Nostr notes by Stefano Marinelli

It's not so much the 2.5 Gbps of the new FTTH that makes a ...

2026-07-06T13:42:02Z

It's not so much the 2.5 Gbps of the new FTTH that makes a difference for me (honestly, except for rare cases, I don't even notice it), but the upload speed: going from 20 Mbps to 1 Gbps makes a huge difference.

#FTTH

For the first time in my life, my home internet is faster than ...

2026-07-02T19:17:04Z

For the first time in my life, my home internet is faster than the connection on my datacenter servers. For once, the bottleneck isn't here, it's there.

Meaning, I can self-host stuff right here at the same speed as over there.

And I already have a couple of ideas on WHAT to host, on top of what I'm already running (and more efficient backups, obviously).

It's just a shame about the quality of the installation work. Seriously, unbelievable. Outside, the fiber cable wasn't even properly secured; it's just dangling off the wall with a couple of zip ties in the most pathetic way. If someone walks by on the inner pavement, they could easily snap it.

I'll have to take some time and try to fix it myself... but overall, the outcome is still extremely positive.

And finally, I have native IPv6, without needing any more Tunnel Brokers.

#FTTH #ipv6 #WeNeedMooarIPV6

Dental hygiene session done. Now the result needs to be tested. ...

2026-06-25T17:42:02Z

Dental hygiene session done.
Now the result needs to be tested.
Pizza?

the FTTH will be at home. Impossible, at the moment, in the ...

2026-06-18T09:18:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…kvrt
_________________________

the FTTH will be at home. Impossible, at the moment, in the office as there's a blocking ancient wall under the road and they can't drill a hole. SO things will be sloooow there

I'm not sure about Ivory. Many Mastodon apps just don't ...

2026-06-17T17:16:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…au8e
_________________________

I'm not sure about Ivory. Many Mastodon apps just don't work with snac (or don't work properly). That's why I'm making sure that MastoBlaster will always be compatible with snac.

If you want to try, let me know and I can create an account for you there.

some markdown is supported. Not all, but enough for me 🙂

2026-06-17T17:10:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…d23r
_________________________

some markdown is supported. Not all, but enough for me 🙂

that's a good plan!

2026-06-16T12:03:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…0mh0
_________________________

that's a good plan!

Nomadic Soul, Habit-Loving Heart ...

2026-06-15T19:35:03Z

Nomadic Soul, Habit-Loving Heart

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2025/07/03/nomadic-soul-habit-loving-heart/

#MyNotes #Repost #EveningComes

After "only" 23 months of waiting time...on Friday ...

2026-06-15T15:52:15Z

After "only" 23 months of waiting time...on Friday morning they'll come to install the 2.5G/1G FTTH! 🎉 🥳

#FTTH #Connectivity

Dear BSD Cafe friends, we have Matrix and a wonderful Delta Chat ...

2026-06-15T08:38:46Z

Dear BSD Cafe friends,
we have Matrix and a wonderful Delta Chat relay.

A BSD Cafe xmpp server...

#BSDCafe #BSDCafeServices

Interesting, isn't it? Like the story of the Pizza ...

2026-06-14T12:47:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…n9pl
_________________________

Interesting, isn't it? Like the story of the Pizza Margherita: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Margherita

absolutely. And there’s no bread in that bag but two slices of ...

2026-06-14T12:05:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…qymz
_________________________

absolutely. And there’s no bread in that bag but two slices of torta tenerina: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerina

Silent Sunny Sunday #SilentSunday #Photography #Ferrara #Italy ...

2026-06-14T11:53:11Z

Silent Sunny Sunday

#SilentSunday #Photography #Ferrara #Italy #Italia

This morning I got a Medium digest email. One of the articles had ...

2026-06-13T06:42:13Z

This morning I got a Medium digest email.
One of the articles had an interesting title. I click it. The page loads and I start reading.
Insipid content, 100% AI-generated.

Then the popup appears: I have to pay to read the rest.

Paying to read a sterile, useless article with a clickbait title generated by an AI?

I just... I don't even know...

One year ago today. Canadian sun at its best Memories of last ...

2026-06-12T12:01:19Z

One year ago today.
Canadian sun at its best

Memories of last year’s BSDCan

#BSDCan #Ottawa #Canada

Believe it or not, Italians can do certain things too! #Sweets ...

2026-05-31T16:43:15Z

Believe it or not, Italians can do certain things too!

#Sweets #Pizza #Nutella

Moooarrr powaaaarrr! More than for the bandwidth, I'm waiting ...

2026-05-22T16:33:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…vp52
_________________________

Moooarrr powaaaarrr!
More than for the bandwidth, I'm waiting for the FTTH for the reduced latency. That makes a real difference.

this would work, but I'm trying to avoid using (external) ...

2026-05-22T11:24:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…v74p
_________________________

this would work, but I'm trying to avoid using (external) CDNs, at the moment.

EDIT: done, let me know if you experience problems Brew ...

2026-05-22T07:55:37Z

EDIT: done, let me know if you experience problems

Brew (#forgejo), as usual, is being overloaded by the scrapers.

I think I'll have to put an Anubis in front of it. I don't love those "blocks", but sometimes you need to.

#BSDCafe #BSDCafeServices

So, #GitHub has been hacked. Own Your Data! #OwnYourData

2026-05-20T07:43:34Z

So, #GitHub has been hacked.

Own Your Data!

#OwnYourData

the pixel 7 is

2026-05-19T21:13:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…tnjq
_________________________

the pixel 7 is

Although I like my iPhone, when I pick up the Pixel I get a sense ...

2026-05-19T20:28:41Z

Although I like my iPhone, when I pick up the Pixel I get a sense of greater speed. It’s probably the animations, but I move faster.

Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract ...

2026-05-13T06:37:34Z

Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/bambu-lab-abusing-open-source-social-contract/

by Jeff Geerling (npub1zsz…4f77)

Sooner or later, I'll buy a 3D printer. But, after this, I think I'll look at other brands.

#OpenSource

Alex Zanardi has died. I met him once by chance, many years ago, ...

2026-05-02T08:44:40Z

Alex Zanardi has died.
I met him once by chance, many years ago, in Bologna. That man was pure energy.
The news saddens me.

Some fever, weak and sleepy. Today I'll (mostly) stay in bed.

2026-05-01T10:28:36Z

Some fever, weak and sleepy.
Today I'll (mostly) stay in bed.

Problem solved #Pizza #Food ...

2026-04-24T18:34:02Z

Problem solved

#Pizza #Food

I'm not sure about it, as I (still) don't know the ...

2026-04-13T07:04:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…a0vg
_________________________

I'm not sure about it, as I (still) don't know the purpose of this server.
I've recently deployed Coolify for another similar setup and they're satisfied, so I'll try to understand if that's an option.

My week starts with a request: "I need a server to deploy to ...

2026-04-13T06:48:24Z

My week starts with a request: "I need a server to deploy to production, but the devs have no idea how to do it. They don't know how to use the terminal, they don’t know how to handle certificates, nothing. They need to be able to click a few buttons and deploy directly to production. They're Vibe Coding experts."

Welcome to 2026.

#SysAdmin #IT

I start my modern car (2023) that's been sitting for about ...

2026-04-05T09:14:07Z

I start my modern car (2023) that's been sitting for about ten days. The very first thing it does is demand a software update, which fails because the battery is "too low". After driving it to charge, it finally starts the update (locking me out of the car for 30 minutes, completely unusable). Once it's done, the dashboard becomes "more modern" - which basically means it's worse and cluttered with useless information.

Then, I start the old car (2007) that's been parked for MONTHS. It spits out some smelly exhaust, makes a weird noise for a few seconds, and goes: "Let's go, I need to stretch my 'legs'."

I take it to the car wash. A guy there with a brand-new Chinese car takes a look and asks me about it. I tell him it's from 2007.
He peers inside the cabin and asks about the "infotainment" setup, since he "can't see the screen".
I calmly explain that it has a CD player, it even reads MP3s, and it has an Aux-in: I just plug my phone in with a cable and that's it.

He looked at me like I was an alien. Or an ancient Roman. How on earth do I survive without a screen always available, and having to actually plug in a physical cable every time? Crazy!

#cars #tech #ux #enshittification #software

Today, we're introducing three things. The first one is a ...

2026-04-01T16:29:52Z

Today, we're introducing three things.

The first one is a forum. A real forum - with categories, threads, and actual conversations that don't disappear in a timeline after six minutes.

The second is a Fediverse platform. Fully federated, ActivityPub-native. Your posts go out, the world's posts come in. No walled gardens, no algorithms, no tricks.

The third is a Bar. A place to sit down, talk to strangers who happen to care about the same weird things you do, and stay as long as you want.

A forum. A Fediverse platform. A bar.

Are you getting it?
These are not three separate things. This is one thing.

And we're calling it Billboard.

https://billboard.bsd.cafe

And no, we checked the calendar. We know. This is not an April Fools' joke.

We're just really bad at timing.

#BSDCafe #BSDCafeServices

My wife, after hearing a random snippet from yet another video on ...

2026-03-31T13:37:46Z

My wife, after hearing a random snippet from yet another video on social media: 'It sounds like a band of dead people playing.'

My mental image after hearing her say that:

#Quotes #Videogames #RetroGaming #MonkeyIsland

There is a subtle, almost sadistic pleasure in what I’m doing ...

2026-03-30T17:16:08Z

There is a subtle, almost sadistic pleasure in what I’m doing right now: I open boxes of brand-new ThinkCentre PCs, unpack them, hook them up to a monitor, keyboard, and network cable. I boot from USB and replace the preinstalled Windows 11 (never even started) with my Debian 13 golden image, using Clonezilla.

As of today, the setup is based on Debian 13, but I’m already working on a variant based on FreeBSD and jails.

#Linux #FreeBSD #Clonezilla #LiberatingPCs

Good morning, world! The FTTC is still down. I need to prepare ...

2026-03-25T07:34:29Z

Good morning, world!

The FTTC is still down. I need to prepare some (FreeBSD based) setups and I'm late. I can't manage them with the backup connection, so I'm getting a little worried.

Meanwhile, I'm listening to some music, a specific song I use when I need some charge, preparing for another long day.

Have a great Wednesday!

Mario solved the problem. But I increasingly feel like I chose ...

2026-03-24T19:06:05Z

Mario solved the problem.
But I increasingly feel like I chose the wrong job. If I asked for the same amount for the same hours of work, I'd be considered too expensive. And his job isn't threatened by LLMs or by people using them.

In the end, unclogging pipes pays better than keeping servers running.
And that’s a fact that should make us reflect on today’s society.

This winter I couldn't use my favorite jacket. Sure, it's ...

2026-03-22T19:10:39Z

This winter I couldn't use my favorite jacket. Sure, it's old by now and a bit loose (I bought it when I was heavier). But I haven't been able to find it since last summer. The last known location was Ottawa, in the sense that I had taken it to BSDCan but didn't end up using it. It packs down nicely in a backpack, so it's great for traveling.

I spent the whole winter wondering where I might have lost it. Maybe in Ottawa, but that didn't seem likely. I didn't take it to Zagreb. Maybe at my parents' place? But they would have found it. So eventually I came to terms with it: it was gone.

