Hard Pass

I had an old Google Pixel 3a XL sitting around and decided to see if it could handle running as a fully offline, self-contained web server.

I flashed postmarketOS 26.06 (headless Alpine Linux base) to it and set up a portable media node that broadcasts its own Wi-Fi AP, serves static pages, and streams video over a captive portal - no cell data or upstream internet needed.

Quick Hardware/Tech Stack Breakdown:

• Device: Google Pixel 3a XL (2019)
• OS: postmarketOS 26.06 (CLI base with OpenRC)
• Networking/AP: hostapd for the AP, dnsmasq for DHCP & wildcard DNS routing
• Firewall: nftables redirecting port 80 requests to trigger the captive portal popup automatically
• Web Server: Lighttpd handling HTTP requests and MP4 video range requests

Performance & Power Draw: Under a test load streaming 720p video to 4 concurrent devices, total CPU usage averaged around 5% (load avg 0.51). Power draw stayed around ~2.4W off the internal battery, with temps holding steady at 54°C.

Why build this? Mainly as an offline entertainment and information node. I run a non-profit foundation providing SCUBA training to young survivors of childhood abuse, and having a tiny, battery-powered web node lets us provide offline information and videos to people while traveling. I will also be able to use it to provide training videos if I am teaching in a location that does not have internet access available.

I wrote up a complete overview covering the setup, and performance metrics if anyone wants to replicate it or build something similar. Over the coming weeks I will be posting configs and some other information to Github with a link from my site.

https://www.muttmutt.us/geeky-stuff/portable-web-server-on-an-android-phone-for-offline-access/

Happy to answer any questions about postmarketOS setup or the networking config!

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/67027513

IIIITTTSSS WEEVILLL TIME‼️‼️🗣️🦫🦫🦫

(there's no weevil emoji, use your imagination)

everyone says "form a union" or "quit your job". weak aura. ​the real move is psychological warfare. yesterday my manager asked me why I missed the deadline. I simply looked at him, blinked slowly, and said "what deadline? you've been in a coma for 3 years, Richard. please wake up." ​he started crying. I took his wallet. ​I've been studying applied workplace sociopathy and mind control tricks from howiconvincedthem.com, and honestly, if you aren't using dark behavioral psychology to make your middle-management boss question their own sanity, you are leaving money on the table. ​next week I am going to use an identity-value flip tactic to convince the CEO that I am actually his father. wish me luck.

Three of the five leaders in the campaign argued that there were better ways to spend this money, but sovereigntist left-wing party Québec solidaire defended the proposed expense.

Crossposted from https://lemmy.ca/post/71139887

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/52123035

Archived link

Canada has decided to join the Global Combat Air Program, a joint initiative by Japan, Britain and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet, becoming the program’s first observer.

Canada is weighing the future purchase of the aircraft, while the three partner countries are seeking to broaden potential export markets and strengthen cooperation among like-minded nations.

Other countries are also believed to be interested in GCAP, raising the prospect of wider participation in the coming years.

...

Observers will neither participate directly in the joint development process nor contribute financially to the program. Although subject to confidentiality requirements, they will be granted access to information on such matters as the fighter’s capabilities and the corporate framework underpinning its development.

Canada’s observer status is intended to pave the way for the possible future purchase of the aircraft. For Japan, Britain and Italy, expanding exports to third countries would help offset the program’s enormous development costs.

...