Michael W Lucas :flan_on_fire:

https://io.mwl.io/@mwl

Kvetching, not complaining.

Writes books. Pet rats. Martial arts. Punch Nazis & terfs. If it wasn't on Industrial Records it's not industrial music, it's just sparkling noise. He/him. Bangpath old. Detroit, MI, US. Gelato!

Website: https://mwl.io
Crowdfunding: https://mwl.io/ks
Bookstore: https://mwl.io/shop
Link Index: https://mwl.link

Public Key

npub1ksfsk7zf88lk37thy0w5254empykpkw2aenr3chpnjv7wp2usyjsgmr6s6

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstgyct0pynnlmgl9mj8h2922uasjtqm89wue3cutseex08q4wgzfgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsfer8kw

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1ksfsk7zf88lk37thy0w5254empykpkw2aenr3chpnjv7wp2usyjsgmr6s6

Show more details

Last Notes

2026-07-27 12:49:43 UTC

- reply

May Dog have mercy on your soul, because nothing else will. 🙏

2026-07-23 14:58:12 UTC

Still feeling positive today, so let's have some pop music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO0p0fHtMys

2026-07-23 14:33:13 UTC

- reply

thank you! good to know.
I haven't found that button. Probably something in my myriad browser plugins, though.

2026-07-23 14:24:59 UTC

I am not complaining, merely befuddled.
I made an Amazon wish list after moving out. Folks were kind enough to send me things to help me gain stability during my divorce. I appreciate every one of you.
The wish list emptied. I never shared it again.
In the last couple weeks, I've twice added small things to that list. Nothing vital, merely tidbits. I thought I might share it near the holidays or something.
Each time, the item has shown up at my door in two days.
Does Amazon have a "stalk this wish list" function or something? Can you get wish list RSS feeds?

2026-07-22 02:24:29 UTC

- reply

message just went out to developers@, the fix has been pushed but not yet globally synced

2026-07-22 01:51:50 UTC

Parker is driving? :oh_no_bubble: #leverage

2026-07-20 17:59:07 UTC

Windows has an option where if you hit CTRL, your mouse gets highlighted with a shrinking circle. It's invaluable on multiple-monitor systems.
Does MacOS have anything similar?

2026-07-15 16:13:48 UTC

- reply

if it's not this specific hack, there's more hacks.

2026-07-15 13:58:27 UTC

NAT is not a firewall. Here's a tool to prove it.
https://sa.my/slipstream/
(h/t @npub16v8…200s )

2026-07-13 12:20:47 UTC

"The way I keep myself fantastic is by excluding myself from the company of losers."

2026-07-13 12:08:20 UTC

- reply

Yup. Definitely sus. #petRats #rats
cute pet rat sniffing my outstretched hand
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/912/585/353/802/010/original/ec1b678808c8dfcf.jpg

2026-07-12 14:04:12 UTC

- reply

Stuffing wears out and is expensive.
Freeze-dried works better.

2026-07-12 13:57:00 UTC

His family is refusing to unplug him.
Yes, that's a thing in certain circles. Mostly evangelical ones.

2026-07-12 03:00:46 UTC

- reply

Besides, all Real Men(tm) carry duct tape on their persons at all time. Right next to the WD-40.

2026-07-11 19:26:48 UTC

RE: https://social.tchncs.de/@Blort/116902820019165841
SO MANLY
#note1c7u…l0hf

2026-07-11 17:39:23 UTC

Every men's room should be stocked with tampons and pads at all times.
After all, tampons and pads are very useful for treating gunshot wounds. Gunshot wounds are very manly. Let people be manly.

2026-07-11 17:28:08 UTC

Amazon raised the $9.99 ceiling for full royalty on ebooks to $12.99.
If it had kept up with inflation since the Kindle's 2007 launch, that ceiling would be $16.16. They're still squeezing authors.
So no, my newer tech books still won't be on Amazon KDP.

2026-07-11 17:16:33 UTC

- reply

"Midden" is a word everyone in IT should know. After all, we live in one.

