dirthawker's recent activity
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Comment on Super Monkey Ball web game in ~games
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Comment on Super Monkey Ball web game in ~games
dirthawker Link ParentAlso on a pixel 8. I get the frame around the game but the play area is entirely black. Amusingly, though, a bunch of random tapping got me points and eventually a goal.Also on a pixel 8. I get the frame around the game but the play area is entirely black. Amusingly, though, a bunch of random tapping got me points and eventually a goal.
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Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentMy mom boiled Coca cola for us, but I'm not sure if she added anything to it. We got PeiPaKoa for coughs, chrysanthemum tea for fevers (that one really worked well for me), and if we were really...My mom boiled Coca cola for us, but I'm not sure if she added anything to it. We got PeiPaKoa for coughs, chrysanthemum tea for fevers (that one really worked well for me), and if we were really sick like the flu, there was this rather awful black herbal stuff she would boil up, and the rock sugar she added really only took the edge off the bitterness. I think my mom was aware of the heating and cooling aspects but I'm not sure how much she set store by them. In midlife she would have me buy various herbal things for her since I lived in the Bay Area, with a million Asian groceries and herb stores. Later in life I think she pretty much stuck with western medicine.
These days I make a nice chicken jook for the husband and I in case of stomach upsets. We get the flu vaccine every year so neither of us has had the flu in many years.
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Comment on Why everyone is suddenly in a ‘very Chinese time’ in their lives in ~tech
dirthawker Link ParentI remember being in a Vietnamese restaurant (in the US) and a white customer insisting that his refrigerator-cold beverage also needed ice. As in, almost yelling "I want it ice cold, I mean ICE...I remember being in a Vietnamese restaurant (in the US) and a white customer insisting that his refrigerator-cold beverage also needed ice. As in, almost yelling "I want it ice cold, I mean ICE COLD". The servers exchanged looks like "this guy is bonkers," but gave him his ice.
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Comment on What's a culture shock that you experienced? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentI'm a Northern Californian and although I am aware that some cultures, both foreign and American subculture (e.g. Hollywood, certain types of wealthy people), do the greeting kiss and/or the air...I'm a Northern Californian and although I am aware that some cultures, both foreign and American subculture (e.g. Hollywood, certain types of wealthy people), do the greeting kiss and/or the air kiss, but it's always a surprise to me when someone does it. I'm a hand shaker.
And I'm also a woman. I used to notice some people (usually men) found it unusual when a woman puts her hand forward for a handshake, but not so much anymore.
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Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk
dirthawker LinkMissed being a boomer by a year. Asian, female, by practical terms retired, former database dev.Missed being a boomer by a year. Asian, female, by practical terms retired, former database dev.
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Comment on Advice needed: Getting an elderly parent set up with a home health aide in ~life
dirthawker LinkThe hospital's hospice services should have a list of home care aides. They should be able to share this list with you even if you don't put your dad in hospice. Hospice care does however provide...The hospital's hospice services should have a list of home care aides. They should be able to share this list with you even if you don't put your dad in hospice. Hospice care does however provide a lot of great services and they should (crossing fingers) be covered by Medicare. Services should include bathing, a weekly (or more often) check-in with a nurse, spiritual services, and prescribing medications. Hospice does operate under the assumption that the patient is dying and does not prescribe medications meant to cure serious illnesses. Hospice isn't a one-way street though; you can leave hospice and return later.
For my mom we additionally engaged home care people out of pocket because she was bedridden and really needed someone 24/7. Home care ranges from people with nurse certification to people who do not actually have any medical training but are just doing chores like meal prep, helping with the toilet, body care, housework etc., essentially babysitting for old people. We did start with a list of providers given to us by hospice but also asked around among friends who had had to do the same thing.
