SVEOTI.NET began as a simple lifestyle blog once called selil.com. Both addresses still lead here, though selil.com has been retired after a long and unusual history. The name first appeared online decades ago, and before that it existed on various servers as a catch-all directory. It was always for whatever I was doing, reading, or thinking about. There was no theme unless “whatever Sam feels like” counts as one.
The original “Selil” was not a website but a small boat my family once owned. That boat met an undignified end during a storm. When I later acquired my own vessel, I realized naming it and my online identity after a boat that sank might tempt fate. Karma already has my number.
SVEOTI stands for Sailing Vessel Eoti. We debated “Sailing Yacht” versus “Sailing Vessel” and chose vessel. Eoti is short for “End Of The Internet,” making sveoti.net the “world wide web end of the internet.” It is a geeky pun. In Ionic Greek, “eoti” also means “the essence of” or “to be something,” which sounds more philosophical than it really is.
My first web page appeared when the internet was still new. Since then, this site has gone through many changes, from early HTML to more modern systems. It has survived personal changes, career changes, and many chapters of life.
Some posts are gone, lost to old backups or retired intentionally. If you notice gaps, it is because the content is either lost, outdated, or offline permanently.
Here is what this site is not:
My work or professional page
A cyber warfare hub
A niche site about anything specific
This is my blog. I write what I want, when I want. Topics range widely from sailing and gardening to politics, travel, cars, friends, and occasional rants. No guarantees. Sometimes I vanish for months.
Traffic now averages thousands of unique visitors a month, with occasional spikes much higher. Readers come from across the world. Either I am oddly international or someone enjoys translating my posts for fun.
For me, writing is a way to explore ideas and share stories. Comments are disabled, and I link from social media rather than offer open discussion here. Some institutions link to this site. Others, perhaps intelligence organizations, may read along. That is either flattering or unsettling.
I do not expect everyone to like or agree with me. This is not about narcissism, it is about sharing ideas and seeing what resonates. If you enjoy the technical posts, I hope you can also tolerate vacation photos. Life is messy, and so is this site.
Expect a mix, projects, ride stories, sailing logs, garden updates, car snapshots, and whatever else catches my attention. It is me in a digital town square, telling stories and letting anyone passing decide whether to stop and listen.
