Did you know you can download all of Wikipedia onto your hard drive and use it offline? It's only 87Gb and will fit on a microSD card. Useful for distraction-free productivity for home-schooling, work-from-home, etc. Also useful for those with little or… tobykurien.com/post-164171174…

"Digital Vegan" is a deep dive into the problems with our current technology (Big Tech and social media). It's "a call to disengagement and more careful, slower, deliberate and thoughtful relations with technology". #book #recommendation Andy Farnell digitalvegan.net

The #Smashwords website is nothing like a modern website, and I love it! I mean, you can download this #ebook I am currently really enjoying (Casual Computing) for free, DRM free, without creating an account, without popups in your face, right now, just… tobykurien.com/post-164225632…

Another one takes the red pill and wakes up from the Matrix - "I think the internet is broken - Chris Hawkes" Chris Hawkes invidio.xamh.de/watch?v=EB0hG3…

Back in 2015, I predicted that once ad-blocking became common, we would be faced with server-side tracking: You know what will happen once most of us install ad-blockers? Server-side ad SDK's, that's what. Unblockable ads, unstoppable tracking… tobykurien.com/post-164545890…

"Nearly all of modern computer engineers are working above so many layers that there’s no human way to understand what they are doing." gemini://rawtext.club/~ploum/2022-04-05-firefox-ubuntu.gmi #computing #philosophy #ubuntu #snaps The Theological… tobykurien.com/post-164940021…

After decades of Ubuntu use, I've replaced my desktop OS with antiX. It's a minimal Debian system without systemd. Boots to desktop in about 5 seconds and uses only 150Mb of RAM. It's a simple system that I can get my head around easily and administer… tobykurien.com/post-165018316…

Everything that becomes popular turns to crap. So now I have to ditch DuckDuckGo and find an alternative. No, I'm not telling you what I'm moving to, lest they get enough users to dictate their terms to us. #rant

Computers were "good enough" 5 years ago, and we're still using them for the exact same purposes. So why do we have gigs of software updates every week, and why do our computers get slow and "out-of-date" every 2 years? Where's the extra value from all… tobykurien.com/post-165036205…

Made an extended battery pack for my aging MacBook that also acts as a comfortable base. The 55Wh battery pack consists of cheap and easily replaceable 21700 cells. Plenty of space to add more batteries, USB hub, hard drive, or other accessories. #diy… tobykurien.com/post-165312603…

Everything you need to know about #happiness, distilled in one insightful #podcast episode Evidence-Based Strategies for Being Happy | Laurie Santos | Knowledge Project youtube.com/watch?v=2yWxI9…

Book recommendation: THIS IS HOW THEY TELL ME THE WORLD ENDS, Nicole Perlroth. The fascinating story behind the biggest cybersecurity threats like Stuxnet, NotPetya, election interference, etc. Reads like fiction, but sadly it is not. #book Nicole… tobykurien.com/post-166160337…

Made a distraction-free audiobook player using a Raspberry Pi 3A. Doesn't even distract me with a progress bar :) #diy tobykurien.com/images/microbl… tobykurien.com/images/microbl…

I bought this comically tiny phone in June and it's been my daily driver since. It has some amazing features in it's diminutive package: dual sim, microSD card slot, bluetooth (for calls and music, or to act as headset/dialler for your smartphone)… tobykurien.com/post-166307778…

I describe a simple method I use to self-host portable server applications using tmux and bubblewrap: tobykurien.com/simpler-linux-…

If you're part of the #TwitterMigration #TwitterExodus to #Mastodon then you can follow me there on @[email protected] - I've been there since April 2017. Heck, you can even just stick the URL mastodon.social/@tobykurien.rss into an RSS feed reader. #MastodonMigration

Today's project: #diy battery for my 2015 phone. Original battery down to 6% of it's original capacity. Replacement battery costs only R90 and is readily available at hobby shops. Had to make an adapter plate using my favourite material: masonite board… tobykurien.com/post-166894720…

My house got struck by lightning again, taking out the alarm system again. This time I decided to #diy my own alarm system with an #arduino. It's a bit of a rat's nest right now (prototype), but it works! Controllable via Telegram and standard remote… tobykurien.com/post-167204015…

Since about 2015, smartphones have been getting increasingly user-hostile and locked down. It started with Google Play Services, a permanently running auto-installed, auto-updated service that has full access and control of your device. One a new Samsung… tobykurien.com/post-167319861…

Book recommendation: The power of fun by Catherine Price. A serious and well-researched look at having True Fun (a state when playfulness, connection and flow happen). #book #recommendation Catherine Price catherineprice.com/books