A little while ago I opened the wardrobe to look for a shirt to wear tomorrow and... there it was, hanging among the shirts (I have no idea why), clean and smelling fresh. My wife knows nothing about it.
I'm starting to think the ghost of the previous owner is still wandering around this house.
Or, more simply, sometimes I just have my head in "the clouds" 😆

I like both of them, but for a workstation I have a very good ...

2026-03-22T19:01:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…g9sy
_________________________

I like both of them, but for a workstation I have a very good experience with Void.

wow. That's a beautiful soundtrack.

2026-03-22T16:08:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…a5ct
_________________________

wow. That's a beautiful soundtrack.

I took a walk and went to check the spot where they cut the FTTC ...

2026-03-21T16:42:46Z

I took a walk and went to check the spot where they cut the FTTC line. There’s a hole, just like the one that was in front of my house when they broke the water pipes. The road is covered in dried mud, there’s a temporary patch to supply water to the neighborhood, and the main cable/fiber is completely severed. No one was working on it.

In other words, the providers' promises to restore service by this morning, or at the latest tomorrow morning, are pointless, because I don't think they'll be able to intervene over the weekend.

In the meantime, I've had to postpone an important installation because I need a stable connection. I can't do it at the office either, both because it's still unusable due to #Crapturday, and because I can't move all the machines there.

Some of my neighbors don't have a 4G/5G backup connection and are avoiding leaving their homes, since there's currently a spike in burglaries and their cameras are unreachable from outside. Even some alarm systems are affected, which in my opinion is a design flaw.

More, all the 4G/5G networks are overloaded (more than 2000 persons are affected by this problem) and it's also affecting the nearby hospital. Slowdowns there as well, since the nearest base stations are often the ones close to the hospital. Personally, I configured the Chateau to use the bands farther from the hospital, so as to leave more resources available for them.
It struggles a bit more and my bandwidth drops, but that's not a priority for me today.

At least today I had a good lasagna 😉

Your reader, your couch, your rules. Starting today, both ...

2026-03-21T09:45:00Z

Your reader, your couch, your rules.

Starting today, both my-notes.dragas.net and it-notes.dragas.net are changing the way they distribute content - on RSS and on the Fediverse alike.

No more excerpts. No more "read more" links. Full posts, delivered directly to you, wherever you choose to read them.

Here's why:
I don't run ads. I don't have paywalls. I don't sell attention, or measure success in page views. I never have, and I have no intention of starting. My blogs exist because I enjoy writing, and because
some of what I write might be useful - or simply enjoyable - to someone else.
That's the whole business model. There isn't one.

When that's the case, there's no reason to keep content behind a click.
Sending you a teaser and asking you to visit my site would only make sense if I needed you *on my site* - for an impression, for a conversion, for something. I don't. So why would I make you leave your reader, your client, your comfortable corner of the internet, just to come to mine?

What I want instead is simple: that you can read what I write the way you'd read a book on a cold winter evening, wrapped in a warm blanket. Privately.
Quietly. On your own terms, in your own space, without anything tracking your eyes or nudging you toward something else.

Your RSS reader is yours. Your Fediverse instance is yours. The content should be yours too.

If you're on the Fediverse, you can follow both accounts directly:

- my-notes → MyNotes - by Stefano Marinelli (npub1q2n…fuvr)

- it-notes → IT Notes - https://it-notes.dragas.net (npub1peu…lsmk)

These are low-traffic accounts. If you don't want them to get lost in your timeline, feel free to hit the notification bell. I promise it won't make much noise.

So from now on, it will be.

#ITNotes #MyNotes #Blogging #Fediverse

The Chateau is connected to my home network via wifi. The rb5009 ...

2026-03-19T19:59:13Z

The Chateau is connected to my home network via wifi. The rb5009 is using the Chateau as gateway.
The home network is now decently connected.

It's a little more complex than this, but it works.

I just finished an amazing call. The person I was talking to was ...

2026-03-18T13:41:38Z

I just finished an amazing call.
The person I was talking to was trying to explain to me that Docker is an entire operating system, so he doesn’t want Linux or any of the BSDs, but Docker. I explained that, in order to run Docker, you need a kernel.

"No, you don't. Docker does everything on its own. If you think that, then you don’t really understand operating systems."

I told the guy that I couldn’t help him, since I'm not experienced enough with operating systems. He was a bit disappointed, but we said goodbye on friendly terms.

I'm used to recognizing when I'm too ignorant for the person I'm talking to, and I'm happy to step aside.

#IT #SysAdmin

Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto This sentence is more ...

2026-03-18T07:44:06Z

Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto

This sentence is more than two thousand years old, and I believe it is more relevant today than ever.

Human beings have always created tools to improve their condition. Their productivity. We have invented tools for agriculture, medicine, electronics, and more. Each of these techniques and technologies has solved a problem (often creating others, but that is part of the game).

One thing I have never understood, however, is the desire to dehumanize ourselves. To remove from humans what is human. It almost seems as if the dream of many is to become machines. Productivity at all costs, even if it means crushing people, just to see numbers grow. Results achieved through shortcuts, even if that means losing something along the way.

Alongside this, there is also a push toward total standardization, stripping away the unique traits that define us as individuals.

To be human means having emotions, desires, dreams, thoughts. If we give up all of this, what is left of us?

#Reflections #Life

The last spam e-mail I've just received. This is funny: ...

2026-03-17T18:09:09Z

The last spam e-mail I've just received. This is funny:

"Hi

I came across Illumos Cafe online and wanted to reach out because we're working with other communities that are offering operating systems.‍"

...ok...

