pendot.xyz

  • 🌿 Rekascape Farmers Market Cyberjaya: A Laid-Back Foodie Haven

    🌿 Rekascape Farmers Market Cyberjaya: A Laid-Back Foodie Haven

    If you’re craving a chill Saturday morning vibe with epic eats, plant stalls, and live music, then Rekascape Farmers Market in Cyberjaya should be on your radar. Here’s my 4-star experience:

    📸 Ambience & Vibes

    Picture families picnicking on green lawns, kids chasing bubbles and balloons, and vendors lined up with everything from fresh plants to handmade toys. There’s a violinist onstage drifting melodies through the air, while the rich aroma of coffee mingles with sizzling street food.

    🍕 Food Highlights

    • No 27 BY CDC Pizza – A new kid on the block, relocated from Tamarind Square to Rekascape 🇮🇹. This Italian‑style Neapolitan pizza features pillowy soft crust loaded with chicken and beef, topped with melt‑in‑your‑mouth cheese. One bite and I was sold—it tastes authentic, hearty, and well‑crafted.
    • Mac ‘n’ Cheese & Panipuri – Comfort food and street food in one stroll. Creamy, cheesy, nostalgic.
    • Kedai Jalan Kempas – Brings that kampung‑style charm with traditional Malay flavours—exactly the kind of small‑biz you want to support.
    • Plus, Indo mee stands, more pizza, mac, nuts, plants—this place is a treasure trove.

    I picked up a few bites to savor—the pizza, the mac & cheese, and panipuri—each offering a different flavor punch.

    ☕ Bonus: Coffee & Community

    Local baristas pour fresh brews while vendors sell whimsical toys and potted greens. A violinist performing live adds a classically nostalgic touch. It’s serene yet lively—perfect for social media snaps or grounded downtime.

    ⭐ Overall Rating: 4 / 5

    • Ambience: 9/10 – relaxed, community-driven, family-friendly
    • Food Variety: 8/10 – from fusion comfort to ethnic bites
    • Quality: 8/10 – standout were the pizza & mac‑cheese
    • Value: 8/10 – prices are market‑fair, small business vibes

    Minor note: it gets breezy; maybe bring a light cardigan if you’re planning to picnic for a while!

    Rekascape Farmers Market is a refreshing blend of foodie delights, family fun, and vibrant small‑biz culture. The No 27 BY CDC pizza steals the show—soft crust, generous meaty topping, and oozing cheese. It’s exactly the type of gem you wish you could clone. I’ll definitely be back—see you next Saturday at the pizza stand!

    -Pendot

  • Vlog 01: A Father’s Day Rant, My Homelab Meltdown & Tech Dreams

    Vlog 01: A Father’s Day Rant, My Homelab Meltdown & Tech Dreams

    Welcome to Vlog 01, a momentous step in my journey to be that guy — the one who talks to a camera while sipping overpriced coffee and wondering if Jellyfin will ever just work out of the box. Spoiler: it won’t. 😂

    This Sunday, we’re celebrating Father’s Day — and for once, I’m planning to be spoiled instead of fixing the Wi-Fi or rebooting OPNsense for the hundredth time. My son Yusuf already gave me a gift: a drawing of me holding a laptop and a nasi lemak. 10/10, would frame that masterpiece.

    But back to the tech life…

    🧠 Homelab Update: Jellyfin is a Diva

    So, I’ve been trying to get Jellyfin to run on my Unraid server, right? Simple idea. Media server + GPU = smooth transcoding. But nooo — turns out my firmware refuses to play nice with passthrough. It’s like trying to push a shopping cart with one wobbly wheel across a gravel road.
    I considered filing a bug report. Instead, I just ranted to the camera. Therapy.

    Fun fact: I once tried to duct-tape a heatsink to a Raspberry Pi just to stream old anime. It… worked for 14 minutes.

    🧾 My Tech Wishlist: Not Sponsored (Yet 😎)

    Let’s be real — window shopping is a form of stress relief. Here’s what’s currently in my “pretend I’m rich” cart:

    • MacBook Pro M4 – because I want power, portability, and the illusion of productivity
    • 32” 4K Monitor – because my eyes deserve luxury
    • Webcam Upgrade – my face needs 60fps glory for Zoom and maybe OnlyFans (jk… unless?)
    • Mechanical Keyboard & Mouse Combo – because clicky clacks make me feel in control when life isn’t

    💭 Why I Started This Vlog?

