vivarium's recent activity

  1. What are the best websites/programs for creating mood boards / image collages / 'visual lists'?

    Hullo! I'm very much a list person, but I'm also very much a visual person. So, I've found that simple grids of images work really well for me when I want to plan and organize information,...

    Hullo! I'm very much a list person, but I'm also very much a visual person. So, I've found that simple grids of images work really well for me when I want to plan and organize information, aesthetics, etc. However, I've struggled to find my ideal website or program that allows me to do this.

    My wants:

    • To upload images with minimal clicks. (My workflow would likely be to find an image somewhere, get the image's URL, navigate to a page, and upload via URL, without necessarily needing to enter form fields or save an image locally first.)
    • To display medium resolution images as clear thumbnails (e.g. anywhere from 200x200 to 500x500). Enough for detail, but not necessarily "HD".
    • To offer the ability to crop (or even just display) images as square thumbnails (for the purposes of a neat and uniform grid) without me having to go through https://squareanimage.com (real website!) for every single image.
    • To categorize images into groups (i.e. to display a set of images as a coherent little grid/gallery). I'm not picky about whether this is done via fixed category pages, or tags + filtering.
    • To maybe add extra information attached to each image (e.g. descriptions, links, etc.) without necessarily cluttering the grid.
    • As for whether the service is public or private, cloud-based or local, I don't really mind!

    Some of the options I've tried:

    • Wordpress: Really nice grid-based themes, but the "blog post"-based system feels cumbersome for what I'm trying to do (images only). So many clicks to add images and make new posts.
    • Tumblr: Lovely for content discovery, the quick reblog feature saves a lot of clicks, and tagging is flexible. But, this has many of the same downsides as Wordpress (lots of clicks to upload your own images, post-based system), and Tumblr as a platform is so much more than what I'm looking for (don't want/need social features).
    • Pinterest: 10/10 for content discovery -- their image similarity algorithms and image search are unmatched. Wonderful for quickly spinning up a collage of themed pictures. But, horrid for uploading new pictures, given that they'll become public pins with comments/links/etc. Too many clicks + unnecessary fields. I worry about attribution for artists with Pinterest specifically -- I don't want to perpetuate a lack of attribution with publicly re-shareable images. Also, the collages are very busy with ads and unnecessary text. Plus, it's kind of cumbersome to reorganize images between boards if you want to change your board scheme.
    • Pinry: Open source, self-hosted version of Pinterest. Was a bit too rough around the edges the last time I tried to use it, but maybe it's good enough now?
    • Are.na: A bit too... New York trendy? For my tastes. Also, the social elements aren't really my thing... Also, costly!!!
    • Google Keep: Surprisingly good? Perhaps the best option I've tried? For image notes, it's very flexible with regards to grid-based layouts, tagging, adding optional details, adding multiple images to a single note, etc. My main criticisms are that uploading images and tagging notes does take quite a few clicks; the grid stops being aligned the moment your notes begin to differ (e.g. add images of varying size, add titles/details, etc.), so it can start to look a bit visually cluttered; the UI doesn't seem to be designed with many tags in mind; the default layout shows all notes (I never want this).
    • Local files and folders: Dead simple, but with very few features. Thumbnail views in file explorers are really space inefficient compared to grid-based image galleries.
    • Random photo organizing software: Largely geared towards actual photos taken with an actual camera (real life subjects, camera EXIF data, organizing by date taken, etc.). Too many unnecessary features for my needs, not enough features geared towards digital non-photo images (e.g. graphics).
    • "Speed dial" new tab pages for browsers: Helps me organize bookmarks! I like being able to see the icons, like a desktop for webapps. I will use image grids for everything.
    • Artwork grids in media libraries / tracking websites: Plex, MusicBee, Letterboxd, Goodreads, Anime-Planet... you are heaven to me.

    Here is a gallery of screenshots for websites/services I have tried, to give you an idea of how I use these services. The first one (tumblr) is the closest to visually ideal (dense + uniform grid), but Keep is the closest to ideal feature-wise. Surely there is a website or service I'm missing that could be the best of both worlds!

    10 votes
  2. Comment on Looking for help in purchasing an eReader in ~books

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    Sorry to hear that!! Doing a quick search, though, it looks like Kobo's customer service is pretty good? You may want to try reaching out:...

