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    1. What programming/technical projects have you been working on?

      ~comp Ask (survey)
      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?

      13 votes

    10. Need pixel art software recommendations (it can be free or paid)

      ~games Ask (recommendations)
      I've been learning Godot for the past few months and I'm happy to report that it's been going well. Little by little, things are clicking into place. (I hugely, highly, undoubtedly, recommend...

      I've been learning Godot for the past few months and I'm happy to report that it's been going well. Little by little, things are clicking into place. (I hugely, highly, undoubtedly, recommend GDQuest courses)

      I'm ready to start working on a small project to test out my skills, and it's going to be a top down pixel art game.

      But to be completely honest, I suck at drawing. I suck at drawing as in, I can make stick figures at best. So forget any fancy software for drawing in general like gimp or photoshop.

      What I'm looking for is a software meant for pixel art and that makes my life easy, in both drawing and animating. Bonus points if it allows me to trace (I'm not planning to copy/steal art, but I do need reference points, at least for now)

      Do you guys have any recommendations? It can be free or paid. I don't mind paying as long the software is worth it.

      15 votes

    11. Cell phone advice

      ~tech Ask (recommendations)
      My current phone is about 6 years old and has a lot of signal problems and I replaced the battery about 6 months ago and the new battery is even worse than the original one was and I think it's...

      My current phone is about 6 years old and has a lot of signal problems and I replaced the battery about 6 months ago and the new battery is even worse than the original one was and I think it's time to get a new phone.

      Things I want in my phone:

      • Android
      • I would love to have a microSD card but that seems impossible
        • if there's not microSD then I need min 512GB of internal storage and I would prefer 1TB if that's not like +1k to the cost
      • Headphone jack
      • If there's AI, then I can disable it
      • Excellent battery life
      • On the smaller end

      Things I don't really care about:

      • Camera quality (I'm a shitty photographer, the camera wont help)

      Things that might be nice:

      • Having a stylus but not at the cost of the phone being enormous. Reason I want this is because it gets cold in the winter in Chicago

      I hope this phone lasts another 6 years and will be pissed if it lasts under 4 years; at that lifespan and amount of use I get out of it I'm pretty price-agnostic. I live in the USA but expect to travel to Europe a few times next year so it should do decently well when traveling. Network is T-Mobile.

      This is not SUPER urgent right now so if your advice is "wait til January because the XYZ phone releasing then is probably better than anything available right now" I would be willing to do that. But my current phone is really not doing great.

      Happy to answer any other followup questions if anyone has any!

      Thanks!

      26 votes

    19. Experiences with united healthcare

      ~health Ask (survey)
      I am hopefully starting a new job soon, and their health and vision insurance is UHC. We can also choose a regional plan (UPMC for anyone in the western PA area) through my wife's job. All my...

      I am hopefully starting a new job soon, and their health and vision insurance is UHC. We can also choose a regional plan (UPMC for anyone in the western PA area) through my wife's job.

      All my previous employers have been local, so we've always had UPMC coverage. This is my first time dealing with a national insurance company.

      Likely my new plan will be be less expensive and have lower deductibles than my wife's.

      Pittsburgh is split between UPMC (a hospital system that grew an insurance arm) and AHN (an insurance provider who grew a hospital system). Ironically, UHC may offer me more options since they seem to have most of the UPMC and AHN providers in their network.

      I've checked all my doctors and the major hospitals, and they are all listed as in-network. I'm already getting my maintenance medications through CostPlus, so I'm not that worried about prescriptions.

      My wife and I are in our 40s and relatively healthy, but I know we are reaching the point where (statistically, and looking at friends the same age) we're likely to have some big health events in the next five years.

      Outside the very obvious news story that comes to mind when thinking about UHC, what are your experiences with them? Things to watch out for? Things you wish you knew going in?

      Edit: thanks everyone for your input. This largely confirms my expectations, but I appreciate people taking the time to share.

