knifemissile's recent activity

  1. Help with setting up a PiHole - I would like to become worthless to tech companies!

    ~tech Ask (advice)
    Hey all, I've been using adblockers since the very early days they were available as Firefox Plugins, but the recent report on LG Smart TVs listening in, gathering device info, and sending it home...

    Hey all,

    I've been using adblockers since the very early days they were available as Firefox Plugins, but the recent report on LG Smart TVs listening in, gathering device info, and sending it home has motivated me to do something at the level of my router.

    I've got a Smart TV that's never been connected to the internet, but I want to cover all my bases. Same with my car, potentially, and the washing machine. I want to stop this crap at the source.

    I've tried looking at the Pi-hole documentation but I'm confused already. I'm on MacOS and pretty comfortable using Terminal, and a Netgear Nitehawk AX2400 router.

    Is it as simple as purchasing a Raspberry Pi device and then I'm good to go, or are there other things I need to buy before I jump in?

    I'm sorry if this sounds stupid. I'm jealous of everyone on Tildes saying how their Pi-hole mostly protects them, and I'm so angry at this endless stream of data mining and sending it back to corporations I haven't consented to.

    18 votes

  2. Comment on I need to make a wooden box to ship something delicate. Could I please get some pointers? in ~life.home_improvement

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Here she is! The hardware store was so kind with the cutting that I took it back after I'd drilled, glued, and screwed it together. I wanted to sand some of the rough edges off in case a delivery...

    Here she is! The hardware store was so kind with the cutting that I took it back after I'd drilled, glued, and screwed it together. I wanted to sand some of the rough edges off in case a delivery person or logistics worker hurt their hand.

    After the customs inspection I screwed the lid down and felt so cool and like a pro while the FedEx man watched on!!!

    5 votes

  3. Comment on I need to make a wooden box to ship something delicate. Could I please get some pointers? in ~life.home_improvement

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    @goose @nukeman @Englerdy @creesch @chocobean @lostwax @Englerdy I know this is a very late update and potentially necroposting, but, I did it! I am so proud of myself and I now have a baseline...
    • Exemplary

    @goose

    @nukeman

    @Englerdy

    @creesch

    @chocobean

    @lostwax

    @Englerdy

    I know this is a very late update and potentially necroposting, but, I did it!

    I am so proud of myself and I now have a baseline set of tools that I am slowly building upon. I learned many practical things from this process, but, if you will allow me to be a bit earnest here, I did not have a dad/uncle/cool homesteading aunt/safe elder figure to teach me things like this.

    I really appreciate you all giving both practical and encouragement advice. I feel so proud I was able to do something I've been passively discouraged from doing all my life, and it makes me excited to know that I am capable of learning new things. Also, it gave me such a satisfaction getting the little details right and having something to show for it at the end of it!

    Thank you all, sincerely. What for you was a couple of minutes writing out a comment on a website helped me get over an adulthood-long block in 'I'll never be able to do that, why try', and that has given me a huge boost in confidence and an eagerness to try other stuff I've never learned! Thank you!!!

    18 votes

  4. Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the rec! It doesn't look like it's for me, the flight mechanics don't seem to have any inertia or momentum to them. It needs to feel weighty and meaningful if I was to enjoy it, so that...

    Thanks for the rec! It doesn't look like it's for me, the flight mechanics don't seem to have any inertia or momentum to them. It needs to feel weighty and meaningful if I was to enjoy it, so that making the wrong choice means you can't just snap back in the other direction and have your mistake erased.

    And PvP is a huge taboo in the Pern universe. I think dragons fought each other once because of rider neglect, and the consequences were society-rending :(

    Thanks for the suggestion though! Just goes to show how starved we are of dragon games.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games

  6. Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games

    knifemissile
    (edited )
    Link
    A fully-immersive, RDR2 style Dragonriders of Pern game. For those unfamilliar with the series: Humans colonize a planet They are Space Amish, so want to use the minimum technology possible. They...

    A fully-immersive, RDR2 style Dragonriders of Pern game.

    For those unfamilliar with the series:

    • Humans colonize a planet

    • They are Space Amish, so want to use the minimum technology possible. They live in a non-FTL world, so it's a one way trip.

    • When they get there, deadly spores from the system's Oort cloud start falling in a cycle they realise will last 50 years, with 250 year orbital gaps.

