My Rack (Home Lab part 3)
March 8, 2026
Bought a metal wire shelf so I can put my PCs for my home labbing project.
With my NAS box I added a Docker box and looking to gets some apps running on it.
Update on my home labbing project
March 6, 2026
I have talked before on my home labbing project. I am starting out but I have a NAS box I built with OpenMediaVault. It has one SSD for the operating system and two traditional HDD. This is where I keep backups of my pictures, documents, videos, music and software downloads.
Now I am looking into getting a computer that I can put Docker containers to run apps on. Apps I am thinking of running is Jellyfin (videos), Immich (photos), RetroRom (video game roms), and much more. Planning to install Ubuntu Server as the operating system. Of the two PC the bigger one on the right is for that. The one on the left doesn’t have RAM or storage.
You might be wondering where I get some of these PC. I work it IT so where I work was getting rid of PC in the picture labelled future projects. As for the NAS box I built that with parts I bought online and assembled them. I will keep you posted on the project.
Home Labbing
March 3, 2026
I work in IT and was looking on doing home labbing. Home labbing is a way to build your own server with VMs or Docker containers to run OS or Apps. I have started years ago making my own NAS box with OpenMediaVault. I use it to store my media files like my ripped CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays as well as my documents, music, pictures and software. I want to expand to other services like a PiHole or home automation.
Writer’s Block
March 2, 2026
One art form I am a fan of is storytelling. I have dabbled in writing, mostly poetry but I did try short stories. I have a story that isn’t finished and I have gotten to a point where my writing hasn’t progressed in a while. I hope to try again and finish it. If you want to know about the story I am writing you will have to wait until I finish it.
It’s Behind You
February 27, 2026
Run, Just Run!
Don’t Stop, Don’t Look Back!
Your heart is beating fast, adrenaline is surging.
Just Run! You know it is behind you.
You can’t see it, but you know it is there.
Run, Don’t Stop!
You don’t want it to get you.
You can’t let it take you.
In the day, in the night, it is there.
Run, and maybe you will find safety?
Building the Dream
February 26, 2026
Two men share a dream.
To escape the air stream.
Together they start to build.
Gathering parts to be milled.
With a screwdriver, hammer, and wrench.
Building each part on the bench.
On to the carts to be wheeled.
Strung along the field.
Looking over their notes.
They assemble it with screws and bolts.
Connecting it all to the hull.
With each problem rolling around in their skulls.
Fusion reactor and Ion engines are in.
Then they attach the fins.
Wiring the controls in the cockpit.
They make everything fit.
Once a pile of junk.
Now something to get them out of their funk.
Seeing before their eyes.
The craft that will reach beyond the skies.
Strapped in their seats.
A new adventure they will meet.
When they started people would scoff.
But now it’s the countdown to blastoff.
Higher and higher they go.
Leaving behind them their woes.
Everything feels right.
Forward into the eternal night.
Sci-Fi Sports
February 24, 2026
I do a lot sci-fi world building and have a few sports created for it. The first game was called Floatball. It is a game played in zero-gee. It has rules are a combination of water polo and team handball. It takes place in a large room that is totally enclosed. Beginning of each period and after each goal is a face-off/jump ball where one player is on the ceiling and the other on the floor. The ball is between them and would push off and try to tip the ball to one of your teammates. There is also bars players can grab to stop or change directions.
The other other sport I have is called Scapela and is played by one of my alien races called the Elvari. There is a scoop similar to Jai Alia strapped to one hand. The ball is hard like a lacrosse ball. Played on a hard court with a goal that is on a pole that can be scored at in 360 degree. There are also rebound broads in key spots on the side lines.
The last game is called Hover Hockey. Instead of ice it is replaced with cris crossing mag rails. Players have special shoes that let them “skate”. The puck also hovers as well. Not sure if I am going to have goalies or not.
Cosmic Lounge at Montreal World Con
February 24, 2026
I have been doing party room at Sci-Fi conventions for a few years now. I would have karaoke with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. I don’t have alcohol because I can’t check IDs and run karaoke at the same time. I am planning getting a suite for the party room at Montreal World Con in 2027.
Hot as Ice
February 23, 2026
By Bill Horst-Kotter
Grab my stick and hit the ice.
My skates are sharp and it feels nice.
Passed the blue line and grabbed the puck.
Toward the goal with some luck.
Deke the goalie because he’s a rookie.
And flick the puck where mama hides the cookies.
For the kids on the streets to the stars on the ice.
Hockey is the game that I like.
Howe, Orr, and Gretsky make the game great.
It all started when I saw my first game when I was eight.
To all the hot shots that rush the net.
Today is the day your match has been met.
I love it when you scorers try to get close.
Because I am the guy that makes your shots a joke.
I will use my body to be a wall
So the goal light won’t answer your call.
I make opposing teams’ stars look like guacamole.
Because I am the guy they call the goalie.
For the kids in the streets to the stars on the ice.
Hockey is the game that I like.
Hasek, Roy, and Plante made the game great.
Me loving this game was a matter of fate.
I am the guy that makes the stars shine.
Because I protect him when it’s game time.
Check him into the boards hard.
And I am the one that will make you see stars.
Drop the gloves and fist fly like lightning.
Then the linesmen gave me five minutes for fighting.
In the box, hanging my head in shame.
But I’m the goon so I get all the blame.
For the kids on the streets to the stars on the ice.
Hockey is the game that I like.
Probert, Ray, and McSorley made the game great.
So head to your local arena before it’s too late.
This was my attempt to make a rap song about ice hockey.
Back from the dead and the battle of the bulge
February 22, 2026
Hi everyone. I see my last post was back in 2019 before we even knew what COVID was. I am not dead and ghost can’t type on the keys. I am looking to get back on blogging and doing cool things and reporting about it.
One thing that isn’t cool is my weight. I ballooned to 276 lbs, the heaviest I’ve been in my life. I live alone so their is no body here to tell me to stop. I tried over the years and it would be start and stop. No momentum as before. Then my doctor wants to put me on a weight loss drug, only problem before they prescribe it to me I need to show that I have been taking a weight loss program for 6 months. (i.e. Weight Watchers or Noom) The problem is if I do the program and lose weight wouldn’t that defeat the need of a weight loss drug?
This is what I am going to do, I am going to lose weight at the way I did before. I am back on MyFitnessPal app to record my calorie intake and what I have burned working out. I went back to Planet Fitness and going start working out. So the bottom line is spite is a good motivator.
Radical Geek
The Radical Geek 