Toby Kurien

I wrote a short blog post about my lifestyle, and how I achieved it: tobykurien.com/the-anti-consu…

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

@NeaOnimZA This is what prevented me from doing this before - the linked radio transmitter. I no longer use linked alarm service, instead I use this: aa.co.za/aa-armed-respo…

@TobyKurien Does it interface with armed response? ie ADT etc... if so, FM Radio or GSM?

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…

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…

If you're part of the #TwitterMigration #TwitterExodus to #Mastodon then you can follow me there on @tobykurien@mastodon.social - I've been there since April 2017. Heck, you can even just stick the URL @tobykurien.rss" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">mastodon.social/@tobykurien.rss into an RSS feed reader. #MastodonMigration

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

@agataagathaxd Use quality high-current cable and powerbank. The shorter the cable the better, e.g. 30cm.

@TobyKurien twitter.com/TobyKurien/sta… Hi, I've been looking for a Raspberry pi tablet and I found yours, I have some doubts, like, I've entered in your blog and you said that you were having some problems with the power delivering, how could I overcome this problem?

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

@ctietze Yes it's an IBC container setup with a bell siphon. Here's details: house4hack.co.za/aquaponics-sys… How to make you own: howtoaquaponic.com/designs/ibc-aq…

@TobyKurien Just find your old aquaponics pics. Was your setup an IPC container for the fish and tomatoes on top? Would love to know more to replicate at home!

@billybobza I'm deliberately over-reacting to a censorship issue (torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-rem… ) which may or may not be their fault, but I've found nice alternatives anyway, this was just the push I needed.

@TobyKurien Can you unpack this? What has changed with DDG?

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…

@AaronMendezNYC @DevuanOrg No, this is the first I hear of it. I tried OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Slackware, SliTaz, and settled on antiX.

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…

"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…