cinnamontrout's recent activity
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Comment on Leaked email suggests Ring plans to expand ‘search party’ surveillance beyond dogs in ~tech
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Comment on How do you remember? in ~tech
cinnamontrout LinkI've used Apple's built-in Reminders app on my iPhone. It syncs to my Mac and when I'm thinking about things I need to do I usually enter them on my Mac because I enjoy using the keyboard more. I...I've used Apple's built-in Reminders app on my iPhone. It syncs to my Mac and when I'm thinking about things I need to do I usually enter them on my Mac because I enjoy using the keyboard more.
I have list for things which repeat on a more or less weekly or daily basis (take out the trash), and a list for things which happen on much longer timescales like quarterly or yearly (pay estimated taxes, change air filters, inspect water heater, change car oil).
I also have a list for things I need to buy the next time I'm at any store. It's a list that has groceries, toiletries, hardware, anything that when I'm in any sort of brick and mortar store I look at briefly before I leave just to make sure I hadn't forgot something.
And then there's just a general list for everything else.
Every reminder can be assigned an alert so it will go off at a specific day or time, or just hang out without notifying you (like all the stuff on my shopping list).
It's gotten to the point where anytime I think of anything, I reflexively pull out my phone and add it to the list (you can also do via voice, but often I don't like saying my thoughts in public).
The main benefit for me is I never spend any time worrying about whether I'm forgetting something. If it was ever important to me, it's on a list. Maybe once every few days I go through all of the lists and remove anything that is no longer relevant, like a fleeting idea I thought was a great idea that I've already taken care of. In general before this my brain was constantly spinning thinking of all the things I may have forgotten to do - that's no longer the case for me and it's incredibly freeing.
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Comment on Leaked email suggests Ring plans to expand ‘search party’ surveillance beyond dogs in ~tech
cinnamontrout Link ParentThe good news regarding Frigate is that they no longer require (or even recommend) using specific TensorFlow hardware. The latest versions all offer a variety of detectors, some of which can even...The good news regarding Frigate is that they no longer require (or even recommend) using specific TensorFlow hardware. The latest versions all offer a variety of detectors, some of which can even use the built-in GPU in inexpensive hardware. For example, I'm running Frigate using a Beelink Mini PC which can be had for $300. The N100 and N150 intel chips have built-in GPUs which can run the OpenVino detectors and the performance is as good (and in some cases better) than the TensorFlow hardware I used before.
https://docs.frigate.video/configuration/object_detectors/
Admittedly, it's been at least 3 years since I used any cloud-based detection systems but the Frigate system is extremely performant (I get notification within 0.5 seconds of someone approaching my front door) and very reliable at detecting people. It's less smart about animals, but that can be improved with training a Frigate+ model. I use Home Assistant to interface with Frigate and Signal to push my notifications so all of the detection logic and data is flowing through my own hardware, except for the final notification which is sent via Signal which I trust to be private for my purposes.
The most common daily use case is I know when the mail arrives, when packages show up, and if someone is around my house (I get routine tests because of my gardener).
Yes, it's a bit of an up-front mental investment because you should install your own IP cameras on your own network so everything is local, and it does require you to understand how to do some very basic systems administration tasks. So, it's not for everybody.
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Comment on Revisiting Instagram, and promptly leaving it again in ~tech
cinnamontrout LinkIf you do need to follow a specific somebody on Instagram, because say, that's the only place this business posts what they are up to, you can look at it using this website: https://imginn.com...If you do need to follow a specific somebody on Instagram, because say, that's the only place this business posts what they are up to, you can look at it using this website:
It's free of all of the distractions of Instagram and you don't need an account.
I use it to look at the restaurants and food trucks near me when I need to know if they are closing for the holidays, for example. Some restaurants I go to only post their changes in hours on Instagram so this is a convenient way to see what they are up to.
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Comment on I need to tell you why coffee makes you poop in ~food
cinnamontrout Link ParentI think it's behavior conditioning with a hot liquid. Years ago I experimented with this and today I have trained myself to use just plain hot water and it works just as well as coffee ever did. I...I think it's behavior conditioning with a hot liquid. Years ago I experimented with this and today I have trained myself to use just plain hot water and it works just as well as coffee ever did. I even experimented with chilled coffee and it did not have the same effect.