"I’m currently working with a few communities on campaigns that are getting their sales teams meetings with warm leads every month. We’re targeting people who need operating systems using personalized email sequences. "

...WHAT???...

"If I could help you connect with potential clients like this, would that be helpful to you?‍"

...WHAT????...

LLMs, at their worst...

Why I love FreeBSD A personal reflection on my first encounter ...

2026-03-16T08:04:40Z

Why I love FreeBSD

A personal reflection on my first encounter with FreeBSD in 2002, how it shaped the way I design and run systems, and why its philosophy, stability, and community still matter to me more than twenty years later.

https://it-notes.dragas.net/2026/03/16/why-i-love-freebsd/

#FreeBSD #ITNotes #RunBSD #IT #SysAdmin #OS #OpenSource

Where Have You Been for the Last 20 Years? A personal journey ...

2026-03-14T11:43:42Z

Where Have You Been for the Last 20 Years?

A personal journey from 20 years of self-doubt to discovering the welcoming BSD community at BSDCan. Sometimes courage comes later in life.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2025/06/17/where-have-you-been-for-the-last-20-years/

#BSDCan #BSDCon #EuroBSDCon #Life #Memories #MyNotes

Dear friends of the #BSDCafe and the entire community, ...

2026-03-14T10:13:37Z

Dear friends of the #BSDCafe and the entire community,

Unfortunately, sometimes things in life do not go as planned. Becoming an adult also means learning to accept this and to set priorities. Over the past few months I have had some family matters that required my attention. I waited as long as possible before making a final decision, but the moment has now come.

I have informed the BSDCan team that, sadly, I will have to withdraw from the event and will not be able to present my talk.

BSD conferences have become some of the most important events of the year for me. They bring joy, positivity, and motivation. When one ends, I already start looking forward to the next with enthusiasm. In Zagreb I said goodbye to everyone with "see you in Ottawa". This year, unfortunately, that will not happen.

The only consolation is that the situation fortunately seems to be moving toward a resolution, although more slowly than expected. Because of this, I cannot in good conscience keep things uncertain and hope that everything will work out in time. I need to take a step back for now, already feeling the enthusiasm for the next EuroBSDCon.

#BSDCan #EuroBSDCon #BSD #RunBSD

I learned a technique to avoid spending too much time in front of ...

2026-03-13T20:13:43Z

I learned a technique to avoid spending too much time in front of the computer after dinner. Basically, I decided that as soon as I need to go pee, I shut it down. It works. Except then I turn it back on because “just one more thing…”

The Scent of the City A morning walk through Ferrara becomes a ...

2026-03-13T16:32:00Z

The Scent of the City

A morning walk through Ferrara becomes a journey through scent and memory - from London coffee to a grandmother's market, from ancient hospital corridors to the unmistakable perfume of fresh bread.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/03/13/the-scent-of-the-city/

#MyNotes #Life #Reflections #Family #Memories #Ferrara

Alright, here we are. The decline is accelerating. An IT manager ...

2026-03-12T11:35:42Z

Alright, here we are. The decline is accelerating.
An IT manager at a client company, someone capable I've been collaborating with for years, recently hired three new developers. However, he asked me for a Linux server instead of the usual FreeBSD because "that way the devs can move faster, AIs can't produce valid results for BSD systems".

Given our relationship, I called him and told him I disagreed. Somewhat bitterly, he replied that these guys had been "imposed on him". They're polite and willing, but completely lacking any real programming principles. They are "experts in vibe coding", and for management that's more than enough.

In other words, we're not supposed to build a working and efficient server anymore, but a vibe-coding-friendly one.

My instinctive reaction was to ask him whether, when a data breach eventually happens, because sooner or later it will if the people writing the code neither write nor read code, they'll be able to tell the authorities that the data controller was an AI.

He didn't say anything else and thanked me. Maybe, and I stress maybe, management will understand that.

#IT #SysAdmin

Sometimes the world is more beautiful when viewed through the ...

2026-03-12T08:10:26Z

Sometimes the world is more beautiful when viewed through the reflection of the water.
Happiness is most beautiful when seen through the eyes of the people we love.

#Photography #Photo #Life #Reflections #ThrowbackThursday #Throwback

I had 142 servers there. I will never forget that night/day

2026-03-11T15:50:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…eq69
_________________________

I had 142 servers there. I will never forget that night/day

One of the reasons why, over time, I've learned not to ...

2026-03-05T16:43:38Z

One of the reasons why, over time, I've learned not to condemn things outright is that life itself teaches you something important: sometimes you have to make the wrong choice for the right reasons.

Life is full of compromises. And the more you live, the more you learn (or should learn) to be at least a little tolerant of the choices others make, even when they seem to clash with your own convictions.

In the past few weeks I've had to make decisions I would never have imagined a few years ago. Choices very far from my own point of view. But sometimes reality pushes you into a corner, and the options are simple: give up, or make a "wrong" choice now and fix things later.

A recent example I can share: I advised a client to reinstall Windows 11. I wasn't happy about it, but at that moment there was no real alternative.
This morning he told me their software will soon move to a web-based platform. Which means the next step will be a new FreeBSD server and, at that point, the clients can move to Linux or a BSD system.

Fight your battles. Stand for what you believe in. But try to remain clear-headed.

Life teaches that you often go farther by moving slowly but steadily toward your destination, stopping every now and then to look around.

#Life

There's a new wave of spam - all around the Fediverse. Please ...

2026-03-03T09:12:54Z

There's a new wave of spam - all around the Fediverse.

Please remember, there's no "Mastodon Moderation Team" sending out strange verification messages.

That's all spam.

#Mastodon #Fediverse #FediTips #Spam #CyberSecurity

The Scent of Freedom A rubber keychain shaped like a foot, a ...

