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    1. You get to choose your favorite director's next project. What is it, and why?

      I think about this from time to time. Good directors often switch gears. They abandon beloved themes, franchises, or entire genres. Sometimes they become producers for the series they initiated...

      I think about this from time to time. Good directors often switch gears. They abandon beloved themes, franchises, or entire genres. Sometimes they become producers for the series they initiated and the quality takes a dip. In any event, for whatever reason, talented movie directors sometimes decide to dedicate their careers to something we are not as fond of. Perhaps you read a book that would be perfect for them! This post is an opportunity to put them on the right track! (in our imaginations at least...)

      26 votes
    2. Megathread: April Fools' Day 2025 on the internet

      Over the next day or so, the internet will be filled with jokes, pranks, fake "announcements" from companies, fun interactive activities, games, and so on. A lot of these can be quite clever and...

      Over the next day or so, the internet will be filled with jokes, pranks, fake "announcements" from companies, fun interactive activities, games, and so on. A lot of these can be quite clever and interesting so I think posting about them in general is fine, but in the interest of preventing them from completely taking over Tildes, let's try to keep as many of them restricted to this thread as possible. Ideally, a separate top-level comment for each individual item would be good.

      If something particularly discussion-worthy comes up (like an ARG or activity that a lot of people want to talk about), a separate thread is reasonable, but please make sure it has the "april fools day" tag. That way, if anyone wants to avoid seeing the April Fools' Day threads, they can use the topic tag filters and filter that tag out.

      I'm going to use the "official" styling for this topic (that's usually only for ~tildes.official topics) to make it stand out more to try to encourage people to notice it. If you notice people making individual topics for April Fools' Day things that don't really warrant their own topic, please (nicely) encourage them to delete and post in here instead.

      109 votes
    3. What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular?

      Anything goes: foods, software, products, bands, websites, appliances, movies, programming languages, travel destinations, etc. The point of this topic is twofold: To surface some interesting...

      Anything goes: foods, software, products, bands, websites, appliances, movies, programming languages, travel destinations, etc.

      The point of this topic is twofold:

      1. To surface some interesting alternatives that could use more exposure.
      2. To highlight some of the issues with the currently popular option(s).

      Let us know your best “more people should know about this!” swaps, and sell us on why they’re better than the well-known option.

      6 votes
    4. Considering going with an ambidextrous mouse if anyone has recommendations

      My current mouse is a Logitech Lightspeed G502, it works fine and aside from double click issue which I brought to a store to fix, no issues with it but it was my friend's prior mouse before he...

      My current mouse is a Logitech Lightspeed G502, it works fine and aside from double click issue which I brought to a store to fix, no issues with it but it was my friend's prior mouse before he upgraded to a newer model.
      As for why I want an ambidextrous mouse, on the rare occasions I want to use my left hand to navigate instead of right.
      I used to use a chinese MMO mouse that honestly was not bad but its software was fairly garbage(Rebranded Red Dragon mouse iirc) so I don't mind Chinese mice as clearly being a brand name mouse doesn't mean much, just want something that is good and lasts a while, since I'm not that big on mice.

      I want these qualities in a mouse.

      • Works wired and with a 2.4GHz dongle
      • Either rechargeable batteries or replaceable works
      • High DPI
      • Not a "lightweight" mouse
      • Has a few programmable buttons
      • On chip storage for programmed buttons/DPI/etc
      • Available worldwide

      Bluetooth as a 3rd option would be neat but not something I'm looking for in particular.

      Rechargeable batteries are supposed to provide better longevity afaik, but the buttons or the mouse itself will probably die before the battery.

      I use 8200 DPI on my current mouse pretty much in both games and in desktop... with mouse acceleration,

      I only lower it on the rare occasions I use something like GIMP.

      Not a fan of these perforated light mice or super light mice, I used to put weights in my previous wired Chinese mouse but I'm using the G502 without weights currently. I am willing to compromise on this if there are no options however.

      On the G502 I only use 2 buttons regularly, and they are to switch to the left or right virtual desktop, the rest of the buttons have a function but they get rarely used (Except Windows+Tab to show all virtual desktops).

