1 changed files with 60 additions and 92 deletions
--- a/content/uses.md
+++ b/content/uses.md
@ -4,17 +4,16 @@ description: "Just a big page describing what I use that I think is notable"
 date: 2021-08-18T22:57:48-04:00
 ---
-This is just a simple page detailing some of the important tools I use for those
+This is just a simple page detailing some of the important tools I use
-that may be interested! See [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/) for similar pages on
+for those that may be interested! See [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/)
-other individuals' websites.
+for similar pages on other individuals' websites.
 ## Hardware
 ### Desktop
-
+I built my PC over the summer of 2019, *before* all of the component
-I built my PC over the summer of 2019, _before_ all of the component prices shot
+prices shot up during the pandemic. If I was attempting to build this
-up during the pandemic. If I was attempting to build this now, I would have
+now, I would have ended up with a significantly less powerful machine.
 ended up with a significantly less powerful machine.
 - **Webcam:** Logitech Brio
 - **Microphone:** Røde Podcaster
@ -31,101 +30,70 @@ I also have Windows installed for the odd game or two that won't run in
 Proton; it's really nothing more than a gaming console for me.
 ### Laptop
-
+My university scholarship paid for most of my current laptop but a
-My university scholarship paid for most of my old laptop but a stipulation was
+stipulation was that the device had to be new. I really wanted an old
-that the device had to be new. I really wanted an old Thinkpad that would have
+Thinkpad that would have cost maybe $200-$300 after repairs and upgrades
-cost maybe $200-$300 after repairs and upgrades, but it would definitely not
+but it would definitely not have been new. Instead, I found a
-have been new. Instead, I found a [refurbished Thinkpad X200][x200] from
+[refurbished Thinkpad X200](https://store.vikings.net/x200-ryf-certfied)
-[Vikings.][vikings] Because they rebrand the device on receipts, I was able to
+from [Vikings.](https://store.vikings.net/) Because they rebrand the
-make the purchase and get a fully free laptop with no binary blobs whatsoever.
+device on receipts, I was able to make the purchase and get a fully free
-Because it's running [Libreboot,][libreboot] I was even able to encrypt the boot
+laptop with no binary blobs whatsoever. Because it's running Libreboot,
-partition so "full-disk encryption" really does apply to _the full disk_. That
+I'm even able to encrypt the boot partition so "full-disk encryption"
-said, I _do not_ recommend Libreboot. It's been two headaches and a half trying
+really does apply to *the full disk*.
 to get anything other than the [FSF-blessed distros][blesseddistros] installed
 with it.
 [x200]: https://store.vikings.net/x200-ryf-certfied
 [vikings]: https://store.vikings.net/
 [libreboot]: https://libreboot.org/
 [blesseddistros]: https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
 My _current_ laptop is the [Framework.][framework] It's hands-down the best
 laptop I've ever owned (not a very high bar though) and one of my favourite
 laptops to work on (much higher bar). Mine has the 11th gen Intel i5 processor
 with 16 GB of RAM and a 500 GB SSD. I actually have _two_ SSDs that I swap
 between when I want to try a new and shiny distro, but I always end up going
 back to my comfy Arch setup.
 [framework]: https://frame.work/
 ### Other devices
 I seem to have a thing for eink devices. A [Kobo Aura ONE Limited
 Edition](https://us.kobobooks.com/collections/auraone-related/products/kobo-aura-one-limited-edition)
 regularly finds itself in my hands when reading manga or graphic novels.
 A [Kobo Clara
 HD](https://kobobooks.com/collections/certified-refurbished-ereaders/products/certified-refurbished-kobo-clara-hd)
 is usually used for all of my regular reading but becomes my daily
 driver whenever I'm out somewhere or on a trip.
-I seem to have a thing for e-ink devices. Until my [Kobo Clara HD][clarahd]
+I also have a [Supernote
-died, I used it very frequently for all of my regular reading. Now, I use a
+A5X](https://supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X) and have to say that
-[Kobo Clara 2E][clara2e] instead. I exclusively use [KOReader][koreader] on
+this is a *wonderful* device. Once it's finished, I'll link to my blog
-both.
+post about it. For now, I'll just say that it sits on the corner of my
-
+desk any time I'm home and can usually be found in my left hand whenever
-[auraone]: https://us.kobobooks.com/collections/auraone-related/products/kobo-aura-one-limited-edition
+I'm not.
