Ask J.D. - J.D. Hodges

Category Archives: Ask J.D.

Codex CLI + Claude Code: MCP Is 4x Faster Than the Command Line

Monday, 2026.03.30 J.D. H. Leave a comment

TL;DR: OpenAI’s Codex CLI works best with Claude Code when you invoke it through MCP, not the command line. MCP calls return in about 3 seconds versus 13+ seconds for CLI on my dev environment, it avoids sandbox issues entirely, and keep everything inside your conversation. Here’s briefly how I set it up, tested various invocation methods, and landed on an optimized dual-AI workflow that works for my coding and research tasks. Why Codex When Claude Code Already Works? Claude

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5090 AI BOX w/128GB Framework Desktop: Real-World AI Workstation Setup

Monday, 2026.03.30 J.D. H. Leave a comment

Last year I was able to pick up a killer deal on a Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5090 AI BOX, an external GPU enclosure that packs a full desktop RTX 5090 (32GB GDDR7) into a compact box that connects over a single Thunderbolt 5 cable. My goal was to pair it with the Framework Desktop running AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip and see how well it worked as a portable AI workstation. Short answer: surprisingly well. The Setup: Framework Desktop

How I Used AI to Help Research Used Cars (and Saved $5,000 Over Carvana)

Sunday, 2026.03.29 J.D. H. Leave a comment

We recently bought a used 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV RS AWD for $29,500 from a dealer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It came loaded with heated and ventilated seats, Super Cruise, a head-up display, leather interior, and the RS sport package. The two Carvana listings we started with? $34,180 and $35,280 delivered for a much lower trim. That’s ~$5,000+ savings for a few hours research. Here is how we used Claude Code and Codex (AI coding tools from Anthropic and OpenAI) to

How to Find Your New Synology NAS IP Address (DS925+ and Others)

Friday, 2026.03.27 J.D. H. Leave a comment

TL;DR: Synology NAS devices use DHCP, so there’s no default IP address. To find your new DiskStation on the network, open find.synology.com in any browser. It will detect the NAS and hopefully show you the IP address in seconds. The Problem You unbox a new Synology DS925+, slot in your drives, plug in Ethernet and power, and wait for it to boot. Now what? Unlike a router with a sticker on the bottom showing 192.168.1.1, Synology NAS devices don’t have

VRBO Customer Service Problem: When the Host Cancels and Nobody is Home

Friday, 2026.03.27 J.D. H. Leave a comment

TL;DR: A VRBO host cancelled my confirmed reservation two weeks before check-in because they double-booked. When I tried to use VRBO’s VrboCare guarantee to get a rebooking credit, the live chat agent joined, read my message, and left without saying a word. VRBO’s customer service infrastructure may be designed to make you give up. 🤷‍♂️ The Cancellation I had a confirmed reservation for April 10-12, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The property was a house near Expo Square, booked for three

Claude AI Usage Limits: What Changed and How to Make Them Last

Thursday, 2026.03.26 J.D. H. 4 comments

TL;DR: Claude’s usage limits feel tighter in March 2026 because they are. The short version: Anthropic has more demand than GPU capacity right now. Millions of new users arrived as word got around about how good Claude is and especially after the OpenAI Pentagon boycott, the off-peak 2x promotion ends March 28, and multiple Max subscribers report usage meters jumping from under 50% to 100% on single prompts. Below: what the limits actually are, why they’re worse right now, and

Claude Project Instructions: Examples & Templates (2026)

Thursday, 2026.03.26 J.D. H. Leave a comment

TL;DR: Claude project instructions tell Claude how to behave inside a specific project. Here’s a starter template you can paste right now: Customize the bracketed parts for your workflow. That template covers 80% of what most people need. The rest of this post gives you more examples and explains when project instructions are the right tool vs. profile preferences. If you’re looking for Claude’s account-wide custom instructions (the ones that apply to every conversation), that’s a different feature. I have

Fuel House Opens in Winona, MO

Wednesday, 2026.03.25 J.D. H. Leave a comment

After opening their first location in Eminence and then expanding to West Plains, Fuel House has officially made it to Winona, MO! ☕🎉 We stopped by on opening day and the coffee was DELICIOUS. I had the “Falling Springs” and the protein addition was great. My wife had an iced Americano with vanilla cold foam (perfection), and our friend went with the Rocky Falls with a few modifications. All three were fantastic. Like at all their locations, the Fuel House