Paul26's recent activity
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI’m not a parent and I have these songs too. Should I be worried? HahaI’m not a parent and I have these songs too. Should I be worried? Haha
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Comment on How did you choose your podcast app and would you switch to a different one? in ~tech
Paul26 LinkI only ever used the built-in Apple Podcast app. I don’t think I listen to enough podcasts to warrant exploring other apps. I don’t love the app, but I don’t know what I’m missing either. An...I only ever used the built-in Apple Podcast app. I don’t think I listen to enough podcasts to warrant exploring other apps. I don’t love the app, but I don’t know what I’m missing either. An easier way to manage old episodes would be nice. Say I want to check old episodes and it’s a podcast that’s been on for years, it’s a lot of scrolling. And it defaults to new stuff. I wish I could say “for this podcast, play the old stuff first and ignore new episodes”. Plus some better navigation options. But overall it works fine with the shows I’m up to date on.
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI love this kind of music. Growing up in 90s Europe, these bring joy and nostalgic vides in the best way possible.I love this kind of music. Growing up in 90s Europe, these bring joy and nostalgic vides in the best way possible.
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI discovered Nightwish 25 years ago as a kid listening to a metal show late at night on the radio. The song was She Is My Sin from the Wishmaster album. I gave the newer vocalists a shot, but to...I discovered Nightwish 25 years ago as a kid listening to a metal show late at night on the radio. The song was She Is My Sin from the Wishmaster album. I gave the newer vocalists a shot, but to me it's not the same. There is a mix of Tarja's voice and nostalgia vibes that is not replaceable for me, regardless how talented her replacements have been. That song was also the first song I ever heard that had female vocals with that opera-like powerful clear voice (not growling or other things). Before that I was only listening to Iron Maiden and Manowar.
Going back to the thread itself, I love the metal band Haggard. I am not sure how well they are known, but I'll guess not very well known. They are amazing. So many instruments mixed with metal and still sounding cohesive. Their albums tend to be stories. One of them, for example, is all about Galileo Galilei. Another about Nostradamus. If you like metal and symphonic music, check them out. Oh, they also sing in several languages on some albums.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentAnother thing where this falls short is other sources of music. I listen to a lot of FM radio for example. There is a station that's ad-free and plays many lesser-known songs. I find a lot of gems...Another thing where this falls short is other sources of music. I listen to a lot of FM radio for example. There is a station that's ad-free and plays many lesser-known songs. I find a lot of gems that I then add to my Apple Music library.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
Paul26 LinkAlways neat to see the wrap-up. Not many surprises at my end. If anything it looks funny because my top genre remains metal, but the top artist (Blue Foundation), song (Espresso by Sabrina...Always neat to see the wrap-up. Not many surprises at my end. If anything it looks funny because my top genre remains metal, but the top artist (Blue Foundation), song (Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter), and album are not. I got a bit obsessed with the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack for a while so of course it picked it up as my top album. There is the "music I listen to alone" and "music I listen to when driving with my wife". These are very different, but the algorithm does not know this. Anyway, still a neat little thing to see at year end.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 LinkI've been feeling a little off. Overall, I have a good life, all needs met, nothing to really stress me. However, I always have a voice in my head that wants more, or seeks new things. After not...I've been feeling a little off. Overall, I have a good life, all needs met, nothing to really stress me. However, I always have a voice in my head that wants more, or seeks new things. After not playing many video games earlier in 2026, I found I am once again playing on a regular basis. This is ok in moderation, but I don't know if it's really that good in the long run. It's easy dopamine, and easy to get addicted to it and find it more fun than most other things out there. I'm keeping an eye on this concern, but I'd lie if I said I'm not enjoying it a lot.
Work is OK, but I've hit a point (2 years into the job) where I am becoming a little bored. Work always meant a lot to me as I do spend such a large part of my life working (8 hours a day 5 days a week). In my mind, I have to love at least some parts of it, otherwise it's downright depressing. The pay and benefits are good, people are good, so those 2 things keep me going. The work itself is meh or boring. The fun tasks are rare. I'll try to move internally if some interesting roles pop up in 2026, assuming I fit and there is leadership support of course. I really don't want to hit to job market and apply elsewhere. This role deviated from what I have done so far in my career, so it will be hard to market myself effectively.
