Using a Linux Server for Time Machine Backups

Since Mac OS is one of my daily operating systems, I use the in-built Time Machine software for backups, and since I have a server running Linux it seemed apt to make it Time Machine compatible.

To make a Linux server or old laptop or something a Time Machine, you can install Netatalk (plus some other stuff) on it. Netatalk is an open source implementation of Apple’s AFP file serving protocol, basically it allows a Linux computer talk to a Mac.

My Linux server is running Debian 8, so all of the following instructions will be for that. So if you do this and something breaks on your system (that isn’t Debian) don’t blame me. ;)

Dealing with Password Hell

Out of the blue, I got an email that I had redeemed an Xbox Live Gold gift card to an unused Microsoft account which was very exciting but seeing as I don’t have or ever have owned an Xbox, I suspected something was up.

So I went about going through the usual thing of resetting and changing my password, I did it but it’s a hassle.

I’m Lazy

I’m willing to bet that you, just like me, were guilty of kinda being lazy and using the same password or same few passwords for all our online accounts over and over, like your dog’s birthday plus your favourite hot sauce with some special character in there: June052013.Sriracha. This is not secure but dealing with passwords is hell.

Enter a password manager.

1Password

Like pretty much all other password managers 1Password can generate and store passwords for all your things and it can sync locally or via their cloud service (it doesn’t have a free tier like LastPass, but their apps are better designed so I went with 1Password). 1Password is it free software 😲 which I would happily use, but the ones I tried (and believe me I looked) leave much to be desired in terms of their usability, so I’m sacrificing.

It does the job, their desktop apps (for Mac and Windows) are well-designed and featureful but regrettably there’s no Linux app though they have browser extensions that you can use or a web-login if you opt to use their cloud service for syncing passwords.

Anyway, check it out. I emplore everyone to use a password manager and if you’re looking at services I’d recommend 1Password.

1Password

Some Thoughts on Apple Music

Yes, I’m going to talk about Apple Music, like literally everyone else online these days.

So I cancelled my premium Spotify subscription after using Apple Music for literally a few days, mainly for one reason: integration. Apple Music managed to combine my existing music library with streaming and their new “revolutionary” eye roll radio in such a way that it’s more convenient than Spotify.

Aeropress, My New Coffee Brewing Favourite

The Aeropress is rather a cult coffee brewer and few non-coffee-nuts know about it. But from the first cup of coffee I brewed with it, I was hooked. I now use it regularly for making coffee and my French press has been relegated to the back of the cupboard.

DOS Gaming

C:>OPEN DOSGAM.TXT

I still consider PC games of the DOS/WIN95 era a much more influential a part of my childhood than console games of that time, such as those on Nintendo (even though I did spend a lot time playing games on the NES and SNES with friends).