NineLizards

I've updated the old page with some new entries. Go here.

Monday, March 2, 2026

Faith Hunter - Junkyard Cats 4 / 5 - Junkyard Roadhouse / Junkyard Riders

Audiobook Review

Faith Hunter (better known for her Romantasy stories) does a pretty good (Scifi) Apocalyptic series of novellas, all titled Junkyard Something.

Frankenblocks - Eyeing the Competition

Frankenblocks

How to combine Lego with other bits and pieces, including electronics.

Here are the results of my search for 'competitors' (not really 😁) - or better put - for alternatives, sources, ideas, possibilities.

Just another random wallpaper...

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Saturday, February 28, 2026

FB-10043-2 - Baseplate Small Technic No Groove - 8x16

This is a Frankenblocks baseplate designed for Lego Technic.

You can find the model on Makerworld.

VirtualBox 7.2.4 - Client resolution doesn't automatically adjust to window size

VirtualBox + Windows

VirtualBox has a few more options in its latest incarnation, and a few defaults are different from previous releases.

Auto-adjusting client resolutions is one of those.

FB-10042-3 - Baseplate Small Technic Dual Groove - 8x16x2

This is a Frankenblocks baseplate designed for Lego Technic.

You can find the model on Makerworld.

VirtualBox - Windows 11 install is stuck at 10% on Windows 11 Host

VirtualBox + Windows

Symptom: stuck at 10% when installing Windows 11 Guest on Windows 11 Host in VirtualBox.

Solution: lots of small things, but mostly Memory Core Integration... I still have some testing to do, but this looks promising!

VirtualBox 7.2.4 - Windows doesn't recognize a (dynamic) .VDI that has an increased max size

VirtualBox + Windows

Situation: You're running out of diskspace in a Windows client. Increasing the size in VirtualBox seems to work, but when you try to use the additional space from within your Windows Guest (via drive management) it doesn't see the larger drive.

This work-around fixes that.

Your most basic Lego compatible building block, the 'Hello World' equivalent in the 3D printing building bricks community.

The model can be found on Makerworld.

Other parts can be found in the Frankenblocks Catalogue.

FB-10035-3 - Baseplate Small Dual Groove - 8x16x2

This is the basic building plate I use for my Frankenblocks system.

You can find the model on Makerworld.

A catalogue of all (?) my Frankenblocks can be found here.

FB-10017-2 - Calibration Piece

This piece is used in the FB-10000-x Calibration package.

You can find that package on Makerworld.

These objects can help you calibrate your printer. This should make it easier to print Lego compatible blocks, such as the Frankenblocks.

You can find the files on Makerworld.

A catalogue of all (?) my Frankenblocks can be found here.

Frankenblocks - Dialing in your printer

Combining Lego and 3D printing shows again how much engineering went into those stupid little Lego bricks. I can't print as accurate as their factory produces them, but I have to get as close as I can to make things usable.

Wallpaper - Grafitti

Some of my wallpapers are just color themed, or relaxing, funny, or have a kind of special meaning. And sometimes I just want to enjoy the urban jungle... (This is a bit low-res and may require WallX or similar.)

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Skiddle Skedaddle - Return of the Skiddler... or Frankenbricks? Frankenblocks? Whatever...

Skiddle Skedaddle. Return of the Skiddler. Well, arrival of the Skiddler, at least. This is going to be my big 2026 project. After world domination, of course.

(What the hell are Skiddles? Or Frankenbricks?)

Bambu Studio - Filament Shrinkage and Scaling

3D Printing

When3D printing objects, you may encounter crimp / shrinkage, when the material cools down.

Where to adjust these parameters in Bambu Studio?

Old Wacom + Old and New Graphical Software + New (Old) PC

Wacom + Windows

(Mostly notes for myself.)

I'm using an old Wacom with some old and new software. These are notes on how to set up and run things.

Wacom Cable Protector for Cintiq 21UX (DTZ-2100D)

Wacom + 3D Printing + DIY

One of those things where there is no good solution, except ordering a new cable... because Wacom decided to permanently attach a multi-cable to the monitor, and (poorly) shrink-sleeved / molded a cable splitter.

