ResidueOfSanity's recent activity
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Comment on Should I go for a fun convertible I can drive every day to work, or a classic weekender? in ~hobbies
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Comment on Should I go for a fun convertible I can drive every day to work, or a classic weekender? in ~hobbies
ResidueOfSanity (edited )LinkI'm over in the UK so I think in terms of "MX-5" rather than Miata ... but I had a Japanese spec "NA" (technically a "Eunos Roadster") which was great fun but in terrible condition. I eventually...I'm over in the UK so I think in terms of "MX-5" rather than Miata ... but I had a Japanese spec "NA" (technically a "Eunos Roadster") which was great fun but in terrible condition.
I eventually upgraded to a NB 10th Anniversary Special, which was then damaged in a crash and written off by the insurance company. It was replaced with an NC ... for about 6 months until we replaced it with another NB as we just found the NC dull.
Unfortunately a back injury means I struggle to squeeze myself into a NA/NB (for reference I'm 6'2") and spent about 6 months unable to drive my NB with the top up, so started looking at an ND as it gives just enough extra headroom to allow me to drive it. Eventually I ended up buying an Abarth 124 Spider ... which is an ND with a Fiat Turbo engine and some different body panels, it was made in the same Mazda factory and has the same interior, entertainment system, etc. I've had the Abarth for a few years now and planning to keep it long-term!
On each car swap I look at non-Mazda options, but the only options I'd ever been tempted by were S2000 or MR2 and I don't fit comfortably in the drivers seat of either! I've looked at the Boxter options a few times (I don't fit in the first-gen ones!) but not only do I expect maintenance to be painful but I think they are a car where "the limit" is much higher - thus I suspect I'd be going a lot faster at the point of getting into trouble. One of the great things about the MX-5 has always been the ability to have fun at relatively low speeds and give yourself a chance to get back out of trouble!
I don't know what US second-hand prices are like these days but its worth checking out the Fiat 124 or Abarth 124 as an ND variant, they are discontinued now so my be cheaper but Fiat will support them long-term and 90% of the thing is Mazda so the core is pretty bullet proof.
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Comment on Lefties of Tildes: what are some items where the left handed version is most necessary? in ~life
ResidueOfSanity LinkI'm going to mirror the advice of many other here and suggest not going over the top with the left-handed compensation. Cover real "problem" areas, i.e. stuff that is a constant irritation or...I'm going to mirror the advice of many other here and suggest not going over the top with the left-handed compensation. Cover real "problem" areas, i.e. stuff that is a constant irritation or could affect schooling, but learning to work with right-handed stuff is a very useful skill.
Speaking anecdotally, as a lefty myself, I've found it very useful to have become functionally ambidextrous over the years.
First example that springs to mind is DIY/construction - the ability to stand either-side of what you are working on and use tools in either hand is incredibly useful. Over the years I've been shocked at how limited right-handed friends/relatives/partners are if trying to work on something "from the wrong-side". My ability to grab a hammer/saw/etc in either hand, and even swap if I get tired, has constantly surprised others.
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Comment on Recommend some new(ish) metal bands in ~music
ResidueOfSanity LinkI'm not heavily into Black Metal, I tend to lean into a slightly more proggy / avant-garde area while keeping the heavy. Jinjer might be worth checking out, their back catalogue is pretty diverse... -
Comment on EV discussion thread in ~transport
ResidueOfSanity Link ParentSo far I've had no issues finding a CHAdeMO public charger (I suspect new ones are still getting installed) but you can bet I'll be looking at adapters in the future. The only fast charging...So far I've had no issues finding a CHAdeMO public charger (I suspect new ones are still getting installed) but you can bet I'll be looking at adapters in the future.
The only fast charging adapters I've seen are >£1500 but I expect more will be becoming available.
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Comment on EV discussion thread in ~transport
ResidueOfSanity LinkWe picked up a used Nissan Leaf e+ Tekna about 3 months ago and so far its been great. We don't, generally, need much in the way of range and the >200 miles it will do is enough to allow us to...We picked up a used Nissan Leaf e+ Tekna about 3 months ago and so far its been great.
We don't, generally, need much in the way of range and the >200 miles it will do is enough to allow us to charge it on our driveway except for maybe a couple of times a year. Sods law within 6 weeks of buying it we had to do a couple of >250 mile days following a death in the family; it was a relaxing and comfortable ride and charging speed wasn't an issue, just meant our coffee breaks were slightly longer.
The choice to change to an EV was mostly economic, we don't do many miles these days (post-covid working from home!) and paying for the upkeep on two sporty cars was getting harder and harder to justify to ourselves. In the end swapping our hot-hatch for the used Leaf cost us ~£900 plus we decided to splash out ~£1100 for a charger that integrated well with our solar system, when we could have just plugged into a 220 volt wall socket (and did for the first few weeks).
Hopefully we will be able to run the Leaf for 5+ years, everything I've read suggests they are very reliable and our needs are unlikely to change so hopefully we can be using it for the long haul.
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Comment on The deadliest of all dead ends in the 3D printing industry in ~tech
ResidueOfSanity Link ParentI'm new to 3d printing and went for OpenSCAD as my first CAD tool, the "for programmers" description sold it to me as thats what I've done for most of the last 20 years. Definitely an interesting...I'm new to 3d printing and went for OpenSCAD as my first CAD tool, the "for programmers" description sold it to me as thats what I've done for most of the last 20 years.
Definitely an interesting learning curve, but so far it seems to work exactly as described and I'm just starting to explore the vast amount of plugin libraries.
Getting my head around composing 3d shapes is taking time, but I'm liking the "programming" aspect as I can encode physical dimensions into the design as variables that I can update in moments when test prints prove I need to tweak some aspect.
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Comment on Looking at getting a new phone - help with my odd requirements? in ~tech
ResidueOfSanity Link ParentI not sure if it is still the case, but when HMD Global started and took over the old Nokia brand they were based over the road from Nokia and staffed by pre-Microsoft Nokia staff. I've been using...I not sure if it is still the case, but when HMD Global started and took over the old Nokia brand they were based over the road from Nokia and staffed by pre-Microsoft Nokia staff.
I've been using their phones for a few years now, and typing this on one of their tablets. Decent hardware, regular updates.
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Comment on Looking at getting a new phone - help with my odd requirements? in ~tech
ResidueOfSanity Link ParentQualcomm are notorious for dropping hardware support of their mobile chipsets as soon as possible, and since they are the biggest player in the market the other manufacturers follow suite. Each...Qualcomm are notorious for dropping hardware support of their mobile chipsets as soon as possible, and since they are the biggest player in the market the other manufacturers follow suite.
Each chipset requires a firmware blob to interface with Android, if the firmware isn't updated Android support gets progressively harder with each new release. It is possible for ongoing support without Qualcomm doing their side but very complex and expensive.
I think Fairphone has the best track record out there for ongoing compatibility work, I believe they have one model that is on its 7th year of support.
Heh, I forget automatic 124 & MX-5's exist!