0x29A's recent activity
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Comment on Also looking for GPU recommendations in ~tech
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Comment on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS is reaching end of standard support soon: April 2025. Plan to upgrade soon! in ~tech
0x29A (edited )LinkI am on Kubuntu and I've modified the OS so much (installed Cinnamon instead of KDE, tons of customizations, etc) that I feel like if I attempt an upgrade, I'm going to render the entire thing...I am on Kubuntu and I've modified the OS so much (installed Cinnamon instead of KDE, tons of customizations, etc) that I feel like if I attempt an upgrade, I'm going to render the entire thing either unbootable or a bootable wild mess that will be hard to untangle.
Not sure what I'm going to do. I've been long planning a transition to Linux Mint, but the transition has felt so overwhelming that I haven't started yet. What I have done at this point is I have an external SSD that I am planning to use as a temporary "dual boot" system that I put Linux Mint on, copy home folder, install all the programs I have on my Kubuntu install, and try to mimic my existing setup as close as possible, without touching the original, internal nvme Kubuntu install, that way I can do it in parallel over a period of time, instead of jumping from one OS to the other and scrambling to remember how to set everything up the way I want it
EDIT: Welp, I am on 22.04 not 20.04, so I get updates until April 2027. Woops. At least there's no rush to switch at this point
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Comment on The Scoville levels on the Hot Ones sauces are misleading in ~food
0x29A LinkScovilles are definitely iffy when you get down to specifics. As a very "big picture" / zoomed out idea of how hot things are, they can be a decent guide, but only to a point. There are so many...Scovilles are definitely iffy when you get down to specifics. As a very "big picture" / zoomed out idea of how hot things are, they can be a decent guide, but only to a point. There are so many other facets to spicy things. Even just where and how they burn and how the body reacts to them. It can be "easier" to handle some spicier stuff, if it burns in a way you mind less (or if the heat is super hot but doesn't stick around for a long time, etc)
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Comment on Why gen Z is drinking less in ~health
0x29A LinkI'm a millennial and have stopped drinking altogether. I already cut down a lot in the past few years and still could see myself enjoying a glass of whiskey every now and then but even two drinks...I'm a millennial and have stopped drinking altogether. I already cut down a lot in the past few years and still could see myself enjoying a glass of whiskey every now and then but even two drinks in a day makes me feel noticeably bad almost immediately and for a while after. Whereas I used to feel invincible. It wrecks my body now.
And ever since one last time I had with alcohol and felt awful even drinking lightly, I decided for my general wellbeing and overall health it was time to even give up the occasional single drink. Just not worth it anymore. I had my fun and don't regret it but I've lost interest. I've moved on to tea and coffee and other things
I thought I might give in during the holidays or tough moments but I've stuck it out so far and never plan to go back. Most of the desire has actually fully left me. I think of alcohol and immediately feel a tinge of a phantom headache or sensation that reminds me of the last time I had it, and that was months and months ago
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Comment on pISSStream — A macOS menu bar app that shows how full the International Space Station's urine tank is in real time in ~space
0x29A LinkFinally, some real innovation in the tech space!Finally, some real innovation in the tech space!
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
0x29A (edited )Link ParentOh, just the locations/themes/etc, not the stitching itself, but I still appreciate the input, as I am a complete noob to sewing. So far I have one garment I've done- a hoodie, as a learning...Oh, just the locations/themes/etc, not the stitching itself, but I still appreciate the input, as I am a complete noob to sewing. So far I have one garment I've done- a hoodie, as a learning experience, and I used running/straight stitches on it (I do it by hand). It gets washed but not super often and so far it has held up well. I might switch over to blanket (which is one of the others I've considered) if it starts being a problem.
I also use embroidery floss instead of thread because of the thickness (and due to recommendations from other metalheads)
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Comment on Exposing the Honey influencer scam in ~tech
0x29A LinkI used it for a short time and seemingly got some okay deals, and even as someone more tech and web inclined, didn't really think twice about their business model- assuming driving traffic to...I used it for a short time and seemingly got some okay deals, and even as someone more tech and web inclined, didn't really think twice about their business model- assuming driving traffic to sites, even if with discounts, was somehow getting them money in return, or some amount of selling user data or something. It's not something all of us really deeply think about, even those one would think would have more awareness. For me, it was just a short circuit for my brain of "hey this inserts coupon codes that I'm tried of typing in manually, I save some money, okay deal" and I think it was that for many that used it.
