simplify's recent activity

  1. Comment on Self published authors, how do you market your books? Nothing I've tried has had any success. in ~creative

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    I self-published over 30 pulp fiction novels and I never found success with traditional marketing. In my experience, the best marketing for your books is your next book. And then your next book....

    I self-published over 30 pulp fiction novels and I never found success with traditional marketing. In my experience, the best marketing for your books is your next book. And then your next book. And on and on and on. I did this full-time for 7 years.

    If this is something you want to try to make a career out of, you have to write and publish a lot. The best advice I can give is to 1) write what people want to read, 2) make sure your covers hit the tropes that are most successful in your genre, and 3) write and publish like an insane person. If you want to just self-publish one book as a nobody, you’re not going to get any traction. Loads of books are published every second on Amazon.

    Once you have a handful of books in your back catalog, you can start running freebie promotions on your older titles. Make sure the backmatter of these books advertises your newer books. Update backmatter frequently as you publish, cycle through freebies of old books, and keep publishing. This cycle works even better if you write in a series. Which, if I could do it all over again, I would have written one long series. Series readers just gobble it up and are always excited for new books in the series. If you’ve got a series going, it’s best to make the first book in the series permafree so the lead in to get readers hooked costs them nothing.

    You don’t need to pay a ton for advertising. You just need to write a ton, hit the tropes, make the cover look professional (readers most definitely judge a book by its cover), and get readers into the funnel of your series. Easy peasy, right? It’s not hard to see success fast on Amazon if you follow this method. But it’s a recipe for burnout. That’s why I gave it up. I was fried from all the writing I had to do. I was also in a smaller niche, which limited my income and I wouldn’t do that again.

    I wish you luck!

    14 votes

  2. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    Here's a couple reviews I stumbled on that might help you. The first one, from Gizmodo, has a lot of hate in the comments, but they're worth reading to see how you feel. The second one is very...

    Here's a couple reviews I stumbled on that might help you. The first one, from Gizmodo, has a lot of hate in the comments, but they're worth reading to see how you feel. The second one is very in-depth.

    This Is the Perfect Keyboard (Gizmodo)

    HHKB Professional Hybrid review (Material Journal)

    1 vote

  3. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    You’re totally right. I’m really interested in Hall effect switches. Once those become more widespread, I can see myself giving them a go.

    You’re totally right. I’m really interested in Hall effect switches. Once those become more widespread, I can see myself giving them a go.

  4. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    With System76 laptops, they're just rebranded Clevo machines, and the quality isn't that great. It's really cool to have Coreboot for BIOS if you value open source firmware, but beyond that I've...

    With System76 laptops, they're just rebranded Clevo machines, and the quality isn't that great. It's really cool to have Coreboot for BIOS if you value open source firmware, but beyond that I've found the Lemur Pro to just feel cheap. I've also had issues with the second NVME drive; when the laptop goes to sleep, the second NVME only wakes up with a full reboot. Battery life is garbage. But I appreciate System76 trying to bring Linux laptops to market. And for a no-fuss distro, Pop!_OS is awesome.

    I've also got a Keychron Q1 Pro, which is a very nice keyboard. Its case is machined aluminum and it's very heavy. It's a 75% board, which can be convenient with the dedicated arrow keys. But I found myself never using the F keys on the top row, and ultimately feeling like I had to stretch to reach a lot of keys. Added to that, I was lugging it to the office daily and while it's not a huge deal, its weight was just impossible to ignore. I can toss the HHKB in my bag and not even think about it. It weighs nothing, but it sits firmly on the desk and never moves thanks to some low-profile rubber feet on the underside. While the HHKB is plastic, it's very high quality and doesn't feel cheap at all.

