0x29A's recent activity
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
0x29A Link ParentI think this is true. One out of three so far for me seemed more prone to the problem than the other twoI think this is true. One out of three so far for me seemed more prone to the problem than the other two
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
0x29A (edited )Link ParentEven in a work environment where I was standing and walking a number of times per day, I've had my pairs last well over a year. While I am doing much less of that these days my current pair is on...Even in a work environment where I was standing and walking a number of times per day, I've had my pairs last well over a year. While I am doing much less of that these days my current pair is on track to last a long time as well.
Out of three pairs I've had (I currently have two, both of which are fine), I've had the water issue with one particular pair, but I got a good year out of it before it was a problem, and the reason mine had an issue was a hole began forming in the sole, it wasn't like a "phantom" water issue where I couldn't tell where the source was
And none of these shoes from Skechers I have purchased have advertised themselves as any kind of water-resistant or whatnot, as far as I know. Anytime I've gotten water in them it seems to be from water splashing up against the material (or the seam where the material meets the sole), but I just figured it was because I was buying shoes that weren't really made to avoid water ingress
For like $50, a year is a perfectly fine lasting amount of time for a shoe for me. Sure I'd love it to be better, but I count that as a relatively inexpensive win, and I can just re-buy when they wear out.
The comfort wins out for me. I don't care if my shoes last forever if they feel awful that entire time
I'm flat-footed on one foot too, and for whatever reason, Skechers have always felt better for that than any others.
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
0x29A Link ParentI haven't really used anything but the file storage so far. Mostly because I already have other note setups (Joplin), though I have considered trying it out. Haven't used the chat at all either....I haven't really used anything but the file storage so far. Mostly because I already have other note setups (Joplin), though I have considered trying it out. Haven't used the chat at all either.
They have small free tier available to try everything out too, which is nice
Normally "lifetime subscriptions" would make me worry about the solvency of the company, but they've answered questions about that already, saying they won't offer them forever or an unlimited amount, and they may remove the option in the future so it doesn't hurt them financially past what they're willing to accept. I was glad to hear that transparency at least.
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
0x29A Link ParentI can fully recommend Skechers shoes. I've had multiple makes of their shoes and they've by far been the most comfortable brand for me while being relatively inexpensive.I can fully recommend Skechers shoes. I've had multiple makes of their shoes and they've by far been the most comfortable brand for me while being relatively inexpensive.
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
0x29A LinkI use Filen.io for E2EE cloud storage and file syncing between all my devices. They occasionally do sales on various subscription levels (Black Friday, etc) and if you sign up then, you retain...I use Filen.io for E2EE cloud storage and file syncing between all my devices. They occasionally do sales on various subscription levels (Black Friday, etc) and if you sign up then, you retain that price for the life of the subscription. Subs, both lifetime and ongoing, are stackable also. I sync between macOS, Linux, and iOS pretty seamlessly.
I will say their desktop apps have come a long way but still aren't perfect. So occasionally you can run into a bit of bugginess but most of that they have fixed over time and it's night and day compared to when I first signed up.
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Comment on Spotify down? No, your Spotify mod was just blocked—here's why it won't work anymore. in ~tech
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Comment on What do you do with your diplomas? in ~life
0x29A LinkMine is stuffed away with other supposedly important documents, to be never seen again unless there's some extenuating circumstance (that I've yet to encounter). Can't even say I'm proud of it...Mine is stuffed away with other supposedly important documents, to be never seen again unless there's some extenuating circumstance (that I've yet to encounter). Can't even say I'm proud of it because I hate the institution it is from (and tbh the quality of the education I received was fairly awful too), never used the degree as anything more than just "proof of some level of college education / four years of commitment to finishing a thing" . It essentially means nothing to me anymore, but may to an employer, but employers never requested to see mine in person, they just contact the institution or whatever
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Comment on My sixteen-month theanine self-experiment in ~health
0x29A LinkL-theanine (even as an isolated supplement) has helped me from time to time in the past with anxiety. Noticeable difference when using it when I was in bad call center jobs. Mixed with caffeine it...L-theanine (even as an isolated supplement) has helped me from time to time in the past with anxiety. Noticeable difference when using it when I was in bad call center jobs. Mixed with caffeine it worked well as an alert-but-calm kind of experience, but most of my early use of it was on its own, specifically to take the edge off of nerves/stress. Not an extremely sizeable effect, but enough to notice and feel some relief.
I would say, as a drinker of a wide array of loose leaf teas, I've felt it from green and other teas (knowing that teas grown in some amount of shade, like a number of Japanese green teas have increased L-Theanine levels), but most tea is a calming experience for me anyway because of the process surrounding it, so often it's probably the ritual of making it, and it being a hot beverage, that is calming. Though tbf there are some teas that are almost never calming for me so I guess those are the exception to the rule.