    Because I got tired of just thinking.
    Tired of saying, “One day I’ll start.”
    So I started. Messy, unfiltered, but 100% me.

    If you’re into homelab chaos, dad life, and tech shopping sprees without the money — you’re in the right place.

    🎬 Watch the Vlog Below 👇

    Enjoy the chaos, the coffee, and my dreams that are currently stuck behind a broken GPU passthrough.

    ☕ Support the Journey

    If you enjoyed the vlog or just felt mildly amused, consider liking, subscribing, or sending me a good deal on used 4K monitors. Seriously. I’m hunting.

    Also, drop a comment on the video — let me know what tech you’re dreaming about right now. Or just say hi. I read every comment while pretending to troubleshoot YAML files.

    Until next time — stay curious, stay caffeinated, and don’t forget to back up your configs.

    Yours in bits and bytes,


    Pendot

  • Aku, DJ Dangdut Remix, dan Krisis Umur 40-an 😆

    Let me just come clean.

    I never thought I’d say this — but here I am, in my 40s, vibing HARD to DJ Dangdut Remix. Not jazz, not rock, not lo-fi for working from home. Nope. It’s the underground, turbocharged, remix-heavy beats of Indonesian dangdut that got me moving lately.

    And honestly? I love it. 😂

    @warta_my

    K-pop Trainee ❌ Wadidaw trainee ✅ #wartamalaysia #wadidaw #sadbor

    ♬ suara asli – DuoBandoJoget1 – Duo Bando Joget1

    🎧 From Being a Dad to Lala Kebo

    There’s something poetic about being a dad, a certified ethical hacker, and also blasting “DJ Lala Kebo Remix Full Bass 2023” while sipping kopi at 10PM. The beats slap harder than a 2.5Gb switch during a power surge.

    Sometimes I catch myself nodding to the beat while reviewing Python code, and I think, “Bro, what happened to your taste in music?” But that thought lasts two seconds, because the drop is coming and I need to wadidaw.

    🕺 The Wadidaw Movement

    Let’s talk about the dance. Yes — that dance.

    You’ve seen it: that classic Indonesian TikTok move that looks like a cross between a Silat warmup, an airport marshal, and someone possessed by a drumline. It’s called the Wadidaw dance, and it’s become a cultural export — like nasi padang, but for the soul.

    Apparently, people in Indonesia dance to these tracks on TikTok and get showered with “gifts” and “coins”. It’s their version of a side hustle. While we in Malaysia buat Shopee haul or post ASB investment hacks, these legends are dancing to DJ Nenenku di Colok Colok and getting paid. Respect. 💸

    🇮🇩 Why Indonesia Does It Better

    Let’s give credit where it’s due:

    • Indonesia has thousands of DJ remix tracks on YouTube with titles like “DJ Sakitnya Tuh Disini (Full Bass Jedag-Jedug TikTok Viral 2024)” — and they’re bangers.
    • Many mixes are produced on budget laptops using apps like FL Studio Mobile — humble tools, powerful beats.
    • Some DJs are literally 14-year-old kids remixing on Android phones, and they’ve got millions of views. At 14, I was still trying to beat Tekken 3.

    Also: “Jedag-jedug” is now officially in my vocabulary. It means the thumping bass that shakes your soul and your kedai runcit walls.

    😅 Midlife Crisis? Or Midlife Awakening?

    People say when you hit your 40s, you either buy a motorcycle or start gardening. I guess I went for option 3: DJ Dangdut YouTube rabbit hole.

    Is it a crisis? Maybe.
    Is it a vibe? Absolutely.
    Is my son going to grow up thinking his dad is the coolest remix-uncle on the block? I hope so.

    Final Thought: Embrace the Unexpected

    If you’re around my age and your Spotify Wrapped is looking more like a pasar malam speaker showdown — own it. Life’s too short to pretend you’re still into Coldplay just because it sounds “mature.”

    Let loose. Dance like someone’s sending you TikTok gifts. Blast the DJ Kimi Hime Remix while you’re doing laundry.

    Because deep down, we all need a little jedag-jedug to keep the heart beating — and the soul laughing.