Installing OBS, Virtual Webcam, RSTP, Chromecast and Whatnot, in 2026...

OBS + Windows

I'm writing this new OBS install post, as newer releases use different options, and things were getting a little confusing. Unfortunately, not everything works as it did in the past. That might be me, or other stuff may have changed...

Plate Lab - Cool & Cold Plates

3D Printing + Plate Lab

Not all cold plates are created equal. And many are simply not cold plates at all.

Here's a comparison between several (cheap) cold plates. Note: if you want me to test another plate, drop me a line, and send me that plate 😊

WD Colors for Regular Spinners, and Bloody SMR drives

Datatalk

I'm not a data hoarder (well, a bit, perhaps) but I like to keep stuff locally, so I have a few larger drives, and you know what? They're hard to find, and sometimes bloody slow.

There's no absolute fix, but at least I can remind myself not to buy those f* SMR drives!

HWInfo64 is a nice program, but it has two disadvantages:

1. It needs to run with Admin rights

2. It sometimes forgets the location of its (child) windows

That second one is a bummer, so here's a desktop link that make it a little easier to restore them.

What am I going to print this year?

3D Printing

What am I going to print this year?

I have no clue yet. But I reserved a post / page for all my crap 😁

Wallpaper + Planescape

Four different wallpapers, all based on Sigil's Lady of Pain.

If you haven't played D&D, you haven't lived. If you haven't played Planescape, you haven't died and gone to the great wheel 🤔 Yet 😁

Countdown to 2026 - #2 - Politics versus Free Speech - December 30 (November 21)

Countdown

This blog is a individual, personal opinion. It may not match yours, and that's fine.

I mean, opinions are like arseholes... everybody has (or is 😁) one.

I have my personal opinion on politics and politicians. I prefer them somewhat center, neutral, looking at long term results, and not crying out whatever gives them the most votes today, ignoring tomorrow.

Countdown to 2026 - #3 - A New PC! Next: Migrating Windows and Office (October 12)

Countdown + Windows

Migrating Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office is an artform by itself. I'm still investigating and messing around, but one thing is certain: Microsoft did their best to make sure it's all as confusing as possible.

I would not go as far as to claim it's done deliberately in the hope you will buy new licenses. But it certainly is not user friendly!

Countdown to 2026 - #4 - Facist Takeover 101 - December 28 (September 1)

Countdown + Column

I think I'll leave it up to you to decide what part of the world this applies to, but it is scary how certain politicians are copying the pre-WW2 Nazi handbook...

Countdown to 2026 - #5 - Highs and Lows - December 27 (July 23)

Countdown + Column

On July 23, halfway the year, and I'm not sure if I should count the first half of the year as fantastic or just a mere meh.

I totally failed on publishing my book, but I did manage to find a place for my eldest daughter (who has a disability). My house's a mess, and I do not like my job.

Countdown to 2026 - #6 - Dungeons & Dragons - December 26 (June 12)

Countdown

June 2025... and I decided it can't be all about doom and gloom. Let's talk about something fun! How about Dungeons & Dragons? Or... how I managed to spend more on D&D than ever before 🤔

Countdown to 2026 - #7 - The Fermi Paradox / Life is not Exclusive - December 25 (May 3)

Countdown + Column

I'm trying my best to stay positive, but sometimes I wonder if this is the moment we see Fermi's Paradox in full action. Why? Well, we're facing global warming, Russia plays the robber baron, China threatens Taiwan, the US has become the most unreliable superpower ever. And now Pakistan and India are going beyond rattling their sabers and have started to bombard one another.

Countdown to 2026 - #8 - Battery Low - December 24 (March 23)

Countdown

March 21, and life still sucks. Even more so than usual.

Somehow I just don't feel like writing much lately. It's a kind of general slump, partially filled with the inability to get my sorry ass into gear and publish, partially by all the doom and gloom from the orange menace's corner, and there are some private things distracting me and mine.