I have no proof of this, but physically, the warming effect of hot liquids is enough to trigger muscle movements that create a chain reaction that kicks everything off.
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Comment on USB Wi-Fi adapter suggestions in ~comp
cinnamontrout LinkOne suggestion is to check and make sure it's not anything related to your operating system. If you can, put operating system on a bootable USB memory stick and see if you can replicate the...One suggestion is to check and make sure it's not anything related to your operating system. If you can, put operating system on a bootable USB memory stick and see if you can replicate the behavior there. You can run this without disturbing your existing operating system - just look for "Live Boot" which means you don't have to install the OS to your hard drive to start using it immediately.
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Comment on Which unanswered questions do you want to see an answer for in your lifetime? in ~science
cinnamontrout LinkIs eternal human life possible? I would like to know if the reason we can't live forever is because of some hard physical limits that we do not yet understand, or if we really are just a system of...Is eternal human life possible?
I would like to know if the reason we can't live forever is because of some hard physical limits that we do not yet understand, or if we really are just a system of parts that wear out and if we eventually figure out how to replace every single one of them over time, that we can effectively "live forever". Right now I do not know of a single human body component that can be replaced indefinitely, save for maybe teeth and prosthetic limbs.
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Comment on OK Go - Love (2025) in ~music
cinnamontrout Link ParentThey posted a making-of video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EKQKF4qPPI They ran through 39 times to get it right. The video has a great segment starting at 13:22 where they have a split screen...They posted a making-of video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EKQKF4qPPI
They ran through 39 times to get it right. The video has a great segment starting at 13:22 where they have a split screen of the video and an alternate view of what is going on outside the frame to make all the magic happen.
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Comment on Question about routers and access points in ~comp
cinnamontrout Link ParentJust to follow up - failing power supplies can show up as intermittent poor network performance. Sometimes when a wireless router is connecting to a distant phone for example, it has to boost the...Just to follow up - failing power supplies can show up as intermittent poor network performance. Sometimes when a wireless router is connecting to a distant phone for example, it has to boost the power to the antennas to get a better signal and that can tax the power supply just enough that the other components get starved for power, like the cpu or network interfaces. So if you do replace the power supply, be sure to test it with a full load of wireless devices running at once to confirm it can handle it.
Also, wireless interference usually works like that too - I worked in an office whose wireless would cut out completely seemingly at random. It turns out our neighbors on the floor below us just got some new printing/plotting equipment and when they turned it on to make some posters for clients, their devices knocked everything offline for about 5 minutes while it was running. We only found out because one of them came out for a smoke break after he kicked off the print job and one day while I met him outside he told us his phone doesn't work either during the print jobs which was why he was out there killing time. He had no idea this was affecting anyone else but the people in his office and was deeply apologetic once he realized what was going on!
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Comment on Question about routers and access points in ~comp
cinnamontrout (edited )LinkHave you tested the power supply on your XR300? If you've been otherwise happy with it before it started behaving badly, sometimes a dying power supply can cause issues. It's worth checking it...- Exemplary
Have you tested the power supply on your XR300? If you've been otherwise happy with it before it started behaving badly, sometimes a dying power supply can cause issues. It's worth checking it with a multi-meter first or if you can secure a new power supply inexpensively to swap it out.
Also, have you tried connecting a computer via one of the wired ports to make sure it's not wireless interference? You might have a new device in your area that is disturbing the wireless signal. Also, not sure if this is applicable, but I had a wireless access point suddenly do very poorly and I later found out one of the kids in the household decided to play with the antennas and broke it while attempting to use it as a spaceship during playtime. Mom tried to put it back and it mostly worked but later when I took it apart to examine it I noticed one of the antennas internal connectors was broken.
I only mention these possibilities because if it stopped working properly in the last few months these are the sort of issues that seem more likely. Most routers don't start failing especially if you've been at 300Mbps up/down and your upstream internet hasn't changed, unless something like the above has happened. I haven't checked, but your router might have gotten compromised in which case doing a factory reset and loading the most recent firmware might be a good thing to try also, if the software is not persistent.
