Author: William McGill

William McGill is an IT veteran and independent contractor with over 20 years of experience in technology, networking, and insurance. He blends tech expertise with real-world problem-solving, working across industries from flood insurance claims to system administration. While most of his writing focuses on tech, freelancing, and adapting to an ever-evolving digital landscape, he occasionally explores topics that simply spark his curiosity—because life isn’t just about work, but about being human.

AMD Microcode Vulnerability Exposed: How the Latest Exploit Impacts Zen 1 to Zen 4 CPUs

When I built my latest workstation with the Ryzen 9 7900X, I expected top-tier performance—but I didn’t expect to be caught in the middle of a major CPU security vulnerability. Turns out, AMD’s latest microcode exploit affects not just older Zen-based chips, but also high-performance Zen 4 processors like mine. If you’re running an AMD… Continue reading AMD Microcode Vulnerability Exposed: How the Latest Exploit Impacts Zen 1 to Zen 4 CPUs

How to Configure Redis for WordPress Object Caching via Unix Socket on Debian 12

How to Configure Redis for WordPress Object Caching via Unix Socket on Debian 12 IntroductionRedis is a powerful in-memory key-value store that can significantly improve the performance of WordPress by acting as an object cache. By default, Redis communicates over TCP, but using a Unix socket instead can provide better performance and security by reducing… Continue reading How to Configure Redis for WordPress Object Caching via Unix Socket on Debian 12

Building a TrueNAS Homelab NAS: Part 1 – Planning & Sourcing in a Shortage Market

Building a TrueNAS Homelab NAS: Part 1 – Planning & Sourcing in a Shortage Market Introduction Building a powerful TrueNAS SCALE-based homelab NAS has been an interesting challenge, especially given the current hardware shortages and high prices of key components like ECC-supported motherboards and Intel processors. This blog post documents the planning and sourcing process… Continue reading Building a TrueNAS Homelab NAS: Part 1 – Planning & Sourcing in a Shortage Market

Fixing Nginx Downgrade Issues After Upgrading from Debian 11 (Bullseye) to Debian 12 (Bookworm) on a GCP Cloud VM

Fixing Nginx Downgrade Issues After Upgrading from Debian 11 (Bullseye) to Debian 12 (Bookworm) on a GCP Cloud VM When upgrading from Debian 11 (Bullseye) to Debian 12 (Bookworm) on a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) VM, I encountered a frustrating issue: after installing the latest Nginx version from the official Nginx repository, running apt update… Continue reading Fixing Nginx Downgrade Issues After Upgrading from Debian 11 (Bullseye) to Debian 12 (Bookworm) on a GCP Cloud VM

Custom PC Build: A High-Performance Workstation for AI, Stable Diffusion, and Gaming

Building My Power-User Workstation: A Custom PC for AI, Image Generation, and Gaming For years, I’ve built and upgraded computers to match my evolving needs, but this time, I wanted something special—a machine that could handle intensive workloads while staying within a reasonable budget. My goal was to create a powerful yet cost-effective workstation, optimized… Continue reading Custom PC Build: A High-Performance Workstation for AI, Stable Diffusion, and Gaming

Harmony in Geometry: A Visual Symphony

“Harmony in Geometry: A Visual Symphony,” an online gallery where the mystic allure of sacred geometry meets the infinite complexity of fractals. This collection features a series of digital artworks that delve into the profound connections between the structured beauty of sacred shapes and the mesmerizing depth of fractal patterns. Each piece is a vibrant… Continue reading Harmony in Geometry: A Visual Symphony

Exploring the Boundary of AI: Self-Awareness Without Consciousness

An abstract representation of AI's potential self-awareness without human consciousness

Introduction: The debate around artificial intelligence (AI) often centers on the potential for these systems to become self-aware. A common concern is whether AI will evolve beyond its programmed boundaries to achieve a state of consciousness. But what if AI could become self-aware without actually being conscious? AI’s Self-Awareness: A Theoretical Possibility: Many people express… Continue reading Exploring the Boundary of AI: Self-Awareness Without Consciousness

The Twin Guides of Our Spiritual Journey: Holding Onto Truth & Choosing Forgiveness

The Twin Guides of Our Spiritual Journey: Holding Onto Truth & Choosing Forgiveness “We experience numerous rebirths in our quest for growth; forgiveness and truth guide us to enlightenment.” – William McGill There was a time in my life when I carried the weight of anger and confusion after a painful breakup. The way it… Continue reading The Twin Guides of Our Spiritual Journey: Holding Onto Truth & Choosing Forgiveness

Margaritaville Memories: A Poetic Farewell to Jimmy Buffett

In the hush of morning, a friend’s message came,Telling of a star, no longer in the frame.Most times, news drifts like a passing tide,But today, the sorrow won’t subside. By the Gulf’s embrace, I was shaped and formed,To Buffett’s tunes, my soul warmed.From Key West’s embrace to where I stand,His melodies echoed over sea and… Continue reading Margaritaville Memories: A Poetic Farewell to Jimmy Buffett

William McGill