frowns's recent activity
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
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Comment on House hunting tips for a millennial who's never owned one in ~life
frowns Link ParentBeat me to it. As reasonably handy but overly confident early-30s people we bought a house that needed wayyyyy more work than we thought it would. The market was hotter than hell at the time and...Also, don't assume you can make a not-so-great house into a perfect one.
Beat me to it. As reasonably handy but overly confident early-30s people we bought a house that needed wayyyyy more work than we thought it would. The market was hotter than hell at the time and it felt like our last chance to own in the neighborhood we wanted, and we figured we could fix some of the house’s issues on the cheap.
Three months later I was replumbing the entire house by myself because the galvanized water main developed a slow leak, like, 16 inches from the electrical panel after we had already spent our savings on other more critical repairs (bad sewer line and replacing a notoriously fire-prone Stab-Lok electrical panel).
We sold for a profit and it worked out okay but that was a stressful three years.
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Comment on Espresso grinder tech support request in ~food
frowns Link ParentAgreed! Here’s to many drinkable coffees within one’s means!Agreed! Here’s to many drinkable coffees within one’s means!
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Comment on Espresso grinder tech support request in ~food
frowns LinkFormer espresso equipment field service technician/hobbyist roaster/coffee nerd here. I have to agree with other posters here — you’re going to struggle to get the coffee ground fine enough with...Former espresso equipment field service technician/hobbyist roaster/coffee nerd here. I have to agree with other posters here — you’re going to struggle to get the coffee ground fine enough with the Bodum, even with modifications. It’s kind of like trying to do a delicate wood carving with a chainsaw. The chainsaw is not a bad or useless tool and can be used to make wonderful carvings at a larger scale, but there’s no way you could get it to perform well on a small object.
People tend to focus on how fine a grind is, but consistency of the grind is equally (if not more) important. Pressurized water still follows the path of least resistance. If you’ve got 95% consistent grinds with one big chunk that just bounced off the blades of your blade grinder, the pressurized water will find the gaps created by that chunk and the water will force itself through and create a channel, which prevents proper extraction and leads to a quick, watery shot. Worse yet, the next time you pull a shot following the exact same steps down to the gram and second, you may have better luck with the blade grinder and create an overly-fine puck, which will lead to a long, bitter shot. There’s a reason the pros all say your espresso is only as good as your grinder!
You may have trouble getting an appropriate grinder in your price range, however there are some wonderful hand grinders such as the Hario Skerton that can not only get the coffee fine enough, but also offer incredible consistency due to the conical burrs and the slower pace of hand-grinding. They’re fairly ubiquitous so I’d imagine you could get a deal on eBay or thrift one if you keep an eye open.
One thing that may help regardless of the path you choose is a Weiss Distribution Tool (WDT). You can spend a stupid amount of money on it if you want, but I made a perfectly effective one out of a wine cork and a few Bobby pins. This lets you rake your grounds before tamping to ensure a more even distribution and break up clumps. I’d imagine when your coffee comes out of the blade grinder at step 2, there are probably some clumps under the blade, and this would help you to redistribute those for a more even puck.
With all that said, taste is subjective and coffee is coffee. If you like the shots you’re pulling, who cares what the pros do! If you want the project of hacking the grinder, please hack away, my friend. I’m rooting for you!
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
frowns Link ParentOoh Closet Witch is fun, thanks for that! Hadn’t heard of them.Ooh Closet Witch is fun, thanks for that! Hadn’t heard of them.
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Comment on How do you test your home network security? in ~comp
frowns LinkI agree that a vuln scanner is a must. Nessus Essentials is free for up to 10 assets, has better vuln coverage, and IMO is a little more user friendly than OpenVAS, so I’d probably recommend that...- Exemplary
I agree that a vuln scanner is a must. Nessus Essentials is free for up to 10 assets, has better vuln coverage, and IMO is a little more user friendly than OpenVAS, so I’d probably recommend that if the 10-asset limitation isn’t an issue.
Do credentialed vuln scans, too. If, gods forbid, a bad actor gets access to a host or service, it’s good to know what damage they might be able to do from there.
