tildesatwindmills's recent activity
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
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Comment on Used electric vehicles are a bargain right now in ~transport
tildesatwindmills Link ParentI think an interesting experiment would be to run a space heater (safely!) in the cabin on an extension cord and see if that made a difference in range...I think an interesting experiment would be to run a space heater (safely!) in the cabin on an extension cord and see if that made a difference in range...
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Comment on I'm going to Thailand next week. Looking for advice on clothing. in ~travel
tildesatwindmills LinkI have been living in Thailand for most of the last year and the comments by ali and loopdriver are spot on. I'll ad some following things, and forgive me if I ramble than more about clothes:...I have been living in Thailand for most of the last year and the comments by ali and loopdriver are spot on. I'll ad some following things, and forgive me if I ramble than more about clothes:
Sizes here in Thailand are very small. I wear an XLT in the US and wear a 4XL or 5XL here, when it even fits. Long sleeves are impossible, nothing is long enough. That's ok, because I haven't worn long sleeves or long pants in almost a year, it is simply never cold enough outside. Inside can be another matter, it can get COLD in some air conditioned environments, so the scarf Loopdriver mentioned can be nice. One should do as an emergency blanket for you both.
Thailand is, surprisingly to most westerners, a conservative country when it comes to clothing, PDAs and so on. Swimwear is only ok at the beach or pool, and having a coverup (especially for your bride-to-be) when leaving the pool is also a good idea.
Drugs (including cannabis), vapes (even tobacco), porn, sexual aids and anything else that is questionable are a no-no for bringing into Thailand. Some types of medications (opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, etc) are seriously restricted. Leave anything that you're worried about at home or buy it here, the danger is customs and immigration finding it.
Speaking anything against the monarchy or king is punishable by very long prison sentences. Just don't.
Negative reviews online are treated as a combination of defamation and cyber-crime, and punishable by large fines, deportation and sometimes jail time. Truth is not a defense to the defamation charge. Take your lumps and don't give in to the temptation to post a negative review. You will only see a negative review left by a foreigner AFTER they left Thailand and never plan to return. When you view places in Google Maps, know that you're only getting half the story.
Do not go to the southern provinces of Thailand (Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat). I'd avoid the border provinces with Cambodia too, just in case the fighting starts again.
When are you coming? We're just leaving the "dry and not-as-hot" season and going into the "dry and hot" season, but "dry" is only in comparison to the "rainy" (read monsoon) season that starts in June. The worst of the air quality issues are probably past us, but having a couple of KN95 type masks on hand until you can buy more is a good idea.
Please warn your bride that most face cosmetics and moisturizers here in Thailand are skin bleaching, and to bring her favorites from home. Everything else is readily available, with the exception of high quality stick deodorant (at least from my US perspective).
Credit cards are accepted in tourist places but not in most smaller, local shops - you will want to have cash. The best way is to use your ATM card and withdraw the maximum amount (20000-30000 THB), as you'll pay the same 250 THB fee no matter how much you withdraw. The Krungsri (yellow ATMs) and Kasikorn Banks (green ATMs) are some of the higher limit ones and are very common.
Finally, welcome and congratulations to you both! Many happy years and smiles.
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Comment on My hair is thinning. Tips and tricks, please! in ~life.style
tildesatwindmills LinkWord of warning: minoxidil (Rogaine) is HIGHLY toxic to cats and one lick can kill them, even if it is just a lick of your pillow to see what that strange smell is. It is also toxic to dogs, but I...Word of warning: minoxidil (Rogaine) is HIGHLY toxic to cats and one lick can kill them, even if it is just a lick of your pillow to see what that strange smell is. It is also toxic to dogs, but I gather it has a slower process.
https://www.allure.com/story/minoxidil-can-kill-cats-and-dogs
Other than that, I have no data except to say that I wish your experiment well. I think a bald head (either shaved or clippered short) looks good on most men and clippered makes a very low maintenance and inexpensive lifestyle. :-)
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Comment on US President Donald Trump’s gender order won’t affect existing passports — unless they’re renewed in ~lgbt
tildesatwindmills LinkI am a lurker here on Tildes and don’t feel confident on what to put in the tags section. If others could add tags or advise me on how to properly tag, I would appreciate the help.I am a lurker here on Tildes and don’t feel confident on what to put in the tags section. If others could add tags or advise me on how to properly tag, I would appreciate the help.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump’s gender order won’t affect existing passports — unless they’re renewed in ~lgbt
tildesatwindmills (edited )LinkLinked by Erin Reed @ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/erininthemorning.com/post/3lgbylm5lac2i [article text removed, my apologies!]Linked by Erin Reed @ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/erininthemorning.com/post/3lgbylm5lac2i
[article text removed, my apologies!]