However, strangely, and I've seen this anecdotally reported elsewhere but nothing ultra conclusive- I've stopped taking L-Theanine for a long while now, except when in tea or very rare circumstances in supplemental form by itself, because for some reason it is often, and repeatedly, a headache trigger for me. Especially caffeine + L-Theanine together. Caffeine on its own- I'm fine, caffeine + L-theanine has repeatedly given me headaches, no idea why.
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Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music
0x29A Link ParentSure thing! Yeah did a full album listen yesterday and honestly it might be one of the best albums from that era that I never knew about! While I love other Swedish DM too I really like how dark...Sure thing! Yeah did a full album listen yesterday and honestly it might be one of the best albums from that era that I never knew about! While I love other Swedish DM too I really like how dark and evil Repugnant sounds, and I also like its thrashiness.
It's almost like you can even hear a hint of a "gothic" sound (or some kind of atmosphere that would inspire something like Ghost) but done in a measured way and with a level of sincerity that actually makes it feel genuine- there are parts with some interesting vocal choices that really give that feeling to me, like they took a sinister, thrashy Swedeath vibe and layered a bit of experimentation on. One of the tracks also has a weird effected vocal that reminds me of one of my fave songs of all time, Morbid Angel's Where The Slime Live, and I love that too
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Comment on AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reviews and launch in ~games
0x29A LinkWhile I have a new enough Nvidia card that I won't be upgrading for a while, the switch to AMD is the definite path for me going forward. Switched to AMD CPU recently and want to do the same for...While I have a new enough Nvidia card that I won't be upgrading for a while, the switch to AMD is the definite path for me going forward. Switched to AMD CPU recently and want to do the same for the GPU once budget allows for it. Probably one or two more hardware generations in the future I'll make the leap
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Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music
0x29A (edited )LinkLate-era Ghost is no match for their early discography, but I still like it "for what it is". They're a theatrical and gimmicky and over-the-top rock group and venturing more into the pop side...Late-era Ghost is no match for their early discography, but I still like it "for what it is". They're a theatrical and gimmicky and over-the-top rock group and venturing more into the pop side than the rock side as time goes on. It's like an extremely polished but cheesy Blue Oyster Cult.
Even as someone into metal (some metalheads kinda give side-eye to Ghost because they sometimes get touted as metal when they really aren't) and someone that typically doesn't like over-the-top cheesy stuff (like some parts of power metal), Ghost just hits it the right way for me. For some reason they execute so well on the cheese that it works.
I'm pre-disposed to like Satanic / sacrilegious stuff though, whether it is serious or on-the-nose and campy, and that helps a lot and I like that I can enjoy those themes both when very serious and in extreme metal, or when campy and poppy. Of course there's also extreme metal that is Satanic cheese too (looking at you Behemoth and Deicide)
Also TIL that Forge has done both death metal and black metal in his past. Def recommend Repugnant's Epitome of Darkness. Solid Swedish death metal, and even as someone that likes Ghost, I much prefer Repugnant. What a gem! His black metal stuff is harder to find, save a single track from a demo I found online, and it's pretty solid too tbh
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Comment on Framework’s first desktop is a strange—but unique—mini ITX gaming PC in ~tech
0x29A LinkAs long as they don't compromise on their main products in terms of modularity, I'm okay with them taking some experimentation/risks on odd things like the desktop. There's really no need for them...As long as they don't compromise on their main products in terms of modularity, I'm okay with them taking some experimentation/risks on odd things like the desktop. There's really no need for them to build their own bog-standard desktop because there's no real reason for them to point to for it to exist in the crowded desktop PC market. However, going with a new take on it and finding some niche to market to makes sense- and packing a lot of power into a small quiet form factor (but ALSO selling the cpu+ram+mobo by itself too) is intriguing, and maybe even some competition for high end "mini PCs"- if they stick to their ethos but start challenging / competing in more PC markets, that's a good thing.
They know that it's a bit of an odd standout in their lineup- even in their own keynote they stressed that they knew the soldered RAM was a bit of a different choice for them but they saw it as a choice they were willing to make to create this particular desktop. It's still got standard power plugs, it's a standard board size (ITX) so can go in other cases, it's mainly the cpu/ram that cannot be changed. I'm definitely okay with competitors coming into a market like this and shaking things up a bit, and with the ethos they've proven through the rest of their lineup and their increasing revenue, I think that gives them some leeway to try new things. They even mentioned they internally debated about it for a while before going through with it, and spoke to AMD about if they could work around the soldered-RAM requirement, but ultimately made the compromise.
So yes, in contrast to other desktop PCs, it is less modular. But in contrast to a Mac Mini it's more customizable. I think having a powerful laptop internal in a desktop (and thus a very powerful but quiet system as a result, if what they say is true) is a somewhat novel take, and tbh, it, feels like an experimental path maybe inspired by the fact that you can buy their laptop mainboards, and put those in special cases to make super small desktops. I agree it's a different path for them for that particular device, but I don't think they're trying to convince us otherwise.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (February 2025) — Version 1.3 uses edge-to-edge UI on Android in ~tildes
0x29A Link ParentOh, sure enough that was the issue, thanks.Oh, sure enough that was the issue, thanks.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (February 2025) — Version 1.3 uses edge-to-edge UI on Android in ~tildes
0x29A LinkSubmitted feedback in testflight about this- but for some reason my Tildes Home feed is now empty? Uninstalling, reinstalling, viewing logged out and logged in, issue persists in all of those...Submitted feedback in testflight about this- but for some reason my Tildes Home feed is now empty?
