first-must-burn's recent activity
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Comment on Nose dilators in ~health
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Comment on Designing a slide-out phone case with a keyboard in ~tech
first-must-burn Link ParentThat looks pretty legit, and more practical and flexible than the clicks cases! Thanks for the tip!That looks pretty legit, and more practical and flexible than the clicks cases! Thanks for the tip!
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Mac advice for a long time Windows user
Started a new job today and got a mac as a dev machine. I won't do technical onboarding until later in the week, so I haven't seen what the dev tools are like, but today I was driving myself crazy...
Started a new job today and got a mac as a dev machine. I won't do technical onboarding until later in the week, so I haven't seen what the dev tools are like, but today I was driving myself crazy just trying to do basic things like copy, paste, screenshot, change windows.
At the last job, we had ubuntu machines, so I was able to use gnome extensions to mostly replicate the same general layout, menus, and shortcut keys as Windows. Primarily, this allowed me to keep the same "muscle memory". Since the ubuntu gnome desktop is nothing special from a UX point of view, there didn't seem to be a downside. But I understand that the Mac experience is very curated, so I'm thinking I should lean into learning it.
So my questions are: what are your mac pro tips and things that speed up your work? And for others who have made this transition, what did you learn to do the "mac way" and what did you tweak?
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentThank you for sharing your experience. I have a lot of anxiety in general, so it's reassuring to know there's hope on the other side :)Thank you for sharing your experience. I have a lot of anxiety in general, so it's reassuring to know there's hope on the other side :)
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentThere are these book edge scanners that are made to scan into a book. Sometimes libraries have them.There are these book edge scanners that are made to scan into a book. Sometimes libraries have them.
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Comment on I no longer trust the stats that companies publish on the gender equality in their tech roles in ~tech
first-must-burn Link ParentThis is true if we're talking about the whole industry, but for an individual company, they can do things to establish a pipeline that improves their diversity, such as sponsoring events with the...You don't get a graduating class of, say, 25% women in CS (I don't know the modern statistics) and expect 50% makeup in tech.
This is true if we're talking about the whole industry, but for an individual company, they can do things to establish a pipeline that improves their diversity, such as sponsoring events with the Society of Women engineers and similar groups.
But I also agree with your point that STEM education needs to be improved for younger ages too.
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentI love how low-key you slipped this detail in. How neat!have a background in circus
I love how low-key you slipped this detail in. How neat!
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Comment on What's the coolest thrift store find you've ever scored? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentDo you think you could do some high quality reproductions (scan and print) of the illustrations and frame them/display them with the book?Do you think you could do some high quality reproductions (scan and print) of the illustrations and frame them/display them with the book?
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentI do know! I can really perseverate over parenting decisions, and it can be overwhelming because there's so many, or some unexpected issue will come up and we just have to take it in stride with...It's hard to shake that feeling, y'know,
I do know! I can really perseverate over parenting decisions, and it can be overwhelming because there's so many, or some unexpected issue will come up and we just have to take it in stride with everything else. Probably half of my time in therapy is spent processing these feelings. A common mantra from my therapist is "you did the best you could with what you had available at the time".
I mainly wanted to encourage you that because you are worrying about these things, you are already a pretty good parent. I hope you don't beat yourself up by comparing yourself to an imaginary perfect standard. My therapist's other frequent reminder is that I am not perfect and will make mistakes, and that's okay.
But yeah, a dear friend lost a child, and they told me their mantra is, at the end of the day, their kids are alive and know they love them.
If you haven't heard Persevere by Gang of Youths, it might be worth a listen.
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentI don't know if this was intentional, but it made me smile :) I (he/him) have had my fingernails and/or toenails painted a few times by my daughter. In theory, I'm not opposed to the idea of...I have barely dipped a toe into the nail polish world
I don't know if this was intentional, but it made me smile :)
I (he/him) have had my fingernails and/or toenails painted a few times by my daughter. In theory, I'm not opposed to the idea of painting my nails, but the thing that weirds me out is that I look down and feel like it's somebody else's hands or feet. Does that ever happen to you? If so, did it go away?
