Pihole Down! Pihole Redeployed!

Yestereday, I was vegetating on my phone and noticed a lot of ads were being presented to me.  Normally, I get minimal ads due to using Pihole...not today, though.

When I logged into the admin panel to check on it, nothing seemed amiss, until I tried to run queries against the logs.  The whole admin panel seized up and would not recover, so I decided to shut down the docker instance and re-run it...it was failing.  The specific error that I was focused on was, "SQLite3: statement aborts at 4: [DETACH ?] no such database: disk (1)".  Now, I don't usually conduct maintenance on the Pihole instance since it's containerized (via Docker).  I'm thinking that the DB got full and the container nuked it, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time troubleshooting it.

What did I do?  I just created a new folder named "pihole-REBUILD" and copied my compose.yml file to it, then I ran "docker compose up -d".  After that, I had to access the pihole to run a password reset command.  Once that was done, I was able to log in.

Because I couldn't remember where I backed up the pihole config files, I basically have to start from scratch, but I went to https://github.com/hagezi/dns-blocklists/blob/main/sources.md and copied the blocklist sources from that URL, then posted them to Pihole as blocklists (total was 11,342,549 domains blocked).

After that, I visited a bunch of sites, trying to generate block logs...and saw nothing.  I couldn't determine why the Pihole wasn't logging.  I ended up doing a bunch of internet searches and found this and this.

I basically had to go to the Settings section, then the DNS section, and set the interface settings check box from "Allow only local requests to Bind only" to "Bind only to interface eth0" (this was hidden until I noticed a small "Basic" web link - clicking it changed the mode from Basic to Advanced, and I was then able to see those config options).

Once I did that, I immediately noticed that Pihole was seeing and blocking things.

I'm not sure why the DNS issue wasn't something I'd seen before, as I've been running Pihole awhile now.

I'll admit that it was super quick (relatively) to deploy a new instance of Pihole.

Instead of waiting a day for it to fail (my daughter said it failed yesterday morning - I didn't notice it until 11 PM, but I also didn't work at home yesterday).  It may be time for me to look for an AM/HM Docker container setup.

I Hate YouTube!

You know, I hate Youtube. I hate YouTube for a variety of reasons.

The main reason is that YouTube will not let you block certain channels.  There are certain channels I hate but Youtube keeps feeding them to me.  There used to be a way to block channels are at least tell YouTube that you weren't interested in viewing content from a particular channel.  That changed awhile ago.

As well, they won't let you block individuals so that you don't see their comments.

I've been trying to use Rumble for viewing videos.  Rumble doesn't have as much traffic as YouTube.  As well, Rumble has no importing utility - it's an absolute pain to move videos from YouTube to Rumble.

As well, I've been trying to grow my YouTube channel but I do not want to be having to post every other day just to ensure I've adequate traffic.  YouTube's algorithm is making a slave of folks and I'm not even monetized.

I pray to God that YouTube gets slammed with some type of overreach charge in the future.  They're so large that there's no competition.

Space Black MBP - Do I hate the color yet?

I've seen folks complaining about the dark-colored Macbooks for some time.  

The mantra is either that the paint wears prematurely, that it scratches easily (which reveals the undercoat), or that it's a fingerprint magnet.  

Why did I buy a Space Black MBP?  Because I wanted something different.  I've been playing it safe with my Apple products - all have been Space Gray, as I thought that most of my products should match and I also didn't want to be battling fingerprints.  

As well, my equipment is pristine...the only products that have scratches are my smartphone and my Apple Watch (because I wear one and because the other is either in my hand or in my pocket).  

So, have I had to battle fingerprints on the MBP?  Surprisingly, no, but then again, I wash my hands a lot and my hands aren't usually oily/greasy.

Lastly, I do not wear my Apple Watch when using the MBP, because I do not want the metal buckle to scratch it.

Apple Watch Bands

I've owned my Series 8 Apple Watch a while now (since Fall of 2022).

I've been through a few watch bands.

I should've been posting about these, as I think it's good information regarding wear patterns and longevity.

I first bought a 3-pack of Alpine Loop bands (similar to this, although I'm no longer seeing the 3-pack for sale).  The set that I bought were OD Green, Orange, and Black.  I liked them a lot but they didn't last long, as I washed them and since they were held together by glue/adhesive, they eventually fell apart.  I attempted to use small dabs of Gorilla Glue on them but that was only a temporary solution, which was sad.  If I'd have know they'd fall apart after washing, I'd have not bought them.  I still have the OD Green one but I'll speak on that again in a bit.

I then bought a leather braided band.  That one lasted maybe a year.  It was also nice, but I didn't like that it felt stiff (was used to the Alpines).  As well, it wasn't as adjustable and always either felt either too loose or too tight.  Eventually it became worn and loose.  Although it didn't fall apart, leather does stretch/wear over time, moreso than textile products.

