The browser situation

2025-03-17 by dino

For the past twenty years, I’ve been vigilant about choosing an internet browser that values my privacy, one that doesn’t sell the data I create and collect through my browsing habits.

I’ve been using Firefox since its early days in 2002 when it was still called Phoenix. At the time, Microsoft's Internet Explorer reigned as the dominant browser, and it always left much to be desired. It was clunky, slow, and lacked the user experience we expected at the time. When Mozilla released Firefox, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The internet was still in its infancy, back when it was still known as Web 1.0, and though we hadn’t yet realized how much tech companies were tracking us, I instinctively knew that Firefox was the better option compared to Internet Explorer. It was a time when alternative browsers were emerging, and I tried nearly all of them, but Firefox always stood out to me.

Tina Dico's concert

2025-02-28 by dino

A few days ago, Amra, two good friends, and I attended a Tina Dico concert in Vejle, and it was a wonderful experience. The show had a slightly unconventional format—Tina performed alongside her partner, Helgi Jonsson, and the concert was structured around their musical and personal journey since they met. This meant a lot of storytelling between songs. While it was interesting to hear their story, I felt it might have been a bit too much at times. But I don't want to dwell on that.

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Tina Dico and Heli Jonsson on stage.

Tina and Helgi are incredibly talented musicians. I was particularly impressed by Tina Dico's voice—warm, expressive, and captivating. She performed some of her older songs, which I’m most familiar with, but many of the newer ones were just as compelling. Her musical style on stage blends folk and country influences, creating a sound that feels confident, inviting, and enjoyable. It was also intriguing to hear Helgi’s work, as I wasn't familiar with his music before.

The concert took place at Vejle Musikteater, an intimate venue that perfectly suited the personal and immersive concept of the performance. The setting enhanced the storytelling aspect and made the whole experience feel even more special.

My favorite songs of the night were Count to Ten and Sacré Coeur.

Life is Strange 2

2025-02-16 by dino

Life is Strange 2 is a powerful narrative-driven game that promotes compassion and empathy. While not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, it comes remarkably close. The story remains engaging throughout, featuring complex and well-developed characters.

We follow two brothers on their journey to freedom. The ride is full of obstacles that make them stronger, just like their brotherly connection.

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Life is Strange 2.

During my 18-hour playthrough (and almost three months of sporadic playing during my free time), I found that although the pacing could have been tighter in places, the game's heartfelt message and emotional depth make it a compelling experience.

Highly recommended for fans of story-rich games.

Sous le Pavés la Plage

2025-02-10 by dino

Yesterday, I watched Strange Darling (2023), and it was both deeply disturbing and strangely captivating. The film was visually stunning, with breathtaking cinematography (done by Giovanni Ribisi, the actor), but what truly drew me in was the haunting soundtrack, composed by Z Berg. Her voice is absolutely mesmerizing, and the sounds she creates are truly unique. My favorite track is probably Sous le Pavé, la Plage, which I've played on repeat several times.

The entire soundtrack has such an immersive quality, and I can't get enough of it.

Debian, still the best OS for me

2025-02-09 by dino

It’s been almost two years since I last wrote about my operating system of choice, so I think it’s time to revisit the topic. With a new Debian release on the horizon in a few months, now feels like the perfect moment to share why Debian remains my favorite Linux distribution.

I’ve been using Linux exclusively on my computers since 2019, and for the past three years, Debian has been my daily driver. Over the years, I’ve experimented with various distributions, including Linux Mint, Ubuntu (and its MATE variant), Devuan (a Debian-based distro without systemd¹), EndeavourOS, Fedora, and openSUSE. While each has its strengths, I can confidently say that Debian stands out as the most reliable, rock-solid, and versatile Linux distribution I’ve used. It’s nearly impossible to break—something I can’t say for some other distros. For example, manually installing fonts in the /usr/share/fonts/ folder on Linux Mint would often lead to issues, but Debian handles such tasks effortlessly. Whether I’m installing multiple desktop environments or tinkering with system configurations, Debian just works. It’s like the honey badger of operating systems: unshakable, focused, and always getting the job done.