Paul26's recent activity
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentThank you! That looks promising. I’ll give it a shot.Thank you! That looks promising. I’ll give it a shot.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentThank you. This is really useful and I wish I knew this a few months ago. I’ll know for my next car tho and I look forward to saving a bunch of cash at that point. I am one of the general public...Thank you. This is really useful and I wish I knew this a few months ago. I’ll know for my next car tho and I look forward to saving a bunch of cash at that point. I am one of the general public who thought I better avoid anything that’s more than 5 years old and over 100k Km.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentWithout someone who does know a lot about cars, how can a non-car person know when the 2012 Outback is indeed OK or not? The seller will always say "it's great!" What are some easy things to look for?Without someone who does know a lot about cars, how can a non-car person know when the 2012 Outback is indeed OK or not? The seller will always say "it's great!" What are some easy things to look for?
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 LinkReddit Premium. I moved to Tildes because I hate the amount of ads on Reddit. The content quality has also gone down, but the ads are what really annoyed me. I don't want to pay premium for that....Reddit Premium. I moved to Tildes because I hate the amount of ads on Reddit. The content quality has also gone down, but the ads are what really annoyed me. I don't want to pay premium for that. I'd rather donate to Tildes and save my time and energy by not browsing Reddit anymore.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentI'm debating going this way with music. The only thing keeping me streaming is that I have 5 family members leeching my Apple plan, and Apple music offers lossless at no additional fee, which has...I'm debating going this way with music. The only thing keeping me streaming is that I have 5 family members leeching my Apple plan, and Apple music offers lossless at no additional fee, which has been nice. But I do buy CDs of the albums I really love (and vinyl too sometimes), and rip them to a media player. I don't think I'd miss Apple Music and I'd feel relieved to have fewer ties to the large tech companies. I find a lot of great music via good old FM radio which, in my area, has 3 stations that have no ads and play a large variety of musical genres. I do also have a NAS, and I am under-utilizing it for sure. It would replace iCloud in this scenario.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentYouTube is the ONE thing I wish had a really good alternative. As it stands, like you, I will not support them with a subscription, and I don't like ads, so basically, I avoid YouTube. I don't...YouTube is the ONE thing I wish had a really good alternative. As it stands, like you, I will not support them with a subscription, and I don't like ads, so basically, I avoid YouTube. I don't feel like I'm missing much. Is there a ton of good content? Yes. Does my life move on happily without it, also yes.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentI got off Instagram, FB, and more several years ago. A couple months ago I decided to try Instagram again as a lot of close friends and family use it regularly and they live far. Thought it may be...I got off Instagram, FB, and more several years ago. A couple months ago I decided to try Instagram again as a lot of close friends and family use it regularly and they live far. Thought it may be nice to see what they post. It's exactly what you describe for FB. The site is horrible. Bare minimum. On the computer is "ok"-ish, on Mobile it's a real nightmare. I have no doubt they do it on purpose, obviously, because the app will get way more permissions to gobble up your data, listen to you through your mic, etc. The site is more limited to the browser choice, VPN, etc. which will block it from getting your data.
Side note, after remembering what Instagram is all about, I ended up deleting the app, keeping the account, and only checking it occasionally on the computer. Turns out I basically miss out of 90% of things because everyone posts stories rather than regular (permanent) posts, so unless I check every day, I will not see what I was hoping to see. Might as well not bother at all.
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Comment on The Oatmeal: A cartoonist's review of AI art in ~comics
Paul26 LinkWow, lots of in-depth arguments here. Mine will seem silly in comparison. I don't even think if images that come out of AI as art at all. I see it as a collection of pixels assembled by a very...Wow, lots of in-depth arguments here. Mine will seem silly in comparison. I don't even think if images that come out of AI as art at all. I see it as a collection of pixels assembled by a very advanced computer program. It can look cool, I may even like the output sometimes, but I do not perceive it the way I do something in galley. When I see a photograph of a landscape I like to put myself in the photographer's shoes and think "what did they think and feel when they took this photo? What did they find beautiful and worth capturing with their camera?" When I look at an AI image of a similar landscape, all I can think of is "oh, I guess the person was able to write a few sentences into an AI software". It's lacking the depth. If you only take images at face value like "Is this a pretty picture?" then I guess you won't care how it was created.
TLDR; art != pixels -
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentForgot about Ayreon! Thanks, that was a nice trip down memory lane. Haven’t listened in over 10 years.Forgot about Ayreon! Thanks, that was a nice trip down memory lane. Haven’t listened in over 10 years.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentYou can always combine the two with some Haggard! https://album.link/ca/i/633535575You can always combine the two with some Haggard! https://album.link/ca/i/633535575
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Paul26 LinkI’m finding myself listening to more classical music. Apple has a dedicated Classical app, separate from the Music app. I’ve been giving it a shot. Was listening to the Baroque station. Sometimes...I’m finding myself listening to more classical music. Apple has a dedicated Classical app, separate from the Music app. I’ve been giving it a shot. Was listening to the Baroque station. Sometimes it’s nice not to have any lyrics and just enjoy the melody.
In general, I find myself slowly shifting away from some old favorites (heavy metal) and more into more calming music. I love metal and I don’t think I’ll ever stop listening to it, but I’m more picky as to when I do.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Paul26 LinkWas a bad week for me. Due to various “excuses” I only worked out one day. Annoyed with myself, but motivated to exercise hard this coming week. No skipping any days. On a better note, been...Was a bad week for me. Due to various “excuses” I only worked out one day. Annoyed with myself, but motivated to exercise hard this coming week. No skipping any days.
