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Make Computers Fun Again - Linux, UNIX, Alternative Operating Systems, Computer History, and Retro Computing. Also dad jokes.
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December 21, 2021
What a year!

Holy smokes. I mean. 2021... Absolutely bonkers.

We're up to 3,765 total members here on Locals. Most are free accounts (obviously), but very happy with the steady growth.

And the Substack has really exploded as well. Articles there are regularly clocking in over 10K reads (some much more). And the growth rate is fantastic. Way beyond what I have expected, and way beyond the total traffic that any of my past publications (including Linux Journal, and Network World) hit.

I am, without a doubt, keeping both Locals and Substack around. I love the two platforms (for different reasons). And I'm going to keep publishing everything to both.

I do have three challenges ahead of me, over the coming months. Figured I'd talk about it with all of you... cuz we're all buds here.

1) The smallest challenge is a short term one. I'm about 34 total paying subscribers short of my end-of-year goal. I've got about a week and half to hit that number... which seems super doable. Maybe I'll do a sort of pledge drive thing. Any ideas? Figure I'll come up with something and start on that tomorrow. If I can hit that (or close to it), I can keep everything ad-free. Which is worthwhile. Open to suggestions! Definitely achievable... just don't want to badger folks to pull it off. šŸ˜Ž

2) Looking into January, I want to get regular shows going again. Articles have had a great cadence and the results have been wonderfully good. But issues with being "mobile" has made recording shows a lot trickier. I miss the regular shows, and I know many of you do too. Steady, weekly, fun shows. I've been working to get things set up to make this easier (and better) over here. First week of January should be rocking and rolling. This is a challenge that I've almost finished taking care of... just figured I'd mention it because it was a lot of work. šŸ˜‚

3) Which brings me to a longer term challenge that I don't yet have a solution for. Live, in person shows. I have 3 shows written (plus a start on a new Linux Sucks)... that just won't be anywhere near as fun if they're just me sitting or standing in an empty room talking to a camera. These shows need a live audience. Those are always more fun. Unfortunately there just aren't many live conferences going in the next 6 months. Texas Linux Fest is still "on hold", for example. And, because flying is out of the question for me right now... I'm limited to conferences happening in driving distance of "The South". Texas to Florida, essentially. Heck, even if I could fly... events like Linux Fest NW are dead now (they're going to try to do a fully virtual event next year... but even that doesn't look certain). So. What to do? If I can find a conference going (that will have me), I could do a whole bunch of big shows at it. But, so far, no dice. Putting this out into the universe in case anyone has an amazing idea! 😜

So... yeah! Great year! Amazing year, in so many ways. Thanks, really, to all of you. You, and your support, has made all of this possible.

Seriously. You are amazing. The best group of nerds on planet Earth.

Super stoked to see what we can accomplish in 2022.

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Tech Journalism is Corrupt, Dirty, and in the Pocket of Big Tech

Big Tech paying for stories. Bribes and payola. Wining and dining. The result is buried stories and fake, biased coverage.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:22:04
January 08, 2026
Microsoft Renamed Office to "Microsoft 365 Copilot app"

MS representative has confirmed it. Microsoft has made many blunders with Office in the past (Clippy & Ribbon toolbar spring to mind), but this may be the biggest blunder of all.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:09:16
January 07, 2026
GNOME says Linux Should be Like Windows, Moves to Disable "Middle-Click Paste"

The GNOME Desktop Environment feels that "Click the Middle Mouse Button to Paste" is an "X11-ism", moves disable it for bizarre reasons (including political ones).

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:20:03
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

Last month (December), The Lunduke Journal ran a rather preposterous sale. $89 bucks for a Lifetime subscription (and 50% off Monthly or Yearly subs).

And, you know what? It was amazing. A flood of new subscribers grabbing a great deal, helping to ensure that truly independent Tech Journalism can stay 100% free from the clutches of Big Tech well into the future.

In fact, it worked so well that we’re doing it again for the entire month of January. Because… why not?!

https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions-c1b

8 hours ago

Or perhaps it's all part of the plan...

AI LAYOFFS ARE BACKFIRING! - YouTube

January 08, 2026

Let this be your annual reminder to clean your fans even if it's not loud or appearing to have issues.
My laptop has been having odd issues. I installed an aftermarket silent fan back in 2019. It's been great but when it ramps up, you don't really hear it. I checked my temps today and realized my laptop was idling at 60c. I opened the laptop to find a giant ball of lint stuck in the cooling fins. I also was able to resolve a few "bugs" inside. (I really shouldn't take this thing camping with me.)
Anyways, cleaned it out, new thermal paste, now it's idling at 35c and running a lot better.

January 01, 2026
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Top 5 Tech Stories of 2025 (According to Lunduke Journal's Viewers)
Gay software, Leftist Activists destroying computing, attacks on privacy, & more. Plus: Lunduke Journal had 14.9 Million views in December alone.

What follows are the top 5 most viewed Tech News stories, published byĀ The Lunduke Journal, during 2025.

Presented in descending order of views received, starting with the most viewed.

[Links are to Substack, but all stories are freely availableĀ on several platforms.]