    Sorry to hear that!! Doing a quick search, though, it looks like Kobo's customer service is pretty good? You may want to try reaching out: https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/14jors6/very_happy_with_kobos_customer_service/

    There's also the possibility of replacing the battery, it seems? EDIT: Reading more closely, it seems like repair is a lot harder than I thought it to be.

    1 vote
  3. Comment on Looking for help in purchasing an eReader in ~books

    vivarium
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Just to chime in on the Kobo 8" (Sage/Forma) here... I've spent the past few days researching this EXACT topic (manga reading on a hackable e-reader) due to my sister thread over here. I'm also an...

    Just to chime in on the Kobo 8" (Sage/Forma) here... I've spent the past few days researching this EXACT topic (manga reading on a hackable e-reader) due to my sister thread over here. I'm also an open source manga-reading nerd, so I was reading a lot of random blogs/GitHub repos/HN posts about Kobo e-readers, and I can share some of the findings I came across.

    (Side note: I ended up ordering a refurb Kobo Forma to save $100, plus I like the form factor compared to the sage (rubbery grip). But, given OP is looking for note-taking and audio support, the Sage+stylus seems like a significant upgrade over the Forma.)

    Anyway, here are my notes:

    • 8" screen seems to be more than enough for manga readers, due to the comparable size to your average tankoban volume (source 1, source 2). So, I don't think something like the Elipsa is entirely needed, if budget is a concern.
    • It recently became possible to use Kobos without needing to create an account, which helps to minimize the presence of the Kobo store, etc. on the device's home page.
    • @kru mentioned Calibre already, but I also want to specifically mention Calibre-Web, because it has the killer app of Syncing wirelessly to Kobos and automatically converting books to Kobo's enhanced ePub format KePub (via kepubify). From what I can tell, the syncing specifically involves replacing the Kobo Store API URL with a URL from the local Calibre-Web server, which again further minimizes the presence of the Kobo Store on the device.
    • Calibre itself also provides a lot of fun hacking around you can do, due to its open source nature and huge adoption in the reading scene. I've been poking around plugins (specifically manga metadata fetching from ComicVine), as well as services such as Readarr/Mylar3/Kapowarr. I recently set up Sonarr/Radarr/Plex integration, and *-arr/Calibre integration seems similar? I have AnimeBytes as my manga source... now to just get an invite to MAM (pls help, rip 32p).
    • There's also a fairly robust modding scene for Kobo devices.
      • From what I can tell, the standard "must-install" mods are NickelMenu and KoReader, the latter of which has its own syncing mechanism? (From what I can tell, Calibre-Web's is just better though?)
      • Aside: Patrick Gaskin seems to have been a godsend for the community as a whole, given the ubiquity of his mods. I've just noticed another mod of his called NickelSeries, which seems vital for manga given the necessity of series metadata for long-running tankoban volume series.
      • There's also InkBox and its assorted plugins -- the fact that the author created an entire custom OS really shows how hackable Kobos are.
    • I'm also personally a big RSS fan (following blogs such as Admiral Cloudberg, Stereogum's The Number Ones, etc) and the fact that Kobo Readers have Pocket support is a big plus. I'm either going to take the manual RSS->Pocket approach described here, or set up an automated approach using IFTTT/Zapier or something similar.
    • EDIT: I just found out that you can mod Bluetooth-enabled Kobos to support page turners: https://github.com/tsowell/kobo-btpt. (Sadly, the Forma doesn't support Bluetooth, so I'm SOL here. ;_;)

    Basically, the Kobo ecosystem is SUPER scratching my itch for hackability, so I highly recommend that OP go down the same rabbit hole as I've been. :3

    8 votes
  4. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    Oh my gosh, another Bathroom Reader fan. I was addicted to them as a kid? I actually collected them, because I adored how each volume had a unique cover design. They looked so neat on a shelf all...

    Oh my gosh, another Bathroom Reader fan. I was addicted to them as a kid? I actually collected them, because I adored how each volume had a unique cover design. They looked so neat on a shelf all lined up? Plus, as you say, the trivia and stories were splendid.

    Small world! Maybe I can look into rebuilding my collection. (I left them all behind when I moved across the country, sadly...)