Locking down ports and user privs is critical, but bear in mind that a bad actor’s whole thing is finding a way to work around those restrictions. Even if port 22 is perfectly locked down and secure, a bad actor can e.g. try to exploit Apache from the web interface and gain shell access to the
www-useraccount and then continue to escalate privileges from there. Credentialed scans will help you find locally-installed software that might be vulnerable.Nessus can also run industry standard security audits like CIS for hosts and services, so you can use those to help with your security baseline in addition to the vulns.
If you really want to get in the weeds, check out the Win- and LinPEAS scripts. They’re fabulous tools that help quickly highlight common privilege escalation methods for penetration testers. Always fun to run this in your homelab and then facepalm for the rest of the day about that “temporary” file containing a root password that you saved to a hidden directory that you had every intention of deleting before you got sidetracked.
Also, it can be easy to fall into the trap of “oh I’m just a lil’ homelab, who is going to target me?” There is some logic to this, but I will never forget when I set up a mail server for just my private accounts and within 10 minutes of opening the ports, I was getting hit with malicious traffic from dozens of random IPs. These are not advanced, targeted, or persistent threats, but you leave low-hanging fruit, it may still be found. Sounds like you’ve got the right mindset if you’re thinking about it at all, so I’m sure you’ll do fine!
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Comment on Euthanizing my old friend. When is the right moment? in ~life.pets
frowns Link ParentOff topic, but thank you for your service. Old bubbas need love too, and it warms my heart to know that people are making that effort. We adopted our guy at 7. He had a congenital disorder and was...Off topic, but thank you for your service. Old bubbas need love too, and it warms my heart to know that people are making that effort.
We adopted our guy at 7. He had a congenital disorder and was about to be put down because nobody wanted him. We were able to provide the care he needed for that condition and he almost made it to 13. Best 5.5 years of my life.
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Comment on Euthanizing my old friend. When is the right moment? in ~life.pets
frowns Link ParentNobody knows your dog like you do — trust yourself and your best judgement and know that whatever you choose to do, you’re choosing it out of love. Also, just be aware that you’re going to have...Nobody knows your dog like you do — trust yourself and your best judgement and know that whatever you choose to do, you’re choosing it out of love.
Also, just be aware that you’re going to have feelings of regret no matter what you choose or when you choose it. That is just a part of grieving. The day after it happened I felt so awful for making the decision and the “what ifs” were coming fast and furious (e.g. “what if we had tried that several-thousand-dollar ultrasound that the vet assured us was almost definitely not going to change the prognosis?” “What if we tried feeding him something else other than the freshly-cooked chicken and rice (that even I wanted a bite of) to get him to eat?” Etc.) The day after that, however, my partner and I were in total agreement that we had made the right decision, and that letting it go on even a day longer would have been torture for the little guy and for us.
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Comment on Euthanizing my old friend. When is the right moment? in ~life.pets
frowns Link ParentWe used Lap of Love, and I couldn’t recommend them more. They took every effort to make one of the worst moments of my life a little less bad. Our doc was so gentle and patient. She checked in...We used Lap of Love, and I couldn’t recommend them more. They took every effort to make one of the worst moments of my life a little less bad.
Our doc was so gentle and patient. She checked in with us before every step of the process and explained exactly what was about to happen, and even cried with us a little at the end. She was very intentional about not doing anything without telling us what she was doing and asking if we were ready — I didn’t feel rushed or anything.
She continued to check in on us and send nice little reassurances over the next couple of weeks, which I thought was absolutely lovely and way above and beyond what I was expecting. They even took an imprint of his paw and gave that to us as a remembrance.
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Comment on Euthanizing my old friend. When is the right moment? in ~life.pets
frowns LinkWe just had to say goodbye to our beloved Harris in May and I agree with all of the posters here: it’s basically an impossible decision to make. Remember that you’re not making this decision for...We just had to say goodbye to our beloved Harris in May and I agree with all of the posters here: it’s basically an impossible decision to make.
Remember that you’re not making this decision for your benefit, but rather for your friend’s. It’s easy to confuse “is it too soon for my dog” with “I can’t do this personally”, and I think that makes a lot of people justify letting things go too far.
I’m glad we made our choice when we did. It was clear things weren’t getting better. Letting things go any longer would have meant he was suffering. That’s not to say it was easy — I’m legit welling up writing this.