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Comment on What's something you're "in too deep" on? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentKudos to you for being intentional about your kid's (s'?) education. That is The Most Important Thing. As parents, we make the best decisions we can and try to adapt. There's no perfect option and...Kudos to you for being intentional about your kid's (s'?) education. That is The Most Important Thing. As parents, we make the best decisions we can and try to adapt. There's no perfect option and no way to predict all the consequences of a choice. So give yourself a little grace.
It's also worth remembering that if it doesn't work out, you can change schools or go back to home schooling. Even though we're very happy in Montessori and plan to stay in, we re-evaluate the pro's and cons every year.
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Comment on Tablet suggestions? in ~tech
first-must-burn Link ParentI did a bunch of crochet color work blankets in the mid-2000's. I'm not sure if it was called that then, I was just making my own patterns using grids in photoshop. Here's a gallery with a few of...I did a bunch of crochet color work blankets in the mid-2000's. I'm not sure if it was called that then, I was just making my own patterns using grids in photoshop. Here's a gallery with a few of them.
For the more complex ones, I would calibrate yarn length to stitches and use one of these measuring tools to make spools (wound on toilet paper tubes) for specific blocks. That saves on needing so many skeins. I also made a frame out of these cubes with a bunch of bars (cut the straight part out of a wire hanger, leave a little hooked part on each end, then insert them in the wire frame). The bars hold all the spools so they don't get tangled. Not very portable, but very effective.
Happy to share more detail if you get into it.
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Comment on I feel that Destin (SmarterEveryDay on Youtube) is straying from the path in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentStraight White American Jesus has a podcast series that decodes some phrases that evangelicals commonly use – not just what the phrases mean theologically, but also how they operate practically in...Straight White American Jesus has a podcast series that decodes some phrases that evangelicals commonly use – not just what the phrases mean theologically, but also how they operate practically in different contexts. It might be a good resource for you.
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Comment on I feel that Destin (SmarterEveryDay on Youtube) is straying from the path in ~talk
first-must-burn LinkHonestly, in a world where evangelicals are so often science deniers, I appreciate someone being sincerely science positive and also open about their faith, since maybe he can open the minds of...Honestly, in a world where evangelicals are so often science deniers, I appreciate someone being sincerely science positive and also open about their faith, since maybe he can open the minds of people who would not otherwise be persuaded.
I will personally always be grateful becuse it was Destin's video about eclipses that convinced me it was worth the planning to travel to be in the path of the totality for the 2024 eclipse. I was very busy at the time, and I had almost talked myself out of it. I'm so glad I went. It's really one of the neatest things I have experienced, and video or pictures or descriptions don't really do it justice.
I had honestly never noticed the bible verse at the end of the video, but that doesn't seem to be over any line to me.
I skimmed through the most recent video about the nuclear power reactor, and I didn't see any overt references to religion. So even if some of his content skews that way, it appears not all of it does.
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Comment on I feel that Destin (SmarterEveryDay on Youtube) is straying from the path in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentI think this is spot on, but want to add to it that the way religious people express their religion can vary and have varying purposes. For example, you see things like modes of dress being a way...Religion is something that many folks consider to be a part of who they are. Sometimes that comes out in everyday conversation, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it comes out in a way that may feel like too much for the listener. If that happens often, you then need to decide if your relationship is worth tolerating that, or if it can hold up to an honest conversation where you explain how you feel.
I think this is spot on, but want to add to it that the way religious people express their religion can vary and have varying purposes.
For example, you see things like modes of dress being a way of identifying people as part of a group (Orthodox Jews, Amish, Mennonite), but by and large these groups aren't looking to prosyletize.
The flavor of what we see from Destin matches up with my experience of the evangelical protestant movement. I was steeped in it growing up in Texas. The teaching and training we received was geared specifically toward converting people, even for the very young. As children as young as seven, we were given bracelets with beads that represented the "path to salvation" (example) and encouraged to memorize the accompanying Bible verses, then go out and use these tools to convert people.
My experience living in that bubble and having family who still do is that it skews so hard one way, even if you are dialing it down (as I suspect Destin is), it's going to read as unusual or offputting to people outside that culture.
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Comment on Upon this rock in ~music
first-must-burn (edited )LinkThis is a long read, but I was curious because Christian rock was a formative part of my teenage experience, and because I had been to these festivals during those years as well. I think the...This is a long read, but I was curious because Christian rock was a formative part of my teenage experience, and because I had been to these festivals during those years as well.
