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18 votes
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Are you tech-savvy enough?
16 votes -
The strangest encounter
I woke up around 23 this evening to some noise from the common room which I live right next to (large apartment building). No biggie, I thought, I have noise cancelling earbuds so I can listen to...
I woke up around 23 this evening to some noise from the common room which I live right next to (large apartment building). No biggie, I thought, I have noise cancelling earbuds so I can listen to some music to drown it out. Well, right as it struck 24, it was like a bomb went off. The music was turned up beyond belief and they were yelling and screaming and stomping in the floor to the point that I could feel it in my own floor and my room was shaking a little bit. Absolutely nuts.
Having anxiety, I had to summon the courage for a while to prepare myself to go out and complain about it, and ask them to please keep it down, it's past midnight, people are sleeping, etc. etc.
When I opened my door to the hallway, two guys were standing there, also in pajamas. Obviously in those outfits they were not part of the party so I asked them if they were here to complain too, and they said yeah they live right above the common room and had their sleep ruined because of it. So I said that like, well if we are 3 people from 3 separate apartments, it will probably help a lot that the partiers took it seriously. They had already been in there to complain but they joined me anyways. Turns out the party is because of Iranian new year, and that's why it was a relatively measured party but went so crazy at midnight.
We ended up in the hallway chatting for a while about the noise and one of the guys had even called the police in the past when another party happened, and I said yeah I was thinking of doing the same tonight - it seems to have worked all fine though, so no need, because it's now about 2 o'clock and they are keeping it quiet-ish out there.
The one guy said he's American and only been here for 3 months, so he's not really sure about the customs about parties, nor really the house rules because somebody once knocked on his door to complain to him in the middle of the afternoon because he plays the violin in the symphony orchestra here. So I told him the house rules and whatnot, explaining that no, it's never okay to bother your neighbours like this, no matter the time of day. But the other guy and him share a wall, and he said he never hears him at all - so that's why he was confused about the rules I guess.
Anyway that other guy had to get up super early apparently and went back upstairs to go to bed, so we wished him good night and sleep well, but the American and I smalltalked a little bit more. Just like names, handshake, where are you from, what do you do for a living blah blah. He said that he had had such a long day, doing rehearsals for hours and then played a concert in the evening. So I thought well he really needs to sleep then, so I was about to just say goodnight to him as well, then jokingly said that maybe we'll meet again - as in, complain about noise together some day.
I think he didn't quite get the joke though, so he said that yeah sure, I should come watch him play sometime, they do concerts every week. Or I could come up for tea if I'd like.
So I think I was just asked out on a date???? I'm not really interested in that so if we do go ahead with meeting up again I should probably tell him that, but that I wouldn't mind making a friend. What a story that would be though:
"How did you two meet?"
"Oh we bonded over telling people to shut up."So yeah, that was pretty strange lol, just a a funny encounter that I wanted to share - probably a bit of a long story. I am not very concise but thanks for reading!
34 votes -
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...
50 votes -
Finding the best sleep tracker
7 votes -
US government workers and military planners love Signal now
12 votes -
If you had to buy a car today, what would you buy?
Lots of details I've been driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline for the last 13 years. The engine is still reliable, just change the oil and keep fluids topped up, but there is rust in the frame that...
Lots of details
I've been driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline for the last 13 years. The engine is still reliable, just change the oil and keep fluids topped up, but there is rust in the frame that won't pass inspection. I'm going to take it in to get it looked at this week, but I am afraid it won't be worth repairing. If I have doubt that it can be safely repaired (I'm fairly risk averse), I would rather replace it.
This model Ridgeline is basically a Honda Pilot with a bed. I've often said it's the perfect amount of truck for a software engineer. I do think I'd like to have another truck, but I'd consider other options, like a smaller SUV or a larger hatchback.
The truck has been our go-to travel car for road trips. We tend to bring a ton of stuff, so the bed has been nice, but having interior cargo space might also be useful. We don't do as many big hauling / years things as we used to, so the truck bed is probably optional.
I was hoping that by the time I wore out the Ridgeline, there would be more plugin electric or real hybrid options, but it seems like there aren't many options. I wouldn't buy a Rivian or Tesla (not been around long enough). But I'd definitely be interested in peoples thoughts about hybrid options out there. If I'm looking at used hybrids, what kind of things should I worry about with the battery?
The conventional wisdom when I was growing up was that a used car lost half its value when you drove it off the lot, so it was better to buy used. But in recent years, I've been seeing something more like linear depreciation. Helping my dad buy a new truck last year, it seemed like the year-old or two-year-old used options were just a few thousand less than new.
Bottom line: I live in Western Pennsylvania in the US. I may shortly need to replace my aging Honda Ridgeline. I need a mid-sized truck/van/SUV that can be a good "road trip" car for a family of three that chronically overpacks.
What car do you like? What car buying or car selling wisdom do you have in the post-pandemic car market?