2026-07-11 16:37:36 UTC

- reply

I never say anything behind someone's back that I won't say to their face, so: pssst @npub1qf5…ynp2 ⏫ 👀

2026-07-11 16:31:52 UTC

The new #FreeBSDJournal is out. Includes my We Get Letters column, where I directly and unreservedly address improving software quality. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to pie.
https://freebsdfoundation.org/our-work/journal/browser-based-edition/improving-software-quality/

2026-07-11 13:18:37 UTC

Today: morning dojo, evening Little Shop Of Horrors at community theater.
I'll probably sing along, because I have zero shame.

2026-07-11 13:14:02 UTC

Home is now *really* for sale. With photos.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1416-N-Renaud-Rd-Grosse-Pointe-Woods-MI-48236/88108812_zpid/?

2026-07-11 11:55:41 UTC

The day has come. Time to destroy the wheatgrass. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/901/210/699/022/420/original/a0772fde071c819a.mp4

2026-07-11 11:31:23 UTC

- reply

hey, I'd have money left over for refurbishment!

2026-07-10 21:10:49 UTC

Churning through the #openzfsmastery
dataset chapter. Progress happened today!
I'd appreciate your support in making this book happen. https://mwl.io/sponsor

2026-07-10 19:55:00 UTC

- reply

Yep! You just can't get quality hauntings in modern houses, so if you want apparitions this is the place!

2026-07-10 17:33:47 UTC

- reply

"If I show up at your door, you did something to bring me there." Delightful.

2026-07-10 13:09:38 UTC

If you need a house, I got one for sale.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1416-N-Renaud-Rd-Grosse-Pointe-Woods-MI-48236/88108812_zpid/

2026-07-10 12:41:15 UTC

Quercy thinks y'all sus.
He's got a point. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/895/728/113/342/343/original/72d8a93b8a0494b6.jpg

2026-07-10 11:48:29 UTC

- reply

I don't address those questions in my FAQ, because I don't use those services. They are overwhelmingly scams. The only worthwhile one is Netgalley.
Announce your book on your web site and your social media, then write the next book.

2026-07-10 05:01:50 UTC

- reply

we still do! But not in mainstream media

2026-07-09 15:51:43 UTC

Today @npub1k2s…myw4 and I were discussing our inner psychopaths. Anyway, you should probably read the first story in "Devotion and Corrosion."
https://mwl.io/static/books/devotion-and-corrosion.html
Don't say we didn't warn you.

2026-07-09 15:11:21 UTC

Morning greetings from The Horde. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/890/655/254/033/892/original/fb6a57ff0dbc7008.mp4

2026-07-09 15:07:11 UTC

Art is resistance. Joy is survival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIfqSTBTJXQ

2026-07-09 10:56:49 UTC

Today's #60SecondsOfWIP has escaped! "The Pool Reverts."
At https://mwl.io/archives/24890 or your least loathed podcast aggregator.

2026-07-08 21:29:54 UTC

dojo o'clock!

2026-07-08 16:44:20 UTC

- reply

quite possibly, it's an apartment.
Worst case, I'll set the Ruckus back up. :flan_evil:

2026-07-08 16:43:36 UTC

- reply

Hmmm... RAIG does sound like RAGE, which is apropos?

2026-07-08 16:34:53 UTC

Trying running my office on wireless. Things connect, but seemed laggy compared to the dmarc. Speedtest.net is not a great way to test connectivity, but performing two consecutive tests against the same server is a reasonable test.
Mac Studio wifi: 18mbs down, 16 up. Good enough to work, but I'm paying for 300mbs.
Mac Studio ethernet to Mikrotik wifi bridge: 210mbs down, 200 up.
Sigh. Apparently I'm back on my Redundant Array of Inexpensive Crap kick. #sysadmin

2026-07-08 15:55:23 UTC

The bonsai, it has sprouted!
Gonna name her "Banzai!"
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/885/166/531/112/173/original/6fd0713bf387b710.jpg

2026-07-08 15:54:09 UTC

- reply

very cool!

