I've managed to do I'm very self-hosting my own social media thanks to something called GoToSocial, I will be using here from time to show off my creative works that I'm going to stick with the self-hosted on my raspberry pi 5 This is because being self hosted doing everything myself I can't be shut down no one can tell me what to say what I can't say what I can't do online So if you inclined to still see more of my musings my thoughts my opinions and the like then head over to my new self-hosted social media at social.beitmenotyou.online

Over the past week, I’ve been diving into something new. I switched to Linux Mint as my main daily driver on my PC, and honestly, it’s been a breath of fresh air. It feels like Windows in all the best ways, but without the bloat or constant interruptions. The surprise bonus? Gaming on Linux has been incredible. Thanks to Steam’s Proton compatibility, I’ve been able to play native Windows games as well as Linux ones, and in many cases I’m getting better FPS than I ever did before.Alongside that, I’ve been tinkering with my Raspberry Pi 5. I’m running Raspberry Pi OS Lite and doing everything through SSH. The goal has been to host my own little corner of the web. So far, I’ve been trying to set up self-hosted apps like Pixelfed, Mastodon, WriteFreely (or maybe Plume), and even Matrix. It’s been a mix of fun and frustration. I’m definitely not an expert, but that’s part of the charm. Things break. I get annoyed. Then I learn. Then I fix them. And I walk away a little better for it.Cloudflare’s also been in the mix. I’ve been learning how their tunnels and proxy features work, and it’s been surprisingly powerful. I’m also slowly getting the hang of DNS, so I can make all of this publicly accessible. Once that’s live, I’ll share more about it.Right now, I’m just enjoying the process. I’m learning, experimenting, and seeing where it takes me. So if I’ve been a bit quiet on Lens lately, that’s why. I’m deep in a side project. But I’ll be back to posting more often soon. In fact, I’ll likely migrate my Lens blog over to my own self-hosted one and document the entire process step-by-step, just in case someone else wants to try it too.There’s something else this whole journey got me thinking about: how accessible and educational this kind of setup could be for my niece and nephews. The Raspberry Pi 500 is now out. It’s a single board computer built into a keyboard that also comes with a mouse and power supply. You can plug it into a regular TV and start using it straight away. Later, if they really get into it, you can add the official Raspberry Pi screen, which looks quite sturdy and child-friendly (a bit like the old Toys “R” Us gadgets that could survive a few drops without falling apart).You can also now install kid-friendly Linux distros like KDM, which are immutable by design. And you can set them up with user-based permissions. One admin user (probably a parent) can control everything. The rest can be set up with just enough access to explore, learn, and create, without risking breaking the system.That feels like a real opportunity. Not just for me, but for the next generation. If we give kids access to this stuff early and let them tinker without fear, we might just give them a better head start than we ever had.Thanks for reading. I’ll keep sharing more as things progress. If you’re curious about any of it or thinking about doing something similar, feel free to reach out or follow along. More updates soon.

Been a bit quiet here lately. I haven’t vanished, just been deep in some setup work and digital rearranging. Tonight, I finally switched over to Linux Mint on my main PC. It’s running beautifully and feels like the right move for how I want to work and create moving forward.Alongside that, my Raspberry Pi is getting its own little ecosystem. I’m planning to run and host a few things myself. Likely starting with a personal Mastodon instance (or something similar) so I can carve out my own space online, away from noise and algorithms. Owning the tools and space you speak from feels more important than ever.This shift is part of a larger intention: to document, share, and reflect more consciously. I’ll be writing about the process in upcoming blog posts. From operating system changes to hosting my own social platforms, it’s all part of a broader project to reclaim some quiet and control in a noisy digital world.Thanks for bearing with me. More soon.

