Laki's Web Site

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-23T15:04:53Z

New thought 'Why couldn't we have a simpler JavaScript alternative?':

Forgive me if I am uninformed, but why couldn't we have had a simple scripting language for the web? Something that allowed for forms, image galleries, buttons, automatic background image switching (based on time), or an alert box, without enabling 20mb heavy JavaScript tracking pages that follow your mouse and use tracking pixels, shove ads up your ass, and more. Because in some instances, JavaScript is genuinely useful, but obviously it has lead to the death of the "classic" internet. I found an interesting article at Chimaera's website called "How the 'You are an idiot' trojan warned us of the dangers of Javascript". I think he makes a very valid point in that JS is a joke and how it enables spying on users without them even knowing.

If I were the "owner of the internet" :D, I would have scrapped JS before it was even created, and instead created a language called "WebScript", which does the basics mentioned above (image galleries, etc), but nothing more. It would have been tightly regulated and made sure that it can only perform basic tasks. THis would prevent it from becoming the behemoth that JS is today.

However, unfortunately the "owner of the internet" is/was Google/Mozilla, so I guess we can't have any nice things. Money ruins everything I suppose.

GTK2 Software Directory

2026-02-22T21:28:49Z

Wrote section 'How do you even use GTK2 or "rice" it?':

See this (archived) article on the Furude Shrine (archived) website. It goes into depth on how to "rice" (customise) the XFCE4 desktop, explaining how to install themes and so on.

I have a few articles in the works on how to create your own GTK2 theme/modify an existing one, and how to make/fork GTK2 software.

My runs

2026-02-20T12:01:46Z

Wrote section 'My runs':

Just a place for my runs and statistics if anyone finds that interesting :-).

Added archived links through a PHP script

2026-02-17T20:09:00Z

The site now automatically archives links to other websites in case they go down or get changed.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-17T18:56:28Z

New thought 'PHP is really cool, but should only be used on the server':

My website uses a fair bit of PHP on the server, because I am lazy. I have PHP scripts that: generate an RSS feed for me (with support for manual entries), creates a TOC for each article, and I plan on making some that will automate SSI (e.g. for a website mirror which is hosted on a server which does not support SSI), photo gallery showing every picture on the site, and one that archives links via MAFF format so that they can be viewed even if the other website goes offline or changes the content. Hence, PHP can be a very useful tool for webmasters to automate annoying tasks on their website.

However, that is not to say that PHP is always good. It should not be used on the site unless absolutely necessary, because there are usually better ways of doing things that have less bloat. I think it may be good for the occasional form, and guestbook, but other than those uses I do not think it should be used.

Apparently, PHP is very hard to code, but I found it to be relatively simple to read and understand. I did not write any code, but rather just copied snippets from other websites and tutorials to make my own.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-17T10:08:04Z

New thought '(Local) AI is pretty useful':

The fact that we can run AI locally is actually one of the rare benefits of AI, looking past all the other goyslop. It is really cool that (provided you have powerful enough hardware), you can access so much knowledge via a local AI model. If you have an uncensored one, you could use it to learn how to do something useful in an emergency - such as building a bomb :D. It also holds knowledge of so much and it is super easy to ask a question to it, e.g it might help you identify a leaf/plant, animal, location. It also could help you translate, give recipes, etc. Having a local wikipedia backup would also be useful but you would have to add your own content because it might not have everything you need (recipes, translations come to mind).

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-17T10:08:04Z

New thought 'The system uses its people for its own benefit':

Looking at the whole carbon tax, vegan, plant-based ideas present in society, it is visible that "the system" uses normal people to achieve its goals. People are brainwashed into thinking that these ways of living (e.g. turning off the heating or lights in your house) will improve the the environment, etc. Even though the majority of energy usage is actually used by creating the products that these very same people consume. Watching a movie on Netflix, writing a prompt into ChatGPT, etc, all use more energy than eating a steak or leaving the lights on.

There are countless examples of the system using people for its own benefit, which can also be seen in government sometimes. Some people have been conditioned to only listen to what the media or government says. If one of these people were to go into government, they would not actually be working against people on purpose, but rather be using their corrupted ideas, to cause harm to people - without realising it.

Hopefully you understand what I mean.

Producing Vitamin D without sunlight

2026-02-16T20:00:00Z

Wrote article 'Producing Vitamin D without sunlight'

Updated site design - removed old navigation sidebar

2026-02-16T12:00:00Z

Updated site design to work better on lower resolution screens - more of the screen is now used actually displaying the article. Still needs work on Dillo, Netsurf, and other older browsers compatability.

The Shareholder Problem

2026-02-13T22:39:17Z

Wrote article 'The Shareholder Problem'

LEDs are soulless

2026-02-12T22:34:19Z

Wrote section 'Atmospheres':

We used to have a very diverse set of lighting used: incadescent, sodium vapour, mercury, arc, gas, neon, etc. This led to different atmospheres depending on the method of lighting used: you had cool neon lights for a futuristic atmosphere in the city, sodium vapour lamps used on highways - creating a nice evening drive home, and so on. Atmospheres are really important and can also enhance your memories of certain places. I remember driving home late at night after a holiday with family with that distinct orange glow emitted from the street lamps.

