Zorind's recent activity

  1. Pretty sure I’ve been drinking mold for the past month (or longer)

    ~talk Ask
    I have a dispenser style Brita filter (link) that I keep in my fridge. I noticed a few weeks back it was dispensing water slower and at a slight angle, and figured maybe the plastic bits had...

    I have a dispenser style Brita filter (link) that I keep in my fridge. I noticed a few weeks back it was dispensing water slower and at a slight angle, and figured maybe the plastic bits had gotten worn down and it might need replaced soon.

    Today, I noticed it was even slower, so I emptied it and held it up to try to look at the nozzle. Couldn’t really see anything, but I did notice the nozzle appeared to be removable so I did that to get a closer look…

    Looked like maybe there was some biofilm or mold or something at the nozzle tip. Cleaned it with soap and water and a straw brush, but honestly I’m horribly grossed out.

    I’ve been drinking most of my daily water dispensed by it. I haven’t been sick or anything over the past month so like, presumably I’ll be OK but…ew.

    32 votes

  2. Comment on I finally finished my mobile party game in ~games

    Zorind
    Link
    Ah, so like an app version of Celebrity or Monikers, nice! Will probably use this at the next big holiday gathering :)

    Ah, so like an app version of Celebrity or Monikers, nice!

    Will probably use this at the next big holiday gathering :)

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Why contacting customer service might not be best in ~life

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    In my experience in the US: phone call to customer service for something that can be fixed/remediated verifiably so while still on the call, and email/writing for anything else. If your issue...

    In my experience in the US: phone call to customer service for something that can be fixed/remediated verifiably so while still on the call, and email/writing for anything else.

    If your issue isn’t resolved by the time you hang up, the next time you call, odds are there’s no record of it or nothing actually being done to fix your problem.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on Do I belong in tech anymore? in ~tech

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I am very thankful my org has a “agentic programming guidelines” document that includes: At least 2 people must review someone’s merge/pull request Do not use agents to leave comments on someone...

    I am very thankful my org has a “agentic programming guidelines” document that includes:

    • At least 2 people must review someone’s merge/pull request
    • Do not use agents to leave comments on someone else’s merge/pull request
    • Do not use agents for replying to merge/pull request comments (can use to address the comment, but not to reply to it)

    Now, we still have a agent-auto-reviewer that leaves an initial comment on an MR (that frequently mentions latest compiler features are invalid and not supported, but does sometimes have a relevant thing it mentions).

    So, not the perfect LLM policy, but certainly better than the “Wild West” many places using LLMs seem to be. And I have not felt pressure forcing me to use LLMs so I use it pretty sparingly.

    6 votes

  5. Comment on Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO | Teaser PV in ~anime

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Oh my god a giant bottle would be hilarious.

    Oh my god a giant bottle would be hilarious.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    Zorind
    Link
    Got Calibre and its content server working to get books to my Kobo with KOReader. Now to see if I can set up some sort of automation/workflow to easily get the latest chapters of the few web...

    Got Calibre and its content server working to get books to my Kobo with KOReader.

    Now to see if I can set up some sort of automation/workflow to easily get the latest chapters of the few web serials I follow to convert into epubs and loaded into Calibre without too many manual steps…

    2 votes

  7. Comment on A Roman scroll that should be ash has just been read without ever being opened in ~humanities.history

    Zorind
    Link
    This is incredible cool, I’d been loosely following it but forget to check for updates.

    This is incredible cool, I’d been loosely following it but forget to check for updates.

    5 votes

  8. Comment on eBook management for Kobo in ~books

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    KOReader really wasn’t that hard to install, you’re right (I found a “one click” install script that maybe it extremely simple). I think the OPDS functionality is what I was missing the last time...

    KOReader really wasn’t that hard to install, you’re right (I found a “one click” install script that maybe it extremely simple).

    I think the OPDS functionality is what I was missing the last time I tried, it’s much nicer IMO than doing the direct device connection.

    1 vote

  9. Comment on eBook management for Kobo in ~books

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Ended up basically doing this, decided I don’t need a host running all the time, and just running the Calibre content server and connecting using KOReader’s OPDS browser is really what I was...

    Ended up basically doing this, decided I don’t need a host running all the time, and just running the Calibre content server and connecting using KOReader’s OPDS browser is really what I was looking for, rather than doing the direct “connect to device.”

    Will have to check out BookShelf, that sounds neat.

  10. Comment on US House passes bill to ‘ditch the switch’ and make daylight saving time permanent in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Just swap it by 30 minutes go halfsies

    Just swap it by 30 minutes go halfsies

    4 votes

  11. Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food

    Zorind
    Link
    I’ve been enjoying this Pasta alla Checca recipe. Pasta noodles are cheap, and fresh tomatoes and mozzarella make it more summery & enjoyable in the hot weather we’ve been having near me than a...

    I’ve been enjoying this Pasta alla Checca recipe.

    Pasta noodles are cheap, and fresh tomatoes and mozzarella make it more summery & enjoyable in the hot weather we’ve been having near me than a “heartier” pasta sauce (at least, to me).

    I figured cherry tomatoes were probably safe enough from the stomach bug parasite, and the fresh basil I got from my balcony garden, so…should be safe enough.

  12. Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers? in ~books

    Zorind
    (edited )
    Link
    I loved this book when I read it (and its sequel) a while back. EDIT(grammar): https://www.its-not-its.info/ I should re-read it though…once I get my Kobo ebook situation sorted.

    I loved this book when I read it (and its sequel) a while back.