  • ☕ Vanilla Lattes & Virtual Intrusions: A Bangsar Morning with Pendot

    ☕ Vanilla Lattes & Virtual Intrusions: A Bangsar Morning with Pendot

    Date: June 12, 2025

    Location: A quiet café corner in Bangsar

    Mood: Caffeinated curiosity, cyberpunk daydreams

    I had a freelance gig meeting in Bangsar today — nothing too wild, just some light client strategy. But ya boy Pendot don’t play with traffic, so I came super early, booked a Grab, and found myself with time to burn and thoughts to brew.

    So here I am, chilling in this serene café, sipping a vanilla latte with a side of crispy chicken popcorn smothered in mayo. Hardly anyone around, just the gentle hum of the espresso machine and a Spotify playlist that sounds like lo-fi hacker heaven. Peaceful. Reflective.

    💻 Then My Brain Drifted to Cyber Shenanigans…

    As always, downtime makes room for uptime of ideas. I found myself sketching a scenario in my head — one part spy fiction, one part home lab project:

    💡 What if I could create a burner-style portable pentesting setup using my MacBook Pro and a Raspberry Pi?

    🔧 The Setup:

    Imagine this:

    • My MacBook Pro is the front-end, the brain.
    • A Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) is the rogue sidekick — running RasAP to act as a portable Wi-Fi access point.
    • Two Wi-Fi dongles are plugged in:
      • Alfa AWUS036NH (with that iconic long antenna)
      • TP-Link AC600 or anything Atheros/Realtek-powered
    • The Pi has its own DHCP, and connects through a double-layered VPN + Tor Onion routing.
    • The RasPi does the dirty work: sniffing, scanning, maybe even light exploitation. The MacBook? Clean. Not touching the payload.

    In theory, it’s like my MacBook’s just chillin’ while my Pi goes full Ethan Hunt. 🍸

    Oh — and the Pi? Totally disposable. Burner tech. If it gets popped, it gets tossed. Cheap. Efficient. Ethical. Kinda cool, kinda terrifying.

    🐧 Tools I Might Load on the Pi:

    • Kali Linux headless (SSH in from the MacBook)
    • Dockerized Nmap, Nikto, Wapiti, Responder, Bettercap
    • Maybe even an auto-rotating MAC address cron job – because why not make it ghost-mode?

    🛡️ Wait, Pendot, Is This Legal?

    Hold up, hold up. Let’s set the record straight:

    This is all done inside a secured lab environment, purely for educational and research purposes.

    Never do this on public or unauthorized networks.

    Real hacking? It’s illegal, unethical, and bad for your mental (and physical) health.

    You don’t wanna be the headline. You wanna be the white hat.

    I repeat:

    🧠 Learn to hack so you can protect, not destroy.

    🧙‍♂️ Why Does This Matter?

    Because the world’s networks aren’t built with invincibility in mind. They’re more like houses with nice doors but crappy windows. Tools like this help white hats train to harden systems, to explore the art of detection and defense.

    Also, let’s be honest: it’s just plain fun building something from scratch that can do things. Tinkerers gonna tinker.

    ☁️ Final Thoughts from the Café

    This chicken popcorn mayo situation is a 10/10. The coffee’s warm. The idea’s wild. The client meeting’s soon.

    Sometimes you don’t need a full lab setup or a government-grade firewall to dream big — all you need is a vanilla latte, a quiet corner, and a mind wired to wander.

    Stay curious, stay clean. Until next time — Pendot out.

  • 🚀 I’m Pumped & Ready for the Challenge

    🚀 I’m Pumped & Ready for the Challenge

    There’s something electric in the air today. Maybe it’s the triple shot of kopi I had this morning. Maybe it’s the playlist full of bangers. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s the fact that I’ve never felt more ready to face the grind head-on.

    Whether it’s configuring servers, tightening up my firewall rules, or just being a present dad while juggling alerts and escalations—I’m in the zone.

    This isn’t just motivation. This is momentum.
    This isn’t just hype. This is habit.
    And today, I’m choosing to show up, stand tall, and push harder.

    💬 Motivation Quote of the Day:

    “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
    — Arthur Ashe

    Or in my own words:
    Don’t wait for the stars to align. Light the match. Burn bright.

