From fd6c2099c68f48544c73afb88ac390d305bbb229 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Kumar Damani Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2022 18:18:32 -0400 Subject: routine updates --- index.html | 8 +-- programs.html | 163 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------ self-host.html | 150 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 251 insertions(+), 70 deletions(-) create mode 100644 self-host.html diff --git a/index.html b/index.html index ad6c844..9c573f0 100644 --- a/index.html +++ b/index.html @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@

Kumar Damani

-

Last updated: 07 Sept. 2022

+

Last updated: 09 Sept. 2022

@@ -22,10 +22,12 @@

My name is Kumar. Many people call me 'kd', I'm known for being...

diff --git a/programs.html b/programs.html index f8c7de2..ba16cb1 100644 --- a/programs.html +++ b/programs.html @@ -1,76 +1,105 @@ + -Programs and Equipment - - + Programs and Equipment + + + -

Programs and Equipment I Use

- -

Software I Use

- -

Priorities

- -

I'm about getting things done quickly and having as little space between my thoughts and actions on the computer.

- -

I like having vim-like bindings and prefer running programs in the terminal for simplicity's sake. That said, I'm very much against the cringey meme that things in the terminal are "cooler" or "nerdier" XD. Terminals are good for most tasks, but useless for others, for example, browsing the modern web (I admit this unfortunate fact with much consternation) or looking at maps. -

- -
-
Distribution
-
Manjaro (stable) though this is a bit of a moot point since there's been a lot of convergence among the popular distros recently especially since they all offer some dedicated channel for getting upto date software. The real day-to-day difference to workflow comes from the choice of desktop environment. I do like Debian, and Fedora as well.
- -
Desktop Environment
-
I setted on Gnome w/ Wayland after many years of hopping. Gnome comes with all the tools you'd expect to see in a moderm desktop, and for the most part these tools are perfectly capable of doing the task they are meant to do. This means that the desktop enviroment just gets out of the way which I've really come to appreciate over time. Prior to Gnome, I've used DWM + Sxhkd, KDE Plasma. I'm glad DWM exists and people get use out of it, but for now I do not miss it - I'm sure that will eventually change too.
- -
Text editing and programming
-
vim. Less of a text editor and more of a lifestyle. No, I'm not going to ever switch to emacs. I use the pywal plugin for colors. Technically, I use neovim.
- -
Web browser
-
The web is bloat so they are all kinda terrible. I have tried, chrome, qutebrowser in the past. Right now I use Vivaldi with the add-on Vimium to get customizable vim-like keybindings. -
- -
File manager
-
nnn. Yes, I have used ranger.
-
- -

Where can I find good software options?

- -

The program of your dreams is probably listed below:

- - - -

Hardware I Use

- -
-
Laptop
-
The main laptop I use is the Framework laptop . I'm a huge fan of the whole concept coming from a few generations of ThinkPads. It remains to be seen if they can hold true to their promise for providing upgradable motherboards, but from everything I've gotten so far, I'm impressed. -
-
- -

What I don't use

- -
- -
Proprietary software
-
I'm not going to endorse proprietary services that have gone out of their way to spy on or politically suppress their users, just as Facebook, or Discord. -One of the many potential take-aways you should get from me is that the use of libre/free software, by its nature, is more constructive and extensible—that's the point. There are philosophical reasons for this you'll run across in time, but for now, suffice it to say I will not endose the usage of proprietary software. -
-
- -
- -Kumar pix -Return to main page +

Programs and Equipment I Use

+ +

Software I Use

+ +

Priorities

+ +

I'm about getting things done quickly and having as little space between my thoughts and actions on the computer. +

+ +

I like having vim-like bindings and prefer running programs in the terminal for simplicity's sake. That said, I'm + very much against the cringey meme that things in the terminal are "cooler" or "nerdier" XD. Terminals are good + for most tasks, but useless for others, for example, browsing the modern web (I admit this unfortunate fact with + much consternation) or looking at maps. +

