Writing

The first anniversary of the Ctrl+Alt+Azure podcastJoin me as I reflect on the first year of the Ctrl+Alt+Azure podcast, revealing how our initial ambitious plans had to evolve into a more flexible workflow due to life’s unpredictability. I share key lessons learned, such as the importance of maintaining creativity through simplicity and keeping the recording process fun amidst the challenges of balancing family life and professional commitments.

azureNovember 9, 2020

Building a machine learning model with Lobe, easilyIf you are curious about how accessible modern machine learning has become, this post shares my hands-on experience building an image classification model using Microsoft’s visual tool, Lobe. I walk through the process of labeling and training a model to distinguish gym weight plates, highlighting both the software’s intuitive interface and the practical challenges I encountered when dealing with ambiguous data and unexpected crashes.

ai and machine learningNovember 3, 2020

Upgrading the home office with a dedicated UPSFrustrated by frequent power outages caused by building maintenance that repeatedly forced me to rebuild my NAS RAID array, I decided to upgrade my home office with a dedicated uninterruptible power supply. This post explains what a UPS is, the different types available, and how I calculated the necessary capacity to protect my servers and data from unexpected electrical issues.

homelabNovember 2, 2020

Building a simple speed test solution using Microsoft AzureIf you are looking for a faster way to verify download speeds without relying on browser-based tools, this post details how I built a custom command-line utility using Microsoft Azure. I explain the process of provisioning a Storage Account with pre-sized test files and using .NET’s HttpClient to automate speed measurements with real-time progress tracking.

azureOctober 28, 2020

Building a local WordPress test environment using Windows 10, Docker Desktop, and WSL 2After a frustrating attempt to set up a local WordPress test environment using an Ubuntu virtual machine, I discovered that switching to Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) offers a more efficient solution. This post details my troubleshooting journey, including the specific steps I took to resolve installation conflicts and successfully configure a local development environment.

windowsOctober 27, 2020

Insights: First week with the Herman Miller Aeron (remastered) chairIf you are considering a high-end ergonomic chair for your home office, my experience switching from a broken IKEA model to the Herman Miller Aeron (remastered) might help you decide. I detail my research process, the showroom visit in Helsinki, and my first-week impressions of the size C model, including the comfort, build quality, and the two-month wait time for delivery.

homelabOctober 21, 2020

Lessons learned when creating a session for an online event using TechSmith CamtasiaIn this post, I share the practical lessons I learned while preparing a pre-recorded session for an online conference, offering insights that may help you refine your own virtual presentation workflow. I detail my decision to use TechSmith Camtasia over Microsoft Teams due to significant video quality issues, as well as tips on optimizing your recording space and equipment. By reviewing these experiences, I provide a concise guide to capturing high-quality, polished content for professional events.

microsoft teamsOctober 16, 2020

Building a custom chat tool with Azure Communication ServicesCurious about leveraging Azure Communication Services, I attempted to build a custom communication tool but encountered regional restrictions on phone-based features. Consequently, I pivoted to developing a chat application, which I detail in this post to demonstrate the service's capabilities within the current preview limitations.

azureOctober 15, 2020

The comprehensive guide to working remotely and not feeling miserable about it (Part 3)I share how focusing on small but critical details, like tuning out the noise of endless meetings and emails, can drastically improve your remote work experience. Drawing from a personal anecdote about being overwhelmed by corporate communication, I explain why setting a clear course and protecting your focus is essential for avoiding misery. This part of the series emphasizes that minimizing distractions is key to staying productive and maintaining your wellbeing while working from home.

productivitySeptember 28, 2020

Insights: Regaining my focus by not focusing on my phone anymoreI share my personal journey of realizing how excessive phone usage has eroded my focus and productivity, supported by a poll revealing that many people spend up to 20% of their waking hours on their devices. By reflecting on the stark contrast between the mindful communication of the past and today’s compulsive habits, I explore the growing frustration with this digital distraction.

productivitySeptember 22, 2020

The comprehensive guide to working remotely and not feeling miserable about it (Part 2)If you are struggling with poor audio and video quality in your home office, this post explains why relying on your laptop’s built-in hardware is a mistake. I share my top recommendations for dedicated webcams and microphones that significantly improve your remote work experience and help you avoid the misery of bad equipment.

productivitySeptember 21, 2020

The comprehensive guide to working remotely and not feeling miserable about it (Part 1)Drawing on over twenty years of personal experience, I share a comprehensive guide to making remote work enjoyable rather than miserable, updated to reflect the evolving landscape of the global workforce. I invite you to cherry-pick the strategies that resonate with your unique situation, focusing on the core principles of guarding your time, maintaining optimism, and finding genuine fun in your daily achievements.

productivitySeptember 14, 2020

Are you building sustainable and long-lasting IT solutions?When a former colleague asked me to fix a decade-old backup script I wrote as an employee, I was reminded of the unrealistic expectations often placed on IT professionals regarding long-term maintenance. This experience highlights the importance of setting clear boundaries and understanding that true sustainability comes from proper system lifecycle management, not personal pride or unpaid warranty work.

windowsSeptember 7, 2020

A look back: One year of working out at the gymWhile I typically focus on technology, I’m sharing a personal reflection on my first year of gym training, detailing how I shifted from running goals to weightlifting with a local trainer. I discuss the challenges of balancing early morning sessions with travel and work, alongside my progress toward lifting my own body weight.

productivitySeptember 3, 2020

Building an IoT soil moisture monitoring solution using Azure and Ruuvitag sensorsIf you are looking for a cost-effective IoT solution to automate houseplant care, this post details how I built a soil moisture monitoring system using a RuuviTag sensor and a Raspberry Pi. I explain how I bypassed expensive industrial equipment to create a simple alert system that notifies me via Azure IoT Hub when my plant needs watering, solving my frequent forgetfulness.

homelabAugust 31, 2020

In 2020, do you still need a dedicated NAS solution?I examine whether a dedicated NAS remains essential in 2020 by weighing the performance limitations of my aging Synology unit against its reliability, ease of management, and long-term affordability. Despite the hardware struggling with large files and multiple concurrent services, I explore why the robust ecosystem of features and low maintenance requirements might still justify keeping it as my primary storage solution.

homelabAugust 25, 2020

Help out by filling out my quick survey!As I near the completion of my Executive MBA studies, I am conducting research on organizational advocacy and inviting you to contribute to my thesis by taking a brief, anonymous survey. If you have just one or two minutes to spare, your input will help shape my final paper, which I plan to analyze and publish later this year.

productivityAugust 24, 2020

My experience using the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ for 150 daysIn this post, I share my honest impressions after using the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ for 150 days, offering insights for those considering a switch from iOS or to a Note-style device. While I find the phone to be nearly the best I’ve ever owned due to its speed and display, I also discuss its minor imperfections regarding one-handed use and typing comfort in landscape mode.

windowsAugust 20, 2020

Building a custom solution using Windows 10 and Azure to track when I'm working from homeIf you are curious about how to leverage Windows 10 and Azure to automatically track your work-from-home status, this post details my experience building that custom solution. I share the technical challenges I faced in detecting lock/unlock states using C# and why I chose a cloud-based API over traditional scheduling tools to ensure reliable monitoring.

windowsAugust 18, 2020

Thoughts on the new Microsoft Surface Duo deviceAs preorders for the new Microsoft Surface Duo open, I share my concerns regarding its reliance on the older Snapdragon 855 processor rather than current flagship hardware. I also discuss the disappointing omission of 5G and NFC, arguing that these missing features limit the device's potential despite Microsoft’s positioning of it as an enterprise tool.

windowsAugust 13, 2020