But if all of the above is not happening, or you're just done with the Netgear XR300, using a separate router and wireless access device does work. It's what I do at home. I use have an OPNSense router from Protectli and I use Ruckus wireless access points (used, acquired on ebay) for my wireless network and it works wonderfully. It's more expensive, but I have a much more configurable router and the wireless access points can be scaled up to handle a ridiculous number of clients. I can also swap out the wireless access points and the router independently.
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Comment on I'm generally confused about dating women in ~life.men
cinnamontrout Link ParentEssentially, yes the platforms are built on a fantasy. I know a few people for whom dating apps are actually useful - they are all very attractive, way above-average looking people. And in their...Essentially, yes the platforms are built on a fantasy.
I know a few people for whom dating apps are actually useful - they are all very attractive, way above-average looking people. And in their normal life they are so far out of everyone's league they use the dating platform to hookup with the most attractive people in their area.
They are not looking for long term partners. It's just for hooking up - and you burn through partners quickly in real life, so the online platform casts a much wider net.
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Comment on I'm generally confused about dating women in ~life.men
cinnamontrout LinkI've had a lot of experience with this, both directly and indirectly (lots of women in my family). So here's a bunch of things that may help: Regarding the advice many have already offered about...- Exemplary
I've had a lot of experience with this, both directly and indirectly (lots of women in my family).
So here's a bunch of things that may help:
Regarding the advice many have already offered about trying to widen your social circle: The reason this works is because most women do not want to feel like they are being interviewed for the position of future wife. Neither do most men. Almost everyone I know wants the story of how they fell in love to be - he/she was a wonderful person who just came into my life and I just knew. The best way for that to happen is for this person to actually be a part of your life, that you see regularly and on occasion without any romantic overtones. When you are around people regularly, you pick up on many clues about their personality and you get to see the real person. They are not performing for you or trying too hard to impress you. People who encounter each other this way often have the most realistic impression of their personalities, good and bad. This is the main reason why people often fall in love with co-workers or classmates. The daily environment of seeing someone, working on shared projects together generates a lot of the natural elements that cause attraction and also foster mutual understanding of each other.
Regarding soliciting feedback from your past dates - basically, you won't get useful actionable information from them. You may even get incorrect information, for a variety of reasons. Many women have had bad experiences and do not want to encourage a past suitor further, so they often will say what they think will end the iteraction with the least drama. This often means if you do have some glaring fault, they will not risk angering you and telling you what it is out of fear.
As someone who has entered the dating pool a few times in his life over many decades 20s, late 30s, who has tried online dating all both times (yes, there were online dating websites in the 1990s!) I can tell you the tech changes but the way people are do not. It's always a ratio of about 1-20 on the online sites, and doing social circles things go from 1-6 to 6-1 depending on the circle. Social circles always win.
And the other thing to be aware of - social circles are not always what they seem on the surface. When I was younger, I joined a social circle where I was the only one in my 20s, and most the volunteers were over 50. I was not attracted to any of the women there who were much older than me - however, I did end up going on a few dates with their daughters/nieces and I would not have had that opportunity any other way. Their mothers "vetted" me, essentially. Their daughters were basically looking for guys in bars or online and not doing well with that approach.
Finally I will repeat some advice that others have also said here - stop trying so hard. It's counter-productive. For 2 reasons. First is that desperation is not attractive. This is why you can't get a squirrel to eat our of your hand if you run at it with nuts. Sit quietly, hold out your hand, and they are much more likely to approach. Second is that need to be the kind of guy a woman wants to hang out with. A woman does not want to hang out with a guy who is desperately looking for her. She wants a guy who is happy with life, and living it to the fullest before she came along. So you need to be that guy, and one way to do that is to find purpose with a lots of other people, not future dating partners. Find a cause you believe in, and do the cause.
I'm running 9 cameras with 1080p recording resolution, but detection resolution is 720p to 480p depending on the angle of the camera. Detection is 5 frames per second, which is more than fast enough to spot all of the moving objects I'm interested in. Recording is just native copying the stream from the camera, which is 30 fps, and doesn't require any significant resources.