Onomatopoeia

For just files I'd use Syncthing or Resilio (I keep hundreds of gigs synced with ST). Resilio has a feature that's very useful - Selective Sync. This allows you to setup a sync job that syncs the index of files, but doesn't sync the actual files until you select a file(s) to sync on the remote device. I use this to access my media files from anywhere (3TB) which I obviously don't want to try to sync the entire folder to my phone, etc.

But since you effectively are on the same LAN, you can use any file copy tool the respective OS's support.

Though for WAN connections, I prefer tools with some redundancy/resilience, since those connections can be slow or experience drops, and regular copy tools aren't designed to contend with that (in Windows the only tool I can think of off hand is Robocopy, but I think Teracopy will at least show you if a file copy fails).

It really depends on your use-case, what you're trying to solve for.

But, no Foss dev wants to do anything about it because SMS sucks balls.

So regardless of how many messages are sent FOSS devs aren't interested.

Yea, I'd take the approach of having the server monitor a folder, and then just drop files in that folder to be converted.

There are a number of ways to transfer files to that folder, tools like FolderSync (Android), Syncthing or Resilio (every OS) can handle this.

The problem is everyone is trying to make everyone else pay for improvements, using tools like this.

And then there are factions within each bloc that use these tools to further their agendas, that may/may not align with making actual improvements, and may be net negative.

As my grandfather used to say "it all depends on who's ox is getting gored".

Just reading the article (if it's to be trusted), international shipping accounts for 3% of worldwide carbon production. First, that means maybe we should put our efforts elsewhere first, to something with a greater percentage. Second, given we know any given ship uses tons of fuel per hour, maybe the carbon metric isn't very useful here.

Lol, I tried using Discord garbage 2 or 3 times, just can't see why people like it. It was an awful experience every time. Convoluted, unintuitive UI, terrible software from a performance and stability standpoint. Seemed like software designed by committee with no clear objectives, and then coded by one schizophrenic dev who was just learning programming.

It's staggering to me it's as successful as it is.

For backup check out SMS Backup/Restore. I have 10+ years of sms backup with it, all readable as text or using Excel.

I've never found a good solution to this SMS problem - there's seems to be nothing out there (probably because FOSS devs think SMS needs to die, and I agree).

I did find my solution last year: JMP.chat - I think they're considered a virtual cell provider. Port your number to them, then all your SMS/MMS gets piped into XMPP, which you can access with an XMPP client on any device - Gajim on Windows/Linux, Cheogram and Monocles (plus others) on Android, Snikket and others on iOS. My SMS works even if my phone is off. Prices are really good, so good that I use a different SIM in my phone for a data connection, as I no longer need an SMS/voice connection (calls are routed via VOIP in Cheogram/XMPP).

Gotta remember to enable Quantum Entanglement... Takes a lot more power, but solves the problem.

I've taken this approach, sometimes these boxes will act up when they can't phone home. Definitely worth trying though.

Excellent - thanks for the remote recommendation, it's one thing I've been struggling to find.

Not sure I like the gyro idea - I had a gyro presentation mouse in the past. Worked well, but how do your parents like the gyro element?

Sometimes it's a decision between reliability and selfhosted

This is an excellent point to keep in mind.

Using something like Telegram for notifications/alerts exposes a minimal amount of info/metadata.

XMPP could be a useful alternative, since there are numerous hosts/providers available, and it's a privacy minded community.

The proxmox server is connected to a router attached to a fiber ONT.

If you want to be extra secure, there's no reason the server needs internet connectivity/exposure at all (it should be safe as-is). Put it on its own VLAN with only specified ports open to your home LAN. That would be one extra layer from the internet - if admin/remote ports can't be accessed via the internet connection LAN, then no way for an outsider to get into it (you'd have to provide other ways of accessing the server to admin it, either KVM, or a machine on that VLAN, etc).

You DO NOT need to do this, just adding an idea about how to make stuff more secure.

Really? Let's see China suddenly ship the next 6 months of produced stuff somewhere else and sell it (because they've been making it to allow for shipping time). They're producing 2025 Xmas stuff now.

Who's got 500 billion of extra purchasing power right now? (The 200 billion deficit plus current US purchasing)?

Remember, China has hundreds of massive container ships just waiting to dock. Are they going to spend millions on fuel to now send those ships elsewhere?

Ya all crack me up that you actually believe China has any leverage in this conflict. We haven't even touched on Xi having no ability to back down.