0x29A's recent activity
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Comment on Moving from Cinnamon to Xfce fixed my video playback stutter on Linux Mint in ~tech
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Comment on We should take hantavirus more seriously in ~health
0x29A Link ParentFrom reading up about droppings I have seen "infectiousness" being mentioned as anywhere from "a few days" at room temperature in general (longer when colder) but some mention up to "9-15 days in...From reading up about droppings I have seen "infectiousness" being mentioned as anywhere from "a few days" at room temperature in general (longer when colder) but some mention up to "9-15 days in contaminated bedding" per some unlinked Canadian health study (unless the articles that mention this are just AI-written and making shit up which is very possible) but given other contaminants in them to always treat them as if they're a risk regardless
I am thinking it may be days and not minutes because of it being trapped in the substance of the dropping rather than just free floating in the air. Though some did mention "days" on surfaces also
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A Link ParentYeah... they uh... have a somewhat notorious (I know about their behavior even as someone that isn't a fan because it somehow reached me regardless) history of saying awful things on social media...Yeah... they uh... have a somewhat notorious (I know about their behavior even as someone that isn't a fan because it somehow reached me regardless) history of saying awful things on social media and then being excessively combative about it with anyone that responds, including fans. From homophobic comments to stuff about "institutional racism not existing", insulting civil rights leaders, support of the far-right, etc... so complaining about cancel culture seems to be the M.O. for people that behave like this and rightfully get called out on it
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A LinkPost-punk/punk/oi band Home Front (recent KEXP performance btw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThcSsr8KLjU). Their last two albums are two of my favorite albums American Football - LP4 new...Post-punk/punk/oi band Home Front (recent KEXP performance btw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThcSsr8KLjU). Their last two albums are two of my favorite albums
American Football - LP4 new American Football release! always excited for new stuff from Kinsella and co
Famyne - II: The Ground Below - this heavily AIC-inspired grunge-doom
Haruspex Chants - Demo MMXXVI - this death/doom demo that kicks ass
Art School Girlfriend - Lean In - indie pop / electronic, currently my non-metal album of the year so far, I think
Morbid Angel - Domination
Some of Home Front's sources of inspiration.
British Punk / Oi that incorporated Post-Punk/New Wave later on:
Angelic Upstarts - Reason Why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwFbVZ9cWU
Blitz - Second Empire Justice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pxFwP-8vdI -
Comment on Eradikated – Mortality (2026) in ~music
0x29A LinkNot a huge fan of the vocals, but solid riffs and solos. I could probably get used to the vocals as a hardcore punk fan though. Nice and fast and it's got some beefiness to the mix. No corniness...Not a huge fan of the vocals, but solid riffs and solos. I could probably get used to the vocals as a hardcore punk fan though. Nice and fast and it's got some beefiness to the mix.
No corniness or bad humor or any of the tropes. Could do much much worse when it comes to thrash (it's one of those genres where I think the bad often overwhelmingly outweighs the good).
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Comment on We should take hantavirus more seriously in ~health
0x29A LinkThis is tangential but I have some mouse droppings I have to clean up because they love to get in my cabinets. I've done a lot of preventative work but apparently still left something unaddressed...This is tangential but I have some mouse droppings I have to clean up because they love to get in my cabinets. I've done a lot of preventative work but apparently still left something unaddressed where they got in. I think it's one particular gap I forgot to cover. I use a certain level of steel wool to plug any areas they could squeeze through- from what I've heard it's scratchy enough that if they can't easily move it, it's too sharp for them to want to fight or gnaw on. I might create some kind of 3D printed panel I can glue or screw down and wrap with steel wool for the remaining gap I found
Thankfully they haven't come back since this most recent one night visit. But I realize this is often a source of hantavirus- and I think sometimes people don't realize the potential danger mouse droppings can pose because it seems like such a mundane thing to deal with.
What I typically do is soak any surfaces (and the droppings themselves) in the area with a heavy spray of Lysol (or similar virus-killing spray) and let it sit until it's dry to give it time to work. To be extra safe, I'll often re-apply once later just to be sure and shortly before using a shop vac to vacuum it all up. Any items remotely nearby I will thoroughly sanitize / clean however necessary or toss if this is not possible.