2026-03-02T09:48:56Z

The Scent of Freedom

A rubber keychain shaped like a foot, a Piaggio Zip, and the sweet, terrifying taste of independence.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/03/02/the-scent-of-freedom/

#MyNotes #Blogging #Memories #Life #Reflections

Today is my grandfather’s birthday. He would have turned 99, ...

2026-03-02T07:25:53Z

Today is my grandfather’s birthday. He would have turned 99, and he was the one who inspired the #FediMeteo project.

Happy birthday, Grandpa.

https://it-notes.dragas.net/2025/02/26/fedimeteo-how-a-tiny-freebsd-vps-became-a-global-weather-service-for-thousands/

#Birthday

Let me introduce you... Her Majesty, the Pizza! #Food #Pizza ...

2026-03-01T19:43:30Z

Let me introduce you... Her Majesty, the Pizza!

#Food #Pizza #Italy #Italia

Solitary, serene, and shining in the Silent Sunday Sunset ...

2026-03-01T14:04:03Z

Solitary, serene, and shining in the Silent Sunday Sunset

#Photography #Photo #SilentSunday #Sunset #Italy #Winter #LateWinter

179 Euros A 179 Euro purchase in 2010 seemed like a splurge. 16 ...

2026-02-23T11:01:38Z

179 Euros

A 179 Euro purchase in 2010 seemed like a splurge. 16 years later, that appliance has survived moves, earthquakes, and snowstorms, becoming a silent witness to my life's changes.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/02/22/179-euros/

#MyNotes #Blogging #Life #Memories

#MastoBlaster has its own #Fediverse account - powered by #snac ...

2026-02-22T18:11:16Z

#MastoBlaster has its own #Fediverse account - powered by #snac

Follow MastoBlaster - Official Account (npub1gxv…wqs9) to receive all the updates, insights, etc.

#iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #GoToSocial #ActivityPub

The path is dark, with a few splashes of color. But the light is ...

2026-02-22T12:28:33Z

The path is dark, with a few splashes of color.
But the light is there, at the end.

#Photography #Photo #SilentSunday #ThereIsHope

here 🙂 ...

2026-02-18T13:19:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…wwl7
_________________________

here 🙂

After quite some time, I’m finally ready to share this. ...

2026-02-18T12:18:25Z

After quite some time, I’m finally ready to share this.

MastoBlaster is now available in public testing on TestFlight.

It is a lightweight, privacy-first Fediverse client for iOS, built around a simple idea: fast, small, predictable behavior, and first-class support for snac.

What makes it different:
• snac-first by design, not "compatible by accident"
• Works with all Mastodon API compatible software, including Mastodon, snac, GoToSocial, Akkoma, and others
• EXIF stripping on upload (HDR and orientation preserved)
• Optional on-device alt text generation via Apple Intelligence for your uploads and for images in your timeline
• Markdown posting for snac
• Granular notifications, grouping, multi-account
• Blocking and moderation tools
• Very small footprint, very low RAM usage

Alt text generation happens entirely on device via Apple APIs on supported hardware. Nothing is sent to external services.

It is built around my own workflow and priorities. It may not be for everyone, and that is perfectly fine.

Important note:
MastoBlaster will always be free for BSD Cafe users, illumos Cafe users, and for anyone connecting to a snac instance, including self-hosted ones.

The app is already usable, but this is still a test phase. I am looking for feedback, bug reports, and real-world usage insights.

TestFlight link:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

Stay tuned.

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #snac2 #Akkoma #GoToSocial #ActivityPub #OwnYourData

The Doctor's Eyes Curious minds never grow old. Their fear ...

2026-02-17T18:19:40Z

The Doctor's Eyes

Curious minds never grow old. Their fear isn't aging, but running out of time to learn.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/02/16/the-doctors-eyes/

#MyNotes #Blogging #Life #Reflections #Science

There is a Mastodon instance that publishes content from its own ...

2026-02-12T17:39:21Z

There is a Mastodon instance that publishes content from its own PeerTube instance. These contents are narrated aloud, likely by an AI, in several languages, and are based on articles that appear online. Today this happened with an article I shared from my blog.

The problem is that there is no attribution to the original author and or the original source site. On the contrary, it gives the impression that the content was produced directly by whoever runs that site or instance.

This is completely detached from the idea of properly sharing information. Taking inspiration is a wonderful thing. Claiming someone else’s work as your own is not.

I contacted the account in question this morning. I have not received any reply, even though other content has been published in the meantime. A short while ago I also contacted the instance administrator.

I will wait until tomorrow morning. If I do not receive a satisfactory response, I will publicly disclose the instance and the related content and block the entire domain. There are additional details that I prefer not to reveal at this time which further worsen the situation.

This is not how we act in the Fediverse.

In the Fediverse we respect one another.
Let us avoid bringing improper practices here. You are free to use my posts as you wish. You can even make money by applying my advice.
Just do not take away my attribution.

#Fediverse #FediBlock #FediAdmin #HeadsUP

Make your own Read-Only Device with NetBSD One detail that is ...

2026-02-12T10:10:24Z

Make your own Read-Only Device with NetBSD

One detail that is often overlooked when dealing with embedded (or remote) devices is a key point of vulnerability: the file system.

https://it-notes.dragas.net/2024/09/10/make-your-own-readonly-device-with-netbsd/

#NetBSD #RunBSD #EmbeddedDevices #OwnYourData #ITNotes

Just received an email from my mail server administrator. They ...

2026-02-11T20:08:55Z

Just received an email from my mail server administrator. They sent me a link to change my password because it's 'insecure'.

My mail admin is so efficient...

