spinoza-the-jedi's recent activity
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentDo you mind if I ask whether you recall what the brand was? It looks like most pellet boilers come from Europe (Austria, I believe), so I can't help but wonder if it's the same one they install...Do you mind if I ask whether you recall what the brand was? It looks like most pellet boilers come from Europe (Austria, I believe), so I can't help but wonder if it's the same one they install here. I'm glad to at least hear they provide a nice amount of comfortable heat. It's interesting, though. Over here they want to install an external storage container that can hold around five tons. Then there are trucks that can deliver the pellets. They have a long hose they use to pump the pellets into the storage container upon delivery. They seem functionally identical to the oil trucks that deliver heating oil around my area. Now I wonder if this is unique to North America, or even just my region.
Still, your con regarding the math worries me, too. They claim pellets are cheaper. While that's true, they're not that much cheaper, and they still suffer from occasional price fluctuations.
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentI said this in another comment, but we already have some heat pumps. They're in two "main" rooms of the house. It can mostly heat or cool most of the house relatively well. In fairness, I could...I said this in another comment, but we already have some heat pumps. They're in two "main" rooms of the house. It can mostly heat or cool most of the house relatively well. In fairness, I could add additional heads/registers to address that. However, there are times when it easily falls into single digits or less for extended periods. I don't think their alleged inefficiency at those levels is entirely warranted, but I'm still not sure they did all that well keeping up in below zero cold. Of course, to be fair, the oil boiler has to run quite a bit in that kind of cold, too.
I also considered propane. But I was shocked at the additional cost to move the house from oil to propane. On top of that, while it's cleaner, propane's price shot up while I wasn't paying attention these past few years. I think the sales pitch, here, is that burning pellets is carbon neutral and cheaper while propane is cleaner but not quite that good. Whether that's true or not, I couldn't say. After all, I remember the sales pitch for propane being eerily similar 6-10 years ago
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Comment on Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers? in ~life.home_improvement
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentYou may be guessing correctly. To be honest, I'm really looking at them as one system among many. We have baseboard heating throughout the house that I honestly like and it feels like a bit of a...You may be guessing correctly. To be honest, I'm really looking at them as one system among many. We have baseboard heating throughout the house that I honestly like and it feels like a bit of a shame to leave it all unused. Or worse, go through the effort of getting rid of them. As far as I understand, converting baseboard heating to a heat pump system is not as simple as you might initially think - or at least I initially thought that. But I suspect our situation is a bit different from yours. Our house is a "new" build from the late 1970s.
In the end, the original goal was to have 2-3 sources of heat to help deal with fuel costs, fight back those occasional weeks of extreme cold, and have a way to stay warm if the power goes out for a long period (I can roll out a backup generator, but the less power we can use in that time, the better). So, we already have heat pumps. They work mostly okay, but that might be because of how the registers are placed. I could certainly add a couple more to address that, and perhaps I should. Then another source was going to be an efficient wood stove or two (cord wood, not pellet) in the main areas of the house.
Since I originally figured I'd stick with a fossil fuel boiler (and I still may), I thought it would really just be there on those truly cold days or if one of the other heat sources failed for one reason or another. I just didn't know pellet boilers existed. Maybe I just need to give up on our old baseboards.
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Question for those in colder climates: Pellet HVAC/boilers?
Hi, everyone. I'm on the hunt for opinions. I live in a colder climate in North America with no access to natural gas. Most heat their homes with propane or oil. Mine uses a very old 30+ year old...
Hi, everyone. I'm on the hunt for opinions. I live in a colder climate in North America with no access to natural gas. Most heat their homes with propane or oil. Mine uses a very old 30+ year old oil boiler. I've started to see more pellet boilers, but I'm a bit uncertain about them at the moment. I don't like burning fossil fuels to heat my home, but electric isn't really an option out here and it's hard to argue with the "tried and true" cast iron boiler with the BTU per gallon oil offers. On the other hand, my local government is practically throwing money and/or attractive financing at people to switch.
I'm curious if anyone out there has made the switch to some kind of pellet-fed heating system from a fossil fuel system. If so, I'd love to hear what you think of them, be it good or bad.
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Comment on Thinking about quitting the Internet in ~tech
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentYou know, I just happened to be looking for my next book and this looks like a pretty good read. I'm going to pick it up at my local bookstore later this week. Thank you for the recommendation!You know, I just happened to be looking for my next book and this looks like a pretty good read. I'm going to pick it up at my local bookstore later this week. Thank you for the recommendation!
