The Desk — Edition 68
Welcome to the 68th issue of the Desk. The Desk is my weekly newsletter covering newly published content and project updates.
Welcome to the 68th issue of The Desk — my weekly roundup of newly published content, project updates, and recommendations. Whether you're following along for tutorials, blog posts, GitHub projects, or curated reads, there’s something for everyone building or exploring in tech, content, and open-source spaces.
New Tutorials
This week’s tutorial content focused on practical, actionable guides to help developers and digital creators level up:
Learn Travel Blogging
Start and grow your travel blog with this complete step-by-step guide. Learn how to choose a niche, set up your blog, write posts, grow traffic, and earn income. Built for beginners and aspiring travel creators.
Brandon Himpfen
25 Mistakes Travel Bloggers Make for Social Media Campaigns
In this article, we will explore 25 mistakes that travel bloggers should avoid in order to maximize their impact and success on social media platforms.
Brandon Himpfen
New Blog Posts
This week’s posts content focused on solo travelers:
Going to a Resort Alone: How to Enjoy an All-Inclusive Solo
Discover how to enjoy an all-inclusive resort solo with tips on finding the best solo-friendly resorts, traveler and expert recommendations, and 10 practical tips to make the most of your solo getaway.
Brandon Himpfen
How to Get Through an Airport by Yourself with Ease
Navigate the airport solo with ease! Discover smart packing tips, what to do when you arrive, and how to breeze through security for a stress-free, confident travel experience.
Brandon Himpfen
Stay tuned as I continue publishing more posts each week across Bold Outlook, Solo Traveler, Brandon on Crypto, Travel Bloggers Network and Digital Nomads.
New GitHub Repos
I launched new GitHub repositories as part of ongoing open-source initiatives:
GitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome-oceanography: A curated list of awesome resources, tools, data, and organizations for the study and exploration of the ocean.
A curated list of awesome resources, tools, data, and organizations for the study and exploration of the ocean. - awesomelistsio/awesome-oceanography
awesomelistsioGitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome-test-automation: A curated list of awesome frameworks, tools, libraries, and resources for automating software testing.
A curated list of awesome frameworks, tools, libraries, and resources for automating software testing. - awesomelistsio/awesome-test-automation
awesomelistsioGitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome-oceanography: A curated list of awesome resources, tools, data, and organizations for the study and exploration of the ocean.
A curated list of awesome resources, tools, data, and organizations for the study and exploration of the ocean. - awesomelistsio/awesome-oceanography
awesomelistsio
GitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome-kubernetes: A curated list of awesome tools, resources, and projects for Kubernetes.
A curated list of awesome tools, resources, and projects for Kubernetes. - awesomelistsio/awesome-kubernetes
awesomelistsioGitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome-qa: A curated list of awesome Quality Assurance (QA) tools, frameworks, communities, and resources.
A curated list of awesome Quality Assurance (QA) tools, frameworks, communities, and resources. - awesomelistsio/awesome-qa
awesomelistsioThese are all part of my broader GitHub ecosystem (e.g., BrandonTravel, BrandonLearn, AwesomeListsIO). Contributions welcome!
Updated GitHub Repos
Here are notable updates to existing GitHub repositories:
GitHub - awesomelistsio/awesome: A collection of awesome lists that are about a variety of different topics.
A collection of awesome lists that are about a variety of different topics. - awesomelistsio/awesome
awesomelistsioGitHub - brandontravel/awesome: A collection of awesome travel-related lists.
A collection of awesome travel-related lists. Contribute to brandontravel/awesome development by creating an account on GitHub.
brandontravelI’m constantly improving my GitHub repositories to make them more useful for both contributors and end users.
New Web Pages
New pages went live this week across my network of websites:
Cryptocurrency
Embark on a journey through the vibrant world of cryptocurrencies with my Resource Page, a treasure trove of information perfect for newcomers and aficionados seeking to navigate the forefront of digital finance, from Bitcoin’s birth to the newest market movements.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Topics
Explore key cryptocurrency topics, from blockchain fundamentals and mining to wallets, exchanges, and DeFi. Whether you’re new to crypto or an experienced investor, this guide offers essential insights and resources to help you navigate the digital finance world with confidence.
Brandon Himpfen
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Laws
Explore the essential cryptocurrency regulations and laws that govern digital currencies globally. Learn about tax obligations, AML/KYC requirements, ICO securities laws, and upcoming regulatory changes. Stay informed and compliant as you navigate the evolving crypto landscape.
Brandon Himpfen
Learn SEO
Learn SEO from the ground up with this complete guide. Covering everything from keyword research to technical SEO, it’s perfect for beginners and those looking to sharpen their skills. Clear, actionable, and always up to date.
Brandon Himpfen
Learn Social Media
Learn how to use social media like a pro. This complete guide covers platforms, posting types, algorithms, and basic marketing tips to help you grow your online presence and engage your audience effectively.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 0: Quick Start Travel Blogging Guide
Launch your travel blog today with this quick-start checklist. Choose a niche, set up your site, write your first post, and start building momentum — no tech skills required.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 1: What Is a Travel Blog (and Why Start One?)
