I would've been mentioning something about the streams sooner, but I was kept too busy. (Post No. #55)

      This is the 55th post of the blog, even though it actually counts as the 56th on Blogger. Normally, I wouldn't talk about anything relating to my stream career here, but I've been kept busy not only having to deal with the damage control required for the Discord account hack, and this means I've been locked out of my "Discord server which I wrote for that" that I have to turn to this avenue of a message to be written - it may be possible I later have to start my own forum about streams, similar to how the YouTuber raocow has the talkhaus. 

      But, enough of things such as these. The reason I haven't been behind the mic is due to the simple fact that I've been kept busy by my own real-life responsibilities such as volunteering at the Museum, doing things which I see no rhyme nor reason toward so partaking of such activities, and the fact that people have been telling me to be not so anxious about my Discord account has kind of not made me really motivated to even do any sort of "update" post for nearly a month from when I got the false flag on my account. I'm kind of questioning if I should consider giving up on attempting to re-claim this, as the account now is linked to a Microsoft e-mail as opposed to a Google e-mail, which I had originally created the Discord account under it. 

     But, on top of that, I have felt that in light of this, I've had to re-organize how I do these streams - a process which may dictate to me in time the purchase of new computer hardware. I mean, while the current laptop, which I call the "RedEye", has proven quite adequate as a gaming machine in both Microsoft Windows and Linux, (as Batocera can handle a lot of games), then I feel that it is perfect for something like that. But something more demanding than a mere 8 or 16-bit game, as well as some real hardware and even a game from 1994 or later (with exception of some silly Flash games from the Internet) need something with a little bit more muscle in terms of streaming them through OBS. And this is likely going to be regardless of the Operating System OBS is loaded under - be it the dreaded Windows 10 or 11, or a Linux distro which just works. 

     

    I will write a post at a not much later date (maybe within a few days) for updates on what I'm planning, but those plans will be kept a secret... Well, for now at least.

Reminders of continued use of Windows 11 no more - but Linux Only from now on (Post No. 54)

    As I have priorly mentioned, I am no longer using Microsoft Windows for anything. Most of my home network is already transitioned to Linux systems by August 2024 - this includes having my emulation "console" PC running Batocera.linux, as well as my main PC running Pop_OS! and my always insisting on spamming the F12 key as the computer boots up from power off so that I don't go into Windows again. It is true that I have probably done some things with Windows in the past that I would never condone or encourage anyone to do, but my decision with regard to the continued use of Microsoft Windows is quite simple. And that, blog reader is to... 

... and always ...

 and never go again! 

 I mean, seriously. Why do people always say I shouldn't be so hasty on giving up on Windows software? Sure, if we lived in a different time in history, and Microsoft hadn't been the "one to rule them all aspiring" company we know them to be today, then I'd have no reason to give up on Microsoft's OS nor software. But we live in September 2024. Things are more complicated now than they were back then. So, why should I consent to data harvesting? There is no reason for me to do such a thing. True, no matter what OS that I may use on my computer, my data will be harvested by SOMEONE, but I think the principle I am following by suddenly deciding to be "Linux-only," is essentially disallowing the Orwellian philosophies of Microsoft Corporation from my life. And, I may have to remove some OS and other stuff from my main rig & or perhaps simply retire the computer and upgrade it to a new rig without the Microsoft software. And, considering Microsoft is cracking down hard on circumventers, then I believe that I have no other option than to stop using Windows 11 for anything like I have been at present. 

  Of course, you may argue, "The professional world runs on Windows. You're potentially make yourself unemployable if you choose to forsake Redmond's OS and software for stuff volunteers assembled and put together." First of all, you never cease to amaze me how you're wrong, and second - a lot of large companies, use Linux. Commodore may have been killed by Microsoft in the Nineties thanks to the commercial success of Windows 3.11 for Workgroups and later the Windows 9x family and NT family, which later converged into one version in Windows XP and both Home and Business/Enterprise users have used NT-based Windows systems ever since then - but I've decided that this use of using Windows for anything just isn't doing it for me. So, I will still aim to use nothing but Linux based OS in my systems from 2024's end months onward to the indefinite uncertain future. The Minecraft game has become a little too Orwellian for my taste and I likely will be moving on from playing Minecraft. Perhaps avoiding coming to a United States border in the near future for the time being may be an excellent idea - and maybe disappearing from the continent where the U.S.A. is located may be a better idea in the potential long term? 

