Reinis Fischer
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Servers & Config

How I Upgraded XTRF on Ubuntu with PostgreSQL 14 (and Fixed Every Broken Dependency)

Upgrading an XTRF instance—especially one that has aged alongside older OS and database stacks—is never a walk in the park. In this article, I’ll walk you through the real-world path I took, upgrading from Ubuntu 18.04 all the way to 22.04, aligning PostgreSQL to a supported version, and overcoming the nuanced issues involved in deploying XTRF on Jboss. Most importantly, I’ll highlight how AI—specifically ChatGPT—helped me tackle the hard…

Georgia

David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations

Tbilisi is a city full of hidden corners, rich history, and quiet treasures, one of which I recently discovered: the David Baazov Museum of History of the Jews of Georgia and Georgian-Jewish Relations.Over the years, I've gradually learned that Georgia has a deeply rooted Jewish presence. There's even a Jewish Quarter in Tbilisi, which I came across during my many walks through the city's charming old streets. Historically, Jewish communities…

Week 4 / NVDA Covered Call Strategy: Earning $83 This Week To Pay of Margin Debt

As of May 2, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,722, reflecting another strong 4.85% week-over-week gain. However, we still remain down -11.61% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around NVDA stock exclusively. As of today our covered call position was in the money and, I decided to roll forward this position, Here is the trade setup:Bought back the May 2 $107 call for $7.75Sold…

France

Postcards from Marseille

It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit down to write this, the sights, sounds, and scents of that journey come flooding back—postcards from…

Georgia

Fish Market near Gori

This Fish Market is located about 2 kilometers outside Gori, right off the Tbilisi highway, that we hit up at the end of March 2025. Me and a few friends drove over from Kabitskhevi because someone swore the smoked fish there was worth it. Spoiler: they weren’t wrong.The place isn’t hard to spot—just a little setup with a fish farm, a small shop, and a restaurant tucked in there too. We didn’t wander in by accident; we came straight for it. The…

Week 3 / How Weekly Covered Calls Are Funding Our NVDA Position

As of April 25, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio was valued at $6,411, reflecting another strong 9.76% week-over-week gain. However, it still remains down -15.87% year-to-date. Our covered call portfolio at the moment is centered around one stock only - NVDA. I'm selling 1 covered call only, with average buy price at $118.22 (using margin), while thanks to premiums collected in previous weeks, our current break-even price is $106.53On…

France

Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille

Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned 20 years later, in the summer of 2023, I was taken aback by how small it seemed. Had my memory…

Week 2 / Covered Call Portfolio Update: $146 in Premium, 11.9% Week Over Week Growth

As of April 17, 2025, our covered call stock portfolio is valued at $5,841.36, reflecting a strong 11.92% week-over-week gain. However, it remains down -23.42% year-to-date. Despite ongoing market volatility and macroeconomic headwinds, I’m doubling down on a focused strategy centered around selling covered calls on NVDA stock to stabilize returns and drive long-term growth.Our average buy price for NVDA stock is $118.22 (using margin),…

France

From Paris to Marseille by High Speed Ouigo Train

Traveling from Paris to Marseille is a rite of passage for anyone craving the thrill of France’s high-speed rails. Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2003, I first made the 900-kilometer journey by TGV, marveling as the countryside blurred past in just three hours. That memory—of speed, comfort, and the promise of Marseille—stuck with me. So, during our latest trip to France in the summer of 2023, I suggested we relive it. This time, we…

Georgia

Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi

For the past few years, we have been proud members of the Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi, Georgia. It all started when we decided to enroll our then 4-year-old daughter in their kids’ jiu jitsu program. What began as a way to channel our little one’s boundless energy has turned into a rewarding journey that we’ve stuck with ever since. At the heart of our experience is our coach, Mr. Giorgi, a truly remarkable individual. Not only is he…

Week 1 / How I'm Generating Options Premium with NVDA Covered Calls

As of April 10, 2025, the value of our covered call stock portfolio stood at $5,219.50, reflecting a -28.65% decrease year-to-date. Despite the broader market volatility and economic headwinds, I'm doubling down on a focused strategy to stabilize and grow the portfolio.This week I was managing a covered call on NVIDIA. Currently we are holding 100 shares of NVDA, acquired at an average buy price of $118.22 (using margin), though due to…