2026-07-08 12:13:54 UTC

- reply

Our day is downhill from here. We should both go back to bed.

2026-07-08 12:13:24 UTC

A good #sysadmin article on how to tell if AI scrapers are eating your bandwidth.
https://bunny.net/blog/how-to-tell-if-scrapers-are-eating-your-bandwidth/

2026-07-08 12:07:49 UTC

Truffle is stashing fresh sheets, and if you get in his way he will correct you. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/884/271/055/904/096/original/8abc8531403f7eda.mp4

2026-07-08 12:04:39 UTC

- reply

Checking OCSP status and performing stapling on the command line.
I still have nightmares.

2026-07-08 12:00:22 UTC

John Oliver as a General Hospital villain?
The role he was born to play.
https://type-click-type.ghost.io/john-oliver-general-hospital-video-character/

2026-07-07 17:34:27 UTC

- reply

there are, if you have non-Thailand income

2026-07-07 01:52:41 UTC

no matter what, no matter the excuse: never trust anyone with a white supremacist tattoo.
What if they remove it? Well, are they doing anti-racist work? Doing the labor of contrition? Or are they expecting instant acceptance because they took the sign off?

2026-07-06 21:09:51 UTC

That's the #openzfsmastery "pools" chapter done!
Want to help me survive writing this book? Want your name in the book so you get your share of blame? Sponsor it at https://mwl.io/sponsor

2026-07-06 20:44:15 UTC

- reply

nope, not at all.
if I'm leaving the country, though, I'm going to be taking risks anyway. :flan_despair:

2026-07-06 20:40:02 UTC

If the Netherlands are on my bug-out list, maybe I *should* consider FOSDEM?
Fly into Brussels. Hop the bus for Amsterdam. Poke around for a week, see what I think. Have stroopwaffle for my 60thh birthday. Hit the con, go home.
But 8,000 people? :flan_yikes: That promises to be utterly overwhelming.

2026-07-06 19:28:23 UTC

- reply

:flan_XD: So fail.

2026-07-06 17:48:54 UTC

I think I win?
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/874/288/560/633/692/original/a3a7050a0cf0ddce.jpg

2026-07-06 14:40:54 UTC

RE: https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@peteorrall/116873481787949853
I don't care if this is true or not, I'm going with it.
#note1htk…4qkv

2026-07-06 13:25:19 UTC

new passport does NOT have 47's photo. #relieved

2026-07-06 13:21:59 UTC

- reply

If you want to learn to do a thing, you need to show up and do the thing. No way around it.

2026-07-06 12:45:03 UTC

Seems the Discourse Wheel has landed on "I don't have time to write, I'm not a full time writer, it's not fair, so I use AI to write." How did I become a full time writer?
By #writing and traditionally publishing a dozen books while employed, plus 14 failed books. I wrote many more failed books in college.
I gave up nights, weekends, holidays, TV, in favor of writing.
Some folks cannot do that. Many aren't *willing* to.

2026-07-06 11:31:04 UTC

The nice thing about having an incoherent book catalog and a blog with wildly varying content?
The AI spambots cannot comment sensibly on any one item. :flan_royal:

2026-07-05 14:41:16 UTC

- reply

yep, there's complications in folks staying. But the lower cost of living makes them much more surmountable.

2026-07-05 14:31:14 UTC

- reply

I don't have to learn Thai to reliably stay for the rest of my life. EU requires citizenship, which means a language.

2026-07-05 14:10:52 UTC

- reply

it is! But it's hard for people to follow me.
Offering shelter to friends who must flee the US is a vital concern.

2026-07-05 14:09:29 UTC

- reply

I do love Canada!
Check out the processing time on the Canadian self-employment visa. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/self-employed.html

2026-07-05 14:04:33 UTC

- reply

Everybody has to pay the rent.

2026-07-05 13:47:49 UTC

- reply

they are! Running a business is much more complicated there.

2026-07-05 13:46:05 UTC

- reply

yep, DAFT is delightful! and might save many people.

2026-07-05 13:45:34 UTC

- reply

canada has dandy gelato. Moving there is challenging.

