lhamil64's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on Can anyone recommend a dead simple voice recorder? in ~tech
lhamil64 LinkThis isn't quite what you're asking for, but what about a voice labeler? Something like this https://www.penfriendlabeller.com/penfriend-3 It's meant for blind/visually impaired users but I could...This isn't quite what you're asking for, but what about a voice labeler? Something like this https://www.penfriendlabeller.com/penfriend-3
It's meant for blind/visually impaired users but I could see it being useful for reminders too
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (April 2025) — Version 1.4 adds a text size setting in ~tildes
lhamil64 LinkThanks for doing this! As a visually impaired user it really helps being able to bump up the font size. And I especially appreciate you actually hunting down layout issues at larger sizes, it's...Thanks for doing this! As a visually impaired user it really helps being able to bump up the font size. And I especially appreciate you actually hunting down layout issues at larger sizes, it's really frustrating to increase the font size just to run into weird bugs.
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Comment on What's an atypical thing you do that you'd recommend to others? in ~talk
lhamil64 Link ParentI was taught to do this in elementary school, it has always just seemed nasty to me to sneeze into your hand especially without washing it after. The one downside is sometimes you end up with a...I was taught to do this in elementary school, it has always just seemed nasty to me to sneeze into your hand especially without washing it after. The one downside is sometimes you end up with a chunk of snot on your sleeve and it's awkward to clean it off, whereas if you did it in your hand you could just wash it. But that's rare enough that it's still better to just use your elbow.
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Comment on What's an atypical thing you do that you'd recommend to others? in ~talk
lhamil64 Link ParentDo you use a manual toothbrush? I use an electric, so I don't think this would really work unless there's a waterproof electric toothbrush.Do you use a manual toothbrush? I use an electric, so I don't think this would really work unless there's a waterproof electric toothbrush.
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Comment on What is your strangely specific phobia? in ~talk
lhamil64 Link ParentYou'd love this story from my sister then. It was in the early 2000s, my parents had one of those Nokia brick phones (a Nokia 5110, that was surprisingly easy to find with a Google image search)....You'd love this story from my sister then. It was in the early 2000s, my parents had one of those Nokia brick phones (a Nokia 5110, that was surprisingly easy to find with a Google image search). My sister went out with some friends so my parents let her borrow the phone in case of an emergency. Apparently at some point she checked the voicemail, which at the time involved calling a number and navigating a phone tree. If you left the voicemail idle, it would say "Are you still there?" and repeat the menu options. She claims that she checked the voicemail, hung up the phone, and then it called her back and when she answered said "Are you still there?"
My theory is that she just forgot to hang up and it just timed out and played the "Are you still there?" message, but I suppose it's possible it glitched and actually did call her back into the same voicemail session or something.
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Comment on Why and how I use Immich in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentThis is why I haven't yet tried Immich. I'm essentially waiting for them to release stable versions, their roadmap says "early 2025" so hopefully that happens soon.This is why I haven't yet tried Immich. I'm essentially waiting for them to release stable versions, their roadmap says "early 2025" so hopefully that happens soon.
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Comment on I hate 2FA in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentWhy is a phone call better than SMS? I get that it's more convenient for some people, but it's no more secure since it's still vulnerable to SIM swapping (unless you use a landline number I...Why is a phone call better than SMS? I get that it's more convenient for some people, but it's no more secure since it's still vulnerable to SIM swapping (unless you use a landline number I suppose).
Also, something that really bugs me is so many sites allow more secure methods of MFA (TOTP, hardware keys, etc) yet allow you to fall back to SMS as a recovery mechanism. That means you're still vulnerable to the attacks involving SMS since an attacker can just use the fallback.
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Comment on "Shower thoughts" and other things to ponder in ~talk
lhamil64 Link ParentI've been getting in to ham radio a bit, and I've noticed a lot of hams have radios in their cars. It makes me think about this being mainstream, imagine being able to just immediately speak to...I've been getting in to ham radio a bit, and I've noticed a lot of hams have radios in their cars. It makes me think about this being mainstream, imagine being able to just immediately speak to the person in the car in front of you. Although I could also see this being awful when considering road rage.