Also big time agree with @greentriple and @devilized: we had an at-home euthanasia and it was beautiful. He got to peacefully go to sleep in our back yard on a sunny afternoon, just like he loved to do when he was healthy. It was a great way to say goodbye.
Comparing all this to the last pet we had to put down: we let it go on way too long, she was sick as hell and obviously miserable, and when we did finally take her in to the vet (which she had always hated more than anything) it was such a stressful process for her and for us. I’m glad we learned our lessons from that.
One last bit of advice: the day before we made the decision, we took our dog to a quiet park he loved and just let him sniff around for an hour. Sounds like nothing, but it was an important part of our closure process to have one final outing with him, and we have a special place to go visit when we’re missing him now.
I wish you the very best, and my heart is with you. This is a really tough time, and no matter what you choose, the fact that you made this post and that you’re thinking so hard about this shows you’re a considerate person and a good friend to your dog. ❤️
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
frowns LinkI’ve had four records on repeat for the last month or so: God’s Country by Chat Pile Raw, grim, violent, and bleak, almost to the point of being offensive. Draws from industrial and post-punk...I’ve had four records on repeat for the last month or so:
- God’s Country by Chat Pile
- Raw, grim, violent, and bleak, almost to the point of being offensive. Draws from industrial and post-punk roots — think Big Black meets Jesus Lizard, and then double the painful nihilism
- Diaspora Problems by Soul Glo
- This record slipped by me on the first listen. The first track, “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?)” starts off as straight up pop punk and if you don’t stick around, it’s fairly dismissible. However, they shift genres left and right, so the patient will hear the punk become much less poppy and drift towards hip-hop inspired sludge metal. The rest of the record runs this gamut as well. Super fun.
- Youth of America by Wipers
- Okay fine, this has been on repeat since I discovered them in college a decade ago, but it’s always worth plugging. Greg Sage is a genius, and this self-produced record is a bottle of distilled talent. Can’t recommend it enough.
- Snares Like a Haircut by No Age
- Always have loved No Age, but somehow only just realized this record existed. High-energy post punk with lots of strange interludes, like some tracks were guest written by Pavement or Young Marble Giants. Highly recommend their whole discography.
- God’s Country by Chat Pile
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Comment on What's a mechanic that you used to dislike when introduced, but now that it's common you prefer having it in ~games
frowns LinkThe use of tasteful, brightly-colored but context-appropriate paint/objects/etc. to help with path finding in games. You know, the blue ribbon tied to the ledge or the smear of yellow paint on a...The use of tasteful, brightly-colored but context-appropriate paint/objects/etc. to help with path finding in games. You know, the blue ribbon tied to the ledge or the smear of yellow paint on a wall you should be vaulting up. First few times I saw that in gaming I was rolling my eyes like “YEAH WE GET IT, JUMP HERE.”
But thinking back, I can’t count the number of times in gaming a decade+ ago where I was just doing laps through a city or cave or whatever because it’s night and it’s raining and people are shooting at me and I just couldn’t see the path to the next objective.
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Comment on Bosses are fed up with remote work for four main reasons. Some of them are undeniable. in ~life
frowns Link ParentCould not agree more — I was hired as a fully-remote employee for a company across the country from me. Recently, local employees within 40 miles of HQ were asked to return to the office (despite...Could not agree more — I was hired as a fully-remote employee for a company across the country from me. Recently, local employees within 40 miles of HQ were asked to return to the office (despite doing exactly the same job as me) and guess what? They unanimously agree that they were more productive when left alone in their home office. Not one person has validated any of the reasons they gave for forcing people back into the office (face/face collaboration, increased camaraderie, etc.)
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Comment on Any espresso enthusiasts here? in ~food
frowns Link ParentIt is very fun, and it doesn’t have to be too daunting! I had similar reservations and was really particular about getting every single step of the roast just right for my first year or so of...It is very fun, and it doesn’t have to be too daunting! I had similar reservations and was really particular about getting every single step of the roast just right for my first year or so of roasting, but honestly you lock into a flow and your own way of doing it after a while and it turns into a nice, calming weekend activity. Plus you just can’t beat the taste of coffee you roasted in your garage!
I started out on a Behmor which is definitely a cheaper option, but with a little less control over the roast (which is a blessing for your first couple dozen roasts!)