After the leather band, I went back to the OD Green Alpine.  I'd thown the other two Alpines away since they fell apart but I'd used an extra dose of Gorilla Glue for the OD band and it is still holding together.  I stopped putting it in the wash, but wipe it down by hand when it's dirty.  As well, I remove the watch if I'm going to be getting wet or sweaty, so that I can preserve the band.

This weekend, I decided to check for a different band and ended up buying the Caseology Anthlex band, in Active Orange.  It's a bit stiff but not as stiff as the leather band I previously bought.  It has sufficient adjustment and appears that I can wash it (I will hand wash it when washing is needed).  It's black on the outside and orange on the insude, with orange stitching.  It has a metal buckle.

I still love the Alpine Loops and may buy more, but I'll have to keep in mind that they're pretty much disposable if you get them wet, and yeah, I can glue them back together when required, but that's something I shouldn't have to do.

Airpods Max - Initial Thoughts

I've been using the Airpods Max for a bit now.  There are some things I like about them.

My likes:

• I like that I've an Apple-sourced over-the-ear headset.  
• They sound and feel (on the head) better than the Beats Studio Pros I have.  
• They also switch to my other Apple gear (the Beats don't do that - that's a known thing; by design).  
• I can have the ear cushions replaced and they look like they'll wear better than the Studio Pro ear cushions.
• I love the design and color options (mine are Midnight).

What I don't like:

• They're heavy and sometimes are uncomfortable around the ears.  The nooks for the ears are a bit too small (and I don't have large ears)...my ears barely fit and sometimes, when I'm moving or lying down, my ears fold or mash inside the ear cups.
• They require lots of charging.  For some reason, they've been draining quicker (it seems) than before I updaed them -- this didn't happen until after I applied that patch that enabled lossless audio.  UPDATE (5/29/2025):  I disabled Find My for the Airpods Max, which helped immensely with power consumption.  Note that you should probably not do this if you're using them outside your home - if you lose them or someone steals them, you're not going to find them or be able to flag them as lost.
• I can't turn them on/off (would be nice to power them off since they appear to drain quickly).
• The noise cancelling doesn't work as well as in-ear sets - while that's to be expected, I also expected better noise caneelling than the Airpods Max has, especially since they cost so much.

I did purchase AppleCare+ for them, since they cost so much.  I'd rather have AppleCare+ and not need it than to not have it and need it later.

I'll be giving them a try at work tomorrow to see how well they work in my cubicle area.

UPDATE (4/25/2025):  I had an issue a few minutes ago where the Maxs didn't want to connect to my MBP.  I'd been using them downstairs (when using the Mini) a few hours ago.  No matter what I did, the headset wouldn't connect to the MBP.  I reset the headset and then attempted to connect to them from the MBP - unsuccessful.  I then did a factory reset of the headset and then attempted to connect them to the MBP - unsuccessful.  I then rebooted the MBP (shouldn't have had to do this) and then attempted to connect them to the MBP - success!  This was a super odd issue that I've never had with other BT headsets or buds.

UPDATE (5/11/2025):  I was messing with the headphones the other day and noticed that the ear cups are removeable!  This is nice, as I can remove them to clean them.  As well, I noticed that there was water in them (I sometimes fall asleep with them on my ears).  Apparently, the ear cups trap moisture.  I'm not sure if this will develop into a future problem with the water, but I do have Applecare+, so...

Samsonite Modern Utility Laptop Backpack for 15.6" Laptop

You all know that, prior to purchasing the MBP I now own, I was using a M1-era Macbook Air 13".

I'd been carrying that in a small tote that I got from work - swag from McAfee.  It was a small laptop/tablet bag that was surprisingly adequate for a 13" MBA.  I used it a long time and used it to fly out to California and New Orleans.  It'll fit under a seat on a plane and still leave room for your feet.

I'd not planned on getting a MBP when I was in California.  I could've waited until I got back but it was a snap decision and once I saw that an MBP was locally available while I was in CA, I was stubborn.

I bought the MBP and then realized that a 14" laptop wasn't going to fit in my current bag (plus, I still had my MBA with me), so I had to buy a new bag just to get it home.

What did I buy?  I bought the Modern Utility Laptop Backpack for 15.6" Laptop, which is made by Samsonite.  It's charcoal in color.  It fit most of the existing gear I had brought with me, as well as the new gear - MBP and accessories; Airpods Max and accessories; 11" iPad.  I couldn't believe that it held all of my electronics and didn't feel heavy.

There are two pockets designed for flat electronics (tablets and notebooks).  Those pockets were lined with cushioning for protection of the electronics.

I like this setup better, not only because it will fit a 14" MBP, but because it's a non-bulky backpack.

It has a TON of pockets.  I tried to stash like things in every pocket and ran out of things before I ran out of pockets.

The straps are comfortable - I did a lot of walking/toting.

I really like this bag!

I'll still use the little side pack for my MBA but I might not use the MBA all that much.  I may do a factory reset on that one and sell it, although I'll ask the wife if she wants it first.

I've a New Macbook!

Today, I bought a new Macbook.

