xscottx's recent activity
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Comment on How do you feel about eBooks and eBook readers? in ~books
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Comment on How do you feel about eBooks and eBook readers? in ~books
xscottx Link ParentI have a Kindle Voyage and the only thing missing from it is a warm screen. I feel like it would be easier to fall asleep with it if it did. I primarily read to fall asleep these days and I feel...I have a Kindle Voyage and the only thing missing from it is a warm screen. I feel like it would be easier to fall asleep with it if it did. I primarily read to fall asleep these days and I feel like the blue light keeps me up.
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Comment on What do you drive? in ~hobbies
xscottx Link ParentWe’re very close! I’m an electrical engineering major. If I lived anywhere near my university, the town is pretty good for traveling by other means. But I’m nowhere near it. The other college I...We’re very close! I’m an electrical engineering major.
If I lived anywhere near my university, the town is pretty good for traveling by other means. But I’m nowhere near it. The other college I was considering would’ve been less of a drive, but I would’ve had to pay out of state tuition.
I couldn’t justify it when I will likely walk out of screwing around in community college and uni setting me 30-35k in debt… instead of well over 50k if I chose the other school.
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Comment on What do you drive? in ~hobbies
xscottx Link ParentThat sounds like the dream. I really hate driving as well, I'm pretty much forced to in the area I live in, though. My college is a nearly 50 mile commute from where I live and it's the closest...That sounds like the dream. I really hate driving as well, I'm pretty much forced to in the area I live in, though.
My college is a nearly 50 mile commute from where I live and it's the closest school I could go to for my major.
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Comment on What do you drive? in ~hobbies
xscottx LinkOnly a couple of Scoobs here. I drive a 2008 Subaru Outback Sport w/ a manual transmission (base model Impreza hatchback). I'm a college student and pretty strapped for cash as I took a lower...Only a couple of Scoobs here.
I drive a 2008 Subaru Outback Sport w/ a manual transmission (base model Impreza hatchback). I'm a college student and pretty strapped for cash as I took a lower paying job so I could go back to school.
It's honestly in great shape for it's age. I bought it in 2021 with 150k and so far, put another 35k on it. My dad and I did pretty much the entire suspension, new clutch, and then just general maintenance items.
I love it a lot and I hope to keep it until I can buy an EV.
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Comment on What is going on in your city? in ~talk
xscottx Link ParentI usually get on 95 after Florence, so I think that would affect my travel. No big deal, though. I can head through Camden instead. I never end up taking the Amtrak but I might have to try it the...I usually get on 95 after Florence, so I think that would affect my travel. No big deal, though. I can head through Camden instead.
I never end up taking the Amtrak but I might have to try it the next time I have an event down there. I always thought it would be too expensive for what I'm looking for, but I end up putting a whole tank of gas + EzPass when I visit... and then there's parking garages. I might be able to save myself a nice chunk of change. I appreciate the suggestion!
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Comment on Do you have an internal monologue? How do you think? in ~talk
xscottx LinkI have an inner monologue, but I really only think in my own voice when I am typing. The way that I type is, usually, the way that I would string the words together out loud. I work on cars, small...I have an inner monologue, but I really only think in my own voice when I am typing. The way that I type is, usually, the way that I would string the words together out loud.
I work on cars, small electronics, and sometimes larger consumer electronics. I used to work at a manufacturer cages for a living, doing all the small tweaks, final additions, and quality control before they were sent out the door, or assemble cages with parts and rivets (and then all the steps above). I have an almost perfect catalog of everything I have worked on or built. Once I have taken apart or built something once, I can build an exploded-view drawing in my head of all the parts and pieces. Each part can be rotated around, I can see how they fit together, and I catalog information about the quirks.
Because of this, I am usually excellent at describing a process in detail.
I've gotten a lot of praise in my ability to troubleshoot since I usually understand where a noise or fault may be coming from and why it may happen.