...hey, wait a minute... I AM my mail administrator! 🤦‍♂️

#Phishing #SelfHosting #SysAdminLife #SecurityFail #InfoSec

This is not a very easy period for me. Even though I try to stay ...

2026-02-11T17:12:20Z

This is not a very easy period for me. Even though I try to stay positive, I have worries and things that keep me tense, so my mind often looks for an escape toward more positive thoughts.
The BSD Cafe, the illumos Cafe, the wonderful friends from the Fediverse and the BSD community, and many of them also in real life. Because for me the digital world and the physical one are closely interconnected. And that's fantastic.

That is exactly why I am not ashamed to say that today, when I arrived at the office to meet the insurance adjuster, I found a package waiting for me. I already knew part of what was inside, but two other items, the ones in the photo here, even though the chocolates were not for me but for my wife, were a surprise. They were unexpected and I admit I was moved while opening it.

Thank you. Truly, thank you. Because I do not need AI telling me I am right even when I am wrong, but human beings whose warmth can be felt even across many, many, many kilometers.

#ThankYou #Friendship #FeelingGrateful #Life #InvestInPeople #HumanContact

When I open specific commercial social media and read certain ...

2026-02-09T16:26:45Z

When I open specific commercial social media and read certain threads, I wonder if they’re full of bots or idiots.

I hope it’s the former, but I fear it’s the latter…

#Social #SocialNetworks

I have some pieces for my-notes that would be, in many ways, much ...

2026-02-08T17:51:17Z

I have some pieces for my-notes that would be, in many ways, much better than what I’ve been posting lately.
But I can’t write them. Or, at the very least, I can’t publish them.

And this is fantastic on the one hand, but a sort of curse on the other. Who knows, maybe one day I will, perhaps in a less direct way.

It might seem sad, but it’s actually the opposite: when some of the best parts of your life can’t be told, it means you’ve lived through some definitely interesting experiences.

#Life

My tragicomic afternoon: I had to go out, but since this morning ...

2026-02-05T18:26:57Z

My tragicomic afternoon: I had to go out, but since this morning they have been digging up the road in front of my house for works (FTTH?), and at that moment a huge pile of dirt was blocking the street. Without telling anyone they'd block the road for hours. But I had to pass, so I had to do an absurd maneuver to get out from my home and, in any case, add a few extra kilometers to the route.

When I came back, I saw an apocalyptic scene: they had broken an important water pipe, so the road was full of water and, with it gushing out, it basically flooded and soaked my entire garden. I did manage to get back in.

Meanwhile, while I was in the garage, I noticed that a pigeon had left a souvenir on the car. I grabbed a piece of damp toilet paper and cleaned it. Then I went to throw it into the toilet and dropped the car key into the toilet (clean). I rushed and took the whole key apart. It was in the water for less than a second and, fortunately, it did not get into the electronic part. Or at least it still works.

Now I go to wash my hands and there is no water. I can hear them working in the street.
They did not notify anyone and cut off the water right at dinnertime.

I think it is better to have dinner and head straight to bed 🙂

#PeculiarDay

I got a pimple on my temple. My wife says I might be stressed. I ...

2026-02-05T15:33:31Z

I got a pimple on my temple.
My wife says I might be stressed.
I think I’m probably getting young again.

Sometimes the pressure is too strong. Sometimes you feel the need ...

2026-02-05T11:19:20Z

Sometimes the pressure is too strong.
Sometimes you feel the need to unplug.
Sometimes it feels like you do not have enough energy.

Unplug.
Go out.

The road ahead of you can be complex, muddy, full of puddles.
You may feel alone. But you are not.
You have yourself, you have the people who care about you, you have all of nature around you.

You will be able to get past the puddles, and the sun, that sun among the clouds, is ready to shine to light your way and dry them.

#Photography #Photo #Motivation #ThursdayMotivation #MakeYourOwnKindOfMusic

The time is probably right. Back in 2022, when I was still using ...

2026-02-04T17:31:19Z

The time is probably right.

Back in 2022, when I was still using iOS, I wasn’t completely happy with the Fediverse apps that were available. I was mostly using Akkoma, and the interface I liked the most was actually its web UI, even on mobile. So I started playing with Xcode and put together the foundations of an app tailored to my needs.

A lot has changed since then and today we have great alternatives like IceCubes, Mona, Ivory, etc. Each one has strengths and weaknesses though, so I picked up my old project again and kept pushing it forward.

So I’m happy to announce that my app will finally see the light: I’ve been using it for the past few days and, in my spare time, I’m fixing bugs and adding missing features. I’m building it around my own needs, so it doesn’t have to “appeal to everyone”. I wouldn’t call it opinionated, but it’s definitely targeted.

The app will have one key trait: #snac2 support will be a first-class feature, not an incidental one. Many apps, especially on iOS, support snac as a side effect, but the experience is often not optimal. In this case, the choice is deliberate and it strictly follows the Mastodon API support implemented by snac. So snac will work properly (within the limits of the platform, of course).

Among the features already implemented: the app is minimal and lightweight (under 10 MB, including debug code), easy on RAM, and privacy-first (for example it strips EXIF data from media before posting, so the server will never see it). On snac it also cleans up the "Boosted by Aoderelay" messages that appear when using a relay, removes the character limit, and supports posting in Markdown.

I also added support for Apple Intelligence to generate alt text, both for the media I post and for media posted by others that is missing alt text.

Everything is processed locally through Apple APIs and only on supported devices. The results aren't amazing, Apple Intelligence is extremely limited, but in my opinion it's the only privacy-friendly and ethical way to approach it. And of course, you can disable it.

On Mastodon it supports all the main features: lists, quote posts, granular notifications (you can choose what you want for each category), notification grouping, multi-account support, and it works.