      On chip storage is good when I switch platforms (e.g. PC/Windows, SteamDeck or Linux, Mac) and in case I want to completely drop Windows and not worry about needing software for the programmable buttons to work.

      Worldwide availability because I don't live in the US or most parts of Europe.

      Not aware if Logitech has a mouse that does all what I need, the free scrolling wheel is cool and gets used, but they got a history of switches that die too fast.

      7 votes
    5. Hey parents, how many of you read vs. tell stories before bedtime for your kids?

      My son loves reading time before bed, but he’s only 3.5 so the books have mostly been picture books until now. Lately though he’s been getting more into stories with plots and an extended...

      My son loves reading time before bed, but he’s only 3.5 so the books have mostly been picture books until now. Lately though he’s been getting more into stories with plots and an extended narrative, but entirely in the form of movies. There aren’t a lot of kid’s books to go around with the sorts of dramatic stories he likes, they’re more like “caterpillar eats food” and “train engine climbs a hill with grit and determination” type stuff. And whenever I’ve tried to have him just lay down and listen to me read a story without any pictures to stare at he has absolutely no interest. He really likes having pretty visuals to look at.

      I know when I was a small child these sorts of board/picture books weren’t really a thing in India. The pre-sleep ritual was usually “storytime” instead, where my parents would tell us stories. I’m a little bit concerned that my kid has been so accustomed to always having visual cues presented to him that it’s stunting his imagination a bit, like failing to exercise his capacity to visualize ideas and concepts for himself without being anchored by some artist’s depiction.

      So I’m curious to hear from other parents or caregivers/educators (@kfwyre?). Did you find there was a natural transition point between going from picture books to telling/reading stories? Was there any sort of work you had to do to enable it? Are there “exercises” I can work on to help my son exercise his imagination? I have been working with him to have him tell me stories about his day, which he does pretty well. But his stories are always quite grounded and he’s usually telling me what he’s actually done and seen. When my nephews and nieces were his age they tended to spin out a lot of random stories that pretty obviously did not happen, and I assume this is because they had more experience being told stories themselves rather than just factual reporting about the happenings around them.

      24 votes
    6. Graduated and moving to an apartment in a major city in the US, advice/tips?

      I graduated in the spring and spent the last few months at home with family. I'm hoping to find an apartment/job in a major US city working as a legal assistant or paralegal. I've never rented...

      I graduated in the spring and spent the last few months at home with family. I'm hoping to find an apartment/job in a major US city working as a legal assistant or paralegal.

      I've never rented before, so I have questions, but due to circumstances related to the ones pushing me away from staying at home any longer, I don't have any parents or older siblings to ask for help, so I'm hoping to crowdsource wisdom here. I have specific questions, but also happy to hear any general advice for someone renting an apartment for the first time.

      Some relevant context:

      • Studio apartment is nonnegotiable. I don't know anyone I trust enough to be my roommate. If that weren't enough, I'm one of the only people still wearing a mask and trying not to get COVID, so it's gotta be a studio for me to be able to relax.
      • I'm looking for a walkable neighborhood and good public transit in addition to affordability, so really looking at Chicago and Philly right now.
      • I love to cook, but I know studios often have really lackluster kitchens. Hoping to find one with a usable amount of counterspace.

      Those questions I had:

      1. If you offer to pay a landlord the cost of the lease in full, is it typical for the landlord to waive the requirement that you provide proof of employment, or if you asked them to waive that, would they be likely to say yes? I would really like to take some time off, and coming home was intended to be that, but toxic family means I've just been stressed the whole time, so being able to get a place without needing a job right off the bat would be a fantastic setup to make sure this new start goes well. (If I save up part-time earnings for the next 2-3 months, I'll have enough to pay a lease on a $1200 studio in full, furnish it with the necessities, and feed myself.)

      2. Recently I realized that when apartments are listed as unfurnished, that means no bed or mattress either. (I kind of see now why futons are a thing.) How do people usually address this issue? Do you buy a mattress and bed frame with the expectation that you'll take it with you whenever you move out to the next apartment?

      3. Since I don't live in the city I'll be moving to, I most likely won't be able to see the apartment in person before committing. Any particular ideas on how I could handle this or what I should be wary of? I've heard of services where you can pay someone to show up to a tour and video call you so you can follow along (https://www.gandertour.com/). $50 doesn't seem too steep, but I don't know if that specific service is trustworthy, or if there's a cheaper or simpler way to deal with this.