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Comment on Thinking about quitting the Internet in ~tech
spinoza-the-jedi LinkTo answer your question directly: yes, I've thought about "quitting the internet". I've worked in tech for about 10 years now, so I can also relate somewhat. But as @douchebag said, that's likely...To answer your question directly: yes, I've thought about "quitting the internet". I've worked in tech for about 10 years now, so I can also relate somewhat. But as @douchebag said, that's likely impossible in modern life at this point. There was once a great deal of hope and idealism about the net. It was supposed to be a way for people all over the world to communicate, to encourage new ways of sharing information, etc. Social media was supposed to be an extension of all this. In hindsight, perhaps it's not surprising that corporations and "big money" came in to ruin all of that.
I've found ways to be happier again, though. My answer is to reduce and scale back, focus on privacy more than convenience where reasonable, and consciously remove technology (especially network-connected) from certain aspects of my life. I don't think you can quit the internet, even though I'd like to. But I got rid of all social media, aside from Hacker News and Tildes, and I only access them from a computer. I use an RSS reader for news, though I've experimented with Ground News a bit (most think you have to install a mobile app, but that's not true). I removed extraneous and what I'd consider unnecessary tech from my life - I don't have a smart watch, I don't have a fancy smart phone, I avoid smart home devices, etc.
I know there's always articles claiming the end of remote work is near, but I've been working remotely without issue since 2020. Maybe I miss out on some amazing career opportunities on the west coast, but I don't care because I moved to a small rural town where it's quiet and where it's easier to "touch grass". Hell, I even call people and businesses now, rather than engage with some third-party app or their website.
I could go on. I have a lot of passionate opinions about this topic and some adjacent ones (such as privacy). But suffice it to say, I don't think human beings were meant to live significant portions of their lives in what is now the internet and I think the old dream of "the net" started dying in the early 2010s. It can either be a tool or an addictive life consumer and I chose the former.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
spinoza-the-jedi LinkI stumbled across Enshrouded yesterday. I was a bit skeptical at first. I’ve grown a bit tired of of most survival games, but what I saw sort of reminded me of Valheim. Despite my feelings about...I stumbled across Enshrouded yesterday. I was a bit skeptical at first. I’ve grown a bit tired of of most survival games, but what I saw sort of reminded me of Valheim. Despite my feelings about survival games, Valheim is still one I return to at times. It feels more like an adventure game in a way.
Anyway, I’m already kind of impressed with Enshrouded. It seems well-polished, it’s very affordable, and I’m kind of surprised it’s early access. It’s a very large hand-made world that you can traverse with hook shots and gliders. I think it’s Breath of the Wild (sort of) meets Valheim. It’s a shame since I suspect it will be overshadowed a bit by PalWorld.
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Comment on ‘No cash accepted’ signs are bad news for millions of unbanked Americans in ~finance
spinoza-the-jedi LinkI’ve heard a lot of complaining from businesses about the cost of handling cash. At this risk of sounding like an asshole, I’m going to be honest. I don’t care. I absolutely could not care less....I’ve heard a lot of complaining from businesses about the cost of handling cash. At this risk of sounding like an asshole, I’m going to be honest. I don’t care. I absolutely could not care less. The needs and privacy of the average working class person and the average person in poverty are regularly sacrificed for business needs and goals. So maybe sometimes, I just don’t care. Maybe sometimes, our needs come first.
I’m not unbanked and I do often use a credit card. But this change only makes things harder on the poor. And just as importantly, I don’t trust the motives behind phasing out cash. If we had a digital form of currency (no, not crypto) that could preserve my privacy or a more advanced form of physical currency, then I might be interested.
I’m not anti-change. I’m not an anti-tech Luddite. But I don’t trust the motives behind most “new tech” anymore, especially when it’s so obvious how easily it can be used to invade our privacy. The government (and who knows who else) doesn’t need to how I spend every single cent. If it were up to me, cash would stay and businesses would be forced to accept any and all legal tender.
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Comment on What’s something you want to tell someone, but can’t? in ~talk
spinoza-the-jedi LinkMine is a very small thing compared to many here. I’ve wronged people in my past and I’ve done stupid or dumb things that have hurt people. I had the chance to apologize for those, and then...Mine is a very small thing compared to many here. I’ve wronged people in my past and I’ve done stupid or dumb things that have hurt people. I had the chance to apologize for those, and then reflect on them later. But there’s one small thing I did to someone with callous disregard, and I wish I had the chance to apologize to her directly.