Family-wise my parents are getting older and showing more health issues, which weighs on me. They live in a different province, so I feel unable to help them quickly if need arises. My sibling is going through some hard times and moved back with my parents for now, which is placing additional pressure on all 3 of them. I helped them financially to some extent, but otherwise not too much I can do hands-on from this far away.
To top it off, I stepped into my 40s this year and while mentally and physically I do not feel it, I sense it through the world around me. Parents issues, state of career, the way others interact with me, the notion of time itself. I feel the hourglass is slowly ending, and that the second half of it will likely bring more and more hardships. My parents will one day pass away, for example. Or they will get sick and I'll have to make drastic changes in my own life to help them. Maybe I'll have to drain all my life savings to help them with who-knows-what medical bills. I guess I am not very excited about life in general. Everything feels very routine and big bad things feel inevitable. I don't have kids. I try to find joy in hobbies, work, my partner. My life looks great on paper, and I seem to be my own mental obstacle to recognizing all the good things and being more grateful. Many would kill to have my life. Wish I could flip a switch in my head and quiet all the negative thoughts.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentLast time I was looking for work, AI was just getting started. I can only imagine job searching is changing now. I hope I don't have to look for work anytime soon.Last time I was looking for work, AI was just getting started. I can only imagine job searching is changing now. I hope I don't have to look for work anytime soon.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentThanks for the advice. I hear you and I am getting to the point where I'll either apply to something internal soon, or external if I cannot stay here. I do like the place I work for quite a bit,...Thanks for the advice. I hear you and I am getting to the point where I'll either apply to something internal soon, or external if I cannot stay here. I do like the place I work for quite a bit, so I tried to be patient.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentMy partner and I met online, and were friends first, then in a relationship, over about 2 years prior to finally moving to the same city. That was almost 15 years ago. I think starting a...My partner and I met online, and were friends first, then in a relationship, over about 2 years prior to finally moving to the same city. That was almost 15 years ago. I think starting a relationship like that has its challenges. It is hard being so far from the person you love, but you know what? It also meant that we had a long time to just talk and get to know each other. Basically we were able to take things slowly and build a foundation prior to taking a chance on things like living together. I think these days things happen so fast. It's not a bad thing to get a chance to take it slow.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentNew job is always fun. I love the feeling of a fresh start, a blank page. Job-wise, it stays with me for about 1 year. Then year 2 feels like sharpening my tools, and by year 3 I am likely getting...New job is always fun. I love the feeling of a fresh start, a blank page. Job-wise, it stays with me for about 1 year. Then year 2 feels like sharpening my tools, and by year 3 I am likely getting bored. I've been in almost the opposite scenario compared to you. I was in a "just a job" mindset, and it was good. Then my leader decided to leave! Being a very small team, I ended up inheriting a bunch of responsibilities, but not the actual position, the pay, or the power. So here I am about one year after this change, doing all the extra work but still not getting paid more, still no additional help, still no additional authority. It's frustrating. I am hoping that with the new year will come some new positions that I might be a good fit for.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentTeaching is hard. For a number of years I worked in corporate training, which was great. The "students" were dedicated and wanted to learn. The training sessions were concise, I was in control of...Teaching is hard. For a number of years I worked in corporate training, which was great. The "students" were dedicated and wanted to learn. The training sessions were concise, I was in control of the material and topics for the most part, so I'd say it was even fun. I was interested in the subject matter for the most part, which kept me engaged. Then stuff happened and after a different type of role, I circled back to teaching, but this time at a college. I taught some 1st year general computers course that was mandatory for all faculties. It was so different compared to corporate training. Most students seemed either apathetic or downright bored. The worst was a class full of guys (maybe one or two girls). Several were so uninterested that they were playing video games (of course I could not see their screens as I was in front of the classroom). I tried different methods to minimize this behavior, with limited success. I was very demoralized. I realized I was spoiled in the corporate training world where everyone actually wanted to be there to learn. These young adults just did not want to be there. Now that I am much older and with more work experience, I regret not