soks_n_sandals's recent activity
-
Comment on Peloton is recalling more than two million exercise bikes in the US. Here’s why in ~tech
-
Comment on Buying my first car and want some advice in ~talk
soks_n_sandals LinkPaper specs are pretty useful to determine the make and model you’d like to drive, but it kind of stops there. Here are some things I looked for when I evaluated several vehicles. I thought for a...Paper specs are pretty useful to determine the make and model you’d like to drive, but it kind of stops there. Here are some things I looked for when I evaluated several vehicles. I thought for a long time because I plan to keep my vehicle for at least 10 years.
- Do I like the display behind the steering wheel? I personally want to see tachometer and at least coolant temperature. Is it easy to read? Is it easy to adjust the screens? Is it easy to dim and brighten?
- Do I like the steering wheel button layout? I personally like volume and audio source on the left (since my right hand can adjust them anyway).
- Do the cruise control buttons make sense?
- Does my head hit the ceiling/does the seat go far enough back?
- Are the mirrors sufficient? How are the blind spots?
- How customizable are alerts and tones?
- How is the vehicle's stock display? Well programmed or outdated?
I think a lot of the above can be determined by just going sit in the car on the lot and by watching YouTube rundowns. I scratched off the 4Runner and Subarus because of some of the above.
Here are some other things to consider when you've nailed down a make and model.
- Do you want a sunroof?
- Do you want leather seats?
- Do you want an upgraded infotainment system or safety systems?
- Are you specific to color schemes and trim?
- Do you live someplace hilly/mountainous/snowy? That can help rule out AWD or something with a specific transmission.
- Do you want heated mirrors or auto-dimming rear view?
- Do you want auto-locking doors when you walk away?
The last few questions can impact what's actually an option for you. For instance, I couldn't get a Honda with heated cloth seats, but my sister has a Toyota Rav4 with heated cloth seats.
I found Honda to have really simple trims. Just three or four levels. Toyota had dealership-specific stuff like rock sliders already installed, or state-specific trims (like a Texas/Louisiana truck). I found Ford tended to lock upgrades together. I rules out Subaru before getting to a dealership.
When you go drive the car, see if you can visit a dealership near an interstate or highway to get up to speed on the test drive. I was asking myself:
- How quiet is the car?
- How does it handle?
- Does this specific vehicle accelerate and brake in a straight line?
- Does this specific vehicle pull left or right?
- If you can drive it late in the day (aka at night) how are the lights? Is the interior cabin lighting distracting?
So to sum it up, go sit in a few models if you can. Do a little research and read forums and NHTSA complaints about reliability if available. Drive the actual vehicle you want to buy to make sure it handles like you want!
Also happy to chat further or answer any questions!
-
Comment on Apple’s Weather chaos is restarting the weather app market in ~tech
soks_n_sandals (edited )LinkIf you are US-based [edit, this just said "based" before lol] and on the weather app hunt, I am going to plug getting forecasts straight from the National Weather Service. They don't have an app....If you are US-based [edit, this just said "based" before lol] and on the weather app hunt, I am going to plug getting forecasts straight from the National Weather Service. They don't have an app. But! Their mobile forecast page is lightweight and easy to read. See this example for the DC area. This is great when traveling or with spotty service.
In my personal use, I went to Safari and saved the page to my home screen as a progressive web app. Granted, this looks like a 2010 iPhone app, but it's a side-by-side icon with my other apps.
It's good for a quick glance, reading detailed forecast discussions, and getting really up-to-date radar. Based on the Forecast Advisor page in the Verge article, I entered a number of cities and the NWS products are basically 75% accurate all the time. Not the top, but very consistent across the country.
-
Comment on What are your favorite non-service apps? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkI have a couple: The NIOSH SLM is a handy little app for getting a ballpark value of how loud your environment is. The HouseCurve app has popped up on my radar for doing room correction and tuning...I have a couple:
The NIOSH SLM is a handy little app for getting a ballpark value of how loud your environment is.