  5. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Just to chime in here as OP: I wasn't at all bothered by your comment, and I actually took it to heart! I think you're very right to point out that my topic description wasn't written very...

    Just to chime in here as OP: I wasn't at all bothered by your comment, and I actually took it to heart!

    I think you're very right to point out that my topic description wasn't written very clearly? I didn't go too deeply into what my sleep habits + phone usage habits have been like long-term, and I absolutely conflated a few different ideas. There are a lot of factors at play here?

    1. Phone addiction + websites built to serve the attention economy + executive dysfunction
    2. Light from electronic devices disturbing circadian rhythms
    3. Habits/routines (esp. nighttime activities that can help your brain wind down for bed)
    4. Insomnia due to factors entirely separate from the above three

    For what it's worth, I don't have insomnia? I've had a 12-8 sleep schedule for long stretches of my life, and while that has shifted recently to 2-10, the bad 4am nights are an outlier. That night just so happened to be a particularly anxious night for me. I had stayed up until 2am on my phone (due to factor #1), and then found I could no longer fall asleep (due to factor #2), so I did a pleasurable (non-phone) activity for another 2 hours to calm my anxiety. But, most nights (especially those where I put away my phone early), I can fall asleep at around 12 -- hence my desire to seek ideas for factor #3 and reinforce a healthy routine.

    I'm happy to say I slept from 1-9 last night, and I'm hoping to gradually shift my rhythms even further back to my desired normal with the help of activities that can ween me off of my phone usage. :)

    5 votes
  6. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    Link
    Thank you everyone! I've ordered a refurb Kobo Forma (recs from this Tildes thread and this YouTube video) and I'm very very excited to start reading manga (and books!) in bed.

    Thank you everyone! I've ordered a refurb Kobo Forma (recs from this Tildes thread and this YouTube video) and I'm very very excited to start reading manga (and books!) in bed.

    8 votes
  7. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    My cup of tea is honestly a bit hard to pin down. There is one book that I read voraciously without my attention ever drifting? It's When Marnie Was There. It's a lovely, warm, wholesome slice of...

    My cup of tea is honestly a bit hard to pin down. There is one book that I read voraciously without my attention ever drifting? It's When Marnie Was There. It's a lovely, warm, wholesome slice of life book with some magical realism elements, and it made me cry so much.

    I've tried other books in the same vein (e.g. Tom's Midnight Garden) and they just didn't scratch the same itch. So, I'm not sure where to go next?

    4 votes
  8. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    I do really enjoy anime? Like, hundreds of series watched? Yet, I've never really gotten into manga yet. Manga might solve the quantity/quality issue, since a long-running series might give me a...

    and manga

    I do really enjoy anime? Like, hundreds of series watched? Yet, I've never really gotten into manga yet. Manga might solve the quantity/quality issue, since a long-running series might give me a lot to chew on (as compared to one-off graphic novels).

    I used to read really terrible scanlations of Naruto on my computer in middle school. Do you happen to know what the scene is like these days? Like, in theory, could I purchase an e-ink reader and read manga on that?

    2 votes
  9. Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    I have a really tricky time reading long-form books. I try time and time again, but the motivation just isn't there? My attention wanders very easily, and I find it hard to stay engaged. For some...

    I have a really tricky time reading long-form books. I try time and time again, but the motivation just isn't there? My attention wanders very easily, and I find it hard to stay engaged.

    For some reason, though, I have 0 issue with graphic novels. I adore the medium. I used to go to the library and check out a dozen graphic novels each time, plowing through them with ease.

    Case in point: I have a book called "The Secret Loves of Geek Girls" which is an anthology of stories and comics written by prominent geeky women. Whenever I pick it up, I will happily read the comics, but when I turn the page and see a big wall of text, I groan and flip through it until I get to another comic.

    In theory, perhaps I could follow your advice with just graphic novels, but gosh... They're so quick to finish? They represent a fraction of the depth that an actual book provides. If I go for quantity, then things become very expensive very quickly, and I risk running out of options entirely.

    Oddly though, I have no problems reading post after post of /r/BestOfRedditorUpdates. So, long-form text isn't inherently an issue? If I can figure out this dilemma, I'd love to become a reader again like I was as a kid.

    7 votes
  10. People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night?

