T-o-a-s-t's recent activity
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Comment on Small tech companies are staying remote to attract workers, while Big Tech goes back to the office in ~comp
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Comment on Small tech companies are staying remote to attract workers, while Big Tech goes back to the office in ~comp
T-o-a-s-t Link ParentI originally had a standard treadmill in the same room as my (non-standing) desk. I ran a long HDMI cable, mounted a monitor to the wall in front of the treadmill, and added a webcam (w/ a USB...I originally had a standard treadmill in the same room as my (non-standing) desk. I ran a long HDMI cable, mounted a monitor to the wall in front of the treadmill, and added a webcam (w/ a USB extender). Then one lunch break I grabbed some old wood and velcro strips to jury-rig a mouse/keyboard tray. That worked okay, but it was really only functional when I was in meetings. Being down to a single monitor and having poor mouse/KB ergonomics wasn't all that feasible.
Fast-forward a few years and I got a standing desk (went with this one). Then I removed the vertical arms on my old treadmill so it would fit under the standing desk with the head unit sitting on the floor. That ended up being my proof of concept, since I had a LOT of reservations about working productively while walking.
It's fantastic. I ended up doing a ton of research and buying a high-end under desk treadmill within a week. Typically, I'll spend the first 4 hrs of my workday on the treadmill, going in the 3-4 km/h range. There's no hit to my productivity at all when going that speed. Typing is a non-issue, and mouse/KB use is perfectly comfortable with the desk at an appropriate height.
Walking at that speed isn't strenuous enough to increase your cardio ability beyond a beginner level, but it is still nice exercise and reduces a lot of sitting hours. I have a hard time just standing at my desk for any extended periods, and my standing posture gets poor quite quickly. Walking is different, and the only downside is that I have to be mindful of my walking speed if I'm talking a lot on calls.
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Comment on Small tech companies are staying remote to attract workers, while Big Tech goes back to the office in ~comp
T-o-a-s-t Link ParentFor real. I've got a great treadmill desk setup at home, no commute, can make whatever I feel like for lunch, and breaks can be productive for housework and the like. It's also incredibly...For real. I've got a great treadmill desk setup at home, no commute, can make whatever I feel like for lunch, and breaks can be productive for housework and the like. It's also incredibly convenient for those with kids. When my daughter is sick or has the day off daycare, it's trivial to keep her home and put in a bit of extra work time after hours to make up for any time taking care of her uses.
The sheer value of WFH is massive. If anything, I'm more productive than ever since we transitioned a few years back.
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Comment on Should retail businesses be required to accept cash? in ~finance
T-o-a-s-t Link ParentCanada here, so probably pretty comparable. I think certain classes of items or stores should probably have these requirements, but perhaps not all. Grocery stores are one of the easiest to...Canada here, so probably pretty comparable.
I think certain classes of items or stores should probably have these requirements, but perhaps not all. Grocery stores are one of the easiest to advocate for, where we should minimize any barriers to access when possible.
For any non-essentials, though, I too would lean towards that being the businesses choice. Dealing with cash can add a non-trivial amount of overhead. I can't remember the last time my card payments had failed me.
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Comment on Bakers of Tildes, what do you like to bake, and for what type of occasion? in ~food
T-o-a-s-t LinkI stumbled upon chocolate zucchini bread after growing some in the garden for some reason (I have not eaten zucchini many times before then). It's incredible! Generally, bread and biscuits are the...I stumbled upon chocolate zucchini bread after growing some in the garden for some reason (I have not eaten zucchini many times before then). It's incredible!
Generally, bread and biscuits are the only things I bake with any regularity. Lately I've been experimenting with something most weekends. I've got a 5 year old that's interested in helping and that has turned into a fun routine.
We've been trying out some gluten-free cooking recently to share with a celiac friend. I've settled on pretty great GF muffins and cupcakes. Currently trying to perfect Brazilian cheese balls.
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Comment on With rising costs of just about everything, what are some frugal things you do to save some cash? in ~life
T-o-a-s-t LinkI've found myself buying gift cards more often. It sounds weird, but you can regularly catch them on various deals. For example, a few days ago, I bought $200 of Door Dash gift cards for $160....I've found myself buying gift cards more often. It sounds weird, but you can regularly catch them on various deals. For example, a few days ago, I bought $200 of Door Dash gift cards for $160. That was purchased on a credit card that gives 2% cash back, and it was from Costco, so I also get 2% from that. All-in, it was $153.60.
This only works if you have enough disposable income and if you have the restraint to not spend more because of the gift cards. Works well for my family though.
That's pretty much exactly what set me down this path! Life got busy. Between work, family time, and whatever downtime I can find, exercise just wasn't happening. Finding ways to exercise during other tasks has been a game changer. I also got a wall-mounted pull-up bar and set of adjustable dumbbells for the same reason. Setting aside a dedicated hour of gym time has been virtually impossible, and taking 30s at a time out of my work day to knock out a set is much more feasible.
I'd recommend starting with minimal investment, however you can swing it, and that should give you a good sense of whether a more proper setup would work for you. Maybe that's as simple as getting one of those simple under-desk pedal exercisers, then upgrading to a standing desk and proper standing desk bike down the road. Or even just finding a body weight fitness routine and slowly trying to integrate that into your work schedule. Using Loop Habit Tracker helped me start to build these habits, so that could be an option as well.