On a better note, been meaning to buy a coupe of kettlebell weights and finally did so. I got 15, 25, and 50. I have a decent set of dumbbells so this was something of a nice to have more than a “need”, but it’s making me excited for this week’s workouts where I’ll take advantage of the new weights to add a bit of variation where a kettlebell may work better than a dumbbell.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Paul26 Link ParentThat’s awesome. I hope to one day be able to run that. I can do about 3 km. Anything past that I feel like my lungs are gonna explode.That’s awesome. I hope to one day be able to run that. I can do about 3 km. Anything past that I feel like my lungs are gonna explode.
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Comment on Looking for music solutions for my car; can anyone recommend a digital audio player? in ~transport
Paul26 Link ParentAnother vote for the HiFi Walker. Pretty solid device and good price. In my opinion good value. You can definitely find cheaper ones and way more expensive ones, but for OP’s use case I think it’s...Another vote for the HiFi Walker. Pretty solid device and good price. In my opinion good value. You can definitely find cheaper ones and way more expensive ones, but for OP’s use case I think it’s a good one. I like that it has physical controls.
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Comment on Introducing Kagi News in ~tech
Paul26 LinkFirst impression is really good. To me it feels like a cleaner, prettier version of Ground News which I have used for a while.First impression is really good. To me it feels like a cleaner, prettier version of Ground News which I have used for a while.
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Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music
Paul26 Link ParentI’ve heard this before, but clearly not enough times or simply didn’t pay enough attention. You’re right! It’s right there! Sort of on the same note, the songs from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters...I’ve heard this before, but clearly not enough times or simply didn’t pay enough attention. You’re right! It’s right there!
Sort of on the same note, the songs from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters have a lot of Korean mixed in so I’m not sure if I’m failing to catch the English or it’s in fact Korean (which I don’t speak at all). I looked them up to avoid another loser situation haha
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Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music
Paul26 (edited )LinkBeck - Loser Only this year has my wife made me realize the actual lyrics say “Soy un perdedor” when she happened to sing that line in the car as I was driving. I remember watching the music video...ohhh don’t know where to go
I’m a loser baby
so why don’t you kill meBeck - Loser
Only this year has my wife made me realize the actual lyrics say “Soy un perdedor” when she happened to sing that line in the car as I was driving. I remember watching the music video on MTV in the 90s. Can’t believe how many years it’s been of me not realizing I misheard those lyrics!
I’m so torn now… I don’t listen to it very often, I don’t listen to Beck in general. Will I still sing it the wrong way? Maybe. I think I’m in the phase where I won’t sing it at all and will keep listening attentively when that line comes up almost as though I still don’t fully believe I was wrong.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Paul26 LinkI've been sticking to Apple Fitness for the most part these days. Sometimes it syncs up with what my wife does, and we end up doing the same workout, which has been a pleasant surprise. In the...I've been sticking to Apple Fitness for the most part these days. Sometimes it syncs up with what my wife does, and we end up doing the same workout, which has been a pleasant surprise. In the past she didn't do much strength workouts, but she finally started trying some out and loves the results. I have been waking up earlier so it feels less of a rush and I have more time to stretch and cool down, and still make it to work in time without rushing breakfast. Nutrition has been good. I have been eating a lot more veggies and fruit thanks to the apple tree in my yard that yielded a ton of apples this season. I was starting to feel not so great buying food at work and eating more meat than I like. I prefer to eat less meat, and more veggies / whole foods plan based diet. Been better at it last 2 weeks or so, and my digestive system feels better, overall. I also continued to drink green tea in the morning instead of coffee, but still have a small coffee (like an espresso or cappucino with oat milk) in the afternoon most days. This seems to be better for me than regular coffee and I am glad I don't crave it or feel like a zombie without it in the morning. So overall holding pattern, I do work up a sweat and feel sore from the workouts, but not for too long or excessively so. I think it's fairly well balanced. Last week I mixed in some other workouts, but kind of got annoyed with the app. My plan is to eventually just build my fully custom plan without apps or gadgets. I just need to sit down and put in the time. There are exercises I do not see in Apple Fitness that are very good, and I miss them.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Paul26 Link ParentThat's a pretty cool approach and nice that you can do it together and easily adjust for each person's level and preference. My wife and I have done some Apple Fitness+ workouts together and it's...That's a pretty cool approach and nice that you can do it together and easily adjust for each person's level and preference. My wife and I have done some Apple Fitness+ workouts together and it's kind of fun. She just uses lighter dumbbells (forces me to use the heavier ones, which has been interesting). I end up modifying some of the exercises as I find the way they do some of them kind of weird and know better ways from other workouts.
Loans are crazy. The way interest works on those is such a waste of money. And I can't even wrap my head around leasing. I guess it's like long-term renting. I prefer to buy something I can afford 100% rather than buying something fancy I can only afford by borrowing money. I don't like the loan chain around my neck. But a close relative of mine, for example, had no issue splurging on a luxury European car, leasing it. Guess what happened a few years later when life threw them a curveball? Could no longer afford it. Hundreds in leasing fee, insurance, premium gas just to satisfy some materialistic craving for a luxury vehicle.
For my next car I'm taking your advice, tho it won't be for a while. I have a Jetta at the moment, and I chose it hoping it lasts a long time. My brother in law moved to my city recently, and he knows a lot more about cars than I do, so he'll be my car friend who I'll take with me. I can do small things on my own (swap winter / summer wheels, minor repairs). I'd like to eventually learn how to change breaks pads and do oil changes.