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    <title>Dragos Roua - Brilliantly Better</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright 2026 Dragos Roua</copyright>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:10:01 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:17:46 GMT</pubDate>
    <managingEditor>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</webMaster>
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      <title>You Can Now Share Your Grok Bots (And Soon You Could Sell Them)</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//you-can-now-share-your-grok-bots-and-soon-you-could-sell-them/</link>
      <description>You can now share your Grok bots. I had early access to the feature and I published my own before they went live. I explain how in the video.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:17:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:18:35 GMT</dc:modified>
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      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>iPhone</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>how to</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Grok Bot is the “iPhone Moment” for AI Agents – Quick Review</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//grok-bot-is-the-iphone-moment-for-ai-agents-quick-review/</link>
      <description>Grok Bot quick review: it looks simple, but at the same time useful, just like the first iPhone. Agents talking to each other feels magical.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:50:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:50:21 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//grok-bot-is-the-iphone-moment-for-ai-agents-quick-review/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How I Use Grok Build to Run Free Models Alongside Grok-4.6</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//how-i-use-grok-build-to-run-free-models-on-top-of-grok-4-6/</link>
      <description>Use Grok Build with local and OpenRouter free models alongside Grok-4.6. Copy-paste config.toml for Gemma, Qwen, and GLM — same harness, switch with /model.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:57:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:32:03 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//how-i-use-grok-build-to-run-free-models-on-top-of-grok-4-6/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>experiment</category>
      <category>how to</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[ Video ] How To Choose an Open Weights Model – Episode 4</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-4/</link>
      <description>In the final episode I talk about open weight model harnesses, or how to actually talk to your local AI. From llama-cpp chat to Pi, or Hermes</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 06:17:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:32:05 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-4/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>tools</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[ Video ] How To Choose an Open Weights Model – Episode 3</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-3/</link>
      <description>In this episode I talk about running an open weights model locally. Two main hardware lines: Apple Silicon and NVIDIA, both good.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 05:14:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:24:00 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-3/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>tools</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[ Video ] How To Choose an Open Weights Model – Episode 2</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-2/</link>
      <description>Episode 2 of the mini series about how to choose an open weights model, this time how to choose an open weights model provider.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:48:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:25:19 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-2/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>tools</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[ Video ] How To Choose an Open Weights Model – Episode 1</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-1/</link>
      <description>How to choose and open weights model: the difference between slow, dumb and laggy - and state of the art inference, like Claude or Grok.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:12:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:25:59 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//video-how-to-choose-an-open-weights-model-episode-1/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>tools</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How AI Watermarking Works? Can It Be Removed?</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//how-ai-watermarking-works-can-it-be-removed/</link>
      <description>AI watermarking is not baked into model weights, it works at the generation level, by sampling different tokens, paired with a private key.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:56:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:26:44 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//how-ai-watermarking-works-can-it-be-removed/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>tools</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why China Will Not Win the AI Race (Spoiler: It Already Did)</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//why-china-will-not-win-the-ai-race-spoiler-it-already-did/</link>
      <description>China is already way ahead in the AI race, more than the Western media make it look. This is an account from an actual visit there.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:26:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 03:51:49 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//why-china-will-not-win-the-ai-race-spoiler-it-already-did/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Travel and Fun</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>asia</category>
      <category>digital nomad</category>
      <category>travel</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>AI Can Follow You Everywhere Now. Unless You Outsmart It</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//ai-can-follow-you-everywhere-now-unless-you-outsmart-it/</link>