Post Pup Has A Letter For You

I will love you today, tomorrow and every day that comes

# How I Took Back Control of My Digital Life (And You Can Too)1. Why I Left the Walled GardensIf you've been following me on Lens Protocol, you've probably noticed something. I've been taking steps to reclaim control of my digital life, starting with the obvious: leaving platforms that profit from my time, attention, and identity.My exodus didn't begin all at once. It started with frustration. When Elon Musk bought Twitter and rebranded it as X, I felt the Shift immediately. The tone changed. The purpose changed. I had already ditched Facebook and Instagram a couple of years before, tired of Zuckerberg's decades-long track record of prioritising monetisation over ethics.So I began wandering.I explored Mastodon, Pixelfed, PeerTube, and Bluesky. Interesting experiments, some of them promising, but none of them fully aligned with how I wanted to be online. Most of them felt like developer playgrounds or early hobbyist sandboxes.Then I found Lens Protocol again, but this time on its chain. Something clicked. The people there weren't chasing likes. They were building culture. Creative, mindful, decentralised. That resonated deeply.It got me thinking: if I could reclaim my social space, what else could I take back?## 2. Rethinking Ownership: Not Just Data, But MediaYou know that feeling when you buy a movie or song online and then realise you don't own it? That bothered me. I wanted to own the media I paid for. Not just stream it. Not just rent access. Own it backed up, metadata intact, shareable within my home.So I started researching.I came across Plex Media Server and discovered how people use it to create their own Netflix-like library. I also learned about OpenMediaVault, a free and powerful tool to turn a Raspberry Pi into a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.It felt like a perfect fit. I already had an unused Raspberry Pi 5 and an 8 TB drive gathering dust. Why not build my system?Spoiler: I did. And it worked beautifully.Here's how.## 3. Step-by-Step: Turning a Raspberry Pi Into a Personal Media ServerStep 1: Setting Up Raspberry Pi OS Lite1. Go to [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/) and install it.
2. Choose: Raspberry Pi OS (Other) → Raspberry Pi OS Lite.
3. Insert your microSD card and select it.
4. Press Ctrl + Shift + X to open the advanced menu. Here, set your:Tip: Raspberry Pi OS Lite doesn't support Wi-Fi reliably on some setups. Use Ethernet for initial access.Step 2: Find Your Pi's IP AddressConnect your Pi via Ethernet. Open your router's dashboard to find its IP. Then, on your main computer:ssh username@pi_ip_addressReplace `username` and `piipaddress` With your actual details. Enter your password when prompted.## 4. Installing OpenMediaVault (OMV)Once logged in via SSH, update your system:sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeInstall OpenMediaVault:wget -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OpenMediaVault-Plugin-Developers/installScript/master/install | sudo bashLet it install. When finished, go to your browser and enter your Pi's IP address.Default login:- Username: `admin`
- Password: `openmediavault`Immediately change the default password.## 5. Mounting Your USB Hard Drive1. Plug in your external drive.
2. In OMV, navigate to it.
3. Storage > Disks
4. and verify that
5. Then: Storage > File Systems → click the blue "+" to mount it.
6. Apply the changes (yellow banner at the top).Create a Shared Folder:- Go to Storage > Shared Folders
- Click Add
- Choose your mounted drive
- Set folder name and permissions
- Click Save and then ApplyTip: If you get permission errors, go to Privileges and ensure your user has read/write access.## 6. Enable SMB for Windows (or NFS for Linux/macOS)For Windows:1. Go to Services > SMB > Settings and enable SMB.
2. In Shares, link your new folder.
3. Apply changes.On Windows: Connect the Network Drive1. Open "This PC"
2. Right-click → "Add a network location"
3. Use this format:\your.pi.ip.address\sharedfoldername1. Enter your Pi username and password when prompted.Try dragging a large file in. If it copies smoothly, you're good.## 7. Installing Plex Media Server on the PiBack to SSH. Run:sudo apt-get install apt-transport-httpscurl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add -echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.listsudo apt-get updatesudo apt install plexmediaserverWhen prompted during install, choose `n` (no).Once installed, access Plex in your browser:http://your.pi.ip.address:32400/webSign in with a free Plex account.When asked, restrict remote access for now to keep things free.## 8. Setting Up Your Plex LibraryCreate folders on your NAS drive like:- `Movies`
- `TV_Shows`
- `Music`Back in Plex:1. Add a library
2. Choose a media type (e.g., Movies)
3. Browse for the correct folder on your NAS
4. Let Plex scan the folderIt will fetch metadata, cover art, cast info, ratings, and more.Tip: Anytime you add new files, go back to Plex and rescan the folder.## 9. The Result: Full Control, No SubscriptionsWith this setup:- You host your media.
- You pay no monthly fee for local access.
- You decide who gets access.
- You use a fraction of the power of a traditional desktop.If you do want to access your media remotely, Plex now charges a small fee (£1.99/month). That's still a fraction of Netflix, and you get to keep your content.## 10. The Bigger Picture: Why This MattersYes, this post is about Plex, Pi and OpenMediaVault. But it's also about something bigger: control.In a world where every click, view, and file gets tracked, monetised or revoked, taking back ownership is an act of quiet rebellion.You don't need to be a sysadmin or hacker. You need curiosity, patience, and a willingness to tinker.This is how we rebuild the web: piece by piece, drive by drive, one sovereign node at a time.If you've made it this far, I hope you feel a little more empowered. A little more rooted. And a little more ready to take back what's yours.If you're ready to begin, grab your Raspberry Pi here:
👉 [Raspberry Pi 5](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-5/)And download the OS here:
👉 [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)Until next time, own your data. Own your story.

You can’t force the mind to be quiet. But you can sit beside it, breathe gently, and wait for the noise to soften on its own.

The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.

Navajo Proverb
Change begins when we stop resisting the truth.
Exhale denial and let awareness rise with your breath.

You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.