NomadicCoder's recent activity

  1. Comment on Book recommendations for regular people living through fascist/authoritarian regimes? in ~books

    NomadicCoder
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    My response was that it sure looks a lot more like a honeypot than a canary. Yep, let's make it super easy to see who's downloading it.

    My response was that it sure looks a lot more like a honeypot than a canary. Yep, let's make it super easy to see who's downloading it.

    1 vote
  2. Comment on Google is right to change Gulf of Mexico's name in its Maps app in the US in ~society

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Well, that sucks, but I still feel like boycotting Google a bit more cannot hurt me, and at least OSM has merit regardless of this nonsense. Google has become so integral to daily life that I’m...

    Well, that sucks, but I still feel like boycotting Google a bit more cannot hurt me, and at least OSM has merit regardless of this nonsense.

    Google has become so integral to daily life that I’m not sure how I can completely disentangle myself, but this is just one more impetus to give it another go.

    6 votes
  3. Comment on Google is right to change Gulf of Mexico's name in its Maps app in the US in ~society

    NomadicCoder
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    I disagree. They should not humor this idiocy. I sent them (and Apple) feedback today asking them not to give in to the political pressure. I will use OSM and lose the extra functionality if I...

    I disagree. They should not humor this idiocy.

    I sent them (and Apple) feedback today asking them not to give in to the political pressure. I will use OSM and lose the extra functionality if I have to.

    10 votes
  4. Comment on This could be the beginning of the end for fire insurance in California in ~finance

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Paradise is a wasteland now -- there are no trees left, and those that did survive are being cut down. It went from being a thickly forested area where you couldn't see a block in any direction to...

    Paradise is a wasteland now -- there are no trees left, and those that did survive are being cut down. It went from being a thickly forested area where you couldn't see a block in any direction to barren clear-cut nothingness. The city is very strict about keeping things cleared now too. It's ugly too see, but it'll probably be a long time before Paradise is a fire risk again.

    (grew up there, family stayed after the fire -- their houses survived)

    10 votes
  5. Comment on How do you know where to start with prolific authors? in ~books

    NomadicCoder
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    With authors like Pratchett (Discworld, mentioned elsewhere in this thread) I've followed the charts to keep some semblance of narrative order. With other authors I typically look at a few of...

    With authors like Pratchett (Discworld, mentioned elsewhere in this thread) I've followed the charts to keep some semblance of narrative order.

    With other authors I typically look at a few of their most popular books and choose the one that looks most interesting to me and read from there, which gives me a sense of whether I want to read more of their works.

    I've also asked people I know who were fans of the author. I used to work with a guy who was a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft and that inspired me to read a few of his works. The first one (the title of which I've forgotten) which my coworker recommended was really good, but the subsequent ones I didn't enjoy nearly as much, so I stopped reading his work.

    2 votes
  6. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    I also love trains. We have a train that runs from our small town to New York City that I would love to use when going to the city (somewhat frequently to visit family), but unfortunately every...

    I also love trains. We have a train that runs from our small town to New York City that I would love to use when going to the city (somewhat frequently to visit family), but unfortunately every time I need to go I either need the car for one reason or another or don't have time, so I end up flying. My wife, on the other hand, hates the train, but whenever she goes alone she inevitably finds the train to be the most suitable way to get there. Life just isn't fair that way. haha

    I'd LOVE to have 7 hours to just sit back and look out the window while reading a book.

    1 vote
  7. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Unfortunately I didn't do it myself, had it done -- I guess my wording was ambiguous. I have glued a sole back on a pair of Chacos, but that was easier. :) Speaking of Chacos, I have some of the...

    Unfortunately I didn't do it myself, had it done -- I guess my wording was ambiguous. I have glued a sole back on a pair of Chacos, but that was easier. :) Speaking of Chacos, I have some of the old school ones form back when they were still made in Colorado (before being bought and moved to China) that have had 4 soles on them -- too bad the new ones aren't as durable.

    3 votes
  8. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    You’re not making it easy to continue to avoid unnecessary consumption. :) I’ll probably try one when my IKEA moka pot fails. The handle is a bit wobbly, so it might be time sooner than later.

    You’re not making it easy to continue to avoid unnecessary consumption. :)

    I’ll probably try one when my IKEA moka pot fails. The handle is a bit wobbly, so it might be time sooner than later.

