Not a mean question at all. I haven’t had more difficulty keeping a working system than I did on Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc. I get everything I need in Arch and the packages are always fresh off the grill. I also like the emphasis on text config files and a ground-up install. That helped me better understand my system and how it works.

No idea about performance. My performance recommendation is “don’t run Windows!” :)

I read this a while back and am already taking action to replace my Ring cams and doorbell with locally controlled Reolink cameras. I already have them set up and working on my desk, just need to finish the actual install. I am currently trying to figure out why I’m getting <12v on my doorbell circuit.

Any bike worth more than $1k, I add to my insurance. Below that, I’m just really careful.

One of my objections is that it pushes proprietary operating systems without providing a neutral FOSS option. So in a sense, the tracking and profiling (per your Android or iOS phone) has to come along for the ride. It also opens the door to more and more invasive IDing both IRL and on the web as it will eventually be worked into a bunch of different things. Everything that’s optional now could become mandatory later. It’s like building a munitions factory but putting a “Mark’s Fruit Export & Wholesale” sign on the building. All you have to do is bust down a few walls and put a fresh coat of paint in things and the gig is up.

Doesn’t matter if it’s a D or an R because they all want this gross shit. Can I get at least one real American who believes in privacy and liberty please!

You are correct. That wasn’t the most descriptive statement on my part :D

The black Reolink WiFi doorbell one was what I purchased. I was tempted by the PoE one because it would avoid using WiFi bandwidth but there’s no cable in that area.

My partner had a preference for the wider FOV so I got the black one. It paired no problem and after banging my head against the wall for a while I got the stream working in Home Assistant, VLC, then Frigate. I haven’t decided how I want to handle the recording. I have yet to set up notifications and I’m not certain if my doorbell circuit is providing enough power, which would explain why the Bezos Bell sucked at keeping a charge (also surveiling your customers all day takes a lot of juice). This may become a slightly bigger project if I have to rerun the wiring.

There was a lot of hype around this bell and that naturally makes me skeptical, but rarely have I had a device pair and get to a functional state that quickly, even in most proprietary apps. We’ll see how it works out once I have it wired in.

Yeah, easier is better. I’ll have to confirm what apps outside of Jellyfin and Chromecast are needed, but I’ll compare some basic Roku devices. I could probably score one a online neighborhood marketplace for a few bucks.

Thanks for weighing in.

I like real music about real experiences and feelings, regardless of genre. For every McArtist there a real artist who does it from the heart. For every mumble rapper there is an Immortal Technique. For every AI country artist there’s a Willie Nelson.

I spanned that divide. We got an Amiga in the home when most families had no computer and even then, I had to log all my computer time in a little book to make sure I didn’t spend too much time using it. I was frequently told to “go play outside”. I was taught not to give out my name or personal information online. A few years later, I remember downloading the full resolution Hubble Deep Field images, completely filling the family computer’s hard drive and probably saturating the dial up for quite a few minutes. Now I work for questionably evil companies (on my computer all day) then go home and do computer/tech related hobbies. I went from digging holes on the edge of the woods for fun to sitting in front of a computer, phone, tablet, or other tech most of the day.

Is life better post-digital? In some ways yes; in some ways no. We’ve kind of hit dopamine saturation where everything is just a click away and everything has already been done/thought/built/conceived. I have communities for the most niche of interests and I can find info on almost anything that tickles my fancy. On the other hand, there’s very little reason to leave your home and anything that makes you (or your friends) special probably looks like shit compared to the accomplishment of some random 10 year old kid from a foreign country. When the world was smaller everyone could feel bigger and more significant, but post internet, it’s clear every day that we are one of billions of people. The ads still tell us we’re special… to sell us stuff.

I find my solace in the outdoors and in regularly scheduled fully-offline social activities. I imagine being a kid got a whole lot harder after my little micro-generation.

Inb4 I compose a 4 act opera about my week’s schedule during my first shower of the week. :D

I noticed the same thing with KDE and Wayland. Sometimes my curser still grows 10 sizes or shrinks as I pass over certain windows or between monitors but things are more consistent and predictable than they used to be.

So you offer Startup Starter™ franchises so I can help startup starters in my area find startup starting ideas?

My Minecraft pals used mumble at various points. It’s less polished than some options. I like the FOSS and the simplicity but the certificates confused me as a noob. Would still recommend.

Now when I go to the fourth of July fireworks, my chair can just walk after me.

Yes, the intensified focus on duckAI and the worsening of search results are concerning for DDG. With that in mind, I trust them over Google/MS/etc. It’s important to me that a search engine follows my instructions.

Kagi gave me weird hype vibes like Private Internet Access. Very cult-sounding/ hard to tell what’s a paid advert when everyone is so rabidly opinionated and it’s a bit of a niche to begin with.

I’ve tried it since then and it’s actually very good. I’ve used DuckDuckGo for years and 30% of my searches go to google for a second opinion. With Kagi, that number is more like 10-20%. It’s designed with users in mind and actually helps you find things not by actively subverting your will, but my giving you tools to build better queries and better results.

I’m still trying to reconcile my thoughts about FOSS and such but the results are the closest I’ve found to early Google. I don’t care much for AI, but I used it to accurately identify an unknown wire connector on a cable I found and the model of a keyboard someone was selling in classifieds and didn’t actually list in the description (this one took a few tries).

I’ve decided for now I’m going to put them in the same category as some of the stuff Louis Rossman is involved in which also isn’t the perfect FOSS licence though its in the direction of freedom.

I thought for a second they were AIing their potential customers into the ad image like “picture yourself at the game”, I’m sure that’s next… unconsentually.

Not to mention you can fit more Reddit on a 1TB hard drive than YouTube, which makes it much easier to exfiltrate content.

I have a feeling that the YouTube apocalypse will be much harder to watch (as in “more sad/unpleasant”) than the Reddit apocalypse.