NomadicCoder's recent activity
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Comment on hahaha we live in hell: "how do we pay for parking?" in ~tech
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Comment on Wagner boss Prigozhin killed in plane crash in Russia in ~news
NomadicCoder Link ParentPossible that the concussion of whatever took down the plane or the high G forces of the spinning knocked them out, but it appeared to me that the fuselage was intact, so it seemed possible to me...Possible that the concussion of whatever took down the plane or the high G forces of the spinning knocked them out, but it appeared to me that the fuselage was intact, so it seemed possible to me that they were fully conscious for that minute of descent.
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Comment on Wagner boss Prigozhin killed in plane crash in Russia in ~news
NomadicCoder LinkThere's a video that is reported to be of the plane falling -- as much as I find it difficult to find much sympathy for the guy, watching its very long and slow descent makes me feel a bit sorry...There's a video that is reported to be of the plane falling -- as much as I find it difficult to find much sympathy for the guy, watching its very long and slow descent makes me feel a bit sorry for him and others on the plane -- that's a LONG time to know that you're about to die.
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Comment on US Federal Emergency Management Agency funds run short - Vermont lawmakers lobby for emergency funding for flood damaged state in ~enviro
NomadicCoder (edited )LinkIt’s been horrible here. I’m fortunate to live in a town that wasn’t hit hard, and my house is at the top of a hill away from the river and lake, but the rain has been insane — non stop, day after...It’s been horrible here. I’m fortunate to live in a town that wasn’t hit hard, and my house is at the top of a hill away from the river and lake, but the rain has been insane — non stop, day after day after day.
Driving around the state I see so many houses gutted with all of their possessions, cabinets, and drywall in dumpsters in front of the house. Downtown Montpelier (the capital) is completely gutted.
The devastation is vast.
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Comment on hahaha we live in hell: "how do we pay for parking?" in ~tech
NomadicCoder Link ParentE-Z Pass is a mess of a system. I moved to an eastern state (that has no toll roads, but is surrounded by states that use E-ZPass) and went from using FasTrak in CA to E-ZPass. The rules are setup...E-Z Pass is a mess of a system. I moved to an eastern state (that has no toll roads, but is surrounded by states that use E-ZPass) and went from using FasTrak in CA to E-ZPass. The rules are setup are so messed up that I haven't yet bought a transponder. Depending which state you buy the transponder from you have different rates on different roads. Apparently New York has something like 3 different organizations that give different rates, which also depends where you live. Moreover, I have a camper van that is > 7,000 GVW, so according to the rules I can't have it on a personal account, but also apparently don't qualify for a commercial account -- oh, and then there's a maintenance fee if you don't use it enough. I don't understand the GVW rule either as that basically means that almost no pickup can have a transponder -- which makes no sense to me at all:
EZPass transponders are not for motorcycles, motor homes (RVs), vehicles that weigh more than 7,000 lbs., or commercial vehicle use.
I finally just gave up and keep paying the higher pay by plate price given that I don't travel out of my home state more than a few times per year.
I also wonder -- if they already scan every plate and can send a bill, why can't I just set up an online account w/ my billing information and just let them email me whenever they bill me? Why do I need a transponder at all?
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Comment on Grand jury in the US state of Georgia returns indictments in Donald Trump 2020 election case in ~news
NomadicCoder Link ParentI've been skimming the indictment that I've been waiting for with baited breath. I am not sure that I understand act 22. Obviously it's a summary, but I'm not following what the claim is here:...I've been skimming the indictment that I've been waiting for with baited breath. I am not sure that I understand act 22. Obviously it's a summary, but I'm not following what the claim is here:
Act 22
On or about the 3rd day of December 2020, DONALD JOHN TRUMP caused to be tweeted from the Twitter account @RealDonaldTrump, "Georgia hearings now on @OANN. Amazing!" This was an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.Likely more details will come out during the trial, but what is the claim of wrongdoing here? How is that post, in and of itself, an "overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy"? It doesn't seem to be advocating for any wrongdoing.