However, none of these parts or exploded-views are in the "picture-esque" view that people describe. I don't see fully colored fields with sunflowers and bees and a big bright sun. All my 3D thoughts are faint, wire-frame shapes I sometimes can't see if an environment is too noisy.
And to answer your question about the crossword puzzle? I simply wouldn't do it because I loathe crosswords.
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Comment on What is going on in your city? in ~talk
xscottx Link ParentI feel like I've been living under a rock. I live in the Philly metro area and drive on I-95 pretty regularly (not this week) and I had no idea that it collapsed. Looks like it'll be a bit rough...I feel like I've been living under a rock. I live in the Philly metro area and drive on I-95 pretty regularly (not this week) and I had no idea that it collapsed.
Looks like it'll be a bit rough when I drive down to Baltimore for a few months.
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Comment on Invite-only is a brilliant idea and I'd like to have it for longer than planned in ~tildes
xscottx Link ParentI think that a vetting system makes sense for a private tracker (been part of many for over a decade) but for a forum? I just don't think it really holds up. I use different usernames depending on...I think that a vetting system makes sense for a private tracker (been part of many for over a decade) but for a forum? I just don't think it really holds up.
I use different usernames depending on the site, I don't see many people wanting to share their other usernames just so that they can be observed before getting an invite to an internet forum...
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Comment on Redditors of Tildes .. what is the thing you can live without? in ~tech
xscottx LinkThe misinformation that could be spread even in ways you didn't think it would matter. I was a moderator of a toy sub with a rather healthy community and the amount of misinformation that could...The misinformation that could be spread even in ways you didn't think it would matter.
I was a moderator of a toy sub with a rather healthy community and the amount of misinformation that could spread was insane. There is no punishment for it and someone could be lured into a false sense of confidence over the amount of upvotes an answer has, even if it was completely wrong.
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Comment on Let's talk retro tech in ~hobbies
xscottx Link ParentIf you haven’t checked out Cathode Ray Dude, I think he has a similar video-essay vibe as Tech Connections. Maybe not as refined, but he’s a great dude and finds interesting tech to tell stories...If you haven’t checked out Cathode Ray Dude, I think he has a similar video-essay vibe as Tech Connections. Maybe not as refined, but he’s a great dude and finds interesting tech to tell stories about.
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Comment on Any songs you've been cringing to lately? in ~music
xscottx Link ParentI gave it a listen and it gives me pre-9/11, happy-go-lucky vibes. Those really are terrible lyrics, though. Almost charming in a way.I gave it a listen and it gives me pre-9/11, happy-go-lucky vibes.
Those really are terrible lyrics, though. Almost charming in a way.
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Comment on Any songs you've been cringing to lately? in ~music
xscottx Link ParentOk but Aquarium is camp and (un)certifiably full of bops as far as I’m concerned. My first CD was Believe by Cher. I wish it had been something cool like Dookie or Enema of the State but while my...Ok but Aquarium is camp and (un)certifiably full of bops as far as I’m concerned.
My first CD was Believe by Cher. I wish it had been something cool like Dookie or Enema of the State but while my mom was cool, she wasn’t that cool.
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Comment on Any songs you've been cringing to lately? in ~music
xscottx Link ParentThat was certainly something. I am impressed at the lack of awareness, but it is rather catchy.That was certainly something. I am impressed at the lack of awareness, but it is rather catchy.
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Comment on Bags and backpacks! What do you look for, what do you use? in ~life.style
xscottx Link ParentDarn that’s a bit of a dealbreaker. I love the idea, but sometimes the posters are even bigger than 11x17 (and mine barely fits those). I’d love to step away from the fast fashiony bag I do have....Darn that’s a bit of a dealbreaker. I love the idea, but sometimes the posters are even bigger than 11x17 (and mine barely fits those).
I’d love to step away from the fast fashiony bag I do have. I will keep the Lunchbox in mind for when this bag inevitably degrades.
I know of a few venues around me that would not be ok with the water bladder unfortunately. Philly venues are on two ends of the spectrum: either they look you up and down and let you in or they go full TSA on you.