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Comment on Happy new year! in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentCongratulations! We also bought a new house and although we did hire painters, I've replaced the cameras, been replacing light fixtures, and added a light switch that gives a 2 way function...Congratulations! We also bought a new house and although we did hire painters, I've replaced the cameras, been replacing light fixtures, and added a light switch that gives a 2 way function without wiring. I did intend to paint but there was just so much going on, so I only did the kitchen island. We also want to replace the primary bath vanity -- PO liked chrome, we don't, plus it's deteriorating in that horrible flaky way. I've done a modest amount of plumbing at the previous home so apart from getting large men to bring in and carry out a 72" vanity, I may be able to do the actual install.
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Comment on Not-so-humble brag: What are you proud of that you don't normally get to talk about? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentA lifetime or two ago I lived in San Mateo, CA and there was a bit of grafitti on a sound wall that I would pass by on the way home every day. The wall was a pinkish cinderblock about 12' tall and...A lifetime or two ago I lived in San Mateo, CA and there was a bit of grafitti on a sound wall that I would pass by on the way home every day. The wall was a pinkish cinderblock about 12' tall and had this beautiful wall climbing plant spreading over it. Near the end of its reach someone had tagged "TEA". It sounds weird but I always wanted to take a photo of it and never did.
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Comment on You're not crazy. The bugs are disappearing. in ~enviro
dirthawker Link ParentOh, they love me too, both mosquitoes and fleas. The fleas in particular leave deep red marks, but I've found a vitamin B complex supplement helps reduce the severity.Oh, they love me too, both mosquitoes and fleas. The fleas in particular leave deep red marks, but I've found a vitamin B complex supplement helps reduce the severity.
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Comment on You're not crazy. The bugs are disappearing. in ~enviro
dirthawker LinkMy parents' home was a regular and frequent drive of about 100 miles and in the late 90s I noticed the reduced number of bug splats on the car. I associated it with the drought (California as you...My parents' home was a regular and frequent drive of about 100 miles and in the late 90s I noticed the reduced number of bug splats on the car. I associated it with the drought (California as you may expect). When regular rains came back so did the bugs, but not as many as before, by far. Rarely see mosquitoes at dusk, though that might be just effective mosquito abatement.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
dirthawker LinkI recently moved, which involved rediscovering little projects that had been forgotten or put aside indefinitely. Since the new place is bigger I had space for a worktable, so I picked up...I recently moved, which involved rediscovering little projects that had been forgotten or put aside indefinitely. Since the new place is bigger I had space for a worktable, so I picked up something from IKEA, set it up, and got cracking. I had a painting that had gotten loose from the tape holding it to the mat, so it was hanging at a tilt, and I retaped it; the frame on another picture had come apart and I had to rejoin the pieces (3D printing the replacement bits). Lastly I had an old espresso grinder with a doser handle that had lost its spring, so I dismantled that and got a spare spring from the husband, which turned out to be just the right length and springy enough. Now that they all back to rights, I can give them away with a good conscience.
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Comment on Without looking, do you have a vague idea of your coordinates? in ~talk
dirthawker LinkI'm 30 something by -122, something off the top of my head. On checking, it's 37 and the 122 is correct. It seems like each integer covers 55-60 miles -- what counts as "near"?I'm 30 something by -122, something off the top of my head. On checking, it's 37 and the 122 is correct. It seems like each integer covers 55-60 miles -- what counts as "near"?