What is a travel blog, and why start one? This chapter breaks down the purpose, types, and real benefits of travel blogging — from storytelling and inspiration to building skills and earning income.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 2: Choosing a Niche and Blog Name
Stand out with the right niche and blog name. Learn how to choose a travel blogging focus that attracts readers and a memorable name that reflects your identity and goals.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Travel Blog
Get your travel blog online step by step. Learn how to register your domain, choose a host, install WordPress, pick a theme, and set up your site for success — even if you’ve never built a website before.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 4: Writing Engaging Travel Blog Posts
Learn how to write great travel blog posts that are personal, helpful, and search-friendly. Follow a proven structure, explore post formats, and get tips for making your content stand out.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 5: Visual Content – Photography, Video & Design
Use photos, video, and smart design to enhance your travel blog. Learn how to take better pictures, create simple videos, optimize images for SEO, and design a visually engaging blog that readers remember.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 6: Travel Blogging & SEO Basics
Learn SEO basics for travel bloggers: how to use keywords, structure your posts, and make your content easier to find on Google — without losing your personal voice.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 7: Promoting Your Travel Blog & Growing an Audience
Learn how to promote your travel blog and grow a loyal audience using social media, email, SEO, and community building. Discover traffic strategies that help your content get seen and shared.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 8: How to Make Money with a Travel Blog
Explore how to make money with a travel blog through affiliate links, ads, sponsored posts, freelance work, and digital products. This chapter breaks down real income strategies that work — even for beginners.
Brandon Himpfen
Chapter 9: Planning, Consistency & Blog Management
Stay consistent and organized with your travel blog. Learn how to create a content calendar, batch work, manage your blog efficiently, and avoid burnout — even while traveling.
Brandon Himpfen
Bonus Chapter: Tools, Templates & Resources
Explore the best tools, templates, and resources for travel bloggers. From SEO and writing aids to planning templates and monetization platforms — this chapter gives you what you need to blog smarter, not harder.
Brandon Himpfen
Updated Web Pages
The following pages have been significantly updated:
Digital Nomad Destination Guides
Discover top destinations for digital nomads worldwide. Get insights on visas, cost of living, coworking spaces, internet, and remote work tips to help you live and work from anywhere with ease. Start your location-independent journey today.
Brandon Himpfen
I aim to keep evergreen content accurate and relevant. If something feels out of date, let me know — I welcome feedback!
Recommended Reading
Here are a few standout articles and blog posts I recommend checking out this week:
Ingram Micro outage caused by SafePay ransomware attack
An ongoing outage at IT giant Ingram Micro is caused by a SafePay ransomware attack that led to the shutdown of internal systems, BleepingComputer has learned.
Lawrence Abrams
Provider of covert surveillance app spills passwords for 62,000 users
Creators say app is intended for parental monitoring. So why the emphasis on stealth?
Dan Goodin
NFDG: The $1.1B VC Fund That 4X’d in Two Years—Then Got Acquired by Meta
The Unlikely Journey of One Of Silicon Valley’s Fastest-Growing Debut Venture Funds In the rapidly evolving landscape of venture capital, few stories are as remarkable as that of NFDG—a $1.1 …
Jason Lemkin
TikTok’s ‘ban’ problem could end soon with a new app and a sale
The ban has been banned for six months.
Richard Lawler
Meta is reportedly training its AI chatbots to send unprompted messages
The feature is being tested in Meta’s open-to-all AI Studio.
Matt Tate
Cisco fixes maximum-severity flaw in enterprise unified comms platform (CVE-2025-20309) - Help Net Security
Cisco has found hardcoded default credentials (CVE-2025-20309) in its Cisco Unified Communications Manager platform.
Zeljka Zorz
Anthropic Annual Revenue Reportedly Reaches $4 Billion | PYMNTS.com
Artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic’s yearly revenue has reportedly reached $4 billion. That’s according to a report Tuesday (July 1) from The
PYMNTS
Report: Apple looked into building its own AWS competitor - 9to5Mac
Apple has considered spinning up a developer cloud services, in a move that’d put it against some of its competitors’ biggest revenue streams.
Marcus Mendes
Qantas Confirms Major Data Breach Linked to Third-Party Vendor
Follow us on Bluesky, Twitter (X), Mastodon and Facebook at @Hackread
Waqas
iPhone Fold reportedly on track for potential launch next year
The long-rumored iPhone Fold – the colloquial term used for the company’s unannounced folding iPhone – is reported to be…
Ben Lovejoy
BlackRock’s Bitcoin (BTC) ETF Now Generates More Revenue Than Its Flagship S&P 500 Fund
The iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) has a higher fee structure, allowing it to outpace the S&P 500 fund (IVV) despite not having anywhere near as much in assets under management.
Helene Braun
Amazon launches a new AI foundation model to power its robotic fleet and deploys its 1 millionth robot
New AI technology will make the world’s largest fleet of industrial mobile robots smarter and more efficient.
Scott Dresser, VP, Amazon Robotics
Grammarly to Acquire Superhuman to Accelerate Its AI Productivity Platform
Email becomes central communication surface in company’s vision for agentic future where humans and AI work together Grammarly,…
Grammarly
Figma IPO filing shows $70M in BTC ETFs, gets board nod for $30M more
Figma’s S-1 reveals $70M in Bitcoin ETFs and board approval for $30M BTC via USDC, highlighting its Bitcoin corporate treasury strategy.
Estefano Gomez
Figma Files Registration Statement for Proposed IPO | Figma Blog
An update on Figma’s path to becoming a publicly traded company: our S-1 is now public.
Google is changing its emoji layout, again
That was quick.
Tim Marcin
These are curated for developers, creators, travelers, and digital professionals — with an eye on quality and depth.
Thanks for reading The Desk – Edition 68! If you found something valuable, feel free to share it or subscribe to keep up with future updates.
👉 Catch up on previous editions or explore projects.