      Those are my questions, and like I said above, any advice not 100% related to these questions is welcome too!

      38 votes
    7. Tildes Minecraft Survival

      Server host: tildes.nore.gg (Running Java 1.21.4) Bluemap: https://tildes.nore.gg Playtime Tracker: https://tildes.nore.gg/playtimes.html Tildes website extension (shows online status & location):...

      Server host: tildes.nore.gg (Running Java 1.21.4)
      Bluemap: https://tildes.nore.gg
      Playtime Tracker: https://tildes.nore.gg/playtimes.html
      Tildes website extension (shows online status & location): Firefox (Desktop and Android) - Chrome
      Verification site: https://verify.tildes.nore.gg
      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TildesMC

      Plugins and Data Packs Data Packs:
      • Terralith - Overworld terrain upgrade
      • Nullscape - End terrain upgrade
      • Armor Statues [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Bat Membranes [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Cauldron Concrete [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Husks Drop Sand [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Mini Blocks [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • More Mob Heads [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Player Head Drops [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Silence Mobs [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Wandering Trades [Vanilla Tweaks]

      Plugins:

      • Bluemap - Adds a live 3D web map
      • Clickable Links - Makes http URLs in chat clickable (only for registered players)
      • CoreProtect - Records all block/container/mob changes (Anyone can look up changes with /co inspect)
      • EasyArmorStands - GUI for editing armor stands
      • Hexnicks - Enables Tildes usernames to be displayed
      • LuckPerms - Locks down unregistered users
      • Nerfstick - Allows survival use of the minecraft:debug_stick item (requires admin to spawn in)
      • Rapid Leaf Decay - Increases the speed of leaf decay by 10x
      • WorldEdit - Used for occasional admin stuff
      • WorldGuard - Prevents unregistered users from changing anything in the world

      The server operates on a soft whitelist. Anyone can log in and walk around, but you need a Tildes account to gain build access.

      10 votes
    8. Introductions | March 2025

      The previous introductions thread was waaaaay back in June of 2023, figured it might be time for a new one, eh? This is a place for new and existing users to post an introduction with a few fun...

      The previous introductions thread was waaaaay back in June of 2023, figured it might be time for a new one, eh?

      This is a place for new and existing users to post an introduction with a few fun facts about themselves. You will find the post box at the bottom the page. Maybe say "Hi!" to someone else you see while scrolling down?

      If you like, you can also write something about yourself in your profile. See "Edit your user bio" on the settings page. Anyone who clicks on your username will see it in your profile. (It appears on the right side of the page.)

      You can find out more about how to use Tildes in this topic: "New users: Ask your questions about Tildes here!.

      Some sample questions you *could* answer (but not required!)
      • How long have you been on Tildes? How did you find out about us?
      • How did you choose your username?
      • What are your interests? (This could be music, tech, art, video games, board games, books, anything!)
      • A/S/L (the standard old school intro for an old school kind of forum, but not required!, we value our pseudonymity around here!)
        • for those born post 1998: age/(sex|gender|identifier|pronouns)/location
          • Example: 27/nb trans woman (she/her)/USA or 54/M/USA or 907/Timelord/Gallifrey
        • You don't have to follow the structure, or include it at all!
      • What do you do? This could be in your spare time, for work, your passions.
      • Do you want other users to PM you from this thread?
      • Give us a fun fact or link, if there is anything to know about tilderinos, we value knowledge sharing!
      Here is a template if you need something to kickstart your intro
      **How long have you been on Tildes? How did you find out about us?**
      
      **How did you choose your username?** 
      
      **What are your interests?** 
      
      **A/S/L (age/(gender|pronouns|identifier)/location)**
      
      **What do you do? This could be in your spare time, for work, your passions.**
      
      **Do you want other users to PM/DM you from this thread?**
      
      **Give us a fun fact (or a link!)! If there is anything to know about tilderinos, it's that we value knowledge sharing!**
      
      
      51 votes
    9. What would your past self say about your current self?