    Whether you’re pushing code, pushing weights, or just pushing through a rough day—I see you. Let’s get it. No excuses. No surrender.

  • 🐠 A Surprise Day Off: Father & Son Dive into Aquaria KLCC 🐬

    🐠 A Surprise Day Off: Father & Son Dive into Aquaria KLCC 🐬

    “Some adventures begin with a cup of coffee and an unplanned thought.”

    It was one of those rare weekdays — no meetings, no Zoom pings, no urgent tickets to escalate. Just a quiet morning and a curious little face staring up at me. My son Yusuf. Wide-eyed. Already full of questions before breakfast.
    And right then I thought — Let’s skip school today. Let’s make memories instead.

    So I messaged my wife at work:
    “Don’t panic. Your son has been kidnapped for a day of underwater adventure.”


    The reply? Three dots typing… “WHAT?”
    😂 Mission surprise: accomplished.

    🎟️ Tickets & Timing

    We grabbed our tickets via Klook — way cheaper than the counter:

    • RM45 for adults
    • RM38 for kids

    Aquaria KLCC opens at 10am, but here’s a pro tip:
    Come early to catch the shark feeding session. It’s one of the highlights — and watching those beasts glide through the water with grace and menace? Worth every ringgit.

    🧃 Pack Snacks, Skip the Snacks

    While Aquaria doesn’t allow food inside (officially), I packed light:

    • Coffee for me ☕
    • Orange juice for Yusuf 🍊

    There’s a food court downstairs, but fair warning: it’s KLCC pricing and peak lunch hour means a swarm of hungry Petronas folks. If you’re on a budget, consider packing light snacks or eating before you go in.

    👶 Parenting Pro Tips

    Is it stroller friendly? Kinda… but there are stairs, so baby-wearing or letting the little ones walk might be easier.

    Don’t forget:

    • IC for yourself
    • MyKid for your child
      They sometimes check for ticket validation.

    📷 Cameras & Photos

    Most of the space is dimly lit, especially the underwater tunnel and deep-sea exhibits. If you’re into photography, bring a low-light beast. I used my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and honestly? It held up decently.

    Oh, and they’ll snap a professional pic of you at the entrance —
    but that printed memory? RM120–RM300 with a frame. That’s not a photo. That’s an NFT at this point.

    🐻 Bonus: VR Arctic Madness

    Near the end, we stumbled into a VR experience — polar bear, Eskimo, the whole frozen fantasy. They render your face into a digital Arctic postcard. Gimmicky? A bit. But Yusuf loved it. That’s what matters.

    🚽 Logistics & Comfort

    Toilets? Not inside Aquaria (weird, right?), but there’s one right outside, clean and close enough.

    Parking was easy despite the KL crowd. RM19 from 10am–3pm. Plenty of space but also plenty of cars. Peak hours might test your luck.

    🧭 Duration & Guides

    Expect to spend about 1 hour inside. You can pay extra for a tour guide, but honestly? The info boards are clear, colorful, and friendly even for kids. Plus, half the fun is watching your child interpret the fish in their own logic.

    ⭐ Final Thoughts

    Aquaria KLCC isn’t just about marine life. It’s about pausing real life. Skipping routines. Trading homework for hammerheads. Swapping screen time for saltwater.

    Yusuf held my hand the entire time. Every tank we passed, every glowing jellyfish, every slow-moving stingray — he had a question. I didn’t have all the answers. But I had time. And sometimes, that’s all a dad needs to give.

    Would I go again? In a heartbeat.
    But next time, we’re bringing mummy along too.

    📌 Summary Tips:

    • 🎟 Buy tickets on Klook to save money
    • 🦈 Arrive before 10am for the shark feeding show
    • 🧃 Pack light drinks/snacks for after
    • 📱 Bring a low-light capable camera
    • 🚽 Use toilets outside the exhibit
    • 🅿️ RM19 parking (5 hours)
    • 👶 Not great for strollers
    • 💸 Skip the expensive souvenir photos (use your own phone!)

    📷 Captured on iPhone 13 Pro Max
    💻 Written with love
    👨‍👦‍👦 From a father who believes school can wait, but childhood memories can’t.