      32 votes

    23. Timasomo 2025: The Showcase

      ~creative.timasomo Text 208 words
      Timasomo 2025 is now officially complete! Over the next few days, participants will be posting their creations and efforts in this topic to showcase their work to the community. Comments and...

      Timasomo 2025 is now officially complete!

      Over the next few days, participants will be posting their creations and efforts in this topic to showcase their work to the community.

      Comments and feedback are both welcome and encouraged.

      Let these creators know what an awesome job they've done!

      Creators: In posting your showcase:

      • Give your project a title, and use the # markdown to make it stand out in the showcase thread!
      • Link to your project in whatever way works best for it.
      • If you like, give a "creator statement" that contextualizes what your project is.
      • Add anything else you consider relevant! The showcase is yours!
      • If you need examples, take a look at last year’s showcase.

      Also, I strongly encourage you to make your own topics showcasing your work in their respective tildes (e.g. ~life, ~tech, etc.). This showcase is only visible to those subscribed to ~creative.timasomo, but the wider Tildes audience will undoubtedly appreciate your efforts as well.

      Community:

      • Treat this thread like a walk through an art gallery or a museum where you get to see different works on display.
      • Simple appreciations for the creators are not noise—they are valuable community support!
      • Make sure any feedback you give is constructive and meant to help.
      35 votes

    32. What are some of your favorite stews/soups?

      ~food Ask (recommendations)
      Now that it is finally fall weather in the Midwest, I have been back to making stews/soups. My current go-to’s are Zuppa Toscona, Pozole Rojo, and I just made some Kartoffelsuppe (German Potato...

      Now that it is finally fall weather in the Midwest, I have been back to making stews/soups.

      My current go-to’s are Zuppa Toscona, Pozole Rojo, and I just made some Kartoffelsuppe (German Potato Soup with Sausage), but I’m looking for more! Any stew-like meal that’s hearty and warm - I like to make a big batch Monday night & eat it for lunches throughout the week, so preferably ones that reheat OK.

      I love the Dapanji I’ve had from a local place with hand-pulled noodles, but that seems a bit out of my skill level or comfort-zone to try to make.

      What are some of your favorite stews (preferably with recipes)?

      Recipes

      Zuppa Toscana

      Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden’s Italian Sausage and Potato Soup) – Bupkis.org

      Source: bupkis.org

      Ingredients

      Ingredients:

      • 2 Pounds Low-starch potatoes , washed, eyes removed and sliced into 1/4 inch disks. Peeling is optional.
      • 2 Pounds Hot and/or Sweet Italian Sausage Links
      • 1 Large Bunch Kale (it looks like a lot but will cook down)
      • 1 Large Yellow Onion, diced small
      • 2 T Garlic, mashed. Approx 8 cloves (see instructions)
      • 8 Ounces Half and Half
      • 4 Cups Reduced Sodium Chicken Stock
      • 6 Cups Water
      • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Red Pepper (to taste)
      • 3/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt (to taste)

      Instructions

      1. Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a rolling boil and add some salt – about the same amount of salt as if you were making pasta. Fill a large bowl with cold water and some ice. Put a large colander in the sink.
      2. Cut the base off the head of kale and roughly tear the leaves into 2″ pieces, discarding the hard portion of the rib, and place in the colander for later. Olive Garden leaves the rib in, but I think it’s too big and hard to put on a soup spoon.
      3. Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with a heavy pinch of kosher salt and mash until liquid, or finely mince, then grind with the back edge of a knife. You need at least two heaping Tablespoons of mashed garlic when you’re done.
      4. Cut the raw sausage into 1/2 inch chunks with shears or a knife. Add a little oil to the bottom of a large pot. Add the sausage. Sauté on medium until fully cooked and you have developed a good deal of fond (brown stuff) on the bottom of the pot.
      5. Pour off grease as necessary and build as much fond as possible without burning or drying out the sausage.
      6. Remove the sausage and save. Pour off the excess fat, leaving just enough to coat the bottom of the pot.
      7. Drop all the kale into the boiling salted water. Wait a few seconds until the kale turns bright green, then immediately dump the boiling water and kale into the colander in the sink. Then dump the hot, drained kale into the bowl of ice water and swish it around. Dump the chilled kale into the colander to drain.
      8. Add the finely diced onions and sauté on medium until soft, nicely browned, and more fond develops.
      9. Add the garlic and continue stirring until just fragrant and soft (probably about a minute). Be careful to not to burn or brown the garlic. Add the ground red pepper and mix.
      10. Add a small amount of water and deglaze the bottom of the pot (scrape up all the yummy brown bits).
      11. Add the rest of the water, the chicken stock, the potatoes and sausage.
      12. Bring to a slow simmer and continue simmering until the potatoes are soft.
      13. Add the kale then turn off the heat.
      14. Immediately before serving, add the half and half, and serve with some nice home-baked Ciabatta bread.
      Quick Pozole