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Comment on Supreme Court wants US input on whether ISPs should be liable for users’ piracy, in $1 billion Sony v. Cox case in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentI really think internet needs to be a proper utility like landline phones were (are?). The internet is how people communicate these days, hell most "landlines" are just VoIP these days anyway.I really think internet needs to be a proper utility like landline phones were (are?). The internet is how people communicate these days, hell most "landlines" are just VoIP these days anyway.
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Comment on How self-driving cars will destroy cities in ~transport
lhamil64 Link ParentI've wanted self driving cards since I was a kid, because I'm legally blind and will never be able to drive. That being said, the video makes some good points and I could likely get around just...I've wanted self driving cards since I was a kid, because I'm legally blind and will never be able to drive.
That being said, the video makes some good points and I could likely get around just fine independently if we had actually good public transportation and walkable areas.
The one thing I don't think it really touches on though is rural areas. If I have a friend who lives in a rural area outside the city, what is the incentive for the county/city to create public transit routes to that area for the handful of people that would use it?
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Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~society
lhamil64 Link ParentWhile we're at it, make the bills have different color/texture for the different denominations! I'm legally blind, and it's such a pain to use cash because I have to look closely at the numbers to...While we're at it, make the bills have different color/texture for the different denominations! I'm legally blind, and it's such a pain to use cash because I have to look closely at the numbers to see them. If the bills were different colors, it would be much easier.
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Comment on Human drivers keep rear-ending Waymos in ~transport
lhamil64 Link ParentAnother advantage is personal safety & privacy. With Uber/Lyft, the driver is basically just some random person. How do I know that they aren't a terrible driver? What if they're drunk or high?...Another advantage is personal safety & privacy. With Uber/Lyft, the driver is basically just some random person. How do I know that they aren't a terrible driver? What if they're drunk or high? What's stopping them from cancelling the ride, locking the doors, and driving us out into the middle of nowhere? I think most people wouldn't do these things, but I bet it has happened somewhere.
Although I guess from a privacy perspective, Waymos could actually be worse because IIRC there's cameras and microphones in the car for rider support, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're recording every ride.
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Comment on What advantages does Linux have over other operating systems? in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentAnother point is that you can install more modern Linux distros on older hardware, extending its useful life. If you use Windows, the only real option is just installing an older version. But...Another point is that you can install more modern Linux distros on older hardware, extending its useful life. If you use Windows, the only real option is just installing an older version. But those older versions no longer receive security updates, meaning any vulnerabilities found will never get fixed and your machine will always be vulnerable. Of course you need to have realistic expectations for the hardware (like you probably won't be streaming 4k video on 20yo hardware) but Linux at least makes it possible to use it for something while remaining decently secure.
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Comment on Google Pixel 9 launch event live coverage: all the news in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentI'm curious what kind of software issues you had with the s22? I have a Pixel 6a that's had some issues crop up, like I've always gotten this weird echo on the phone (like people tell me they hear...I'm curious what kind of software issues you had with the s22? I have a Pixel 6a that's had some issues crop up, like I've always gotten this weird echo on the phone (like people tell me they hear themselves) unless I'm on speaker, but only for actual phone calls and not apps like Discord. And another issue where my vibration will stop working until a reboot, but only when not connected to wifi. Although that one hasn't happened in a few weeks so maybe they finally fixed it.
I've been considering changing to a different brand for my next phone, possibly Samsung. Maybe I'd just be trading one set of problems for another though...
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Comment on Help! I need a new fridge (and microwave). in ~life.home_improvement
lhamil64 LinkJust want to ask a possibly dumb question, but you said you live in an apartment. Do you own the appliances? In most apartments I've seen, fixing/replacing the appliances would be the...Just want to ask a possibly dumb question, but you said you live in an apartment. Do you own the appliances? In most apartments I've seen, fixing/replacing the appliances would be the responsibility of the landlord.
