thereticent's recent activity

  1. Any other tenure-track faculty on Tildes?

    ~talk Ask (advice)
    I've got a "holy grail" TT faculty position at an R1 university, but I'm seriously considering leaving academia. It's a fit issue, and I've had a major mental health development that has...

    I've got a "holy grail" TT faculty position at an R1 university, but I'm seriously considering leaving academia. It's a fit issue, and I've had a major mental health development that has definitely changed the equation for me. I would welcome non-academic or non-TT or non-faculty input as well. It would be an immense life change for me and my family, so I'd like to look at it from all sides, and I think Tildes would be a great place to do that.

    Please let me know if you're interested in a discussion or just give freeform advice. I'll update this post with specific questions if this gets any traction.

    My thanks!

    25 votes

  2. Help with Amazon Glacier (original) data retrieval

    ~tech Ask (advice)
    Hi folks. I'm in way over my head with an AWS problem. Mainly because I don't understand how to use AWS at all, but in 2013 I used a tool called FastGlacier to backup my data (including baby...

    Hi folks. I'm in way over my head with an AWS problem. Mainly because I don't understand how to use AWS at all, but in 2013 I used a tool called FastGlacier to backup my data (including baby picture and videos) to Amazon Glacier. I also had them on a local drive and a HDD I gave to a friend. Alas, my drive failed a few years ago, and he lost the other in a move.

    Anyway, I'm not a coder, and AWS baffles me. I'd like to retrieve these data but don't know where to start. Would anybody well versed in AWS be willing to walk me through the process? The AWS guidance is over my head.

    Many thanks in advance.

    6 votes

  3. Comment on Choosing a printer in ~tech

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    For sure. Used was really the only option for us, too. It seems like a great bet looking back. I think I've spent less than $500 on printers, toner, repair kits, and paper during my 20+ years of...

    For sure. Used was really the only option for us, too. It seems like a great bet looking back. I think I've spent less than $500 on printers, toner, repair kits, and paper during my 20+ years of adult life.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on Choosing a printer in ~tech

    thereticent
    Link
    So, obviously the consensus is Brother. I'm still going to give my HP story. Our first printer in my dad's home was an HP LaserJet 4L. Made me fall in love with laser printers. It was pretty slow,...

    So, obviously the consensus is Brother. I'm still going to give my HP story.

    Our first printer in my dad's home was an HP LaserJet 4L. Made me fall in love with laser printers. It was pretty slow, but in the mid-90s it was good enough for a self-employed lawyer.

    When I went to college in the early oughts, I inherited an HP LaserJet 5L (or at least I think L) from a company I worked for. I had to buy a little kit to replace the paper rollers, and it was cheap and simple. Then an aftermarket toner cartridge, also cheap enough, and it lasted 10 years of dual home graduate school usage (500-1500 pages a year).

    Moved into a new home in 2015 and bought a used HP LaserJet 6L. Did the same thing with replacing the rollers and toner, and we're still using the same stuff (this time 500-1500 pages a year as faculty). It's not fancy at all. No color. On the 6L you have to enable duplex and manually flip the stack of printed pages to get double-sided printing. But I love a workaround solution, and it certainly felt like one and saved a lot of money over the decades.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on Any obscure songs you'd like to share? in ~music

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    One of my favorite songs to drive around to!

    One of my favorite songs to drive around to!

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Any obscure songs you'd like to share? in ~music

    thereticent
    Link
    I don't have a lot to say about it, but I love it. A 1968 song by psychedelic rock band Ivory: Ivory - Losin' Hold

    I don't have a lot to say about it, but I love it. A 1968 song by psychedelic rock band Ivory:
    Ivory - Losin' Hold

    1 vote

  7. Comment on As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google’s AI Overviews in ~tech

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I've seen a lot of dissatisfaction with that change. For myself, I'd prefer to see my own subreddits and curated front page, so I log in every time anyway.

    I've seen a lot of dissatisfaction with that change. For myself, I'd prefer to see my own subreddits and curated front page, so I log in every time anyway.

    10 votes

  8. Comment on Is there a way to filter out everything posted by a user? in ~tildes

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I'd be sad if you quit, but I do understand the need to take care of yourself. <3

    I'd be sad if you quit, but I do understand the need to take care of yourself. <3

    13 votes

  9. Comment on I don't really like the "Human-made" badging trend in ~tech

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    Thank you! I live in the Bluegrass and have never once watered my lawn. It had never occurred to me that Californian overrepresentation could have something to do with the aversion to grass.

    Thank you! I live in the Bluegrass and have never once watered my lawn. It had never occurred to me that Californian overrepresentation could have something to do with the aversion to grass.

    6 votes

  10. Comment on What are your favourite fragrances, and why? in ~talk

    thereticent
    Link
    I have a Classic Match of Nautica Competition that I've always liked and has gotten me many compliments. Juniper berries and bergamot, then nutmeg and rosemary. It's very funny to me because I...