   And of course, you may be aware that I currently use a laptop with Manjaro Linux for the Museum work that I currently do at my "job" in Kentville from May-November. As this OS updates at the frequency of once a month; I've decided that a new hardware will be necessary - but on one stipulation. That it not be a Windows 11 machine, but Linux only. Why? Because Redmond is morally and ethically an evil company. And by Redmond I mean Microsoft. IF I am expected to use a Windows 11 system here as I type on this computer; then I'm walking. Sometimes it may not be a popular choice, but the right choice.

AI Developments means Microsoft lost a Windows customer, and Linux gained another penguin (Post No. 53)

    If you have followed Microsoft's news at all in the technical sphere, chances are you likely would have noticed they are promoting "Copilot Recall," even saying that this will be ushering in a brand new era of Windows PCs --- similar to when Microsoft had originally brought in the Start menu in favour of the Program Manager back in 1995. However, this change will likely only accomplish one thing & one thing only in the grander scheme of things. And that's transfer my own digital life away from modern Windows as the OS I use day-to-day in my real life computer usage --- and that means I will need to find a new OS. 

   While the possibility is there that Microsoft's "Recall" feature may not even hit my PC --- I'm looking for a surefire way to disable it. And no. I'm not suggesting just to mass downgrade all my hardware from Copilot capable shit to legacy hardware ----- because I'm pretty sure that Microsoft doesn't want me to do this. And, it may be possible that Copilot even if it does hit my system will likely have a way to disable it, but the process of so doing will be so convoluted & difficult that I fear I may lack the actual brainpower to even do such a thing. And considering Windows 11 fell off quite a while ago even in the first release of the OS I actually have been using in the real world on my computer the first time in February 2022 --- I'm literally already looking for alternatives outside the Microsoft ecosystem, and once I transfer out, I don't plan to be back in... Even if I may never be under surveillance by the government in reality while I use my PC. "May" being an operative word here since even then - there's not a guarantee. And, on top of this, it's a pretty difficult situation to admit that I may need to scrap the records of my transition and then re-generate them again, as I may have messed up a step in so doing.

   First, we're going to talk about what I will not be considering as an alternative to Windows in this situation. And I have a good reason to not consider this alternative an alternative.

The Non-Windows Non-Alternative: Mac OS

   While it was possible in the pre-2020 world that I would've considered a MacBook Pro as my alternative to a Windows box, (But that was prior to my decision to be a PC gamer and use Windows 7 on my HTPC from 2015-2020, and Windows 10 from 2020-2022), In 2024... The Mac ecosystem isn't really the solution I'm looking for anymore. In fact, earlier in this series of blog posts, I may have said that "If you are seriously considering getting a new Mac as your new PC, I will be laughing at you." Now, I don't plan on disowning these words as I still stand by my decision to not have the Apple computer which I consider a fashion accessory be something I use in practical day-to-day life. In a world where Apple's devices ran the Intel chip, which is where we don't live in anymore, I would've never said anything against using a Mac --- even if it ran slower than a comparative Lenovo or Lenovo clone PC. Even if it ran hotter than any of those PCs. Even if some enthusiasts decide to take the Apple x86 software and put it on unauthorized x86 hardware. But since we no longer live in a world where any of those things are possible, which I may add, is for the best ultimately --- then it may be possible that macOS is permanently no longer a valid alternative to my computing needs to Microsoft Windows. 

  Plus, did I also neglect to mention, that Minecraft and Indivisible are only fun games if you're under the weather? Plus it's possible I'll be buying Indivisible on Steam so I don't have to use Windows to play that game. 

