• Activity
  • Votes
  • Comments
  • New
  • All activity
  • Showing only topics with the tag "recommendations". Back to normal view
    1. Suggest a remote desktop program?

      TL:DR: Need a remote desktop program that will let me get into my desktop from another network with no action required at the desktop itself. Will be out of town for about two weeks, have a...

      TL:DR: Need a remote desktop program that will let me get into my desktop from another network with no action required at the desktop itself.

      Will be out of town for about two weeks, have a Windows 10 desktop and a Windows 10 tablet. Desktop stays home, tablet is going with me in case I need something from my desktop. Need a way to connect and access and control my desktop from the tablet (I'll have KBM with me) with no interaction at the desktop itself (most remote desktop programs require confirmation at the desktop to access and/or gain control).

      Suggestions? FOSS preferred.

      18 votes
    2. Looking for lighthearted action anime

      I've been watching Sakamoto Days and I'm looking for something similar to it. I like how it has violence and stuff but it's not sad or grim. another example is Spy x family. even better if it has...

      I've been watching Sakamoto Days and I'm looking for something similar to it. I like how it has violence and stuff but it's not sad or grim. another example is Spy x family. even better if it has colourful animation like those two

      25 votes
    3. Canadian VPS providers?

      I'm currently using AWS to run a couple of t4g.nano instances for a few little services but I'm wondering if there's a good hosting service in Canada, owned by Canadians, etc. Basically I don't...

      I'm currently using AWS to run a couple of t4g.nano instances for a few little services but I'm wondering if there's a good hosting service in Canada, owned by Canadians, etc.

      Basically I don't really like handing money over to daddy bezos and due to current political tensions I'd rather not support US companies, but I have NO IDEA how to find a reputable VPS provider.

      22 votes
    4. Recommend me a racing/driving game on PC

      My parameters are Any kind of racing - F1, Moto GP, X games, rallycross, antigravity... you name it. No subscriptions I lean away from sim/management games... I don't mind some customization, but...

      My parameters are

      • Any kind of racing - F1, Moto GP, X games, rallycross, antigravity... you name it.
      • No subscriptions
      • I lean away from sim/management games... I don't mind some customization, but I don't want to have to choose from 10 different types of brake pads for best performance on each track.
      • Combat optional
      • If it makes a difference, I'll be playing with a controller, not a racing wheel.

      [Edit: I should have specified - a modern racing game. I'm pretty versed on the options pre-2010, it's the new stuff I'm looking for.]

      I originally wanted a rally game to scratch a hillclimb itch but I'm open to whatever now. Trawling through Steam has made my head spin though.

      Previous racing games/series I've played and liked - Rallisport Challenge (really, if I could just play this again I'd be set), Wipeout 3, Road Rash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Twisted Metal 2, Jet Moto, Wave Race, Mario Kart, Sled Storm... OutRun! Showing my age here.

      Somehow I've never really liked Need For Speed.

      22 votes
    5. Best "complete" anime you'd recommend?

      What anime out there would you recommend to those craving a "complete" experience? With all of the shows out there that may or may not get another season to someday catch up with their source...

      What anime out there would you recommend to those craving a "complete" experience?

      With all of the shows out there that may or may not get another season to someday catch up with their source material, it's kinda risky starting something and being able to see it through to the end.

      One I recently remember watching, but never watched serially is Yu Yu Hakusho.

      Finding a list probably exists, but interested in others folks would recommend that end on a bang while leaving you complete!

      43 votes
    6. Is there one AI product you would recommend over another to a complete newbie? The primary task is writing.

      So I have heard/read that LLMs available to the public can be useful for generating tailored cover letters more quickly. I've up to now avoided using artificial intelligence. What recommendations...

      So I have heard/read that LLMs available to the public can be useful for generating tailored cover letters more quickly. I've up to now avoided using artificial intelligence. What recommendations do you have and do you have any advice for getting up to speed?

      Thank you.

      11 votes
    7. What are some good, non-microtransaction riddled mobile games?

      Let's list some great mobile games. Preferably ones you can pay for once and be done, or free ones that have microtransactions that you don't need to do to just play the game (e.g. Marvel Snap)....

      Let's list some great mobile games. Preferably ones you can pay for once and be done, or free ones that have microtransactions that you don't need to do to just play the game (e.g. Marvel Snap). Leave out pay for power or games that have "charges" to stop you from playing until you buy more or burn time.

      Edit: Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I compiled a list here that is, I believe, mostly Android. If you're looking for iOS only suggestions it looks like Apple Arcade was recommended regularly and also user Recognition101 had a comprehensive list I will refer you to: https://recognition101.github.io/ios-games/

