Kingofthezyx's recent activity
-
Comment on Tips for starting a garden? in ~hobbies
-
Comment on Going vegan (general veganism thread) in ~food
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI sprinkle it on steamed or roasted veggies (broccoli, asparagus, and potatoes especially) Sprinkle it on pasta in place of parmesan cheese I also make a "cheese" sauce out of it for vegan mac and...I sprinkle it on steamed or roasted veggies (broccoli, asparagus, and potatoes especially)
Sprinkle it on pasta in place of parmesan cheese
I also make a "cheese" sauce out of it for vegan mac and cheese by making a roux, then oat milk, spices, and yeast. I also add tomato paste sometimes and use this "cheese" sauce as a base sauce for vegan pizza.
-
Comment on Going vegan (general veganism thread) in ~food
Kingofthezyx Link ParentGood call! The bulk kind from WinCo is, and Anthony's from Amazon is, for those looking!Good call! The bulk kind from WinCo is, and Anthony's from Amazon is, for those looking!
-
Comment on Going vegan (general veganism thread) in ~food
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI get my B12 from Nutritional Yeast, which incidentally is super healthy for other reasons too. And tastes great.I get my B12 from Nutritional Yeast, which incidentally is super healthy for other reasons too. And tastes great.
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx Link Parent....Dad?....Dad?
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx Link ParentOh man, if it was a Type-S I wouldn't even be considering selling it - they are rapidly becoming cult classics (and for good reason)Oh man, if it was a Type-S I wouldn't even be considering selling it - they are rapidly becoming cult classics (and for good reason)
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI guess my question would be is it a unique American car, that you can't really get from other avenues (European/Asian) Like, if it's a fairly standard sedan, minivan or truck, then probably the...I guess my question would be is it a unique American car, that you can't really get from other avenues (European/Asian)
Like, if it's a fairly standard sedan, minivan or truck, then probably the price of that specific model won't go up much because people will just look for alternative versions that are not tariff-inflated. If it's something uniquely American, it might gain some value from people who really want that specific model.
But I'm from the country with all the tariffs on everyone so everything is going up here, I guess in some ways it's less complicated but worse 😂
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI already replied to your top level comment but I really like this way of thinking as well. Gives me some stuff to mull over because the answer is no, I probably wouldn't buy it for the price it...I already replied to your top level comment but I really like this way of thinking as well. Gives me some stuff to mull over because the answer is no, I probably wouldn't buy it for the price it currently is. The thing is, the part that's hard for me is imagining how I'm going to feel in a couple of years when I will need a second car, what the market's going to be like, and whether I will have wished I HAD bought the RSX for the current price (which is extremely close to your guess, so good job)
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI appreciate your comment - it basically sums up my worry about keeping it and why we're considering doing away with it. As much as I don't want to sell it and then regret it, I also don't want to...I appreciate your comment - it basically sums up my worry about keeping it and why we're considering doing away with it. As much as I don't want to sell it and then regret it, I also don't want to KEEP it and regret it.
It's kind of funny you mention the phone thing though - I have two phones I keep meaning to sell but haven't gotten around to it. It's not even that I'm trying to keep a backup - I'm just lazy 😭
-
Comment on Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx (edited )Link ParentThank you for your thorough reply! I've definitely been considering the serpentine belt replacement to be something I'll do manually. The parts and tools are less than $50 total, its the labor...Thank you for your thorough reply! I've definitely been considering the serpentine belt replacement to be something I'll do manually. The parts and tools are less than $50 total, its the labor cost that makes it super expensive to pay someone else to do it.
One of the things I love about the RSX is that it is so accessible to work on. If I pared down to only my other car, I'm much more limited to what I can do with it. I do the oil changes and basic care and maintenance but it's much more complicated (and expensive) to get down to the nitty gritty with it. A TON of the parts on new cars are completely proprietary and there's very little aftermarket.
I'll probably also do the other work myself or at least attempt it, especially if it costs a little less than a mechanic would after buying new tools. Working on my cars and the house are my primary methods of obtaining new tools and selling it as an "investment" in my mind.
I think I'll at least keep it long enough to do the work myself and then re-evaluate how I feel. I have this long-term dream of also using it to teach my daughter about cars (she is obsessed with them! "Cah!" She says every time we see one). If I do ever get rid of it I'd probably buy something similar in a few years anyway even if it was just to be a project car.
-
Can we talk about used cars, and the near future of the car market in the US?
I will admit this is somewhat of a selfish topic as I am struggling to make a decision about selling or keeping a used car I own. I have two vehicles, a relatively newer model crossover which is...
