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August 04, 2025

In Ear Monitors - $50 Level

I don’t have one pair of shoes - nor one set of headphones. I have shoes for many purposes and the same for headphones. Yes, this is “nerd math” as an excuse to buy another set of headphones. This time my first “ChiFi” (Chinese Hifi) set of In Ear Monitors.

My new Planar Magnetic over the ear, open back headphones are the pinnacle of sound and I’m enjoying them greatly. But I got to thinking - if headphones have progressed so much in the last five years, what about my 11 year old Shure 215? My research led me to believe I’d hear even better sound than those $200 headphones for $50 today. I gave in and ordered Linsoul KZ ZS10 PRO 2.

I have a couple use cases for IEMs. Long travel by plane and side sleeping “top ear”. There are no batteries so that’s why I use them on planes, and I don’t lose them when sleeping. But to be transparent, I don’t use them much at all and probably didn’t need this pair. I went to compare them to my Sure 215s only to find that I lost those. How long ago? I have no idea. This is not a common use case for me.

That said - these sound quite nice. If you can handle anything inside your ear that is. For me, these are more comfortable than I remember my Shure’s. They sound nothing close to me over the ear, open back planar magnetic headphones that cost 5 times more. They sound WAY better than any cheap headphone I’d ever bought before. I’m not settled yet on whether they sound better than my Airpods Pro Gen 2. Completely different kinds of headphones, so it’s not worth comparing them.

For walking around the neighborhood walking the dog, they have upgraded the music listening and downgraded my ability to talk to my neighbors. They are sound isolating as they fill your ear canal. This is a nicer experience than noise canceling, IMHO. Noise canceling is constantly bombarding your ears with sound, just “anti-sound” waves to cancel out the other waves. It fatigues you more quickly.

I did end up ordering better foam tips which means these are now $75 headphones. The new tips improved both the comfort and the sound. (Final Audio Black+Black/Red Silicone Type E Eartips which are well regarded).

What I don’t like are the plastic wires. I could buy new wires but then I’d REALLY bed changing the price point. Although I’m glad they spent the money making the IEMs as best as they could at this price point rather than tips and cables and cases (no case).

I got the version with the mic so I can make phone calls. This is KIND of why I bought them as my current Airpods Pro are getting flakey with the mic. From normally excellent to “what’s wrong with your phone?” complaints from the people I’m talking too. I want to hold off upgrading until the Gen 3 come out this year. I use them all day every day for two years - I’ve gotten my money’s worth. These cheap $50 headphones, wired with mic - no complaints from the people I’m talking to.

I like them enough that I’m going to see what the next level up offers. More on that later.

There is a LOT of competition at this price. I have no idea if these are better than any others. I know that I feel like I got a good deal. And it’s shocking to me that I have upgraded my IEM sound from my beloved $200 Shure IEM’s to $50 generic Chinese. The downsides are expected - wires and sticking them into my ear.

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GNOME Foundation Executive Director Out After 4 Months

His 4 month reign highlighted by GNOME attacks on Jews and visually impaired users, an expanded "Pride Month", pledging fealty to the UN, and defense of a registered sex offender.

The Article:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/gnome-foundation-executive-director

More from The Lunduke Journal:
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00:25:19
4Chan and Kiwi Farms File Lawsuit Against UK

It is both an important legal case... and a brilliant trolling of the British government.

The article:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/4chan-and-kiwi-farms-file-lawsuit

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

00:21:00
Microsoft Fires "Intifada" Employees

This last week, a group of anti-Jewish Microsoft employees got rowdy. Microsoft fired some of them and sent The Lunduke Journal a statement. Then held a media briefing. Let's watch it together.

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

00:27:39
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:
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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

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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
August 27, 2025

You will only have what the regime says you can have.

And some of you say "get a custom ROM". We already know that.

I used to flip ROMs like cards. And, already have a phone with LineageOS running.

Now, some of us need work apps, that won't work on rooted phones. And, while having a 2nd phone is cool talk, it's not very practical. That LineageOS phone I made stays stuck on a shelf.

Android Is Becoming More Like iOS: Google's New App Rules - YouTube

August 28, 2025

This seems crazy scary (and good)

🌈 💥 I suppose that I would spend my time with "Tropico", or the first two "Fallout" games, or entertain myself with "Day of the Tentacle."

😸 I actually felt a little better, "Doom Scrolling" the post.

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Reminder: 50% off Lunduke Journal Subs ends this weekend

This is a quick reminder that subscriptions to The Lunduke Journal are 50% off for the entire month of August. Which ends… this weekend. August is almost over!

