I run mint on a ideapad flex and it’s been great. Touch screen works, speakers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, gaming, etc all good. I got the laptop cheap with a broken screen, I replaced the screen and added a bigger NVMe and it’s been great.

It has one built in, but I always prefer an actual keyboard on all my devices. The touch screen one works and it’s fine.

I have Linux mint on my 2 in 1 laptop with touch screen, it’s been good.

I don’t get any notifications from HA. I also don’t really use HA away from home. Just convenient for me to log in and check temperatures, make sure I have lights off, etc.

My router has a built in VPN, so I setup my phone with the VPN settings. Just a toggle on my phone and it connects to my home as if I was at my home Wi-Fi.

I self hosted many websites for about 20 years, but sadly I had to take it all down this year. In the process of moving to another state. Also going to really miss my 1gbps unlimited fiber connection.

I hosted my websites from windows server 2003, 2008, virtual machines, Linux, and other ways. It was fun times. I have very good up time using 2 servers and UPS battery backups.

I feel that best tech comes out when the economy is doing great, lots of development and creativity.

I do not own any Orange Camels.

Thanks for the kind words. <3

When I was in college almost 20 years ago, my first car was stolen by a pro chop shop.

My first car was a magical feeling of freedom. I was able to go anywhere and have friends with me, it was like a home away from home. One day I parked it and a few hours later I went to leave and the car was gone. I filled a police report and insurance.

About 3 days later the police found the car on the street with no engine, no wheels, just dumped there.

I went to see the car at the impound lot and wow everything was missing or destroyed. The entire car was covered in oil to hide fingerprints. I was destroyed.

There have also been times where people steal from my house, people I thought were friends. But the car really damaged me. I’m not the same person I was before the car was stolen.

I did not know you can disable the map, I will need to do that.

I only used the map once to see which photos may have accidentally had GPS Embedded, but turns out it was only the photos that other people took and sent me. lol

Can I just block the 3rd party company URL on my router?

If I don’t own it, I am not paying for it.