    -pendot

  • HTTP vs HTTPS vs Proxy vs VPN – The Basics

    HTTP vs HTTPS vs Proxy vs VPN – The Basics

    HTTP is the ancient scroll of the web—transparent, unencrypted, and readable by anyone who—and I mean anyone—wants to peek.
    HTTPS is the encrypted version. Think of it like sending letters in sealed envelopes instead of postcards—keeps your words private.

    Proxy is like sending mail via a middleman in a mask. You appear to come from the proxy’s address—but your letters are still visible through your envelope flap (unless it’s an HTTPS proxy) .

    VPN (Virtual Private Network) is your fully armored postal courier, encrypting your messages end-to-end from your device to its server—no peekers allowed .

    2. Benefits & Downsides 🛡️⚡

    HTTP

    • Pros: Fast, low overhead.
    • Cons: Zero privacy—your traffic is naked for ISPs, hackers, and evil scripts.

    HTTPS

    Proxy

    • Pros: Good for partial anonymity, caching, or geo-testing.
    • Cons: Doesn’t encrypt by default, can expose data; free proxies often sketchy or malicious en.wikipedia.org.

    VPN

    3. How It Works – A Story from My Homelab

    Picture this: my homelab is a castle behind walls of reverse proxies and DDoS shields. Outsiders think they’re hitting a fortress moat—but beneath lies a labyrinth: several hops through gateways before reaching the heart (my actual servers).

    Each request bounces through this maze, IPs hidden and defenses layered. It’s like emailing a letter disguised in multiple envelopes—nobody sees the real address.

    On top of that, I hook everything into NordVPN—my trusty VPN courier. Connected to fast servers in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, or Australia, I regularly see full 500 Mbps speeds. Whether streaming, editing videos, or torrenting, it runs smoother than my dad’s old cassette player.

    4. Why I Love NordVPN

    Reddit chimed in:

    “It’s one of the best VPNs for P2P… observed that NordVPN has generally performed well… speed reduction… hasn’t been overly significant.” reddit.com

    5. Advanced NordVPN Features I Use

    • Nord Torrent: Auto-routes torrent traffic through dedicated P2P servers—no user effort needed.
    • Double VPN: Encryption passes through two VPN hops—twice the cloak.
    • Obfuscated & NordWhisper: Mirrors regular HTTPS traffic—perfect for censored environments support.nordvpn.com+1nypost.com+1techradar.com.
    • Onion Over VPN: VPN → Tor → Internet; ultimate privacy combo.
    • Auto‑dial VPN via OPNsense: My router forces every packet through Nord, so even my smart TV fetches US/Japan/Korea Netflix. Zero config once it’s set.

    6. Potential Downsides to Consider

    • Cost: Premium quality doesn’t come free—prices vary, but value is solid nypost.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3thebestvpn.com+3.
    • Occasional speed drops: Especially on distant or overpopulated servers.
    • Trust dependency: You rely on NordVPN to keep your data private (audits help, but it’s still trust-based).

    7. Final Take 💡

    Why should you care?
    Your homelab isn’t just a playground—it’s an artist’s canvas. The tools you use define your masterpiece. HTTP is raw; HTTPS is secure; a proxy is a disguise; a VPN is your full protective cloak. Combining them with NordVPN + reverse proxy infrastructure? That’s next‑level craftsmanship.

    You don’t have to be a cybersecurity ninja to set this up. It’s surprisingly easy: install NordVPN, flip on auto‑dial in OPNsense, and let the magic happen. Your Netflix sees you in LA, Seoul, or Tokyo. Your torrents are masked. Your data is locked behind walls of code.

    This is the future of digital self‑reliance—rooted in old‑school security, powered by next‑gen connections.
    If you’re ready to treat your network like an art, not just wires, this is the blueprint.

  • 👨‍💻 Work-from-Home Dad: Firewalls, Coding, Cartoons & Dino Roars

    👨‍💻 Work-from-Home Dad: Firewalls, Coding, Cartoons & Dino Roars

    Every day, I log in from home with Four screens:

    🖥️ Three for video calls, tickets, and firefighting bugs
    📺 One for cartoons—currently showing Hulk smashing a crocodile (we’re still debating who’s stronger).

    My co-worker? He’s four years old.
    Full of questions, full of energy, and full of snack demands.
    Between escalations and tech issues, I answer things like:

    “Daddy, can crocodile eat Hulk?”