I think the article is skewed by the limited kind of people he interacted with, but overall, the experience of these weekend camping festivals matches my own. I always found it to be an experience outside time when one breaks the normal routine and normal expectations. I was far too socially awkward in those years to meet or interact with new people, so I missed out on the experiences of either drugs or romance, but I know both played a part in others' experience.
I also think it captures my feelings about not being (or being able to be) a part of the Christian culture anymore. I do remember and miss the confidence and assurance, the "niceness", and even the solicitous sincerity. The author doesn't say much about their own rejection of Christianity. It seems like it "didn't take" and was just a stage of their teenage experience. For me, it took much longer (well into my 40's) for the comfortable, confident facade to crumble, and I am still looking do ways to connect with the people, who are for the most part lovely, without supporting the system which does things I can't stand.
I was a little disappointed that there's not more analysis of the music itself. I think the assertion that there's a "Christian version" of the major musical movements meant to be an acceptable substitute is probably true when it comes to the labels and the "system", but individually, I found the Christian rock groups, like the Christians they play for, to be sincere in their desire to express their viewpoint through music. Groups like the Newsboys, D.C. Talk, Audio Adrenaline, and Guardian were part of my formative years of music. But also, in those years, my exposure to secular rock music was very limited, so I didn't see the parallels, just mostly thought bands like Nirvana, NIN, and Weezer must be "bad". Having gone back since to listen to them, I really wish teenage me had gone deeper and been able to see that these people, too, were sincere in trying to share and express their pain, their need, and their desire for a better world.
In addition to all this, I want to add that the way the article itself is written seems to be lazy and callous. I think it is meant to be edgy and funny, but it wears thin pretty quickly, and a few places really gave me "the ick" as the kids say:
Debbie came toward me. She was a lot to love, with a face as sweet as a birthday cake beneath spray-hardened bangs. She raised a meaty arm and pointed, before either of us spoke.
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I took care not to meet their eyes—who knew but they weren't the same fillies I had solicited days before -
Comment on You’re 16. You’re a pedophile. You don’t want to hurt anyone. What do you do now? in ~life
first-must-burn Link ParentJust to clarify my understanding, you're saying that the terms used should be: child sexual abuser - someone who commits a sexually abusive act with a child due to opportunity, but whose sexual...Just to clarify my understanding, you're saying that the terms used should be:
- child sexual abuser - someone who commits a sexually abusive act with a child due to opportunity, but whose sexual preference would be an adult if given the option
- pedophile - someone whose sexual preference is oriented toward children or youthful-appearing folks
And is it accurate to say that the harm we're trying to avoid by using the terms as laid out above is that the label "pedophile" might apply to someone who has that orientation, even if they have never sexually abused a child, so conflating the terms makes it harder for a pedophile seeking help to get?
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Comment on Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God in ~humanities
first-must-burn Link ParentAwesome tagging :)Awesome tagging :)
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Comment on First finished hand-embroidered patch. *Very* late Timasomo entry... in ~creative
first-must-burn LinkThis is really amazing. Is there any difference between this and embroidering/cross-stitch? Or is it the same stitching techniques with the finishing process to make a patch? It would be pretty...This is really amazing. Is there any difference between this and embroidering/cross-stitch? Or is it the same stitching techniques with the finishing process to make a patch? It would be pretty neat (but obviously very time consuming) to make my own custom patches.
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Comment on What are your predictions for 2026? in ~talk
first-must-burn Link ParentThank you for this.Thank you for this.
Just putting this out there, if anyone snores a lot and has access to the coverage, it would be worth checking with your doctor to see about a sleep study to check for apnea. A CPAP is a significantly greater intervention, but I sleep so much better when I use it. I'd say 3 hours on the CPAP >> 6 hours not on the CPAP.
It was brought home to me earlier in the year, when I was in the ER for something else. I was wired into all the machines, and every time I'd doze off, the apnea would start, and the pulse ox alarms would go crazy until I woke up. This is even with the bed mostly propped up (so I was more sitting than lying flat).
I use a nasal mask similar to this one. We call it my "elephant nose". I added a ring to the top of my bedframe to guide the hose over the top, and I don't have any trouble sleeping with it on. The biggest trouble I have is not putting it back on if I get up in the middle of the night or falling asleep before I put it on.