The HouseCurve app has popped up on my radar for doing room correction and tuning for home audio systems
The SoundPrint app is useful for submitting a noise measurement of a restaurant or bar. I tend to do this if a place is way too loud for the size/space.I was also really considering this writing app iaWriter for writing Markdown. I opted for vsCode since I'm using it anyway for other things (and it runs on Linux), but I appreciate a good piece of software. Ultimately I think the iPad is just never going to be a productivity tool for me, but I did find the program pretty slick.
-
Comment on Dispelling common myths about bed bugs in ~science
soks_n_sandals LinkI had the misfortune of staying in a hotel with bedbugs for a few hours. I always check the bed and leave my bags in the bathroom (tub, if available), but alas. I took a short nap and woke up with...I had the misfortune of staying in a hotel with bedbugs for a few hours. I always check the bed and leave my bags in the bathroom (tub, if available), but alas. I took a short nap and woke up with one very small young bedbug on my shirt. Found another, smaller bug in the pillows and proceeded to freak out.
I maybe went overboard with the paranoia, but did manage to avoid bringing them home. However, this video would have saved me a lot of headache, like
- not baking my shoes in the oven (AND JUST STEAMING THEM - WITH A STEAMER I OWN)
- steaming my backpack
- steaming my other dress clothes instead of freezing/drying them
- tumbling a thermometer in my dryer wrapped in a sock to check my dryer temp
- not leaving my luggage outside for weeks
- Six weeks of general anxiety
-
Comment on Micro datacenters begin trials as commercial heating units in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentIndeed - I was just talking with someone who was evaluating a new 4-node server. They measured the power input at 250W x 4, so it is truly almost a 1.1kW space heater. The amount of heat to reject...Indeed - I was just talking with someone who was evaluating a new 4-node server. They measured the power input at 250W x 4, so it is truly almost a 1.1kW space heater. The amount of heat to reject is significant and only increasing.
-
Comment on Flight deal services? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals LinkWe used the paid version of Scott's Cheap Flights about 18 months ago when searching for flights from the mainland US to Europe. I think there was a really good deal that came up within the first...We used the paid version of Scott's Cheap Flights about 18 months ago when searching for flights from the mainland US to Europe. I think there was a really good deal that came up within the first couple of weeks for the TAP airline. This has generally been the case whenever we paid the $40 or so dollars for the year of flight emails. There are loads of deals, some more useful than others depending on where you live.
If your travel window includes a range of destinations and somewhat broad timeframe, I think Scott's Cheap Flights is worth it (having used it in the past). You stand to save a lot more than the current $50 for even a single good flight deal. And, it's honestly nice to not have to be monitoring airline sites/price alerts constantly.
-
Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
soks_n_sandals LinkI really want to train my cycling sprint this summer, so I'm finally back in the gym lifting weight again. I stopped drinking 10 weeks ago (woo!) and have had an unexpected transition back to a...I really want to train my cycling sprint this summer, so I'm finally back in the gym lifting weight again. I stopped drinking 10 weeks ago (woo!) and have had an unexpected transition back to a baseline I forgot was normal. Sleeping without melatonin, the energy to exercise, waking up earlier in the AM, etc. I think are all probably linked to not drinking.
I'm looking forward to the warmer weather, getting my biked tuned, and finally getting a power meter!
-
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
soks_n_sandals LinkI dedicated a lot of this week to the Tedeschi Trucks Band's I Am The Moon: I. Crescent. It's a beautiful body of work. I wrote a little review for my substack, but the gist is that it's a 5-track...I dedicated a lot of this week to the Tedeschi Trucks Band's I Am The Moon: I. Crescent. It's a beautiful body of work. I wrote a little review for my substack, but the gist is that it's a 5-track album that serves up a delightful mix of styles and content. The band is big, something like 12 people, and a lot of the record was tracked live in the studio. It seems close to the silent communication a live gig might have. Hearing Derek Trucks play guitar makes me want to be a better person (but not a better guitarist lol).
-
Comment on core-js: So, what's next? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentThat is another agreeable model. It's kind of like Bandcamp's model for artists. You can usually pay more if you really like a record, but there's a fixed price floor. I'd like to see more 14-day...That is another agreeable model. It's kind of like Bandcamp's model for artists. You can usually pay more if you really like a record, but there's a fixed price floor.
I'd like to see more 14-day trials, then a set minimum with the option to pay more. I think it helps a user fairly assess the value the software delivers to them. Plenty of open source apps should be paid software and the notion that useful tools should be free needs to go.
