Stephan Sokolow @ssokolow@qoto.org

PSA: Accidentally running `systemd --user` instead of `systemctl --user` may render your D-Bus session bus unresponsive until you log out, breaking Pipewire, XDG portals, and a lot of other things.

(It's probably a good idea to add an alias or function to your bashrc or zshrc to block accidental invocation of it.)

#linux #ubuntu #kubuntu

I'm still waiting for my "in case I need to un-brick a BIOS/UEFI" hardware for use with flashrom, so I can't confirm, but it appears my specific motherboard is included in this set of third-party-fixed UEFI images → https://archive.org/details/gpu-fix-for-hp-ipisb-ch2-modified-bios-image

PSA: The installer for Alcohol 52% Free Edition 2.1.1.2201 attempts to install a piece of malware named BrightSDK. If you have a system which is giving you the "Loading Alcohol device drivers failed!" error after a system update, keep your old version and just extract the appropriate `SPTDinst.exe` or `SPTD2inst.exe` for your system from it using 7zip.

Tip: If your #firefox keyword search has been messing up recently, including your trigger keyword (eg. my `wp` for Wikipedia) in what's searched for or copy-pasting the search you just did instead of the retrieved URL, try toggling Settings > Search > Show search terms in the address bar on results pages.

If you're running into the same thing as me, the bug is a new feature that leaves the state of the address bar un-reset after you press Enter.

Tip: If #PipeWire / #WirePlumber keeps resetting #ALSA mixer settings on hotplug (eg. slamming "Line Boost" to 100% whenever you plug/unplug headphones or Ctrl+Alt+# switch virtual consoles), the "Pro Audio" profile (settable via the PulseAudio compatibility layer through KDE's System Settings → Audio or pavucontrol) will stop it from meddling in the ALSA mixer so you can fix things. #linux #audio #linuxaudio

Another petition that's specifically relevant to Canadians, in case anyone's not aware that our identity verification provider lobby is trying to sneak in its own version of the UK Online Safety Act that's been spiking searches for VPNs recently.
https://chng.it/SzSKm7K69h

For anyone who keeps running into articles which MENTION petitions against MasterCard/VISA censorship of purchases legal within the relevant jurisdictions but don't link to them, here's one I managed to track down:

https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-what-we-can-watch-read-or-play

What's the most poignant #filk #song you've yet encountered? My nomination is Sam Jones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxFnPMHJ6s

Since the Thunderbird people just duped bug 1947722 (support for disabling hiding the Quick Filter bar on Esc keypresses) against bug 1922924 (disable Esc when filter settings are pinned), here's a little python-xlib hack for the ACTUALLY desired functionality by filtering events.

https://gist.github.com/ssokolow/74c8bda3dafc133e615e3152b815196f

Wayland users will have to force their Thunderbird to run as an X11 app via XWayland or Wayland's security model will prevent this from working.

#linux #bsd #x11 #xlib #python #thunderbird

Tip: If your Blue Yeti doesn't show up in *buntu 24.04 and was working fine in *buntu 22.04, it's probably a bug related to the switch to Pipewire where the wireplumber state can get messed up.

Check that it's present in `arecord -L` and then run `rm -rf ~/.local/state/wireplumber; pkill pipewire` to reset things. Once pipewire restarts, the Yeti should pop into your `pavucontrol` or KDE System Settings Audio panel like normal.

#linux #audio #linuxaudio #pipewire #wireplumber #kubuntu

Turns out I'm not the only one who thought generative AI looks suspiciously like a procedurally generated gacha game:

https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/05/generative-ai-runs-on-gambling-addiction-just-one-more-prompt-bro/

I just discovered that the instructions that turn up for opening a Mac Mini G4 are unnecessarily brutal and prone to gouging or cracking plastic. Instead of prying anything, here's the technique I intuited and used:

1. Use one hand to apply pressure between the back I/O shield and the outer frame (like tensioning the cylinder, if you watch lockpicking videos)

2. With a THIN metal spudger/pry tool, work your way around the edge starting at the back, pressing each clip just enough to release it.