For a time, I got serious about dating, including online dating. I met one young woman who was 2 years younger than me and still in college. She was a kind and attractive woman, but for various reasons I found I wasn’t interested. It was the first time in my life this kind of thing had happened where I could tell the chemistry wasn’t there for me, even though it “should” have been.
Anyway, she seemed very keen on seeing me again after our first date. I wasn’t sure how to let her down and mulled it over. Go figure, I got a bit busy and “mulled it over” for too long, and so I just…chickened out. I wish I could apologize to her. I have no excuses. It was a small thing, but I hate people who ghost (unless it’s to escape abuse, etc.). It’s a coward’s way out and I was a coward.
Most likely she doesn’t even remember me or what I did. I hope that’s true - I hope my actions were just a minor blip in her life.
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Comment on Astrobotic Technology says its Moon landing attempt is in jeopardy because of an engine problem in ~space
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentI’m inclined to agree. I’m all for respecting local beliefs and preserving important sites as much as possible. But we’re talking about a celestial body, here. I feel for them. Native American...I’m inclined to agree. I’m all for respecting local beliefs and preserving important sites as much as possible. But we’re talking about a celestial body, here. I feel for them. Native American nations and tribes have been dealt a terrible hand time and again. The U.S. is not an innocent bystander, either.
But in this particular case, I struggle to care. Now if you want to talk about the massive waste of resources and money to send a rich person’s remains to the moon…then you might have my attention.
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Comment on A survey for those who don’t celebrate Christmas in ~life
spinoza-the-jedi LinkI guess it might depend on your definition of "celebrating Christmas". My wife and I do some mild decorating - it's kind of a cozy feel that we enjoy. But we don't really go anywhere and we don't...I guess it might depend on your definition of "celebrating Christmas". My wife and I do some mild decorating - it's kind of a cozy feel that we enjoy. But we don't really go anywhere and we don't buy one another gifts for Christmas. We tend to buy one another gifts whenever the mood strikes. My family is pretty big on Christmas, and it genuinely upset my mother for a few years when I first explained to her I just wasn't interested anymore. This is only exacerbated since my family became "born again" around 2006 and grew exceptionally religious.
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I think I was about 24 or 25. Around 2014/2015. However, I'd been growing frustrated with the holiday starting in 2012.
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I'm an agnostic atheist, so the religious aspects have no meaning to me. I actually like Christmas insofar as a few classical movies, extra cookies, the push to be kind to one another, and spending time with those you care about. But most of all, I can't stand the blatant propaganda to consume needlessly and buy nonsense gifts because you feel obligated to. This especially rubbed me the wrong way right out of college when I was completely broke. I don't like feeling forced to buy people things. I can say without a doubt that Christmas contributed significantly to the ruin my parents' financial stability over the course of the average year. I don't want gifts and I don't want to buy junk for people that gets thrown out a year later, I just want to spend time with folks or be left alone.
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None of my friends care. My mother literally wept over the phone during the first two years. But I think they've slowly grown to accept it. I even convinced my mother to dial down the gift-giving as they get older and should take greater care with their finances. I'm still a godless heathen in their eyes, though.
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Sleep in. Eat too much. Spend time with the wife. Sometimes we have brunch or dinner with friends where we all pitch in. Drink too much eggnog. It's a relatively low stress time, which is weird to this day for me. The holidays were always horribly stressful when I was growing up. Tons of travel, not enough money, too many gifts, etc.
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Comment on Flipboard begins to federate in ~tech
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentYep. I really like the Fediverse and the sort of philosophy behind it. However, I think this is what we need for widespread adoption. I see some try to explain the Fediverse like email, which...Yep. I really like the Fediverse and the sort of philosophy behind it. However, I think this is what we need for widespread adoption. I see some try to explain the Fediverse like email, which works well enough. If enough pressure convinces these larger social media apps to support Activity Pub (the underlying protocol), then the competition between these apps starts to look a lot more like competition between email providers.
If you're a nerd, you can self-host. If you don't care, you can choose the app you prefer. If that app starts to go downhill or gets purchased by a megalomaniac, you can switch to another (you might be forced to set up your profile again, but at least you can find all the same content). But you know...many who are passionate about the Fediverse don't want to hear that.
