Notes from the homelab, AWS, and the tools I'm using to think.https://mike.lapidak.is/en-ushttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/unifi-ppsk-guide-consolidate-multiple-ssids-with-private-pre-shared-keys/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/unifi-ppsk-guide-consolidate-multiple-ssids-with-private-pre-shared-keys/Tired of broadcasting multiple WiFi networks for IoT devices? I used UniFi’s Private Pre-Shared Keys (PPSKs) to consolidate four SSIDs down to two - one password per VLAN, same network name. Perfect for managing trusted Matter devices alongside untrusted IoT gadgets without the clutter.Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTguidenetworkingunifismart-homeMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/photo-backup-bakeoff-photoprism-vs-immich-review/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/photo-backup-bakeoff-photoprism-vs-immich-review/Which self-hosted photo and video platform is right for you? PhotoPrism and Immich both offer robust open source options for backing up, searching, and sharing your photographs on your own hardware. This is a review of the two options, from first hand experience.Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTreviewphotographyhomelabimmichphotoprismMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/custom-domains-in-apples-icloud-mail-two-years-later/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/custom-domains-in-apples-icloud-mail-two-years-later/Revisiting the state of Custom Domains on iCloud Mail two years after launch.Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTservicesapplemicrosoftemailMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/sending-mastodon-bookmarks-to-readwise-zapier/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/sending-mastodon-bookmarks-to-readwise-zapier/A guide on using Zapier to pull bookmarks in from Mastodon and send them to Readwise Reader.Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMTguidemastodonautomationproductivityMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/mastodon-vs-gotosocial/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/mastodon-vs-gotosocial/A brief comparison of Mastodon and GoToSocial from a systems administratorSat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTjournalmastodonsocialMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/why-i-built-relaylist-mastodon/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/why-i-built-relaylist-mastodon/Why I set out to build a trusted source for up-to-date information on Fediverse relaysSun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTjournalmastodonawsMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/notes-on-standing-up-a-mastodon-server-aws/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/notes-on-standing-up-a-mastodon-server-aws/A compilation of lessons learned while installing and tuning a small Mastodon server on AWS.Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTguideawsmastodonMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/logseq-feedbin-share-quick-capture/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/logseq-feedbin-share-quick-capture/A quick guide to adding a quick capture share extension for Logseq to FeedbinMon, 05 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTguidelogseqfeedbinrssMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/home-assistant-cloudflare-zero-trust-setup/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/home-assistant-cloudflare-zero-trust-setup/A guide for setting up Cloudflare Zero Trust with Home Assistant for secure remote accessMon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMTguidesmart-homednsnetworkingsecurityMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/switch-apple-watch-garmin-epix-watch/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/switch-apple-watch-garmin-epix-watch/My impressions of the Garmin Epix after seven years with an Apple WatchSun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMTreviewfitnesswearableapplegarminMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/review-weatherflow-tempest-weather-station/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/review-weatherflow-tempest-weather-station/The personal weather station market is full of ugly, complicated contraptions. WeatherFlow's Tempest is a smart, connected, and sleek breath of fresh air.Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMTreviewweatherservicesMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/an-ode-to-apples-hide-my-email/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/an-ode-to-apples-hide-my-email/Apple's Hide My Email feature is one of the most under-rated privacy launches of the past year, and here's why.Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMTservicesappleemailsecurityprivacyMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/thoughts-on-custom-domains-in-apple-icloud-mail/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/thoughts-on-custom-domains-in-apple-icloud-mail/Insights on Apple's iCloud Mail Custom Domains after three months of heavy use.Sat, 06 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMTservicesappleemailfastmailheyMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/networked-notes-roam-research-future/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/networked-notes-roam-research-future/Roam Research has changed the way I take notes through networked thoughtSat, 20 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMTguideproductivityroam-researchMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/hey-for-work-personal/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/hey-for-work-personal/Sharing the experience of using HEY for Work for a personal, custom domain name.Sat, 27 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMTreviewservicesemailheyfastmailMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/simple-joys-static-sites/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/simple-joys-static-sites/Learning to embrace simplicity and bask in the speed of static websites with GatsbySun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMTguideserverlessgatsbyawswebsiteMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/levels-health-first-impressions/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/levels-health-first-impressions/Initial impressions of Levels Health continuous glucose monitoring to improve metabolic healthSun, 07 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMTreviewhealthquantified-selfMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/nextdns-caching-unifi-dream-machine/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/nextdns-caching-unifi-dream-machine/A year later, and NextDNS is faster and quicker to set upFri, 22 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMTguidenextdnsnetworkingdnssecurityMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/microsoft-and-the-xbox-as-a-service/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/microsoft-and-the-xbox-as-a-service/Microsoft is lowering the barrier to entry for the next generation of its gaming console. How does this compare to previous programs and the subsided cell phone industry of the early 2000s?Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMTbusinessgamingmicrosoftxboxMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/on-hey-email/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/on-hey-email/My overview and thoughts on HEY, a new and opinionated email service from the creators of Basecamp.Wed, 22 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMTreviewemailheyfastmailservicesMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/replacing-pi-hole-with-nextdns/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/replacing-pi-hole-with-nextdns/A how-to guide on setting up NextDNS on a RaspberryPi for your home network.Mon, 09 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMTguidenetworkingdnsnextdnssecurityMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/lightroom-fujifilm-xt-2-workflow/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/lightroom-fujifilm-xt-2-workflow/Creating a workflow for importing RAW photos from a Fuji X-T2 to an Apple iPadSun, 28 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMTguidephotographylightroomMike Lapidakishttps://mike.lapidak.is/posts/tagging-and-snapshotting-with-lambda/https://mike.lapidak.is/posts/tagging-and-snapshotting-with-lambda/Two Lambda functions for AWS housekeeping: propagating EC2 instance tags to attached EBS volumes, ENIs, and snapshots, plus daily volume snapshots with automatic cleanup.Sat, 16 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMTguidedevelopmentawsMike Lapidakis