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Author SHA1 Message Date
acfb963e17 Updated the styles of the home page and reorganized it a bit
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2025-01-08 01:37:04 -05:00
a2b7fa067e Removed Honey reference on the support page
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2025-01-08 00:18:08 -05:00
4290c95879 Updated some of the featured videos on the home page
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2025-01-08 00:14:28 -05:00
af6c34599b Changed some styles 2025-01-08 00:00:05 -05:00
4671c017b5 Fixed horizontal scrolling when it isn't necessary 2025-01-07 23:54:10 -05:00
b9f915f283 Added link to the wiki to the page navigation
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2025-01-07 23:50:25 -05:00
c41f5d4d7a Fixed typo in Vultr referral link
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2024-02-07 22:51:25 -05:00
5fb3bd4295 Added Vultr referral link
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2024-02-07 22:48:29 -05:00
947c073014 Removed forum section; removed outdated minecraft website notice; fixed layout in footer
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2023-12-17 20:35:24 -05:00
6d0b306280 Added draft of the new web hosted series
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2023-12-17 20:28:41 -05:00
Gregory Ballantine
bf7025ca2a Started a draft for a TicWatch E3 article
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2023-09-22 13:59:42 -06:00
8814f1b0a8 Fixed page titles
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2023-07-08 22:12:32 -04:00
16 changed files with 154 additions and 41 deletions

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@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ links:
twitch_channel: 'https://twitch.tv/brotherballan'
discord_invite: 'https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_banner&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjZzc29mblpxVGE0MVZnRXctM2M1Zy1LQ1p1UXxBQ3Jtc0ttbl9yWHdGVWF1QXJFRmh4WGp0MDFKVzNUMnZDOHFxNUQwZmdCbkhkbXFwQjFSRTVGemIwdXpTbC1pV2FwMmMxaUhKMnVMN2NLY0J0ZWFsenVBYmZtY1VUWjBYdXpKVDVFWThaZU1Fb3J3RHVQSDBNYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscord.gg%2FuVNAJ4nrB9'
forum: 'https://forum.bitgoblin.tech'
wiki_link: 'https://wiki.bitgoblin.tech'
minecraft_website: 'https://mc.bitgoblin.tech'
patreon_link: 'https://www.patreon.com/BitGoblin'

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@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
---
layout: post
title: "My Thoughts on the Mobvoi TicWatch E3"
description: "If you're looking for a decent Android-compatible smart watch for a good price, the TicWatch E3 might be the one for you!"
tags: smart-watches wearables android-wear mobvoi
---
I've never been a huge fan of smartwatches ever since their inception in the early 2010's or so. Whether it's the inexplicably poor battery life from a device that's super low-powered and should last forever, or the lack of *good* support from mobile apps, I always seem to be annoyed when looking at watches. Plus it's yet another device to charge daily-ish just to carry around all day. But I do try to keep my head in the game at least for a good value-oriented watch that helps me manage my notifications more easily so I don't have to open my phone every time it chimes.
## Accessories
One other important aspect of a device you use pretty much daily is the ecosystem. And not just what the first-party manufacturer provides but also what the community and other companies sell to go along with it.
## Price
Now it comes down to the all-important price. Regardless of what features a watch may offer, ultimately the price is what dictates if it's a good purchase or not.
And that's where the TicWatch shines: it costs only $150 if you buy from Mobvoi directly, and they even offer an extra 2% discont if you're willing to create an account with them.
## Conclusion
Obviously, based on the price alone and how the watch is holding
... it's not going to truly compete with the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy in a competion for the **best** smart watch. *But* those watches cost at least twice as much new, and it is a competitive option when you're looking at other watches in the same price range.

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@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
---
layout: post
title: "Web Hosted #1: How To Setup a Web Server in 2024"
description: "Even in 2024, knowing how to host a website is still important... and you can learn a lot by doing it without a hosting company!"
tags: web websites nginx apache
---
Back in the day, even as far back as the late 90's, you needed a website to be seen as a participant in the web. And
But still, unless you wanted to g
## The Hardware
Honestly, anything will do. From options as expensive and powerful as multi-server AMD Epyc- or Intel Xeon-backed clusters, all the way down to Single-Board Computers like the Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi, you can use anything that is supported by your Linux distribution of choice.
## The Operating System
Today we're going to go with Debian Bookworm. Ubuntu, OpenSUSE Leap, and AlmaLinux are just as good, but I'm more familiar with Debian and I love the community-backed distro. And Bookworm (aka Debian 12) is the current stable version of Debian as of the writing of this article.
## The Web Server
Nginx! Or Apache, both are cool. But I'm more familiar with Nginx and it's faster anyway.

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@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>{{ page.title }}</title>
<title>{{ page.title }} | Bit Goblin</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/skeleton/2.0.4/skeleton.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/stylesheets/lumbridge.css">
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.6.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
<ul>
<li><a href="{% link index.markdown %}">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="{% link blog.markdown %}">Blog Posts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wiki.bitgoblin.tech/">Wiki</a></li>
<li><a href="{% link support.markdown %}">Support</a></li>
<li><a href="{% link contact.markdown %}">Contact</a></li>
</ul>
@ -37,14 +38,18 @@
<footer id="footer">
<div class="row">
<div class="columns three">
<p>Support me over on <a href="{{ site.links.patreon_link }}">Patreon</a>!</p>
<div id="useful-links" class="columns four">
<ul>
<li>Join the Bit Goblin <a href="{{ site.links.discord_invite }}">Discord</a></li>
<li>Play on the <a href="{{ site.links.minecraft_website }}">Minecraft server</a></li>
<li>Support me over on <a href="{{ site.links.patreon_link }}">Patreon</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="columns six">
<div class="columns four">
<p class="u-text-center">{{ site.description }}</p>
<p class="u-text-center">&copy; Bit Goblin | all rights reserved.</p>
</div>
<div class="columns three">
<div class="columns four">
<p>Feel free to <a href="{% link contact.markdown %}">contact me</a> for any business inquiries.</p>
</div>
</div>

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@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ layout: default
{{ content }}
<hr>
<!-- Bit Goblin YouTube channel section -->
<section id="bitgoblin-section" class="youtube-section">
@ -22,9 +20,9 @@ layout: default
<p>How About a Cheap, Used AMD Graphics Card? (R9 270X)</p>
</a></div>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMaFYUNwE5U">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/bitgoblin-thumbnails/bg-36-thumbnail.png" alt="Let's Take a Look at Debian 10 Buster">
<p>Let's Take a Look at Debian 10 "Buster"</p>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://youtu.be/QKoujsPhZvk">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/bitgoblin-thumbnails/bg-52-thumbnail.png" alt="Add 10 Gigabit Networking to Your PC for Cheap!">
<p>Add 10 Gigabit Networking to Your PC for Cheap!</p>
</a></div>
</div>
@ -37,49 +35,62 @@ layout: default
<h3>Like watching Old School RuneScape videos? Go watch <a href="{{ site.links.ascendings_channel }}">Ascendings</a>.</h3>
<p>Not only do I create tech videos for Bit Goblin, but I also occasionally create content based around my old love <a href="https://oldschool.runescape.com">Old School Runescape</a>... we all have our vices, right?!</p>
<div class="row">
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtOpQv6ZBq0&list=PLIg6BQwweIwGdQNrbDMwGPxifgJ7iIXnE">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/ascendings-thumbnails/asc-37-thumbnail.png" alt="F2P Hardcore Ironman Playlist">
<p>F2P Hardcore Ironman Playlist</p>
</a></div>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhcCiqDegr0">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/ascendings-thumbnails/asc-30-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Is Daeyalt Essence Worth Using?">
<p>Is Daeyalt Essence Worth Using?</p>
</a></div>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3pFR_e3OuM">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/ascendings-thumbnails/asc-19-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Karambwan Cooking alt">
<p>Karambwan Cooking alt</p>
</a></div>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIg6BQwweIwF3bypxw35FCDpzdjCfdx3y">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="/assets/images/ascendings-thumbnails/asc-52-thumbnail.png" alt="Ultimate Ironman Playlist">
<p>Ultimate Ironman Playlist</p>
</a></div>
</div>
</section>
<hr>
<!-- Minecraft server callout section -->
<section id="minecraft-section">
<!-- Discord and Minecraft server callout section -->
<section id="callout-section" class="youtube-section">
<h3>Play Minecraft? Go check out the <a href="{{ site.links.minecraft_website }}">community Minecraft server</a>!</h3>
<h3>I'm also building a community</h3>
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/minecraft_gamepedia/images/f/ff/Java_Edition_logo_12.png" alt="Minecraft Java Edition logo">
<p>Last but certainly not least, one of my goals is to build a community for great people to just chill, have fun, and help each other out when the need arises. Ranging from the aforementioned YouTube videos on computer hardware, networking and Linux, to a community Minecraft server, a Discord server for everyone to relax and chat with each other, a future community forum and other services. Everyone is welcome to join the community, all I ask is that you simply just be excellent to each other. Easy enough, right?</p>
<p>This world is open to everyone who would like to play on it. There are no mods installed, and currently only world is available. I am open to adding mods in the future and even adding more worlds, just let me know!</p>
<div class="row">
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="{{ site.links.discord_invite }}">
<div class="img-wrap">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="https://logodownload.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/discord-logo-1-1-2048x2048.png" alt="Discord community invite link">
</div>
<p>Discord community</p>
</a></div>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The website is currently a work in progress, but it will be up soon!</p>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="{{ site.links.wiki_link }}">
<div class="img-wrap">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="https://www.freelogovectors.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Dokuwiki-logo-596x600.png" alt="Bit Goblin DokuWiki">
</div>
<p>Wiki/knowledge base</p>
</a></div>
<div class="video-card columns four"><a href="{{ site.links.minecraft_website }}">
<div class="img-wrap">
<img class="u-max-full-width" src="https://i.imgur.com/XJQoBDx.png" alt="Bit Goblin Minecraft servers">
</div>
<p>Community Minecraft servers</p>
</a></div>
</div>
</section>
<hr>
<!-- Bit Goblin forum callout section -->
<section id="forum-section">
<p>I do work with sponsors to help fund my projects. If you're curious about who I'm currently working with, check out the <a href="{% link sponsors.markdown %}">sponsors page</a>.</p>
<h3>You can also participate in the <a href="{{ site.links.forum }}">community forum</a>!</h3>
<p>Some of us love the old-style internet forums to converse and help others out. Anything you would like to discuss may happen here under the proper forum sections.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Currently the Bit Goblin forum is under construction, but check back soon if you'd like to participate!</p>
</section>

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@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
$footer-height: 165px
$container-width: 960px
$footer-height: 210px
$color-primary: #1e76d1
$color-primary-hover: darken(#1e76d1, 10%)
$color-primary-hover: darken($color-primary, 10%)
$color-primary-light: lighten($color-primary, 10%)

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@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ body
font-size: 2rem
margin: 0
padding-bottom: $footer-height
overflow-x: hidden
a
color: $color-primary
@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ hr
color: #999
font-style: italic
.container
max-width: $container-width
// this wrapper is only used to hide the footer
#wrapper
position: relative
@ -120,12 +124,20 @@ hr
background: white
border: 2px solid #bbb
.img-wrap
margin: 0
padding: 0
text-align: center
img
max-height: 152px
img, p
transition: all 300ms ease-in-out
&:hover
img
transform: scale(1.1)
transform: scale(1.2)
p
transform: translate(20px, 10px) scale(1.1)
@ -154,6 +166,39 @@ hr
bottom: 0
width: 100%
height: $footer-height
padding-top: 35px
background: #212121
color: white
.row
height: 100%
display: flex
.columns
margin-top: auto
margin-bottom: auto
#useful-links
display: flex
ul
list-style: none
display: inline-block
margin: 0 auto
text-align: left
li:last-child
margin-bottom: 0
padding-bottom: 0
p
text-align: center
&:not(:last-child)
margin-bottom: 5px
&:last-child
margin-bottom: 0
a
color: $color-primary-light
&:hover
color: $color-primary

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@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
---
layout: page
title: Blog
---
<ul id="post-list">

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@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
---
layout: page
title: Contact
---
If you're looking to contact me for business inqueries, feel free to email me at [gballantine@bitgoblin.tech](mailto:gballantine@bitgoblin.tech).

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@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
---
layout: home
title: Welcome to Bit Goblin!
---
Welcome! My name is Greg Ballantine and Bit Goblin is my passion project for creating YouTube videos on tech. I love tinkering with all things related to computers, and I enjoy documenting the things that I do so that others can use my struggles to ease their own. Whether it's buildings PCs, playing with networking gear, or exploring the beauty of Linux, there are lots of things to play with and try to help others with.
Welcome! My name is Greg Ballantine and Bit Goblin is my passion project for creating YouTube videos on tech. I love tinkering with all things related to computers, and I enjoy documenting the things that I do so that others can use my struggles to ease their own. Whether it's buildings PCs, playing with networking gear, or exploring the beauty of Linux, there are lots of things to play with and try to help others with, as evidenced below...
Not only do I create tech videos for Bit Goblin, but I'm also trying to build a community around it for great people to just chill, have fun, and help each other out when need arises. Ranging from the aforementioned YouTube videos on computer hardware, networking and Linux, to a community Minecraft server, a Discord server for everyone to relax and chat with each other, a future community forum and other services. Everyone is welcome to join the community, all I ask is that you simply just be excellent to each other. Easy enough, right?
I do work with sponsors to help fund my projects. If you're curious about who I've worked with before, check out the [Sponsors page]({% link sponsors.markdown %}).

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@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
---
layout: page
title: Sponsors
---
These are the sponsors I work with...

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@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
---
layout: page
title: Support
---
Unfortunately money doesn't grow on trees, and a lot of the stuff that I purchase to make videos on can be quite expensive. My content is available free-of-charge on YouTube, but if you don't mind helping support me financially any help would be much appreciated.
The primary way to support my work is through donations on [my Patreon page](https://patreon.com/BitGoblin). I don't have any reward tiers over there yet, but I do plan on adding some rewards at some point in the future.
You can also support me by [joining Honey using my referral link](https://www.joinhoney.com/ref/9ohqcf9)! Honey helps you save money on popular websites by searching for coupons to get you discounts while you're shopping. And the best part is that it's free!
If you're looking for a cloud VPS, consider giving [Vultr](https://www.vultr.com/?ref=9589122-8H) a shot! I've been using it for several years at this point, and it has treated me very well and been extremely reliable over the years.