-
Comment on core-js: So, what's next? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentI am somewhat shocked by how few people feel like they should pay for software. I see a lot of paid apps in the MacOS world, which I think is good, especially for more complex projects. I also see...I am somewhat shocked by how few people feel like they should pay for software. I see a lot of paid apps in the MacOS world, which I think is good, especially for more complex projects. I also see a lot of split licensing where business pay and individuals can use an app for free.
Truth be told, I wish the open source software I would bug me for money more often. And, I hope this github text inspires a conversation of change in the relationship we have with open source devs. I hope this leads to normalizing paid open source software from the outset of a project and better respect for the people maintaining projects.
-
Comment on core-js: So, what's next? in ~tech
soks_n_sandals Link ParentPart of me wants to see zloirock break the web… I just feel so bad for him. People can be so cruel online and imagine the largest websites in the world going down because “we didn’t pay an...Part of me wants to see zloirock break the web… I just feel so bad for him. People can be so cruel online and imagine the largest websites in the world going down because “we didn’t pay an overworked dev anything when they kindly asked.”
-
Comment on Super Bowl LVII Thread in ~sports
soks_n_sandals Link ParentHow so? From one perspective, the call determined the outcome of the game. From another, not calling potentially determines a different outcome. The latter, perhaps being less favorable since a...It's a problem the NFL has created for itself in it's pursuit for higher scoring games.
How so?
From one perspective, the call determined the outcome of the game. From another, not calling potentially determines a different outcome. The latter, perhaps being less favorable since a penalty WAS committed, it's just inconvenient for the Eagles.
The overturned fumble was another hugely subjective call that favored the Eagles. I'd argue that call also determined the outcome of the game.
-
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
soks_n_sandals LinkBeen listening to a lot of newer funk and soul this week. Just got put on to Michael Kiwanuka and I have listened to his self-titled record 5 or 6 times this week. Also found the label Acid Jazz...Been listening to a lot of newer funk and soul this week. Just got put on to Michael Kiwanuka and I have listened to his self-titled record 5 or 6 times this week. Also found the label Acid Jazz UK and they are chock full of eclectic stuff. I will do a deep dive and recommend some stuff in the future.
In other listening news, I'm finally substackin and have been listening to Aaron Frazer's Live From Easy Eye Sound (link to detailed thoughts on substack), which is a 5-track EP of originals and covers. It's basically been in rotation every day for me the last couple weeks!
-
Comment on Grammys: Harry Styles wins Album Of The Year for ‘Harry’s House’ in ~music
soks_n_sandals Link ParentThe large 196 count is due to the appropriate and legal crediting for samples. Basically, even if no music was used, there may be a writing credit due to interpretation. Much of Styles's record is...The large 196 count is due to the appropriate and legal crediting for samples. Basically, even if no music was used, there may be a writing credit due to interpretation.
Much of Styles's record is similar personnel like Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson showing up on basically every track. John Mayer and Pino Palladino actually make appearances as well, which is somewhat surprising. But you can see most of Styles's extra credits are for engineers. The others are session musicians, which is totally expected. Compare that to Beyonce's numerous lyric and composition credits, likely for samples.