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Comment on Any espresso enthusiasts here? in ~food
frowns LinkBreville Barista Pro owner, and man do we put that thing to work! I’ve also got a small home roasting setup (Huky 500) that is basically a scale model of a commercial roaster. It can do about a...Breville Barista Pro owner, and man do we put that thing to work!
I’ve also got a small home roasting setup (Huky 500) that is basically a scale model of a commercial roaster. It can do about a pound at a time. I order 60lb bags of green coffee at between $3 and $5 USD a pound and it’s usually enough to get my family through close to a year. Enjoying a coffee from a farmer coop in Chiapas right now — it’s full-bodied, chocolatey, nutty, and a touch sweet at a medium roast. The crema on fresh-roasted beans is incredible!
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Comment on What podcasts are you listening to? in ~hobbies
frowns Link ParentLet the record also show that you don’t need to be super technical for Darknet Diaries. Jack, the host, is an incredible storyteller and does a good job of gearing his podcast to a broad audience....Let the record also show that you don’t need to be super technical for Darknet Diaries. Jack, the host, is an incredible storyteller and does a good job of gearing his podcast to a broad audience. Love that podcast!
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Comment on What podcasts are you listening to? in ~hobbies
frowns (edited )LinkMy partner and I love “Ruined!”. It’s two comedian friends, one loves horror films and the other is too scared to watch them but needs to know the plots/twists. Halle, who loves horror, explains...My partner and I love “Ruined!”. It’s two comedian friends, one loves horror films and the other is too scared to watch them but needs to know the plots/twists. Halle, who loves horror, explains the plot to Allison in detail and they joke along the way.
It’s perfect for us because that dynamic applies to our relationship as well — I love to watch horror films and my partner is so curious what happens but just can’t bring herself to watch them. This podcast gives us a way to enjoy spooky movies together!
Editing because I forgot to mention Comedy Bang! Bang! I’ve been listening to CBB for close to a decade now. It’s an improv comedy podcast where the host will interview a guest of honor (comedian, musician, actor, author, etc.) for the first half of the show, and then invites 2-3 other guests to join, each one a character being improvised by a comedian, to be interviewed by the host and first guest together. It’s always good for a laugh!
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (June 2023) in ~health.mental
frowns Link ParentThank you. It’s tough for sure, but it’s worth it for all of the good times along the way.Thank you. It’s tough for sure, but it’s worth it for all of the good times along the way.
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Comment on Any 2022/3 horror/thriller movies that anyone would recommend? in ~movies
frowns Link ParentFor me it wasn’t a must see, but it was definitely a gory romp and I don’t regret seeing it. I think this movie (like so many others of late) leans a little too heavily on CGI for some things that...For me it wasn’t a must see, but it was definitely a gory romp and I don’t regret seeing it. I think this movie (like so many others of late) leans a little too heavily on CGI for some things that could have been really impressive practical effects.
I really enjoyed the cheeky telegraphing at the beginning of the movie too; lots of Chekhov’s guns in the first act.
I think my favorite part though is that they really captured the “meanness” of the Deadites — lots of mocking/roasting/demoralizing the living with very targeted insults. It’s fun to see the juxtaposition of humans fighting for their life vs immortal beings just having a little fun.
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Comment on Anyone here like motorcycles? in ~transport
frowns Link Parent‘79, and yeah it’s an absolute hoot! Plenty of smiles per miles. It’s a 50 CC two-speed and is pretty heavily restricted by default, but I’ve seen people online getting top speeds in the upper...‘79, and yeah it’s an absolute hoot! Plenty of smiles per miles. It’s a 50 CC two-speed and is pretty heavily restricted by default, but I’ve seen people online getting top speeds in the upper thirties just by swapping to an unrestricted exhaust with a proper expansion chamber.
Hard to justify throwing money at it without a title, though…
This was the hardest part for me when we had to say goodbye to our Harris last year. He was known for his room-clearing toots his snore that you could hear from across the house for most of any day. Then, suddenly, our house was quiet and smelled nice. Never thought I’d miss snoring and farting so much.
I’m so, so sorry for your loss. It’s the toughest decision a person could make, but it sounds to me like you treated it (and every step leading to it) with love and compassion. Quincy was a lucky pup to have you!