Paul26's recent activity
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentI recently switch to loose leaf green tea (from a local shop) in the morning, and one espresso in the afternoon when I typically get kind of sleepy after lunch. Took about 3 weeks to adjust to the...I recently switch to loose leaf green tea (from a local shop) in the morning, and one espresso in the afternoon when I typically get kind of sleepy after lunch. Took about 3 weeks to adjust to the change in the morning. A nicer loose leaf tea helped (versus the grocery store tea bags).
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
Paul26 LinkNight Light in Windows. There is an option in MacOS too but I forget the name. While the option is meant to reduce the blue light at night, I think it's just good to have this on all the time if...Night Light in Windows. There is an option in MacOS too but I forget the name. While the option is meant to reduce the blue light at night, I think it's just good to have this on all the time if you work on the computer all day (and if you don't require super accurate colors). The display will be a lot more yellow, but it the payoff is huge in terms of reducing eye strain. Night mode (dark mode) is also good for this, but not an option on every single application. To me dark mode makes things harder to read too, especially in spreadsheets.
Not so much one option, but in general micro-managing your notification settings. Too many distractions these days! Ask yourself if you really need each app to pop up and interrupt you. Kill notifications per-app, and decide if each app needs to show: badges? play sounds? show up on the lock screen? show banners? Your attention is precious currency for apps, so guard it well.
Do Not Disturb: similar to the last point. It's a good idea to limit screen time before bed. Maybe set Do not disturb to start as early as 8:00 PM and end as late as whenever you are done breakfast, for example. Can always set specific contacts or apps as exceptions to this in the settings.
Access to photos, camera, microphone: guard this well. Apps love nothing more but to get their hands on all your data. Does an app really need your full photo library? Maybe you only give it access to the photos you need it to access.
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
Paul26 LinkI want to see this new Photos layout they talk about. I have not been enjoying the last update to the Photos app. While some stuff is kinda helpful (the automatic categories for screenshots and...I want to see this new Photos layout they talk about. I have not been enjoying the last update to the Photos app. While some stuff is kinda helpful (the automatic categories for screenshots and saved items), overall it's frustrating because the way the main library works is different than the way search results work and it always throws me off. Not to mention the bizzare choice not to allow zooming into the search results pages; just a sea of little squares.
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Comment on iOS 26 is here in ~tech
Paul26 Link Parent"We have nothing new to add to the design so here's a new theme: transparent stuff. Did we mention it's delightful? Please be delighted and shut the F up." This theme reminds me of Windows Vista."We have nothing new to add to the design so here's a new theme: transparent stuff. Did we mention it's delightful? Please be delighted and shut the F up." This theme reminds me of Windows Vista.
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Comment on Thoughts on making one's own dry mixes? in ~food
Paul26 LinkI make a mix of seeds. I call it “holy shit” because there is a similar thing you can buy called Holy Crap, I think, but it’s so overpriced. It’s basically chia seeds (50%), milled hemp seeds 20%,...I make a mix of seeds. I call it “holy shit” because there is a similar thing you can buy called Holy Crap, I think, but it’s so overpriced. It’s basically chia seeds (50%), milled hemp seeds 20%, milled flax seeds 20%, and polen granules 10%. The polen thing is expensive, so the bulk of this is the chia seeds. I also add a bit of cinnamon. My overnight oats consists of mostly oats plus this thing, ratio being about 5 to 1 or so. Maybe 4 to 1. In the morning I chop up an apple or add some berries or a banana.
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Comment on Farewell to the fediverse in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentYes, that has been my focus too: real life connections. For screen time I prefer something like Tildes (and Reddit, before it got bad), to exchange some ideas on specific topics of my choice. I...Yes, that has been my focus too: real life connections. For screen time I prefer something like Tildes (and Reddit, before it got bad), to exchange some ideas on specific topics of my choice. I hate the algorithms and ads that drive platforms like FB, Instagram, and so on. I never got into the Twitter approach even though I tried several times; never found it rewarding or even entertaining enough.
These days I have a handful of friends where I live, not that many, but enough to fill that social need. Go for dinner or coffee to catch up every few weeks, give or take. Sometimes a bike ride, a hike in the summer, some other physical activity. Sometimes someone will host a dinner.