But overall it was pretty lackluster, and now it's more clear why, and from a code perspective the extension was always pretty awful and got even worse over time. It got to the point that it was completely breaking some retailers' websites and causing them to not load properly because of the code it was injecting into the page (or making them impossibly slow), which made me rethink using it altogether and I gave it up.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
0x29A LinkPlanning/thinking through how I'm going to patch/pin some more garments with band patches. I've got a vest and a jacket that are clear canvases ready to work on, a backpatch for each, and plenty...-
Planning/thinking through how I'm going to patch/pin some more garments with band patches. I've got a vest and a jacket that are clear canvases ready to work on, a backpatch for each, and plenty of other patches and pins.
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Continuing my many-weeks ongoing weekly music discovery/recommendation.
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Trying to figure out some changes I'm going to make to my site.
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Been writing some lyrics.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A (edited )LinkPosting more since this thread got bumped again Great split Towards the Nameless Darkness and other records by Hvile I Kaos, a band that makes self-described "black ritual chamber musick", as in...Posting more since this thread got bumped again
Great split Towards the Nameless Darkness and other records by Hvile I Kaos, a band that makes self-described "black ritual chamber musick", as in ritual chamber music with black metal inspiration / atmosphere / themes. It's instrumental and beautiful, yet ritualistic and dark. The split features two tracks by Grave Gnosis (black metal) also which absolutely rip.
Also Hvile I Kaos associated with safe/leftist labels and have done work raising money for charities, for survivors of domestic abuse, for instance, so all around good people.
Separately, a hardcore album from 2021 I always return to, God's Hate led by wrestler Brody King. Definitely have some "be strong" positive hardcore type of edge to them as well as taking a clear stand against racists. The genre can come off very "bro" energy sometimes, but I think bands like God's Hate are a good middle ground of having some of that "toughness" energy without turning it into misogyny or other gross shit
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Comment on Bluesky's growing pains in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentThis is one of the thoughts I've had, I'm pretty sure the majority of bsky users are simply previous twitter users, and not necessarily technically savvy ones that even know or care that such a...This is one of the thoughts I've had, I'm pretty sure the majority of bsky users are simply previous twitter users, and not necessarily technically savvy ones that even know or care that such a protocol exists. They probably don't think of bsky as anything other than "new twitter" and couldn't be bothered to consider jumping the hurdles of the fediverse. If ATProto/bsky somehow eventually solve those hurdles and make it seamless and completely transparent/easy-to-understand to the "normal"/non-tech crowd, then maybe.
But to me it's this weird hybrid right now of built with some federation in mind while simultaneously being its own centralized platform, where the federation is sort-of a "future promise" and something a large portion of the user-base may never encounter or bother with changing, and so it kinda becomes de-facto centralized regardless of what its capabilities are
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Comment on Bluesky's growing pains in ~tech
0x29A (edited )LinkI've joined and quit twice. I don't think it's for me. There are things that I like about it in contrast to prior platforms, but my belief is ultimately once bsky needs to pursue monetization more...I've joined and quit twice. I don't think it's for me. There are things that I like about it in contrast to prior platforms, but my belief is ultimately once bsky needs to pursue monetization more aggressively, it will slowly decline and follow the same road other platforms have. As it grows, it will become just as awful. It will just be one big sesspool of brands, celebrities, replyguys, and bumper-sticker (and limited, often American overton-window two-party politics). I can never find enough accounts to follow, and I just don't have the types of posts that are going to gain followers either, so it's just a ghost town for me personally.
I think once I left Twitter in the shadow of Elon entering the scene (and prior to that, I was already primed to leave due to Twitter being awful even before he was in the picture), I just don't find value personally in public critical-mass microblog social media.
I do enjoy Mastodon, but even as a user of Mastodon, I see it as an alternative, NOT a replacement, for things like Twitter/bsky, so I am in no way recommending you use it instead. I'm glad that the server I am on in Mastodon is extremely heavily moderated/picky in who they federate with, isn't open to a critical mass of users, and we just have our own small community we've built there over time. As an alternate approach, it's perfect for me (and it's actually ideal that it never try to be bsky or twitter). Being a replacement for those services would ruin it, actually.