2026-07-05 13:36:07 UTC

Researching countries to reliably emigrate to, where I can work as a writer and I can provide an way station for friends who must leave the US in a hurry. (I know, I know, "the midterms will fix everything," but I want to prepare.)
Many countries that are advertised as expat-friendly require resources I lack.
I keep winding up with the same list: Netherlands and Thailand.
I have friends in the Netherlands, but housing is challenging and Dutch is notoriously difficult to learn. I could probably manage it financially, but am concerned about those who would follow me.
Thailand is cheap and they welcome anyone but the weather... holy crap, the weather.
"Just leave the US." Ha!

2026-07-05 12:06:02 UTC

Cage cleaning day, and we are BETRAYED #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/867/276/858/312/519/original/cdbc1f79adb3c135.jpg

2026-07-04 15:29:12 UTC

Quercy is normally very definite about not wanting pets. I think the booms worry him. #petRats #rats
(fan and AC noise is much louder in the video than in real life, no idea why?)
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/862/414/432/655/887/original/b4c1aee763bb2030.mp4

2026-07-03 11:28:13 UTC

60 seconds of WIP? meh.
60 seconds of pets? YEAH
I know why you're really here. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/855/802/060/185/959/original/4e77c9e441dd6be9.mp4

2026-07-02 12:55:00 UTC

Today calls for "Satan, Bugs Bunny, and Me." Still the greatest album title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF9zoEPQ98w&list=PLRMKzqby90497DUqVH_WymLJUE-joQXl4
(cw: slurs, it was the 80s.)

2026-07-02 11:48:39 UTC

It's official, we have a schism!
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-07/holy-see-decrees-excommunication-lefebrians-consecrations.html

2026-07-02 11:41:58 UTC

Truffle is a very soft snugglebug. #petRats #rats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/850/195/975/121/947/original/99176d27a5345a3d.mp4

2026-07-02 11:38:25 UTC

In Detroit, it is nearly impossible to be a functional citizen without a car.
Me: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B8tItrRJOw8

2026-07-02 11:08:48 UTC

Today's #60SecondsOfWIP is out! "The Sixty-Seventh Son of the Duke of Horsehead." At https://mwl.io/archives/24880 or your favorite podcast aggregator.

2026-07-01 22:19:31 UTC

Dear Patronizers: July's See the Sausage Being Made is live! Check your account.
Dear Rest of World: June's StSbM is now public. It's last month's inside scoop, but it's still a scoop. https://mwl.io/archives/24883

2026-07-01 21:44:23 UTC

dang it, I meant to ask the BSDNow folks if I could do an interview on episode 666, but life overwhelmed me and I lost track of... everything.

2026-07-01 20:44:22 UTC

- reply

ooh! my favorite bit of all this?
"We don't excommunicate people. We warn them of the consequences of their planned actions and they might excommunicate themselves."
So... they DO understand boundaries! WOW.

2026-07-01 20:16:34 UTC

- reply

PLEASE. Please please please.

2026-07-01 18:46:26 UTC

- reply

it would let me use a subtitle like "What the Hell Is Going On???" :flan_XD: Hmmm...

2026-07-01 18:44:05 UTC

- reply

That's not bad!

2026-07-01 18:28:15 UTC

Now that I have native IPv6 at home, thinking it's time for a new netflow book. I no longer run a backbone, though, so I don't have a great big WAN. Pondering focus/titles:
Netflow for the Home (lol, no)
Netflow for Sysadmins?
Lab Netflow?
It seems nfsen/nfdump is the best toolkit out there that supports IPv6, but the reporting tools are nowhere near as good as flow-tools. This book is gonna need a bunch of sed, awk, and sort.

2026-07-01 14:03:40 UTC

- reply

once you're on pkgbase, freebsd-update should never be used again.
If it is used, the only possible effects would be harmful. (Unless they add a check that exits if pkgbase is detected, maybe?)

2026-07-01 13:59:40 UTC

- reply

good for her!
lots of tricks to get them comfy with you!
The biggest tricks are bribery and consent, which are very difficult for humans.

