Zorind's recent activity

  1. Comment on What books do you recommend for someone looking for positive vibes or casual amusement or escape in ~books

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I started Discworld with it (Going Postal), and found it a very approachable starting point (and a very fun book). I would absolutely recommend it as someone’s first Discworld book. Since then,...

    I started Discworld with it (Going Postal), and found it a very approachable starting point (and a very fun book). I would absolutely recommend it as someone’s first Discworld book.

    Since then, I’ve read Making Money (it’s a bit of a continuation of Going Postal), Guards Guards, and Mort.

  2. Comment on humans interacting with computers (blog) in ~comp

    Zorind
    Link
    Article about computer user interfaces, somewhat of a rant, somewhat informative. (Not mine, discovered it through Mastodon). Includes a pretty interesting diagram and discussion about computers...

    Article about computer user interfaces, somewhat of a rant, somewhat informative. (Not mine, discovered it through Mastodon).

    Includes a pretty interesting diagram and discussion about computers doing what you want vs what you say, and users as novices vs experts.

    Mainly posting because it reminded me of my astounding frustration the other day when I was trying to print an image from Windows twice on the same side of a single sheet of paper. I knew a menu for it existed, and in previous versions of window it was the one that usually showed up when I wanted to print. On Windows 10, I went through 3 different print menus before finding the one that actually let me do it. (It wasn’t the one from the “Photos” app, or from trying to put it into a web browser and print it that way. You have to right click from explorer and open the print menu that way.) I almost reverted to pasting the image into a word document instead of finding the correct print menu.

    3 votes
  3. Comment on Donald Trump won’t rule out deploying US troops to support rebuilding Gaza, sees ‘long-term’ US ownership in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    The thing that shocks me about that subreddit is that they don’t see as a problem, they see it as a good thing. If I’m remembering my history classes at all, I’m pretty sure “America First” the...

    The thing that shocks me about that subreddit is that they don’t see

    undermined the reputation of the United States. It also contributed to the isolation of the country from the rest of the world

    as a problem, they see it as a good thing.

    If I’m remembering my history classes at all, I’m pretty sure “America First” the first time, was one of the contributing factors to WWII / WWII becoming as WW as it did. (But I guess they just…don’t see that as a bad thing?)

    11 votes
  4. Comment on Is there a reason that we aren't seeing pushback to US President Donald Trump's blitzkreig? in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    According to Chris Van Hollen, US Senator for Maryland’s outreach newsletter So maybe yes, at least for now - but it’s still in a bit of a confusing state, and it caused chaos for a lot of the...

    According to Chris Van Hollen, US Senator for Maryland’s outreach newsletter

    Trump’s Office of Management and Budget rescinded their guidance. But that does not mean they have given up. The underlying Executive Orders remain, and the lawsuits are still pending.

    So maybe yes, at least for now - but it’s still in a bit of a confusing state, and it caused chaos for a lot of the contractors before being rescinded (or so it seemed from the ProPublica article).

    14 votes
  5. Comment on Is there a reason that we aren't seeing pushback to US President Donald Trump's blitzkreig? in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Most of it seems to be (at least currently) related to the cut of funding for various federal departments as well as firing of various government workers. For example, this article by ProPublica...

    Most of it seems to be (at least currently) related to the cut of funding for various federal departments as well as firing of various government workers.

    For example, this article by ProPublica discusses cuts to humanitarian aid by the shut down of funding to USAID. While it's supposedly just on pause for review, a 90 day shutdown of funding for humanitarian aid efforts can have far reaching consequences - as mentioned in the article, around 220,000 people pick up HIV treatment through the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, created in 2003 by Pres. George W Bush) program. While most of those people aren't in the US or US citizens, that seems like a pretty important program to me. (Other programs involve treatments for various diseases, such as Mpox or Ebola, which again, while not currently rampant in the US, certainly have a chance to be, especially if they become more problematic on a global scale.)

    Is the the responsibility of the US to fund these efforts? Sure, you could argue it's not - they aren't "directly" benefitting US Citizens. But frankly, one of the main reasons I've had any sense of national pride is programs like these - programs that benefit humanity as a whole, made possible through US research.

    To your last point, one of the other major issues I see right now is with the firing of federal workers - even though Trump might not technically have the legal right to do so, he's still issuing the orders, and federal workers are being locked out of systems as a result.

    21 votes
  6. Comment on What have you been making lately? in ~hobbies

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    That is a gorgeous drawer front, definitely improves the look! (And the functionality over the drawless and binless base).

    That is a gorgeous drawer front, definitely improves the look! (And the functionality over the drawless and binless base).

    3 votes
  7. Comment on What are some accidental life hacks you've stumbled into? in ~talk

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Unfortunately doesn’t work if you have a latex allergy. I mean, I guess it might work. But depending on the severity of the latex allergy, it might stop the itching forever. (I married someone...

    Unfortunately doesn’t work if you have a latex allergy.

    I mean, I guess it might work. But depending on the severity of the latex allergy, it might stop the itching forever.

    (I married someone with a Latex allergy, and now have to use much less effective sunburn treatments. Now I just have to try harder to avoid sunburns.)

    8 votes
  8. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Mentioning “Mela” as an alternative (it’s what I currently use). https://mela.recipes/ I mainly use it to grab recipes off the web, not from photos (but I believe it can do so). My main use case...

    Mentioning “Mela” as an alternative (it’s what I currently use). https://mela.recipes/

    I mainly use it to grab recipes off the web, not from photos (but I believe it can do so). My main use case is frankly using it to auto populate my grocery list (in the iOS reminders app) from a given recipe (with the ability to easily not include ingredients I already have).