+ +
+
Distribution
+
Manjaro (stable) though this is a bit of a moot point since there's been a lot of convergence among the + popular distros recently especially since they all offer some dedicated channel for getting upto date + software. The real day-to-day difference to workflow comes from the choice of desktop environment. I do like + Debian, and Fedora as well.
+ +
Desktop Environment
+
I setted on Gnome w/ Wayland after many years of hopping. Gnome comes with all the tools you'd expect to see + in a moderm desktop, and for the most part these tools are perfectly capable of doing the task they are + meant to do. This means that the desktop enviroment just gets out of the way which I've really come to + appreciate over time. Prior to Gnome, I've used DWM + Sxhkd, KDE Plasma. I'm glad DWM exists and people get + use out of it, but for now I do not miss it - I'm sure that will eventually change too.
+ +
Text editing and programming
+
vim. Less of a text editor and more of a lifestyle. No, + I'm not going to ever switch to emacs. I use the pywal plugin for colors. Technically, I use neovim.
+ +
Web browser
+
The web is bloat so they are all kinda terrible. I have tried, chrome, qutebrowser in the past. Right now I + use Vivaldi with the add-on Vimium to get customizable + vim-like keybindings. +
+ +
File manager
+
nnn. Yes, I have used ranger.
+
+ +

Where can I find good software options?

+ +

The program of your dreams is probably listed below:

+ + + +

Hardware I Use

+ +
+
Laptop
+
The main laptop I use is the Framework laptop . I'm a huge + fan of the whole concept coming from a few generations of ThinkPads. It remains to be seen if they can hold + true to their promise for providing upgradable motherboards, but from everything I've gotten so far, I'm + impressed. +
+
+ +

What I don't use

+ +
+ +
Proprietary software
+
I'm not going to endorse proprietary services that have gone out of their way to spy on or politically + suppress their users, just as Facebook, or Discord. + One of the many potential take-aways you should get from me is that the use of libre/free software, by its + nature, is more constructive and extensible—that's the point. There are philosophical reasons for this + you'll run across in time, but for now, suffice it to say I will not endose the usage of proprietary + software. +
+
+ +
+ + Kumar pix + Return to main page - + diff --git a/self-host.html b/self-host.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..990386c --- /dev/null +++ b/self-host.html @@ -0,0 +1,150 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + +

Why do I self-host?

+ +

Digital freedom/independence

+

To put it simply, I do not want to depend on the existence of corp. X for data that is important to me. + Many things could happen to corp. X such that your data could become inaccessible or worse: +

+ I have a lifetime's worth of file, photos, media, passwords etc. and I 💤 much better at night knowing + I am avoiding most if not all of the risks above. + +

+ +

Privacy at the population level

+

I am often asked some variation of: +

+

+
+
+ To such questions, I would pose the counter question: +
+
+
+ Do we have a moral responsibily to ensure we leave the world in a better state than we inherit, + or the very least, not in a worse state? +
+
+ +

+ If your answer is no, then no need to read further, the following will not change your mind. +

+ +
+
+ If your answer is yes, but you aren't convinced that these are related, + then the argument goes something like this... +
+
+
+ We live in a world of mass data collection/survailence.
+ This enables corp. X to use ML (Machine Learning) techniques to build/train AI (Artificial Intelligence) + models that aim to predict human behaviour.
+ That in and of itself is not my cause for concern here.
+ The problems arise when corp. X use these techniques for profit + without regard for the harm they cause at a population level (intentionally or not).
+ I have unfortunately lived through enough of these cases to be able to cite a few recent examples of this: +
+
+
+ Instagram (etc.) designs its apps/products based on user behaviour data + to keep its userbase on its platform for as long as possible [0]. + You might think you are "too smart" to fall for these tricks, and you may be right, + but what about the millions of boys, and girls who aren't as wise as you? + Do they deserve to suffer from mental health, body image, confidence issues for the rest of their lives? +
+
+
+ You could say "well thats due to bad parenting", but the point remains that + more and more of the digital world is having real world negative consequences regardless of + your individual participation level. For example: +
+
+
+ It is well documented that Facebook's (etc.) targetted advertising + played a significant a role in the 2016 US elections [1]. + Many of the policies implemented during this time has real world consequences to millions + of people potentially for many generations. + This affects us all. + Even if we don't have/use Facebook, we (most of us) cannot opt out of policy changes. +
+
+ +

+ To summarize, it might not be a problem if individuals disregard their + privacy at the individual level, but in aggregate, a population-wide disregard + has dystopian consequences. + (This is also the primary reason I refuse to participate in social media.) +

+ +
+
+ So the question you have to ask yourself is... +
+
+
+ Do I want to contribute to a dystopian (Orwellian) future? +
+
+ +

+ If your answer is yes, then continue to live as you are. +

+ +

+ If your answer is no, than we must put an end to mass data-collection by + not voluntarily giving our data to corp. X, and finally acknowledging the value of our privacy. + Fortunately, there are a few ways you can say no! +

+

+ +
+ + Kumar pix + Return to main page + + + + -- cgit v1.2.3