      <description>"AI watermarking now traces Claude text back to you. Learn why it survives copy-paste, how it locks you in, and two ways to keep your writing untracked.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:37:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:37:43 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//ai-can-follow-you-everywhere-now-unless-you-outsmart-it/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>writing</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Singularity and the Chevalier in the Supermarket</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//singularity-and-the-chevalier-in-the-supermarket/</link>
      <description>We're not in the Singularity yet. The chevalier-in-the-supermarket test shows what real Singularity would feel like—and why AGI hype falls short.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:28:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:28:23 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//singularity-and-the-chevalier-in-the-supermarket/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Technology</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>change</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>perspective</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[ Video ] Software Engineering Is Dead! Is It Really?</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//video-software-engineering-is-dead-is-it-really/</link>
      <description>I&amp;#8217;m fortunate enough to have witnessed a few key moments in our recent tech history. One of them is web 3, the dot com revolution. Back then, having a website was considered peak flex (in modern slang). I see something similar happening with AI agents, now, it seems equally fashionable. And,...</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 04:05:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 04:11:41 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//video-software-engineering-is-dead-is-it-really/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Technology</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>app store</category>
      <category>apps</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Poor Guy* Guide to Fable-level Vibe Coding for $80/month</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-poor-guy-guide-to-fable-level-vibe-coding-for-80-month/</link>
      <description>See how to combine entry-level AI subscriptions and free models for Fable-level vibe coding, solid limits, and high productivity on an $80 monthly budget.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:43:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:43:23 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-poor-guy-guide-to-fable-level-vibe-coding-for-80-month/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Introducing App Store Release Agent – Automating my App Store Pipeline</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//introducing-app-store-release-agent-automating-my-app-store-pipeline/</link>
      <description>Publishing ten apps in four months sounds good. And it is good. It means the bottleneck is no longer building the app. With AI-assisted coding, small utilities, focused experiments, and niche apps can go from idea to App Store submission in days, sometimes hours. But there is a second part that can...</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:33:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:33:21 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//introducing-app-store-release-agent-automating-my-app-store-pipeline/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>iPhone</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>app store</category>
      <category>apps</category>
      <category>automation</category>
      <category>coding</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vibe Coding for People Over 50</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//vibe-coding-for-people-over-50/</link>
      <description>Pre-digital childhood gave you patterns younger developers never learned. Now AI removes the syntax barrier. Here's how to turn 50+ into your unfair advantage.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:12:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:12:16 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//vibe-coding-for-people-over-50/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>entrepreneurship</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Switching from Claude Code to Grok – Same Interface, Different Model</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//switching-from-claude-code-to-grok-same-interface-different-model/</link>
      <description>I kept the Claude Code interface I like and routed Grok's model underneath it via proxy. Same workflow, video generation included, $35/month instead of $100. Here's how.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:13:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:13:13 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//switching-from-claude-code-to-grok-same-interface-different-model/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How To Manage AI Cognitive Overload – Lessons After 9 Apps Shipped in 4 Months</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//how-to-manage-ai-cognitive-overload-lessons-after-9-apps-shipped-in-4-months/</link>
      <description>I shipped 9 iOS apps in 4 months with AI—and learned how to manage AI cognitive overload. Here are 3 actions that keep AI-assisted development sustainable long-term.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:01:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:01:30 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//how-to-manage-ai-cognitive-overload-lessons-after-9-apps-shipped-in-4-months/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Productivity and Effectiveness</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>burnout</category>
      <category>focus</category>
      <category>habits</category>
      <category>ios development</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Running Local Private AI Models – How And Why</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//running-local-private-ai-models-how-and-why/</link>
      <description>Running local private AI models is now realistic, affordable, and urgent. Here's what hardware to use, which open-source models are ready, and why you shouldn't wait.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:46:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:46:17 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//running-local-private-ai-models-how-and-why/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>how to</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>tools</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Attention Harvesting – What You Do While Your LLM Works?</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//attention-harvesting-what-you-do-while-your-llm-works/</link>