  9. Comment on Russian jokes about Vladimir Putin and the war in ~society

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Yes -- it's horrible. She also lost a very close friend to Trumpism and the related COVID selfishness. I've lost most contact with my extended family here because of Trumpism. It's a disaster...

    Yes -- it's horrible. She also lost a very close friend to Trumpism and the related COVID selfishness. I've lost most contact with my extended family here because of Trumpism. It's a disaster what's happening, worldwide.

    4 votes
  10. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Yes, I imagine they do taste different, which is part of my curiosity. I like the very strong extraction of a Moka Pot style brew, but some describe the Aeropress as being espresso like as well....

    Yes, I imagine they do taste different, which is part of my curiosity. I like the very strong extraction of a Moka Pot style brew, but some describe the Aeropress as being espresso like as well.

    Maybe some day I’ll try one.

    1 vote
  11. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    I use a stainless steel "moka pot" style coffee maker. Super simple, just 3 pieces and a silicone seal. I really enjoy it. The Aeropress has appealed to me before because I've heard so much good...

    I use a stainless steel "moka pot" style coffee maker. Super simple, just 3 pieces and a silicone seal. I really enjoy it. The Aeropress has appealed to me before because I've heard so much good stuff about it, but I've never had the opportunity to try one. Have you tried a moka pot style coffee maker? How do they compare?

  12. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link
    I've already posted an answer with a specific item, but a more general answer is that I also love well-used high quality items. I've learned that I'd much rather have fewer high quality items than...

    I've already posted an answer with a specific item, but a more general answer is that I also love well-used high quality items. I've learned that I'd much rather have fewer high quality items than more new and shiny items. Grant Peterson, the founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works, coined a term that I think perfectly describes my view: Beausage

    https://accidentalrandonneur.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/that-thing-called-beausage/

    Similar to the concept of wabi-sabi, but I really like beausage, or beausification (my personal take on it) because it's more directly describes in my native tongue what it is -- beauty through usage. I love things that take on a patina and become better and have more character with age.

    A few examples:

    • My military surplus canvas rucksack -- 20+ years old now, replaced the clips and straps, replaced the draw-string, etc, and it just looks better and better (IMO) the more that I use it.
    • My old steel bicycle with a diverse collection of random parts that weren't designed to work together, but rides like a dream
    • Resolable leather boots that I've resoled 3 times (even though I'm vegetarian, I choose to use high quality real leather for items where the synthetic version ends up causing more pollution and waste, most "vegan leather" is landfill plastic trash)
    • Opinel knife w/ carbon steel blade (love the patina on the carbon steel and the oiled wood handle -- it'll last a lifetime)

    Most products now are made with synthetic materials that just look like trash after a while, so I've been really focused on spending a bit more up front for materials that age with grace, which is unfortunately becoming hard to do.

    9 votes
  13. Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
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    My campervan. I built it out from an empty metal box on wheels over two years of weekends. We love it and have even given it a name, by which we refer to it. Every time I go somewhere in it I'm so...

    My campervan.

    I built it out from an empty metal box on wheels over two years of weekends. We love it and have even given it a name, by which we refer to it. Every time I go somewhere in it I'm so happy and we both sleep so well -- better than at home. It has taken us across the US, on many trips deep into the forest, has been our temporary home when our house was being remodeled, etc. I couldn't imagine replacing it with some fancy pre-built RV -- we rented one in NZ and it was nowhere as nice as ours, even though on paper it should have been nicer.

    2 votes
  14. Comment on Russian jokes about Vladimir Putin and the war in ~society

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    I’m not from Russia, but my wife is. She still has friends and family there. I can’t extrapolate too much, but: One is married to a Ukrainian wife whose family still lives there. Obviously they’re...

    I’m not from Russia, but my wife is. She still has friends and family there. I can’t extrapolate too much, but:

    One is married to a Ukrainian wife whose family still lives there. Obviously they’re not in favor.

    One has a son in the US, wants to come here too. Speaks much more freely when visiting than on the phone, definitely hates Putin and the war. Sadly she seems to have few people in Russia that she can associate with and has cut off relations with many over this.

    One of those many is also a friend of my wife — fully brainwashed and supports it all. They’ve nearly lost all contact because conversations always end heated — after a lifetime of being best friends.

    One is very wealthy and benefits from the corruption, basically has the attitude of “as long as I don’t lose my stuff” — their relationship is also severely strained. Her husband has a Ukrainian last name, but has always lived in Russia.

