There’s a million ways to do anything when self hosting, so I’ll just talk about what I have and if you interested just reply.

I only host a few services for now: Invidious, CloudTube, Redlib, FreshRSS. All of them as docker containers, this helps in quickly updating them and isolating their configurations. I have a few TB of disk space on the server itself that I can access through SMB3 shares, so I don’t have a proper NAS yet. Probably will do so at some point when I need it.

As for hardware, I’m using an HP mini-pc with

• Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE
• 16GB DDR4
• 256GB boot drive (NVME), 2TB storage drive (HDD)

This mini-pc can literally be opened by removing 1 screw, so hardware changes/cleaning can’t get easier. I installed Debian on it

As for remote access, I use twingate instead of self-hosted wireguard. Mostly because I’m using my ISPs router and they like to reset it whenever they want. I’m also not confortable opening ports on the router. Twingate covers my use case completely so I never went back to this. I can map a custom domain to the server’s IP and this meant I just switch on twingate when I’m out and can access it seamlessly.

I use a self-hosted invidious instance, and despite the recent issues with Google trying to block them mine works behind Mullvad VPN.

I use the web app on desktop, and Yattee client on my phone/ipad

I think a few more details are needed to get you a clear alternative:

• Which devices you want to cast from? what content you want to cast (DRM content like netflix, and/or your own media)? what kind of TV you have?

In my case after degoogling, I use mainly apple devices besides my windows pc. 2 of my TVs have AirPlay built in, so there’s no issue casting anything. If your TV is rather recent it’s likely to have it too.

The third TV is tricky, it’s an older 4k LG. I have a linux box connected to it and installed UxPlay in it. It only works with AirPlay “mirroring” so you kinda need an app that can treat the TV as a second monitor. Otherwise the mirroring won’t cover the entire TV screen. I’m still assuming apple devices here, but there’s OutPlayer and nPlayer in the appstore that can do this. It does support sound-only casting, so if it’s music you want it should be able to direct cast from your apps.

The second caveat for UxPlay is that it only works with DRM-free content (youtube, self hosted media). For DRM content I haven’t found a nice alternative for the old TV , so I use its built in apps (netflix, amazon prime). Kodi exists, but the plug-ins support for streaming sites isn’t good, often getting stuck to low-res content.

I’m guessing buying an apple tv/fire stick/roku is the only alternative for DRM content casting. I also explored the idea of “degoogling” my unused chromecast 3rd gen, but absolutely nothing exists for this and it just collects dust in a drawer.

The worst thing is that there are many bootlickers out there. Worker rights are a joke and companies have infinite ways of fucking you over.

In this instance the HR snakes were caught with their pants down and looked like imbeciles.

But for example many people get placed on PiP with unrealistic goals, or harassed by management over petty mistakes. The only goal being saving the corporation some money by claiming low performance.

A lot of people out there need to get their head out of their asses if they think this is ok.

• You can go vegan, vegetarian, or at the very least eat less/no red meat.
• Swap if you can your energy plan to use renewables
• Plant a tree, native plants on your house
• Vote for politicians who appear to give a shit
• Buy from businesses who appear to give a shit
• Stop unnecessary consumptions
• Have no kids

That’s some of what you can do really. Not that this will be much but at least you’ll be doing someting

My experience with work “friends” has always gone this way:

1. I try to be friendly and approachable.
2. People start asking you consistently for favors, help, and to stick up for them and their issues. I also find that the more they know about you, the easier it is to ask for shit (“hey I remember you said/are/live around/have X, so I was wondering if you could do Y for me”)
3. Once that happens it’s impossible to shake them off without sounding like an asshole.

The only solution I see to this curse is to just avoid getting cornered in that situation. I avoid most socializing because of that.

Now add to this the fact I’m severely underpaid compared to the rest of the team (who do the same thing I do), that I got a promotion with no raise, and than my duties consistently increase, then it would be clear why I only do what’s needed for the job.

Didnt look at it like that tbh, and it makes sense now that I think about it.

Same reason why people are still on Twitter and Reddit, the majority can’t be arsed to push back against companies. This is why they keep getting away with it and it’s just enabling other companies to go the same route.

I always wonder in these cases where idiots lash out denying climate change that deep down they do it as a coping mechanism, because if they accepted it exists it would quickly weigh down on them how fucked up our environment is.

By denying it they don’t have to think about the world about to go to shit. Maybe that’s why people still have kids.