Monthly, Yearly, & Lifetime Subscriptions. All 50% off.

Because of subscribers (like you), The Lunduke Journal can stay:

You make this possible. Support from all of you is critical to keeping The Lunduke Journal doing what it does best.

Scroll down. Pick the subscription that works best for you. And feel good knowing you made truly independent Tech Journalism possible.

50% Off Yearly or Monthly Subscription:

Available via both Locals and Substack. (This includes full access the community Forum.)

That means $3 / Month. Or $27 / Year (which works out to $2.25 / Month).

Via Lunduke.Locals.com:

Via Lunduke.Substack.com:

Note: You can also grab a Monthly subscription via X, YouTube, or Patreon. There’s no way to offer a discount on those platforms. But those are still great options!

The Famous Lifetime Subscription:

The "World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription" is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal. For life.

Now, through the end of August… you can snag one at a crazy discount. Normally these are $200… but you can grab one for $100. (You can also pay more if you’d like to donate a little extra.)

The Lifetime Subscription can be obtained via Locals, Substack, or using Bitcoin. All three options work great and are super easy (& all three include access to the community Forum). Scroll down and choose your option.

Note: The Lifetime Subscription only applies to Substack and Locals. Other platforms (such as X, Patreon, & YouTube) do not provide the functionality necessary to create Lifetime Subscriptions.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select "Give Once".

  3. Enter "100" (or more) into the amount field.

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How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

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If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also obtain a Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.

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  • Email "bryan at lunduke.com" with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com (or both).

50% Off DRM-Free, MP4 Downloads:

Want to be able to download every show The Lunduke Journal releases (and watch them on whatever device you like)? As DRM free, MP4 files? Yeah. You can do that. For 50% off.

Note: This DRM-Free download option does not include access to the Forum. This option is strictly for downloading the episodes.

 

Choose the type of subscription that works best for you. Every subscription — big or small — goes directly towards keeping the lights on at The Lunduke Journal.

A huge thank you to all of the subscribers who have made this work possibly for so many years. You are truly the best nerds on planet Earth.

-Lunduke

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GNOME Foundation Executive Director Out After 4 Months
His 4 month reign highlighted by GNOME attacks on Jews and visually impaired users, an expanded "Pride Month", pledging fealty to the UN, and defense of a registered sex offender.

As of today, the GNOME Foundation has lost yet another Executive Director — Steven Deobald, who lasted a short 4 months.

The previous executive director, Holly Million, lasted a grand total of 9 months in the role.

To say things have been chaotic within the GNOME Foundation, would be a wild understatement — with last year seeing GNOME elections overturned in secret meetings and massive cashflow issues.

The last 4 months, since the new Executive Director took the position, hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Here’s a quick timeline of just some of the strange activity since then.

And now today, August 29th, their new Executive Director is out. After only 4 months on the job. Did any of those events contribute to the departure? GNOME isn’t saying.

In fact, the statement from Allan Day, the new Acting GNOME Executive Director, is incredibly vague regarding the reason for the change.

“Steven Deobald has been in the post of GNOME Foundation Executive Director for the past four months, during which time he has made major contributions to both the Foundation and the wider GNOME project. Sadly, Steven will be leaving the Foundation this week. The Foundation Board is extremely grateful to Steven and wish him the very best for his future endeavors.”

According to the outgoing Executive Directors own statement — entitled “So short, and thanks for all the flinch”:

“As the board announced earlier today, I will be stepping down from the Executive Director role this week. It’s been an interesting four months.”

That reads to me like a firing (or a forced layoff due to lack of funds). But, unless someone speaks up, it’s unlikely we’ll know for sure.

The following was posted by Deobald (outgoing Executive) and Allan Day (new acting Executive) on the GNOME Foundation’s Matrix chat channel.

 

The statement, “I feel like I’ve been glued to an Emacs buffer for 3 straight days” suggests 3 days of discussions (or waiting) leading up to this change.

What will happen next for the GNOME Foundation?

With multiple years of absolute chaos — including financial troubles and an inability to have leadership last more than a few months (not to mention an obsession with attacking The Lunduke Journal) — it’s hard to imagine the next few months being anything other than a continuation of the insanity at GNOME.

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Funny Programming Pictures Part LXX
Skynet's 28th Birthday Edition

What follows are pictures. With words on them. About computer-y things.

Carefully Ctrl-C’d & Ctrl-V’d for your enjoyment.

You’re welcome.

 
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