There are a couple of accounts I want to keep tabs on on bsky, but I've just bookmarked the public page of their accounts (Technology Connections, for instance)
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A LinkBeen listening to: Recent releases: Advance Base - Horrible Occurrences Fennesz - Mosaic Tempestarii - A Constellation of Dead Stars Nagasaki Sunrise - Distroyer Goat Worship - Lindisfarne (Note:...Been listening to:
Recent releases:
Advance Base - Horrible Occurrences
Fennesz - Mosaic
Tempestarii - A Constellation of Dead Stars
Nagasaki Sunrise - Distroyer
Goat Worship - Lindisfarne (Note: Youtube link)
Caressing Misery - Lost and Serene
Zverzost - Мракоуст
Wolfzahn - In War There is No Substitute For Victory Note: not fash, despite aesthetics
Kidnapped - DisgustNot recently released:
Votive - Towards the Pillory
Missouri Executive Order 44 - Salt Sermon -
Comment on What are your favorite special kitchen ingredients? in ~food
0x29A LinkAleppo pepper Black peppercorns in a grinder VS pre-ground black pepper (HUGE flavor difference) MSG Tons of hot sauces, particularly Chabe Sambal for pizza and Scotch Bonnet curry for fish Lao...Aleppo pepper
Black peppercorns in a grinder VS pre-ground black pepper (HUGE flavor difference)
MSG
Tons of hot sauces, particularly Chabe Sambal for pizza and Scotch Bonnet curry for fish
Lao Gan Ma (various)
Fly by Jing (various)
+1 to Ponzu, amazing with Gyoza/Jiaozi
Dijon Mustard -
Comment on Inline image support in ~tildes
0x29A (edited )LinkEven in an extremely limited form (specific communities, hidden by default) I personally would rather this adjustment not be made. This specifically down to my personal preference (so I get not...Even in an extremely limited form (specific communities, hidden by default) I personally would rather this adjustment not be made. This specifically down to my personal preference (so I get not everyone will agree) in terms of aesthetics and whether it fits with the vibe here, and I just have a personal bias that leans towards more text-forward, efficient content and I like that Tildes bucks typical web trends, since very few sites do anymore.
I would prefer that we be overzealous in protecting against the infiltration of imagery. I think once it is allowed in limited form, it will eventually be requested to open it up more for this or that justification and eventually misused and/or starting to echo the vibe of other sites that Tildes (thankfully) isn't.
I don't find it that bad to expect someone to click a link to an external image instead of inlining it. Browsers and phones tend to handle that well-enough, and that keeps the site clean and only loads external data to someone's computing device if they specifically authorize it (by clicking a link)
I get that there are technical solutions to some issues I have raised but I'd prefer the site not even have the infrastructure to support it at all vs. that
In other words, I don't think the infiltration of imagery is a worthwhile tradeoff to making some comments with image links less annoying for people that don't like clicking them on their phones
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Comment on Doctor fired after running emergency department warns about effect of for-profit firms on US health care (2022) in ~health
0x29A (edited )Link ParentYeah this is kind of a forgotten angle on it. While it can work (IMHO), it relies on a government willing and able to fully support it and treat it right. The governments in a number of places,...Yeah this is kind of a forgotten angle on it. While it can work (IMHO), it relies on a government willing and able to fully support it and treat it right. The governments in a number of places, like the US, would make it awful. The US would treat it like the USPS and try to run it like a business, seeking profit and cutting benefits, and so on.
tl;dr - Nationalization vs privatization only helps when the government makes those distinguishable in practice. When the government treats something national as if it were privately run anyway, then you're screwed. So the problem is more of who is in charge, cultural differences, entrenched propaganda, etc.
There are things that work well elsewhere that would only work well in the US if everyone changes their mind about a lot of things very quickly.
I mean, hell, the healthcare in the UK, IIRC, can work well but is being attacked from inside by purposeful underfunding. Basically people in the govt that don't like it, underfund it so it fails or has problems, and then point the finger at it saying "look it doesn't work", all a political game to them to destroy it.
I also feel like very centralized, very vertical hierarchical power structures often tend to lead to the same kind of ruin and corruption eventually. While I'm less a fan of typical government structures in general these days, I also am malleable/flexible enough to say "okay, if we're inevitably going to have a bunch of government stuff, then at a minimum, it needs to function radically different from what we're used to" (at least in the US). I am coming from a left angle on this (not to make it a left-right thing, but to be clear my approach is not a hyper-individualist/isolationist/reactionary one)
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Comment on Framework announces dual M.2 module for Framework Laptop 16 in ~comp
0x29A LinkLove to see when the modular design idea spawns other ideas for modules like this. Especially love it whenever a modular/repairable/etc design is successful. There have been many half-assed...Love to see when the modular design idea spawns other ideas for modules like this.