      Here is the Android Games List:
      -Square Enix re-releases
      -Stardew Valley
      -Monster Hunter Stories
      -Disgaea series remakes
      -Vampire Survivors
      -Slay the Spire
      -Shattered Pixel Dungeon
      -Slice and Dice
      -Bloons series
      -Sproggiwood
      -Pysol FC
      -Lexica
      -Mindustry
      -Overboard
      -Old PC Game ports like Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, SW:KOTR 1 & 2
      -Hoplite
      -Simon Tatham's Puzzles
      -Rogue Adventure
      -Cultist Simulator
      -Mini-Metro
      -Wordament
      -Retro Bowl
      -Antiyoy
      -Marvel Snap
      -Star Realms
      -Wingspan
      -Team Fight Tactics
      -Battle for Polytopia
      -Where's My Water?
      -Underhand
      -Badland
      -Eat Me Please
      -Z Origins
      -Yellow
      -Dawncaster
      -Ollie's Arcade
      -Orna
      -Night of the Full Moon
      -A Dark Room
      -The Ensign
      -Universal Paperclips
      -Opus: Rocket of whispers
      -Opus: The day we found Earth
      -TerraGenesis - Space Settlers
      -Sheltered
      -Seedship
      -Framed
      -Plague Inc.
      -Gravity Defied
      -Magic Research
      -Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes
      -Peglin
      -Civilization series
      -Rebel Inc.
      -Boom Beach
      -Professor Layton Series
      -Slay
      -Ritual

      99 votes
    8. What is a book that every 13-year-old boy should read?

      Thirteen is a difficult age for most. It's a time of transition from childhood into early adulthood. I'm keen for book recommendations you think a 13-year-old should read. Specific topics I'm keen...

      Thirteen is a difficult age for most. It's a time of transition from childhood into early adulthood.
      I'm keen for book recommendations you think a 13-year-old should read. Specific topics I'm keen to be covered, either directly or through metaphor, are:

      • Confidence
      • Development
      • Fitness / Nutrition / Physical Health
      • Mental Health
      • Finance
      • Ethics

      But really, anything you think one could tackle at that age and benefit from having read the content.

      I've specified boy, because it is a boy who I wish to pass these recommendations on to, and I think that perhaps the advice would be different for a girl.

      38 votes
    9. Good Minecraft horror roleplay series?

      Hey there! I've been modding Minecraft for a couple years now and recently have fallen down the rabbit hole of watching people play horror mods. I was curious if anyone knows any good YouTube...

      Hey there! I've been modding Minecraft for a couple years now and recently have fallen down the rabbit hole of watching people play horror mods. I was curious if anyone knows any good YouTube series where people roleplay in a game with horror mods. Actual in-character playthroughs of games is a fascinating topic for me (think Neebs Gaming playing Subnautica), so I was curious if anyone knew any that involve Minecraft horror. Thanks in advance!

      7 votes
    10. Gift ideas for online friends

      Hello there! A friend of mine has their birthday coming up, me being me, I actually don't care for birthdays much (especially mine) and gifts, in fact, I don't remember the last time I bought...

      Hello there!

      A friend of mine has their birthday coming up, me being me, I actually don't care for birthdays much (especially mine) and gifts, in fact, I don't remember the last time I bought anything for anyone, myself included.

      But lately, I have the desire to change that. I made a friend through a game and we're really close. I'd like to do something for them. Although my choices are limited and I want it to be a surprise, meaning, I don't want to give them hints that I'm doing anything, like asking for their address. This got me thinking of creating this thread here, if that's alright.

      So far, here's what I have in mind:

      • Hiring a digital artist to create an artwork about them
      • Naming a star after them
      • Curating a playlist for them
      • Coding a temporary celebratory website they can visit with cheesy stuff that reminds me of them

      With that said... Have you ever done this type of thing before? What would you do for a friend you've met online, knowing your choices are virtual and limited? Have you ever received gifts from online friends? What were they?

      18 votes
    11. Movie recommendations?

      Hi! I was hoping for some movie recommendations for someone that enjoys movies such as Interstellar, Inception, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Matrix? The responses are much...

      Hi! I was hoping for some movie recommendations for someone that enjoys movies such as Interstellar, Inception, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Matrix?

      The responses are much appreciated, thank you!

      28 votes
    12. Looking for low-precision, mouse-only Steam game recommendations

      I just learned that I can use the Steam Link app (iOS link, Android link) to stream Steam games to my phone and tablet (within my home). I have no desire to play M/KB or controller-based games on...

      I just learned that I can use the Steam Link app (iOS link, Android link) to stream Steam games to my phone and tablet (within my home).

      I have no desire to play M/KB or controller-based games on these devices (I already have a computer and a Steam Deck which can do those better), but I like the idea of playing some more casual stuff that only uses mouse input (in the form of me tapping the screen).

      I'm thinking stuff like:

      • Mobile game ports meant for touch input
      • Point-and-click adventures
      • Clicker games
      • Anything else I'm not thinking of that could be easily played by tapping the screen

      I'm interested specifically in lower-precision mouse-based games that would be comfortable to play on my relatively small phone screen (the device I'm most likely to use), though that's not a hard requirement. Anything requiring more precision I could play on my much larger tablet screen instead.

      What games do you recommend?

      25 votes
    13. Blogs: Show your own writing and good posts you have found recently

      I think we can do this once again. The last one went okay and there has been some other recent threads on blogging and the state of the internet and sharing good blog posts we have found is a good...

      I think we can do this once again. The last one went okay and there has been some other recent threads on blogging and the state of the internet and sharing good blog posts we have found is a good alternative.

      So please share links to both your own recent blog posts and interesting posts you may have read recently.