  Will I laugh at you if you buy an AI PC? Likely, and that's despite my neutral stance on AI. 

   Of course, there are some people who still have applications for MS-DOS usage in 2024. And I respect that. But considering that the difficulty of setting everything up, as well as sourcing the hardware to even run the MS-DOS hardware, and even getting it running ultimately makes DOS a non-option for me, and the practicality of such a setup would be novel at best, but non-existent in a realistic situation for me.

   So, with modern Windows being openly marketed as "more private" & "more secure" - (when in the truth of the matter it's not) and Mac OS being a fashion accessory OS which locks the user's autonomy down, despite having better privacy than Microsoft Windows, and improved ease of use out of the box, what other alternative there is there in a situation like this? (No, MS-DOS nor FreeDOS are real alternatives in this situation, as even they are not practical in the real world, unless you know how the heck to control them!) 

Enter Linux.

 This heading should honestly speak for itself. But, if not, I should be more than happy to explain why I'm going to suddenly mention that I will be working toward an eventual Linux-only computer ecosystem in the fast approaching near future. In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I elected to strictly restrict the application of Zoom for attending Jehovah's Witness congregation meetings primarily to the Linux platform, ensuring that I wouldn't say for example, decide to fire up a game when I was supposed to be "attending a meeting at the Kingdom Hall." But the more I used it, and the more I familiarized myself with the applications my distro came with, the more I realized that most, if not all of the programs that I once used in Microsoft Windows, could be either found alternatives to, or even replaced by Linux software. Even if it meant in some particular cases, I just find workarounds for some really stubborn Windows software or completely opt to go without in some cases in some scenarios. 

   I've reviewed distros that I would recommend in the past, so I won't go into further detail about such a discussion here (although a follow-up at the date of my completion of the transition out of Windows may present some more conclusive data than what I have collected already.) 

   The main point is --- Windows 11 has lost all practical usefulness for me. A usual session for me, is usually supposed to comprise of nothing more than just logging into Windows, maybe waste some time playing some video games, and once I'm done, shut the computer off or log out and go on with the rest of my day.

   Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some data to collect about how pray-tell I'm going to transition completely over from Microsoft Windows to GNU/Linux. And an organized database to ensure the transition is relatively smooth sailing, where minimal bugs are encountered.

11 things I'd rather do than use Windows 11. (Post No. 52)

    It is true that I am using Windows 11 to write this blog post, but believe me... if it were up to me, I'd do anything but use Windows 11. Besides, if the alternative is the hipster chic Mac OS, then Linux is the only option that I have left. 

    It is true that I may have said some pretty ridiculous things in my wanting to "not" use Microsoft's absolute latest & greatest (for now) --- but here are 11 relatively sensible things that I would much rather do than use Windows 11. 

1. I'd rather use a Commodore 64 for everything I do on the computer - gaming as well as work. 
2. I'd rather use one of Windows' versions which at the time of their release, they were terrible --- but by the standards of this era, which is a pretty low bar to be measuring it against --- I'd live with it just fine. 
3. I'd rather use the older generation Macintosh systems --- and we're talking Pre PowerPC G3 era
4. I'd rather go back to using pencil and paper --- even at the expense of progress.
5. I'd rather go back to using charred wood to write --- CHARRED WOOD. 
6. I'd rather go back to not writing anything at all.
7. I'd rather just do nothing.
8. I'd rather use an operating system that was thought to be a "Mac OS/Windows" big two killer at the time for all of my computing needs. 
9. I'd rather have a herd of water buffaloes take a diarrhea dump in my right ear. 
10. I'd rather eat a the rotten anuses of roadkill while downing it with root beer.
11. And, I'd rather shove my head up a mermaid's breasts. 

   I'll admit, my imagination did get away with me in this list. But I've proven my point in saying what I have.

My Maintenance Schedule For Setups. (Post No. 51)

   Due to the fact I've had to deal with some maintenance schedule for setups due to things breaking, and things being less reliable than they in reality should be, I feel that I should consider doing the maintenance set-ups for things which I should consider having set up as soon as I possibly can have (within reason.) It's also why the YouTube ads that pop-up thanks to my whitelisting the YouTube domain on the actual site won't have any longer than one week at the absolute most to annoy me. 