      <description>Harvesting attention isn't just for big tech. Learn how AI wait times created a new micro-pause — and why you should claim it before someone else fills it.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:03:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:03:14 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//attention-harvesting-what-you-do-while-your-llm-works/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Productivity and Effectiveness</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>focus</category>
      <category>mindfulness</category>
      <category>side projects</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>I Stopped Prompting My Agents, I Write Agentic Loops Instead – Here’s Why</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//i-stopped-prompting-my-agents-i-write-agentic-loops-instead-heres-why/</link>
      <description>I stopped prompting my AI agents and started writing loops instead. Here's what a 50-line Python audit loop taught me about trust, failure, and where humans still belong.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:03:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:09:00 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//i-stopped-prompting-my-agents-i-write-agentic-loops-instead-heres-why/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Leaving Claude Code (Opus 4.8) Behind – Switching to MiniMax 3</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//leaving-claude-code-opus-4-8-behind-switching-to-minimax-3/</link>
      <description>After using Claude (Opus 4.6 to 4.8) for roughly 5 months, I'm experiencing with MiniMax 3. A full month to decide which is best for coding.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:46:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:56:14 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//leaving-claude-code-opus-4-8-behind-switching-to-minimax-3/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Digital Tools</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>Claude</category>
      <category>coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Price of Illusions – 16 Years Later</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-price-of-illusions-16-years-later/</link>
      <description>In 2010 I asked if you were living in an illusion. In 2026 that question is harder — the price of illusions, now that they have industrial infrastructure, have grown exponentially.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 06:23:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sun, 31 May 2026 06:23:49 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-price-of-illusions-16-years-later/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Spirituality and Beliefs</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>resilience</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Are You The Best Version of Yourself? – Checking In After 16 Years</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//are-you-the-best-version-of-yourself-checking-in-after-16-years/</link>
      <description>In 2010 the OS metaphor for self-improvement was an analogy. In 2026 it's literal — AI tools actually run as cognitive extensions. Here's what that changes.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 06:07:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 30 May 2026 06:07:10 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//are-you-the-best-version-of-yourself-checking-in-after-16-years/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Productivity and Effectiveness</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The 2026 Definition of Success – 10 Years after I First Tried My First One</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-2026-definition-of-success-10-years-after-i-first-tried-my-first-one/</link>
      <description>I had 9 definitions of success in 2016 and was split between all of them. 10 years later, here's what I actually learned about enough, alignment, and flow.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 06:41:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 29 May 2026 06:41:46 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-2026-definition-of-success-10-years-after-i-first-tried-my-first-one/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Motivation and Inspiration</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>purpose</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Frustration as a Growth Signal – Revisiting After 15 Years</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//frustration-as-a-growth-signal-revisiting-after-15-years/</link>
      <description>I wrote 33 ways to overcome frustration in 2010. 15 years later: most of them work, but only for one type. The other type just needs acceptance.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 07:10:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 28 May 2026 07:10:36 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//frustration-as-a-growth-signal-revisiting-after-15-years/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Motivation and Inspiration</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>resilience</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
      <category>self discipline</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Still Learning To Say No – 17 Years After First Writing About It</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//still-learning-to-say-no-17-years-after-first-writing-about-it/</link>
      <description>I wrote about saying no in 2009. The technique was right but incomplete. 17 years later, here's what I missed: the permission problem is harder than choosing your words.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 11:00:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 28 May 2026 06:28:50 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//still-learning-to-say-no-17-years-after-first-writing-about-it/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Relationships and Society</category>
      <category>boundaries</category>
      <category>communication</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Ancestor Syndrome – Revisiting Inherited Money Beliefs 10 Years After</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-ancestor-syndrome-revisiting-inherited-money-beliefs-10-years-after/</link>
