Category: Tech and Coding
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How and why I got a VPN
As part of my ongoing efforts to lock down my cyber-life, I finally decided to investigate VPNs (virtual private networks) and subscribe to one, if it seemed to be a good idea. Well, it is a good idea. So I got one, and it was pretty cheap. What is a VPN, anyway? A virtual private…
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Further on my Linux journey: Ubuntu on a laptop
First, I decided to switch to Linux. I have to tell you: I’m so glad I did. It’s not just the sheer relief from the knowledge that I’m not being monitored by Microsoft or carefully controlled by Apple. I’ll admit, that’s probably the biggest advantage to Linux for me. But I really, truly find Linux…
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18 things about Apple that suck
Apple, how dost thou suck? Let me count the ways: iTunes, the worst software in the world. The App Store is a centrally managed walled garden. I can’t run apps Apple hasn’t approved of on my phone, and on my own computer, I have to give special permission to run programs Apple doesn’t like. iCloud…
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Notes on choosing a Linux distro (for Linux geeks only)
I’ve ditched Windows on my desktop machine. Similarly, I can’t keep using macOS on my laptop. I decided to put Linux on it (and dual-boot). I thought it would be a good idea to use a different distro. But which? I thought I would do my deliberations publicly. So here goes. If I haven’t exactly…
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A plea for protocols
The antidote to the abuses of big tech is the very thing that gave birth to the Internet itself: decentralized, neutral technical protocols. The thought that inspires my work. Ever since I started work on Nupedia and then Wikipedia, a thought has always inspired me: just imagine the stunning possibilities when people come together as…
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Further, alarming evidence of Larry’s creeping geekhood
Yes, I’m another one who has plunked down unnecessary amounts of money just to get a keyboard with keys that bump, click, and have precise activation points, and with switches that people care a lot about, changeable keys, etc. So far, I don’t regret the purchase one bit and I’m rather happy with it. And proud,…
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How to delete Ruby and Rails (and other gems) from Ubuntu 18.04
In order to install Ruby and Rails on Ubuntu 18.04, first I had to completely wipe my first, abortive attempt. That proved to be harder than expected. So, in order to save others the effort I had to go through, here’s what I did. This worked for me…who knows if it’ll work for you, though?…
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How and why I transitioned to Linux—how you can, too
First published Jan. 17, 2019; updated Nov. 15, 2019 Let me briefly tell my Linux story. If you’re thinking about moving to Linux, and wondering how you’d do so, it might give you some pointers and inspiration. The back story My first introduction to the command line was in the 80s when I first started…
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How I locked down my passwords
If you’re one of those people who uses the same password for everything, especially if it’s a simple password, you’re a fool and you need to stop. But if you’re going to maintain a zillion different passwords for a zillion different sites, how? Password management software. I’ve been using the free, open source KeePass, which…