    The line between work and parenting?
    Blurred—in the most beautiful, chaotic way.

    While others talk feature roadmaps, my son builds LEGO skyscrapers beside me.
    While I troubleshoot calls, I troubleshoot spilled Milo.
    And when laughter or dinosaur roars echo in a meeting? That’s just my background music now. 😅

    💡 WFH Dad Mode Activated:

    • I cook, clean, and run the house like a mission-critical system
    • I manage the bills (yes, the electric bill hit different with 24/7 aircond 😅)
    • Upgraded to 600Mbps fiber because buffering = unacceptable
    • I take breaks not for coffee, but to make milk and sneak in a hug before nap time

    My wife is a frontline medical professional, so I hold the home base down—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. 🙏

    “Success isn’t just what you accomplish at work. It’s also what you nurture at home.”

    Not every day is smooth. Some days I’m juggling flaming torches while blindfolded.
    But I’m here—present for my son, handling responsibilities, and still showing up for every task—all from the same desk.

    To the WFH parents out there—especially dads breaking old-school expectations:
    We’re not just working from home.
    We’re working on home.
    And that’s something to be damn proud of. 💪

    -pendot

  • 🎮 Borderlands 3: A Cel‑Shaded Trip Through Loot & Lunacy

    🎮 Borderlands 3: A Cel‑Shaded Trip Through Loot & Lunacy

    I grabbed Borderlands 3 during a Steam promo for just RM60, and man—at that price, it was a steal. Cross-platform worked great (I played via Steam while Latif was on PS5), though we couldn’t get the in-game voice chat working at all. No clue why. Reddit confirmed I’m not alone—others have reported audio issues too (omggirlsgame.wordpress.com, reddit.com). Discord saved the session.

    Despite the mic issue, the gameplay was pure madness—in a good way. It’s like diving headfirst into a comic book with a bazooka. The cartoon-style visuals, the satisfyingly absurd weapons, and the constant waves of enemies all work together to keep adrenaline high.

    But even with all that firepower and flair, I’ll be real—I still prefer the more realistic, tactical intensity of shooters like Call of Duty or Modern Warfare. Borderlands 3 is wild fun, but not my top pick for a shooter fix.

    What I Loved

    • Iconic art style – That cel‑shaded look still slaps. It’s a Borderlands signature that hasn’t aged. (reviewsbysupersven.com)
    • Gun porn galore – Millions of procedurally generated guns. Some shoot rockets, some shout insults. All ridiculous in the best way. (gamingbolt.com)
    • Fluid movement adds hype – Slide, climb, vault—it feels less clunky than older Borderlands titles. (reddit.com)
    • Cross-platform play – Played seamlessly between PC and PS5. No issues there. Mic? Different story.

    Things Worth Noting

    • Voice chat is glitchy – It’s basically unusable. Discord is a must. (gamefaqs.gamespot.com, reddit.com)
    • Story & humor are hit-or-miss – Some jokes land, others feel like middle school cringe. (en.wikipedia.org, gamingbolt.com)
    • Backtracking fatigue – Some missions have you running in circles, which kills the pacing. (polygon.com)
    • Occasional bullet sponge bosses – Fights that drag longer than your patience. (reviewsbysupersven.com)
    • Not worth full price – It’s fun, but I definitely recommend waiting for a sale like I did. Full price just doesn’t feel worth it.

    Voices from the Borderlands

    From the wild world of Reddit:

    “Borderlands 3 gunplay, movement, and loot all blows BL2 out of the water.”
    “BL3’s story and dialogue was so bad I ended up deleting a bunch of the voice files.”
    (reddit.com)

    Final Word

    Borderlands 3 is chaos. It’s over-the-top, satirical, and fully loaded—literally. If you’re looking for a fun, stylized shooter with RPG vibes, it delivers. But if you’re like me and lean more toward real-life gritty FPS games, this might feel like a side quest, not the main mission.

    Would I recommend it? Yes—but not at full price. Wait for that sweet Steam deal.

    Oh—and rumor has it, there’s a new Borderlands game coming soon. I’ll be keeping my sniper scope on that one.