    There's a good thread going around on Tildes right now about sleep hygiene tips. One of those is making sure you stop using your electronics before bed, to help with circadian rhythms and whatnot....

    There's a good thread going around on Tildes right now about sleep hygiene tips. One of those is making sure you stop using your electronics before bed, to help with circadian rhythms and whatnot.

    Determined to make a fool of myself in spite of the above thread, last night I stayed up until 4am in bed reading various junk sites on my phone. As a consequence, I slept in until noon 😭. I don't want to do this anymore! I want a regular sleep schedule... 11-7 or 12-8 would be my dream.

    I've tried blocking the problematic sites in the past, and it largely works for me for several months... Until I hit a bad mood patch and get antsy and bored, craving the dopamine hits, wanting to turn my brain off and just scroll mindlessly. (It's very much a self-soothe behavior...)

    I think it would be easier to solve this problem if I had an arsenal of things to do that are nice and engaging, but don't involve using a phone or computer. Yet, I'm at a bit of a loss... Seemingly everything involves a computer or screen one way or another these days. I'd love an e-ink device that let's me listen to Spotify or something, but alas, I think I might need to look into low-tech solutions.

    What do you do at night that doesn't involve screen time?

    64 votes
  11. Comment on What are the best resources to get started with 3D modeling and printing now that the hobby is quite mature? in ~hobbies

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    Oh wow! This thread is really exciting to read... In my EE undergrad, I took a CAD class, and absolutely hated it. It's up there with OChem in my "most hated courses of all time" ranking. It just...

    Oh wow! This thread is really exciting to read... In my EE undergrad, I took a CAD class, and absolutely hated it. It's up there with OChem in my "most hated courses of all time" ranking. It just didn't mesh with my brain for some reason? I remember feeling so frustrated with how fiddly AutoCAD felt. Getting a 60 in that class didn't end up being too consequential to my overall EE degree, but I did end up pivoting into software development, so maybe it was a sign. Code feels so much more natural.

    I'll have to give it a try!

    1 vote
  12. Comment on In need of a side-by-side image viewer that runs through directories in ~comp

    vivarium
    Link
    A bit of an unconventional suggestion: Make a Windows live CD (e.g. Live10/Live11, Windows To Go, etc.), then install one of the Windows solutions out there. I've personally used the Visual...

    A bit of an unconventional suggestion: Make a Windows live CD (e.g. Live10/Live11, Windows To Go, etc.), then install one of the Windows solutions out there.

    I've personally used the Visual Similarity Duplicate Finder, which IIUC would take care of the need to write logic to group files by filename pairs, since it can group duplicates for side by side comparison. (I figure this is suitable because I imagine the AI-fixed images would be e.g. >90% similarity, and the fuzzy duplicate finding can handle this.)

    2 votes
  13. Comment on I want to use a desk, but I can't get myself to stop using my bed due to a complex tangle of issues (autism, chronic pain, etc.). What should I do? in ~health

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    This is really funny! Another user suggested something similar, and I immediately assumed it was in jest (my mistake!), but still adored the idea. Same thoughts, same words! (Jest jest jest jest...

    I don't say this in jest. But maybe you could do with a separate work bed?

    This is really funny! Another user suggested something similar, and I immediately assumed it was in jest (my mistake!), but still adored the idea. Same thoughts, same words! (Jest jest jest jest jest.)

    Still, though, I really like the extra details you've provided. That gaming bed is... really well suited to what I need, honestly? Admittedly I feel bashful, because the target market feels sort of... NEET-ish, what with the cup noodles and energy drinks? I would be very ashamed to show houseguests such a setup, and would need a separate room to hide it away in. I would want to maybe DIY a clone of it, and try to make it feel less "black metal and carbon fibre"-ish, and instead more organic? Plants and wood and cute things. But... the general idea feels really really nice to me, especially if I can find a way to merge ergonomics (head tilt, arm position, etc.) and comfort (blankets, bedding, etc.)

    Lots to think about! :3

    4 votes
  14. Comment on I want to use a desk, but I can't get myself to stop using my bed due to a complex tangle of issues (autism, chronic pain, etc.). What should I do? in ~health

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    Honestly, please don't worry at all about frequency or length of responses!! I'm really enjoying your perspective here. You've given me quite a lot to think about and discuss with my partner, too...