I wanted another portable Mac but didn't want an Air.  I also wanted something with a bit more horsepower than what I already had, as my Air is a base model.

I wanted more than just 8 GB of memory.  

I wanted more than just 256 GB of drive space.

I wanted a bigger screen than 13".

I wanted a system that offered a bit more longevity.

I wanted to be less compromising.

Here are the specs of the new notebook:

Make/Model:  MacBook Pro 14" (MRX43LL/A - Release Year 2023)

Chip:  M3 Pro

Memory:  18GB

GPU:  18-core

CPU:  12-core

Drive capacity:  1TB SSD

Color: Space Black

I've also gained ports/connections when compared to my MBA:  I now have MagSafe, an extra (3 todal) Thunderbolt port, an SD card slot, and an audio cable port.  The system also has fans, to keep temps down - the Air doesn't have fans.

The whole system certainly seems less fragile than my Air.

So, I wanted more than just 8 GB of RAM because the Air was always using a LOT of swap because it would easily run out of memory.  I was always having to close apps to get the system to release memory.

I wanted more than just 256 GB of drive space because I was always struggling to perform OS updates with the Air.  The Air's drive space was always 75-80% consumed and I believe that SSDs require some extra drive space for TRIM management - if I was always at 80%, I'm sure that TRIM was close to being adversely affected.  I'd been using external drives as workspace, but that doesn't solve the 80% consumption of system drive space.  1 TB gives me a lot more elbow room and it also gives me serious trade-in power, as well.

Regarding display size, 14" is significantly better than 13".  On paper, it seems like a small difference, but practical-wise, it's a noticeable difference.

When I buy notebooks and PCs, I always compromise.  I didn't want to do that with this one.  Actually, I did compromise - I actually wanted a 16" MBP but that's immediately a $2000 system, and a base system, too.  To have the system I wanted in 16" variation would've put me at $2500+ and that amount assaults my sensibilities, so I had to compromise.  This system was $1800.  I've spent that amount in the past on a gaming laptop and that laptop was obsolete rather quickly.  I worry less about that with a MBP.  I can easily see myself using the MBP 5-6 years.

I also bought a set of Airpods Max.  I have a set of Beats Studio Pros that haven't faired well.  They're rickety AF right now.  I've put a LOT of use on them, to the point that I am expecting them to fail soon.  I needed a good headset and I've historically not had good experiences with what I've chosen in the past.  I decided to splurge on the Max.  I actually hate the Beats Studio Pros...they're inferior to anything that is Apple-branded, as Apple purposesly neuters the Beats products so that they won't be competitive with the Apple brands.  They're designed mainly for users who want to use them with Android smartphones.

I'm excited to try this new gear, as I've some backlogged video editing that I need to catch up on.  I'll report my usage experience as I use the new equipment!

UPDATE (3/31/2025):  Uhmmm....this laptop has GREAT sound!  I thought my Macbook Air sounded great.  Apparently, MBPs have a six-speaker system.

UPDATE (4/6/2025):  I installed homebrew and then fastfetch.  Screenshot --

UPDATE (5/29/2025):  I've seen folks complaining about the dark-colored Macbooks for some time.  The mantra is either that the paint wears prematurely, that it scratches easily (which reveals the undercoat), or that it's a fingerprint magnet.  Why did I buy a Space Black MBP?  Because I wanted something different.  I've been playing it safe with my Apple products - all have been Space Gray, as I thought that most of my products should match and I also didn't want to be battling fingerprints.  As well, my equipment is pristine...the only products that have scratches are my smartphone and my Apple Watch (because I wear one and because the other is either in my hand or in my pocket).  So, have I had to battle fingerprints on the MBP?  Surprisingly, no, but then again, I wash my hands a lot and my hands aren't usually oily/greasy.

Birthday Gifts

Yesterday was my birthday.  I'm now 57 years old.

I got two gifts.  My wife bought me a DJI two-way charging kit.  My sister bought me a Wheeler F.A.T. Wrench.

Regarding the DJI two way charger, it's a battery charger for DJI drones.  This is is for my Mini 3 drone.  I currently have two batteries.  The charger is basically a caddy that can hold up to three batteries.  It charges the batteries one at a time, starting with the battery that has the lowest charge.  It can also be used to charge other things (drone remote, phone, GoPro, etc) and will use whatever battieres are in the caddy to charge other things.  This also gives me the excuse of buying a third battery.  I might buy the Intelligent Plus battery, as it has up to 51 minutes of power, but it will mean that I'd have to register my drone, as that battery has extra weight that will put the drone over 249g.

The Wheeler wrench is a inch-pound torque wrench, mainly for use with firearms.  I wanted this for use in installing optics and other things that require precise torquing of bolts and screws.

Besides that, I bought myself PC game, Armored Brigade II, which I posted about a day or two ago.

I'd thought about getting a new Apple headset since my Beats Studio Pro has one leg in the grave.  We'll see.  I've a long flight to CA coming up and I might purchase that headset before I fly out.