      Quick Pozole

      Source: bupkis-org.github.io
      Servings: 8

      Ingredients

      • 2 tsp Vegetable Oil
      • 19 ounce package Ground Turkey or Chicken 93% Fat Free
      • 1 Onion, chopped
      • 1 Jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
      • 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
      • 4 Cups Chicken Broth
      • 3x 15.5 ounce cans Hominy – rinsed and drained.
      • 1 28 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
      • 1-2 Tbsp blended Canned Chile in Adobo – found in a can in the Mexican Food section of the grocery store
      • 2 tsp Dried Oregano

      Garnishes:

      • 1/4 Cup Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
      • 4 Radishes, cut into matchsticks
      • 3 Scallions thinly sliced on the diagonal
      • 1 Avocado, ripe
      • Red Pepper Flakes
      • 1 Lime, cut into wedges

      Instructions

      1. Take the can of Chiles in Adobo and puree in a blender, spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
      2. Heat the oil in a medium size pot until shimmering
      3. Add the Ground Turkey, Onion and Jalapeño and saute on medium until turkey is cooked and onion is soft but not browned. Add Garlic and cook until garlic is softened, but not browned.
      4. Add the Chicken Stock, Hominy, Tomatoes, 3-4 Tablespoons of mashed Chile in Adobo (to taste) and oregano, bring to a simmer, reduce heat and simmer uncovered until slightly thickened.
      5. Serve in bowls with the garnishes. Be sure to squeeze a lime wedge into each serving; it really wakes up the flavors and brings the dish to an entirely new level.
      6. Optional, add some Avocado slices.
      7. Serve with Chile in Adobo on the side for people who like it spicier.
      Kartoffelsupp

      Kartoffelsupp (German Potato Soup with Sausage)

      German Potato Soup with Bratwurst is an easy comforting recipe to add to your soup rotation this fall. It takes just 30 minutes to cook, and celebrates German cuisine, even if you can't get to Octoberfest.

      Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com
      Servings: 4 -6 servings
      Prep: 15min
      Cook: 30min
      Total: 45min

      Ingredients

      • 2-3 bratwurst, (or other German sausage)
      • olive oil
      • 4 cups chicken stock
      • 1/2 medium onion, (peeled and diced)
      • 2 stalks celery, (diced)
      • 2 medium carrots, (peeled and diced)
      • 4 white waxy potatoes, ((like baby reds or Yukon Gold), peeled and diced)
      • 1/4 head cabbage, (chopped)
      • 2 bay leaves
      • 1 tsp dried marjoram
      • salt and fresh cracked pepper, (to taste)
      • chopped fresh parsley, (for garnish)