      <description>I wrote about the ancestor syndrome in 2016. Ten years of crypto cycles and economic shocks have tested that thesis hard. Here's what held up and what changed.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 06:20:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 26 May 2026 06:20:14 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-ancestor-syndrome-revisiting-inherited-money-beliefs-10-years-after/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Crypto</category>
      <category>Financial Resilience</category>
      <category>financial habits</category>
      <category>money</category>
      <category>money mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Life Has No Meaning – In 2026 I Still Think This Is Good News</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//life-has-no-meaning-in-2026-i-still-think-this-is-good-news/</link>
      <description>In 2015 I argued that life's lack of inherent meaning is liberating. I still think so. But making that case in 2026 requires more honest scaffolding.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 07:34:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 25 May 2026 07:34:37 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//life-has-no-meaning-in-2026-i-still-think-this-is-good-news/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Spirituality and Beliefs</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Diamond Cutter, 12 Years Later — Buddhism as a Daily Practice</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-diamond-cutter-12-years-later-buddhism-as-a-daily-practice/</link>
      <description>A 12-year test of The Diamond Cutter's Buddhist business principles. Which ones compounded into real results, and where the emptiness concept led me astray.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 06:02:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sun, 24 May 2026 06:02:07 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-diamond-cutter-12-years-later-buddhism-as-a-daily-practice/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Book Reviews</category>
      <category>Spirituality and Beliefs</category>
      <category>books</category>
      <category>buddhism</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vibe Coding for Senior iOS Developers – Guidelines after 10 Apps in 4 Months</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//vibe-coding-for-senior-ios-developers-guidelines-after-10-apps-in-4-months/</link>
      <description>10 iOS apps in 4 months, built solo with AI. Vibe coding for senior developers: specs first, two models, heavy verification, and marketing in parallel.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 05:08:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:13:30 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//vibe-coding-for-senior-ios-developers-guidelines-after-10-apps-in-4-months/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>iPhone</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>apps</category>
      <category>entrepreneurship</category>
      <category>ios development</category>
      <category>vibe coding</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>77 Reasons to Love Your Life — Why I’d Write This Differently After 17 Years</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//77-reasons-to-love-your-life-why-id-write-this-differently-after-17-years/</link>
      <description>I wrote 77 reasons to love your life in 2009. The reasons haven't changed much. But the obstacle to actually enjoying them has, the world is way noisier these days.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:11:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:15:43 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//77-reasons-to-love-your-life-why-id-write-this-differently-after-17-years/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Motivation and Inspiration</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>gratitude</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>self awareness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>7 Reasons to Enjoy Life More — 16 Years Later</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//7-reasons-to-enjoy-life-more-16-years-later/</link>
      <description>In 2009 I gave 7 reasons to enjoy life. Sixteen years later: some held up, one needed honest revision, and one wasn't on the original list.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 07:38:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:16:52 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//7-reasons-to-enjoy-life-more-16-years-later/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>blogging journey</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Living as a Digital Nomad: Revisiting a 16 Year Old Primer</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//living-as-a-digital-nomad-revisiting-a-16-year-old-primer/</link>
      <description>I wrote a digital nomad primer in 2010. Here's what it got right, what COVID changed, and how AI expanded what one person can build — 16 years on.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 06:42:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 23 May 2026 08:12:13 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//living-as-a-digital-nomad-revisiting-a-16-year-old-primer/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Location Independence</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>digital nomad</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>remote work</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>7 Things To Do when the Shit Hits the Fan</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//7-things-to-do-when-the-shit-hits-the-fan-2/</link>
      <description>In 2011 I wrote this list from inside a disaster. Here's what held across 15 years of crises — personal, professional, and the kind you don't see coming.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 08:11:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Wed, 20 May 2026 08:11:30 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//7-things-to-do-when-the-shit-hits-the-fan-2/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Motivation and Inspiration</category>
      <category>Productivity and Effectiveness</category>
      <category>lessons-learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal-story</category>
      <category>resilience</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How I Actually End My Day in 2026 – Compared to 2011</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//how-i-actually-end-my-day-in-2026-compared-to-2011/</link>
