Keto Chronicles: A Weight Loss Journey with Determination and Data

Since July 2022, I've been on a serious mission to shed those extra pounds, and the journey has been nothing short of transformative. Over the past year and a half, I've bid farewell to around 50 pounds, employing the keto diet in strategic bursts. It's been a dance with water weight, the elusive companion that seems to vanish and reappear with every foray into or retreat from the ketogenic realm.

As the calendar turned, I decided to make a New Year's resolution that would challenge my commitment to keto like never before. The goal? Stick with the ketogenic diet until March 14th—a significant date that not only marks Pi Day but also heralds the celebration of annual bonuses at my workplace. A dual incentive to maintain discipline and savor the rewards both on and off the scale.

So far, my dedication has been unwavering, and my trusty breathalyzer, the ketone-tracking companion, reports a consistent 0.3 mmol/L. The result? A remarkable drop from 298.6 lb to 287.3 lb in the first three weeks of the challenge. The numbers on the scale tell a story of commitment and progress.

Embracing a new tactic to amplify my keto success, I've welcomed the Carb Manager app into my routine. Now, not only am I monitoring carb intake, but I'm also keeping a watchful eye on ketones, glucose levels, and weight. This holistic approach aims to propel me into the ideal ketone range, as I strive for a more profound understanding of the intricate dance between nutrition and ketosis.

The journey continues, with each breathalyzer reading and Carb Manager entry serving as a testament to the commitment and discipline required to achieve weight loss goals. As Pi Day approaches, I'm not just anticipating a slice of celebration but relishing the triumphs of a keto journey that extends beyond mere numbers on a scale. It's a holistic transformation—one that's shaping not just my body but also my understanding of mindful eating and the resilience that comes with unwavering determination. Here's to March 14th and the victories that await both in the workplace and on the wellness front!

Navigating Smart Home Updates: A Cautionary Tale and the Importance of Due Diligence

In the ever-evolving landscape of smart homes, staying up-to-date with software updates is crucial. However, there are times when the convenience of modern technology clashes with the fear of potential disruptions. Let me share my recent experience with delaying updates on my Home Assistant instance and the lessons I learned along the way.

Living in a smart home powered by Home Assistant adds a layer of dependency on technology. While the ability to control lights or adjust the thermostat manually still exists, any prolonged outage feels like a leap back into the stone age. With this mindset, I found myself hesitating to install new updates, considering my Home Assistant instance as mission-critical.

One of the key lessons I've learned is the importance of diligent research before applying updates. While I acknowledge the need to read release notes thoroughly, I confess to being occasionally lax in this due diligence. This oversight nearly led to a significant issue with the recent update to the Nginx Proxy Manager.

The update, marked as version 1.0, clearly stated that it would remove all configured proxies. This critical piece of information, was clearly outlined in the release notes, could have caused substantial disruptions had I not taken the time to review them. It's surprising that there isn't a built-in backup/export option within the Nginx Proxy Manager, adding an extra layer of caution to the update process.

Fortunately, my delay in applying this particular update proved beneficial. Browsing through the HomeAssistant subreddit, I stumbled upon numerous users sharing their grievances about the update. Leveraging their experiences, I manually documented the various routes I had exposed for my services running as Home Assistant addons. This documentation might aid in future recovery efforts if I ever encounter a catastrophic failure as Nginx Proxy Manager relies on the MariaDB which is notoriously difficult to recover backups of with Home Assistant.

This step-by-step approach helped me avoid the pitfalls that others had encountered. Also by conducting the update during a period when I knew I would have ample time to address any issues and deal with a planned outage of critical services by adjusting my various smart devices to ideal states while the update was conducted.

While I typically include screenshots in my documentation, I refrained from doing so in this instance. Unlike exposed ports, various subdomains aren't readily advertised to the general public. Recognizing the potential security risks, especially considering the days of exposed ports and basic port scans, I opted to keep this information confidential.

In conclusion, my journey through this smart home update serves as a cautionary tale. It emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to updates—promptness tempered with thorough research. In the realm of smart homes, where technology is both a convenience and a vulnerability, staying informed is the key to a seamless and secure experience.

Second Home Assistant Instance

Expanding in the realm of smart home automation, I recently subscribed to Nabu Casa's Home Assistant Cloud—a decision driven by my desire to support the development team and simplify the management of the Home Assistant instance at my parent's home. The promises of seamless remote access without router/domain configurations proved true, bringing convenience to a new level.

While the subscription streamlined the connection process and allowed me to link my parent's Amazon Echos effortlessly, I encountered a significant hurdle when attempting to integrate a 5TB external hard drive into the system. My initial plan was to use the external HDD as the boot device, but an incompatible USB adapter thwarted that effort. Undeterred, I repurposed the drive as a data disk, only to face issues with the filesystem after heavy disk writes within a week.

Caught amidst holiday chaos, I lacked the time to order the appropriate hardware for a more sustainable solution. In a pinch, I turned to the third-party SambaNAS addon, which enabled me to mount the disk and create a Samba share of its filesystem. This workaround seemed promising, allowing Home Assistant to connect to the external drive using the Samba protocol and providing access to its contents. However, a new challenge emerged as the Samba connection failed every few hours, requiring manual re-initialization.

Despite these setbacks, my ultimate goal remains unchanged: to mirror media in a second Plex server running as an addon and establish a Nextcloud instance for offsite backup of personal files. The prospect of running critical services and data backups on a low-power Raspberry Pi holds great appeal, anticipating the day when proper hardware configuration replaces the current makeshift setup.

In navigating the complexities of smart home integration, this journey has become a testament to the evolving nature of technology. Despite the challenges, the allure of a seamlessly connected and automated home, backed by robust backup solutions, keeps the momentum alive, promising a future where smart homes truly live up to their potential.

Podcast Hype Realized: Streamlining Remote Access with Tailscale in my Smart Home

Intrigued by the incessant plugs on various podcasts, I finally took the plunge into the world of Tailscale—a decision fueled by the allure of a free-for-life basic account and the promised ease of setup. True to the advertisements, the setup was a breeze, prompting me to explore its potential in enhancing remote access to my smart home.

While I had been using the Wireguard addon in Home Assistant for a VPN on my cell phone, Tailscale presented itself as a compelling alternative. The idea of ensuring constant network access, even in the face of an ISP-induced IP address change while I'm away, fueled my desire to experiment further.

Managing my Home Assistant instance, housed under my physical control, I took a proactive step by disabling key expiry. This ensures that I won't inadvertently forget to renew the key, providing uninterrupted access even when I'm miles away from home. The newfound confidence in always having access allows me to fine-tune my home's heating and cleaning settings with ease, even when on vacation.

The initial results have left me impressed, and I'm inclined to explore using Tailscale to simplify remote access and potentially enhance the security of my home network. The prospect of closing every single port on my router using Tailscale and Home Assistant Cloud is a realistic consideration, given the smooth performance thus far. While I usually steer clear of relying on third-party services in my smart home, Tailscale seems like it might end up being a permanent exception. The flexibility to switch back to Wireguard and an open port if Tailscale falters ensures a safety net, making it a reliable addition to my smart home arsenal.

In a world of endless possibilities and evolving technology, Tailscale has proven to be more than just podcast hype—it's a tangible enhancement to my smart home experience.

Freedom Unleashed: Disney's Iconic Mickey Mouse Breaks Free from Copyright Shackles

It is a day I never thought would come; the renowned Mickey Mouse has broken free from the clutches of the Micky Mouse Curve. The iconic character, a cornerstone of Disney's empire, is now on the loose as Disney's copyright on the 1928 short film "Steamboat Willie" has finally expired, landing it in the public domain. Had I shared this short just a day ago, it would have been deemed a criminal act—talk about the winds of change.

While "Steamboat Willie" may seem quaint by today's animated standards, it served as the launchpad for a colossal entertainment empire. Reflecting on the stark contrast between this early animation and today's sophisticated films and shows, it's awe-inspiring to witness the humble origins of a cultural phenomenon that has stood the test of time.

Yet, Mickey Mouse is just one of many creative works that have now been set free for the people. The shackles of copyright have loosened, allowing a multitude of artistic treasures to enter the public domain. If you're curious about the plethora of works that have joined the ranks of freedom, CopyrightLately has compiled a list of some of the more popular items on their website: Public Domain Day 2024.

This significant moment marks a celebration of creativity, as once-guarded treasures become accessible to a wider audience. It's a testament to the evolving landscape of intellectual property and a reminder that even the most iconic characters, like Mickey Mouse, can now be embraced and reimagined by new generations. So, let the adventures in the public domain begin, and may the legacy of these timeless creations continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.