      9 votes
    14. Speculative fiction that speaks to our current moment(s)

      I'm looking for your short stories, novelettes and novellas, and to a lesser extent novels too, that directly speak to the politics and social realities of today....

      I'm looking for your short stories, novelettes and novellas, and to a lesser extent novels too, that directly speak to the politics and social realities of today.

      https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/rabbit-test/ was a short story I shared here about 18 months ago that directly dealt with abortion restrictions and the future created from them.

      Another user shared Better Living through Algorithms for a more optimistic sort of take on "AI"

      And recently I was reminded of Mur Lafferty's The Ophelia Network, a novella which features a dystopian society where one of the changes from today was the Heritage Law. People of color needed to prove ancestory at least three generations, "preferably" descended from slaves. This plot point runs mostly in the background through the story but pops up occasionally.

      From The Ophelia Network

      Agent Frank looked up from Saxon’s tablet. “Your file says you’re half Black, half white. Your father’s people can be traced to sale at a South Carolina auction—wow, in 1619!” She looked at Saxon. “Is that correct?”
      Saxon nodded. “Our records say he’s descended from the first slaves to set foot in this country. His father’s people have been here longer than most American families.”
      Frank smiled. “You’re really lucky that those slaves had a kind master who kept good notes on his inventory.”
      Bailey didn’t let his TV persona slip one notch. He had always been calm in the face of racist bait. He met Frank’s eyes and simply nodded; his father’s genealogy was not news to him. After the president signed the Heritage Law, all people of color had scrambled to do genealogical research to justify their place in a country their ancestors built but was suddenly not theirs. They needed proof of at least three generations of forebears in America, preferably descended from slaves.
      The sponsors of the Heritage Law presented it as a step toward thanking slaves for building the country. America would thusly reward the slaves’ descendants with citizenship and the right to stay. What the sponsors failed to point out is that millions of other people of color would be deported.
      The Heritage Law meant the first-generation Haitian family across the street from Bailey’s parents had been deported just last week. His parents were still trying to clean out their neighbors’ home and put their things in storage before the government claimed the house and everything inside.
      It was with relief, not pride or gratitude, that his parents found the information about his many-great grandmother and her sale in Charleston, South Carolina.
      “Yes, I’m a legal citizen of America,” Bailey said. His voice was slurred as his swollen lips rallied their troops to muster forth a communication.

      I can think of a bunch of novels that say big things. The Handmaids Tale, 1984, Fahrenheit 451 etc. But I find shorter works tend to be more responsive to current events and often more cutting for their shorter length. I'd also suggest trying to avoid really common novel recs and focus on niche novels or shorter (also typically more niche I guess) works. But I'm not the boss of you.

      Share your recs? Link them here if they're free to read online?

      25 votes
    15. Dystopian book recommendations

      I'm looking for dystopian book suggestions. I read The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner as a young adult and would like some recommendations (YA or Adult). Thank you!

      26 votes
    16. Trans men media recommendations?

      I recently watched Rūrangi (2020) and appreciated it1 for having a story centered on a trans man and his experiences. I’m interested in recommendations of other media featuring trans men/masc...

      I recently watched Rūrangi (2020) and appreciated it1 for having a story centered on a trans man and his experiences.

      I’m interested in recommendations of other media featuring trans men/masc individuals. I want to cast a broad net, especially if there are other people who might find this useful, so:

      • Any type of media is fine (books, memoirs, movies, shows, webcomics, anime, manga, games, etc.)
      • Trans men and/or trans masc people should feature, but they don’t have to be the main focus
      • The media can be specifically about the individual(s) trans identity or journey, but it can also simply feature the character(s) without delving into those aspects

      Now, I’ll also add some more parameters for what I’m looking for specifically if you’re looking to recommend to me personally rather than in general. Don’t limit your recommendations to just these, though. I’m ultimately open to anything and want this topic to be valuable to others with different tastes/preferences as well:

      • I’d love for the trans man to be older, since a lot of the trans representation I do already see tends towards depicting younger individuals (nothing wrong with that, of course, and I definitely understand why that is, but as a middle-aged guy myself I’m more drawn towards stories about people my age/older)
      • I am interested in stories that are specifically focused on trans identity and journey
      • As a gay guy, I’d love to read about my gay trans brethren
      • Like Chappell Roan, I want nonfiction (but fiction is cool too)

      1. While I did enjoy it, I thought the pacing of the movie was really odd. It wasn’t until after I watched it that I learned it was originally broadcast as a series and was later cut into a single film (which explains the pacing issues). For anyone interested in watching it, I assume the series version does a better job with pacing than the film version.

      24 votes
    17. I want to finally understand how to compile in C well, any resource recommendations?

      I am a scientist who has semi-frequently written code in C (and other compiled languages like Fortran). When it comes time to compile, I typically tape together a Makefile from past projects and...

      I am a scientist who has semi-frequently written code in C (and other compiled languages like Fortran). When it comes time to compile, I typically tape together a Makefile from past projects and hope for the best, but even then I spend more time than I'd like to admit trying to figure out why my project is not being compiled or linked correctly. I've had a hard time finding any resources that aren't extremely surface level, or else are not behind some type of paywall. Can anyone recommend me some reading so that I can confidently write Makefiles and compile programs and actually understand what the different flags and commands are doing? I don't need extreme "under the hood" information as I don't intend to do things like write my own compiler, I just want to understand the process a little better. Help a scientist out!