    My Scorecard – In Your Face Edition 💥

    AspectScore (out of 10)Thoughts
    Visual Style9That cel-shade vibe still rocks.
    Gun Variety & Feel10Silly, satisfying, and insane.
    Movement & Combat8More agile than ever.
    Cross-Platform Play9Smooth with friends, no matter platform.
    Voice Chat4Just use Discord.
    Story & Humor7Depends on your cringe tolerance.
    Price Value6 (at full) / 9 (on sale)Sale = worth it. Full price? Not quite.
    Overall Fun Factor8.5Fireworks of fun.

    Bottom line: Buy it during a promo, squad up on Discord, and embrace the absurd. Borderlands 3 is one heck of a comic-book carnival—but don’t expect realism. For that, I’ll be in the gulag with my M4.

  • 🚀 Welcome to My Lab – The Nerd Cave Chronicles Begin

    🚀 Welcome to My Lab – The Nerd Cave Chronicles Begin

    You’ve stumbled upon blog.pendot.xyz, a humble corner of cyberspace where I — Pendot — document my borderline-obsessive journey into building a home lab that could probably launch a satellite (or at least stream Kung Fu Panda in 4K without buffering).

    🧠 Why Even Start a Blog?

    Good question.

    I could’ve just tweeted this. Or made an Instagram Reel with “lofi beats” and RGB lights. Or posted in a thread with 10 hashtags and 0 context. But no. I wanted something more me. Something I control. Something I can break and fix again at 2AM with snacks and regrets.

    Also — I’m learning WordPress, Apache, Docker, Nginx Proxy Manager, and breaking things in the most educational way possible.

    I don’t really expect this blog to go viral. Let’s be real — blogging is practically a fossil in the age of TikTok. But here I am. Because it’s fun. And because I can. And that’s a good enough reason.

    💾 Behold, The Homelab of Madness

    This is not just a computer. This is a shrine of silicon. My temple of self-taught sysadmin chaos.

    🧰 Core Lab Specs:

    • GMKtec K8+ Mini PC
      • AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 🔥
      • 64GB DDR5 RAM 💪
      • 1TB NVMe SSD 🚀
    • Unraid on ZFS running on Proxmox
      • 1TB + 1TB + 4TB + 16TB + 16TB HDDs (yes, I hoard data)
    • 8-Port 2.5GbE Managed Switch
    • Raspberry Pi 4B running AdGuard Home (a.k.a my adblocker overlord)
    • Multiple VMs: OPNsense, Ubuntu, Docker stacks, and a few “lab rats”
    • Self-hosted services:
      • Jellyfin 🍿
      • qBittorrent 🎯
      • VS Code Server 👨‍💻
      • Nginx Proxy Manager (because typing ports is for peasants)
      • Apache Mysql
      • Some other stuff too

    Fun fact: I even tried to run ChatGPT locally. It cried. I cried. We moved on.

    💸 Purchase Regrets? Never. Maybe. Okay, Sometimes.

    Some people invest in property. I invest in thermal paste, ethernet cables, and Amazon returns.

    Things I Bought and (Over)Justified:

    • That 64GB RAM? “For Docker,” I said.
    • The 2.5GbE switch? Because… reasons.
    • Raspberry Pi? “For security.” But mostly to blink LEDs.

    I should’ve bought Bitcoin. But instead, I bought a $40 SATA controller and felt rich.

    🛒 Thinking of Opening a Shop? Maybe.

    Sometimes I dream about turning this blog into a WooCommerce-powered store — selling cables, cases, or stickers that say “Don’t reboot me, bro.”

    But then I remember… Shopee and Lazada are the kings. They’ve got the traffic, the payments, the marketing. WooCommerce? That’s like selling ice cream from a treehouse in a jungle — fun, but no foot traffic.

    Still… maybe I’ll do it anyway. Just for the vibes.

    🔚 TL;DR (Too Late, You Read)

    This blog is my playground.

    It may be small. It may be quiet. But it’s mine.
    And even if no one reads it — I’ll still write.
    Because every blinking LED, every YAML file, every failed docker-compose up…
    is a story worth telling.

    “The real server was the friends we made along the way.” – Confucius, probably

    Thanks for dropping by.
    I’ve got more experiments brewing.
    Next post? Maybe a tutorial. Maybe a teardown. Maybe a meltdown.
    Stay tuned.

    – Pendot