      <description>In 2011 I wrote 33 ways to end your day. In 2026, the phone colonized the bedroom and a baby changed everything. Here's what I kept and what changed.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 11:30:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 19 May 2026 11:42:19 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//how-i-actually-end-my-day-in-2026-compared-to-2011/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Health and Fitness</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>family</category>
      <category>habits</category>
      <category>lessons-learned</category>
      <category>personal-story</category>
      <category>perspective</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>77 Things I Still Want to Do, 13 Years Later — and What I’ve Crossed Off</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//77-things-i-still-want-to-do-13-years-later-and-what-ive-crossed-off/</link>
      <description>I listed 77 things worth doing in 2013 just because I could. Marathons, travel, building apps — here's what got crossed off, what expired, and what's new.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 06:16:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 18 May 2026 15:37:55 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//77-things-i-still-want-to-do-13-years-later-and-what-ive-crossed-off/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons-learned</category>
      <category>personal-story</category>
      <category>travel</category>
      <category>ultra-marathon</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>7 Kung Fu Panda Lessons, 16 Years Later — Po Actually Became a Master</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//7-kung-fu-panda-lessons-16-years-later-po-actually-became-a-master/</link>
      <description>In 2010 I pulled 7 lessons from Kung Fu Panda. Sixteen years later: what held up, what needed revision, and which one turned out to be the whole thing.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 08:34:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sun, 17 May 2026 08:34:28 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//7-kung-fu-panda-lessons-16-years-later-po-actually-became-a-master/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons-learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal-story</category>
      <category>perspective</category>
      <category>wisdom</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Right Tool for the Job in 2026: What AI Changes About the Wrench Problem</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-right-tool-for-the-job-in-2026-what-ai-changes-about-the-wrench-problem/</link>
      <description>In 2018 the wrong tool was obvious — you could see the mismatch. In 2026, AI made it invisible. Here's where the granularity problem actually went.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 07:11:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 16 May 2026 07:11:36 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-right-tool-for-the-job-in-2026-what-ai-changes-about-the-wrench-problem/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>ai tools</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>15 Years of Motivation: From Tiny, Genuine Sparks to Burnout</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//15-years-of-motivation-from-tiny-genuine-sparks-to-burning-out/</link>
      <description>The "get and keep" model of motivation breaks down fast. After 15 years: what three methods actually lasted, what leads to burnout, and what actually works in 2026.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:01:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:05:45 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//15-years-of-motivation-from-tiny-genuine-sparks-to-burning-out/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Getting Things Done</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>burnout</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>motivation</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The First 6 Months of Blogging After 17 Years Of Blogging</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-first-6-months-of-blogging-after-17-years-of-blogging/</link>
      <description>I wrote a blogging retrospective after 6 months. Twenty years later: the advice held, the meaning changed, and the economics flipped completely.</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 06:53:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 15 May 2026 03:33:28 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-first-6-months-of-blogging-after-17-years-of-blogging/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Blogging</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>blogging journey</category>
      <category>newsletter</category>
      <category>persistence</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Steadily Fluid after 10 Years: How Does it Feel to Live with the Paradox</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//steadily-fluid-after-10-years-how-does-it-feel-to-live-with-the-paradox/</link>
      <description>Stability and fluidity aren't opposites — they're prerequisites for each other. Here's what 17 years of living that paradox actually looks like from the inside.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 16:11:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Wed, 13 May 2026 16:33:21 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//steadily-fluid-after-10-years-how-does-it-feel-to-live-with-the-paradox/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Blogging</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>blogging journey</category>
      <category>consistency</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Technology, Ideology, and What Actually Happened Since 2018</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//technology-ideology-and-what-actually-happened-since-2018/</link>
      <description>In 2018 I bet that technology would outpace ideology as the force reshaping society. Eight years later — AI everywhere, authoritarianism still rising — time to check the work.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 10:48:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 12 May 2026 10:48:33 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//technology-ideology-and-what-actually-happened-since-2018/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>bitcoin</category>
      <category>cryptocurrency</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>17 Years of Social Networks Later: What Actually Replaced What</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//17-years-of-social-networks-later-what-actually-replaced-what/</link>