Uninstalling, reinstalling, viewing logged out and logged in, issue persists in all of those situations
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Comment on Apple debuts iPhone 16e in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentYeah I use a combo setup. I use Face ID for stuff like app authentication once I'm in the phone, but for unlocking the phone itself I always keep a passcode requiredYeah I use a combo setup. I use Face ID for stuff like app authentication once I'm in the phone, but for unlocking the phone itself I always keep a passcode required
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Comment on Audio enthusiasts share your audio setups in ~hobbies
0x29A Link ParentIt's so frustrating, because if I was able to wear them safely/without pain, they would probably immediately move up to be my #1 favorite headphones. I absolutely love the sound and have like 15...It's so frustrating, because if I was able to wear them safely/without pain, they would probably immediately move up to be my #1 favorite headphones. I absolutely love the sound and have like 15 other pairs of headphones that just don't replicate that exact sound signature
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Comment on Audio enthusiasts share your audio setups in ~hobbies
0x29A Link ParentYeah I got the USB mic many more years ago than the XLR Worker Bee. The USB mic was to upgrade my audio for discord / communications calls / gaming / etc, and I have used it to record acoustic...Yeah I got the USB mic many more years ago than the XLR Worker Bee. The USB mic was to upgrade my audio for discord / communications calls / gaming / etc, and I have used it to record acoustic guitar and vocals in the past before I got the Worker Bee, which is dedicated to music stuff.
I decided to set up a makeshift dedicated "recording studio" room in the house with its own dedicated computer and hardware, and already had the interface for guitar recording, and that's when I got the Worker Bee.
It would be far too annoying to unhook all the wiring and stuff and keep moving my interface and XLR mic back and forth between my bedroom (where the daily driver PC is) and the recording room. That kind of friction is the kind of thing that keeps me from recording, so I try to reduce friction / barriers for myself to habits like practicing/recording so that I do them more often.
I have been tempted to switch from the USB mic to a second Worker Bee + cheap Interface though, just to have an XLR setup on my main PC too, but that's kind of pointless other than I've desired to get more modern since this G-Track is pushing 10-15 years probably at this point, if not more. But it works just fine so.. yeah
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Comment on Audio enthusiasts share your audio setups in ~hobbies
0x29A (edited )LinkAmateur music production/recording: Mac mini M4 with Edifier R1280DB speakers Audiobox iOne interface, Neat Worker Bee (v1) mic Multiple guitars (6-string, 7-string, acoustic, bass) Crate GMX212...Amateur music production/recording:
Mac mini M4 with Edifier R1280DB speakers
Audiobox iOne interface, Neat Worker Bee (v1) mic
Multiple guitars (6-string, 7-string, acoustic, bass)
Crate GMX212 guitar amp
Alesis Nitro Max (w/ Expansion and alternate Yamaha bass pad) e-drumsDaily driver PC:
Fiio E10K DAC -> Bose companion 2 series III speakers
Samson G-Track MicLiving room:
PC and other sources- Audio-Technica Sound Burger Record Player
PC has a Fiio E10K DAC
These go into a Onkyo TX-SR393 receiver and out to a pair of KEF Q150s and a Jamo C 910 SubHeadphones:
Too many pairs to count but my faves are:- SENNHEISER HD 569 (for some reason I like these way more than my higher-priced Senns)
- Philips SHP9500
- Sony MDR10R
- Audio-Technica PRO-ATH700ProMKII
- Philips Fidelio F1
- I have HD280s that I ADORE too but they cause headaches for me, every single time I wear them
- Wireless: Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TWBK earbuds
- Wireless: Anker Soundcore A1 earbuds
- Other assorted earbuds (cheap but decent ones from China, stuff from Drop, other no-name stuff)
Portable Speaker:
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth® speaker II -
Comment on Audio enthusiasts share your audio setups in ~hobbies
0x29A Link ParentThere is a Worker Bee II now and it's pretty well-received also (and kind of a wildly good price atm). I use the original v1 myself and love itThere is a Worker Bee II now and it's pretty well-received also (and kind of a wildly good price atm).
I use the original v1 myself and love it
I suppose, but I guess I rarely have ever owned anything "high quality" to compare to. My entire life has been me wearing $30-$60 shoes, none of which last a super long time (even decades ago I was wearing shoes that lasted a year and cost about what Skechers cost today), and to be honest, compared to many I've worn in the past, most of the Skechers I have worn and do wear feel better quality to me than the others I've worn (Vans, Converse, Champion, no-names from Payless Shoe Source, etc).