      What would your past self(intentionally vague) say about your current self(also intentionally vague)? my own answer My past self would be surprised by the following: I am both less black and white...

      What would your past self(intentionally vague) say about your current self(also intentionally vague)?

      my own answer

      My past self would be surprised by the following:

      I am both less black and white and more black and white thinking than I used to be.
      I no longer put as heavy of an emphasis on Science being the only way to explain things.
      I have chosen to have less reliance on external validation.
      I burned out and hit at least two rock bottoms, and still have not fully recovered from them.
      I am pansexual and have at least grey thoughts about monogamy.
      I am more spiritual.
      I struggle socially (not in making friends, but how much anxiety or exhaustion I have around it)
      I am disabled.
      I can no longer travel or do physical activities that were a large part of my life.
      Experiencing pain that is constant and chronic.
      I would mourn so many things at such young an age.
      My family would become disconnected.
      I would have a much better relationship with my dad, but not my mom.
      I would live in a non-high density or HCOL area.
      I would consider a career outside of lawyer, psychiatrist, or scientist.
      Difficulty reading or learning.
      Commitment issues.
      Losing some of my best friends or other partners.
      I am neurodivergent (though that is only because the terminology did not exist at the time).
      Not being able to solve all problems or get myself out of everything, a drop in self-reliance, see burnout.
      Liking children and desiring to be a mentor or some sort of male au-pair.
      No longer like drinking, but do enjoy cannabis, ketamine, and LSD.

      My past self would not be surprised by:
      Still a perfectionist
      Still argumentative
      Still a clown and silly
      Enjoyment of philosophy and law
      Holding out to not have a car for decades only to be saddled with a lemon.
      Constant boredom and a need to know "why" or learn something new or otherwise seek out novelty and stimulation.
      Don't know what to do in life. Want to be a constant traveler and learner.
      Still hate cars.
      Still have a pretension and elitist problem.
      Struggle with self-love and self-worth, probably self-compassion too.
      Overly generous.
      Overly forgiving.
      Lover of showers and baths.
      Foodie despite hating the word and being anosmic. Becoming anosmic for two years and counting should be on the surprised list.
      I learn best by visual instruction as well as hands on.

      My current self, for the most part, likes itself in a way that I hadn't experienced for a long time. It's like my body took a break for ten years, deciding it hated itself and wanted constant improvement, all the while being its own worst critic and never really cheering it on. My current self is turning away from this mindset, and it feels great to have a more optimistic and self-satisfying life, but I just wish my physical body had not taken such a toll over the last few years.

      Look forward to hearing others' thoughts.

      27 votes
    10. What's an atypical thing you do that you'd recommend to others?

      You do it, and it's against the grain -- outside the norm. But you like it, or think it's worthwhile. In fact, you'd recommend that more people do it, so that it can shift the grain or become the...

      You do it, and it's against the grain -- outside the norm.

      But you like it, or think it's worthwhile.

      In fact, you'd recommend that more people do it, so that it can shift the grain or become the norm.

      What is it, and why do you recommend it?

      61 votes
    11. Tildes Minecraft Survival

      New Thread Server host: tildes.nore.gg (Running Java 1.21.4) Bluemap: https://tildes.nore.gg Playtime Tracker: https://tildes.nore.gg/playtimes.html Tildes website extension (shows online status &...

      New Thread


      Server host: tildes.nore.gg (Running Java 1.21.4)
      Bluemap: https://tildes.nore.gg
      Playtime Tracker: https://tildes.nore.gg/playtimes.html
      Tildes website extension (shows online status & location): Firefox (Desktop and Android) - Chrome
      Verification site: https://verify.tildes.nore.gg
      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TildesMC

      Plugins and Data Packs Data Packs:
      • Terralith - Overworld terrain upgrade
      • Nullscape - End terrain upgrade
      • Armor Statues [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Bat Membranes [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Cauldron Concrete [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Husks Drop Sand [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Mini Blocks [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • More Mob Heads [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Player Head Drops [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Silence Mobs [Vanilla Tweaks]
      • Wandering Trades [Vanilla Tweaks]

      Plugins:

      • Bluemap - Adds a live 3D web map
      • Clickable Links - Makes http URLs in chat clickable (only for registered players)
      • CoreProtect - Records all block/container/mob changes (Anyone can look up changes with /co inspect)
      • EasyArmorStands - GUI for editing armor stands
      • Hexnicks - Enables Tildes usernames to be displayed
      • LuckPerms - Locks down unregistered users
      • Nerfstick - Allows survival use of the minecraft:debug_stick item (requires admin to spawn in)
      • Rapid Leaf Decay - Increases the speed of leaf decay by 10x
      • WorldEdit - Used for occasional admin stuff
      • WorldGuard - Prevents unregistered users from changing anything in the world

      The server operates on a soft whitelist. Anyone can log in and walk around, but you need a Tildes account to gain build access.


      New Thread

      17 votes
    12. What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga)

      What have you been watching and reading this week? You don't need to give us a whole essay if you don't want to, but please write something! Feel free to talk about something you saw that was...

      What have you been watching and reading this week? You don't need to give us a whole essay if you don't want to, but please write something! Feel free to talk about something you saw that was cool, something that was bad, ask for recommendations, or anything else you can think of.

      If you want to, feel free to find the thing you're talking about and link to its pages on Anilist, MAL, or any other database you use!

      4 votes
    13. Do you take inventory of your hobbies and projects?

      Most of my time in any given day is spent sleeping (eight hours), working (nine hours, plus another one or two for commuting), chores (maintaining the home, personal hygiene, etc.), and spending...

      Most of my time in any given day is spent sleeping (eight hours), working (nine hours, plus another one or two for commuting), chores (maintaining the home, personal hygiene, etc.), and spending time with my wife (and occasionally with friends and family).

      This means that I don’t have a lot of “spare time”. I maybe get one or two hours a day, and a few more on Saturdays and Sundays.

      I often feel anxious and depressed about this inescapable reality. I have a lot of projects and hobbies that I would like to fill my spare time with, but not enough for all of them.

      Years ago, I began to try to reframe the circumstances of my life in my mind in order to prevent a complete mental collapse. I tell myself that this life is finite, that I will never be able to have all the experiences that I would like to, and that’s OK. I can live with that reality. And I should instead, focus my energy on dedicating myself to the projects and hobbies that I absolutely do not want to miss out on.

      I still struggle to stick to just a few of those, because there are so many (especially creative) activities that I enjoy. I regularly go through cycles of taking on too many of these, then becoming overwhelmed because I don’t have enough time for each, then cutting out most of them to focus on the ones that I want to prioritize, and repeating the cycle.

      Today, I have reached the part of that cycle where I will cut some of them out.

      Whenever I do that, it really helps me to take inventory of what those activities are, so that I can stay focused, and delay taking on more or new ones until I am satisfied with where I got with my current ones.

      So, here are the projects and hobbies that I want to spend my spare time on, starting today:

      • Reading one hour every morning (been diligently doing that since January 1). Two books I am reading through the year. A third book I read as much as I have time left (have read more than ten this year already). I also occasionally read some blogs on Bear Blog.
      • Writing on two blogs (one daily, one occasionally), as well as writing my book.
      • Occasionally chatting on a forum, Tildes, and four Discord guilds.
      • Taking one daily walk while listening to a podcast.
      • Occasionally watching YouTube videos (I am—coincidentally—subscribed to exactly 50 channels, almost all of which have an upload schedule of one video every other week or slower).

      What are your activities?

      Side notes: The list above is a summary. My list is a lot more precise, to help me focus. Also, I’m currently unemployed, but before I quit my last job, I had actually been working almost without interruption for several years. My day-to-day routine back then was exactly as I described it in the beginning of this post.

      19 votes
    14. Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively?

      I was reading the recent post about strategy games, and I'm still astonished to see for how many hours (at least hundreds, often 1000+) people are playing these. I'm guessing that in these cases,...

      I was reading the recent post about strategy games, and I'm still astonished to see for how many hours (at least hundreds, often 1000+) people are playing these. I'm guessing that in these cases, all your gaming time is exclusively taken by that single game.

      So, do you have (or did you have) games, or series, like that? Do you play solo or multi? What compels you to spend so much time on a single game? How do you feel about it?