It's still missing a few things (block, etc.) and has some bugs, which I’m spotting as I keep using it.
As soon as it's stable enough, I'll invite a few people to test it. I still haven't fully decided how I'll distribute it: an Apple Developer account has a yearly cost, and I hope to reuse it for other projects too. So this app might be paid, with a trial period, but if possible (I still need to check what’s feasible) I'd like it to be free if you connect to one of the BSD Cafe instances, illumos Cafe, or any snac instance, including your own.

I don't know how long it will take before it's ready... but I can already tell you what it will be called.
It already has a name, and it's... MastoBlaster.

This name was chosen for personal reasons, and also because of its similarity to Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder, which even today feels relevant and fitting for the Fediverse.

Stay tuned!

#MastoBlaster #Fediverse #Mastodon #iOS #FediverseApp #Announcement #Apple #snac #snac2 #BSDCafe #illumosCafe

Morning reflection: becoming an adult isn’t about getting ...

2026-02-04T08:47:46Z

Morning reflection: becoming an adult isn’t about getting older, but about learning when the time comes to "disengage". When the stream of thoughts, disagreements, integrity, that feeling of being right, turns into a simple "OK".
Not because you changed your mind, but because you understand that continuing to argue won’t change it either.
And so that OK is both an ending and a beginning: the end of the discussion, and the start of putting into practice what you believe anyway.

#MorningThoughts #MorningMood #CaptainItsWednesday

#OwnYourData Always.

2026-02-03T21:06:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…gx4d
_________________________

#OwnYourData
Always.

Sure. Only waiting won’t solve the problem. But waiting for the ...

2026-02-03T21:00:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…qpf9
_________________________

Sure. Only waiting won’t solve the problem. But waiting for the right time to step in surely will.

Some would say it’s Karma. I’d just say that good things ...

2026-02-03T20:56:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…elag
_________________________

Some would say it’s Karma. I’d just say that good things eventually happen, if you’re brave enough to wait for them.

Never! Well done!

2026-02-03T20:22:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…ez9r
_________________________

Never!
Well done!

Today I had to make a purchase. While looking into it, I ...

2026-02-02T21:47:12Z

Today I had to make a purchase. While looking into it, I discovered that a European electronics chain had the same price as the well-known group that delivers things to your door. I placed the order. Five minutes later, the item was ready for pickup. In the afternoon, I went there at my leisure. No risk of loss or theft, no courier tossing it into the garden without care. A kind young man handed it to me and innocently asked if I needed help setting it up. All at the same price, but with many more smiles and the awareness that I contributed to my “neighbor’s” paycheck.

The older I get, the more I believe that true modernity is valuing human connection.

The Weight of a Millimeter A distracted driver, a motorcycle ...

2026-02-02T12:40:48Z

The Weight of a Millimeter

A distracted driver, a motorcycle crash, and the terrifying wait to see if I would ever walk again.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/02/02/the-weight-of-a-millimeter/

#MyNotes #Blogging #Life #Reflections #Memories #Blogging #WiFi #Hacking

I’ve just received a wonderful email. I’m so excited! More ...

2026-02-01T20:16:21Z

I’ve just received a wonderful email. I’m so excited!

More about this in the coming days.

#RunBSD #NetBSD

My toilet flush, back in 2007 PS: there's a specific reason. ...

2026-01-31T18:00:31Z

My toilet flush, back in 2007

PS: there's a specific reason. That flush didn't work properly.

#Fun #Joke

This one beats them all and it’s going to make me laugh until ...

2026-01-30T12:46:08Z

This one beats them all and it’s going to make me laugh until tonight:

“I’ve been assigned to carry out a penetration test on a server you manage. The test will be performed from the outside, since the perimeter security needs to be assessed. In order to perform the test, I therefore ask you to disable any firewall, protection, blacklist. If any of these are in place, the server might not be reachable and could prevent the assessment.”

I had to read it three times just to make sure I’d understood it properly.

#IT #SysAdmin #HorrorStories

The Scent of a Photo My smartphone just showed me a photo, taken ...

2026-01-29T09:14:24Z

The Scent of a Photo

My smartphone just showed me a photo, taken exactly four years ago today. I published it on the Fediverse back then, showing nothing but enthusiasm for the great takeout food we had ordered.
The truth was different.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2026/01/28/the-scent-of-a-photo/

#MyNotes #Life #Reflections #Blogging #Memories

Tonight the waves of bot traffic hitting many of the servers I ...

2026-01-29T08:57:32Z

Tonight the waves of bot traffic hitting many of the servers I manage have intensified, including Brew on BSD Cafe, but not only that. Honestly, the feeling I have now is no longer the same as it was some time ago (AI scrapers), but that there are real disruption operations going on. I can see it’s much more concentrated around certain providers and certain datacenters. If I block some countries like China, the numbers drop dramatically.

I still haven’t figured out whether there’s something specific and targeted happening (a broad DDoS) or if they’re still scrapers, but they honestly seem really dumb.

Maybe we should just create an alternative network and leave the Internet to these entities.
At this point they’re just talking to themselves anyway.

#IT #SysAdmin #Networking #DDoS

My Access Point has a watchdog #MikroTik #AccessPoint ...

2026-01-27T19:53:18Z

My Access Point has a watchdog

#MikroTik #AccessPoint

Great idea!

2026-01-27T13:41:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…38tq
_________________________

Great idea!

Well done! There’s never a true resting day for a true ...

2026-01-25T21:21:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…jjtt
_________________________

Well done! There’s never a true resting day for a true sysadmin. If we don’t have to fix things, we build new things. It’s a curse. And a blessing.

Memories of a walk in nature, 13 years ago, in search of a Silent ...