    • They have to figure out a way to burn these spores ('Thread') before it devours all of their organic material, and their flyers, jury-rigged with flamethrowers, are running out of battery capacity.

    • A genius genetic engineer who studied gene editing with a sentient alien race turns the planet's native fire lizards (small, green) into rideable dragons (big, bronze), who can self-generate flame and reproduce.

    • Each pass of the Thread cloud makes the colonists of Pern lose more and more knowledge as they retreat into machine-cut caves. Their tools wear out, their electronics break, their records are slowly destroyed, and over thousands of years, they essentially have a (non-violent) feudal society.

    • The game would focus on immersive roleplay, as Pern MUSH and MUD games were a really fun scene when I was a teenager.

    • The big event would be Threadfall, including excellent dragon flight dynamics (including teleportation - they can do that!) and working with your wing and your weyr to keep habitable settlements and crops safe from the all-devouring parasite that destroys organic life.

    • The dragons are telepathic, so I'd want fully voiced bonding systems, as well as mating flights, depending on the color dragon you select at the start of the game. That'd be the basis of the companion/romance system.

    • The main thing: it has to capture the feeling of yearning for a telepathic, teleporting, ultimate-freedom-granting dragon, and experiencing the cosiness of the world Anne McCaffrey wrote.

    • Setting wise, I think it'd be most interesting to do it during a regular Threadfall pass, where the balance between dragonriders, Holds (settlements) and Crafthalls (professional guilds) was normal. This would allow for an interesting and character-driven storyline, and most of the best Pern RPGs were set in this time period, as opposed to the setting of most of the novels, where nobody believed Thread would come back and the dragons were dying out (it did, and they didn't).

    I wanna ride a dragon. I want it to be fun and exhilherating. I want to breathe fire on a non-sentient parasite falling from the sky to protect my comunity. I want to build relationships with complex, interesting characters from across the three social worlds of Pern.

    But I don't think any game has properly captured the feel of what riding a dragon might be like. That core mechanic I think is similar to the breakthrough Rockstar had with the feel of bonding with and riding a horse, and depending on it through the whole storyline.

    That's the magic for me. Get the dragon riding right, and everything else follows.

    11 votes

  7. Comment on OpenAI hacked Australia's Medicare portal in ~tech

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    He's just one of those blokes that gets the job to keep the job. Reminds me of Turnbull. Promising, big talk, but then makes deals with any faction or party as long as it keeps him in power,...

    He's just one of those blokes that gets the job to keep the job. Reminds me of Turnbull. Promising, big talk, but then makes deals with any faction or party as long as it keeps him in power, regardless of principle.

    I just can't wrap my head around the mindset of a career politician. You're not gonna be PM forever, why not spend your political capital in a way you'll at least be remembered fondly?

    It could be worse, and we could still be stuck with the other guys, or the far right. I'm worried about a UK scenario where the centre right party tries to siphon votes from the far right party and ends up appealing to no one.

    Maybe strong action hastens that, or maybe it slows it. Taking strong actions seems to be working for Carney in Canada, but they're under active threat of invasion. I think you nailed it with the don't rock the boat assessment.

    3 votes

  8. Comment on OpenAI hacked Australia's Medicare portal in ~tech

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Australia's current Prime Minister is on a productivity drive. Which I think means, there are no new industries coming that would make money, and bringing in more migrants to get more skilled...

    Australia's current Prime Minister is on a productivity drive. Which I think means, there are no new industries coming that would make money, and bringing in more migrants to get more skilled people into the workforce isn't politically palatable.

    He and his Treasurer (like the Secretary of the Treasury) have embraced AI as a way to juice productivity stats out of the workforce currently in employment. This includes giving exemptions to the initially strong position that no AI data centres can be fossil fuel powered.

    In many ways they seem like one of those AI bros who desperately needs it to work so they can make money, real life impacts be damned. The difference is they're trying to squeak out GDP growth and attribute it to 'AI' instead of just make money off the magnificent seven companies, which seems a lot harder.

    Attitudes in Australia to forced AI adoption are probably very similar to what you see in the US and EU. Nobody is keen to embrace a technology that is marketed as taking their jobs, and its inclusion in once-easy services sector work has created widespread frustration and annoyance.