    Honestly, please don't worry at all about frequency or length of responses!! I'm really enjoying your perspective here. You've given me quite a lot to think about and discuss with my partner, too (in a very good way), so please feel free to infodump as much as you wish! :>

    That Pipersong chair is curious but also a little terrifying to me. I'm very lanky and have struggled with joint hypermobility to the point of frequent dislocations as a teen, so sitting cross-legged terrifies me to this day? But I wouldn't mind an excuse to practice my flexibility, either!!

    Thank you for sharing all sorts of outside-the-box perspectives and challenging norms. I love to do that, and really hope to find a therapist one day who is good at thinking on that wavelength, too. :3

    3 votes
  15. Comment on I want to use a desk, but I can't get myself to stop using my bed due to a complex tangle of issues (autism, chronic pain, etc.). What should I do? in ~health

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    !!! You're the first other person I've met in the wild who understands my feelings. Propanalol was exactly the one I was prescribed, too. Your reply was really exciting to read -- you're not...

    I am also autistic, and fully relate to so much of what you're saying.

    !!! You're the first other person I've met in the wild who understands my feelings. Propanalol was exactly the one I was prescribed, too. Your reply was really exciting to read -- you're not overstepping or anything, I greatly encourage and appreciate your enthusiasm. :3

    First: find a doctor (any doctor) and ask for propranolol (or your preferred beta blocker) "for a plane flight" or "stage fright" or "driving" or literally any mundane thing that can cause anxiety. That's what it's usually for AFAIK, and is pretty safe and really shouldn't be hard to get.

    It helps that I literally am so scared of driving that I would have panic attacks before driving lessons, with me ultimately bailing before I could get the level above learner's. This may actually be a genuine thing I should reconsider in adulthood, funnily enough.

    It helps you, get some. Don't give them info they don't need that might make them question giving you something else/stronger. (I wish I could just send you my extra.... my provider intentionally over-prescribes that one since it's as-needed and ya never know.)

    Just out of curiosity, do you take your propanalol when you begin to feel pain/discomfort/anxiety, or preemptively? And, how often do you tend to take it? I ask as I notice it can be tricky for me to time my Aleve... By the time the pain hits a threshold where I need to do something about it, I often feel reticent to take it because I know I'll need to wait another hour or so for it to kick in... which leads to wallowing/procrastination and unnecessary suffering. So, I then think about preemptively taking it, yet worry about taking it too regularly. And, I'm concerned I'll face the same dilemma with propanalol?

    6 votes
  16. Comment on I want to use a desk, but I can't get myself to stop using my bed due to a complex tangle of issues (autism, chronic pain, etc.). What should I do? in ~health

    vivarium
    Link Parent
    You jest, but this is something I was genuinely considering! I really like niche, personalized solutions to complex problems, no matter how weird, and this is very much up my alley. I was...

    You jest, but this is something I was genuinely considering! I really like niche, personalized solutions to complex problems, no matter how weird, and this is very much up my alley. I was pondering getting one of those powered beds that can conform to a sitting position or something like that.

    It wouldn't be the most practical, but it's curious and interesting.

    5 votes
  17. I want to use a desk, but I can't get myself to stop using my bed due to a complex tangle of issues (autism, chronic pain, etc.). What should I do?

    Author's note: I'm mostly typing this up for myself as a writing exercise to sum up my situation, so that I can present it to a doctor one day if I can find one who will listen. It's a long read,...

    Author's note: I'm mostly typing this up for myself as a writing exercise to sum up my situation, so that I can present it to a doctor one day if I can find one who will listen. It's a long read, and I don't expect anyone to seriously read it? But, if you happen to make it through and have any advice, or recommendations for specialists I could seek out, I would really appreciate that.