      32 votes
    15. Request recommendation: temp controlled teapot

      Hello, as the title implies, I am looking for a temp controlled teapot. I own an ember mug and have to say, it is one of my favorite purchases/splurges. For those that do not want to click on the...

      Hello, as the title implies, I am looking for a temp controlled teapot.

      I own an ember mug and have to say, it is one of my favorite purchases/splurges. For those that do not want to click on the link, this is a temperature controlled mug that holds a hot temp for liquids in a mug wirelessly. It does this with quite good precision IMO, have not whipped out a thermometer to check accuracy.

      I have been looking for some time for a teapot that could do the same. The requirements I have are that no plastic or otherwise health adverse heat volatile materials come into contact with the heated water, and I would like it to be a teapot, because I like the ritual of pouring the tea out of the pot. I want to be able to steep and pour the tea from the same temp controlled vessel(I don't mind heating water and then pouring it into the temp controlled teapot), so I'm not looking for a temp controlled kettle, necessarily.

      I think last time I looked I ended up on pages showing things like this set up, which I'm open to, but would like some guidance or reviews, if possible.

      Thank you!

      Bonus, what are your favorite mint teas or other teas that have a sensory experience outside of temp?

      EDIT: On the same website I linked, I forgot to direct people here. Has anyone ever used a teapot warmer like the ones on that website?

      13 votes
    16. What programming/technical projects have you been working on?

      This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's...

      This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's interesting about it? Are you having trouble with anything?

      3 votes
    17. Humble Choice - April 2025

      April 2025's Humble Choice is now available with the following eight Steam games. Steam Page Opencritic Steam Recent/All Operating Systems Steam Deck ProtonDB Tomb Raider I-III Remastered 76 90 /...

      April 2025's Humble Choice is now available with the following eight Steam games.

      Steam Page Opencritic Steam Recent/All Operating Systems Steam Deck ProtonDB
      Tomb Raider I-III Remastered 76 90 / 85 Win ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
      DREDGE 82 96 / 95 Win, Mac ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
      Aliens: Dark Descent 89 86 / 88 Win ❌ Unsupported 🎖️ Platinum
      1000xRESIST 89 97 / 96 Win 🟨 Playable 🎖️ Platinum
      Nova Lands 80 84 / 91 Win ✅ Verified 🎖️ Platinum
      Diplomacy is Not an Option -- 85 / 85 Win 🟨 Playable 🎖️ Platinum
      Distant Worlds 2 81 -- / 88 Win ❌ Unsupported ⬜ Silver
      Nomad Survival -- 88 / 95 Win ✅ Verified 🟨 Gold

      Does anyone have experience with any of the games and, if so, would you recommend them? Is there anything in here that you're particularly excited to play?

      12 votes
    18. TV Tuesdays Free Talk

      Warning: this post may contain spoilers

      Have you watched any TV shows recently you want to discuss? Any shows you want to recommend or are hyped about? Feel free to discuss anything here.

      Please just try to provide fair warning of spoilers if you can.

      6 votes
    19. Midweek Movie Free Talk

      Warning: this post may contain spoilers

      Have you watched any movies recently you want to discuss? Any films you want to recommend or are hyped about? Feel free to discuss anything here.

      Please just try to provide fair warning of spoilers if you can.

      5 votes
    20. [SOLVED] Is there an easy way to tell if a laptop has USB-C charging?

      Background: I've been using a 9-year-old 13.3 inch Dell Latitude 7370 laptop running MX Linux to stream games via Moonlight from a beefier desktop machine. It is SO good and works flawlessly. My...

      Background:

      I've been using a 9-year-old 13.3 inch Dell Latitude 7370 laptop running MX Linux to stream games via Moonlight from a beefier desktop machine. It is SO good and works flawlessly. My only complaint is the smaller screen size.

      I would like to upgrade to a larger computer, and given that the computer will literally only be used for streaming games, it doesn't need to have great stats. I'm looking at used/refurbished models -- both for price and because buying something new feels like complete overkill for my needs.

      My only requirements are:

      • 17 inch screen
      • USB-C charging

      That's it! I'm assuming that literally anything I can get with that will work for what I need given that my small, decade-old laptop is already doing the same job perfectly. USB-C charging is a must-have for me. I already have USB-C power cords in all the places I plan on using it, and I don't want to have to use a separate charger for it.


