dirthawker's recent activity
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Comment on Planet Money buys a $137 diamond from Alibaba in ~finance
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Comment on What keeps you up at night? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentAnd stretch them with your legs straight at the knees. If you have knees bent and you flex your foot up to stretch the Achilles, that's not fully stretching it. The Achilles goes halfway up the...And stretch them with your legs straight at the knees. If you have knees bent and you flex your foot up to stretch the Achilles, that's not fully stretching it. The Achilles goes halfway up the lower leg and when you stretch, you want to feel it at that halfway point.
We think of the Achilles as being only on the back side of the foot behind the ankle. That tripped me up for years until a podiatrist corrected what I was doing. After that, PF went away.
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Comment on What do you do with your diplomas? in ~life
dirthawker Link ParentWhen I graduated (1986) my university actually did issue a laminated credit card size version of their diploma along with the normal 8x10 paper. I'm sure I still have both... somewhere...When I graduated (1986) my university actually did issue a laminated credit card size version of their diploma along with the normal 8x10 paper. I'm sure I still have both... somewhere...
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Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life
dirthawker Link ParentI'm shocked that this even needs to be said. Do they do that in other states?DO NOT call black men “boy”
I'm shocked that this even needs to be said. Do they do that in other states?
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Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
dirthawker LinkI have a VHS recorder which, to be fair, I rarely use. But last year I wanted to convert a tape to MP4 and upload it to YouTube. It was about falconry in China, was made around 2001, but no longer...I have a VHS recorder which, to be fair, I rarely use. But last year I wanted to convert a tape to MP4 and upload it to YouTube. It was about falconry in China, was made around 2001, but no longer available to purchase in any format. The recorder itself I bought new around 1995. It played the tape adequately and I was able to capture the video and save it.
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Comment on Good hobby lamp? in ~hobbies
dirthawker Link ParentI have a desk clamp lamp with an LED ring light + magnifier. It does a terrific job for my aging eyes, but the individual LEDs will die over time and as you said cannot be replaced. This is my...I have a desk clamp lamp with an LED ring light + magnifier. It does a terrific job for my aging eyes, but the individual LEDs will die over time and as you said cannot be replaced. This is my second one (bought because the first one got a flicker) and I just won't buy another because it's too wasteful to throw out everything.
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Comment on What mattress would you recommend? in ~life.home_improvement
dirthawker LinkWe had a Leesa Sapira which was pleasantly soft without being squishy, but about 5 years in I experienced back problems, (which I discovered later were not due to the mattress.) But I thought it...We had a Leesa Sapira which was pleasantly soft without being squishy, but about 5 years in I experienced back problems, (which I discovered later were not due to the mattress.) But I thought it might be, so we went shopping for firmer mattresses. Checked out expensive ones, middle range ones, and finally found a good one at IKEA for a very reasonable price. We've had it a little over a year now and it's been a winner.
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Comment on The real problem with toilet paper: Where it comes from in ~enviro
dirthawker Link ParentThat can't possibly be right. 2.7 rolls a week for a single person is someone who's got major GI problems. Or they've buying those cheap ass single ply scrawny rolls. Maybe a household of 4? I too...That can't possibly be right. 2.7 rolls a week for a single person is someone who's got major GI problems. Or they've buying those cheap ass single ply scrawny rolls. Maybe a household of 4?
I too get my TP from Costco (which is afaik unfortunately 0% recycled content) and it takes my 2 person household about 8-9 months to get through. And that was before I got a bidet seat.
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Comment on Can I carry a Turquoise gemstone on my Air Canada flight? Any documents needed? in ~travel
dirthawker LinkUnless the thing is enormous, I wouldn't worry about it. On two occasions, I've brought a couple pieces of heirloom jewelry worth about $20-25K in my carry-on and nobody gave it a second glance....Unless the thing is enormous, I wouldn't worry about it. On two occasions, I've brought a couple pieces of heirloom jewelry worth about $20-25K in my carry-on and nobody gave it a second glance. (I'm an American of East Asian descent.) For the record, it was a domestic flight, so the rules might be different. I would say keep the receipt and I'm sure you'll be fine.
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Comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists in ~food
dirthawker Link ParentAs we get older, the husband and I eat less, particularly at dinner. We've been finding that at some restaurants a single dinner entree will feed both of us decently. We do this most often when...As we get older, the husband and I eat less, particularly at dinner. We've been finding that at some restaurants a single dinner entree will feed both of us decently. We do this most often when we're travelling and have less easy access to refrigeration and reheating.