Especially love it whenever a modular/repairable/etc design is successful. There have been many half-assed attempts by larger corps at this kind of thing and they always end up as some CES prototype and go nowhere.
For once, a company, Framework, is actually making it work.
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Comment on Kagi Small Web in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentAgreed, and all the alternatives either really suck, or indirectly (or directly) support other companies I hate too, so this is a compromise I'm going to make, as the product is so significantly...Agreed, and all the alternatives either really suck, or indirectly (or directly) support other companies I hate too, so this is a compromise I'm going to make, as the product is so significantly good, and the amount that goes to Yandex insignificant enough that I'm not going to consider it a dealbreaker.
Like it or not, the 3rd biggest major index is Yandex, and it makes sense someone of that background and familiar with the service would consider using the index. Not saying it's a good thing either, but I honestly don't consider many of the alternative major index companies to be any better from an ethical point of view.
We can choose our battles in the ethical consumption nightmare that is our reality. Others may feel differently about this specific service and that is fine too.
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Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
0x29A Link ParentAnother thing: A GRIP6 belt. There are a number of companies doing similar things now. My usual belt situation has been- always too loose or too tight, or I customize it with my own self-made hole...Another thing: A GRIP6 belt. There are a number of companies doing similar things now.
My usual belt situation has been- always too loose or too tight, or I customize it with my own self-made hole (or not), and eventually cheap belts always want to break at weak points, or weaken in general, and are uncomfortable.
A belt like the GRIP6 solved that for me permanently. I've now had this belt longer than any other belt, it's infinitely adjustable down to the most granular need, the buckle stays out of the way and doesn't pinch me, etc. Life changer, for something so simple, because it has significantly increased my comfort on a permanent basis.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A LinkBeen listening to an album I discovered earlier this year (and this artist's last album too) and thoroughly enjoying them: Flower Face - Girl Prometheus Flower Face - The Shark in Your Water Been...Been listening to an album I discovered earlier this year (and this artist's last album too) and thoroughly enjoying them:
Flower Face - Girl Prometheus
Flower Face - The Shark in Your WaterBeen listening and compiling lists of favorites from 12/6 to make my weekly music discovery blog post, which I haven't yet, but the list is:
Horrible Occurrences | Advance Base
DISTROYER | NAGASAKI SUNRISE
A Constellation Of Dead Stars | TEMPESTARII
Fresh Out Of Flesh | GHOULHOUSE
Mosaic | Fennesz -
Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
0x29A Link ParentHaha! I just added the Hario Switch to one of my wishlists a few days ago, also the Clever brewer. Wanted to mess with immersion+pourover combinations. As far as the Flair, it does take some...Haha! I just added the Hario Switch to one of my wishlists a few days ago, also the Clever brewer. Wanted to mess with immersion+pourover combinations. As far as the Flair, it does take some getting used to, but I realized I was using closer to a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio and 1:2 worked much better for me. I pulled an awesome shot with the Neo Flex this morning using 15g in, 30ml out, with a fine (but not extremely fine) grind. Also pre-heated everything because otherwise it drops the temp too much without it. Used a trick Lance Hedrick has mentioned where he pre-infuses for a couple of seconds by just pushing the lever a bit, then pushes to 9 BAR / main espresso pressure, and then lets the pressure slowly fall off through the duration of the shot- and for whatever reason that combo of things got me probably the nicest shot yet. But I totally understand not wanting to bother often because it does waste a lot of coffee if you're constantly having to dial it in and just not satisfied.
The diner mug I have I got from a record label of all places, for like $15 and now I look around for more because I love the thick design. It looks good, feels good in the hand, stays warmer a bit longer than regular mugs. I do have a few regular mugs I enjoy too. Double-walled glass or insulated tumblers if I want some insulation too.
Definitely recommend what you updated your post to mention which is the full upgrade path. A small card that has no external power requirements and only gets power from the slot could potentially work, but, having been in similar situations before with Dell systems, I find it better to get away altogether, if it's feasible for you, because of their proprietary nature.
The 0NC2VH, like many other Dell systems, is a non-standard motherboard and has non-standard power connectors, so trying to find a better PSU becomes its own pain since an off-the-shelf model will not simply work, and majority of cards, if you're looking for any decent amount of performance, will require a PSU upgrade.
I have come to absolutely loathe proprietary systems like this after owning them and struggling with upgrades. They're user-hostile e-waste-generating nonsense