As It Was ALIEN SUPERSTAR Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer Mike Dean, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Synthesizer Harry Styles, Composer, Lyricist, Bells, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal S. Carter, Composer, Lyricist Tyler Johnson, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer, Drum Machine LeVar Coppin, Composer, Lyricist Kid Harpoon, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Drum Machine Honey Dijon, Producer, Programmer Joe Dougherty, Assistant Engineer Peter Rauhofer, Composer, Lyricist Luke Gibbs, Assistant Engineer Beyonce, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Vocal Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer Katie May, Assistant Engineer Colin Leonard, Mastering Engineer Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer Dave Hamelin, Composer, Lyricist Doug Showalter, Electric Guitar, Percussion Stuart White, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer Mitch Rowland, Drums Luke Solomon, Producer, Programmer Jeremy Hatcher, Programmer, Recording Engineer John Cranfield, Engineer Matt Wolach, Assistant Engineer Kim Cooper, Composer, Lyricist Josh Caulder, Assistant Engineer Chris Penny, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer Ruby Winston, Other Andréa Roberts, Engineer Adele Phillips, Assistant Engineer Richard Peter John Fairbrass, Composer, Lyricist Robert Francis Anthony Manzoli, Composer, Lyricist Blu June, Background Vocal Danielle Balbuena, Composer, Lyricist Luke Francis Matthew Solomon, Composer, Lyricist Leven Kali, Composer, Lyricist Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Executive Producer NOVAWAV, Producer Honey Redmond, Composer, Lyricist Brittany "@Chi_Coney" Coney, Composer, Lyricist David Debrandon Brown, Composer, Lyricist Mariel Gomerez, A&R Director Christopher Lawrence Penny, Composer, Lyricist Saliou Diagne, Composer, Lyricist Matheus Braz, Assistant Engineer Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Producer, Synthesizer Denisia "@Blu June" Andrews, Composer, Lyricist Chi Coney, Recording Engineer John Michael Holiday, Composer, Lyricist Atia Boggs p/k/a Ink, Composer, Lyricist -
Comment on Grammys: Harry Styles wins Album Of The Year for ‘Harry’s House’ in ~music
soks_n_sandals LinkAn interesting perspective from Vulture: How Harry's House Beat Beyoncé. Before reading the article, I was curious about production credits. There are, by my count, 42 unique credits on Harry's...An interesting perspective from Vulture: How Harry's House Beat Beyoncé.
Before reading the article, I was curious about production credits. There are, by my count, 42 unique credits on Harry's House and 196 on Renaissance. Whereas Renaissance is a powerful survey of dance music and a variety of cultures, Harry's House is a retreat to a familiar 80s sound (albeit elevated, as opposed to reimagined). The article addresses this, as well as the Academy's attitude toward sampling. It essentially says there is favor in the smaller production teams, perhaps at the expense of quality, in the eyes of voters.
The article addresses more historical points I was unaware of, but a crucial one stood out immediately to me in the personnel size of the albums.
-
Comment on Grammys: Harry Styles wins Album Of The Year for ‘Harry’s House’ in ~music
soks_n_sandals Link ParentI was curious about the nomination and voting process and this 2016 Vox article breaks it down. They're stating 20,000+ submissions per year to the Academy, as well as a few nomination...I was curious about the nomination and voting process and this 2016 Vox article breaks it down. They're stating 20,000+ submissions per year to the Academy, as well as a few nomination requirements to even send the record. There's not much information on how the albums are received by voters (of which there are 12k eligible). It's inferred in the article that popularity is a huge part of one's success, and it's unfortunate that an album's musical prowess can be lose out to name recognition.
-
Comment on Talladega: Nascar's most feared track in ~sports
soks_n_sandals LinkThough I don't watch Nascar now, it will always have a special place in my heart. I used to watch races with my dad. It was rare we'd miss the Dayton 500, Talladega, or the Brickyard 400. This was...Though I don't watch Nascar now, it will always have a special place in my heart. I used to watch races with my dad. It was rare we'd miss the Dayton 500, Talladega, or the Brickyard 400. This was a fun throwback to the nostalgia of those days. I think Talladega is one of the Nascar events I would attend just to see the show of it.
-
Comment on Using VS Code for writing in markdown in ~creative
soks_n_sandals Link ParentNice! I did a trial run of iA Writer, which features the focus highlighting capability and I really liked it.Nice! I did a trial run of iA Writer, which features the focus highlighting capability and I really liked it.
-
Comment on Using VS Code for writing in markdown in ~creative
soks_n_sandals LinkI have been writing markdown files in VS Code and found this guide very helpful. I also added the markdownlint extension, which highlights formatting exceptions. VS Code will let both markdown...I have been writing markdown files in VS Code and found this guide very helpful. I also added the markdownlint extension, which highlights formatting exceptions. VS Code will let both markdown formatting extensions run, but will ask you to pick a default (
ctrl+shift+P> "Format document with...").I really like the VS Code Zen Mode for side-by-side writing and preview. It gets rid of the distractions of a full word processor, but offers more formatting help than a basic text editor.
Shame that Peloton has such a good digital service and meidocre hardware. I wish they’d open up the platform so that ride data could be exported though.