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US President Donald Trump’s gender order won’t affect existing passports — unless they’re renewed
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Comment on Healthier alternative to Better Than Bouillon? in ~food
tildesatwindmills LinkAs a side comment, Better Than Bullion is sold in the US at Costco stores at a significant savings over the regular grocery store sizes & prices.As a side comment, Better Than Bullion is sold in the US at Costco stores at a significant savings over the regular grocery store sizes & prices.
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Comment on I am an extremely light sleeper, and need advice in ~life
tildesatwindmills Link ParentI too am this kind of sensitive to caffeine. I've found decaf tea to be low enough that I can enjoy it in the morning and still get to sleep at night.I too am this kind of sensitive to caffeine. I've found decaf tea to be low enough that I can enjoy it in the morning and still get to sleep at night.
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Comment on Weeknight meal recommendations in ~food
tildesatwindmills Link ParentOr freeze pizza sauce in single use sized amounts and thaw as needed. Keeps for months and months...Or freeze pizza sauce in single use sized amounts and thaw as needed. Keeps for months and months...
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Comment on Has anyone here cleaned their coffee grinder? What did you use and how did it go? in ~food
tildesatwindmills LinkYou can use dry oatmeal to clean the inside of a coffee grinder. Grind down the oats in small batches (1 inch circle in your palm) and it'll clean out the coffee residue and the oils. Then wipe...You can use dry oatmeal to clean the inside of a coffee grinder. Grind down the oats in small batches (1 inch circle in your palm) and it'll clean out the coffee residue and the oils. Then wipe out with a soapy washcloth and then multiple passes with a just water cloth, then dry and let fully air dry.
I used old fashioned oats, don't use instant, quick oats might be ok...
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Comment on Is there another reliable site to ask questions about consumer items? in ~talk
tildesatwindmills Link ParentI feel this way as well. I often adjust the playback speed in settings to 1.25 or even 1.5 just to get them to get through their blather faster.I feel this way as well. I often adjust the playback speed in settings to 1.25 or even 1.5 just to get them to get through their blather faster.
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Comment on T20 bits and screws, what am I doing wrong? in ~life.home_improvement
tildesatwindmills LinkI haven't worked with composite decking, but I've used Torx on other (wood) projects and found the bits were pretty much disposable. I theorized that having the bit destroy itself before the...I haven't worked with composite decking, but I've used Torx on other (wood) projects and found the bits were pretty much disposable. I theorized that having the bit destroy itself before the fastener was a Good Thing, as it meant you could replace the bit and sink the screw instead of having to extract a screw with a damaged drive head. In any case, it would certainly be faster.
When I saw they sell bits in box packages of 10 I decided that my theory was holding water. I just bought more bits and didn't worry about it anymore.
Good luck with your project!
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Comment on Simple, ethical, decent shoe recommendations in ~life.style
tildesatwindmills LinkI have narrow feet, so the recommendation might not work for others, but I am very happy with my Birkenstock shoes. I have a pair that are like sandals, but with a closed toe and heel... and a...I have narrow feet, so the recommendation might not work for others, but I am very happy with my Birkenstock shoes. I have a pair that are like sandals, but with a closed toe and heel... and a pair of light boots that are based on a birk sole.
The covered sandal pair have been with me 5-6 years now. I've had the rubber bottom replaced twice ($30?) and they will probably need new corks in the next couple of years. Infinitely rebuildable so long as the leather is good.
They make a wide width, but their regular fits my double to triple narrow foot, so I wouldn't hold out hope.
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Comment on The Donald Trump stooge Attorney General of Texas is on the verge of being expelled and his cuckqueaned wife could cast a deciding vote in ~society
tildesatwindmills LinkI upvoted this post just for the amazing title.I upvoted this post just for the amazing title.
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Comment on China on edge as Mongolian boy is hailed as new Buddhist lama in ~humanities
tildesatwindmills LinkI could not find a link to the original article, but I did find some info about the subject: https://www.yahoo.com/news/dalai-lama-names-us-born-175717139.htmlI could not find a link to the original article, but I did find some info about the subject:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dalai-lama-names-us-born-175717139.html
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Comment on State Farm declares 105 Kia, Hyundai models ‘ineligible’ for new insurance in Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania in ~transport
tildesatwindmills Link ParentConfirm that your car does have an immobilizer - some models were not equipped until 11/22, which is well into the 2022 model year. (I own an 2021 Kia, hoping that Kia does the right thing and...Confirm that your car does have an immobilizer - some models were not equipped until 11/22, which is well into the 2022 model year.