  1. Installing Linux Software Just Got More... GayĀ [Nov 24, 2025]

  2. Linus Torvalds Tells Google Dev His ā€œGarbage Codeā€ Should ā€œGet Bentā€Ā [Aug 10, 2025]

  3. Leftist Activists Demand Removal of Ruby on Rails Founder, DHHĀ [Sep 26, 2025]

  4. Microsoft’s Goal: Replace ā€œEvery Line of Cā€ with Rust by 2030?Ā [Dec 26, 2025]

  5. Use Firefox? Mozilla Says it Can Use Your Data However it Wants.Ā [Feb 27, 2025]

And, just for the sake of posterity, here are the next most viewed stories, 5 through 10.

  1. Wikipedia Made $184 Million in 2025, Spent $3.4 Million on HostingĀ [Dec 5, 2025]

  2. Cloudflare Rewrote Their Core in Rust, Then Half of the Internet Went DownĀ [Nov 19]

  3. Ubuntu’s Rust GNU Utils Replacement 17x Slower & BuggyĀ [Sep 16]

  4. GNOME Foundation Discusses Refusing Funds from Framework ComputerĀ [Oct 17, 2025]

  5. Python Says Discriminatory DEI Policies More Important Than $1.5 Million DollarsĀ [Oct 28]

Of those 10 stories… 4 of them were not reported on byĀ anyĀ other major Tech News outlets. And 3 of the other stories were first reported byĀ The Lunduke JournalĀ (and then picked up by other journalists).

That’s… wild.

Worth Pondering

We know thatĀ The Lunduke JournalĀ getsĀ more social media traction and views than any other ā€œMainstreamā€ Tech Journalism outletsĀ (including the ones which claim to have ā€œmillionsā€ of followers).

While we don’t know the currentĀ exactĀ viewership numbers of the other major Tech Journalists out there, based on all available numbers it would appear that these are among the most viewed Tech News stories fromĀ anyĀ publisher.

Period.

Which means that this list of ā€œTop Tech News of 2025ā€ is about as close to definitive as we’re likely to get.

While we’re at it, for the sake of massive transparency, here are detailed statistics forĀ The Lunduke JournalĀ for last month. (Something the other big Tech News outlets would be terrified to reveal.)

Lunduke Journal Stats for December

Here’s someĀ Lunduke JournalĀ stats for December, 2025:

  • 14.9 MillionĀ views (or listens) during the last month (December).

  • 151,224 free subscribers (not including audio podcast feeds).

  • 2,196 new free subscribers on the primary platforms.

  • 342 shows, in total, in 2025.

  • $0.00 (zero) taken from any corporation.

December is, typically, the most quiet month for Tech Journalism. Fewer big stories. Lots of people on vacation. ā€œViewā€ numbers are, almost always, significantly lower than a typical month.

Despite that,Ā The Lunduke JournalĀ had a pretty stellar month in December of 2025. Second biggest month of the year (only slightly behind the previous month, which set multiple records), clocking in at just shy of 15 million ā€œviewsā€.

I’ll take it.

Ā 

Total Free Subscribers also saw pretty decent growth, considering it was December (ā€œthe quiet monthā€), of over 2,000 new subscribers. Now topping 150,000.

Ā 

A huge thank you, as always, to the amazing subscribers toĀ The Lunduke Journal.

None of this work would be possible without you.

-Lunduke

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December 28, 2025
Reminder: The $89 Lifetime Sub deal ends after New Years Eve

Woah!

The end of December is almost here!

That means the ā€œ$89 Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptionā€ deal is about to end!

When the ball drops on New Years Eve, and the calendar clocks over to 2026, the Lifetime Subscription price goes back to normal.

So, you know, grab one before that darn ball drops! (Then check out all of the Lunduke Journal Subscriber Perks.)

Because that deal is re-DONK-u-lous.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
December 21, 2025
Lunduke's Nerdy Q&A, Lifetime Sub for $89

Two quick tidbits on this glorious Sunday:

Reminder: $89 Lifetime Subscriptions

Lifetime Subscriptions to The Lunduke Journal are currently discounted to $89. For life. Which is… insane. That’s less than 1/3rd of the regular price.

Monthly and Yearly subscriptions are 50% off. Which is also pretty darned snazzy.

Submit Questions for Lunduke’s Nerdy Q&A!

On Tuesday I will be recording a long-overdue episode of ā€œLunduke’s Nerdy Q&Aā€.

Got questions you’d like asked in the show? No guarantees, but I’ll get to as many as I can!

Retro computing. Current computer news. Ridiculous hypotheticals. Any question is fair game... just make sure it’s good and nerdy.

To make it simple for me, there are two ways you can submit questions for this week’s Q&A:

  1. Add a comment to this thread on Forum.Lunduke.com.

  2. Reply to this thread over on X.

  3. Ok. I lied.Ā  There are three ways.Ā  You can also reply to this post, right here, on Locals.

Note: Only Lunduke Journal subscribers can access to Forum.Lunduke.com. All of the details on how to gain access are on the Lunduke Journal Subscriber Perks page.

-Lunduke

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