 [clarahd]: https://kobobooks.com/collections/certified-refurbished-ereaders/products/certified-refurbished-kobo-clara-hd
 [clara2e]: https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-clara-2e
 [koreader]: https://koreader.rocks/
 I also have a [Supernote A5X][supernote] and have to say that this is a
 _wonderful_ device. I'm in the process of writing a blog post about it, and once
 it's finished, I'll link it here. For now, I'll just say that it sits on the
 corner of my desk any time I'm home and can usually be found in my left hand
 whenever I'm not.
 [supernote]: https://supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X
 ## General software
 As for more general software, I'll only mention things I feel are
 particularly notable.
-As for more general software, I'll only mention things I feel are particularly
+My personal operating system of choice is [Arch
-notable.
+Linux](https://archlinux.org/) because it's very easy to work with,
 simple, and incredibly up-to-date. I've used it since somewhere around
 2017 or 2018. On servers, I like sticking with
 [Debian](https://www.debian.org/) wherever possible. It's a fantastic
 and very widely supported distribution for pretty much anything. I would
 eventually like to get involved with the project but my free time is
 pretty limited at the moment.
-My personal operating system of choice is [Arch Linux][arch] because it's very
+My email setup is a little cursed but I use
-easy to work with, simple, and incredibly up-to-date. I've used it since
+[mbsync](https://isync.sourceforge.io/mbsync.html) for synchronising
-somewhere around 2017 or 2018. On servers, I like sticking with [Debian][debian]
+IMAP server with my local Maildir, [NeoMutt](https://neomutt.org/) for
-wherever possible. It's a fantastic and very widely supported distribution for
+interacting with those emails, [GNU
-pretty much anything. I would eventually like to get involved with the project
+Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/) for composing mail, and
-but my free time is pretty limited at the moment.
+[msmtp](https://marlam.de/msmtp/) for relaying those compositions to my
 [Postfix](http://www.postfix.org/) [SMTP server](https://nixnet.email/)
 before sending them on their way to the recipient. Blog post about all
 this coming soon™.
-[arch]: https://archlinux.org/
+My browser of choice is [Mozilla
-[debian]: https://www.debian.org/
+Firefox.](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) I don't like the
 company and the browser is slowly becoming worse and worse for the
 average user but at least it's not Google and it's not contributing to
 their total domination over web rendering :^)
-My email setup is a little cursed but I use [mbsync][mbsync] for synchronising
+Nextcloud also finds itself a home on my homeserver. As much as it's a
-[my IMAP server][imap] with my local Maildir, [mu4e][mu4e] in [GNU Emacs][emacs] for
+bloated pile of PHP that does a sub-par job at everything it attempts,
-interacting with and composing emails, and [msmtp][msmtp] for relaying those
+it does a good enough job to make life convenient. I mainly use its file
-compositions to my [Postfix][postfix] [SMTP server][smtp] before sending
+syncing, calendar, contacts, and sometimes music features.
 them on their way to the recipient. Blog post about all this coming soon™.
 [mbsync]: https://isync.sourceforge.io/mbsync.html
 [imap]: https://nixnet.email/
 [mu4e]: https://www.djcbsoftware.nl/code/mu/mu4e/
 [emacs]: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/
 [msmtp]: https://marlam.de/msmtp/
 [postfix]: http://www.postfix.org/
 [smtp]: https://nixnet.email/
 My browser of choice is [Mozilla Firefox.][Firefox] I don't like the company and
 the browser is slowly becoming worse and worse for the average user but at least
 it's not Google and it's not contributing to their total domination over web
 rendering :^)
 [Firefox]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
 [Nextcloud][nextcloud] also finds itself a home on my homeserver. As much as
 it's a bloated pile of PHP that does a sub-par job at everything it attempts, it
 does a good enough job to make life convenient. I mainly use its file syncing,
 calendar, contacts, and sometimes music features.
 [nextcloud]: https://nextcloud.com/
 I also use a lot of the stuff a friend and I run over at
-[NixNet.][NixNet] In particular, I probably I use
+[NixNet.](https://nixnet.services/) In particular, I probably I use
 email, XMPP, BigBlueButton, HedgeDoc, Mumble, and wallabag every day.
-[NixNet]: https://nixnet.services/
+*I use every open source messaging service known to man. Please send
-
+help.*
 _I use every open source messaging service known to man. Please send
 help._