    I think if you can look at the HHKB and you aren't frightened off by the layout or the lack of customization options, it's something you should seriously consider. I'm sure in your research you'll read about the difference between the regular Pro and the Type-S, but just to confirm, the Type-S has silencer rings factory-installed. Some people do this themselves, but it will void your warranty. I don't need everybody around me to know that I'm typing, but also the Type-S isn't silent by any means. If you're taking the board to work, Type-S is probably the way to go. I think the silencer rings also add something to the actuation that some people prefer.

    I really hope this is all helpful. I didn't anticipate writing so much, but I am very satisfied with this board and I think more people should give it a shot. I'm honestly considering selling my Keychron and just resolving to be a HHKB user for the long haul. I value type-feeling, comfort, speed, ease-of-use, and convenience for programming and terminal usage. I'm not a customizer or remapper. I don't care about RGB ultimately (it's fun, but just a gimmick really). I think this board hits all my requirements and wishes.

    One more thing... if you go with the black board, know that even if you get the model with legends printed on the keys, they are hard to see in low light. So being a touch typist is very helpful to getting off the ground with the HHKB. I am a pretty good typist (100+ WPM), but I'm looking forward to having the URSA keys printed with white legends so it's easier to see when typing things I don't usually type. By the time I get them, though, maybe I won't even need them!

    1 vote

  5. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    I'm a fan of System76. I love Pop!_OS. I've got a System76 Lemur Pro, which I don't think is any good at all. And I've also got an HP Dev One, which was a collaboration System76 did with HP, and...

    I'm a fan of System76. I love Pop!_OS. I've got a System76 Lemur Pro, which I don't think is any good at all. And I've also got an HP Dev One, which was a collaboration System76 did with HP, and it's very nice. That said, I've got no experience with the Launch keyboard. I'm hesitant to say the HHKB is better than the Launch, because topre switches are different than MX. It's a personal thing. But the HHKB is a very premium board, and the main selling point (to me) is the unique layout, which I find to be great for programming and CLI usage. And after spending time with the topre switches, I don't miss my MX board at all.

    It's certainly extremely portable and easy to take to and from the office (that's what I do). It does not have RGB. But it's programmable via the DIP switches, and it does have software that allows you to remap some keys (though I haven't because I love the layout). The Bluetooth on the HHKB is awesome, the best Bluetooth peripheral I've ever used. Further, the battery life is superb. HHKB estimates 3+ months on new batteries with the power saving mode engaged. It does use AA batteries, which some might find strange. Why not use an internal battery? Well, the reason is longevity. An internal battery in a keyboard will inevitably lose charge. If it dies completely, you're either trashing the board or opening it up to do some surgery. But with some high-quality rechargeable AAs with the HHKB, you'll be good to go for a very long time. You don't notice the battery bump at all while using it.

    My advice would be to read some reviews of the HHKB and watch some YouTube videos. I was going to edit one of my other posts to drop this link, but I'll just do it here... check out this post about topre switches and see if it resonates with you. HHKB users are passionate, and for good reason. Once you start using it and learning it, it just feels like all you need. It's simple. It's minimal. It's high quality. It doesn't need much fussing with. If you value customization, it's not the best. But for everything else, it's top tier.

    Oh, also. Don't consider the HHKB Lite. It's a non-topre, membrane switch model they sold for a while. I actually have one, and it was my introduction to the HHKB layout (I got it about 10 years ago). It's a nice backup board, but it's nowhere near as nice as a topre HHKB Pro.

    And finally... here's a good review of the HHKB that I think is very fair.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    I mean, it's subjective. I think what a lot of people like about it is that it just feels less strenuous. Some people say "it's like typing on a cloud." I don't know about that. But it definitely...

    I mean, it's subjective. I think what a lot of people like about it is that it just feels less strenuous. Some people say "it's like typing on a cloud." I don't know about that. But it definitely feels like you're doing something, and there's really no fatigue. Sometimes MX switches can leave your fingers feeling a bit tired after typing all day. It's a good mix of mechanical and membrane. Topre switches are where the original "thocciness" idea came from.