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Comment on In general, which laptop maker (OEM) provides the best compatibility for Linux desktops in terms of driver support and things like wifi, bluetooth, power efficiency, etc? in ~tech
spinoza-the-jedi LinkOthers have already said it, but... If money is not an issue, I'd recommend Framework or System76. Linux is basically a first-class citizen with both vendors. I think if I were in the market again...Others have already said it, but...
If money is not an issue, I'd recommend Framework or System76. Linux is basically a first-class citizen with both vendors. I think if I were in the market again for a laptop, it would be Framework. If I were in the market for a desktop I didn't want to build myself, it would be System76.
If money is an issue, I'd probably recommend Lenovo or something enterprise-grade. Linux support tends to be good there. In times where I was a bit broke, I'd peruse Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for used Thinkpads. More than once I ran across someone who had a few because their employer was getting rid of a bunch of hardware since it had reached end-of-life. Typically, they were only 3-5 years old and in good shape.
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Comment on What caused you to change your mind about something significant? in ~talk
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentI can relate to this. My parents were "born again" when I was around 15. I was always a tad skeptical, but generally embraced it. Then while in college, I took an interest in Philosophy. I did my...I can relate to this. My parents were "born again" when I was around 15. I was always a tad skeptical, but generally embraced it. Then while in college, I took an interest in Philosophy. I did my best to defend my faith to myself. I spent countless hours reading, researching, watching and listening to debates, etc. I still find it a bit interesting that Philosophy lead me to empiricism/science, but science had little-to-no effect on my faith initially.
Anyway, it was devastating at first. It completely wrecked my worldview and wiped out the things I'd come to rely on in my life. It also eventually killed a lot of friendships in my life and strained my relationship with my parents. Atheists, after all, aren't all that popular where I was at the time. It was a pivotal moment in my life. That was years ago - I'm in a much better place now. I hope you find some peace and happiness in your life to fill those gaps your faith once filled.
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Comment on What are some things you do "the old fashioned way," which might come with unexpected benefits over the modern, "improved" way of doing things? in ~talk
spinoza-the-jedi LinkIt looks like I'll be repeating what a lot of others have said. It seems every year I slowly slide back into "old fashioned" ways of doing things. Media I buy CDs, DVDs, and BluRay all the time....It looks like I'll be repeating what a lot of others have said. It seems every year I slowly slide back into "old fashioned" ways of doing things.
Media
I buy CDs, DVDs, and BluRay all the time. It's crazy how cheap a lot of them have become because most people don't bother. I would prefer to own my media for all the same reasons many others have mentioned. I've also come to appreciate the quality physical media can provide (the music you pull off a CD can be in a lossless format if you do it correctly, for instance). I think the one difference for me is that I also have a large media server (i.e. a desktop with some hard drives) that I store them on for easier access. Sometimes I still download my music, but I purchase it via something like Bandcamp so I know I actually own it.
I've also moved to buying my own books. I can't assume that my books in specific digital formats pumped full of DRM nonsense will always be available (just like movies bought from streaming services). I'll still do eBooks sometimes, but I only go for those in epub format these days. Otherwise, I try to support my local bookstore. I get to own my media and I get to support a local business. I spend enough time on tablets and phones as it is.
Minor Note: YouTube
If you're serious about owning your own media, I'd recommend everyone take a look at youtubeDL. It's an open source project that allows you to download YouTube videos. There's no guarantee the videos you enjoy will remain available forever.
Watches
I like to be able to tell what time it is. I grew used to wearing a watch over the years, and I like being able to set my phone down for a while but still know the time. I started getting into smart watches at one point, only to realize I was wasting hundreds of dollars every year or two on the "new model" that...really didn't do anything for me. I purchased a Casio G-Shock and never looked back. It's solar-powered, it's reliable, and it's (probably) long-lasting.
Notebooks, Paper, and My Everbook
People spend way too much time obsessing over productivity and note-taking applications. I'm not really sure how they get anything done. I've also had to transfer my notes from one proprietary program to another, and it's often a headache at best. I've found that just going back to the basics - being able to grab a pen and jot down my notes/thoughts on a whim is just plain easier than fiddling with an app of some kind. Then I stumbled across the "Everbook", which is really just a way to organize notes. Once I discovered that, I largely abandoned digital note-taking. Sure, I still do it for more technical notes or for notes I may need to share with others, but otherwise I stick to the tried-and-true pen and paper. The best part is, it's really hard to hack a physical notebook without my knowing.