2026-07-01 13:37:42 UTC

#FreeBSD #pkgbase wish list:
make freebsd-update its own package, so it can be easily removed.

2026-06-28 18:37:53 UTC

In the unlikely event you care, I have a new FAQ at the end of https://mwl.io/faq#books

2026-06-28 16:12:57 UTC

Too many software licensing arguments come down to "but what about assholes?"
Assholes gonna asshole, and no license can stop them.

2026-06-28 15:44:09 UTC

- reply

Share and share alike is a worthy goal! We teach our kids to do that.
Making the world better is a worthy goal! We teach our kids to do that.
Make your choice and go with it. Pissing on others' choices is a mark of immaturity, foolishness, malignant tribalism, and poor empathy.

2026-06-28 15:28:31 UTC

- reply

The question is, what's important: the software, or the people?
People are more important.
Imagine the cost in human suffering if Microsoft had written their own TCP/IP stack. Harm reduction is legitimate.
Different goals.

2026-06-28 15:23:03 UTC

- reply

Yep. He hasn't done his homework, but instead wrapped his misconceptions in offensive language for clicks. Not worth engaging with.

2026-06-28 15:21:10 UTC

- reply

The purpose of the BSD license is to improve the minimum quality of software for core functions.
If you can't write a better TCP/IP stack than that in a BSD, don't. Just use ours. Or a better filesystem than UFS, or any number of other things.
People benefit, and people are the priority.

2026-06-28 15:00:44 UTC

- reply

The author of this piece does not understand the point or purpose of MIT/BSD licensing.

2026-06-27 17:09:51 UTC

- reply

Turns out that Comcast packet filters all IPv6 except the first /64. You have to call to get it turned off.
I wasted a week on this. :flan_reaper:

2026-06-27 16:49:06 UTC

Looks like Comcast routed only the first /64 of my /56 to me. :flan_rage:
Getting their helpdesk to accept a call, let alone explain IPv6 to them, is a freaking nightmare.

2026-06-25 18:49:40 UTC

oh, hey, it's my first ever attack on my store via IPv6! Yay?

2026-06-24 17:45:39 UTC

#Rats discover watermelon. #petRats
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/806/326/442/217/794/original/ccdecfdca5bbc7f4.mp4

2026-06-24 17:35:33 UTC

- reply

I'm truly trying to thank everyone who sent me something on my list. No clue who you are, so I have to be public.
I'm also trying to be super judicious with what I put on that. Picture hanging stuff? Sure. Fill in Doctor Who DVDs missing from my collection? Nah. Ibuprofen? Uh... when I woke up this morning after several evenings at the dojo, yeah. Before I even got out of bed, tbqh. But after consideration nah, I need to get that myself like a grownup.

2026-06-23 21:46:43 UTC

- reply

thanks to anonymous folks I can now make iced tea without dollar store microplastics, watch DVDs, and I even have a place to hang my hat.
Being able to hang my hat shouldn't feel like a big deal. But it is. It really is.
Thank you. :flan_heart:
https://cdn.hosted.spacebear.ee/sb-53d788bcd8441bb97cfb7a64f2552521/media_attachments/files/116/801/608/528/604/290/original/ff3fdcaa063d91c7.png

2026-06-23 19:37:47 UTC

The last month has been a huge financial shock. I'm not broke, but I'm certainly not financially secure.
I'm restricting purchase by spending literal cash or doing without.
Did my grocery shopping on my bicycle today, and it was surprisingly effective at restricting what I bought. "Not on the list? Okay, you can afford it. How are you going to get it home? You can't? Leave it there."
I now know exactly how much will fit in the big insulated bag I have in the milk crate on my bike.
The good news: I got some vanilla ice cream for Rock & Rye floats. Because must to be able to entertain visitors in a civilized manner.

2026-06-23 17:25:44 UTC

Hey @npub1qf5…ynp2 ! How would you feel about being namedropped in my next FreeBSD Journal column?
Before saying "fine," do remember what that column is like...