I figure there may be some danger to vacuums potentially spreading particles and viruses/etc in the air they expel when vacuuming the droppings, so I am aware this could be a bad idea- but my hope is the Lysol has done most of the work through the initial application, and vacuuming it up while slightly damp from the second round of spray (not wet, but not completely dry) might help reduce any of it from becoming dry dust that can escape the vacuuming process.
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Comment on “Rediscovering” the operating system (AKA: the desktop is the killer app) in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentAh yeah, interesting, I can see how that would be useful for some. I personally disable location info on all photos (and often clean all EXIF data) as a security/privacy step since so many people...Ah yeah, interesting, I can see how that would be useful for some. I personally disable location info on all photos (and often clean all EXIF data) as a security/privacy step since so many people online share photos without realizing they are sharing location information embedded in them.
I could see manually tagging photos being useful for searching and organizing but I just don't interact with my own photos that way. The enclosing folder usually is a clear enough label for me to recall what the photos are about or where they are from. Usually date, date/place, or date/purpose.
I feel like I have definitely seen desktop programs with these metadata/tagging features though so there may be something out there that matches what you want
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Comment on Xbox Game Pass and Discord to offer Game Pass Starter Edition to Discord Nitro subscribers in ~games
0x29A LinkI wonder if this is a way to attempt to claw people back to Nitro after a certain number left over the age verification debacleI wonder if this is a way to attempt to claw people back to Nitro after a certain number left over the age verification debacle
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Comment on “Rediscovering” the operating system (AKA: the desktop is the killer app) in ~tech
0x29A LinkI feel this and it's how I use things for the most part. A lot of text is in text files and sublime text as my editor. Photos and music and all that type of thing are just files in folders that I...I feel this and it's how I use things for the most part. A lot of text is in text files and sublime text as my editor. Photos and music and all that type of thing are just files in folders that I access directly and then toss into a program of choice when necessary. I don't really use "organizational" tools as much at all anymore.
Notes are maybe a slight exception to the rule- in that I use Joplin (and WebDAV for syncing it)- but I chose it specifically because it uses folders instead of tags (which I really do not like in my notes apps- I don't like the "all" views, etc - it breaks the organization paradigm I like in a way that my brain actively hates), so it mimics how it would work on a desktop. Having it all in one app on mobile and easily accessible is useful though, so its why I do it that way.
However, it's really only for notes that I want to have in multiple places and synced. I still use text files all the time for device-local notes.
I strongly overall prefer the simplicity approach. Files in folders, especially files that are easily readable and accessible on any device without extra software. Plain text where possible. Not proprietary formats and such. I don't hate the idea of markdown and markdown notes systems because at the end of the day its plaintext underneath, but sometimes it feels like an unnecessarily layer of complexity on top and so on
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
0x29A LinkContinuing FreeCAD learning (using MangoJelly's tutorials among others) and I'm starting to get much more "muscle memory" with using the program now. A lot of simple actions one needs to take now...Continuing FreeCAD learning (using MangoJelly's tutorials among others) and I'm starting to get much more "muscle memory" with using the program now. A lot of simple actions one needs to take now feel like second nature to me- I don't even have to actively think about them. So I'm noticing my skill improvements tangibly! It's very fulfilling to be able to see that happen. Still a beginner but now it's taking a bit less time to go from imagining something I want to make and having the first prototype ready to print
3D printed an enclosure for small USB sticks that are USB fan voltage controllers/potentiometers. Tried Sunlu PLA (transparent) for the first time and am very satisfied with their filaments (and their dryer).
Now, printing someone else's existing design for knobs for those potentiometers since I want a lower profile knob for them
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Comment on What's your dream job? in ~life
0x29A Link ParentThis matches how I feel the most. I don't think there's a single thing that I "dream" of doing from the perspective of labor defined as some work I am performing for others for money as part of...This matches how I feel the most. I don't think there's a single thing that I "dream" of doing from the perspective of labor defined as some work I am performing for others for money as part of the larger societal machine (especially a late-stage capitalist one). And survival in terms of shelter and food shouldn't be reliant on it
I have plenty of hobbies that would be a nice bonus if they could pay the bills, but I feel like the need for money poisons everything it touches. I would rather have the time to do these things without money corrupting them. The hobby becomes the slog, etc. But sure, if I could write or play music or 3D print or do photography or whatever and get paid enough to live, in fulfilling way that doesn't ruin my love of the hobby? Sure.