I will admit this is somewhat of a selfish topic as I am struggling to make a decision about selling or keeping a used car I own. I have two vehicles, a relatively newer model crossover which is our primary family car, and my daily driver when running errands with the baby. Our second car is an '06 Acura RSX which is a little coupe (although, it's quite practical and spacious for a coupe)
Our current situation is that my wife works less than a mile from home, and I am a stay at home dad. My wife generally walks or rides our electric scooter to work, while very rarely (extremely snowy or rainy days) we will load up and drive her down the road. The result of this is that the RSX sits unused a lot of the time, except for specific times like when she takes the baby somewhere on the weekend and I have errands to run as well, or when the crossover is otherwise occupied (oil changes, tire rotation etc)
For these reasons, we have been considering selling the RSX. Since used car prices have been spiking it would pay off all of our remaining debt on the crossover, and leave us with a few thousand in the bank. It's not a huge amount of money but it will save us a few hundred a month. We are not well-off on a single income, but we're not struggling by any means.
My hesitancy is basically two economic reasons and one personal:
-
With the tariff insanity, used car prices do seem to be spiking and I don't think (or know if) we're necessarily at the price peak. I would regret selling it and having the price jump 25% a few months later.
-
Because of the same reasons, replacing it in a year or two when I want to go back to work might end up costing us more than we made from selling it. My daughter is 18 months now and we'll probably be looking to get her into daycare by 2.5-3 years old.
-
As for the personal reason, I just really like this car. I bought it outright from the insurance payment on my first real car getting totaled, and it has gotten me through some tough times in my life. I have done a lot of work on it to make it "my" car. I love the fact that it's from the era where cars were just machines, but its still modern enough for tech upgrades, and parts for it (both OEM and third party) are basically everywhere. It's cheap to work on and barely needs work to begin with. That being said, it does need a few things done that might be outside of my skill set in the next year or so. I might be able to manage a serpentine belt replacement, but the front control arm bushings are wearing out and it seems like you need a lot of specialized tools for that replacement so I'm not sure I'm confident in doing it myself.
As for the less "me specific" portion of the conversation, I'm just curious what the smart people of Tildes think about what's going to happen in the near/mid future in the US regarding the car market, used cars, the transition to electric vehicles, and what you're thinking about in regards buying, selling, or holding vehicles in these uncertain times.
39 votes -
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Kingofthezyx LinkAny Terry Brooks fans on Tildes? I remember reading some of the Shannara novels when I was younger (pre/teens) and loving them, but I read random ones and never got the full story or any kind of...Any Terry Brooks fans on Tildes? I remember reading some of the Shannara novels when I was younger (pre/teens) and loving them, but I read random ones and never got the full story or any kind of continuation. I think the books I read as a youngster were The Sword of Shannara, followed by Scions of Shannara, and then the entire Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy.
A little under a year ago I got the itch to re-read Magic Kingdom for Sale. Sold! and the rest of the series after learning there was a 6th book released. I had read the first 5 (or maybe only 4, because I really didn't remember almost anything that happened in Witches Brew). Great series if you're looking for fun, playful fantasy without very high stakes most of the time.
I decided I'd continue along and reread the Shannara novels but in order. Sword was fairly standard "Sort of the Rings" and I totally get why it gets a lot of criticism as a Lord of the Rings rip-off, but I feel like the world-building and lore of Shannara holds up or even rivals Tolkien as Brooks expands on it over the rest of the series.
For those uninitiated, the basic premise is that it's your "typical" fantasy fair, with elves, dwarves, humans, trolls and wizards (Druids) and such, but it's set a couple thousand years in the future, after "man" wipes themselves out in nuclear war, and the aftermath leads to evolutionary splintering into the aforementioned races.
Anyway I am now on to Wishsong of Shannara after finishing Sword and Elfstones of Shannara.
So far I am really enjoying trudging back through the series(these are LONG books) slowly before bed. Just wondering if anyone else enjoyed this series around here and would be interested in my thoughts as I go along, or wanted to share any of their own.
-
Comment on The case against ultrasonic humidifiers in ~health
Kingofthezyx LinkWhat we've taken to doing, which has worked pretty well for us, is exclusively using reverse osmosis water from the store - we fill up from one of those dispensers at the grocery store (WinCo, in...What we've taken to doing, which has worked pretty well for us, is exclusively using reverse osmosis water from the store - we fill up from one of those dispensers at the grocery store (WinCo, in our case)
5 gallons for $2, which is super reasonable in my opinion. This has allowed us to go a week or so between cleanings without any buildup or slime issues. Before when we were using "filtered" water, it was a constant battle to keep them clean.
Distilled water would work as well, but tends to be more expensive in my experience.
-
Comment on Pay what you want for every Wheel of Time book (supporting the ACLU) in ~books
Kingofthezyx Link ParentReally, I didn't realize how silly their default spreads as are. Default for an $18 donation for all 17 books: $9.90 to Macmillan Publishers $7.20 to Humble $0.90 to ACLU (wow) "Extra to Charity"...Really, I didn't realize how silly their default spreads as are.
