nofarkingname's recent activity
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Comment on What watch do you wear daily? in ~hobbies
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Comment on I want to hear about your unknown favorites! in ~books
nofarkingname Link ParentThanks for the recommendation - I've added it to my list.Thanks for the recommendation - I've added it to my list.
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Comment on I want to hear about your unknown favorites! in ~books
nofarkingname LinkArmor, by John Steakley. It's a sci-fi action book akin to Starship Troopers in a lot of ways, but follows one soldier. He is a scout - with little armor and weaponry - who is marked as deceased...Armor, by John Steakley. It's a sci-fi action book akin to Starship Troopers in a lot of ways, but follows one soldier. He is a scout - with little armor and weaponry - who is marked as deceased but is pulled off of the planet where it happened. His name is never purged from the roll and he gets dropped over and over into an endless war where he should have died, yet he continues.
There's a parallel story that runs alongside that narrative where how and why he goes and survives is gradually uncovered. I love the exploration of that aspect and the story of those characters alongside the well-worn, alien war trope. No more because spoilers, but if any of that description holds you go grab a copy and give it a read... it's the book I've re-read the most in my life.
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Comment on What’s something you want to tell someone, but can’t? in ~talk
nofarkingname LinkTo someone very dear to me, there's something I can't say anymore (or again) because it is running into the risk of alienation: Your inactivity is killing you.To someone very dear to me, there's something I can't say anymore (or again) because it is running into the risk of alienation:
Your inactivity is killing you.
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Comment on Solution for indirect lighting from top of bookcase in ~life.home_improvement
nofarkingname LinkI did a similar indirect lighting installation on either side of a fireplace on the top of some tall bookshelves. I bought a pair of dimmablee 1' x 2' panel LED lights (pretty sure I used Lithonia...I did a similar indirect lighting installation on either side of a fireplace on the top of some tall bookshelves. I bought a pair of dimmablee 1' x 2' panel LED lights (pretty sure I used Lithonia brand) to serve as the light. They came in multiple color temperatures, so i was able to get the right tone for the room.
I've got a background as an electrician, so I bought what I needed to hard wire them into a junction box mounted on the back of each light. Those boxes also served to tilt them forward a bit. I then wired them both to a surface mount switch box I installed on the back of one bookcases with the dimmer installed.
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Comment on US progressives in Congress unveil OLIGARCH Act to combat 'existential threat' of extreme wealth inequality in ~misc
nofarkingname Link ParentPedantic: initialisms are spelled when said, e.g, CIA. Acronyms are said, e.g., SCUBA. I think this would be a tortured acronym.Pedantic: initialisms are spelled when said, e.g, CIA.
Acronyms are said, e.g., SCUBA.
I think this would be a tortured acronym.
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Comment on What are the best cover songs that reinterpret the original into a different genre, style, or mood? in ~music
nofarkingname LinkI appreciate Kyle Lovett's version of Blue Skies: https://youtu.be/FMrkKgiiSvo The original was done for the musical Betsy in 1926 (hence no link to the true original). Usually it's performed as...I appreciate Kyle Lovett's version of Blue Skies:
https://youtu.be/FMrkKgiiSvoThe original was done for the musical Betsy in 1926 (hence no link to the true original). Usually it's performed as an upbeat song, whereas Lovett's is bluesy and melancholy sweet which I find lands more effectively with me.
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Comment on Suggestions for updating a fitness tracker? in ~tech
nofarkingname Link ParentBased on the research I did before getting either of my trackers, I would say that the biggest step in sizes will likely be when going between GPS-capable versus non-GPS trackers. I saw it in...Based on the research I did before getting either of my trackers, I would say that the biggest step in sizes will likely be when going between GPS-capable versus non-GPS trackers. I saw it in other brands before eventually honing in on Garmin, and with the Garmin product line there was a definite minimum size increase associated with having GPS built into the tracker versus tethering to a smartphone for it. Between the added electronics and battery capacity required it only makes sense. I did also want a smaller form factor for the watch when I first started looking, but personally the brief adjustment period I had to make when I first started wearing it was worth the benefit of having the standalone GPS option for me.
One other thing I would mention explicitly is that once you are looking above a certain screen resolution for a tracker, the display on the watch is changeable, so don't put too much weight on whatever graphics they show on the face of the watch. It feels obvious to type it out, but it's easy to have the swoopy display graphics feel important when they're really not. There's a whole app marketplace through Garmin to go and download watch face displays for the various data that can be shown. Like on mine, I have chosen to use the little circle area (a fixed inset display on the Instinct series) to show the phase of the moon...I don't need that for anything in my life but it looks neat.
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Comment on Suggestions for updating a fitness tracker? in ~tech
nofarkingname LinkI had a Garmin Vivosmart 5 for a while but had some issues with it, so i contacted Garmin and traded up for a Garmin Instinct 2 (non- solar), and I absolutely love it. It's got a relatively high...I had a Garmin Vivosmart 5 for a while but had some issues with it, so i contacted Garmin and traded up for a Garmin Instinct 2 (non- solar), and I absolutely love it. It's got a relatively high resolution e-reader style display that gives enough detail and base info without tipping into I'm-wearing-a-watch-on-my-wrist territory. The battery life is great, and having GPS available when I want it has been an option I've really come to enjoy when I want to do an activity while traveling "light." It's also durable and has relatively low-key styling. The additional health details and training options it comes with are solid, too, and have gotten me moving a lot more.
Not sure if it's in your price range or if it's your style, but it's got my backing for sure.