    I work remotely as an open source maintainer for a university research lab, so I spend a lot of time at my computer. Throughout my adult life, I've found that I work best when sitting in my bed with my laptop. Yet, I figure sitting in my bed isn't the best for my body, so I've tried hard over the years to make a desk setup that's as accommodating as possible:

    • I have a big corner desk with lots of tabletop space and overhead cabinets.
    • I've set up cozy under-cabinet 2700K LED strip lightning.
    • I've decorated the space with nice sentimental things.
    • I've got a foot-warmer under the desk (since I have chronic ice-cold feet for reasons I don't yet understand).
    • I own a (secondhand) Steelcase Leap v1 that I've meticulously adjusted to my body, making sure all of the heights and distances are within typical ergonomic recommendations.
    • I have an ergonomic keyboard with a sliding under-desk tray
    • I've gotten dual monitors, with one being a modern 1024*1280 monitor to avoid whiplash from an extra-wide double-1080p monitor setup.

    Despite all of the above, every time I go to use my setup, I feel a big sense of revulsion and a big urge to just curl up in bed with my laptop.

    I've spent a lot of time thinking about why I react this way, and I attribute it to a whole bunch of underlying factors:

    1. I'm autistic+anxious (ASD/GAD diagnoses), and I was previously diagnosed with ADHD, too.
    2. I struggle a lot with pain/physical discomfort:
      • One of my brain quirks is that I have big sensory sensitivities surrounding my body. I'm hyperaware of any uncomfortable sensations in my body, and pain/discomfort can completely derail my ability to focus and be present in the moment. For example, if I eat too much and feel overfull, the sensation of my stomach pressing against my other internal organs drives me crazy, to the point where I can hardly even watch a show or listen to music. The same goes for when I'm constipated or have an upset stomach. When I get like this, it's like I can't feel any emotions. The discomfort/pain are the only physical sensations I can take in, because they crowd everything else out. I can't feel warmth or happiness or fullness in my heart. All I feel is discomfort.
      • My anxiety results in a near-constant state of tension. I'm often very aware of the booming of my heartbeat, or tightness in my chest. I fall into a negative feedback loop, as it makes it very difficult to relax, which further triggers anxiety and tension. (Side note: Beta blockers are the most effective anti-anxiety medications I've ever been prescribed for exactly this reason. They target the physical sensations, and helped me feel an overall sense of calm. I haven't been prescribed them in 7+ years, though, because every new GP/psych I visit automatically discounts them as off-label/not-first-line approaches, even though I've had direct success with them when other approaches have failed. I wish doctors would listen to me. Would weed help?)
      • When I get anxious/depressed, I find that my posture suffers a lot. My body sort of curls in on itself, as though it were attempting the fetal position. It takes an exceedingly difficult amount of effort to preserve good posture the more fatigued I get. But, in such a state, I don't have the spoons to exert this effort -- it gets harder and harder until I inevitably curl up in bed.
      • Wouldn't you know it, I have chronic pain, too. Multiple times a week, it manifests as this combo of upper-back/shoulder/neck/sinus/behind-the-eyes pain. It typically happens only on one side of my body (though which side it happens on is not consistent). The sinus pain is curious, too: I regularly have a "cold nose" (similar to my cold feet), and breathing in feels icy and sharp, with a tingle like I'm about to sneeze. I find myself reflexively picking or prodding at my nose just to distract from the painful sensations. I often cover my nose with my shirt so that I can breathe in my warm, moist, exhaled breath. It doesn't really warm up my nose, but it provides some in the moment relief.
      • You can imagine what this chronic pain does to my ability to feel emotions or focus on tasks... I rely a LOT on Aleve. ;;
      • I'm also sensitive to temperature: I really dislike being too cold or too hot. I often change clothes multiple times a day, from shirts to sweaters and back + shorts to sweatpants and back, because I'm constantly adjusting my temperature.
      • I also am particular about pressure and textures on my skin. I don't really like having my skin exposed? I like big comfy sweaters and a specific kind of sweatpants that Uniqlo used to sell. I also really adore this specific duvet I got from IKEA, because it's big and fluffy and weighty. It's like a semi-weighted blanket without being so densely concentrated (I have a glass bead weighted blanket I hardly use because of how icky it feels).
      • Because of all of this, my ideal state of being is one where my body just kind of... disappears from my consciousness? I strongly wish I could exist without being aware of my physical form, because I'd say at least 90% of my waking hours I'm feeling some form of discomfort or another, and thus 90% of the time any happiness is blocked by the discomfort.
    3. As far as working on a computer, I find that I'm most productive when I can sink into a state of hyperfocus/flow and attack a task for hours at a time in a single sitting. I'll lose track of time, come out of the state wondering where the day went, yet be insanely productive during that period.
      • Naturally, this goes against conventional advice for computer-based WFH, since in this state I don't take stretching breaks, don't adjust my posture, don't rest my eyes, etc. But, I find forced breaks tend to rip me out of my focus, and it takes a lot of self-regulation/spoons to get back on track after a break.
      • Despite the terrible ergonomics of hyperfocus, it counterintuitively acts as a needed respite from the pain/discomfort. Being hyperfocused is one of the only states that supersedes the sensory sensitivity I have. I'll often be so focused that I don't notice the state my body is in, which is pretty much my ideal! (Side note: Because of this dynamic, I often lean on rhythm video games as a respite for pain, too. They're easy for me to hyperfocus on, which makes passing the time a lot more bearable for me when I'm in pain.)
    4. And, the environment most conducive for sparking a state of hyperfocus is my bed, rather than a desk.
      • Even with all my adjustments, my desk feels very finicky and dynamic. The chair rolls, the keyboard tray slides, the chair back reclines, my foot warmer slides around. Rarely do I feel anchored, and rarely does everything feel "just right". I can't really find a "locked in" position for hyperfocus, as my body is always interacting with its environment via subtle little tics and adjustments.
      • I also find that sitting at a desk leaves me feeling rather exposed? Even with clothes on, I just... don't have enough weight on my legs to feel fully comfortable.
      • When I do try to sit at a desk, I may be somewhat comfortable at first, but as time goes on I get more and more uncomfortable. Maybe a tricky task temporarily spikes my anxiety, which causes tension and pain, which makes me focus on the pain, which makes it harder to think clearly about the task at hand, which makes me more anxious, which begins to affect my posture, which makes it harder to properly sit in my ergonomic chair. I'll fidget and shift, and start to lean on one arm. It often escalates to the point where it feels like torture to hold my own body up, because I feel like a ragdoll in my chair.
      • My bed, by comparison, doesn't ask any effort of me at all. I'm fully enveloped by the mattress and my pillows, so if I end up in "ragdoll anxiety/depression" mode, I'm supported in exactly the same way I would be if I was in "full spoons" mode. I also get the comfort of my duvet, with fluffy warmth and weight on every part of my body, and very little of me being exposed.
      • This means that I can somewhat ignore my body when I'm in my bed. Even if I'm in pain, even if I'm anxious, I don't really have to... DO anything about it? I don't have to physically move my body in a specific way in order to keep hacking away at a task. The pain will still be there, but the hyperfocus state can win out, and I can work away while feeling like my laptop is an extension of my body.