(I own an 2021 Kia, hoping that Kia does the right thing and recalls/updates all of the cars.)
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Comment on Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales has quietly launched a Facebook rival social network named WT:Social in ~tech
tildesatwindmills Link ParentMore information from WikiTribune: https://www.wikitribune.com/wt/news/article/101868More information from WikiTribune:
https://www.wikitribune.com/wt/news/article/101868I’m very excited to announce that WikiTribune is becoming social and moving to an all-new software platform that I’ve designed and that we have built from scratch – abandoning WordPress for our own custom platform.
The new design incorporates everything that I’ve learned over the past couple of years about what works and what doesn’t in terms of an open collaborative news platform and everything I’ve learned about the ever shifting news landscape and what is broken about it.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the biggest problem driving low quality media is that it has been purely advertising supported, and that the social networks which provide so much distribution are also purely advertising supported. Facebook, Twitter and other social networks make revenue based on how long you stay on their site looking at and clicking on advertising. Engagement is prioritized over quality.
The new Wikitribune is a completely unique and slightly crazy idea: a collaboratively editable social networking new platform. As before, we will have no advertising and no paywall (There is a short waiting list to join the new site to help us with scaling up, but you can skip the waiting list if you invite people or if you become a paying supporter).
The new domain name is designed to reflect that shift: WT Social.
Instead of optimizing our algorithm to addict you and keep you clicking, we will only make money if you voluntarily choose to support us – which means that our goal is not clicks but actually being meaningful to your life.
In order to succeed, we have created a new invitation model – a “circle of friends” invite. When you sign up, you can invite your friends as a group and they will all automatically be friended to each other! So you can help us best by helping to recruit as many people as possible to the platform. If we grow from 400 users today (you’re in on the ground floor!) to 400 million, we will have revolutionized the Internet and shown a better and more healthy way to share information and collaborate with each other.
Looking forward to seeing you on WT Social!
Jimmy.
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Comment on Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales has quietly launched a Facebook rival social network named WT:Social in ~tech
tildesatwindmills LinkLink to the site: https://wt.social After reading other articles, it is clearer that the site is free to all and run off of donations (like Wikipedia)... and there is a waitlist to join. (I'm...Link to the site: https://wt.social
After reading other articles, it is clearer that the site is free to all and run off of donations (like Wikipedia)... and there is a waitlist to join. (I'm #75,000ish on said list.). One can donate to get ahead of the line and possibly bring friends along with you.
I think it will be interesting to see where this goes. Similar audience to Tildes, I hope they both prosper.
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Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales has quietly launched a Facebook rival social network named WT:Social
56 votes
Financial advice: most of Europe will accept your Visa or Mastercard branded cards (less with Amex and almost no Discover coverage), but check with your bank/CU/card company about international acceptance, fees and currency conversion policy.
Make sure to put in your travel notices with those companies before your trip so your card is not locked. Take a backup card or two if you have it, just in case.
I am paranoid, I always like having a little cash on me. Getting foreign currency in the US is expensive and annoying, so I just use an ATM card as soon as I can to have pocket money just in case.
For the best rates/conversion, consider getting a Wise (https://wise.com) or Revolut (https://www.revolut.com) account for their currency/debit card. You can then deposit US and then spend or withdraw from ATMs almost anywhere. Very slick, very handy and you can "preload" it so you don't have to worry about your main bank account being drained. These take time to order, so get started sooner verses later.
Any time a credit card machine or ATM offers to convert your currency for you (Euro charge to Dollars), it's always a bad idea. They charge a fee and use a bad conversion rate, so you get doubly taken. The also make it confusing so you pick the wrong one! Use your phone's translate from camera option (in Google Translate or Apple's Translate app) to screenshot the ATM screen to figure out what they're trying to say.
Keep in a password safe contact numbers for all your banks and credit card companies, along with account numbers so if you do lose your wallet you can call to freeze the account as quickly as possible.
I've never been to Germany (so I don't know if the pickpocket and street grab danger is the same as other parts of Europe), but in general I recommend keeping your phone on a lanyard (neck or wrist) so it can't be grabbed and keeping your passport and main wallet under your shirt or inside your pants. Search "hidden travel wallet" for what I mean. Even if you carry a purse, keep your phone, passport and important cards close.
Oh, also: Many (most?) parts of Europe doesn't do washcloths or dryers in hotels. Bring easy to dry fabrics and some kind of reusable body scrubber in your cosmetics bag.
That's all that comes to mind right now, but if I think of anything else I'll add on here. Congratulations on getting your first passport stamp and have the greatest of time on your trip!