I, too, am happy the fediverse exists and I do still have an account. It's just been dormant lately. If I ramp up my online presence or start generating more creative content, I would definitely use that avenue to share it with the world, versus, say, creating an account on a manistream socual media platform.
No, I did not tell friends about it. I don't really want to be an ambassador for that kind of thing becuase then I'd feel guilty if I decided to stop using the platform after "converting" them to it.
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Comment on Children's music suggestions in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentMan, that’s not my dad, that’s a cell phone. I threw it on the ground! Love that one. Hilarious.Man, that’s not my dad, that’s a cell phone. I threw it on the ground!
Love that one. Hilarious.
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Comment on Wireless earphones: a belated review in ~tech
Paul26 LinkOf all the Apple products, the AirPods Pro 2, to me, are one of the cooler things out there. Having the volume slider on the AirPods rather than having to reach for the phone or watch is awesome....Of all the Apple products, the AirPods Pro 2, to me, are one of the cooler things out there. Having the volume slider on the AirPods rather than having to reach for the phone or watch is awesome. Transparency is awesome. The sound quality is great. I still have some pairs of big wired open headphones if I want the top audio quality, but 90% of the time the AirPods are enough. Like the author, I did resist wireless headphones for years. I still don’t love the idea of a Bluetooth device antenna so close to my brain.
My favourite pair of headphones before this was the Sennheiser PX-100 which they don’t make anymore. They lasted for years.
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Comment on Farewell to the fediverse in ~tech
Paul26 (edited )Link ParentI’m one of those people. At some point during the pandemic I left FB, Instagram, etc. and gave Mastodon a shot. It took a while to figure out. It got to a point where I’d say it was working, but...I’m one of those people. At some point during the pandemic I left FB, Instagram, etc. and gave Mastodon a shot. It took a while to figure out. It got to a point where I’d say it was working, but something was missing. The server was running into issues and needed donations to survive an improve (fair, but makes one consider just how much one needs the service, once it starts costing money). My most engaged content was dog pictures. I avoid most politics so I was filtering stuff a lot to get my feed right. Anyway after a while I just kinda gave up on it. None of my real life friends were on there. None are likely on here either, but I don’t see Tildes the same way. And overall the technicality of it, while I did finally customize it to my needs likely keeps less techy audiences at bay for sure.
EDIT: I do like supporting the services I like, financially, because I hate ads. But with Mastodon it seemed like the server needed funds constantly, and a lot, because I guess it was not a huge server and the poor guy was doing all the work in his spare time. I helped for a while, but eventually I stopped using the service. I found that if you dug enough you found some cool things and community “events” or activities. However, to maximize the enjoyment and engagement with these, I felt I needed to check the app often, and be there often. Less screen time was one of the reasons I left FB and the likes to begin with, so then I was coming full circle and the difference was that none of the people were people I knew in real life, there were no ads but I was paying via donations. I have mixed feelings about it. I really wanted it to be my digital home. And it can kinda be that, with enough spare time and customization. Sorry to put it this way but I ended up seriously thinking: this is a platform for when I retire. When time is plenty and I want something light: pics of dogs, microblog about my walks, etc. While I have a full time job it just didn’t fit in my life.
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentThis lives on when I talk to my sister. This and several other things in this thread. Good times!This lives on when I talk to my sister. This and several other things in this thread. Good times!
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
Paul26 LinkI recently played through Castle Crashers on PS5 with my family. Fun couch coop. I remember the creators had their start back in the day on Newgrounds. Playing that game reminded me of those days....I recently played through Castle Crashers on PS5 with my family. Fun couch coop. I remember the creators had their start back in the day on Newgrounds. Playing that game reminded me of those days. The amount of work that went into the videos and games made in Flash!