    That being said, I think the general consensus is that they're better for typists, writers, and programmers. Gamers prefer MX. Further, it's said that when you first go topre, you might feel there's nothing special about them. But if you spend a month or two using them, and then go back to MX, you find yourself missing the ease with which you can type on topre. Personally, I really don't miss my MX board at all. I've considered picking up an HHKB-style board with MX switches, but I don't see the point. My HHKB is just a well-built peripheral. It's my ideal size (60%), the Bluetooth is bullet-proof (really, the ease with which I can switch between devices is something I've never experienced with Bluetooth), it's lightweight while still being very premium, and it's rock solid. Topre supposedly gets even better with age, and people will cherish their decade-old boards and see no reason to upgrade.

    Sadly, the only way to know is to try it, and topre boards are pretty expensive. I was lucky enough to get my HHKB new for $250, which is still a lot for a board, but ultimately it's just... great. You can spend thousands trying different MX boards and switches, trying to find perfection. But discovering topre is like skipping all that. A stock HHKB is endgame for a lot of people. You can find lightly-used HHKB/topre-boards, but they generally maintain their value. I think it's something you just have to really commit to for a while to see what the fuss is about.

    3 votes

  7. Comment on Residents in southern Illinois county to vote on non-binding referendum to separate state from Cook County in ~misc

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    My in-laws live in Oak Park, and my FIL was almost a car-jacking victim in the last year or two. They tried to block him in at one of those drive through mail boxes (if I'm remembering correctly),...

    My in-laws live in Oak Park, and my FIL was almost a car-jacking victim in the last year or two. They tried to block him in at one of those drive through mail boxes (if I'm remembering correctly), but he noticed something was fishy and was able to speed off before he was trapped. My FIL is conservative and bitches about Oak Park and Chicago all the time and we've gotten into many political fights before. During one tiff I basically said, "if you hate it so much here, you should leave... we did. Life is just easier where we are now." He didn't like that, and he personally insulted me. But something I've noticed about my partner's family over the years is that they prefer to complain about things rather than solve them. I can understand wanting to stay where you've always been out of inertia, convenience, family, all that. At a certain point, though, it's just kinda... I don't know, pathetic might be too strong. It's just this sad helplessness or something. I'm really happy and proud that my partner is now in therapy. From what I can interpret, it was a hard upbringing.

    When I go back to visit now, I don't drink alcohol or engage too much. Just tell me to move this thing or that, I'll help cook and clean, whatever I've got to do to make it through. No more pointless fights for me.

    1 vote

  8. Comment on Residents in southern Illinois county to vote on non-binding referendum to separate state from Cook County in ~misc

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    We lived in Ukrainian Village, and the shooting happened in Wicker Park. The garage thing just seemed like, "yeah, that happens." The shooting... eh. I agree that the Mag Mile always felt pretty...

    We lived in Ukrainian Village, and the shooting happened in Wicker Park. The garage thing just seemed like, "yeah, that happens." The shooting... eh. I agree that the Mag Mile always felt pretty safe. I worked on Michigan Ave for a large portion on my time in Chicago. And yeah, crime happens everywhere. But where I currently live, which is a small vacation town, I never worry about crime anywhere I go.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Residents in southern Illinois county to vote on non-binding referendum to separate state from Cook County in ~misc

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    Just to weigh in on this with my own personal experience, having lived in Chicago proper for 10 years, it really felt like it was not if you'd be a victim of a crime, but when. I'm very liberal,...

    Just to weigh in on this with my own personal experience, having lived in Chicago proper for 10 years, it really felt like it was not if you'd be a victim of a crime, but when. I'm very liberal, but I also knew many people who had experienced a crime. Personally, we had our garage robbed. Thankfully, we never kept anything valuable in the garage, but our upstairs neighbors had a bunch of A/V stuff stolen. Worse than that, my partner had someone pull up to them in the late afternoon while they were walking home from work in a nice neighborhood, pull out a gun, and shoot at them. When we went to the police, they acted like we were wasting their time. They did send a detective out to talk to us, but that was it. I guess that's about all they could do. The person was later caught because they had actually done this many times, and they happened to do it once to an off-duty cop. That was the turning point for us, I think, that eventually lead to us leaving.