      <description>In 2009 I framed social networking versus real life relationships as a match. Neither team won. What happened instead was stranger — and more useful to understand.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 11:45:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 11 May 2026 11:46:29 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//17-years-of-social-networks-later-what-actually-replaced-what/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Relationships and Society</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>relationships</category>
      <category>social media</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>100 Ways To Live A Better Life: 17 Years After – What Actually Worked</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//100-ways-to-live-a-better-life-17-years-after-what-actually-worked/</link>
      <description>I wrote 100 ways to live a better life in 2009, then 100 subposts, then watched it float on the internet for 15 years. Here's what I learned from all of it.</description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 20:20:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sun, 10 May 2026 20:20:45 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//100-ways-to-live-a-better-life-17-years-after-what-actually-worked/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Blogging</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>goals</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>resilience</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3 Lifestyle Design Blueprints I’ve Lived, Plus A 4th One That  Works Best These Days</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//3-lifestyle-design-blueprints-ive-lived-plus-a-4th-one-that-works-best-these-days/</link>
      <description>In 2009 I mapped 3 lifestyle design modes. After 17 years inside all of them, here's what held up, what broke, and the fourth mode the original post missed.</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 14:04:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Sat, 09 May 2026 14:04:23 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//3-lifestyle-design-blueprints-ive-lived-plus-a-4th-one-that-works-best-these-days/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Location Independence</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>digital nomad</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>values</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Raw Food in 2026: What I’d Tell My 2009 Self About Eating Better</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//raw-food-in-2026-what-id-tell-my-2009-self-about-eating-better/</link>
      <description>I tried a raw food diet in 2009. Here's what actually stuck 17 years later, how the advice holds up against modern nutrition science, and what I'd experiment with today.</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 09:53:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Fri, 08 May 2026 09:53:25 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//raw-food-in-2026-what-id-tell-my-2009-self-about-eating-better/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Health and Fitness</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>30 day challenge</category>
      <category>experiment</category>
      <category>habit formation</category>
      <category>raw food</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Boredom Is a Feature, Not a Bug</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//boredom-is-a-feature-not-a-bug/</link>
      <description>In 2009 I wrote about escaping boredom. In 2026, boredom turns out to be a feature, not a bug — and the attention economy's entire business model depends on you never finding that out</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 08:57:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Thu, 07 May 2026 09:10:45 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//boredom-is-a-feature-not-a-bug/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Action versus Reaction Trap: Why I Had It Half Right in 2009</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//the-action-versus-reaction-trap-why-i-had-it-half-right-in-2009/</link>
      <description>In 2009 I said acting is always better than reacting. 17 years later the picture is more complicated — and more useful. Here's what I got wrong and what still holds.</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 10:17:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Wed, 06 May 2026 10:17:08 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//the-action-versus-reaction-trap-why-i-had-it-half-right-in-2009/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>mindset</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>values</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>25 Things To Do In Your Life – Then and Now</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//25-things-to-do-in-your-life-then-and-now/</link>
      <description>I wrote 25 life goals in 2009 framed as alien advice. Sixteen years later — what happened, what I let go, and what the 2026 list looks like instead.</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 15:19:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Tue, 05 May 2026 15:19:49 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//25-things-to-do-in-your-life-then-and-now/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>Travel and Fun</category>
      <category>goals</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>purpose</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Everything I Built That Fell Down (And What I Learned About Building Anyway)</title>
      <link>https://dragosroua.com//everything-i-built-that-fell-down-and-what-i-learned-about-building-anyway/</link>
      <description>In 2011 I wrote about keeping fragile structures standing. Since then several of mine have come down. Here's what the falling actually taught me about building.</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:40:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <dc:modified>Mon, 04 May 2026 09:40:24 GMT</dc:modified>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dragosroua.com//everything-i-built-that-fell-down-and-what-i-learned-about-building-anyway/</guid>
      <author>dragos@dragosroua.com (Dragos Roua)</author>
      <category>Meaningful Relationships</category>
      <category>Personal Development</category>
      <category>lessons learned</category>
      <category>letting go</category>
      <category>mistakes</category>
      <category>personal story</category>
      <category>resilience</category>
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