Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Build a link blog like Simon Willison

xuanwo.io

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–56 of 56 posts

Re: Build a link blog like Simon Willison

#51

Post by zoogeny »

I've recently been wondering if a video is even better than a blog.

We're at the point now where I can reasonably keep large numbers of video/text recorded from OBS in S3, run my own speech-to-text, I can cram it all into a SQLite DB, wrap it in a web front-end and then serve it all from cloudfront or wherever.

There is obviously benefit in organizing thoughts using essays as a tool, but if you just want a record of your quick thoughts I almost think screen-capture + webcam + spoken word might be a decent option. Literally use OBS to record your 1-hour (or 4 hours) per day HN habit and keep it for prosperity.

Re: Build a link blog like Simon Willison

#53

Post by notarobot123 »

simonw wrote: post #9

I love how this post is an exact implementation of my advice on link blogging (add some personal commentary, quote liberally) - applied to my article about link blogging. Very meta. https://simonwillison.net/2024/Dec/22/link-blog/

Twitter was micro-blogging and this style is a reflection on a reflection. Meta-blogging is perhaps exactly what this style is.

Like reaction videos, this is a great way to repackage original material for a wider audience. The cynic in me bristles at the "value capture" here but the optimistic view is that this approach could genuinely breath new life into the "blogosphere".

Re: Build a link blog like Simon Willison

#54

Post by wink »

eamag wrote: post #7

Why not combine links in one monthly post similar to https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/links-for-january-2025 I personally prefer this format ( https://eamag.me/2025/Links-For-January-2025 ) and you can post single links on social media instead no?

Just depends how many links. I did this for a couple years at https://f5n.org/stack/ and weekly sometimes felt like too many links already.

Re: Build a link blog like Simon Willison

#55

Post by bthallplz »

zoogeny wrote: post #51

I've recently been wondering if a video is even better than a blog. We're at the point now where I can reasonably keep large numbers of video/text recorded from OBS in S3, run my own speech-to-text, I can cram it all into a SQLite DB, wrap it in a web front-end and then serve it all from cloudfront or wherever. There is obviously benefit in organizing thoughts using essays as a tool, but if you just want a record of…

Somewhat similarly, I've started recording myself talking about various things and then using a speech to text program to transcribe it for me. It just helps me get my thoughts out a bit more fluidly than if I waited for when I can write them down (which then carries with it a temptation to edit as I record).

I'll later on clean up the thoughts, though, not just serve them unedited in some way unless it was a really clean take on a topic - trying to be respectful of the audience's time.

I do think you're onto something, though, with the idea about using screen recordings as a means of capturing your reactions and thoughts regarding some matter that can be shown visually. I think I'll be doing that soon, but with some editing to the video.

Re: Build a link blog like Simon Willison

#56

Post by zoogeny »

bthallplz wrote: post #55
zoogeny wrote: post #51

I've recently been wondering if a video is even better than a blog. We're at the point now where I can reasonably keep large numbers of video/text recorded from OBS in S3, run my own speech-to-text, I can cram it all into a SQLite DB, wrap it in a web front-end and then serve it all from cloudfront or wherever. There is obviously benefit in organizing thoughts using essays as a tool, but if you just want a record of…

Somewhat similarly, I've started recording myself talking about various things and then using a speech to text program to transcribe it for me. It just helps me get my thoughts out a bit more fluidly than if I waited for when I can write them down (which then carries with it a temptation to edit as I record). I'll later on clean up the thoughts, though, not just serve them unedited in some way unless it was a really…

One thing I was considering in relation to this thought is that many people have written books using stenographers or secretaries. Many other books are edited compilations of lectures or speeches.

That is the kind of thing I would normally consider for a CEO or President because the idea of having a secretary whose entire job is to write out your notes is a luxury most can't afford.

We are literally at a point in time where we could dictate to a LLM and then get it to turn it into a book for us (if we so desired). It may not be perfect today, but it won't take long at the pace we are improving.

Post reply on HN