When the EndeavourOS IdeaPad 3i (unless hardware I have gets expropriated to someone else in the meantime) Gets 100.0% full disk space usage, and unable to add any further stuffs to it: 

ThinkCenter with Arch Linux shall be employed to this computer's position instead. 

Sometime between February 29, 2024 - March 3, 2024: 

I will be upgrading my SSDs to replace the failed Fanxiang SSD and installing new operating systems. Although data that I may have will be erased in this upgrade, I have already chosen to simply replace the OS on the computer. (I will not, however clone the Debian install to anywhere as I don't have much further plans for its usefulness.) 

I wasted far too much time on Reddit (Post No. 50)

    I'll admit. It's not like I wanted to elicit a reaction from the system that makes me seem like I am someone that glorifies things against the Reddit terms of service. My hope was that nobody would counter-opinion me anymore because I felt that my position as an anti-natalist was completely valid & I didn't want my mind changed. Like, people may argue that if I got more responsible in my own life, then maybe I would stop being an anti-natalist and then perhaps just leave many of the positions that I hold now on the shelf. Of course there's a small problem with that. One, when exactly am I supposed to become more responsible in my own life and become more like my parents? The age my parents were when they had my two elder siblings has both come and gone already and I didn't have any of the life events necessary for me to happen nor ideal situation for me to be a father in. And two, even if the situation did allow me to become a father, I'm not really desirous of bringing into the world a child that may make the miserable existence of humanity any better. "I'll emphasize "may" here, due to the fact it's not an assured thing."

   While it is true that the religion I associate with yet never speak about often is one of the reasons I've chosen to become anti-natalist by choice, similar to my choice to be remaining single by choice in terms of relationship. However, that similarity ends with both my choice to be anti-natalist as well as my decision to remain single. In the case of the former, (for context, being anti-natalist), I believe that I shall remain anti-natalist for the rest of my life, however long or short it may end up being, never intending to inflict nor glorify violence against those who hold viewpoints that clash with my own and therefore will likely not have a problem with the idea of my own paternal line dying. I mean, my family name is by no means an elite dynasty of royalty, nor some patriarchal line which must continue for "generation upon generation." I cursed myself to be the last family member of the high school I was a student at during the year I went back there extra for a reason after all. 

    However, my decision to remain single is less set in stone. While it is true that anyone who would consider me attractive would want to even get a chance to know me a little bit better, I'm not just going to throw myself at them like I don't value myself at all. I believe that if someone really deserves me, or I find that they are the type I find the most appealing in this very world, then I'm probably willing to open myself up to them. For the time being, I'm not entirely open to be looking for a relationship with anybody since I'm not the least bit interested in being with the wrong person to spare myself the potential heartache and misery, plus having to shred my Twitter account, (I mean, X account), that I had created this time, because the whole idea of it is that I would only keep it open until the moment happened that I got closer with a potential partner than merely an online relationship in this day and age. If and when that point occurs, I'll know for sure. I may end up throwing a mock memorial service for that media account when said point does indeed happen. 

   So, I conclude this blog post with the thought that while it is true that I chose to deviate from my usual topic for this blog, the fact remains, I've proven to be far too edgy for the platform that doesn't want me to be too edgy and I may be planning to look at the Reddit platform less and less often.

A Beginning Linux User's Starter's Guide. (Post No. 49)

    Hello! I would like to welcome you to a "Beginning Linux User's Starter's Guide." Despite the resistance of people who tell me that I should be allowing Microsoft to harvest and fill the CEO's data, which btw isn't Bill Gates since after the times of Windows Vista, despite the constant endless flurry of tech jokes saying that he still is, and to be completely honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he is still somewhere in the woodwork at Microsoft these days... I'm going to offer a "Beginning Linux User's Starter's Guide" blog post for my 49th post on this blog. I am going to answer some questions that some folks might have in this introduction, which shall be also available as a book that I will also likely write with the exact same name. That being, "Beginning Linux User's Starter's Guide." 