    We have a Ukraine flag bumper sticker on our car. We frequently get thumbs up and friendly waves from truck drivers with Ukrainian names on their truck door, many from Canada that are driving through (we live near the border), but one of our neighbors who was born in a Russian speaking part of Ukraine hates it and is very much in favor of Russia taking the territory. That makes no sense to me.

    A bunch of anecdotes don’t add up to data, but maybe give you some kind of answer.

    13 votes
  15. Comment on How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    Looks just like a phone: https://shop.boox.com/products/palma2 :) (the original Palma is probably cheaper now since the 2 was just released)

    Looks just like a phone:

    https://shop.boox.com/products/palma2

    :) (the original Palma is probably cheaper now since the 2 was just released)

    5 votes
  16. Comment on How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone? in ~talk

    NomadicCoder
    Link
    Can you bring another device? An eInk based ebook reader is easier on the eyes and can help you focus on books. Lots of low cost or free books out there, or if you get one that can support library...

    Can you bring another device? An eInk based ebook reader is easier on the eyes and can help you focus on books. Lots of low cost or free books out there, or if you get one that can support library checkouts you can checkout books for free from your local library (I'm assuming the US, or some other country with Libby access)

    1 vote
  17. Comment on In the real world, existing EV batteries may last up to 40% longer than expected from lab tests in ~transport

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    I went XC skiing yesterday in VT and was happy to see that they had 4 EV chargers (probably the slow 7 kwh ones) at the resort. I'm sure that a portion of that energy was going to warming the...

    I went XC skiing yesterday in VT and was happy to see that they had 4 EV chargers (probably the slow 7 kwh ones) at the resort. I'm sure that a portion of that energy was going to warming the battery pack since it was well below freezing, but I saw at least 8 EVs taking turns for the charger throughout the day (many of the longer trails were still closed, so was doing shorter loops that passed the parking lot).

    One of the biggest things detractors like to bring up is that EVs just can't work in cold climates, but I see a lot of EVs here in our rather severe climate, and they seem to be OK.

    I don't currently own one, I tend to keep my vehicles until the wheels fall off and EVs weren't quite ready for my needs last time around, but we live in a rural area with only one car and my wife is traveling more and more these days leaving me without any way to leave the house when it's too cold to cycle, so I'm very seriously considering a small Bolt or similar for a runabout car, leaving our 10 year old Subaru for the most sloppy snow days and trips that involve long dirt roads or similar needs for the AWD.

    5 votes
  18. Comment on New website shows you how much Google AI can learn from your photos in ~tech

    NomadicCoder
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    I gave it a picture of me petting a cat, showing only my arm and it said that I appeared to be in my early twenties. I’m flattered. :) Overall it was fairly good at extracting details. I gave it...

    I gave it a picture of me petting a cat, showing only my arm and it said that I appeared to be in my early twenties. I’m flattered. :)

    Overall it was fairly good at extracting details. I gave it one that mostly obscured my face and it basically called me a hippie. Also flattered. :)

    2 votes
  19. Comment on US President Joe Biden pardons son in ~society

    NomadicCoder
    Link Parent
    It should not. What does matter is that Hunter was basically railroaded. My understanding, from memory so some details may be slightly incorrect: He was charged for something that few have been,...

    It should not.

    What does matter is that Hunter was basically railroaded. My understanding, from memory so some details may be slightly incorrect:

    He was charged for something that few have been, even after paying the taxes, which for others has led to the charges being dropped. He also had a plea deal that the DOJ agreed to, but a Republican appointed (Trump?) judge denied against the protestation of the prosecutors.

    Also, I have no doubt that the republicans taking over would have contributed to prosecute him unfairly for political reasons.

    For this reason I don’t fault Biden for the pardon. Pardons are meant to undo unjust sentences, which this was.

    22 votes
  20. Comment on Don't call it a Substack in ~tech

    NomadicCoder
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    As a person who casually browses Substack periodically, I’m surprised by the article and comments here — I had no idea it was at all controversial. I’m curious how you all feel about Medium. I...

    As a person who casually browses Substack periodically, I’m surprised by the article and comments here — I had no idea it was at all controversial.

    I’m curious how you all feel about Medium. I found some interesting blogs there a while back and signed up since it seemed worthwhile to support the authors. Hopefully it’s not similarly tainted.

    3 votes