      Instructions

      1. Put a drop of oil in a stock pot and brown off the sausages or brats. Let them get cook color on all sides, then add 2 cups of the chicken stock and bring up to a boil. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about 10-12 minutes, until the brats are cooked. Remove the brats to a plate, and strain the broth and set aside. (I like to strain the broth because there will always be little bit and bobs floating around, and it's nicer without.) When the brats have cooled a bit, slice them.
      2. Meanwhile add a tablespoon of oil to a a new soup pot and saute the onions, celery, and carrots for about 4-5 minutes, just until slightly softened but not browned, stirring often.
      3. Add the potatoes, cabbage, and all 4 cups of the stock to the pan, along with the bay leaves, salt, pepper, and marjoram.
      4. Bring up to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 10-15 minutes, or until veggies are almost tender. Take a taste to be sure. Add the sliced brats and simmer for another 5 minutes until everything is perfectly tender.
      5. Taste to adjust the seasonings and serve hot with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.

      Notes

      Variations:
      Stir in some sour cream, off the heat, to the finished soup.
      Season with caraway seeds.
      Add a leek, trimmed, diced, and well rinsed.
      Add peeled and diced celeriac or turnip.
      Puree the finished soup to a creamy consistency before adding the sausage.
      Brighten the flavor with a small touch of apple cider vinegar.
      *recipe adapted from Ren Behan

      38 votes

    34. How has AI positively impacted your life?

      ~tech Ask (survey)
      I've been trying to get a more rounded understanding of the impacts that "AI" has had since ChatGPT went viral back in 2022. I've found it easy to gather a list of negative impacts, but have...

      I've been trying to get a more rounded understanding of the impacts that "AI" has had since ChatGPT went viral back in 2022.

      I've found it easy to gather a list of negative impacts, but have struggled to point to many positives.

      I was curious if there were folks who have used any of these AI tools, and would willing to share any positive impacts those tools have had in their lives. I'm particularly interested in the text, audio, image, and video generation tools that have appeared since ChatGPT went viral, but please share anything else that you think fits.

      50 votes

    36. Microsoft is adding AI facial recognition to OneDrive and users can only turn it off three times a year

      ~tech Text 114 words
      I didn't watch the whole video and I'm not familiar with the channel so I don't want to make this a link post, but here's the source: The Lunduke Journal I watched up to the point where the author...

      I didn't watch the whole video and I'm not familiar with the channel so I don't want to make this a link post, but here's the source: The Lunduke Journal

      I watched up to the point where the author explains how Microsoft tends to turn on all the privacy invading settings every time they push an update (not surprising). I guess if I had to use Microsoft products, I'd try to disable automatic updates and just do them twice a year in one go, while also turning off the settings I want off. Would it be practically feasible? I don't know. Having to go to those lengths to use some software just seems ridiculous.

      47 votes

    40. The Netflix app on Android TV

      ~tech Ask
      I have resubscribed to Netflix after cancelling about 6 months ago and I think there's been a change to the GUI which I really don't care for. I could be wrong but didn't the TV app use to work in...

      I have resubscribed to Netflix after cancelling about 6 months ago and I think there's been a change to the GUI which I really don't care for. I could be wrong but didn't the TV app use to work in the following way: after selecting a movie or television show, the first click would open a menu that would then allow further options including playing the movie or an episode of the TV show? I miss this. Currently, they're is one option at the to of my screen when I open the app that has a selectable 'More Info' option but everything else does not and the media just starts playing immediately upon selection.

      I miss the 'menu on first click' behavior. Is there a way to get back to that?

      Thanks.

      2 votes

    41. What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga)

      ~anime Ask (survey)
      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

    45. Things to do when you've lost your job

      ~talk Ask (advice)
      About a month and a half ago I was put on PIP to step up at work. Feedback has been good over the last few weeks but not enough I guess. I was told I was terminated today. The job market out there...

      About a month and a half ago I was put on PIP to step up at work. Feedback has been good over the last few weeks but not enough I guess. I was told I was terminated today.

      The job market out there is rough right now and I'm not sure what to do. I know a lot of people here have faced similar situations and everything, so I'm wondering if there's any tips/tricks/thoughts anyone has.

      I'm an Android developer and was working in fin-tech adjacent work if that's relevant.

      42 votes