28 votes -
Why I recommend against Brave
40 votes -
LocalSend: a free, open-source, cross-platform app to share files to nearby devices
47 votes -
New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series
Hello bookwyrms. I've just finished reading the entire Aeon 14 universe, that's around 100 ish-books. It had some great moments, some high highs, and a few that I had to plough through, but on the...
Hello bookwyrms.
I've just finished reading the entire Aeon 14 universe, that's around 100 ish-books. It had some great moments, some high highs, and a few that I had to plough through, but on the whole, really great and I'm quite sad to be at the end of it. Happy to answer some questions if anyone wants to know about Aeon 14.
Following this I read Children Of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and thought it was just okay. I liked the generational ship aspects - though not the humans, they were not likeable and entirely forgettable. The non human characters were great, easily the best parts.
I didn't like it enough to continue with the series though.
So. I'm after suggestions for next read. I've read a lot by Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke, and Alastair Reynolds, Douglas Adams, also I do read books by authors who don't start with A, but I always smile that Poul Anderson is in my library and Kevin Anderson, and Allen Steele, and ... anyway.
Whilst I do like space opera, I feel that Aeon 14 leans toward that, which is why I'm looking for more hard or mil suggestions. Any ideas?
Edit:
Result!
Thanks everyone. Iain Banks Culture series is up next, though there are so many great suggestions, it might be a couple of years before I come seeking more recommendations :)15 votes -
What kind of game is FBC: Firebreak? Preview for the first-person co-op sci-fi horror shooter from Remedy Entertainment.
13 votes -
What quotes inspire you?
I loved the notes app post (h/t @kwfyre) and that led me to think about the motivational or inspiring quotes that mean something to you whether they're well known or more obscure, whether said IRL...
I loved the notes app post (h/t @kwfyre) and that led me to think about the motivational or inspiring quotes that mean something to you whether they're well known or more obscure, whether said IRL or in fiction!
18 votes -
What are your goto cocktails?
My partner and I like to have a drink while we cook/ after work, and we've usually switch between some wine or more recently nice cocktails. I'd like to up my cocktail game when I'm hosting...
My partner and I like to have a drink while we cook/ after work, and we've usually switch between some wine or more recently nice cocktails. I'd like to up my cocktail game when I'm hosting though.
What simple cocktails would you guys suggest?
So far my favourite cocktails are Negroni, White Russian, Old fashioned, and for after dinner a friend of mine made that Im not too sure about that's a 50 50 mix of whisky and amaretto with a cherry that's surprisingly good.
25 votes -
Post something from your notes app
Post something from your notes app that you think might be a good conversation starter. Including but not limited to: An idea you jotted down to remember for later A meaningful quote that...
Post something from your notes app that you think might be a good conversation starter.
Including but not limited to:
- An idea you jotted down to remember for later
- A meaningful quote that resonated with you
- A reminder
- A to-do list
- Those books you’ve been wanting to read
- A message you saved
- Those questions for your doctor
- That creative writing you were working on
- etc.
You can post the quote just on its own, or you can post it and add some context/questions to it as well. Anything you think might spark some good discussion or thought in others.
43 votes -
Rameses B - Old School (2025)
4 votes -
YouTube Premium Lite: Ad-free viewing for $7.99/month
39 votes -
New breakthrough in AI cancer detection is pushing accuracy levels to an unprecedented 99%
19 votes -
Amid calls for sovereign EU tech stack, Swedish startup Evroc raises $55M in Series A funding to build a hyperscale cloud in Europe
18 votes -
For the eighth year in a row, Finland has taken the No. 1 spot on the World Happiness Report's list of the happiest countries
37 votes -
Recommendations for a measurement microphone
Hey folks, I need some recommendations for a flat measurement microphone in the audible range. I believe I also need a digital interface.
8 votes -
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.
2 votes -
Monster Hunter Wilds | March 2025 showcase
7 votes -
Society wants to put you into a neat little box—don’t let it
18 votes -
Beware tech career advice from old heads
36 votes -
Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of March 23
Add awesome game deals to this topic as they come up over the course of the week! Alternately, ask about a given game deal if you want the community’s opinions: e.g. “What games from this bundle...
Add awesome game deals to this topic as they come up over the course of the week!
Alternately, ask about a given game deal if you want the community’s opinions: e.g. “What games from this bundle are most worth my attention?”
Rules:
- No grey market sales
- No affiliate links
If posting a sale, it is strongly encouraged that you share why you think the available game/games are worthwhile.
All previous Save Point topics
If you don’t want to see threads in this series, add
save point
to your personal tag filters.9 votes -
‘No Other Land’ filmmaker Hamdan Ballal released after being detained in West Bank
12 votes -
Long-term experiences with Google search alternatives?
I've tried DDG for some time, but I keep finding myself using !g to find better results. I read a comment on Reddit that you just need to get used to searching things differently, but I'm starting...