      My Situation:

      Because I'm searching for used/refurbished models, I'm limited to what's available rather than going for any specific model of computer. I can easily find listings for computers with 17 inch screens. What I can't find easily is whether or not they support USB-C charging. Most sites don't have a filter for that, and a lot of the listings don't specify the type of charger used and just list "AC adapter" (or don't mention it at all). Many sites don't have pictures of the ports, or the pictures they do have are stock photos that aren't of the exact model.

      Is there some easy way to find these that I'm missing? Some keyword, or a site that does have a filter for that, or brand knowledge that can point me in the right direction?

      Also, if anyone has any recommended sites for used/refurbished laptops, let me know. I have had success with Backmarket for used tech before, but I'm open to recommendations.

      19 votes
    21. Confess your food crimes

      Do you devour dessert first? Do you eat your pizza with a fork and knife? Do you put ketchup on your steak, or eat it well-done? This is a place to confess your food crimes -- the worst, oddest,...

      Do you devour dessert first?

      Do you eat your pizza with a fork and knife?

      Do you put ketchup on your steak, or eat it well-done?

      This is a place to confess your food crimes -- the worst, oddest, or most atypical ways/things/combinations that you eat.

      In addition to confession, you may also take a moment to preach. Win over some converts. Convince others of your ways. It could be that, after hearing your defense, the jury here will actually find you not guilty...

      57 votes
    22. Tildes Monthly Writing Prompts! (April 2025)

      Welcome to the April Tildes Writing Prompt! Hopefully the first installment of many monthly writing prompts. This is an offshoot of the writing contests hosted by @TheMeerkat, but a bit less...

      Welcome to the April Tildes Writing Prompt! Hopefully the first installment of many monthly writing prompts.

      This is an offshoot of the writing contests hosted by @TheMeerkat, but a bit less formal and running all month long. Though we'll still have a contest, with a prize of a $20 gift code for Proton or Tuta courtesy of Meerkat. That said, the ultimate goal is to just have an excuse to write.

      Among the changes: we have two options for prompts this time!

      The Traditional Prompt: The arrival of spring brings a clearer mind, and new revelations.

      The Keywords Prompt: Rain, Spring, Renewal

      You can choose to do either one, combine them, or do both in separate stories! The keywords are a bit experimental, so while ideally you should aim to incorporate all three, you can choose to use just one or two. I chose words that can be interpreted in a few ways, so don't feel like you have to write about renewing library books on a rainy day in spring.

      General Guidelines

      1. Creative writing only. Any format is allowed—prose, poetry, fanfics, creative nonfiction, branching narrative, what have you. Just keep it creative!
      2. The contest is optional. Some of us just want to dip our toes into writing or share our creations with no pressure or interest in prizes. So just state if you want to opt in or out.
      3. Length. Soft rule of 1,000 to 7,500 words, especially if you opt to enter the contest. However, any length is acceptable. Got a two-sentence horror story? Go for it! Somehow hammer out a full 60,000 word novel in a month? No guarantees many people will have time to read it, but that sort of effort deserves to be shared! (Seriously, you'd earn those bragging rights.)
      4. The contest winner will be decided via a poll. @TheMeerkat will post a link when the time comes. We'll be doing ranked voting rather than picking just one. So please read all the stories you can!
      5. You can write multiple stories, but only one can be entered in the contest! This rule was particularly made with shorter entries in mind, but the big goal is just to write. So if you've got multiple ideas, don't feel like you need to pick just one!
      6. Formatting notes. As with the contests, please use collapsible formatting if posting directly to the comments. If posting externally like with Google Docs or a PDF, just keep in mind that people are reading this on all sorts of screen sizes so fixed formats may not work the way you like.

      The contest deadline is Saturday, April 26th, at 11:59:59 EST.. This should hopefully give everyone plenty of time to write and read entries before voting starts, and enough time to announce a winner before the end of the month.

      And as a final note, please leave feedback on other stories when you can! Getting feedback is one of the best parts of being a writer. I know I always get a big grin at even just simple heart emoji, though you should probably leave a bit more than just that in your feedback here.

      Happy writing! I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

      14 votes