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Comment on One car per green: Why the lights on US freeway onramps can’t end traffic jams in ~transport
NomadicCoder Link ParentThey're common along 101 near Redwood City, and there's plenty of them on 50 in Davis and Sacramento -- not sure how you've never seen them.They're common along 101 near Redwood City, and there's plenty of them on 50 in Davis and Sacramento -- not sure how you've never seen them.
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Comment on US requires airline lavatories to be more accessible for wheelchair users in ~transport
NomadicCoder Link ParentAgreed, but my fear (as somebody who wears a 36" [~91cm] pant inseam) is that they'll just take 5cm away from the already insufficient space in each row to make it happen rather than removing a...Agreed, but my fear (as somebody who wears a 36" [~91cm] pant inseam) is that they'll just take 5cm away from the already insufficient space in each row to make it happen rather than removing a few seats.
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Comment on One year old, US climate law is already turbocharging clean energy technology in ~enviro
NomadicCoder Link ParentIt may be less effective as you go north, but I live about 45 minute drive south of the Canadian border, and solar is abundant here, so I don’t see it as out of the question.It may be less effective as you go north, but I live about 45 minute drive south of the Canadian border, and solar is abundant here, so I don’t see it as out of the question.
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Comment on Electric vehicles are sending toxic tire particles into the water, soil, and air in ~transport
NomadicCoder Link ParentThey also seem to neglect the impacts of brake dust, which I imagine has a fair number of nasty things in it, even if they no longer use asbestos -- electric and hybrid vehicles with their...They also seem to neglect the impacts of brake dust, which I imagine has a fair number of nasty things in it, even if they no longer use asbestos -- electric and hybrid vehicles with their regenerative braking produce far less of the nasty stuff.
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Comment on Selecting monitors for a three monitor setup in ~tech
NomadicCoder LinkI know that this doesn’t add anything to your question, but I have a question of my own — in what way do you find three monitors to enhance your usage? Honest question as I’m struggling to see the...I know that this doesn’t add anything to your question, but I have a question of my own — in what way do you find three monitors to enhance your usage? Honest question as I’m struggling to see the value.
I personally dislike huge monitors as it feels like I have to look all over the place for what I’m looking for — and I can’t realistically look at more than 2 or 3 things at a time anyhow, so I just can’t imagine how having to swivel my head around to find things would help. I personally use virtual desktops and keyboard shortcuts and I can swap what’s on my active monitor to exactly what I want to see faster than I could turn my head, so I’m perfectly happy with one primary monitor and the internal laptop display as a supplementary display for reference docs, chat programs, etc. that don’t need my full attention.
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Comment on We must end the tyranny of printers in American life in ~tech
NomadicCoder Link Parent“jet” in “laserjet” (trademarked name) or “inkjet” (the generic term) generally refers to the fine nozzles that shoot the liquid ink at the paper to create the resulting printout — a laser printer...“jet” in “laserjet” (trademarked name) or “inkjet” (the generic term) generally refers to the fine nozzles that shoot the liquid ink at the paper to create the resulting printout — a laser printer uses an electrostatic charge on the drum to first attract the toner (not ink, it’s a dry powder) to the paper and then heat fuses it in place and makes it stay in place. It’s a very different process, no ink involved.
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Comment on Why the floppy disk just won't die in ~tech
NomadicCoder LinkIn the retro gaming world it seems that SD card floppy disk emulators are common -- physical hardware that connects to the floppy disk port and pretends to be a floppy disk, but is actually...In the retro gaming world it seems that SD card floppy disk emulators are common -- physical hardware that connects to the floppy disk port and pretends to be a floppy disk, but is actually reading from the SD card. It seems that some of those examples in the article could be replaced by such a device, but I don't know how hard they are to source for whatever specific drive they use or whether there are robust enough solutions for commercial use, but if not it seems like there's a market for such a device if people are paying so much for a dwindling supply of physical disks. Perhaps that's what the article meant by "usb emulator", but I'd think that SD would be an easier solution.