I've tried DDG for some time, but I keep finding myself using !g to find better results. I read a comment on Reddit that you just need to get used to searching things differently, but I'm starting to think that DDG just isn't very good. Kagi works well and I use the free version a bit for academic stuff, but I don't see myself paying for a search engine. Anyone have long-term reviews of search engines like Brave, Qwant, etc.?
45 votes -
What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them?
What have you been playing lately? Discussion about video games and board games are both welcome. Please don't just make a list of titles, give some thoughts about the game(s) as well.
18 votes -
Yemen's ancient, soaring skyscraper cities
20 votes -
New fire maps put nearly four million Californians in hazardous zones
8 votes -
LostMyspace.com: recovered music from the botched Myspace server migration
29 votes -
Kaktus Einarsson feat. Damon Albarn – Gumbri (2024)
2 votes -
How to write idempotent Bash scripts
3 votes -
Researchers are on a tight deadline to save San Francisco Bay's only marine lab before San Francisco State University shuts it down
12 votes -
Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing on Steam soon
9 votes -
After almost a century, the bike valve is finally getting an update
39 votes -
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/TildesMCPlugins 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.
17 votes -
Navigating differences in risk tolerance regarding health
Hey Tildoes, my partner and I have been navigating a broad, government level health challenge and I was hoping to pick the hivemind for help on navigating it. As some of you may have seen in...
Hey Tildoes, my partner and I have been navigating a broad, government level health challenge and I was hoping to pick the hivemind for help on navigating it.
As some of you may have seen in articles posted here, there was a massive fire at the lithium ion battery plant in Moss Landing a few months ago. It ended up spewing a slough of nasty chemicals into the air, which inevitably landed in the surround agricultural fields and waterways. My partner was in Australia when the fire occured, thank god, but was still freaking out about downstream effects. There have been studies from a 3rd party group from UC Davis and San Jose State - that found elevated levels of heavy metals - however those have been downplayed by local agencies claiming there are not major impacts and that distribution was surface level. With everything we know about state and federal agencies oversight, sometimes they are less than transparent about reporting toxic impact factors - like what happened in Hinkley and was popularized by the movie Erin Brockovich. However today the California Certified Organic Farmers put out their own update and press release. They summarized what has happened and seem to be endorsing the safety of the farms they have certified in the area.
So here is the rub: Federal, state, county, and local agencies have determined there is not significant contamination, the CCOF has agreed with these agencies, and my partner is still uncomfortable eating local produce. It feels a bit like we're back in covid times, and she is looking for cherry picked studies to justify strict behavioral and consumption restrictions within our household. We have always agreed to "shift our risk tolerance according to data" and now - with the Trump administration and a general distrust of our fed/state agencies - she's advocating we continue to avoid these foods until there is "definitive proof" that the food is safe.
I'm kind of at a loss of what do to. On one hand, it's a minor thing to change where we get our food. Food systems are complex and we can kind of get it from anywhere. On the other hand, I love my time at our farmers markets, experimenting with new foods, and supporting our local community. I also think the more obscure the process from farm to shelf, the more possibility for health/employee/environmental shenanigans by the producers. To me buying broadly "American" or "Mexican" kale doesn't mean we aren't going to have similar or worse impacts to our food.
I'm trying to find a reasonable middle ground or a bellwether indicator we can use as a go/no-go, but every time I think we've agreed on one it feels like the goal posts have been moved. Do any of you have similar issues or possible navigated differences in risk tolerance during Covid well? If so, how did you do so? I know this is a bit of a random thread, but I'd love to hear what you think!
15 votes -
River Towns | Full release trailer
5 votes -
World’s first case of bird flu in sheep detected in England
10 votes -
CITY The Animation | Preview 1
16 votes -
China executed four Canadians for drug crimes, says Ottawa
36 votes -
The design of puzzles
7 votes -
23andMe files for bankruptcy
45 votes -
Europe's undeciphered prehistoric tablets
8 votes -
Charly Bliss - Here Comes the Darkness (2024)
3 votes -
What do you do with your diplomas?
I'm kind of a minimalist. I really don't keep much but for some reason I've been lugging my diplomas along with me for decades. I have my high school diploma, my college diploma, and my master's...
I'm kind of a minimalist. I really don't keep much but for some reason I've been lugging my diplomas along with me for decades. I have my high school diploma, my college diploma, and my master's diploma. I really don't care about any of them, to be honest. And the worst is my master's, because it's stupidly large. If they were all small and uniform, I'd just slide them into some folder and forget about them. I'm not someone who will hang them up. In a way, they feel like emotional baggage. So I don't think I'm ready to just shred them and move on. But at the same time I find them generally worthless. What do you do with your diplomas and what should I do with mine?
22 votes -
Hlynur Pálmason | Closet Picks
5 votes -
Post Apocalyptic Computing: Or, the hundred year computer
11 votes -
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | Reveal trailer
22 votes