I was a fan of Ill Will Press and recently looked up the Starbucks episode to show my wife. Good times! -
Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentI thought about that too. I feel like this is all “first world problems” and shouldn’t let it get to me.I thought about that too. I feel like this is all “first world problems” and shouldn’t let it get to me.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentSuperiority complex? Holier than thou? I don’t think so. I’m just annoyed with Apple, and ranting a bit. I don’t think I’m better than others. Ultimately it’s just a phone and by tomorrow I will...Superiority complex? Holier than thou? I don’t think so. I’m just annoyed with Apple, and ranting a bit. I don’t think I’m better than others. Ultimately it’s just a phone and by tomorrow I will have forgotten about this entire news story and I’ll pick it up again next September. Don’t let these things get to you, it’s not worth it.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentSome of the privacy and on-device processing options have been one of my own reasons to stick to Apple and turn a blind eye to some of the things I dislike. For now I’m sticking to the 15 pro… see...Some of the privacy and on-device processing options have been one of my own reasons to stick to Apple and turn a blind eye to some of the things I dislike. For now I’m sticking to the 15 pro… see what else they release over the next few years. At least the pro shops remain functional for a while even if it’s larger and heavier than I’d like.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentNobody is taking away your large phone by the looks of it. Not sure why it annoys you that some people prefer smaller phones. Not everyone uses the phone the way you do. I play zero games, I hate...Nobody is taking away your large phone by the looks of it. Not sure why it annoys you that some people prefer smaller phones. Not everyone uses the phone the way you do. I play zero games, I hate social media so I don’t watch videos, and text can always be zoomed in or out and adjusted in the settings. If I want games, media, etc I prefer the iPad or laptop or TV. To each their own.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 LinkAnother year without a smaller phone (iPhone mini). In the era of Instagram and TikTok, there seems to be no appetite for Apple to make happy the people who don't care about large screens, who...Another year without a smaller phone (iPhone mini). In the era of Instagram and TikTok, there seems to be no appetite for Apple to make happy the people who don't care about large screens, who just want something usable that fits COMFORTABLY in a pocket, that doesn't feel like a dumbbell when you have a case on it, that doesn't require a purse or sling or fannypack to COMFORTABLY carry around.
The modern smartphone is a electronic rectangular pancake that is more akin to a ball and chain than to a device that allows me to feel free and express myself. More a vehicle for ad distribution and cheap dopamine fixes than a proper tool to communicate with people.
The focus seems to be on making sure the camera rivals a DSLR. Do we not have enough pixels? How many more is "enough"? Between 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Air, can't one of these have no bump, be smaller, cheaper, and still a decent phone? Apparently not.
I'd gladly switch to Android, even though it would be a pain to move all my stuff to the Google ecosystem, but they don't have a small phone either. There are some odd Android brands on Amazon that I have no idea how good they are. There are the minimalist phones that try to market to me... they look good, but sacrificing that much functionality feels like an extreme compromise.
F Apple. F Google. F smartphones. I'm gonna leave it all behind and move to a cabin in the woods and be eaten by a bear. A better outcome than living under the tutelage of these big tech companies for another 40-50 years.
Thanks for attending my rant.
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentI would accept it :D Thanks for the explanation.I would accept it :D
Thanks for the explanation. -
Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentI wish I kept the mini. I hate how big these phones are and how few options exist out there for decent small phones. I'd even consider switching to Android if, say, the Pixel came in a small size.I wish I kept the mini. I hate how big these phones are and how few options exist out there for decent small phones. I'd even consider switching to Android if, say, the Pixel came in a small size.
I've been using Apple Fitness+ lately and it's been pretty good. But the last few days I felt like re-visiting this app called Seven, which I used years ago to get back into a regular exercise habit. While its core feature is the 7-minute workout, you can do multiple circuits. So I set it to 3 circuits, chose "Strength". I did this for 4 days, and it's pretty good. Since it's focused on body-weight exercises, I ended up doing lots of pushups and core exercises. I felt some sore muscles Iin spots I usually don't get sore, so I was pleasantly surprised. The pace is go go go, so that 21-ish minutes works up a sweat pretty fast. On the technical side I was pleased to see it's fully functional on the Apple watch, independent of an iPhone or iPad. So, that's a plus! No need for any device fiddling. Just tap go on the watch and do what it says. It also has really good scalability. Getting too easy? Add another circuit, increase the duration of each exercise, decrease the breaks between exercises. Will I switch to this full-time? Unlikely, but I might mix it up when I get annoyed with Fitness+.