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Comment on Any songs you've been cringing to lately? in ~music
xscottx Link ParentI was actually a huge Modest Mouse fan in high school! I really didn’t care for Strangers to Ourselves in general, but I, too, hated Pistol. My favorites were We Were Dead or Building Nothing....I was actually a huge Modest Mouse fan in high school! I really didn’t care for Strangers to Ourselves in general, but I, too, hated Pistol. My favorites were We Were Dead or Building Nothing.
Although, Ugly Casanova was more my jam. I listened to Sharpen Your Teeth on repeat.
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Comment on Any songs you've been cringing to lately? in ~music
xscottx Link ParentThat’s an adorable story and I’m very happy that it’s worked out for you. That song was fantastic for all the wrong reasons. I really did not expect the autotune to be so egregious!That’s an adorable story and I’m very happy that it’s worked out for you.
That song was fantastic for all the wrong reasons. I really did not expect the autotune to be so egregious!
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Any songs you've been cringing to lately?
I have a couple iTunes libraries, and one of them contains every song I have ever collected. I decided to load it up on one of my flash modded iPods a few days ago, shuffling, and having some fun...
I have a couple iTunes libraries, and one of them contains every song I have ever collected. I decided to load it up on one of my flash modded iPods a few days ago, shuffling, and having some fun listening to music I haven't listened to in a long time.
I was about 25 songs in when the autotuned mess of Untitled by The Title came on and a wave of nostalgia and disgust washed over me.
It's so terrible, I can't believe I used to listen to the album on repeat, but it tickled my brain the same way it did when I was 12.
Any nostalgic cringe songs you've been listening to? Or what are your guilty pleasures songs?
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Comment on What do you use for note taking/writing? in ~creative
xscottx LinkSo I mostly use a Macbook for college outside of the few programs that require Windows (MultiSim, I'm looking at you). I've tried Evernote and OneNote, but I fall back on Notion for very large...So I mostly use a Macbook for college outside of the few programs that require Windows (MultiSim, I'm looking at you).
I've tried Evernote and OneNote, but I fall back on Notion for very large note sets, and the iOS/macOS Notes app for everything else.
The simplicity and ease of use of the Apple Notes app is great. It has enough options to satisfy most of my note taking needs.
Also, I've been in class taking notes on my laptop, then the professor draws something complex, and I just press a menu option and my laptop opens up the camera on my phone, I take the picture, and then drops the photo right in. Or I can draw on my phone and have it insert it into my notes. I find it wildly convenient. -
Comment on Can you help recommend books and documentaries? in ~books
xscottx LinkI read a ton of books between the start of COVID and when I finally went back to college. My three favorites would be: Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World by Matt Alt. It...I read a ton of books between the start of COVID and when I finally went back to college.
My three favorites would be:
Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World by Matt Alt. It tells several stories corroborated by in-person interviews of toy cars, kawaii design but more specifically Hello Kitty, the Gameboy, the karaoke machine, and 2ch. That last part is a bit controversial and some of the reviews of the book are quite negative towards the obvious bias of Matt Alt's that 2ch indirectly influenced the 2016 election. Overall, I still think it's worth checking out.
Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power by Anna Merlan. It's a surprisingly thoughtful and considerate view towards American conspiracy theorists. Covering doomsdayers to the original pizzagate, birtherism to black paranoia, and of course the assassination of JFK. I think it was a rather fascinating read and a lot easier to digest than The United States of Paranoia.
This last one isn't much of a hidden gem but much more beloved. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa (translated by Alison Watts) is an adorable story of a bitter middle aged man who works in a dorayaki shop after failing at his aspirations of a writer. While grinding away, an elderly woman enters who changes his life.
You are correct. They have the white LEDs that emit quite a blue hue and can keep me up. I love the Kindle Voyage, but it’s a major flaw when reading at night.
No e-reader at the release of it had warm LEDs and I feel like it’s kind of a no brainer now. I’m tempted to pick up an Oasis but I hate the lack of repairability. I’ve already replaced the battery once in my Votage.