Default for an $18 donation for all 17 books:
$9.90 to Macmillan Publishers
$7.20 to Humble
$0.90 to ACLU (wow)"Extra to Charity" changes it to:
$8.55 to MP
$6.75 to Humble
$2.70 to ACLU (still bad)If you do the sliders yourself you can maximize to:
$0.00 to MP
$5.40 to Humble
$12.60 to ACLU -
Comment on Target suffers eighth week of foot-traffic losses since caving on its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy in ~society
Kingofthezyx Link ParentYeah I think the people that were shopping at Walmart were already willing to scrape the bottom of the barrel for low prices and convenience. Target was considered in a lot of groups where to go...Yeah I think the people that were shopping at Walmart were already willing to scrape the bottom of the barrel for low prices and convenience. Target was considered in a lot of groups where to go if you need big box stuff but have a moral quandary with Walmart. I know it was for me, at least. That entire subset of people was already willing to forsake convenience if it meant shopping along with their values. I couldn't like Costco any more than I already did (superfan) so I'm not necessarily going there more or spending more, but I am evangelizing them when I get the chance.
Basically I think the absolute number of people who shop with their values is relatively low, but a lot of them went to Target, and now they're not. I have certainly vastly decreased the amount I'm shopping there and instead looking for local/direct online sources of goods I would get from there or just forgoing stuff entirely.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Kingofthezyx LinkBeen playing a bit of Slay the Spire on my tablet while doing cardio. My wife and I recently bought an elliptical machine, which was ostensibly intended as a winter training option for my...Been playing a bit of Slay the Spire on my tablet while doing cardio. My wife and I recently bought an elliptical machine, which was ostensibly intended as a winter training option for my distance-running wife, but I've used it about 10 times as much as her because I'm a stay at home Dad and her work schedule has been demanding.
I have found StS to be a great companion to using the machine. I can think about my next move while running, then throw a bunch of cards without really missing a beat. It seriously helps pass the time as I get through about half a run (usually) in my 30ish minute workout.
Any recommendations for other games to add to the list for possible running entertainment? Basically it needs to be simple controls, no time constraints, and ideally something I can look at and think about for a bit of time before acting. Another game I've played that kind of fit the bill was Into the Breach but I basically did everything I could in that game completion-wise and StS has a little better replay value to me.
-
Comment on Planet Money buys a $137 diamond from Alibaba in ~finance
Kingofthezyx LinkMy wife and I still aren't fans of diamonds, because we just find them a little bit boring even beyond the super inflated prices, but it's good to know prices are gonna be rapidly undercut for...My wife and I still aren't fans of diamonds, because we just find them a little bit boring even beyond the super inflated prices, but it's good to know prices are gonna be rapidly undercut for such a stupid, plain gem.
-
Comment on Rick Astley - Pink Pony Club (Chappell Roan cover, 2025) in ~music
Kingofthezyx Link ParentFor a guy who had a hit that became an even bigger hit as a joke, he has really found a good place as a part of modern culture and just seems like a genuine and good natured dude. And this cover...For a guy who had a hit that became an even bigger hit as a joke, he has really found a good place as a part of modern culture and just seems like a genuine and good natured dude. And this cover slaps.
-
Comment on If you had to buy a car today, what would you buy? in ~transport
Kingofthezyx LinkJust had a conversation with my wife recently that if we had to buy a new car today, we'd get a Hyundai Santa Cruz. The XRT is awesome but even the base model can pull 3500lbs.Just had a conversation with my wife recently that if we had to buy a new car today, we'd get a Hyundai Santa Cruz. The XRT is awesome but even the base model can pull 3500lbs.
-
Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
Kingofthezyx Link ParentI am glad you enjoyed it!I am glad you enjoyed it!
For one, being in zone 10a pretty much means you can grow whatever you want almost year round. If it gets really hot where you are, some shadecloth (and a way to mount it up to block the sun part of the day) may help your plants survive.
Make sure you understand the water requirements and preferences of the plants you're growing - for instance most plants prefer deep, intermittent watering to soil that is constantly damp, but some plants will die from more than a day or two of dry soil. Both tomatoes and peppers will do better with deep, intermittent watering and full sun.
It sounds like you already have an idea of what you want to grow, which is great. For any other plants my suggestion is to pick things that are either hard to find fresh, or expensive at the store. Growing roma or beefsteak tomatoes isn't going to be as rewarding as growing heirloom varieties since you can pop down to any store and buy the common varieties for like $1/lb. Same thing with peppers - growing jalapeños might be easy but it's hard to make it feel worth it.
Herbs are tons of fun to grow and the difference between fresh from the garden versus plastic clamshell or hydroponic herbs is night and day. For things like basil, make sure to clip the flowers and keep long branches pruned to encourage bushy growth.