      15 votes
    18. Looking for a new mouse (maybe)

      I currently have a Corsair Dark Core Pro SE that I like a lot. My scroll wheel is messed up though. I am kind of in the trenches (who isn't these days), and am looking for some good old retail...

      I currently have a Corsair Dark Core Pro SE that I like a lot. My scroll wheel is messed up though. I am kind of in the trenches (who isn't these days), and am looking for some good old retail therapy.
      My big ticket items:

      • works well on linux (openRGB if possible)
      • has forward and back thumb buttons
      • scroll wheel works (lol)
      • has nice support for pinky (I really like this feature on my current mouse)(as I have big hands)

      I am not opposed to just buying another of my current mouse, I can't tell if there is anything really comparable. I also don't really understand/care for my mouse being lightweight.

      Deep cut question though is if anyone has any experience with trackballs, I kind of want to try it out but ultimately I don't really know what I am doing. I really just use my computer casually, and I don't play any competitive games just casual.

      Any recs? Thanks, happy to answer any questions too.

      19 votes
    19. What’s a book about your area that you think would be interesting to people outside of it?

      “Your area” is intentionally vague and could be: Your community Your town/city Your region Your state Your country Your area of the world Your career Your area of study Your expertise Your...

      “Your area” is intentionally vague and could be:

      • Your community
      • Your town/city
      • Your region
      • Your state
      • Your country
      • Your area of the world
      • Your career
      • Your area of study
      • Your expertise
      • Your interest
      • Your hobby
      • Your generation
      • Your identity
      • Your language
      • etc.

      Basically, it’s something that is specific to you, but that you think still would be interesting to people outside of “your area.”

      Both fiction and nonfiction alike are valid. Also, be sure to explain why you think the book has appeal beyond its range.

      35 votes
    20. Bluetooth receiver with a sane low-battery warning?

      The behavior of a bluetooth device when it reaches low battery is never advertised, and a lot of the time no one even mentions it in the reviews. My experience is that most devices give you an...

      The behavior of a bluetooth device when it reaches low battery is never advertised, and a lot of the time no one even mentions it in the reviews. My experience is that most devices give you an audio warning on repeat until you charge it, which is obviously bad design.

      Can anyone recommend a bluetooth receiver that doesn't do this? I've heard that apple airpods only warn you once or twice, but my preference is for a battery-powered bluetooth receiver that lets me plug in wired headphones. I'm still interested in hearing about other bluetooth headphones though.

      If there's nothing on the market, it might be interesting to try and build something. There must be bluetooth modules you can buy, but I wonder if they would have the same problem. Maybe you can modify the firmware? If anyone out there is hardware-hacking bluetooth devices, let me know.

      14 votes
    21. Snacks that aren't just sugar or crazy salty

      Welp, I'm mildly allergic to nuts... and I'm trying to give up as much sugar as possible. What the hell do people snack on that is outside of this? I don't want to wind up making a ramp of carrot...

      Welp, I'm mildly allergic to nuts... and I'm trying to give up as much sugar as possible. What the hell do people snack on that is outside of this? I don't want to wind up making a ramp of carrot or anything

      37 votes
    22. Ground source heat pump to ductless five-head mini-split

      I am looking for a heat pump system that: Can do ground source or water cooling Connects to a Mini split system Can do something like 3 - 5 wall mounted units. I have already found one provider at...

      I am looking for a heat pump system that:

      1. Can do ground source or water cooling
      2. Connects to a Mini split system
      3. Can do something like 3 - 5 wall mounted units.

      I have already found one provider at Multiaqua, but they are redesigning their unit and it is currently not available. I hear that Dandelion seems to make something like this, but I can't buy from them. I have a quote for a conventional air-to-air minisplit system, but the cost is really high and it seems like I should at least look for some alternative.

      This seems hard to find, and I'm not sure why.

      13 votes
    23. Looking for some recommendations for games where you can build your own spaceships etc

      Hey folks! I've recently become quite enamoured with a game called Empyrion Galactic Survival, because as a science fiction author, it gave me a chance to build and fly some of the ships from my...

      Hey folks!

      I've recently become quite enamoured with a game called Empyrion Galactic Survival, because as a science fiction author, it gave me a chance to build and fly some of the ships from my books. So much so in fact, that I went and started a YouTube channel in order to "sell" them to other players (they're all free on Nexus, the videos I made just remind me of car reviews so far lol).

      Now, Empyrion only goes so far in scratching the creative itch, and I'm on the hunt for more of its I'll to build and experiment with. I'm looking forward to playing with Space Engineers 2 when it drops, but are there any others you can recommend? It needn't be constrained to space games either... I'm a fan of all things mechanical, but mostly those I can hot rod a bit and paint flames on.

      25 votes
    24. Star Wars recommendations for a six year old

      Kid has just started getting into Star Wars, which is great because I could buy a set of light sabres for Christmas and no what do you mean that was for the kid it absolutely wasn't a present for...

      Kid has just started getting into Star Wars, which is great because I could buy a set of light sabres for Christmas and no what do you mean that was for the kid it absolutely wasn't a present for myself as well. Anyway, countless hours of duelling later...