Wired Headphones
Wireless headphones are extremely expensive and their batteries eventually die, forcing you to replace them. Years ago, I realized you can just buy a small bluetooth DAC that fits in your pocket. Then you just plugin your wired headphones. Now you can use whatever you want, connect to the device wirelessly, and only worry about a single device dying on you one day (that is, the DAC). I'm sure I may look strange to some walking around with old-school koss on-ear headphones, but they only cost me $15 and my music sounds better thanks to the DAC.
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Comment on How would you rewrite the ending of a show that had an unsatisfying finale, or imagine an ending to a show that was canceled prematurely? in ~tv
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentWow. I wasn’t a die-hard fan of the show, but I watched it and generally liked it. But even I hated the way it ended. But this…this is pretty good. This may have been enough to elevate the show to...Wow. I wasn’t a die-hard fan of the show, but I watched it and generally liked it. But even I hated the way it ended. But this…this is pretty good. This may have been enough to elevate the show to a new level of respect for me. Well done.
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Comment on Schoolkids in eight US states can now eat free school meals, advocates urge Congress for nationwide policy in ~food
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentI’m childfree - it’s just not for me. Despite that, I’m 100% in favor of this. This benefits me because they’re the future of our country. Also… they’re kids. If you need to tax me to put food in...I’m childfree - it’s just not for me. Despite that, I’m 100% in favor of this. This benefits me because they’re the future of our country. Also… they’re kids. If you need to tax me to put food in their bellies, to keep them from poverty, and to give them the best education possible, then do it. If there’s one thing I’m willing to be taxed more for, it’s our country’s children. I know the type of person you’re talking about, but it has never made sense to me in this context. I hate that I have to explain how it’s an investment in our country’s future instead of just pointing out the obvious moral obligation.
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Comment on Working from home: Perks and policies? in ~life
spinoza-the-jedi LinkI’m now working with my third WFH/remote company since 2020. The first was originally a traditional company that embraced WFH. They would reimburse you $50 for internet. No allowances and no...I’m now working with my third WFH/remote company since 2020. The first was originally a traditional company that embraced WFH. They would reimburse you $50 for internet. No allowances and no surveillance. It was pretty laid-back, but you were generally expected to be working 9-5(ish). I did have a cell phone as a backup for connectivity, which they did reimburse us for (this existed prior to WFH).
Second company was a “remote first” start-up in California. No internet or phone reimbursement, but they did provide a $1000 tech/office allowance for buying things you needed or wanted (headphones, office chair, etc.). No surveillance and pretty laid-back. You were expected to be available for their core hours 9-3. Other than that, we were expected to respond to outages on a schedule and meet sprint deadlines. I received a company-owned Mac, but was allowed to BYOD.
Interestingly, the Feds are going remote. I’m now working for a federal contractor in a large organization - “remote first”. Another $1000 tech/office allowance, but no internet/phone reimbursement. No surveillance. You’re generally expected to be available during core hours, but otherwise you’re just expected to meet deadlines and get the work done. There are some additional security concerns, but to my surprise they’re handling most of those quite well.
Having done this for a few years, I took the initiative to ensure I could use a hotspot for backup connectivity and got set up with a second ISP (dual WAN). I also implemented some cheap power backup plans (a collection of UPS, a small backup generator for the house, etc.). I moved to the middle of nowhere, so it seemed prudent.
Overall, it’s been a great experience. I’ve not yet been pressured about returning to an office. I can tell the job market has slowed down a bit. Some places are less friendly towards WFH. But at this point, even more pay wouldn’t get me back to an office (I’m sure there’s a number that would convince me, but I doubt anyone would offer that). I prefer my hermit IT lifestyle.
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Comment on When did you realize you were different? in ~talk
spinoza-the-jedi Link ParentThis right here. School was not difficult for me. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t get straight As, but I was a solid A/B student. I even took more advanced classes at times. I decided in high school...This right here. School was not difficult for me. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t get straight As, but I was a solid A/B student. I even took more advanced classes at times. I decided in high school that it was “good enough” and there was no need to put in a ton of effort. I spent time learning things I wanted to learn instead.
Anyway, I vividly remember getting to college and realizing it wasn’t going to be as easy. I had to learn how to study at 18/19 in my freshman year of college. Determination and hard work can take you far, and sometimes I think that’s more valuable than being “naturally intelligent”. I’m not really sure I truly learned that lesson until some time in the military gave me the cold slap of reality I needed.
That was my hope. Honestly, one of the selling points for me is that the fuel would be locally sourced (probably).