There are better and worse, tolerable and less tolerable, fulfilling and less fulfilling options for sure, and I am sure I have a hierarchy of preferences I could lay out for those. And unfortunately with the genAI craze, "tech" has fallen to an extremely low place on that hierarchy for me now. I refuse to work anywhere that requires LLMs, unless it gets the the point where it's use an LLM or starve (and even then I might choose starving)
There's certainly nothing so good that I feel so positively and passionately about that I would ever "dream" of doing it for a paycheck. The closest something could come to this would be something coffee related or something done for a non-profit or other beneficial organization making good things happen in the world, not just me slogging away contributing more to the money game
Once I got past a certain age and worldview, the idea of "dreaming" about how best I can fit into the rat race for survival just is a repellent idea to me altogether
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Comment on Tom Scott: England — Official teaser for Nebula in ~travel
0x29A Link ParentI still find it really fascinating that people get an awkward vibe from some of these videos/episodes or from Tom Scott directly. I loved Episode 6 and just didn't detect anything strange. I guess...I still find it really fascinating that people get an awkward vibe from some of these videos/episodes or from Tom Scott directly. I loved Episode 6 and just didn't detect anything strange. I guess his stuff just simply always works for me. Just melds with my brain in the right way, I guess, where nothing feels off or awkward. In fact, he made some occasional self-aware funny comments which only added to the vibe for me. There's truly nothing I'd change about Episode 6, for instance
No shade at anyone that is critical or just doesn't vibe with some of the videos, of course, just talking about my own personal experience here (and how it's difficult for me to really "get" the feeling that others get- not disputing that people do, just it's hard for me to grasp it mentally)
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Comment on Do you prefer chunky or smooth peanut butter? in ~food
0x29A (edited )LinkI'm usually not that put off by various textures in food in general, but for some reason, in peanut butter specifically, I have a pretty strong aversion to anything chunky or crunchy. It needs to...I'm usually not that put off by various textures in food in general, but for some reason, in peanut butter specifically, I have a pretty strong aversion to anything chunky or crunchy. It needs to be smooth for me otherwise it just kinda weirds me out and I can't enjoy it
I enjoy "natural" peanut butter but I mostly eat the oily sugary kind, because I like it more, and also budget reasons, and the sugar content isn't that bad anyway. It's what I grew up on and it's what I crave.
I mostly eat it by itself, or on bread occasionally. I usually just have a spoonful or two a few times a week for a treat, and it's a relatively-healthy nice little boost of protein and nutrients. I avoid most added sugars in products anyway, and this takes the place of "snacking" for me and is very filling
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
0x29A Link ParentI've overall had less problems with Page Shadow, though I'm sure it works in similar ways so it might be susceptible to breaking pages too, but I just haven't seen it happen nearly as much. It...I've overall had less problems with Page Shadow, though I'm sure it works in similar ways so it might be susceptible to breaking pages too, but I just haven't seen it happen nearly as much. It does have lots of settings / tweaks as far as how it functions so that might help. Only issue for me, though I mostly understand it now, is the UI is not intuitive at all and can be frustrating to use. Sometimes the options you choose aren't clear, or it's just not clear exactly what the button/dropdown/toggle is supposed to do, so sometimes things happen when you don't expect them, etc.
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
0x29A Link ParentI agree. Had to switch to Page Shadow because of problems with Dark Reader performance and breaking various pages (even when supposedly toggled "off" for that page). Apparently whether or not it's...I agree. Had to switch to Page Shadow because of problems with Dark Reader performance and breaking various pages (even when supposedly toggled "off" for that page). Apparently whether or not it's toggled on for a particular site, Dark Reader still injects code into the page and some sites (especially higher security industries like banking) seem to flip out because of this injection (understandably so, really)
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
0x29A Link ParentTo me that makes sense post-mitigation, but not post-patch. My assumption (which may be wrong) would be that algif_aead will still load in a patched kernel, because actual patches are modifying...To me that makes sense post-mitigation, but not post-patch.
