hamefang's recent activity

  1. Comment on Single most useful program you daily use? in ~tech

    hamefang
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    If I have to pick one and one only favourite useful piece of software, I'd say Obsidian - used for my writing, bullet journal-esque notes, work notes, etc.

    If I have to pick one and one only favourite useful piece of software, I'd say Obsidian - used for my writing, bullet journal-esque notes, work notes, etc.

    2 votes

  2. Comment on Should I self-host my blog? in ~tech

    hamefang
    Link
    If you are up for learning self-hosting on Linux, I recommend: getting the cheapest VPS (Virtual Private Server) with Debian operating system through Digital Ocean - it's a cost of a few US...

    If you are up for learning self-hosting on Linux, I recommend:

    • getting the cheapest VPS (Virtual Private Server) with Debian operating system through Digital Ocean - it's a cost of a few US dollars per month and you'll need your own domain as well
    • setting up Caddy as a web server
    • configuring the directory with your website files as a Samba share so you'll have easy access to them from your personal computer.

    Alternatively you can go for Codeberg Pages instead if you don't want to mess with a VPS.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on The documentation system in ~comp

  6. Comment on Why some doctors are reassessing hypnosis in ~health

    hamefang
    (edited )
    Link
    I find these results of imaging the brain during the process of hypnosis interesting:

    I find these results of imaging the brain during the process of hypnosis interesting:

    Changes in brain activity begin with induction, says Mathieu Landry, a neuroscientist at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres and the author of a widely cited review of brain-imaging research related to hypnosis. He points in particular to increased activity in hypnotised people in the central executive network (CEN), a collection of brain circuits known to be involved in regulating attention and focus. There also seems to be greater communication between parts of the CEN and the insula, which helps to monitor and interpret signals coming from the body.

    The insula is part of the brain’s “salience network”, so named because it brings attention to important changes in the environment. It is involved in processing threats and making people feel scared or uneasy when appropriate—perceptions common with pain and phobias. Dr Spiegel thinks the increased communication between the CEN and the insula might suggest that hypnotherapy allows the CEN to exert more control over unpleasant emotions.

    Elsewhere in the salience network, hypnosis affects activity in the anterior cingulate cortex,  a collar-shaped structure underneath the prefrontal cortex, which, among other things, helps direct a person’s attention, and which is crucial to the processing of pain, as well as of anticipation. There is some evidence that hypnosis also alters connections from the prefrontal cortex to a third brain area, the amygdala, which helps govern emotional responses. All these changes may relate to hypnosis’s ability to reduce anxiety and fear in the face of things—such as IBS, say—that cause pain.

    6 votes

  10. Comment on The best breakup advice you’ll ever get in ~life

    hamefang
    Link Parent
    I'm doing alright, very well even (when compared to the last few years at least). I haven't shared these links because of myself going through something right this moment, but rather as things I...

    I'm doing alright, very well even (when compared to the last few years at least). I haven't shared these links because of myself going through something right this moment, but rather as things I found impactful to read / watch in the past. I thought they might end up useful to someone here, and I'm glad to hear they did help!

    6 votes

  11. Comment on What are your favourite let's plays? in ~games

    hamefang
    Link
    Today I stumbled on Akruas after a long break. I used to watch a lot of his videos before falling asleep. He's treating Cities Skylines like a tool for model building, and it's very calming to...

    Today I stumbled on Akruas after a long break. I used to watch a lot of his videos before falling asleep. He's treating Cities Skylines like a tool for model building, and it's very calming to listen to him explain his creative process behind creating cities.

    Here's his biggest projects:

  14. Comment on What trustworthy resources are you using for AI/LLMs/ML education? in ~tech

    hamefang
    Link
    Intelligence Illusion for a more general, realistic analysis of generative ml models usage in business context.

    Intelligence Illusion for a more general, realistic analysis of generative ml models usage in business context.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on How to teach yourself physics in ~science

    hamefang
    Link
    I'm curious to hear from other folks knowledgeable about physics what sources they recommend for learning and if they agree with the ones picked in the video.

    I'm curious to hear from other folks knowledgeable about physics what sources they recommend for learning and if they agree with the ones picked in the video.

    1 vote

  20. Comment on How best to get a thorough inspection after avoiding doctors for a decade? in ~health

    hamefang
    (edited )
    Link
    Full urine and blood panel, as well as abdoment ultrasound should catch most troubles that might be brewing before they actually start manifesting any symptoms. Additionally, for ladies...

    Full urine and blood panel, as well as abdoment ultrasound should catch most troubles that might be brewing before they actually start manifesting any symptoms. Additionally, for ladies specifically, mammography / breast USG exam is a good idea, even if you aren't at a higher risk age yet. And since we are talking about prevention - get up to date on your vaccinations, at the very least flu and COVID.

    I compiled some tips below that help keep the results accurate / make the examination possible:

    Tips for the blood sample:

    • Withhold any supplements you might be taking for a few days beforehand. Do take your absolutely necessary meds, but check which tests they might potentially falsify.
    • Get a full night sleep beforehand.
    • Don't eat anything for 12h beforehand.
    • Drink a glass of water about 0.5h beforehand.
    • Sit down and chill for about 5-10min beforehand.
    • Go to take the sample in the morning.
    • Don't go to take a sample if you are under extreme stress.
    • Don't excercise before taking the sample.

    Tips for the urine sample:

    • Don't excercise before taking the sample.
    • Wash your genitals gently with a stream of water from the shower before taking the sample. Don't get your fingertips anywhere close to them, the smallest scratch from your fingernails can lead to contaminating the sample with blood.
    • Should be taken to a special plastic container - ask at a drug store, they should have them.
    • Should be taken in the morning - it's best if you don't pee during the night before taking the sample.
    • Get the sample to the testing center within an hour, after that it's not good.
    • Aim the pee into the toilet for a few seconds, then you aim for the container to fill it up to necessary volume, then aim back to the toilet.
    • The pee stream should be continous.

    Tips for ultrasound (to ensure they are able to check your intestines and bladder):

    • Don't eat anything the day before, make sure you have your bowel movement.
    • Take the special pills that prevent flatulence (explain that you'll be getting the USG exam at drug store, they'll get you some).
    • Your bladder should be full but you shouldn't be super desperate to pee. Drinking a tall glass of water about an hour before the exam should do it I reckon.

    Other than that, get to a family doctor (general practicioner) and ask for a general exam. They should do some basic stuff like look into your throat and ears, listen to your lungs and heart, possibly do an EKG, etc. And of course you definitely need to see the psychiatrist for the ADHD / depression stuff, but I'd personally wait for all the other tests to be done first.

    2 votes