being tougher in that scenario. I was still thinking being a "nice guy" will eventually get results. Needless to say, I did not stick around that college. I went into other kinds of work, and left teaching behind. All that to say, I get how students can be a serious challenge. It goes far beyond "Jimmy doesn't want to pay attention". It's like whatever you do your actions will also be judged by every other student, even if that action is really aimed at one or two bad students. I'll sound like an old man now, but back in my day, when I grew up in Eastern Europe, teachers had serious authority and commanded respect implicitly. Nowadays, here (in Canada), I feel like tables have turned and teachers are servants. In my province, recently, there was a teacher strike and the provincial government got tired of it after about 1 month and simply penned some back to work legislation. No respect for the teachers whatsoever! Very sad times to be honest for the education system.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (December 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentWhen I finished school around 2008, I still lived with my parents. My goal, much like you, was to move out to my own place. But finding work was very difficult. I was caught in the...When I finished school around 2008, I still lived with my parents. My goal, much like you, was to move out to my own place. But finding work was very difficult. I was caught in the no-experience-no-job / no-job-no-experience vicious circle. Finally some recruiter took pity on me and threw a 2-day job my way. After that a slightly better opportunity popped up, and then a little later a longer-term contract that finally allowed me to rent a cheap studio apartment. The recruiter was still profiting from this, but I did not care. I was finally out of my parents' place. To this day, the months spent looking for work, then and more recently between jobs, have always been the worst times of my life. It is just very demoralizing applying to jobs, putting real time and effort (customizing my resume to each role, writing cover letters, etc.) and just hearing nothing for weeks and weeks and months and months. Hang in there... keep applying now that you have a job. It's easier to get one while you are employed. It's weird... you're unemployed and ready to start the next day - crickets. You're employed and maybe even happy with the job - that's when the offers come!
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentThanks for sharing your thoughts. Daphne du Maurier is on my list.Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Daphne du Maurier is on my list.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Paul26 LinkI started reading The Seventh Function of Language by Laurent Binet. I’m less than 100 pages in. I’m having a lot of fun so far. If you ever had exposure to literary criticism, academia,...I started reading The Seventh Function of Language by Laurent Binet. I’m less than 100 pages in. I’m having a lot of fun so far. If you ever had exposure to literary criticism, academia, philosophy, you’ll likely get a kick out of this. I studied literature in university, so this really takes me back. Many figures in the space of literary criticism appear in the novel as characters and I’m surprised how funny the book is. Witty, smart, funny, just what I needed.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Paul26 LinkI checked out this new release: ROSALÍA - LUX What bugged me was how short the songs are. There is a symphonic quality to many of the tracks on this album. To me, the length of the songs (around 3...I checked out this new release: ROSALÍA - LUX
What bugged me was how short the songs are. There is a symphonic quality to many of the tracks on this album. To me, the length of the songs (around 3 minutes ling) is out of sync with the choice of sound (symphonic themes). Just when I was "feeling" the song, boom! it's over. A 3 minute sung may be ok if its a bouncy pop song, but she went with this new concept for Lux, a sound that feels larger, more epic in some ways, yet the songs are so short. It's a disappointment. "Bite sized epic sound"? "Symphonic equivalent of reels?" I don't get it. -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Paul26 LinkAfter trying my best to limit gaming time, I went down a call of duty rabbit hole for the last two weeks. I haven’t played in the last 3-4 years if not longer. It started with “I kinda miss...After trying my best to limit gaming time, I went down a call of duty rabbit hole for the last two weeks. I haven’t played in the last 3-4 years if not longer. It started with “I kinda miss warzone even if I suck at it”, and went to “oh they now have a casual mode with players and bots mixed together.” So I sucked less (thanks, bots!) which made me want to play more, which became a big time sink. Yesterday I unplugged the the PS5 and put it away. Back to reality for me. Might still play Balatro on my iPad, but no more call of duty. Too addictive!
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Comment on Diagram Website (2023) in ~tech
Mine is reflective of about 60% of my listening. I have a memory card with music in my car, vinyl sometimes at home, a good chunk of radio (FM and some internet radio particularly SomaFM - old school - that I play in a browser when I work from home). I take my Apple Music wrap-up with a grain of salt.
Your chant music made me think of the album Advaitic Songs by Om. The first song, Addis, is a chant. Very cool album.