A Beginning Linux User's Starting Guide.

Life Without Windows, but 

NOT With macOS.

  First of all, the beginner who is using Linux must understand that they are not going to use an operating system that is not Windows, nor Apple's Macintosh Operating System, macOS. Despite some similarities to Mac OS with it being based on the UNIX architecture and POSIX compliant that Linux may have, the similarities end there. The differences also begin there.

  Despite the UNIX Terminal both existing in Mac OS X even from the days of Rhapsody Developer Release 1 & 2, and some basic commands being easily carry-over from Linux to Mac OS X and vice-versa, the similarities end there. For example, you cannot use a Mac specific terminal command in Terminal in Linux, and nor can you use a Linux kernel specific command, in Mac. This is due to the kernel differences between Linux and Mac OS. Linux is built on the Linux/GNU kernel, while modern Mac OS's kernel is built on the Darwin/BSD kernel. 

   Darwin is the core Unix operating system of macOS (previously OS X and Mac OS X), iOS, watchOS, tvOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and bridgeOS. It previously existed as an independent open-source operating system, first released by Apple Inc. in 2000. It is composed of code derived from NeXTSTEP, BSD, Mach, and other free software projects' code, as well as code developed by Apple. 

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_(operating_system))

  

The heritage of Darwin began with Unix derivatives supplemented by aspects of NeXT's NeXTSTEP operating system (later, since version 4.0, known as OPENSTEP), first released in 1989. After Apple bought NeXT in 1996, it announced it would base its next operating system on OPENSTEP. This was developed into Rhapsody in 1997, Mac OS X Server 1.0 in 1999, Mac OS X Public Beta in 2000, and Mac OS X 10.0 in 2001.

In 1999, Apple announced it would release the source code for the Mach 2.5 microkernel, BSD Unix 4.4 OS, and the Apache Web server components of Mac OS X Server.^[8] At the time, interim CEO Steve Jobs alluded to British naturalist Charles Darwin by announcing "because it's about evolution".^[9] In 2000, the core operating system components of Mac OS X were released as open-source software under the Apple Public Source License (APSL) as Darwin; the higher-level components, such as the Cocoa and Carbon frameworks, remained closed-source.

Up to Darwin 8.0.1, released in April 2005, Apple released a binary installer (as an ISO image) after each major Mac OS X release that allowed one to install Darwin on PowerPC and Intel x86 systems as a standalone operating system.^[10] Minor updates were released as packages that were installed separately. Darwin is now only available as source code. As of January 2023, Apple no longer mentions Darwin by name on its Open Source website and only publishes an incomplete collection of open-source projects relating to macOS and iOS. 

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_(operating_system))

   Whereas, GNU/Linux on the other hand has another story to be told: 

The Linux kernel is a free and open-source,^[12]: 4 monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. It was originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds for his i386-based PC, and it was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU operating system, which was written to be a free (libre) replacement for Unix.

Linux is provided under the GNU General Public License version 2 only, but it contains files under other compatible licenses.^[11] Since the late 1990s, it has been included as part of a large number of operating system distributions, many of which are commonly also called Linux.

Linux is deployed on a wide variety of computing systems, such as embedded devices, mobile devices (including its use in the Android operating system), personal computers, servers, mainframes, and supercomputers.^[13] It can be tailored for specific architectures and for several usage scenarios using a family of simple commands (that is, without the need of manually editing its source code before compilation);^[14][15][16] privileged users can also fine-tune kernel parameters at runtime.^[17][18][19] Most of the Linux kernel code is written using the GNU extensions of GCC^{[12]: 18 [20]} to the standard C programming language and with the use of architecture-specific instructions (ISA) in limited parts of the kernel. This produces a highly optimized executable (vmlinux) with respect to utilization of memory space and task execution times.^{[12]: 379–380}

Day-to-day development discussions take place on the Linux kernel mailing list (LKML). Changes are tracked using the version control system git, which was originally authored by Torvalds as a free software replacement for BitKeeper. 