In fact, my local main road still uses (I believe) Low/High Pressure Sodium (LPS/HPS) bulbs. The difference between this road and the road right next to it (a residential street) is quite striking especially since I can see the difference with my own eyes as a side by side comparison. The blue LED lighting looks sharp and cold, whereas the warm glow of the LPS/HPS lamps makes you feel comfortable.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-11T23:13:22Z

New thought 'Consistency is key':

Consistency is the basis of progress. Looking at my sleep article specifically, you get an idea of how to sleep properly. But what does that even matter if you only do it for one day? You might have a nice sleep, but only for one day and this will not benefit you at all in the long term. However, if you sleep really well like this every day, you will see the clear benefits. Same can be said for the gym, stamina training, studying, etc.

Another specific example is this website (or if you have one yourself). If every day, I write a thought like this and every week/month an article like the ones listed on the articles page, eventually I will have a very big collection of constantly improving knowledge and wisdom. The site will be very popular because of the sheer quality and volume of the articles it has (if you write and improve them constantly).

You can literally start from nothing and work slowly towards your goal, and over time you will always get something great. Even if you do now have a goal and are aimlessly doing work, at one point you will figure it out. So just start doing something you like and even if you don't have a plan, it will come to you.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-11T23:13:22Z

New thought 'Learning new things properly':

I have a basic protocol for learning new things:

Research the topic
Make detailed notes on it and try to fully understand it (e.g. if it is a physics formula, learn how to fully derive and use it)
Explain the topic to someone else or do a small "test" on it (this could be e.g. a past paper for physics, debating someone on a topic, explaining it to someone else, or writing down ideas on the subject without referencing previous notes)
Looking back at this and repeating step 3

Now this may seem really obvious to some, but it is the method that you must stick to when learning something, at least in my opinion. I don't see another way to learn and maintain information as effectively, and sometimes it is so easy to overcomplicate things by, for example, colour coding every piece of information, using 10 million different note taking softwares (just use paper!), etc. Sure, have a system to take the notes differently depending on the subject; for physics, I write down the key definitions of the topic, then explain forumlas and derive them.

TLDR; Don't overcomplicate things.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-08T01:10:39Z

New thought 'Advertising is subconscious, and is not only used to make you buy things':
When was the last time you ever bought something from an advertisement? Considering that you are on my website, you probably aren't the average person and thus haven't ever purchased something via direct advertisement. By "direct advertisement", I mean things like online website advertisements, billboards, paid sponsorships, etc. I personally have maybe bought something from an advertisement once or twice throughout the course of my entire life, when I was still foolish in regards to the internet.

Thoughts I want to share

2026-02-08T01:10:39Z

New thought 'Is the "great noticing" just a trend?':
It's pretty obvious that there is a lot of "anti-zionism/semitism", "noticing", or whatever you want to call it online since the war in Palestine started. People have been discovering what is really going on behind the scenes. But is this yet another passing online trend or will it actually stick? As you know all social media is owned by the group which is being attacked here. They could easily remove it all, as they did during Covid, the New York tunnels incident, and so on... Do they want this to happen? All some questions. I personally believe they want all...

make-computing-local-again.html

2026-02-02T19:48:24Z

Wrote article 'make-computing-local-again.html'

GTK2 Software Directory

2026-02-01T19:04:06Z

Wrote section 'AppImages - the saviour of GTK2 applications?':
After trying and failing to fork Gajim 0.16.9 from Python2 to Python3, I was stumped. What could I possibly do to make it work on modern versions of Linux? Well, I was looking at GIMP and how to run the GTK2 version of that on a modern Linux system, since it also used Python2. And since GIMP is a much more popular program, there was a lot more interest from people in running the older image. I stumbled upon a forum post of a guy who had built an AppImage from a DEB file of Gimp 2.10.38 (the last GTK2...

GTK2 Software Directory

2026-02-01T19:04:06Z

Wrote section 'The end goal':
My aim is to make GTK2 as easy to use meaning:

It is easy to install all useful GTK2 programs
All relevant software has a GTK2 alternative (Pale Moon for browser, Atril PDF, etc)
There should be an organised collection of all GTK2 software that works and software which does not work should be fixed
It should be possible to have only GTK2 programs on your system and have everything you need work

GTK2 Software Directory

2026-01-30T22:47:38Z

Wrote section 'GTK2 should've never been phased out':
Unfortunately, what we see these days with GTK4 is that the GNOME developers want to appeal to users that do not even exist. Statistically, most Linux users just use a laptop screen or computer monitor. The number of people using a phone or tablet on Linux is very low, and not what the actual operating system was designed for. GTK2 is designed only for non-touch monitors (though you can use touch, the buttons are just a bit smaller) which is what the majority of people use Linux for. People on a phone or tablet will be using Android. So in...

Natural production of vitamin D without sun

2026-01-29T20:42:11Z

Updated section 'Natural production of vitamin D without sun'

Thoughts I want to share

2026-01-28T23:06:59Z

Started page 'Thoughts I want to share'

LEDs are soulless

2026-01-27T22:54:26Z

Wrote article 'LEDs are soulless'