My assumption (which may be wrong) would be that algif_aead will still load in a patched kernel, because actual patches are modifying the code in the module, not disabling the module altogether, whereas the temporary mitigation is to disable it
So if I'm thinking about this right-- a "fixed" algif_aead should still be able to load on a patched, no longer vulnerable system, without the (then unnecessary) "migitation" applied
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
0x29A (edited )Link ParentAh yeah that makes sense. I was just reading other comments saying how to check if one's kernel is safe and was doing that as a quick check on everything, but misunderstood. Sounds like applying...Ah yeah that makes sense. I was just reading other comments saying how to check if one's kernel is safe and was doing that as a quick check on everything, but misunderstood. Sounds like applying the mitigation if a system has not received a patch for this flaw yet is still advisable then. While I've worked with Linux a long time, including in a professional capacity, not really in this aspect as much, and I hadn't dug into this at all in any detail. The more I'm wrapping my head around it the more it makes sense. Because yeah, if the module is present at all, then it could be dynamically loaded.
What I seem to be lacking is, is there a sure-fire way to verify if a system is already patched / no longer vulnerable? There seems to be lack of information on the method of doing so. The more I look the more I realize that it may just not exist.
Seems like just due to the nature of the issue, there's probably just not really any simple path (obviously there are more intense ones like running the PoC) to checking if a particular system is vulnerable or not outside of verifying if a particular kernel version one is on is simply affected or not. Especially since some systems build this module in instead of having it separate.
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
0x29A LinkSeems my MX Linux 25.1 machines are not affected. No aead module in lsmod. Still checking other machines. Most of my machines are single user and low risk at least. However I do have a router and...Seems my MX Linux 25.1 machines are not affected. No aead module in lsmod. Still checking other machines. Most of my machines are single user and low risk at least. However I do have a router and server I need to check.
Interesting to see when widespread modules like this have a flaw discovered because of the sheer breadth of devices affected.
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Comment on "Why was I invited to Beast Studios?" - A comprehensive investigative analysis of YouTube's biggest channel in ~tech
0x29A (edited )Link ParentThere's also a fork that adds tabs that I just learned about yesterday for those like myself that are very particular with how they approach browsing video. I use tabs to queue things up, search...There's also a fork that adds tabs that I just learned about yesterday for those like myself that are very particular with how they approach browsing video. I use tabs to queue things up, search while watching, have multiple videos open and ready to go, etc
I am doing a test run of switching to FreeTube and potentially canceling my premium (as someone that watches a LOT of YT videos)
So far it has been great. I use multiple profiles for different sets of channels, one that is a mirror of my subs basically and others for channels i want to revisit but not subscribe to. I can easily back up the freetube db and take it to other machines, etc.
It's slightly janky and I have had to adjust settings a bit to get things exactly how i want them or workaround small annoyances but now that I am settled in with it, it's quite nice, performs better for me than YT site did in Firefox anyway, etc. Overall feels like a better use of resources and it further distances me from Google which I appreciate
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Comment on Today I shipped twenty apps and a screensaver in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentThis seems to me like unnecessarily/ungenerously imposing a false dichotomy on top of the OP's effort. And while not sure if intentional (tone is hard online), it reads to me like you're implying...This seems to me like unnecessarily/ungenerously imposing a false dichotomy on top of the OP's effort. And while not sure if intentional (tone is hard online), it reads to me like you're implying an assumption that the quality is bad because the quantity is mentioned/high
XFCE has become possibly my favorite DE at this point. I actually use Cinnamon on my desktop at the moment but I use XFCE on nearly everything else, including my laptop and living room PC I use almost exclusively for video playback. I like the more antiquated, info-dense, lightweight types of DEs.
On my daily driver/gaming desktop (Kubuntu) I actually moved from KDE to Cinnamon to solve some weird compositing / video issues that I determined to be tied to a particular version of the compositor and that worked but I still get an occasional quirk here and there- including for instance, FreeTube seems to have frame lag occasionally on Cinnamon during video playback. The video will freeze for a split second. I do not have this issue on FreeTube on XFCE.
Of course, the double-edged sword with Linux is there are so many different configurations and driver versions and how all of it interacts that if I solve a problem by changing DEs, it doesn't really get to the core of why the problem was happening- in other words on Cinnamon on a different PC it's possible the problem would never occur, so it's sort-of like hammering a nail with a sledgehammer.
And I also get that being on an LTS / non-rolling distro certain bugs I run into may not get fixed for a long time and so on. Always a tradeoff somewhere