      We have watched the "first" two films (ep 4 and 5) and plan to watch the remaining movies at some points. A few grabbing-my-arm scary moments but it's OK because "the good guys always win, right Daddy?"

      We're playing Lego Star Wars together on the Playstation, which is brilliant fun. Their face when they blew up the Death Star all by themselves was fantastic. Everyone was excited for the rest of the day.

      We are hitting the phonics books, of which there is plenty. Kid loves books and stories but isn't such a fan of reading for themselves as yet - but will ask me to let them read to me if there are Star Wars books on the pile, which is great.

      However, that's where my Star Wars knowledge ends. I know there's a whole boatload of EU stuff out there, but I have no idea what it is, or what of it is suitable (or not) for a six year old. Any suggestions? We have a rotating selection of streaming services live at any given time, but I'm ok with the occasional venture into choppier waters if needed.

      21 votes
    25. Book suggestions

      I’m in between books now, and would like to ask for some suggestions for new books to look at. I use a Kindle and the Kindle app for books usually, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find most books...

      I’m in between books now, and would like to ask for some suggestions for new books to look at. I use a Kindle and the Kindle app for books usually, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find most books on Amazon.

      I’m very close to finishing the Stormilight Archives by Brandon Sanderson and well into The Harrowing by James Aitcheson where i really enjoy both a lot. So if you’ve either read The Harrowing or any of the Sanderson books I’d love some recommendations on books who are in the same vein as these.

      Thank you in advance!

      15 votes
    26. Looking to get into indycar

      Hi everyone! With my favorite F1 commentator joining the indycar crew and MBS acting crazy in F1, I want to dive into indycar a little bit this season. I’m located in Belgium, when I checked the...

      Hi everyone!

      With my favorite F1 commentator joining the indycar crew and MBS acting crazy in F1, I want to dive into indycar a little bit this season.

      I’m located in Belgium, when I checked the indycar live website it seemed like I won’t be able to stream indy500 here? (I don’t even know what indy500 is as opposed to the other Indy series? Which series should I follow? Who is awesome? Who is the stroll of indycar?)

      I think it’s clear I’m a total noob here looking for some guidance. Any help is welcome, thank you!

      3 votes
    27. Looking for a visualization of North American political boundaries over time

      Lately I've been taking an interest in American westward expansion and trying to get a better understanding of how the lines were drawn on maps in the past. Can anyone recommend a good video or...

      Lately I've been taking an interest in American westward expansion and trying to get a better understanding of how the lines were drawn on maps in the past. Can anyone recommend a good video or interactive visualization that I can scroll back and forward through time to see the changes in detail?

      Things I'm particularly interested in tracking:

      • Indigenous lands (specifically how the boundaries of traditional/ancestral lands evolved into modern-day reservations)
      • European claims like those of Britain, France, and Spain
      • What was considered US/Canada/Mexico territory vs. no man's land or frontier at different points in time, from the governance standpoint of each of those nations
      • Large and rapid settling movements like the Mormons into Utah, Oklahoma land rush, California gold rush, etc.
      • Other factors like homesteading programs (I don't know much about this) and the transcontinental railroad, confederacy borders, trail of tears, etc.
      • Notable battles/massacres marking bloody land disputes

      I mean I guess that's a lot, this is basically "tell me about all of American history." 😂

      I feel like I have a pretty decent grasp of the general political timeline and important events, I'm just realizing lately that I don't have a cohesive mental model of how it all fits on a map and changed over the years. I did find the Wikipedia page on Territorial Evolution of the United States to be interesting but it's a bit overwhelming and not very digestible. It contains this animated gif, which is awesome but I can't scroll through it at my own pace, and it's USA only.

      13 votes
    28. Soldering irons/stations - Buy once, cry once advice needed

      Soldering/electronics repair enthusiasts: I am in need of a soldering iron/station for electronics repair and wiring, preferred budget is under $150, perfection can raise the budget to $250. First...

      Soldering/electronics repair enthusiasts: I am in need of a soldering iron/station for electronics repair and wiring, preferred budget is under $150, perfection can raise the budget to $250.

      First line of this post is all that's really needed if you just want to provide advice on what to buy (which is just fine, people don't need to know how a car works for me to explain that they probably just need a minivan).
      Below is what I have gathered thus far if perhaps there's more that you'd like to know about what I've seen and perhaps misunderstood so far.

      At present I have a no-name, non-adjustable, extremely basic soldering iron that is more fire hazard than anything and a Weller soldering gun that is obviously not meant for electronics and small wires. The iron has been good enough for the occasional need to solder a couple of wires together to get something broken back up and working, but is not something I'd use on anything critical.

      Search thus far

      Started down the rabbit hole of soldering irons with one that got a lot of press in maker circles, iFixIt's hub and station - https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iFixit_Soldering - which seems quite innovative as someone that is new to what's available in the soldering world and it being actually portable is a nice-to-have-but-probably-unnecessary-for-me factor. Reading further, while I applaud the idea of a simple tip interface via the headphone jack method to be interesting, it's too early to see if it'll catch on and I'm not one to buy into a proprietary consumables format. Pencap for the iron and USB-C also seemed innovative at first look, but now realize that USB-C is semi-common in soldering irons already. $250 for the station and iron alone is a harder pill swallow and while the iron is available alone for $75, needing to use my phone or a computer to adjust the temp is dumb, a May ship date puts it out of the running.