    I have a Classic Match of Nautica Competition that I've always liked and has gotten me many compliments. Juniper berries and bergamot, then nutmeg and rosemary. It's very funny to me because I already had a penchant for gin, Earl Grey, and egg nog, and I just never put it all together until recently.

    1 vote

  11. Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (July 2026) — Version 1.7 detects expired login sessions in ~tildes

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    If I'm understanding you right, I think my settings work how you describe. At the top of the home screen, in the sorting drop-down, I have selected Activity > All time. That bumps even very old...

    If I'm understanding you right, I think my settings work how you describe. At the top of the home screen, in the sorting drop-down, I have selected Activity > All time. That bumps even very old topics with new comments and updates to the top of my list. (On Android)

    5 votes

  12. Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (July 2026) — Version 1.7 detects expired login sessions in ~tildes

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I have it in Settings > Appearance > Theme. Android btw

    I have it in Settings > Appearance > Theme.

    Android btw

    4 votes

  13. Comment on Mojang has updated the system requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition, raising recommended system memory from 4GB to 16GB in ~games

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    That's very kind of you, but they can use mine. If I somehow start building we'll just all share one. :)

    That's very kind of you, but they can use mine. If I somehow start building we'll just all share one. :)

    2 votes

  14. Comment on Mojang has updated the system requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition, raising recommended system memory from 4GB to 16GB in ~games

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I think I'll pitch that to them. We only have one PC that runs Java, but no reason they couldn't take turns. Thanks for the idea! I may need a walkthrough on how to connect them, if they agree.

    I think I'll pitch that to them. We only have one PC that runs Java, but no reason they couldn't take turns. Thanks for the idea! I may need a walkthrough on how to connect them, if they agree.

    3 votes

  15. Comment on Mojang has updated the system requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition, raising recommended system memory from 4GB to 16GB in ~games

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I don't play, but my sons are very opinionated about Minecraft goings-on. They think the new shaders have ruined the texture colorations (one son is hugely into pixel art using a top-down view)....

    I don't play, but my sons are very opinionated about Minecraft goings-on. They think the new shaders have ruined the texture colorations (one son is hugely into pixel art using a top-down view). They both agree that it has stopped looking "retro enough" and will soon look like Quake III Arena. I will say as a longtime, intermittent observer that it does look very different to me than it did 10 years ago. No value judgment from me.

    16 votes

  16. Comment on YouTube Premium to come with Peacock, NBCSports to stream events on YouTube in ~tv

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    I canceled YT TV two weeks ago and have missed Jeopardy badly. I'm pumped about this addition to YT Premium, which I already have. I hope the price doesn't jump too much, though.

    I canceled YT TV two weeks ago and have missed Jeopardy badly. I'm pumped about this addition to YT Premium, which I already have. I hope the price doesn't jump too much, though.

  17. Comment on Pretty sure I’ve been drinking mold for the past month (or longer) in ~talk

    thereticent
    Link
    Ew. I don't know if it's necessary, but I would bleach it. The pitcher and the lid.

    Ew.

    I don't know if it's necessary, but I would bleach it. The pitcher and the lid.

    3 votes

  18. Comment on What pre-NES games do you still recommend today? in ~games

    thereticent
    Link
    My favorite was Megamania (1982) for Atari 2600. Basically a Space Invaders-like but with more fun. The pilot of the playable ship is obsessed with food. The enemies range from hamburgers to...

    My favorite was Megamania (1982) for Atari 2600. Basically a Space Invaders-like but with more fun. The pilot of the playable ship is obsessed with food. The enemies range from hamburgers to bowties, etc. Enemies move and look better than Invaders imo. You can earn extra ships. Still racing a clock to clear each wave. There's also a setting to use either straight-flying missiles or guided missiles (using your controller to guide, not homing missiles). Plus it's just a lot of nostalgia for me. I dug it out of my dad's stuff when I was about 6, hooked it up, and played it way too much.

    3 votes

  19. Comment on What’s a must-buy item you get when traveling internationally? in ~travel

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    !!! Please don't eat Bar Keeper's Friend.

    !!!

    Please don't eat Bar Keeper's Friend.

    15 votes

  20. Comment on What self-help / personal development books did you find valuable? in ~books

    thereticent
    Link Parent
    Oh wow, that is a very difficult question. I think even Martin agrees that Alice is mostly right. And I would say that's true. At the same time, it changed my opinion of the "voice" behind the...

    Oh wow, that is a very difficult question. I think even Martin agrees that Alice is mostly right. And I would say that's true. At the same time, it changed my opinion of the "voice" behind the original. As with most books written by experts, there is a lot of definitive speak. The second book highlighted for me that even if a person is brilliant and worth listening to, that does not mean they actually solved their own problem. If that makes sense.

    4 votes