Jimmie Lightner

Technology, Truth, and Common Sense

Category: Gripe Corner

  • My Tuned SQ8 vs the Q7 Loaner

    … one is a 690 horsepower, 5000 pound luxury monstrosity with warp capability… and no warranty. The other feels like a padded elevator with a steering wheel. I had to drop my SQ8 at the dealership this morning. Again. It was supposed to be a quick in and out, but they asked me to stay…

  • mkinitcpio 42 breaks LUKS auto-unlock using crypttab.initramfs

    Updated the Dell XPS 15 this morning using the latest Linux 7.2.6 and mkinitcpio 42 only to be repeatedly greeted by the LUKS unlock prompt. After some quick Kagi searching, I noted this little nugget in the release notes: If you’re using crypttab.initramfs take heed! Your shit’s gonna break! (Mine did!) No amount of re-enrolling…

  • Petlibro Granary Smart Feeder Review

    Wow. I’m not typically moved to write a product review. You’d think it would be for something special, right? Like it was because something was mind blowingly awesome, riiiiight? NOPE! This review is for a thing that is a total piece of shit. Well, hang on, let me back up. The physical pet feeder itself…

  • My Problem with OpenClaw

    Honestly at this point I’m about done with OpenClaw and their misguided Doctor nonsense. Doctor warnings are probably great for the beginner who doesn’t understand the ramifications of the runtime choices being made. I’ve investigated nearly every setting, read the docs front to back, and explicitly hand-chosen and curated the configuration of the setup I’m…

  • Breezeline tried to bill me for internet service that never worked

    Breezeline installed their “best” internet service at my house on March 28, 2026. Gigabit. Very impressive on paper. In real life, I couldn’t even use it. It did not work. That should have settled the question of whether I owed them a full month of service charges. Instead, it turned into one of those stupidly…

  • Transaction Data Sharing

    Anyone else feeling Absolutely. Tired. Of. This. nonsense? What do you mean PLEASE CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS REGULARLY? I set them to NO. If they changed, it’s not because I did it. I’ve explicitly directed you – and if you change my settings, we’re going to fight. You’re officially on notice and I’m watching for…

  • Repairing Azure Local Connected Machine Extensions

    I’ve been futzing around with a Dell AX-4510c for a hot minute, trying to get Azure Local working in Azure Government. It’s not an easy task – things don’t “just work” and you’re going to spend a lot of time redoing things trying to get it right. One of the blunders I made while dorking…

  • Random thoughts about YouTube

    I hate media today. “You won’t believe THIS!” “5 tricks Airlines hope you NEVER LEARN!” “13 stupid mistakes DESTROYING your automatic car!” “NO ONE can explain THIS!” </eye roll> What’s with all this sensationalist title nonsense? And with these horrendous thumbnails every video now has? Has anyone actually looked at YouTube lately? It’s disgusting. I…

  • Nintendo

    You’re out. Goodbye. You will NEVER get another dollar from me. I bought it, it’s mine. :-* Nintendo updated its Nintendo Account Agreement with a severe warning against “unauthorized use”, in a bid to prevent emulation and piracy. The US update is as follows: “Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy,…

  • Well, isn’t that nice

    See what I did there? No? lol. Let me elaborate. As I was waking this morning, my partner came to say good morning with a kiss and casually mentioned “The water was being weird when I was showering.” I grew up on a well – so I’m no stranger to the odd things that sometimes…