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    <id>https://ajmichels.com/feed.xml</id>
    <title type="html">AJ Michels Blog Feed</title>
    <link href="https://ajmichels.com/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" />
    <link href="https://ajmichels.com" rel="alternate" type="text/html" />
    <updated>2026-04-22T23:37:27-05:00</updated>
    <subtitle>Software Architect based in the Twin Cities, writing about software development, woodworking, and whatever else comes to mind.</subtitle>
    <author>
        <name>AJ Michels</name>
    </author>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/08/21/building-moneta-notes/</id>
        <title type="html">Building Moneta Notes</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/08/21/building-moneta-notes/" />
        <published>2026-08-21T00:53:06-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-08-21T00:53:06-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="software" />
        <category term="project" />
        <category term="macos" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Why I built an open-source MCP and CLI system for fast, structured recall over my Obsidian vault — the backstory, the spec-first process, the tech underneath, and what's next.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/05/04/childhood-goodbyes/</id>
        <title type="html">Childhood Goodbyes</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/05/04/childhood-goodbyes/" />
        <published>2026-05-04T22:45:27-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-05-04T22:45:27-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="reflections" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I was recently driving in the car with my son talking with him about how he spent four hours the other day playing with a bunch of kids at the park. It seems a bit odd to say, but I can’t express how happy it made me to hear about this experience he had. For a number of reasons my son has struggled with long lasting interpersonal relationships and with the addition of modern technology like tablets, Roblox, and YouTube – he doesn’t really have much interest in actually physically spending tim...]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/22/ai-t-shirt-slop/</id>
        <title type="html">AI T-Shirt Slop</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/22/ai-t-shirt-slop/" />
        <published>2026-04-22T17:11:08-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-28T23:05:31-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I was scrolling YouTube and saw this AI Generated T-Shirt in one of the static ads they have.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/22/lofi-girl-synthwave/</id>
        <title type="html">Lofi Girl Synthwave</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/22/lofi-girl-synthwave/" />
        <published>2026-04-22T16:06:51-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-28T23:08:58-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="music" />
        <category term="productivity" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I came across this YouTube channel at some point and the type of music is right in my wheelhouse, particularly for when I am working or doing activities that require concentration. This person had playlists and streams on a number of platforms.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/17/ai-beginnings/</id>
        <title type="html">AI Beginnings</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/17/ai-beginnings/" />
        <published>2026-04-17T20:36:10-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-05-04T22:44:43-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="software" />
        <category term="productivity" />
        <category term="reflections" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[My first real hands-on experience with generative AI coding assistants — what led me there, what I have used it for, and what I think about it now.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/16/cors-explained/</id>
        <title type="html">CORS Explained</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/16/cors-explained/" />
        <published>2026-04-16T21:15:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-28T23:09:15-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Sharing a video about CORS from LearnThatStack.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/13/fast-dmv/</id>
        <title type="html">Fast DMV Visit. What?!</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2026/04/13/fast-dmv/" />
        <published>2026-04-13T16:44:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-05-04T22:45:10-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="reflections" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I just had the fastest experience at the DMV I have ever had in my life. I needed to renew my enhanced driver’s license, something that apparently has to be done every four years. Not ideal. Before I went, I filled out their “pre-application” online which gathered a bunch of information I would have otherwise provided at the desk, and in return I received a confirmation code. When I got to the DMV, it had moved to a new building I hadn’t been to before. I went straight to one of the digital k...]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2024/11/20/markup-conversion/</id>
        <title type="html">Markup Conversion</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2024/11/20/markup-conversion/" />
        <published>2024-11-20T08:40:00-06:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:14-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="software" />
        <category term="tips" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I have been using an Obsidian plugin for NeoVim for note taking, particularly at work. Today I ran into a situation where I wanted to copy some of my notes and paste them into a meeting invite. Since my notes are in Markdown I was either going to have to open them in the actual Obsidian app and figure out how to copy them as rich text from there or find a different solution.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2024/07/11/git-resources/</id>
        <title type="html">Git Resources</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2024/07/11/git-resources/" />
        <published>2024-07-11T19:31:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2024-07-12T00:12:45-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="software" />
        <category term="tips" />
        <category term="git" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I am going to be giving a presentation on Git at work in a few weeks, so I have been looking over my old notes and resources for Git. Over the years I have collected links to a number of articles, videos, and other things that I have found useful. I figured I might as well share those here so I can easily refer other people to them.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2021/11/16/3d-printer-table/</id>