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel)

   Since we have differences and comparisons made, we can then move on to many of the other questions that may continue to exist during the discussion of this blog: 

Such as: 

1. Do I need a particularly expensive, or the latest model of system to run Linux?
2. What are the basic system requirements for many different distros with regards to RAM, and the recommended system requirements above and beyond the bare minimum? 
3. Can I run software designed for Windows on it?
4. What distro is the right fit for my individual skill level? 

Do I need a particularly expensive or later-model system to run Linux? 

 

     No, you do not. Any computer that you can purchase for anywhere from free to what an average desktop or laptop will set you back, should be fine for installing Linux and getting it to run. The one caveat, however is that you must have it be no older than fifteen years, due to the deterioration of the parts inside the chassis and wear and tear from previous use, and even then, there are some distros that are specifically made for older systems which have long since served past their prime but are still useful enough to do some heavy lifting, but not as intensive as it once was. 

 

What are some of the basic system requirements with regards to RAM, the recommended for many different distros, and the recommended system requirements above & beyond the bare minimum? 

   Well, this question cannot be answered conclusively. A good way to set a system up is to have a bare minimum of 2.5 gigabytes of RAM, and 25 gigabytes of storage drive space as a bare minimum, although some modern browsers will require a minimum of 2 GB to function fully, and most hard drive manufacturers nor solid state drive manufacturers will not sell you a drive any smaller than 500 gigabytes anymore these days, which will still be just fine for Linux to run. 

   Ultimately, the requirements will come down to the individual needs of the end-user, and the decision of what distro to install on his/her/their Linux system in order for it to adequately meet their computing needs. 

Can I run software designed for Windows on it? 

   Well, it's kind of a question that is almost pointless to ask. I mean many office suites for Windows can be replaced by LibreOffice. LibreOffice is also available for Windows and Mac OS, too. 

   However, some games will not play nice with Linux, so my advice to you is either have virtualization, use Steam's Proton layer, or Wine Is Not An Emulator (Wine), as your main options for running games, and ultimately if you cannot or will not do without Windows for any reason, dual-booting to Windows or having a separate Windows system which runs Windows of some vintage if you are the type that prefers playing older Windows games will work just fine instead of attempting to rack your brains as to why "A particular Microsoft Windows Software Title Refuses To work." 

Which distro is the right fit for my individual skill level? 

  There are so many different distros, that it may be enough to make your head spin. However, you do not have to distro-hop, although you may if you want, to try to find the perfect distro to suit whatever your Linux needs shall be. Instead, you may choose to pick a distro that meets what you are wanting to do and what skill level you basically have, depending on what you wish to use your Linux system for. 

   One option for many newcomers to Linux I shall suggest is simply, upstream Debian. Why? Because it allows for a rather quick pick-up rate with no virtual learning curve from Microsoft Windows. It also has been maintained for almost as long as Microsoft Windows, so it has the history of stability going for it as well. 

    Another choice I would suggest would be Zorin OS, as it would be also yet another easy transition for those leaving Windows, and the ability to turn a cell phone into a computer mouse using an app. I mean, it may not seem like a practical idea, but if having little novelties in your operating system is the thing that you want to have, then Zorin OS is definitely worth a check-out. 

   Linux Mint is also a distro I would recommend for those looking for an alternative experience to Windows, and needs no prior experience with Linux to get started with. Just install, and customize to your liking, and go. 

   I will not recommend Ubuntu, due to it lately becoming increasingly more Windowsified and collecting the user's data, and how ugly the default Unity desktop is. 

   For those that do not want a Debian Linux experience, but would like to tinker, but are scared of the commandline, I would recommend a Linux distro such as Manjaro or Endeavour OS. 

(I won't include a screenshot of either here.) 

  But, for those that are unafraid to get their feet wet, and go really under their Linux distro's hood and tinker, one of the ultimate options is Arch Linux. (Warning: Blog author does not recommend the use of upstream Arch Linux to beginner users.)