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    2. What are your favorite genres/themes of music?

      ~music Ask (survey)
      BTW this has been posted before but it was a year and a half ago sometime around when tildes itself became a thing so a new post is definitely due. My favorite genres are hip-hop and electronic...

      BTW this has been posted before but it was a year and a half ago sometime around when tildes itself became a thing so a new post is definitely due.

      My favorite genres are hip-hop and electronic but lofi and synthwave songs like resonance and HOME are just as good.

      Edit: Seems most people here (at least most who replied) like a variety of metal and rock genres. Pretty interesting.

      25 votes

    5. How do you turn a smart TV into a dumb TV?

      ~tech Ask
      I've been lamenting the death of the dumb TV for years now, but I'm finally in the market for a new set and trying to plan my next purchase carefully. I've come to grips with the fact that any...

      I've been lamenting the death of the dumb TV for years now, but I'm finally in the market for a new set and trying to plan my next purchase carefully.

      I've come to grips with the fact that any late-model TV I buy is going to feature some or all of the following:

      • Internet connectivity
      • Slow, janky menu screens with awful UIs
      • Pre-installed apps (all of which I consider bloatware)
      • Ads incorporated into the built-in menus or overlaid on my content
      • Alexa / Google Home integration
      • Automatic content recognition and/or other data collection techniques
      • Microphones or cameras, purportedly for voice/gesture control

      My goal is to take a stock smart TV and completely neuter all of the above, resulting in an otherwise fully functional dumb TV. All of my content will be delivered over HDMI from external devices.

      As I understand it, basically all modern TVs are running one of five operating systems: Android TV, webOS, Tizen, Roku TV, or SmartCast. Not knowing anything about these platforms, where should I begin? Which are most susceptible to rooting? Are there any good custom ROMs I could install that would achieve what I'm looking for? Surely others have asked these same questions before me, but I can't find the answers online.

      Yes, this is a companion post to my other home theater question earlier today.

      37 votes

    22. What piece of kitchen equipment do you regret buying, and why?

      ~food Ask (survey)
      What piece of kitchen equipment do you regret buying? Why? I bought a garlic masher. (I don't think it was anywhere near £26 when I bought it!)...

      What piece of kitchen equipment do you regret buying? Why?

      I bought a garlic masher. (I don't think it was anywhere near £26 when I bought it!) https://www.amazon.co.uk/royalvkb-VP303-370-Royal-Garlic-Crusher/dp/B000OW58D8/ It looks really heavy, but it actually isn't. I regret it because it's not nearly as much fun to use as it looks. It's safer than mashing garlic with a knife, and it's easier to clean than a press. But other than that it's not worth the money. The garlic cards (credit card sized bits of plastic with embossed letters) that you rub garlic over are better.

      22 votes

    35. Has anyone gifted you food or a kitchen / cooking gadget that you particularly liked?

      ~food Ask (survey)
      Coming up to Christmas and gift-giving is on my mind and I wondered if you've ever been given food or a food-related gadget that you liked? I guess we can also talk about the misses too. I like...

      Coming up to Christmas and gift-giving is on my mind and I wondered if you've ever been given food or a food-related gadget that you liked? I guess we can also talk about the misses too.

      I like chocolate, so small amounts of nice chocolate are something that I like.

      11 votes