      Next item found was the Pinecil - https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinecil - which seems to solve many of the complaints about iFixIt's offering in a similar sort of setup even if the barrel jack seems on the pointless side considering EPR. It has the plus side of the TS100-style tips which can be had for brass inserts into 3D prints (giving the soldering iron another use) even if these style of tips appear to have a consensus that they aren't as good as JDC-style tips like C245. However, that opinion may be based entirely around electronics-only enthusiasts and professionals, and not someone that is more multi-disciplinary like myself and there are no heat set insert tips for C245.

      Hakko and JDC are the industry standard/old guard and for good reason I'm sure, but seem overly expensive for my purposes and interfaces seem out of date according to many. That said, I'm not willing to jump onto a fly-by-night company that's just waiting for the moment to slash quality for profit, disappear, and rebrand under another name to grift another set of people.

      There are other possible brands that people have mentioned elsewhere (Aixun?), but I haven't dug deep enough to know if they're legitimate or not just yet and at this point the "soldering" window I have open to research this is at about 40 tabs and before I spend days digging deeper, I figured I'd just ask someone for advice.

      26 votes
    29. My hair is thinning. Tips and tricks, please!

      Every time I get a haircut, my barber hands me a small hand mirror so that I can bounce an image off the wall mirror and see the back of my head. My hair is noticeably thinner in the back each...

      Every time I get a haircut, my barber hands me a small hand mirror so that I can bounce an image off the wall mirror and see the back of my head. My hair is noticeably thinner in the back each time.

      I recently was at a function and saw pictures of me standing around, some of which included the back of my head. The thinning is clearly starting to stand out in a bad way.

      I feel like I’ve got two options:

      1. Do something to try to save my hair (medication?).
      2. Shave my head and try to rock a bald look.

      I’m open to tips, tricks, and guidance on either of these (or options I’m not aware of).

      I’m not very attached to my hair, so this isn’t a super emotional thing for me. I’m also not scared of going bald since, as a gay guy, I’m well aware of how compelling a bald + beard look can be on some men (my beard isn’t thinning at all, thankfully).

      There’s still a question of whether it would look good for me specifically though. Also I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on my hair just yet?

      One advantage I do have is summers off (I’m a teacher), so I’m going to be able to do a bald test run in a few months without too much risk. If it turns out that I’m a complete disaster without hair, I’ll just stay home and let it grow back out.

      Anyway, I’m open to any and all thoughts on balding, hair loss, hair loss prevention, etc. Tell me your own experiences and what decisions you made. Let me know the tricks of the trade.

      31 votes
    30. Looking for an Android tablet with some probably unreachable requirements

      Hello. I'm currently in the market for an Android tablet, not strictly for my personal usage, but for my family so there's one easily reachable touch screen computer around the house. The problems...

      Hello. I'm currently in the market for an Android tablet, not strictly for my personal usage, but for my family so there's one easily reachable touch screen computer around the house. The problems start with my requirements, which are... not exactly tablet market friendly:

      • Available in France (and without overly high shipping costs)
      • Long term manufacturer support so it isn't subject to suddenly become e-waste because they decided to stop providing updates after like 1 major Android release
      • Ability to install an Android distribution that doesn't rely on Google apps such as LineageOS + microG
      • Sufficient specs to use a web browser and play videos without issues.
      • I'd like the model to be easy to repair in the same vein as the Fairphone but that's lower priority

      The budget is best defined as "probably not enough" (I don't think I can afford to spend much more than ~400€). Given that I suspect from my initial search not yielding much that fitting all the requirements is impossible especially within that budget, do you have pointers on models that provide an acceptable compromise for what I'm looking for, or that somehow do match all the criteria?

      Hilariously, the closest candidate so far within budget seems to be... The Google Pixel tablet, which despite being a Google product has a fairly straightforward way to get an unGoogled ROM on it.

      15 votes
    31. Can anyone recommend a translation of the Odyssey?

      My wife and I are planning on reading the Odyssey this year and we have to pick an translation. I've always struggled to read in translation, mostly because I get paralyzed choosing — it feels...

      My wife and I are planning on reading the Odyssey this year and we have to pick an translation. I've always struggled to read in translation, mostly because I get paralyzed choosing — it feels like a big choice, and if I end up not liking the book I can never tell if it was inherent to the story or because of the translation.

      Can anyone help me out here? I don't mind if it is prose vs poetry, but we are doing this for fun, so I would prioritize readability over faithfulness to the Greek. I don't want anything that sounds too modern, but I also don't want to have very modern language take me out of the epic setting. I am currently leaning the Wilson translation, based on some excerpts I have read, but I am open to being convinced otherwise. Thanks!

      EDIT:

      Thank you to all who recommended some translations. I am narrowed down to between Fagles and Wilson, and intend to do some side by side comparisons to choose a final one before diving in!

      14 votes
    32. Looking for a simple lists app

      I've been using Google Keep (check boxes mode) for my work and personal to-do lists for a while now, and it's almost perfect for my use case. I love the simplicity and lack of options gumming up...