    I think it can import from Paprika but not 100% sure. I also can’t remember if it has a free version or what features are locked out of the free version off the top of my head.

    1 vote
  9. Comment on Live updates of day one executive orders / actions taken by US President Donald Trump in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    The security clearance bit is worrying to me. Like it makes sense to want your aides that need a clearance to have one (so they can start working), but just granting them rather than expediting...

    The security clearance bit is worrying to me. Like it makes sense to want your aides that need a clearance to have one (so they can start working), but just granting them rather than expediting the review is…exactly what I would expect, but not a good thing.

    Also, I know that the US Gov has separation of powers and all that, but has there been something like the executive order for the TikTok ban at a national level where the President is explicitly informing a federal agency/the government to just…not enforce a law? Because that has worrying implications

    15 votes
  10. Comment on US President Donald Trump to issue executive orders to end birthright citizenship, limit gender identity — incoming official in ~lgbt

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Whether or not it’s unenforceable doesn’t mean it won’t result in the things happening anyway. If the agencies and AG go along without fighting it, then it doesn’t matter. And that is pretty...

    Whether or not it’s unenforceable doesn’t mean it won’t result in the things happening anyway. If the agencies and AG go along without fighting it, then it doesn’t matter. And that is pretty worrying to me.

    Like, this is certainly the executive branch writing legislation, for all intents and purposes, with how it is trying to define terms - and not merely putting out “guidance” for the agencies actually under the executive branches jurisdiction

    I’m also very worried by the not-so-subtle definitions of man and woman being “at the point of conception.” That is explicitly there to target abortion, and that worries me as well.

    17 votes
  11. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of January 20 in ~society

    Zorind
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I am both looking forward to your write up, and horrified what it will contain (based on the approximate 5 minutes of the speech I listened to). @Vord - edits do ping. Thanks, great write up. I...

    I am both looking forward to your write up, and horrified what it will contain (based on the approximate 5 minutes of the speech I listened to).

    @Vord - edits do ping. Thanks, great write up. I did end up reading the transcript, but I appreciate your blog post & what you explicitly call out in it.

    6 votes
  12. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I love the turning into different animals as a player/character ability - looks pretty neat so far. In my opinion, these threads are really for whatever you want to share. GIFs of the game are...

    I love the turning into different animals as a player/character ability - looks pretty neat so far.

    In my opinion, these threads are really for whatever you want to share. GIFs of the game are great; technical details and workflow stuff would also be welcome (but absolutely not required).

    1 vote
  13. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Absolutely post about it here! I’m thinking of playing around in Godot just to make something “visual” with code outside of work, since most of my work right but has been infrastructure stuff...

    Absolutely post about it here! I’m thinking of playing around in Godot just to make something “visual” with code outside of work, since most of my work right but has been infrastructure stuff which I am not enjoying.

    I’d love to hear more about what you’re working on!

    1 vote
  14. Comment on What side-gigs or passive income methods have you found helpful for earning a small amount of extra money? in ~finance

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I think their open submission week has ended, but I’d recommend following puzzmo if you haven’t already - they seem to be pretty good to their crossword constructors, at least from what I’ve seen.

    I think their open submission week has ended, but I’d recommend following puzzmo if you haven’t already - they seem to be pretty good to their crossword constructors, at least from what I’ve seen.

    4 votes
  15. Comment on Starting a community-maintained Tildes source code fork in ~tildes

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    No effect. More detailed thoughts in the next paragraphs. Note, I am not presently associated with this project, just my interpretation from reading this post. As someone who likes to think of...

    No effect. More detailed thoughts in the next paragraphs.

    Note, I am not presently associated with this project, just my interpretation from reading this post.

    As someone who likes to think of themselves as tech savvy / works as a software engineer - this doesn’t appear to be anything that will affect you, a normal user of tildes (via the app or otherwise) in any way shape or form…except that Tildes may get slightly more frequent updates, if things are contributed to this fork that Deimos likes and wants to pull over to Tildes.

    This isn’t something for “users” of Tildes, just something for those who may want to contribute code/features to Tildes. (It may result in spin-offs of Tildes at a later date, as it will make it easier to run a Tildes-like website, but this project doesn’t appear to have that as a primary goal).

    13 votes
  16. Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Starbound does have a pretty soundtrack, good recommendation.

    Starbound does have a pretty soundtrack, good recommendation.

    1 vote
  17. Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I’ve never played any of the Xenoblade games, but the Xenoblade Chronicles soundtrack was on my rotation of study music in college. It’s a great OST.

    I’ve never played any of the Xenoblade games, but the Xenoblade Chronicles soundtrack was on my rotation of study music in college.

    It’s a great OST.

    2 votes
  18. Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games

    Zorind
    Link
    My mind immediately went to Bastion, and Transistor. Both games by Supergiant Games. I think they do have some vocals though, it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to them…but now I’ll...

    My mind immediately went to Bastion, and Transistor. Both games by Supergiant Games.

    I think they do have some vocals though, it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to them…but now I’ll probably listen to them while working tomorrow.

    25 votes
  19. Comment on Cherry MX 10.0N mechanical keyboard - A non-enthusiast's thoughts after one month in ~tech

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    oh, I definitely bottom out still, especially when I’m typing normally or fast. If I’m explicitly going slowly or trying to type quietly I can avoid it, but that’s significantly easier to do with...

    oh, I definitely bottom out still, especially when I’m typing normally or fast.

    If I’m explicitly going slowly or trying to type quietly I can avoid it, but that’s significantly easier to do with tactiles since the bump is the actuation point. (Or with clickies, since the click is the actuation point.)