SeraphicSoul's recent activity
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Comment on Tildos, let's be unserious for a while; show us your dankest memes and god-tier shitposts! in ~talk
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
SeraphicSoul LinkI know I'm late to the party, but I daily drive a Moonlander from https://zsa.io and really love the thing. They've had a number of keyboards over the years so you might find one that clicks with...I know I'm late to the party, but I daily drive a Moonlander from https://zsa.io and really love the thing. They've had a number of keyboards over the years so you might find one that clicks with you! Highly configurable, choose your own switches, but also probably a bit on the expensive side. Emphasis on ergonomics - ortholinear, which isn't for everyone, but also interesting tenting options and trackball/trackpad options. Not really a Bluetooth thing either, though they have featured DIY Bluetooth hardware hacking before in their newsletter (which is awesome, by the way).
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Comment on Signal, NordVPN, Proton to leave Canada over C-22 in ~society
SeraphicSoul LinkI am so disheartened by this. Canadians had seen this before in bill C-2 but thankfully it didn't pass. Now that the liberals have a majority as of the last by-elections cycle, they're trying...I am so disheartened by this. Canadians had seen this before in bill C-2 but thankfully it didn't pass. Now that the liberals have a majority as of the last by-elections cycle, they're trying again.
Why is it that we keep having to fight the same fight over and over again? I'm so tired of politics in general, but this sort of thing matters deeply to me as a technologist, and so I guess I have to suck it up and do the whole "here we go again..." thing.
I use OpenMedia to try and stay abreast of some of this stuff. It's often annoying to join another mailing list, especially as they often ask for money (apparently they are measured as a lobbying group according to their monthly donors, which impacts their ability to get facetime with policy makers and government panels). A quick search tells me the Electronic Frontier Canada and Online Rights Canada groups seem to be defunct, so I don't know of any other groups doing similar work. Joining an activism group financially, for me at least, has lessened some of the mental burden of engaging with politics.
And that's what really bothers me - the mental load aspect. I know a disengaged populace is easy to control and all the tricks the government uses - "rushing" laws through, obfuscating problematic components within bills, "think of the children" rhetoric, etcetera ad nauseam - actively encourage disengagement. I suffer from mental health issues, same as many people, and this sort of thing makes me want to go full neo-luddite. I want to scream in frustration and hate having nobody to vent to about things like this. Why is it that so few people care? But I recognize that they're the same as me - it's not that they don't care, it's that they're too tired (read: too mentally loaded) to engage meaningfully. So I can't blame them. Our representatives don't represent us. Democracy is breaking down in real time.
Please someone give me some hope.
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Signal, NordVPN, Proton to leave Canada over C-22
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Comment on What are your go-to meals that you cook? in ~food
SeraphicSoul LinkI've been consuming a bunch of fried rice lately, it's become my new go-to. Basically, I start some rice in the rice cooker before I walk my dog. 1-2 cups. I sauté a whole onion and about 3-4...I've been consuming a bunch of fried rice lately, it's become my new go-to.
Basically, I start some rice in the rice cooker before I walk my dog. 1-2 cups. I sauté a whole onion and about 3-4 mushrooms, finely diced, in a saucepan. Then, I beat together 6 eggs, shoyu soy sauce, salt, pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Heat up my wok, or a large frying pan if it's dirty, with a generous portion of sesame oil, and once it's good and hot, toss in the egg mixture. Give it a couple scrapes, but don't let all the liquid egg solidify before tossing in the rice. Give a good stir to spread the egg throughout the rice, then toss in your sautéed veggies and another mix. Then add your leftover protein or veggies of choice. I've tossed in leftover chicken, peas, carrots, and whatever else I happen to have on hand. However, recently I started adding Landjäger sausage to the fried rice, and it absolutely kicks things up a notch. Let the rice mixture sizzle for a bit - the taste really comes alive that way, and if you're using a wok, try tossing it a bit!
So easy, so delicious. More rice, more leftovers!
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
SeraphicSoul LinkI'll add a couple: Paramore's cover of Passionfruit Peter Hollens feat. Tim Foust cover Sound of Silence Thanks to everyone for contributing, I've found so many amazing takes of so many songs!I'll add a couple:
Thanks to everyone for contributing, I've found so many amazing takes of so many songs!
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Comment on Ring camera is getting more and more annoying in ~tech
SeraphicSoul Linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMIwNiwQewQ because I can't help sharing a relevant recent video from one of my favourite creators. The privacy aspect that people want to avoid is absolutely...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMIwNiwQewQ because I can't help sharing a relevant recent video from one of my favourite creators. The privacy aspect that people want to avoid is absolutely talked about, but it's also seeming more and more like having a wifi camera in your home may actually reduce your security.