      I've been using Google Keep (check boxes mode) for my work and personal to-do lists for a while now, and it's almost perfect for my use case. I love the simplicity and lack of options gumming up my process, and specifically I like the UI of having nested subtasks that all move with their head task when you reorder the top level tasks. That is to say, when you drag a headline task, all of its subtasks "roll up" inside it and "unfurl" when you drop the task into its new location. The fact that it syncs across devices is also really great, but not necessarily a deal breaker.

      What is becoming a deal breaker is that you can only have 2 levels: top level or nested. I want more nesting levels, but with the simple touch-and-drag UI to which I've become accustomed.

      Have any of you heard of/used an app such as I've described? I have issues using bigger, more fleshed-out apps because all the features distract my goblin brain, and the friction of having to use various touch menus or the keyboard on my phone to adjust indent levels keeps me from getting crap done.

      Thanks in advance!

      Edit: for now, I have settled on Workflowy. It seems to offer the most similar functionality with an acceptable number of interactions to do the things I want to do. Thank you to everyone who offered their experience!

      20 votes
    33. What trustworthy resources are you using for AI/LLMs/ML education?

      Every company is trying to shoehorn AI into every product, and many online materials provide a general snake oil vibe, making it increasingly difficult to parse. So far, my primary sources have...

      Every company is trying to shoehorn AI into every product, and many online materials provide a general snake oil vibe, making it increasingly difficult to parse. So far, my primary sources have been GitHub, Medium, and some YouTube.

      My goal is to better understand the underlying technology so that I can manipulate it better, train models, and use it most effectively. This goes beyond just experimenting with prompts and trying to overcome guardrails. It includes running local, like Ollama on my M1 Max, which I'm not opposed to.

      8 votes
    34. Blogs: Show your own writing and good posts you have found recently (January)

      A thread about Bear Blog a few weeks ago showed an interest in blogging here on Tildes, with a couple of users also sharing links to their own blogs. I figured we could have a recurring (schedule...

      A thread about Bear Blog a few weeks ago showed an interest in blogging here on Tildes, with a couple of users also sharing links to their own blogs.

      I figured we could have a recurring (schedule depending on interest) topic to share both our own recent blog posts and other interesting posts we have found.

      This is both to have a space for self-promotion that aren’t their own link posts and a place to highlight creative amateur writing (in the positive definition of the word).

      26 votes
    35. United States: What personal (non-business) tax software/program do you use?

      Tax time again! I like to get this done as soon as possible to get it out of the way. I have all my tax documents at the ready, but several changes happened in my life last year (moved states,...

      Tax time again!
      I like to get this done as soon as possible to get it out of the way. I have all my tax documents at the ready, but several changes happened in my life last year (moved states, sold home, bought home, etc.) and the tax software I've been using over the last several years apparently "doesn't support" several of the tax forms (or even simply some of the boxes on the forms) I have for this year.

      Trying to avoid the "Big Two" if possible.

      12 votes
    36. Lynchian recommendation request

      In light of recent events, I would like to create a list of Lynchian media: gimme your books, music, movies, TV, video games, comics, &c. Anything. Everything. Personal projects if you have 'em...

      In light of recent events, I would like to create a list of Lynchian media: gimme your books, music, movies, TV, video games, comics, &c. Anything. Everything. Personal projects if you have 'em (there was a comic posted in the announcement thread, stick that in here if you like, OP). Let's make this as exhaustive as we can.

      Pls&thx

      25 votes
    37. Recommend your social/softer science fiction books

      Ok so I'm enjoying the hard SF thread but what I really enjoy about SF is the sociology, anthropology and psychology more than the tech and whether or not the wormhole is sciency enough. Here's a...

      Ok so I'm enjoying the hard SF thread but what I really enjoy about SF is the sociology, anthropology and psychology more than the tech and whether or not the wormhole is sciency enough.

      Here's a wiki article on "social science fiction" for more context. There's definitely some overlap with both hard and soft SF, but I'm not looking for a rec just because it happens to be more space opera. I'm interested because of the themes of the work. Ursula Le Guin, Sherri Tepper, Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood are some of the key classic authors I've read in this arena but I'm looking for who I've overlooked. Plenty of YA work fits here especially post Hunger Games but I'd mostly request adult works unless it's a very strong YA novel (Hunger Games itself holds up very well IMO actually). I'd say Becky Chambers - who's also put into the solar punk/hope punk subgenres - is a good example of more anthropological feeling modern work.

      Some things don't age well - I really enjoy Tepper's Gate to Women's Country for its exploration of a post apocalyptic world where most men live outside the city in barracks, women live inside the city with the few men that choose to return to their mothers' homes, and only during festivals do the men and women get together with a chance for procreating. But it's an anti-sex worker world and one where homosexuality was "fixed" with a wave of a historical genetic hand.

      I'd love to know your recs and maybe what perspectives it gave you or that it exemplifies well. If there's stuff that doesn't age well due to science changing or cultural values changing maybe just note that, sometimes they're still quite good reads with that context.

