Working around incomplete Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway DNS Service
How-To
The UniFi Security Gateway registers DHCP clients in DNS under garbage Client Identifier names. How to work around its DNS limits.
Using Let’s Encrypt TLS Certificates for SMTP, IMAP, and HTTP
Networking & Security
How to use one Let's Encrypt TLS certificate to secure SMTP, IMAP, and your web server on Ubuntu 16.04, with automatic certbot renewals.
Apache and Mailman -- Scripts not executing
How-To
Mailman CGI scripts download in the browser instead of running under Apache 2.4. The fix is enabling mod_cgid with a2enmod cgid.
Solving Fail2Ban not banning IPs on Ubuntu 16.04
Sysadmin & Cloud
Fail2Ban on Ubuntu 16.04 showed 8 banned IPs but only 4 blocked in the firewall. A v0.9.3 bug. How to fix it with APT package pinning.
Why I'm doubling down on Apple - Privacy
Apple & macOS
Safari Intelligent Tracking Prevention, encrypted Messages sync, anonymized HomePod data. Why Apple's WWDC 2017 privacy moves keep me all in.
Triple Boot MacBook Pro (macOS, Windows 10, Linux)
Apple & macOS
How to triple boot a MacBook Pro with macOS, Windows 10, and Kali Linux using Boot Camp and the rEFInd boot manager, without bricking it.
Consuming Content is Hard
Reading
People will pay for content. The problem is owners who stack ads on top anyway. Why I run uBlock Origin yet pay for a dozen services.
Configuring Synology for Forward and Reverse Internal DNS Resolution
How-To
How to set up the Synology DNS Server package for forward and reverse lookups on your LAN, filling the gap left by UniFi USG DNS.
Weekly Updates, December 2016 to January 2017
Personal
Four weekly updates from December 2016 and January 2017, collected in one post: the blog relaunch, a drone, CIO summits, a Calgary trip, and a phone Home Screen reset.
Goodbye eBay, I will sell no more
Opinion
After 17 years and 100% positive feedback, a buyer abused eBay's Money Back Guarantee on my Ninja blender sale. Why I quit selling there.
Serial - Driverless Serial Terminal Emulator for macOS
Apple & macOS
My review of Serial for macOS, a $29.99 terminal emulator that talks to USB serial adapters with no drivers needed. Five stars.
Cable TV Providers are in Trouble
Apple & macOS
Apple's iOS 10.2 TV app promises unified streaming, but Comcast, Spectrum, and AT&T Uverse skipped single sign-on. Why that dooms cable.
The Temperfect Mug by Joeveo
Home Automation
Joeveo's Temperfect mug cools scalding coffee to 145F fast, then holds it drinkable for 3 hours. Two years late from Kickstarter, but it works.
Ube (now Plum) WiFi Connected Smart Light Dimmer (Lightpad)
Home Automation
The Plum Lightpad dimmer looks great and installs cleanly, but a weak iOS app and no smart home integrations make it hard to recommend.