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Comment on Windows 11 now shows a full-screen pop-up to use OneDrive and protect your PC in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentAlso, an area where Linux really struggles is accessibility. I'm legally blind so I use a screen magnifier pretty heavily. I currently use Linux Mint with the Cinnamon DE as it seemed like it had...Also, an area where Linux really struggles is accessibility. I'm legally blind so I use a screen magnifier pretty heavily. I currently use Linux Mint with the Cinnamon DE as it seemed like it had the least-bad magnifier. But it's pretty rough. For example, there's a setting that lets you hold a modifier key and scroll the mouse to zoom in & out, but in many apps (including default apps like Settings) the underlying content scrolls too. You can also map regular hotkeys to zoom, but that doesn't work if certain menus are open for example. It also works terribly with multiple monitors. It treats them as one big desktop, so if you have two monitors the "center" is between them (which causes weirdness depending on what settings you have). I tried KDE and it seemed to have similar issues, and the settings were a fragmented mess to boot.
I've been tempted to just deep dive into the code for the various DEs and try to improve the magnifiers but it seems like such a time sink and hard to get a development environment set up.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books
lhamil64 Link ParentI had a similar thought when I reread the book recently. It surprised me how they had no mechanism for going into atmosphere. Even something like a drone or rover to collect some data. Seems like...I had a similar thought when I reread the book recently. It surprised me how they had no mechanism for going into atmosphere. Even something like a drone or rover to collect some data. Seems like a huge oversight when they planned for other unknowns like providing a huge library of software and lab equipment.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books
lhamil64 Link ParentRe: the Eridian number system - humans have 4 limbs with 5 digits each, so by that logic we would use base 5 or base 4 or base 20. Maybe they consider two limbs more like arms and the others more...Re: the Eridian number system - humans have 4 limbs with 5 digits each, so by that logic we would use base 5 or base 4 or base 20. Maybe they consider two limbs more like arms and the others more like legs?
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Comment on Using a desktop monitor outside in ~tech
lhamil64 Link ParentI'm legally blind so I'm curious if these would work for me. Mind answering a few questions? Does the virtual screen focus at a distance? I.e, if you're nearsighted will it be blurry without...I'm legally blind so I'm curious if these would work for me. Mind answering a few questions?
- Does the virtual screen focus at a distance? I.e, if you're nearsighted will it be blurry without prescription lenses? I'm assuming it does, similar to VR headsets?
- From the video it seems like you can pull the screen closer to you. How close can you get? With a real monitor I need to be within a couple inches to see if clearly. And it looks like the prescription lens option doesn't go high enough for my prescription, so I'd probably have to do without which means I'd have to get even closer.
- Can you adjust the size of the screen? If I were able to pull it in really close, I obviously wouldn't want it to still be 300" or whatever, I'd want it more like 24-27" like a standard monitor. More than that and the edges would be difficult to see i think.
- Can you move the screen around, or is it locked to the center of your vision?
There are devices intended for the visually impaired that do similar things as these, but they tend to be more like bulky VR headsets, and tend to be thousands of dollars. I doubt that these would actually work for me but figured I'd ask just in case.
I played through Last of Us and now I’m on to LoU2, now that they’re both on PC. I’ve been really enjoying the series! Maybe it’s because I haven’t been playing many modern games recently, but I’m impressed with the level of details in the environment. Things like rain dripping from edges of structures, the design of abandoned houses (they even put details like electric meters on the outsides, which I probably wouldn’t have noticed were missing if they didn’t include them), etc. And I’m liking the combat too. I’m not the best at combat in general, and have died quite a bit, but it usually isn’t frustrating. I think it helps that you have options when fighting. You can just have a full on fire fight, or you can be sneaky and stealth kill most enemies. Now I just have to make sure I keep ahead of the show so I don’t get spoiled!