        <title type="html">3D Printer Table</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2021/11/16/3d-printer-table/" />
        <published>2021-11-16T21:56:00-06:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:42-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Here is a high-top table I built this summer to put in the closet of my office for my 3D printers. I am really happy with the way the finish turned out. I used Danish Oil on the entire thing and then a couple coats of paste wax on the top for extra protection.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2021/11/16/desk/</id>
        <title type="html">Office Desk</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2021/11/16/desk/" />
        <published>2021-11-16T21:50:00-06:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:43-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I built myself a desk for my home office.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2020/07/01/bookshelf/</id>
        <title type="html">Bookshelf</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2020/07/01/bookshelf/" />
        <published>2020-07-01T22:03:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:41-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I wanted to make a peice that would last the test of time and that my son could carry with him through life.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2019/12/20/rise-of-skywalker/</id>
        <title type="html">Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2019/12/20/rise-of-skywalker/" />
        <published>2019-12-20T23:30:00-06:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-17T00:43:28-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="reviews" />
        <category term="movies" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Went to see Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker tonight with my father. Overall I have to say that I enjoyed it. It was much better than the preceding movie, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In this latest installment we were exposed to a number of spectacular new settings. In particular the setting of the destroyed Death Star on Endor was awe inspiring. For me it brought a whole new perspective to the scale of the Death Star. To top it off the duel we get between Rey and Kylo Ren is easily the best fight ...]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2018/06/23/cornhole-set/</id>
        <title type="html">Cornhole Set</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2018/06/23/cornhole-set/" />
        <published>2018-06-23T17:05:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:40-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Congratulations to our neighbors Jill and Will who just got married today. I made this Cornhole set for their wedding.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2017/08/31/ottomans/</id>
        <title type="html">Ottomans</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2017/08/31/ottomans/" />
        <published>2017-08-31T00:00:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:34-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[This project was made for our daycare provider and personal friend who is retiring from her daycare business to pursue a different career. She provided us with the pallet wood and some inspiration.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/24/phpunit-float-mistake/</id>
        <title type="html">PHPUnit Float Mistake</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/24/phpunit-float-mistake/" />
        <published>2017-05-24T08:37:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2024-07-09T21:06:57-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="tips" />
        <category term="php" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I ran into a frustrating situation while I was writing a unit test for some new code that I was working on. The issue ended up being something simple but it wasn't immediately obvious.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/05/git-workflow-at-wolfnet/</id>
        <title type="html">Git Workflow at WolfNet</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/05/git-workflow-at-wolfnet/" />
        <published>2017-05-05T08:09:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:21-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="productivity" />
        <category term="git" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[A few years ago I started writing about how we used Git at WolfNet I figured I might as well post the content since I spent the time writing it.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/04/continuous-testing/</id>
        <title type="html">Continuous Testing with PHPUnit</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/04/continuous-testing/" />
        <published>2017-05-04T21:36:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2024-07-09T21:06:57-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="php" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[Lately I have been doing a lot of Test Driven Development and there are a few tricks that have helped me to be more efficient with my work.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/03/git/</id>
        <title type="html">Git Passion</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2017/05/03/git/" />
        <published>2017-05-03T21:28:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-17T00:43:28-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="development" />
        <category term="software" />
        <category term="tips" />
        <category term="git" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[I have been working with Git for almost exactly 5 years now, which feels crazy to say. Time really flies.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
    <entry>
        <id>https://ajmichels.com/2016/09/27/wall-mirrors/</id>
        <title type="html">Wall Mirrors</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://ajmichels.com/2016/09/27/wall-mirrors/" />
        <published>2016-09-27T20:06:00-05:00</published>
        <updated>2026-04-23T22:39:39-05:00</updated>
        <author>
            <name>AJ Michels</name>
        </author>
        <category term="woodworking" />
        <category term="project" />
        <summary type="text">
            <![CDATA[This is another project from Tiffany’s crafty mind. I think she got the inspiration from shanty-2-chic.com. She procured all of the materials including a new Kreg Pocket Hole jig. She even cut all of the boards to length by herself on the miter saw. I did the assembly, sanding, and mounting, while she cut the wood and put the finish on. The three mirrors cost $74.26 to make not including tools and fasteners most of which we already had.]]>
        </summary>
    </entry>
    
</feed>