Countdown to 2026 - #9 - Writing & Politics - December 23 (February 11)

Countdown + Writing

This year, my countdown schedule is a periodic flashback every 5 weeks. It's now February 18, and it's time to look back on the first part of 2025.

First of all, I'm happy Trump hasn't blown up the world yet - it's fine if he sticks to the US. I'm just a little baffled by the feeding frenzy as shown by the tech billionaires (Zuckerberg, Musk, you know who). Let's start by feeling sorry for them. Or not?

What year is it?

Gaming

Is this a little Sony 'Oops'?

I found an interesting banner on Sony's PlayStation page...

DIY + 3D Printing + Dutch

(Hoe noem je zoiets?)

Ik heb (helaas) een nieuwe wasmachine (Bosch), en wilde er de wasdroger (een Zanussi) weer bovenop zetten. Helaas heeft de een of andere design guru besloten om het zeep bakje aan de bovenzijde te laten doorlopen, waardoor de normale koppelstukken niet meer werken. Wat nu?

Solid Monitor Redux

Music

Added some manuals to the Solid Monitor page.

(These oldies still work great!)

Wallpaper - Laserline

Sometimes you just need a wallpaper that looks kinda' electrifying good on a dual monitor setup.

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Wallpaper - White Balls

It's somewhat like T+2000 (2000 days after I expected what would be the worst day for Corona / Covid) and my wallpaper is a silent reminder of that. Remember the lock-down? I do. Work was done over Teams (something many managers nowadays think is no longer working, duh?) and one of the Teams backgrounds was this specific image.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Fuck HitfFilm Express. Fuck FXHome. Fuck Artlist.

Datatalk

Fuck HitFilm Express.

Fuck FXHome. Fuck Artlist.

Fuck every piece of software that requires online activation.

Because you will be screwed at some later date.

Column

I would never let an AI write any of my stories. And - had I been a musician - I would never use AI to compose or sing or perform.

Still, even I have to admit AI is getting impressive, though it isn't perfect.

I wrote the lyrics to this song myself, then build a prompt and had an AI generate it. (Frankly, I cannot even remember which one I used, sorry.)

Retrieve the original installation language for Windows installs

To do an in-situ upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 your install medium needs to be of the same language as the one you originally installed your Windows with... or not?

On their website Microsoft says you need to pick the language you're currently using, but when you try to do an in-situ upgrade, it asks for the language you installed your original copy with.

Personal Windows 11 Setup

How I set up my machine...

(This note is pretty much for myself, and I think it actually has some mistakes in it as well...)

Can you still find that (SF) movie, or has Enshittification (TM) taken over full force?

Science Fiction

Let's try to watch some SciFi...

Note: this isn't a 'top 10' kind of list. I was just wondering where you could watch them (legally)...

Note that I'm based in The Netherlands, and availability strongly depends on the region you live in...

Wallpaper - Dual Monitor - Forest

September featured a coastline, so let's go deep into the forest this time.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Monday, September 29, 2025

Swapping / upgrading / downgrading SSDs - You want Rescuezilla!

Windows + Datatalk

Replacing an SSD with something larger or (especially) smaller can be quite tricky. Here's a simple way to do it.

(And yes, it is using a Linux boot stick, duh 😏)

Deranged... or not?

Column

A few days ago Donald Trump gave a speech to the United Nations, and everyone was listening in deadly silence.

If you watch it - even if you're a Republican you should watch it - and then think about it... then... then what? Be honest to yourself and the rest of the world, and check the facts...

Pin a shortcut to a batch file on the taskbar

Windows + Datatalk

Sometimes you just need a shortcut to a batch file. Now that's easy. But sometimes you want to place that shortcut on the task bar, and that is slightly more complicated.

This approach appears to work on Windows 10 and 11.

D&D - Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master - The Lazy Anthology (xe 2018, English)

RPG Book Review + Books

As Dungeon Master / Game Master, you're the heart of any role playing game. As DM / GM you run the world, play all the NPCs, and you decide which rules apply when.

That's a lot of work... sometimes a bit too much. This book tries to address that potential problem, by helping you to only prepare what is necessary.

Wallpaper - Dual Monitor - Sweetwater Coastline