    I really did enjoy my time in Chicago, but I've got no desire to move back. When we do go back to visit family, it feels like things are sliding downward. It sucks seeing tent-cities of homeless in places they were never camping before. I'm not trying to argue with statistics, but I have intimate personal experiences with Chicago, lots of friends and family there with crime stories as well, and I just don't want to deal with that stuff anymore in my life.

    7 votes

  10. Comment on FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches in ~tech

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    I think the userbase of topre is small and making custom keycaps is expensive. The OEM keycaps are very nice on the HHKB, but variety is nice to have as well. HHKB recently released a "sakura"...

    I think the userbase of topre is small and making custom keycaps is expensive. The OEM keycaps are very nice on the HHKB, but variety is nice to have as well. HHKB recently released a "sakura" pink OEM keycap set. Supposedly they are going to release more keycaps this year inspired by the seasons. There have been sets on KBDFans in the past, as well. The demand is there, but since that demand is small in the grand scheme of things, I'm sure it's tough to justify the cost of production for unique/custom keycaps.

    1 vote

  11. FKCaps launches URSA keycaps for topre switches

    ~tech Text 353 words
    I'm not sure if anyone else here is into topre switch keyboards, but keycaps for topre are notoriously hard to find. Topre is niche within a niche, so options are limited. But for the last year or...

    I'm not sure if anyone else here is into topre switch keyboards, but keycaps for topre are notoriously hard to find. Topre is niche within a niche, so options are limited. But for the last year or so, FKCaps in collaboration with 23_Andreas have been working to launch keycaps in a new profile specifically designed for topre called URSA, compatible with HHKB, Leopold, and Realforce boards. They have now opened for pre-order, scheduled to be delivered in January 2025.

    I don't normally go for pre-orders or group buys, but I couldn't say no to this. The URSA profile and the caps themselves look great, and while I do enjoy the OEM keycaps on my HHKB, I also like having other options and trying new things. I've got a black HHKB Pro Hybrid Type-S, and I went with the black caps with legends. The mock-up image looks beautiful. I'm excited.

    If you're unfamiliar with the HHKB, or Happy Hacking Keyboard, it's a Unix-style board that has been around for 25 years, designed by a Japanese computer scientist because he wanted a more versatile board for programming and working in the command line on multiple operating systems. What makes the layout special, and why I enjoy it, is because the caps lock key has been replaced by a control key, and delete/backspace has been moved down a row for easier reach and to allow the tilde/backtick key to live on the top right. It's designed so you can easily reach everything from the homerow, and keys like the arrows, home, end, page up, page down are on a secondary layer accessed by the function key. Further, you can change board functionality through DIP switches on the bottom of the board. It's just so fun and pleasant to type on. Build quality is superb and these boards are known to stand the test of time.

    So if there are any other topre enthusiasts around here, I urge you to check URSA out. You can read more about the keycaps here.

    Your Happy Hacking Keyboard deserves some fresh caps (Verge)

    22 votes

  12. Comment on What's something you've been mulling over recently? in ~talk

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    I do hope my animosity lightens, but I'm older than you and my growing discontent isn't just with work. Truthfully, my current job is such a mess, I could probably just coast and bullshit and...

    I do hope my animosity lightens, but I'm older than you and my growing discontent isn't just with work. Truthfully, my current job is such a mess, I could probably just coast and bullshit and delay and get away with it. I'm one of two out of seven that actually has a firm grasp of our entire codebase; the others just refuse to learn it because it's such a mess and everybody has plans to leave.

    I'm not too concerned about lying about technologies and tooling. It all comes easy to me. The more you learn, the more everything just seems the same with a slightly different spin. Besides, in your story, the liar got the job. Maybe she didn't end up keeping that one, but I doubt she's starving on the street right now. Anyone who can bullshit themselves into a job in a niche industry has talent. Most likely she lied her way into another job and is probably doing fine. She sounds like management material.