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Comment on Coastal Peregrine falcons’ mysterious decline in ~enviro
dirthawker LinkA breeding pair at UC Berkeley has also been missing 2 months and the suspect is also avian flu.A breeding pair at UC Berkeley has also been missing 2 months and the suspect is also avian flu.
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Comment on What is your strangely specific phobia? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentThanks, that's actually very reassuring!Thanks, that's actually very reassuring!
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Comment on Grammar errors that actually matter, or: the thread where we all become prescriptivists in ~humanities.languages
dirthawker LinkWhen I'm in a forgiving mood I can stay focused on semantics rather than spelling, but 'alright' will always grate on me. I would be okay if the accepted version kept both Ls -- one L is itchy. In...When I'm in a forgiving mood I can stay focused on semantics rather than spelling, but 'alright' will always grate on me. I would be okay if the accepted version kept both Ls -- one L is itchy. In that state I always want to pronounce it like Al Wright.
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Comment on Grammar errors that actually matter, or: the thread where we all become prescriptivists in ~humanities.languages
dirthawker Link ParentGood god, that's an abominationGood god, that's an abomination
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Comment on What is your strangely specific phobia? in ~talk
dirthawker LinkI did not own a microwave until 2008. I was in my 40s and irrationally afraid the waves would leak and injure me in some unobvious way, not unlike the way people are afraid of power towers. If I...I did not own a microwave until 2008. I was in my 40s and irrationally afraid the waves would leak and injure me in some unobvious way, not unlike the way people are afraid of power towers. If I used one I would start it, leave the room, and return when it was done. I'm not sure what changed to make me comfortable around them, but I'm fine with them now.
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Comment on Running ethernet in new home in ~life.home_improvement
dirthawker LinkAs others have said, wire for cat6. If you're thinking of security cameras in the future, consider dropping wires in likely locations for them, including doorbell. WiFi cameras, though popular,...As others have said, wire for cat6. If you're thinking of security cameras in the future, consider dropping wires in likely locations for them, including doorbell. WiFi cameras, though popular, are affected by signal jammers, and wired cameras (currently) are not.
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Comment on Dystopian book recommendations in ~books
dirthawker LinkThe Sheep Look Up by John Brunner. It's rather dated in terms of racist language, and a bit environmentalist hippie, but the presentation is pretty great.The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner. It's rather dated in terms of racist language, and a bit environmentalist hippie, but the presentation is pretty great.
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Comment on Do you deliberately overbuy things with the intention to return some of them? in ~life
dirthawker LinkI've done this maybe twice, only with shoes because a suitable fit is far more complicated than other clothes. Sizing has some variation, too (I think more now than 15+ years ago). I usually...I've done this maybe twice, only with shoes because a suitable fit is far more complicated than other clothes. Sizing has some variation, too (I think more now than 15+ years ago). I usually narrow it down to 2 choices and return one.
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Comment on Do you deliberately overbuy things with the intention to return some of them? in ~life
dirthawker Link ParentI think until about 10-15 years ago, men's sizes were pretty reliable, and of course they have always had rational labeling using inches, instead of a number with no connection to any part of a...I think until about 10-15 years ago, men's sizes were pretty reliable, and of course they have always had rational labeling using inches, instead of a number with no connection to any part of a body. Now menswear has vanity sizing too.
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Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentAgreed, you have to have a desire to quit; not necessarily a plan. I switched from tobacco to vaping as it was definitely less bad smelling than cigarettes. I did ultimately want to quit. You have...Agreed, you have to have a desire to quit; not necessarily a plan.
I switched from tobacco to vaping as it was definitely less bad smelling than cigarettes. I did ultimately want to quit. You have to be willing to be a bit of a DIYer and make your own vape juice since although you can buy juice in varying nicotine levels, DIYing lets you taper down the nicotine the way you want to. After about 4-5 years of vaping I started trimming the amount of nicotine until I got to 0. I took about 2 years, I think. Continued to vape at 0 for another couple of months just out of habit but realized I was picking up the vape less often naturally. Moved it off my work desk and within another few weeks I had pretty much forgotten about it. I still love the smell of cigarette smoke, though!
I bought a 1ct hearts and arrows for $360 on AliExpress. It tests as a diamond and it looks good; I'm satisfied with it. I wanted it to replace the moissanite stone in a ring, but unfortunately it turned out the way the ring was made, it can't be done without clearly altering its appearance.
I really don't have a problem with these kinds of gemstones breaking into the diamond monopoly and making the classic wedding gemstone affordable.