Archive

GrapheneOS Restarting Over and Over? Here's the Simple Fix

How to fix a GrapheneOS phone stuck in a restart loop when the battery drains to 0%. Catch it at the boot screen, charge to 20%, and avoid letting updates install on a critically low battery.

Virtual Cards: Protect Your Credit Card from Online Risks

Learn how virtual cards protect your real credit card number from breaches, limit merchant access, and give you control over online spending.

How to Choose a Printer That Works With Linux

Planning to buy a printer for your Linux machine? Not a technical person? That's ok! Learn how to check for driver support, understand system architecture requirements, and avoid common compatibility pitfalls.

Fix a Printer Issue on Linux

Having printer connectivity issues on Linux? Learn how to troubleshoot CUPS, disable auto-discovery loops, and try alternative connection methods.

Pop!_OS Review - System76's Linux Distribution Tested

Testing Pop!_OS from System76 - exploring COSMIC desktop, NVIDIA support, hardware compatibility, and out-of-box functionality through live boot USB tests.

About Katie at the Crosswalk

A Quick Look at Linux Mint Xfce - A Lightweight Distro for Your Less Powerful PC

Linux Mint Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment ideal for older computers with limited RAM. Learn how it works, what it looks like, and why it might be the right choice for your aging hardware.

Why Linux Mint Cinnamon Works for Beginners and Privacy-Conscious Users

Discover why Linux Mint Cinnamon is a strong choice for newcomers seeking privacy, customization through desklets and applets, and a subscription-free computing experience.

What Is GNOME? A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Linux's Most Popular Desktop

Learn what GNOME is, how it compares to Windows and macOS, and why it's perfect for privacy-conscious beginners switching to Linux. Free, customizable, and surprisingly familiar.

Skip the Subscription: 5 Simple Image Editors That Actually Work

Tired of $20/month image editors and AI-filled tools? I tested open source options that handle cropping, drawing, and quick edits without the learning curve. Plus: terminal commands for batch processing.

LibreOffice Is the Free, Private Office Suite You Should Be Using Instead of Microsoft 365

LibreOffice is a free and open source office suite that replaces Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without subscriptions or data harvesting. Learn how to get started and customize it.

A mom's favorite Linux distro, Zorin OS

A tour of my Linux open source operating system that I use as a mom and programmer.

When Your Favorite Book Could Be the Last Copy Left

From Bartz v. Anthropic to Project Panama, discover how AI companies are destructively scanning rare books for training data, the copyright settlements involved, and what this means for cultural heritage preservation.

VLC's Playlist Feature: The Real Hidden Superpower

Most VLC "hidden features" articles just point to menu items. The real secret is the playlist view—it turns VLC into an entertainment command center for free TV, radio, and podcasts. No logins, no subscriptions, no algorithms.

Open Source Hero: How VLC Saves Money Without Big Tech Hassle

Discover why VLC Media Player is trusted by millions worldwide, with no ads, no tracking, and no subscriptions. Learn how to unlock free streaming from around the world, listen to radio stations, and watch podcasts all in one place without paying big tech companies.

elementaryOS: Mac Look, Zero Apple

A screenshot-heavy introduction to elementaryOS Linux: what the boot process, desktop, and customization options look like, including dark mode, text sizing, and a built-in dyslexia-friendly font.

The Thought Process Behind Fixing Minecraft (Without Touching the Terminal)

When renaming my computer silently broke Minecraft's launcher, I had no error message and no idea what happened. Here's how I traced the problem through log files, broken symlinks, and a little help from AI, all without reinstalling or losing my worlds. Includes error log analysis, symlink troubleshooting, and backup best practices.

Why Everyone Makes Linux Sound More Complicated Than It Is: Kernel vs. Distro

New to Linux and confused by terms like kernel and distro? Here's a plain-language breakdown, plus why Zorin OS and Linux Mint are solid picks for regular people and parents.

Browser Privacy Guide: Which Browser Actually Respects You?

Learn about browser options that block trackers and protect your privacy. Compare Firefox, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, LibreWolf, and Chrome for secure web browsing on Linux systems.

You're Probably Already Using Open Source (You Just Don't Know It)

A plain-language explainer on what open source software actually is, why it's not just about saving money, and everyday examples like Firefox, WordPress, and the AI tools you already use.

Linux Gaming Out of the Box

Sometimes technology surprises us by removing friction where we expected headaches. Here's how my new mini PC ran Linux gaming perfectly without any tinkering.

The Distance Between Ordinary People and Power

A personal story about discovering an impervious smart meter box that disabled my A/C during a heatwave, and why surveillance isn't just about data collection, but about losing control over our daily lives to distant actors. The people who shape our lives are farther away from us than ever.

Push notifications and privacy

You can have a super secure message, but if it appears on your lock screen in plain text, anyone holding your phone can read it.

🚦 Start Here

A mom's honest guide to taking back control of your data without sacrificing convenience or breaking the bank. Learn about backups, Linux, alternative phones, and why some things really do work better than Big Tech alternatives.

Alternative Phones to Google and Apple

One busy parent's real-world experience using GrapheneOS daily. What works, what doesn't, and whether open source alternatives are practical for regular people who don't want to fight their phone.

My Tips for After Installing Linux

A practical guide to post-installation Linux setup including system updates, browser settings, creating standard user profiles, configuring backups, and installing hardware drivers. Learn the 'boring but important' security practices that give you peace of mind.

How to Test Linux Before Installing (Live USB Boot Guide)

Learn how to create a live USB to test Linux distributions like Zorin OS and Linux Mint before installing. Includes a checklist for testing Wi-Fi, YouTube playback, audio, and hardware compatibility to avoid surprises after installation.

How to Back Up Your Files

Big Tech promises convenient cloud storage, but at what cost? Learn the 3-2-1 backup rule, why external drives beat subscriptions, and how to encrypt files before uploading. A practical guide to regaining ownership of your data without sacrificing privacy or breaking the bank.

Why I Switched to Linux (and Why You Should Too)

Tired of Windows 10 end-of-life issues, BitLocker lockouts, and forced updates? Discover how switching to Linux (specifically Zorin OS) saved me money, sped up my old laptop, and gave me back control over my data. A beginner-friendly guide to making the switch.

Intro to the Crosswalk

An introduction to the blog's mission. Guiding regular people from expensive, ad-filled big tech traps to affordable, privacy-respecting open source alternatives without losing convenience.