  13. Comment on What's something you've been mulling over recently? in ~talk

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    Thanks for the comment and for the encouragement. I've already altered my resume, adding a few things to it that I straight up have no real experience with but know I could learn quick-ish and am...

    Thanks for the comment and for the encouragement. I've already altered my resume, adding a few things to it that I straight up have no real experience with but know I could learn quick-ish and am going to make an effort to start studying. I'm just so fed up with my current toxic work environment and with our culture as whole that rewards liars and cheats. Some of these things I've added are integral to where I want to go. So my current plan is to learn them well enough to bullshit, and then just say I implemented some things at my current job that I didn't actually do. I'm a pretty great bullshitter, and unless you're my mother or my partner, you probably won't see through it. I'm doing myself a disservice by not leveraging this innate skill I've been blessed with. When it comes to capitalism, the axiom "don't hate the player, hate the game" is just how it has to be.

  14. Comment on Denim heads - What raw denim are you currently wearing? What would you recommend? in ~life.style

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    I got a pair of Naked & Famous Weird Guys in Blue Grass selvedge in mid November on sale for around $90 from Tate & Yoko. I’ve worn them every day since and they just got their first wash last...

    I got a pair of Naked & Famous Weird Guys in Blue Grass selvedge in mid November on sale for around $90 from Tate & Yoko. I’ve worn them every day since and they just got their first wash last weekend. They’ve been great. I normally wear 34 and after measuring my Levi’s Made & Crafted Japanese selvedge 511s, I went with 33 in N&F. Weird Guy is pretty close to 511s, though I’d say a little boxier, a little less slim. I think the jeans are 14oz, but they feel heavier, stiff. Weird Guys would be great for you as a tall and lanky person, especially because they come with like a 35 length. Just measure some jeans that fit you well and compare with their specific measurement guides on the jeans you want. They’re different for each style and denim. Measure again, think about it, measure again. N&F through Tate & Yoko only gives store credit for returns.

    I really want to go Iron Heart for my next pair, but it’s hard to pay that price for jeans. I’ll probably do it anyway because I just don’t care. But I’ll be rocking my Weird Guys for quite a while yet. I’m really happy with them. My 511s still have a ton of life, too, and I may switch to them in the summer. I’d recommend N&F over Levi’s, though. Hope all this helps!

    2 votes

  15. Comment on Donald Trump’s lawyers told the court that no one would give him a bond. Then he got a lifeline, but they didn’t tell the judges. in ~misc

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    There's a difference between having a mortgage or a car loan and being $175M in debt to someone who paid your bond for a $464M judgment against you. Sorry, but the person who is that indebted is...

    It’d be a bit weird if the constitution specifically prohibited people with debt from being president.

    There's a difference between having a mortgage or a car loan and being $175M in debt to someone who paid your bond for a $464M judgment against you. Sorry, but the person who is that indebted is either 1) easily compromised, or 2) going to lash out in some way to protect themselves. If Trump is allowed to run for President being in such a position, the downfall is here. The system is a lie. It's no longer respectable. And you just have to live accordingly.

    20 votes

  16. Comment on Donald Trump’s lawyers told the court that no one would give him a bond. Then he got a lifeline, but they didn’t tell the judges. in ~misc

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    I'm not talking about things that would get me imprisoned, like stealing from a wealthy person. I'm talking everyday. I mean our cultural norms. I posted some thoughts in a different thread about...

    I'm not talking about things that would get me imprisoned, like stealing from a wealthy person. I'm talking everyday. I mean our cultural norms. I posted some thoughts in a different thread about letting the liar out of me to get a better job. When I see stuff like this, it just reinforces to me that I should do it because it seems like the only people who get ahead are the people that take advantage of the system. Trump has no repercussions. And he does big shit. I'm not looking to do big shit. I just want a comfortable life.