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Comment on We must end the tyranny of printers in American life in ~tech
NomadicCoder Link ParentIf not color, laser printers are much cheaper in the long run, especially for infrequent use as there's no risk of the ink drying out or clogging. EDIT: I notice that you're saying "laser jet",...If not color, laser printers are much cheaper in the long run, especially for infrequent use as there's no risk of the ink drying out or clogging.
EDIT: I notice that you're saying "laser jet", "laserjet" is what HP calls their inkjet printers, maybe you did mean laser by the way that you separated the words, but you did say ink... so, I'm not actually sure.
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Comment on We must end the tyranny of printers in American life in ~tech
NomadicCoder Link ParentYes... I haven't thought twice about my printer for years -- everything in this article is ancient history in my mind because I bought an inexpensive multi-function Brother printer years ago (the...Yes... I haven't thought twice about my printer for years -- everything in this article is ancient history in my mind because I bought an inexpensive multi-function Brother printer years ago (the first of which I gave to a teacher to use as a photocopier 4 or 5 years ago after many years of use because I wanted to upgrade to one w/ wireless printing), which works perfectly and without any configuration in Linux and macos (I have no idea nor care about Windows). I use it to scan all of my mail and sort it for longevity and shred the originals, and then when I need to print something I have it easily available. @Akir's advice also doesn't make any sense if you live somewhere rural, like I do, it would take me over an hour to get a printout -- I need them often enough that that would quickly become a huge hassle.
...which reminds me, it was complaining about low toner last week. I should think about ordering a replacement cartridge some time in the next month. :)
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Comment on Nostalgia -- what programs do you miss? in ~tech
NomadicCoder Link ParentWow.... it's so weird "going back in time" like that. Seeing these pages that are stuck in time, a reminder of the early internet -- before we really knew what it was going to become, and...surprise
Wow.... it's so weird "going back in time" like that. Seeing these pages that are stuck in time, a reminder of the early internet -- before we really knew what it was going to become, and everybody had to have flashing animated under construction gifs. What's interesting is just how many of the pages that I stumbled upon with that have been updated quite recently, even though they still have the Netscape icons at the bottom and a sign guestbook link. One has a little image that says "are you ready for the year 2000" on the same page as a "Stand with Ukraine" animated flag that alternates between that text and presumably the Ukrainian version of that text.
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Comment on A quick look into Microsoft Offices's new default font in ~design
NomadicCoder Link ParentI had similar difficulty with the suddenly switched ordering without labeling. I had to go back and forth a few times to the top sample to figure out that they were switched.I had similar difficulty with the suddenly switched ordering without labeling. I had to go back and forth a few times to the top sample to figure out that they were switched.
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Comment on Those of you with standing desks, how are finding them and would you recommend? in ~life
NomadicCoder LinkI have a standing desk -- one thing that I don't see mentioned here is that in addition to standing, even when I'm using it sitting mode I find it to be helpful to be able to make small...I have a standing desk -- one thing that I don't see mentioned here is that in addition to standing, even when I'm using it sitting mode I find it to be helpful to be able to make small adjustments of 2-3cm throughout the day helps my back as it causes me to change my posture in my chair and not slump into the same position. For example, if I feel like I'm slouching too much I can raise it a bit to cause me to sit up a bit more straight.
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Comment on What are your best cleaning tips? in ~life.home_improvement
NomadicCoder Link ParentBe careful with those, they're very abrasive.Be careful with those, they're very abrasive.
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Comment on What are your best cleaning tips? in ~life.home_improvement
NomadicCoder Link ParentFor solid countertops (NOT soft artificial countertops) like quartz I've found Bon Ami to be amazing for removing tea and coffee stains, and it doesn't scratch at all.For solid countertops (NOT soft artificial countertops) like quartz I've found Bon Ami to be amazing for removing tea and coffee stains, and it doesn't scratch at all.
Thanks, I can look into I-Pass -- perhaps I can get the NY one for my regular car (since it most often travels to NYC to visit family), and get something else for the camper van. No reason why I can't mix-and-match.