2026-01-25T12:31:45Z

Memories of a walk in nature, 13 years ago, in search of a Silent Sunday, a bit of peace in a tumultuous and turbulent period of my life that would soon come to an end, although I didn't know it yet.

This photo holds a profound significance, known only to me.

#Photography #Photo #Picture #Pic #Pics #NaturePhotography #SilentSunday #Peace

Silent Sunset from 2019 #SilentSunday #Photography #Photo #Sunset ...

2026-01-25T12:08:02Z

Silent Sunset from 2019

#SilentSunday #Photography #Photo #Sunset

Today's politicians are the human version of Large Language ...

2026-01-23T13:30:42Z

Today's politicians are the human version of Large Language Models: they just predict the next word you want to hear, regardless of the truth.

#ReadingTheNews

I thought Italy was the land of bureaucracy. An overseas company ...

2026-01-23T08:51:38Z

I thought Italy was the land of bureaucracy.

An overseas company wants a certificate for my company. I need to go to a specific office to get it and then scan it. I could get the same document online, but it wouldn't be signed. However, it’s a certificate where I declare... so I would just sign it digitally anyway. But no, they want the paper version, scanned, and then sent to them.

It doesn't make any sense.

#Bureaucracy

First smelly task of the day: accomplished. Let’s go on with ...

2026-01-22T15:34:31Z

First smelly task of the day: accomplished.
Let’s go on with the new FreeBSD bare metal server I’m preparing.

They say AI isn’t profitable. That’s not true. Twice just ...

2026-01-21T08:41:06Z

They say AI isn’t profitable. That’s not true.
Twice just this past week, I’ve been contacted and paid to fix problems caused by developers who relied on AI to configure servers.

#AI

This afternoon, after lunch, I laid down for a bit and opened my ...

2026-01-17T19:31:23Z

This afternoon, after lunch, I laid down for a bit and opened my security camera app. As soon as I opened the office feed, I jumped: the floor was covered in water. I bolted out of bed, grabbed a quick coffee, and raced to the office.

The moment I opened the door, the scene was way worse than I had imagined. It wasn't water; it was sewage. It had backed up through the toilet and flooded everything. It must have come up with some force, too, because the toilet and the floor around it were... well, let's just say it was a splatter scene, worse than any horror movie I've ever seen.

Of course, since it's Saturday afternoon, the building manager is unreachable. I managed to get a hold of a drainage company, but they won't be able to actually do the job until Monday. However, the owner of the company rushed over and at least managed to unblock the main drain.

It looks like someone on the upper floors (probably the University students on the top floor) had been flushing napkins, dental floss, hair, tissues, pads, etc., which created a clog at the outlet to the public sewers. The last video I saw from the camera was from Thursday morning, and it was still dry back then. Basically, every time someone upstairs used the bathroom, everything they flushed ended up in my office.

So, would it be fair to say I’ve had a shitty afternoon?

#SaturdayAdventures

UPDATE: One of the company owners (whom I've known for many ...

2026-01-14T12:34:36Z

UPDATE: One of the company owners (whom I've known for many years and is a good person) has asked to speak with me in about fifteen minutes. I've agreed. I'm curious to see what he has to say. I'll update this post after the call.

Yesterday I lost a client. And I couldn't be happier about it.

It's a long-standing client, but the management changed a few months ago. On Monday, they requested an emergency intervention, which I handled immediately.

On Tuesday (yesterday, evening), they asked for a non-urgent enhancement to be closed by Wednesday evening. I explained that due to various reasons (including urgent family matters), I wouldn't be able to finish the task before Friday. That's when the lecturing started: they told me they set tight deadlines even for non-emergencies because "that's the proper way to do things", and anyone working with them must respect them without exception.

I requested a video call to clarify. I explained that the work requires nearly a full day and that I simply couldn't close it by Wednesday. Even the physical time required to copy the data exceeded their deadline. But the new management believes that by applying pressure, you can overcome anything. Even the laws of physics.

Their response was sarcastic: "Our requests take priority, even if you are dying". I smiled and reiterated that I had no other way. "We will therefore have to find a new consultant who respects our timing", they said.

My response: "Okay. Our agreement expired on 31st December. I was waiting for a renewal, but it never arrived. Meaning, I have no legal obligations toward you. You have the data, the passwords, everything. Have a great day.".

The manager, annoyed and failing to understand the implications, replied: "Fine, we’ll look for someone younger with fewer family ties to manage.".

This morning, the phone rang. It was the manager, asking me to reconsider. His tone remained contemptuous, so I told him my decision was final. Two minutes later, I got a call from their biggest client - the one responsible for over 50% of their revenue. They had been notified I was leaving and informed the company they would also leave if I was no longer the one supervising their machines.

I called the manager back, friendly, trying to see if they were willing to change their attitude - to move from peremptory orders to requests between human beings. He started talking about "suing for damages" if they lost their main client because of me (to be clear: I am not taking that client for myself).

I don’t know how this story will evolve, but right now, I'm just enjoying a breath of fresh air outside my window.

#IT #FreelanceLife #WorkLifeBalance #ToxicManagement #TechLife #Consulting #SelfEmployed

it is great! My wife just woke up saying "hey, you're ...

2026-01-12T20:27:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…ysec
_________________________

it is great! My wife just woke up saying "hey, you're watching a cool video, this time!"

I'm watching it now!

2026-01-12T20:25:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…h483
_________________________

I'm watching it now!

eheh you spotted the quote

2026-01-12T20:05:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…sdar
_________________________

eheh you spotted the quote

we live in a mad mad world

2026-01-12T20:01:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…w6dw
_________________________

we live in a mad mad world