    Medicare here is something sacred. It's our universal healthcare system that the then left-leaning party of the current Prime Minister spend nearly all their political capital to establish in the 80s.

    If this was a hack by another country, there would be widespread outrage and calls for the PM to do something about it. Because it was a company the now-centre right party of the prime minister are depending on, the wrist slapping was as light as it could possibly be given the compromise of Australia's most important database of sensitive, personal and saleable private information.

    13 votes

  9. Comment on I need to make a wooden box to ship something delicate. Could I please get some pointers? in ~life.home_improvement

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Thank you so much Chocobean. And thank you for both the kind words and the useful tips, I will be saving them. And thank you for the encouragement, I have been discouraged before and it is nice to...

    Hello friend, you have already gotten some fantastic advice including pre-built boxes which I also concur would be the best choice. I also grew up without a woodworking adult, and actually discouraged to try because woman, but try it anyway and it's one of those easy to learn lifetime to master type things where one would never get better without trying. Think of it as being prepared for if young people in your life can benefit from learning from you in the future.

    Thank you so much Chocobean. And thank you for both the kind words and the useful tips, I will be saving them. And thank you for the encouragement, I have been discouraged before and it is nice to hear that there are other people out there who aren't Mountain Men who have been able to learn this skill! (˶ˆᗜˆ˵)

    4 votes

  10. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    I was just reposting a silly joke that made me laugh. I will freely admit that I do not understand why this issue is the issue that powers Argentine nationalism and identity, even after reading...

    I was just reposting a silly joke that made me laugh. I will freely admit that I do not understand why this issue is the issue that powers Argentine nationalism and identity, even after reading about it for a few hours.

    I will leave who physically possesses the islands to the UN, or, more likely, military might. But spiritually they currently belong to Yamal and Fernan Torres, at least for the next few months. (/S in case it was needed)

    2 votes

  11. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the correction, it does appear that nationalism around the Falklands goes across the political spectrum in Argentina. I read a few papers on it and it seems like all parties can't...

    Thanks for the correction, it does appear that nationalism around the Falklands goes across the political spectrum in Argentina. I read a few papers on it and it seems like all parties can't animate voters without invoking the issue. The fact that it's written on buses does not make it any less strange to me, but I'm viewing this from a different continent

    However, it doesn't matter anymore

    LAS MALVINAS SON ESPAÑOLAS!!!

    2 votes

  12. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

  13. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    What an incredible game!!! The stat of the match has to be Argentina having zero shots on goal in regular time to Spain's 16. 762 Spanish passes completed to Argentina's 357. I'm not normally a...

    What an incredible game!!!

    The stat of the match has to be Argentina having zero shots on goal in regular time to Spain's 16. 762 Spanish passes completed to Argentina's 357.

    I'm not normally a stats person, but I think if a person saw a 1-0 score after extra time it doesn't show how dominant Spain were for the entire match.

    Congratulations to Spain!

    4 votes

  14. Comment on I need to make a wooden box to ship something delicate. Could I please get some pointers? in ~life.home_improvement

    knifemissile
    Link
    Thank you so much to everyone who replied in this thread, I sincerely appreciate it. @goose @nukeman @Englerdy @creesch I really appreciate the practical suggestions as well as the moral support....

    Thank you so much to everyone who replied in this thread, I sincerely appreciate it.

    @goose

    @nukeman

    @Englerdy

    @creesch

    I really appreciate the practical suggestions as well as the moral support. I don't know why this is freaking me out so much, but I have the confidence to take the first steps. Thank you for taking the time

    9 votes

  15. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Given you are essentially a psychic based on yesterday's results, I'll lock that in to my head. Shu the Octopus

    Given you are essentially a psychic based on yesterday's results, I'll lock that in to my head.

    Shu the Octopus

    4 votes

  16. I need to make a wooden box to ship something delicate. Could I please get some pointers?

    ~life.home_improvement Ask (advice)
    Hi Tilderinos, I've got to ship some wrought iron to a blacksmith in another country to be reforged and properly heat treated. I've worked with them before and they're far better than anything...

    Hi Tilderinos,

    I've got to ship some wrought iron to a blacksmith in another country to be reforged and properly heat treated. I've worked with them before and they're far better than anything that is available in my country.