      43 votes
    38. Kids at-home science experiments (of the less tame variety)

      My 5-year-old loves doing “science experiments” at home with me and her older siblings, but it seems that the online lists of experiments we’re choosing from are truncated to leave off all but the...

      My 5-year-old loves doing “science experiments” at home with me and her older siblings, but it seems that the online lists of experiments we’re choosing from are truncated to leave off all but the least dangerous activities. This makes sense for a lot of low-parental-involvement contexts, but I’m going to be directing and deeply involved in these experiments. And I want fire. Smoke. Sparks. I want to make these experiments feel adventurous so the kids get really excited about whatever we’re learning. Baking soda and vinegar volcanoes and elephant toothpaste just don’t cut it.

      What experiments can you recommend using only relatively common household materials? Chemicals, candles, electricity, a stovetop, etc. (Assume that the experimenters will all be taking standard precautions, wearing PPE, and generally using the experiments as both an opportunity to learn about science and about the safety measures that go with science experimentation.)

      Or if you know of any websites listing these more spectacular home science experiments, please share those as well.

      Bonus if the experiments involve multiple possible outcomes that the kid can use pen and paper and elementary math to predict in advance.

      28 votes
    39. Seeking programmable mouse with top buttons

      I am looking for a new mouse that meets the following: Must have: at least 3 (ideally 5+) programmable buttons on the top (not the sides), preferably to the outer edges (of the top), rather than...

      I am looking for a new mouse that meets the following:

      Must have:

      • at least 3 (ideally 5+) programmable buttons on the top (not the sides), preferably to the outer edges (of the top), rather than in the middle
      • those top buttons should not be right-handed-biased (most that I've seen put more additional buttons beside left click, and fewer near right click)

      Nice to have:

      • Can be configured with Linux; but I don't mind temporarily using Windows or OSX for initial and a once-in-a-while setup
      • not too many buttons on the sides, since I won't be using them, so that would just drive up the price for features I won't use

      I am currently using a Logitech G300s (images from DDG). I am very satisfied with it, as it meets all my criteria, but one of my primary mouse buttons is starting to unintentionally double click (on single click). I know that that is a common problem with mice in general, but I don't want to bother with DIY fixing, especially any operation that involves soldering. Prior to that, I used a Roccat Kova (images from DDG) which had only 3 additional buttons on top.

      I would just buy another G300s, but it's not in stock any more anywhere that I've looked, presumably due to its age.

      I've done a little websearching, and have asked ChatGPT, but everything I've come across either is biased to right-handed users, or doesn't have enough buttons on top. Most options I've seen have many buttons on the sides, but that's not the way I mouse (I move the mouse with the thumb, and ring and pinky fingers).

      10 votes
    40. Any real AI recommendations from the community?

      Hey - I'm wondering if we've got any real-life recommendations for AI's out there? I'm not looking for a list of AI's - they're everywhere! What I'm interested in is whether and how anyone here...

      Hey - I'm wondering if we've got any real-life recommendations for AI's out there?

      I'm not looking for a list of AI's - they're everywhere! What I'm interested in is whether and how anyone here has started to use an AI on a regular basis to the extent that you consider it genuinely useful now?

      For example,

      • At work with have a ChatGPT3 wrapped app in Slack which I use quite often to improve summaries and formal comms I write. I think everyone knows it's basically good at that.
      • I use Pi.ai as a "sympathetic" and filtered advisor for more sensitive topics relating to mental health that I have to deal with - it's useful insofar as I'm less worried about hallucinations or bad output when I'm using it. This might be misplaced confidence to be fair, but I've not had a bad experience with it so far.
      • I use ChatGPT built into Apple Intelligence more and more since getting a device capable of using it. I think the use case I'm most warming to is that "search" is less and less useful nowadays because of blog spam and assumed corrections to my searches. I can use ChatGPT as a replacement to search in a growing number of use cases.

      What I'm wondering about:

      • Gamma.app promises to be a .ppt replacement via AI. I'm skeptical. I have to summarise and present a lot of content at work. Having a means of an AI doing some of the lifting here would be incredible, but I remain unconvinced.

      Any sites/services you use regularly and effectively that you'd recommend?

      34 votes
    41. What hard scifi books could you recommend?

      Warning: this post may contain spoilers

      Hello! Could you please recommend some hard science fiction books? I am struggling to find a good one. My favorites are Blindsight and Echopraxia by Peter Watts, but I have failed to find anything similar.

      I also enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir and The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, though in my opinion, these aren't quite what I would call hard science fiction.

      Additionally, I enjoyed books that blend fiction and non-fiction, like Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter.

      What are your favorite hard science fiction books?

      49 votes
    42. English grammar book recommendations?

      Hi fellow Tilder Staters, I write professionally for my job. I've picked up plenty of tips, tricks, and strategies from mentors and managers over the years. I also have an English degree focused...

      Hi fellow Tilder Staters,

      I write professionally for my job. I've picked up plenty of tips, tricks, and strategies from mentors and managers over the years.

      I also have an English degree focused in literature.

      But I've never formally studied grammar or linguistics.

      Does anyone have a textbook or theory book that they could recommend in this space? I've tried to look around a bit but nothing has caught my eye, and the subject is dry enough that I don't have the time or energy to invest in one of the boring options.

      9 votes