Sycamore's recent activity

  1. Comment on Caught the cycling bug. Anyone else? in ~hobbies

    Sycamore
    Link
    I hope to get to where you are soon! I've been meaning to bike for leisure and exercise more than just for running quick errands. I'd like to bike more year-round but the weather always...

    I hope to get to where you are soon! I've been meaning to bike for leisure and exercise more than just for running quick errands. I'd like to bike more year-round but the weather always intimidates me :(

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Which Substacks do you subscribe to/follow? in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Its hard to define what im looking for specifically - i have a lot of hobbies and interested in various things. So kinda open to whatever and willing to explore what folks suggest. I'm not at all...

    Its hard to define what im looking for specifically - i have a lot of hobbies and interested in various things. So kinda open to whatever and willing to explore what folks suggest. I'm not at all familar with the Substack content landscape.

    E.g. I'd be willing to look into Schwartz bc ive been curious about woodworking and wanting to dabble in that too!

    I didn't know about the paywall situation tho...

  3. Comment on Which Substacks do you subscribe to/follow? in ~tech

  5. Comment on Lost in a sea of HVAC in ~life.home_improvement

    Sycamore
    (edited )
    Link
    I was experiencing a similar situation where I had asked for a central system conversion but they proposed mini split heat pumps. I ended up agreeing and ended up going mini split. I accepted the...

    I was experiencing a similar situation where I had asked for a central system conversion but they proposed mini split heat pumps. I ended up agreeing and ended up going mini split. I accepted the fact that aethestics should not have to trump performance, comfort, and control. And i was generally happy with the result. You kinda get used to it hanging on the wall.

    I wasn't upgrading a house tho, just a condo.

    Side note-

    One reason why they avoid converting heating only duct systems into a cooling and heating duct systems is because the existing ductwork would be sized too small for the latter. You need more air to cool the house than to heat it (Primarily bc there's always people or equipment generating heat that you need to cool down vs. something generating cold to heat up).

    So you would need to push more air in the ducts which will cause the fan to work harder and cause more noise than if the ducts were rightly sized.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on Smartphone recommendations? in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Looks like you're correct im outdating myself! Only the Zenphone Ultra is available

    Looks like you're correct im outdating myself! Only the Zenphone Ultra is available

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Smartphone recommendations? in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link
    3.5years doesn't seem thaat old. I don't have a Sony, but I've had bluetooth issues where audio quality drops around the same spot i walk through during my commute. It was a strange phenomenon but...

    3.5years doesn't seem thaat old.

    I don't have a Sony, but I've had bluetooth issues where audio quality drops around the same spot i walk through during my commute. It was a strange phenomenon but i had to assume there was some kind of interfering signals. Wonder if thats your issue?

    In any case, try the Asus Zenphone - i think it meets all your requirements listed.

  8. Comment on Do you prefer chunky or smooth peanut butter? in ~food

    Sycamore
    Link
    Teddy's 100%. I like both Smooth or Chucky but smooth preferred only cause its easier to spread.

    Teddy's 100%. I like both Smooth or Chucky but smooth preferred only cause its easier to spread.

    3 votes

  9. Comment on US landlords want to be paid for pandemic losses and hope to reach a deal with the Donald Trump administration in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the ping @gary ! A good reminder that real-estate is not risk-free.. (i did somewhat consider investing in real estate thinking it was reasonably safe but not wanting to be a landlord...

    Thanks for the ping @gary ! A good reminder that real-estate is not risk-free.. (i did somewhat consider investing in real estate thinking it was reasonably safe but not wanting to be a landlord was the major reason to avoid... )

    1 vote

  10. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    What did you end up investing in ?

    What did you end up investing in ?

  11. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Not sure but what are some of the higher risk ones you're referring to?

    Not sure but what are some of the higher risk ones you're referring to?

    2 votes

  12. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Only up to 250,000 or so typically. Not that I have that much saved right now. But in general I want to have options.

    Only up to 250,000 or so typically. Not that I have that much saved right now. But in general I want to have options.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Yes... I don't want to play this game but I also don't want to lose

    Yes... I don't want to play this game but I also don't want to lose 🫠

    8 votes

  14. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Good points. I do try to minimize the amount of funds in a big bank HYSE and more towards a mutual bank CDs that are supporting local businessees. But its also risky to store all my savings in a...

    Good points.

    I do try to minimize the amount of funds in a big bank HYSE and more towards a mutual bank CDs that are supporting local businessees. But its also risky to store all my savings in a local bank.

    Alternatives that are on par with stock market growth may not really exist under capitalsm - but i really wish there is something somewhat comparable.

    3 votes

  15. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Hmm interesting idea, but having to manage something like that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Seems like it'll add a weird flavor to a relationship...

    Hmm interesting idea, but having to manage something like that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Seems like it'll add a weird flavor to a relationship...

    4 votes

  16. Comment on Are there alternative ways to invest savings? in ~finance

    Sycamore
    Link Parent
    Sorry - yes, something more ethical. Updated the post

    Sorry - yes, something more ethical. Updated the post

    2 votes

  17. Are there alternative ways to invest savings?

    ~finance Ask (advice)
    What are some ways to grow your savings without investing it into the stock market/401k? In short, I don't want my savings to fund giant corporations. It seems like most mutual funds can't exist...

    What are some ways to grow your savings without investing it into the stock market/401k?

    In short, I don't want my savings to fund giant corporations. It seems like most mutual funds can't exist without a portfolio of such corporations despite calling themselves green or ethical.

    I've been storing funds in CDs or HYSEs but wondering if there are any other avenues.

    38 votes

  19. Comment on How to find (a) new music (community)? in ~music

    Sycamore
    Link
    I discovered this website that plots every known genre (via Spotify) on a scatterplot (w song snippets as an example). Its quite fascinating and will likely help you understand what kinds of sound...

    I discovered this website that plots every known genre (via Spotify) on a scatterplot (w song snippets as an example). Its quite fascinating and will likely help you understand what kinds of sound you haven't explored yet!
    Every Noise

    1 vote

  20. Comment on The center has a bias in ~tech

    Sycamore
    Link
    One of the major mainstream criticisms I hold is the very abstract ones around the environmental, social implications and disgust around the hype even with these negative impacts known. And if you...

    One of the major mainstream criticisms I hold is the very abstract ones around the environmental, social implications and disgust around the hype even with these negative impacts known.

    And if you take those concerns as a moral issue like I do - it feels wrong to use AI agents/LLMs at all. To support and use a tool that is essentially accelerating the climate crisis as an environmentalist would be totally unprincipled.

    So even if abstract, i don't think its necessarily missing anything in its criticism. Unless somehow data centers and chip production are produced with 100% clean energy & materials. The actual performance of AI and experience using it become irrelevant.

    1 vote