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Comment on Winter boot recommendations for women in ~life.style
dirthawker Link ParentI have a pair of Thinsulate lined Bean boots which I wore for about 12 years of hunting - about 1.5 hours a day 2-3 times a week 9 months out of the year. I had to get them resoled once in that...I have a pair of Thinsulate lined Bean boots which I wore for about 12 years of hunting - about 1.5 hours a day 2-3 times a week 9 months out of the year. I had to get them resoled once in that time. Granted this was in California where the temperature is typically over 45 but it will at least attest to their endurance.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentThanks, wow, I didn't know (2016 was the last time I bought anything vape related). I just looked for websites that sold such and found them, but didn't check further to see if they would or...Thanks, wow, I didn't know (2016 was the last time I bought anything vape related). I just looked for websites that sold such and found them, but didn't check further to see if they would or wouldn't ship to CA.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentI feel there's an anti-DIY bent. In California about 20 years ago there was a campaign (ultimately successful) to make selling single cigarettes illegal. The claim was that it was easier for kids...I feel there's an anti-DIY bent. In California about 20 years ago there was a campaign (ultimately successful) to make selling single cigarettes illegal. The claim was that it was easier for kids to buy a single cigarette at .25 than a pack at about $4. I did not think it likely a kid in 2003 would be so cash strapped to be unable to come up with $4, especially if they had friends who also smoked. For me the legislation made it that much harder to try to wean myself off. For vaping I seem to recall at one point a push against selling flavorings and possibly nicotine liquid, though that must have not gotten anywhere since I see these things are presently available.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentI'm glad it worked for you too. Congratulations! The nice part about vaping more in response to a nicotine drop is that you don't feel nearly as bad as you'd feel if you smoked twice as many...I'm glad it worked for you too. Congratulations!
The nice part about vaping more in response to a nicotine drop is that you don't feel nearly as bad as you'd feel if you smoked twice as many cigarettes. And there is only so much you can vape as well.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
dirthawker LinkFor my massive sample size of 1, vaping did get me to quit tobacco and afterwards I quit vaping as well. I think as with many changes in habit, you have to start with intent and maintain the goal....For my massive sample size of 1, vaping did get me to quit tobacco and afterwards I quit vaping as well. I think as with many changes in habit, you have to start with intent and maintain the goal.
For me, smoking (and vaping) has at least 2 parts, the chemical addiction and the ritual (cigarette with coffee, break time with coworkers, at the bar etc).
Trading off cigarettes for the vape was pretty easy; the vape was cigarette shaped, and the juice was allegedly tobacco flavored. There was a slight tearing when I got on a plane and realized I had the vape on me but not the cigarettes, and took the leap not to buy cigarettes anymore. If I felt like I wanted to buy cigarettes I would just vape more (I think the juice had a little less nicotine than the Camel Lights).
I then graduated to mixing my own vape juice. Propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and nicotine. There are calculators online to help figure out how to measure for a specific percentage of nicotine. I did that for about a year, and then started reducing the nicotine percentage. I took probably another year or so cutting it in half several times until I got close enough to zero to leave it out. Iirc each time I cut it, I would have a headache and mild withdrawal symptoms.
I think I was at zero for about 2 months and noticed I was not picking it up as often. I started parking the vape on the other side of my room instead of on my desk and that made it even less frequent. And at some point I went a whole day without vaping. And another month or two later I put all the vape stuff in a cabinet and forgot about it.
So all in all about 2.5 years not trying hard I stopped 30 years of cigarettes.
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Comment on Good News - A thread and a challenge in ~news
dirthawker Link ParentGiven that nearly all my social media is politics (I really need to get a life) and thus highly depressing, I'm definitely needing to see more uplifting stuff.Given that nearly all my social media is politics (I really need to get a life) and thus highly depressing, I'm definitely needing to see more uplifting stuff.
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Comment on Who/what are your go-to sources for authentic recipes of regional cuisines? in ~food
dirthawker LinkFor Indian VahChef is respected by the folks at r/indianfood, though I find his measurements are kind of vague. His videos are more instructive and some are very funny (cf chicken toddy recipe)...For Indian VahChef is respected by the folks at r/indianfood, though I find his measurements are kind of vague. His videos are more instructive and some are very funny (cf chicken toddy recipe)
I'm pretty fond of Made With Lau and Woks of Life for Cantonese.
Not sure how authentic she is but I like The Mediterranean Dish for Middle Eastern stuff.
And the already mentioned Maangchi is pretty great.
Totally worked in Firefox. For science I also tried Edge, and instead of the game frame with a black screen I had distributed clusters of pixel-like blocks in the background (I can send a screenshot if you want). Touching the screen I seemed to be able to control (mph changed) but there was nothing moving.