    9 votes

  17. Comment on Donald Trump’s lawyers told the court that no one would give him a bond. Then he got a lifeline, but they didn’t tell the judges. in ~misc

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    So someone who is $175M in debt for a bond, plus the full judgment that he's on the hook for, can run for President of the United States. Doesn't that scream conflict of interest? I'm starting to...

    “I saw that they were rejected by everyone and I said, ‘Gee, that doesn’t seem like a difficult bond to post,’” Hankey said.

    As negotiations between Hankey and Trump’s representatives were underway, the appellate court ruled in Trump’s favor, lowering the bond to $175 million. The court did not give an explanation for its ruling.

    Hankey ended up giving Trump a bond for the lowered amount.

    So someone who is $175M in debt for a bond, plus the full judgment that he's on the hook for, can run for President of the United States. Doesn't that scream conflict of interest? I'm starting to think nothing matters anymore. Why should I play by the rules?

    25 votes

  18. Comment on EV bargains to be found as Hertz sells off some of its US electric cars in ~transport

  19. Comment on What's something you've been mulling over recently? in ~talk

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    I'm thinking about becoming a liar. I'm very good at it, but I've mostly repressed it out of some sense of morality that grows weaker every day. Our culture rewards dishonesty. The people at the...

    I'm thinking about becoming a liar. I'm very good at it, but I've mostly repressed it out of some sense of morality that grows weaker every day. Our culture rewards dishonesty. The people at the top of our society are liars. Now, while I don't expect to make it to the top, I would like a better life than my general honesty has gotten me.

    Specifically, I know my skills and work ethic should get me a high-paying job. I'm smart and talented and have a keen ability to learn quick. But my reluctance to lie on my resume feels like it's holding me back. Job listings are so inflated, and resume-scanning tools are looking for buzz words that I don't have but could learn in an afternoon, that it's like... why not just lie? I'm a quick researcher and an expert bullshitter. I'm charismatic. I think by not lying, I'm just hurting myself.

    I recently heard from a friend that he has a coworker with more remote jobs than you would think is reasonable even for an "overemployed" person. And this guy is making upwards of a million a year, doing as little as he can get away with at these jobs. He's not worried because he's constantly looking for new jobs. If he loses a job, he still has multiple to fall back on, and probably recently had an interview for a new one anyway. While this isn't the life I want, when I think about the story, it just makes me feel like such a sucker.

    I want to transition from development to devops. I'd much rather work with orchestration and tooling and helping a development team succeed. My current role is full-stack web development, though my responsibilities have quickly become more "senior" in scope. So why don't I just lie? Why don't I just put a bunch of stuff as responsibilities for this role that would look good for devops? My company is a shitshow, with bad tooling, terrible CI/CD, backwards thinking.

    But I don't need to say any of that. I could say it's great and that I turned things around and implemented a bunch of stuff I didn't do. Who really cares? None of this actually matters. I can watch some videos to fill gaps in my knowledge and bullshit away. It just seems like I'm doing myself a great disservice by not taking advantage of my ability tell tales. It's starting to feel self-sabotaging or abusive, even. Why not me?

    7 votes

  20. Comment on The rise and fall of the trad wife: Alena Kate Pettitt helped lead an online movement promoting domesticity. Now she says, “It’s become its own monster.” in ~life.women

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    I'd love to live in a world where one spouse could stay home and take care of that part of life. As it is now, both me and my partner have to work, and while it seems like we're making decent...

    I'd love to live in a world where one spouse could stay home and take care of that part of life. As it is now, both me and my partner have to work, and while it seems like we're making decent money in some kind of historical or cross-referenced with the median income sense, it doesn't really feel like we're doing much but keeping our heads above water. Houses are too expensive. I can't even imagine what it's like to have kids in this paradigm. Who are these people that can afford to have some "trad wife" at home and find themselves as a story in the New Yorker? Oh, right...

    19 votes