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Comment on What's an obscure book/series that you've read that you would like to recommend? in ~books
SeraphicSoul LinkForeigner series by CJ Cherryh is fairly obscure even though I've seen it recommended on Tildes before, but it's one I come back to because of how well the author makes the aliens seem... well,...Foreigner series by CJ Cherryh is fairly obscure even though I've seen it recommended on Tildes before, but it's one I come back to because of how well the author makes the aliens seem... well, alien. Thanks for the question, I think I'm going to go re-read it from the beginning again...
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Comment on LLMs can unmask pseudonymous users at scale with surprising accuracy in ~tech
SeraphicSoul Link ParentI use a password manager's extra fields to keep track of altered details for websites. I always randomize birthdays, for example, and the "secret questions" for account recovery. But I've been bad...I use a password manager's extra fields to keep track of altered details for websites. I always randomize birthdays, for example, and the "secret questions" for account recovery. But I've been bad about using different pseudonyms for different purposes. I might begin to do that. Sometimes, though, personal details end up in what we write, no matter how hard we try to resist that urge, it's a big part of human connection to share and share alike. LLMs being big probability engines, it's probably doable to introduce noise but just by prose patterns they can do some identification of a person. Privacy is hard, especially when most people don't seem to care about it.
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Comment on Youtube channel recommendations 2026 in ~tech
SeraphicSoul LinkCracking The Cryptic got a very brief mention in thread one with very few votes and they're worth another mention. Some of the most wholesome and brilliant content I've ever seen.Cracking The Cryptic got a very brief mention in thread one with very few votes and they're worth another mention. Some of the most wholesome and brilliant content I've ever seen.
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Comment on Who can name the bigger number? in ~science
SeraphicSoul LinkI always think of Graham's Number when big numbers are discussed.I always think of Graham's Number when big numbers are discussed.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
SeraphicSoul LinkI like Lee Valley, as a Canadian they've always had solid products and their employment practices seem ethical (top executive pay capped at 10x lowest employee pay).I like Lee Valley, as a Canadian they've always had solid products and their employment practices seem ethical (top executive pay capped at 10x lowest employee pay).
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Comment on You're going to use Gemini on Android whether you like it or not in ~tech
SeraphicSoul Link ParentI've actually begun to push back hard against this kind of thing. I tell my employers I don't have a smartphone, and if it's not in my employment contract that I must install on a smartphone that...I've actually begun to push back hard against this kind of thing. I tell my employers I don't have a smartphone, and if it's not in my employment contract that I must install on a smartphone that it is my responsibility to purchase, they either have to buy me a work smartphone or give up on the requirement.
It's always an interesting set of conversations, because their projects are based on this assumption that everyone has a smarphone. However, neo-Luddite-ism is a thing; devices like the LightPhone exist, and many people are starting to realize and resist the deep reach the tech companies have in their lives. Even my parents, going on 70 years of age, have made an effort to de-Google their lives. So when their assumption gets broken, they're often on the back foot trying to figure out what to do.
When they required MS Authenticator app, I said I didn't have a compatible smartphone. After some discussion, suddenly it was possible to ship me a FIDO2 key instead.
The work requirement isn't as much a requirement as you think (unless it's in your contract).
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Comment on Canada Post strike update: Postal employees back to work in ~life
SeraphicSoul LinkI'm generally against unions being forced to stop their labour actions, because that's the only peaceful pressure tool they have. Wonder what the general opinions are here on Tildes?I'm generally against unions being forced to stop their labour actions, because that's the only peaceful pressure tool they have. Wonder what the general opinions are here on Tildes?
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Canada Post strike update: Postal employees back to work
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Comment on What shampoo/conditioner do you use? in ~life.style
SeraphicSoul LinkI'm a bit off grid but I use Bronner's castille soap for basically everything - dishes, body wash, hair, dog wash, etc. Never feel bad dumping it anywhere I happen to be. For the hair...I'm a bit off grid but I use Bronner's castille soap for basically everything - dishes, body wash, hair, dog wash, etc. Never feel bad dumping it anywhere I happen to be.
For the hair specifically, I use a small amount of Bronner's and it lathers up fine, but one wash is not enough to remove all the oils from my scalp... which is usually what I want. Very, very occasionally I will mix with a bit of baking soda only if I've been without a shower for more than three days. It happens sometimes when you're camping and cuts through all the oil buildup nicely - but is not a daily driver, it will dry and even damage your hair with too frequent use.
