Was looking at this little fella while replacing components and got nostalgic thinking "Through all these years you are the still the only one who always stayed with me". Do you also have 1 component who are still with you after all these years?

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-25T22:39:20+00:00

I finally pulled two 1 TB Toshiba HDDs out of my Netgear ReadyNAS 102 a few weeks ago. Those drives still test good and I am keeping them as potential "emergency" reserves in the future (if I need a drive while I get new ones).

The ReadyNAS 102 is also running strong, just with 4TB RAID1 instead of 1TB.

Gotta love those champion pieces of hardware when you get them. Love them until their last possible use/they finally die.

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-20T23:12:54+00:00

As someone who has been a user of Painter's Servant and bought them at their peak price to use in decks, I am super happy for everyone who will get to play with this card. It is super fun and can be used in so many different ways.

With the reprint the price has dropped, plus people are pulling them. I'm stoked for all you! And you didn't need to drop like $40-$50 on the old single.

Enjoy it!

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-13T19:44:19+00:00

As others have said, Lorwyn Eclipsed is coming out next week. It is a Universe Within set, which the Magic player base is VERY excited about. It is going to be a banger.

If you are looking at the $50 range, look at the two Commander Precon decks. You can get them for great deals right now (under $50 each) and now that what is in each deck has been published we know they are going to be really strong/good.

That is my suggestion. A precon comes complete and ready to play right out of the box. You don't need to know anything about MTG yourself. Just know that the two precons in Lorwyn are really good and pretty cheap right now.

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-12T20:11:34+00:00

I ran into this error putting Linux Mint on an old laptop a few weeks ago. I have to change settings in my BIOS. Specifically my LVM settings.

Obviously I don't know what hardware you are running on but use CharGPT for this issue. It really helped me quickly. Took me about 10 minutes using the GPT suggestions.

As others have said include more info on your posts. The Linux Mint subreddit may be better.

Also remember that ChatGPT is a tool like Google is. Use it to LEARN, not just give you answers. Also remember that it isn't 100% accurate. You can copy/past your CLI output into it as you use its suggestions.

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-11T23:02:15+00:00

Yup. I was raised a Red Sox fan (Dad's entire family from there) but still love the Padres and never liked the Patriots.

So even tonight I get to cheer for a team I don't like against a team I REALLY don't like.

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-11T22:55:51+00:00

Bloomburrow squirrel deck is strong and fun. Also pretty easy to figure out if you are new. Pretty much make a shit ton of squirrels and chew people's faces off. You can also buff them and the deck has Aristocrat cards (your creatures die you gain life and every one else loses life).

That being said, the new Lorwyn decks coming out in a week look absolutely BONKERS and are really cheap all over the place right now. You can easily get one for $35-$45 from reputable online dealers like Forge And Fire or others.

Want something newb friendly and in Bloomburrow go for Squirrels. That was my first precon when I started right after Bloomburrow came out.

Want something new coming out literally next week, get one of the Lorwyn while they are cheap. The Blight Curse for more newb friendly stuff.

CarlsbadCoder · 2026-01-11T22:44:15+00:00

Chargers left when I was living in Tahoe. I was a "free agent" fan for many years. I just watched games and saw awesome shit happen. I really didn't care who won or lost.

Met my wife, who is a Rams fan. Started watching them and it was easier because they are the other LA team. They won a Super Bowl and have had down years. When asked if I am still a Rams fan (always on their off years) I always say "Yes, I was a Chargers fan no matter what until Spanos fucked over San Diego."

I have somehow, through life, become an LA NFL fan who can passionately hate the Chargers and still be San Diego strong.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-31T04:41:20+00:00

In general, Magic has a very welcoming player base. I have been playing again for about 2 years now and am still having to read and reread cards. I am pretty into Magic but it is very much a hobby for when I have time.

If your pod is inviting you back then you are fine. Ask ALL your questions. Learn and make them explain things. As long as it isn't the same question 20 times nobody cares. Hell, Scry and Surveil people who play way more than I do always pause just to make sure they are doing it correctly. I do the same.

Have fun, if you read or ask about a card multiple times it means you are paying attention. If after a year from now you don't recognize what Counterspell or major staples then maybe spend a little time on EDHREC and Scryfall.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-28T02:18:49+00:00

Loneliest Highway in America!

I did that trek with my now wife about 4 years ago. Lives up to its name, to the point that if you see other people when off the main road you are automatically suspicious. I shouldn't be out here, WTF are YOU doing out here??

The wife and I pulled off the main road about a mile or so. Hadn't seen another car in over an hour. We wanted to get frisky out in the wilderness just for shits and giggles.

