1) The ball is significantly smaller, 2) You get three chances to knock all the pins down rather than 2 as in regular bowling, and 3) The lane is a bit different (usually thinner and not as smooth). Overall, duckpin bowling is really fun and more fair since the ball is smaller (easier for younger kids) and the lane is different (which messes everyone up)! I recommend Atomic Bowl Duckpin in downtown Indianapolis.
Writing: This might seem obvious coming from me, a writer, but it is true that writing can be really fun! You might argue that you aren’t good at writing, but we all have to start somewhere! You could write a book, a newsletter, journal entry (I recommend DayOne for digital journaling), or anything else you can think of. If you do write something or start a newsletter, I would love to read it (you can email it to theweeklywriteup1@gmail.com).
I hope you can enjoy some of these fun activities, whether it is by yourself or with family and friends! Also, it is finally warm here in Indiana, so outdoor activities are coming in the near future! Meanwhile, check out Fun Activities Vol. 1 or Fun Activities Vol. 2 if you haven’t already.
Thank you guys so much for reading! It means a lot to me! If you enjoyed or learned something from this post, please give it a like! Also, if you could share this newsletter with friends and family (you can use the button below), I would really appreciate it! It helps me grow my newsletter and reach a larger audience.
You will have to tell me about Wyze.
Wyze is best. Facts.