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Comment on Electric cars are suddenly becoming affordable in ~transport
SeraphicSoul (edited )Link ParentEveryone seems to be rushing towards EVs with optimism, but the two things that I need to see meaningfully addressed are: Privacy Hands down the biggest thing preventing me from going and...Everyone seems to be rushing towards EVs with optimism, but the
threetwo things that I need to see meaningfully addressed are:-
Privacy
Hands down the biggest thing preventing me from going and purchasing any new car these days. After the Mozilla report posted on Tildes a while back I can't help but mirror all of the concerns on the top comment there, and EVs are WORSE than their ICE counterparts in this regard as far as I can tell. Until I can have a fully offline EV, and have confidence that if I connect my phone for music that nothing else is happening in the background, it's a non-starter. -
Battery Recycling
This is a bit of lack of research on my part, but as far as I'm aware most batteries are just material for special landfills at the end of their life. Are EV batteries truly recyclable and renewable? Or is it like nuclear waste, in that there's not really a good way of dealing with it after it served its purpose? -
Zero Touchscreen
Okay this is super nitpicky and not specific to EVs, a lot of newer vehicles are moving towards touchscreens and I hate it. It feels less safe. Knobs and buttons, please. This is the point I'm going to get blasted for, I'm sure.
I'm seriously considering rebuilding and restoring a 2004-era Toyota ICE over getting an EV because of the privacy concern alone. I am a road tripper, I'll go from Vancouver, BC to Dawson City, YT and back on a whim, and the 30min charging stops don't faze me at all, would happily do that as long as a bunch of corporations aren't getting my personal info along the way.
EDIT: changed my mind about the recycling thing, seems like there are decent ways to recycle them once we get to scale. Thanks for the comment(s) that made me actually do research!
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2024) — Version 1.0 is out for Android! in ~tildes
SeraphicSoul LinkApologies for the bump on the old post, but I can't find anything newer so I hope this is alright. I'm in the middle of attempting to de-google my life and have started playing with GrapheneOS and...Apologies for the bump on the old post, but I can't find anything newer so I hope this is alright.
I'm in the middle of attempting to de-google my life and have started playing with GrapheneOS and CalyxOS. I can still download Three Cheers via Aurora but it's not the cleanest experience. All this to ask:
Have you considered releasing the Android version via F-Droid at all? Why or why not?
1000% appreciate all the work you put in here, the app is excellent!
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Comment on What's something you've been mulling over recently? in ~talk
SeraphicSoul LinkI've been mulling over my childhood trauma. Possible triggers, even though I'm going to dance around details. My sisters and I had a provider dad who was awesome when he was around but wasn't...I've been mulling over my childhood trauma. Possible triggers, even though I'm going to dance around details.
My sisters and I had a provider dad who was awesome when he was around but wasn't always around. Mom was a hippie, and had a bunch of non-mainstream values. Combined with a domineering personality, many of her suggestions weren't suggestions, and she suggested some fairly inappropriate things in retrospect. She could be scary, and all of us kids were motivated not to bring that out of her.
I'm left wondering how bad it was. Talking with one of my sisters, sounds like there were more things happening than I was aware of. But I'm still wondering if it's worse because of retrospect. Inside the nature of growing into personal autonomy is establishing your ability to consent. Thinking back to my early and late teens, it's all "me" but of course I never stopped growing, integrating new ideas into my worldview over the years. There's no line to draw except the arbitrary ones society puts out there. And of course I made my own mistakes. Continue to make my own mistakes. How hard is it to be a parent? One of my sisters doesn't want my mom around my nephew unsupervised based on some of our shared childhood trauma, which is totally fair. Did my childhood contain abusive moments, or patterns of abuse? I was slightly older, do I share in responsibility and to what degree...
It's a process. Had a good reconnection with my sister recently which brought all this back up. It's clear she doesn't blame me but how do I feel?
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Comment on The decline of username and password on the same page in ~tech
SeraphicSoul LinkAnother similar thing that drives me nuts is having login happen in a JS popup instead of having a solid, purpose built page for accepting a login. Accidentally change focus to another part of the...Another similar thing that drives me nuts is having login happen in a JS popup instead of having a solid, purpose built page for accepting a login. Accidentally change focus to another part of the page and suddenly anything you typed gets cleared from the form. I want a URL to put in my password manager that doesn't require a session token, but often I have to go to one page and then click a couple links to get to the actual login page.
I get the SSO argument above, honestly, but I feel like there should be a better UX around it, more intentionality that you're using SSO and not a site-local account. Maybe I have a Gmail email, but I don't want to be redirected to SSO based on that domain. If I choose to use SSO, I should be able to select that identity provider separately from entering my email address. However, this only applies to personal use; I can see corporations enforcing SSO use for their employee credentials. But even that workflow's UX could be improved.
The Expert hits far too close to home every time I watch it; I'm in professional services, and the way they portray everything is perfect. I have meetings like this every month at minimum. (Save me)