    They've asked me to ship the pieces in a wooden box, that is not real wood (I don't know the English term for it). It must be processed wood, the names in our hardware stores are multiplex and plywood underlayment etc. This is to avoid customs issues with untreated wood.

    I have been advised to make the sides of the box multiplex, with underlayment for the top and the bottom. I have my dimensions, but I have never done a woodworking project before and I am nervous the men in the hardware store will laugh at me for my inexperience.

    I have some basic questions like:

    • Is it okay to go to the hardware place and ask them to cut my pieces to size?

    • The box must hold together fine, but it doesn't need to be beautiful or lasting. I am thinking of putting the top and bottom on like the back of an IKEA wardrobe, with tacks, but my wife says hiring a staple gun might save a lot of time. Would a staple gun be too aggressive and potentially wreck the rather soft treated wood?

    • Lastly... Could someone just reassure me this will be fine? I associate woodworking as a very masculine 'father' skill and I did not have one of those. I have very poor spatial awareness and my wife is the furniture assembler in the house, so she will be helping me, but this is my first time trying this craft that I find very intimidating.

    Thank you for any input anyone is able to provide!

    20 votes

  17. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link
    The Final - Spain vs Argentina Spain relies on discipline and ball control, with each player slotting into a well planned system. Argentina's game this tournament has been much more uneven, but...

    The Final - Spain vs Argentina

    Spain relies on discipline and ball control, with each player slotting into a well planned system.

    Argentina's game this tournament has been much more uneven, but also much more exciting, with young players taking advantage of the opportunities Messi is able to create, from gaps other players can't see or pass to.

    Stat of the tournament: Spain have only been scored on once in the tournament, in the quarterfinal against Belgium.

    Personally, I'm going for Spain because the young Argentines pulled that Las Malvinas shit after the England game. I am not a 'no politics in sport' person, as sport is inherently political. But I am very firmly 'no far-right nationalist politics in sport', and as Fifa will not do anything, I can at least lend my support to the Spanish squad.

    There've been a lot of funny memes of South American fans sadly resigning themselves to support their colonizer over the Argentines. I knew Argentina (as a side, and their fans) was disliked within and without South America, but not to this extent!

    I'm hoping for 2-0 Spain but my predictions have been wrong all tournament

    10 votes

  18. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    Hope you had fun with the match today! What a show from England, that was some of the most fun football I've seen, even if it wasn't consequential in the tournament. So many epic moments. Anyone...

    Hope you had fun with the match today! What a show from England, that was some of the most fun football I've seen, even if it wasn't consequential in the tournament.

    So many epic moments. Anyone who says the England squad are bad is a fool.

    2 votes

  19. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    That was an insane game and I was thinking about your prediction after the first two goals! 😂 Really felt like the French were treating it as a kick around until the second goal, and then the...

    That was an insane game and I was thinking about your prediction after the first two goals! 😂

    Really felt like the French were treating it as a kick around until the second goal, and then the momentum just ran away.

    That was less the Battle of Ushant than it was the Battle of the Nile. The second half was really fun, seeing France come roaring back. I very much wanted some extra time but seeing Bellingham subbed on to cap an incredible tournament by him was nearly as good.

    I kept wondering if this victory would make things better or worse for English fans in the post-mortem. Tuchel has tried to explain that, versus Argentina, his team got into such a defensive mindset that he couldn't shake them out of it. His rationale for the centre-back subs was 'if they're going to play defensive, I may as well put good defenders in there.'

    But if I was an England fan, seeing Saka score a hat-trick and Rice creating so many opportunities for his playing time, I would think this was a team that could beat Spain. A decisive 2-0 loss might have been psychologically easier to take.

    What a fun game.

    6 votes

  20. Comment on 2026 FIFA World Cup - Finals discussion and news megathread (quarters/semis/finals) in ~sports.football

    knifemissile
    Link Parent
    I had no idea they had so many awesome names! Erielhonan is a great name for my next sneaky grey cat. Aka Night Crier (I am hungry), aka Swamp Screamer (I am hungry in a swamp)

    I had no idea they had so many awesome names!

    Erielhonan is a great name for my next sneaky grey cat. Aka Night Crier (I am hungry), aka Swamp Screamer (I am hungry in a swamp)

    4 votes