France

Aix-en-Provence station

Aix-en-Provence railway station is one of two serving the city of Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southeastern France. The other station, served by long-distance high-speed TGV trains on the LGV Méditerranée line, is Aix-en-Provence TGV, and lies about 12 km southwest of the city centre.Amodest yet charming stop on the TGV line, sits just outside the picturesque Provençal town it’s named after. Unlike the grand hubs of…

Digital Photography School

How To Fix Overexposed video after Adobe Premiere Pro Export

While working on my latest short documentary about our travels in India, I ran into a frustrating issue: after exporting the final video, it was completely overexposed and unwatchable. The scene of us visiting the Taj Mahal was adorable—except the Taj Mahal itself was barely visible, washed out in a sea of bright white.After spending hours trying to figure out what went wrong, I finally stumbled upon a surprisingly simple solution.The footage…

Living in Georgia

Jvari monastery, Shio-Mghvime & Kavtiskhevi

Embedded thumbnail for Jvari monastery, Shio-Mghvime & Kavtiskhevi

With spring kicking into high gear, we hit the road last weekend for a mix of adventure and downtime. First up, we swung by Jvari and Shi-Mghvime monasteries—two spots that vibe with history and quiet beauty. Then, we kicked back at Kavtiskhevi resort, soaking in the calm. Things got wilder at Gori’s fish market, where, believe it or not, someone snagged an octopus. To cap it off, we torched some old papers—call it a symbolic reset. Want…

France

Marseille-Saint-Charles station

Marseille-Saint-Charles is the main railway station and intercity bus station of Marseille, France. It is the southern terminus of the Paris–Marseille railway and the western terminus of the Marseille–Ventimiglia railway.Perched atop a hill overlooking the heart of Marseille, is more than just a railway hub—it’s a gateway to the soul of this vibrant port city. With its grand staircase cascading down to the bustling streets below and panoramic…

Servers & Config

How to Install Google Analytics for Substack Newsletter

I've been using Substack to publish my newsletter, Covered Calls with Reinis Fischer. Substack’s built-in analytics are quite decent for basic insights, but if you’re looking for more detailed data, I’ll walk you through the process of connecting Google Analytics to track its performance.To install Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for your Substack newsletter and track its performance, follow these steps. This process involves setting up a Google…

India

Palolem Beach / Goa / India

Embedded thumbnail for Palolem Beach / Goa / India

Palolem beach movie is out - or during the winter school break (2024/2025), we returned to India—Goa, and one of our favorite spots on Earth: Palolem Beach. With a short stop in Delhi, warmly hosted by the Klimis family (Aleksandra Klimi & Evangelos Klimis), we kicked off another unforgettable adventure. Besides African Swine Flu - Days were filled with sunbathing, fishing, painting, and, of course, a little rum-sipping by the shore.…

Health & Fitness

My High-Protein / Ultra-Rich Calorie Deficit Diet (Banana & Matsoni) Helped me to Drop about 5kg in 3 weeks

For the past three weeks, I’ve been sticking to an ultra-low-calorie diet that’s delivered fantastic results—dropping from a weight that was creeping dangerously close to 100 kg down to 93.3 kg, a loss of about 5 kg in just 21 days. I’ve tweaked the plan by squeezing in a serving of roasted peanuts (about 120-180 grams) once a day for extra flavor and satisfaction. I haven’t counted calories precisely, but I believe the peanuts from a jar…

France

Gare de Lyon, Paris

The Gare de Lyon, is one of the seven large mainline railway stations in Paris, France. It handles about 148.1 million passengers annually making it the second-busiest station of France after the Gare du Nord and one of the busiest in Europe.Gare de Lyon, one of Paris’ busiest and most iconic railway stations, is more than just a transit hub—it’s a masterpiece of architecture and a portal to countless stories. Located on the northern bank of the…

Genealogy

Baltic German DNA Uncovered: Tracing My Ancestry to the von Anrep Nobility

Kreiss Walk, With Homeln manor (Omuļu muiža)

Family legends often hold a grain of truth, even if they become distorted over time. My journey into family history, particularly on my maternal lineage—through my mother's mother's father’s side (Rozentāls)—has been a fascinating one. What started as a casual exploration turned into a deeper dive into historical records, DNA analysis, and surprising discoveries about Baltic German nobility in my ancestry.While researching my family history, I…

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