    Surely this isn't good for me, right? Surely I should be attacking the root of the problem so that I don't devolve into a ragdoll mess of pain every time I try and use a desk? Surely lying in bed for hours at a time isn't good for my body, right? But, with this multi-layered set of factors, with many of them being inherent anxious/autistic traits, I don't know how to create an environment that's any better for me than my bed is.

    What do?

    24 votes
  18. What are you looking forward to right now?

    In an effort to make life feel a little more joyful, I added a new calendar to my calendar app called "Nice things". In this calendar, I'm putting all sorts of nice upcoming things to look forward...

    In an effort to make life feel a little more joyful, I added a new calendar to my calendar app called "Nice things". In this calendar, I'm putting all sorts of nice upcoming things to look forward to (album/movie/game releases, the start of Fall, when my preorders will ship, upcoming eclipses and equinoxes and full moons, you name it). My goal is to feel more connected with the passage of time, rather than letting each day blur into the next. I want things to anchor and ground me each day.

    Along the same lines, I'm curious: What are you looking forward to? What things on the horizon have you excited for the future? What would you put on a hypothetical "nice things" calendar?

    51 votes
  19. Comment on Help with finding out more about an obsure c++ graphics library in ~comp

    vivarium
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    With BMPLoader found, I wanted to try to find the source for loadPNG next: Found this old course page for your CSI class:...