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Comment on First time homebuyer who just closed on a house, does anyone have any general advice? in ~life.home_improvement
nofarkingname LinkAs a former electrician, I would advise leaving electrical and plumbing work to the pros, personally. Since leaving the trade, I pay licensed, insured, and bonded professionals because it's worth...As a former electrician, I would advise leaving electrical and plumbing work to the pros, personally. Since leaving the trade, I pay licensed, insured, and bonded professionals because it's worth it. Each of those words means a higher price to employ that tradesman, but also means a safe home when the work is done.
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Comment on First time homebuyer who just closed on a house, does anyone have any general advice? in ~life.home_improvement
nofarkingname Link ParentTo restate a good point: fire extinguishers and plungers are things you want to have before you need them, so you absolutely want them as soon as possible.To restate a good point: fire extinguishers and plungers are things you want to have before you need them, so you absolutely want them as soon as possible.
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Comment on I am an extremely light sleeper, and need advice in ~life
nofarkingname LinkMy personal fixes: 6" generic beside fan: for air circulation Blackout curtains: forget the brand, but they're full length, fill width (not inserts or panels) Nidra sleep mask: a slightly more...My personal fixes:
- 6" generic beside fan: for air circulation
- Blackout curtains: forget the brand, but they're full length, fill width (not inserts or panels)
- Nidra sleep mask: a slightly more expensive sleep mask, but adjustable and very comfortable fit because it's a molded foam. They do flatten out after a while so it's a recurring purchase but really worth it. I do these along with blackout curtains as my spouse stays up later than I do and likes to read at night.
- Bose Sleepbuds: ear buds with selectable ambient noise options, from white to pink, tonal, and nature sounds. My most expensive investment, but the most worth it for sure.
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Comment on That essential morning coffee may be a placebo in ~food
nofarkingname Link ParentThanks for the detail and link, I appreciate it. I'll have to learn a bit more to map this gene's affects to my personal experiences with caffeine.Thanks for the detail and link, I appreciate it. I'll have to learn a bit more to map this gene's affects to my personal experiences with caffeine.
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Comment on That essential morning coffee may be a placebo in ~food
nofarkingname Link ParentQuestion from ignorance, asking because it sounds like you may have chances upon an answer: was there anything in your research or reading that indicated that there is an inverse to the gene you...Question from ignorance, asking because it sounds like you may have chances upon an answer: was there anything in your research or reading that indicated that there is an inverse to the gene you mention? I.e., a gene which makes a certain person more sensitive to caffeine in some way?
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Comment on What consumeristic and somewhat pointless hobby do you have? in ~hobbies
nofarkingname Link ParentThis will be the best-dressed duel, one for the ages.This will be the best-dressed duel, one for the ages.
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Comment on This feels dumb to ask, but how do you get your news? in ~news
nofarkingname LinkI check in on www.fark.com, a link aggregator with comment threads, a couple times a day. There's usually a limited set of things tagged as NEWS on there, the rest of it is fark-user- submitted...I check in on www.fark.com, a link aggregator with comment threads, a couple times a day. There's usually a limited set of things tagged as NEWS on there, the rest of it is fark-user- submitted headlines making fun of "news," so it occasionally makes me chuckle and still provides a connection to actual news remotely close to when it happens.
Aside: my user name is spawned from it denying me so many of my usual default choices when I created an account there 328 years ago.
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Comment on What weird food combo did you not realise was weird? in ~food
nofarkingname LinkWhen my Marmite delivery is delayed, I'll spread beef bullion on warm toast and then top it with cream cheese. I get weird looks from the rest of my family, but it's totally worth it.When my Marmite delivery is delayed, I'll spread beef bullion on warm toast and then top it with cream cheese. I get weird looks from the rest of my family, but it's totally worth it.
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Comment on I'm about to move away from my family. What should I know about living alone that no one told you before you started? in ~life
nofarkingname LinkPersonally, I wish someone would have told me to plan where my money goes before it gets spent. Hopefully personal finance was taught to you, but for me it was not. There are a gazillion resources...Personally, I wish someone would have told me to plan where my money goes before it gets spent. Hopefully personal finance was taught to you, but for me it was not.
There are a gazillion resources that will give you advice, but I would suggest - if you haven't already - writing down your income and your expenses in a simple spreadsheet. What I do then is translate everything to be the same duration as your pay cycle. E.g., if you get paid every two weeks and have a monthly bill, multiply your bill by 12 and then divide it by 26 - that is how much of each paycheck you need to set aside each paycheck to pay that bill . Do that for all your necessary bills, then for all the other necessities (e.g., food, car maintenance or taxes, etc.), and you're left with what you can spend on other, nonessential things ("discretionary spending") without feeling stressed.
Hopefully you're already financially literate, but if there's something I could answer please ask and I (or someone smarter than I) will chip in.
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Comment on The Reddit blackout is breaking Reddit in ~tech
nofarkingname Link ParentSimilar situation here - "addicted" is a strong word, but I can definitely say it was filling my spare moments with so much fluffy trash and I've enjoyed finding a conversation-driven alternative...Similar situation here - "addicted" is a strong word, but I can definitely say it was filling my spare moments with so much fluffy trash and I've enjoyed finding a conversation-driven alternative here.
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Comment on What are the greatest TV intro songs of all time? in ~tv
nofarkingname Link ParentIf this is anyone's first introduction to Too Many Cooks, you are about to be blessed. That song lives rent-free in my head.If this is anyone's first introduction to Too Many Cooks, you are about to be blessed. That song lives rent-free in my head.
Garmin Instinct 2. I like the monochrome, low-power screen. If I'm not doing GPS things or runs for quite a while without a charge. When I am doing GPS things - running, mostly, it's customizable enough to show me what I want.
And, try add I might, I can't break it no matter how many things I bash it into accidentally.