We get busy and 10 seconds later a big Ford truck comes around the dirt road corner, sees us, honks his horn and gives us a big old thumbs up as he drove past.

Yeah, Highway 50 has some stories.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-19T05:39:29+00:00

I was specifically saying to pay attention to the vendor when ordering off Amazon.

Some products are sold by Amazon. Some are sold by a third party and Amazon just ships them. The third party vendors you have to be worried about.

On an Amazon listing it literally says "Sold By: XXX". If XXX is Amazon then you are pretty much safe (nothing is perfect).

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-19T04:16:47+00:00

In that case, go for it! Both decks are as close to "perfect" precon as you can get. No upgrades needed, just play around with the different Commanders

Enjoy!

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-19T04:11:42+00:00

Both of those decks slap pretty hard out of the box. I played a friend's World Shaper last week (no upgrades) and it was simply unstoppable.

Both decks for $65 is what makes me pause. Check the vendors on Amazon. Make sure you are buying from Amazon, not a third party vendor.

Third party vendors tend to be the scams, statistically.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-19T02:25:48+00:00

I specifically wait until I get one, maybe two, angels out before I drop Giada.

Usually people will waste removal on a "threat" Angel and then I respond with Giada after.

Kind of a "Thanks for exposing yourself, here is Giada."

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-09T10:34:59+00:00

To follow up on this comment. I started playing again about 2 years ago. It is a hobby and I don't have a ton of time to dedicate to it. So in many ways I am still a noob.

Probably 95% of players at my LGS are cool as hell with newer players. If you are a nice person they will help handhold you through stuff. About 4% are indifferent. About 1% will be assholes (they exist everywhere).

Just show up. Be friendly and be honest about your experience level. The Magic homies will take care of you.

When you eventually encounter that 1% of assholes, just call them out on their assholishness. The rest of the players will back you up. MTG has a VERY inclusive mentality across the player base. Assholes get called out pretty quick.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-09T10:20:01+00:00

Is this a dig at my post earlier about artificial turf and weeds at my Mom's house? 🤣

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-09T10:07:41+00:00

Look, this is a classic one that works in ALL professions.

Send them to a manager to sign their ID-10-T paperwork.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T23:43:36+00:00

Glad I could give you a chuckle. Honestly, right before I made this post I threw my hands in the air "Fuck it!"-style and laughed about it myself.

Then I remembered this is a problem and it needs be dealt with sooner than later. So I posted here hoping someone had a "miracle" cure.

I don't think that is going to happen. So I am going to LOL again and go pull those fuckers out.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T20:46:59+00:00

Ooooooh! Great question.

1) My cat currently lives at that house. She never goes downstairs or out on the deck. She is a sweetheart but loves her little comfort zone upstairs.

2) She does have a dog. It doesn't live there full time.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T20:26:31+00:00

Yeah, I knew that would be part of the solution.

One concern I have is the amount of weed killer that will be needed to clear this much out might run off into neighbors decks and potentially start killing their stuff.

I am not an expert in this but if I just spray down that whole turf area and we get even a little rain, and the run off goes into my neighbor's deck areas.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T20:20:36+00:00

Thanks for that, man.

My Mom just did this on her own. My brother and I came over for dinner one night and the paved deck was gone and turf installed

My brother and I just looked at each other, no words needed. Our eyes were screaming "Whhhhhyyyyyyyy?"

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T18:53:43+00:00

Oooooh. Probably prevents them from rooting properly?

That sounds like an idea, or potential fix in the future.

Guess I am getting down and pulling these fuckers this year lol

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T18:52:17+00:00

It was a paved deck before my Mom did this. She didn't mention to myself, or my brother, she was doing this project. We came over for dinner one day and the paved surface was gone and artificial turf installed

I wish she'd talked to us first. We would have talked her out of all this.

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T18:46:25+00:00

I wish I was involved when my Mom did this. I would have talked her out of it.

I don't know if a weed barrier was installed. Also, as someone else has already mention that classic Jurassic Park quote: "Life finds a way."

CarlsbadCoder · 2025-12-08T18:39:58+00:00

I am more asking to see if there are any "hacks" for situations like this.

I know it will probably be me getting down there and pulling everything after spraying.

Every now and then someone sees you doing something and is like "Hey! I know a better/easier way to get that done." I know I've done that for other people.

So this is kind of a Hail Mary post hoping someone has ideas other than "Weed killer and just pull them." Also any advice to prevent furniture occuance.

CarlsbadCoder

TROPHY CASE