    With BMPLoader found, I wanted to try to find the source for loadPNG next:

    • Found this old course page for your CSI class: https://faculty.uca.edu/clarenceb/Courses/Fall%202015/CSCI%201470%20Computer%20Science%20I/CSCI_1470_F15_index.htm
    • Downloaded UCA_Graphics.zip from the page and unpacked graphLib2010.lib.
    • Inside were the object files you describe (Debug/), but also a bunch of glut32 dll files and 1.txt and 2.txt?
    • Inside the text files seem to be a log of sorts, containing what appear to be symbols for each obj file? I honed in on the loadPng.obj part of the log, then picked out some distinctive-sounding symbols. Ones that caught my eye were LodePNGState and State@lodepng.
    • I had come across lodepng before in my GitHub searches. Curiously, the typo isn't a typo -- it's the name of the author, Lode Vandevenne. Given the distinctiveness here, I can only assume that's a match?

    This is fine and dandy, but the real trick will be example2.obj. It seems like that's where the meat of your utility functions are located, given:

    1.txt
    Debug\example2.obj    ??$?6U?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@YAAAV?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@0@AAV10@PBD@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??$_Debug_pointer@D@std@@YAXPBDPB_WI@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??$_Pow_int@N@@YANNH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??0?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@QAE@ABV01@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??0?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@QAE@PBD@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??0Gout@@QAE@XZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ??0_Sentry_base@?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@QAE@AAV12@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??0sentry@?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@QAE@AAV12@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??1EndOfProcess@@QAE@XZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ??1_Sentry_base@?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@QAE@XZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ??1sentry@?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@QAE@XZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@D@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@H@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@N@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@P6AAAV0@H@Z@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@P6AAAV0@HH@Z@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@P6AAAV0@HHH@Z@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@PAD@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@UGraphColor@@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@UPoint@@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??6@YAAAVGout@@AAV0@UPrecision@@@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ??Bsentry@?$basic_ostream@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@@std@@QBEPQ_Bool_struct@2@HXZ
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    Debug\example2.obj    ??_C@_0BD@MMJIMFDE@Program?5Exiting?4?4?4?$AA@
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    Debug\example2.obj    ??_C@_0P@EMMNNIFA@decoder?5error?5?$AA@
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?_Inside@?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@QAE_NPBD@Z
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?clearText@@YAXXZ
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?down_v@@3_NA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?drawCircle@@YAHHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?drawLine@@YAHHHHHH@Z
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?drawPoint@@YAHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?drawRect@@YAHHHHH@Z
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?getY@Gout@@QAEHXZ
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?m_y@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?md_x@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?md_y@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?middleMouse@@YA_NAAH0@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?middle_mouse@@3_NA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?mouseDragged@@YA_NAAH0@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?mouse_dragged@@3_NA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?moveObject@@YAXHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?no_objects@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?pow@@YANNH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?processMouse@@YAXHHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?processMouseDragged@@YAXHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?processSpecialKeys@@YAXHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?redisplay@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?refresh_time@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?removeObject@@YAXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?replaceObject@@YAXHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?reshape@@YAXHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?right@@YA_NXZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ?rightMouse@@YA_NAAH0@Z
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?setB@Gout@@QAEXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setColor@@YA?AUGraphColor@@HHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setColor@@YAXHHHH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setG@Gout@@QAEXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setPos@@YA?AUPoint@@HH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setPrecision@@YA?AUPrecision@@H@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setPrecision@Gout@@QAEXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setPrecisionFlag@Gout@@QAEX_N@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setR@Gout@@QAEXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?setX@Gout@@QAEXH@Z
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    Debug\example2.obj    ?sin@@YAMM@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?skip_timer@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?stmt_count@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?timerColor@@YAXH@Z
    Debug\example2.obj    ?up@@YA_NXZ
    Debug\example2.obj    ?up_v@@3_NA
    Debug\example2.obj    ?win_no@@3HA
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@3f800000
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@400921fb4d12d84a
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@4024000000000000
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@4070000000000000
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@bf800000
    Debug\example2.obj    __real@bff0000000000000
    Debug\example2.obj    _cosf
    Debug\example2.obj    _sinf
    
    3 votes
  20. Comment on Help with finding out more about an obsure c++ graphics library in ~comp

    vivarium
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Ah, wait. GitHub code search is as magical as ever: opengl playground containing all the relevant BMPLoader files. (header diff)

    Ah, wait. GitHub code search is as magical as ever: opengl playground containing all the relevant BMPLoader files. (header diff)

    2 votes