    EDIT(grammar): https://www.its-not-its.info/

    I should re-read it though…once I get my Kobo ebook situation sorted.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on Microsoft PowerToys in ~tech

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Why am I just now learning about this. The number of times I have googled & scripted my way to achieve a similar effect is sadly more than once.

    Power Rename

    Why am I just now learning about this. The number of times I have googled & scripted my way to achieve a similar effect is sadly more than once.

    8 votes

  14. Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's surveillance of cyclosporiasis in ~health

    Zorind
    Link
    I started following “Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” during COVID. They recently did a post on this too that might be of interest (through Substack). Key bits quoted below, for those who don’t...

    I started following “Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” during COVID. They recently did a post on this too that might be of interest (through Substack). Key bits quoted below, for those who don’t want to click through to Substack.

    https://open.substack.com/pub/yourlocalepidemiologist/p/explosive-foodborne-outbreak

    For context, the U.S. typically sees around 3,000-4,000 cyclosporiasis cases in an entire year—so this single outbreak has already matched a normal year’s total, and it’s still climbing.

    …

    Michigan has the most cases—more than 1,600 confirmed—but that doesn’t mean it started there. It is more likely to mean Michigan is better resourced for testing, reporting, and epidemiological legwork, so more of its cases are getting caught and counted.

    …

    How did the contamination start? Still unclear. Broadly, there are two possibilities: contamination at the farm level (poor field sanitation, such as workers without adequate bathroom access, or contaminated irrigation water) or contamination during processing (typically via contaminated water at the packing or washing stage

    …

    I know most of us would like to avoid having explosive diarrhea, but keep in mind that the risk is low (much lower than getting norovirus right now). Produce is healthy for you, and there are ways we can lower the risk without cutting it out completely.

    …

    Avoid the bagged or boxed salads for now

    …

    Until a source is confirmed, lean toward produce with the least human handling

    …

    Washing [with just water] helps, but it won’t fully remove the parasite. […] Cooking will kill it, though I recognize “just cook your salad” isn’t a satisfying solution.

    …

    Is this deadly? It hardly ever is. Most cases are mild, and severe cases can be treated. CDC is reporting 86 people hospitalized and no deaths.

    12 votes

  15. eBook management for Kobo

    ~books Ask (advice)
    I have an older kobo (Kobo Libra H20) and have been using Calibre, and basically manually plugging it in and syncing books over to it. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any good ways of doing...

    I have an older kobo (Kobo Libra H20) and have been using Calibre, and basically manually plugging it in and syncing books over to it.

    I'm wondering if anyone knows of any good ways of doing wireless sync?

    I've looked into KoReader but not sure exactly how involved that would be to set up. I am comfortable setting up something "SelfHosted" as long as I can easily spin it up and spin it down, I don't currently have any computer I leave on 100% of the time.

    I've seen previous topics here, and Booklore looked interesting, but when I went to track it down it looks like the website is down (the GitHub is still there though), and apparently lots of controversy surrounding it in some reddit posts...it looks like there is maybe a fork of it (Grimmory), but I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with it or anything similar.

    I'd prefer something without a lot of AI/LLM use, but not sure how realistic that is.

    I only read eBooks, not manga/visual novels, and I don't listen to audiobooks so I don't necessarily need anything with support for any of those.

    I would also be fine paying for something, but preferably only a one-time fee not a subscription.

    I primarily read books on my Kobo, but it would be a "nice to have" if I could somehow sync to my iPhone (or Apple books) and iPad, but not required (and I don't need it to sync progress between devices, as I'd pretty much only be reading on one at a time).

    Additional "nice to have" would be the ability to add books from any device.

    Any suggestions? Just use Calibre content server? Or is there something "better"?

    23 votes

  16. Comment on Introductions | July 2026 in ~talk

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Oh no, so I shouldn’t be referring to you as “Cannibal”? Oops.

    I’m Apple

    Oh no, so I shouldn’t be referring to you as “Cannibal”? Oops.

    3 votes

  17. Comment on Erling Haaland's second-half double helped Norway stun five-time winners Brazil and book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in ~sports.football

    Zorind
    Link
    I’ve been following the World Cup more this year than in the past, surprised there haven’t been more posts about it on here. I saw some chatter in a Discord server I’m in about this game (when the...

    I’ve been following the World Cup more this year than in the past, surprised there haven’t been more posts about it on here.

    I saw some chatter in a Discord server I’m in about this game (when the first goal was scored) and managed to turn it on just in time to catch the second goal.

    8 votes

  18. Comment on AI job grief in ~tech

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    Haven’t finished reading it, but I like that you posted it. I think we’re possibly in a similar boat. I got into programming because I liked solving problems and seeing the tangible effects of...

    Haven’t finished reading it, but I like that you posted it. I think we’re possibly in a similar boat.

    I got into programming because I liked solving problems and seeing the tangible effects of code I wrote doing things. Using LLMs for this completely changes how the job feels, in a way where I’m no longer doing what I enjoy, and I’m not even using LLMs all that much.

    I certainly don’t think I’ve tied my identity to “Software Engineering” more than a carpenter may have tied their identity to Carpentry (some people I follow like referring to “Software Craftsmanship”, and I think anything you’d refer to as craftsmanship implies a level of care and identity), but I think the article still holds water if you ignore the bit where it claims to only apply to “knowledge work”.

    I think grief can come in any job where you’ve tied your identity or pride to the work you do, and then the way that work is done fundamentally shifts out from under you.

    Though, there may be some difference in that I doubt there will end up being a market for “handcrafted code” (if the LLM proposition holds and they truly become as widespread as their proponents hold they will) in the way there is a market still for good, handcrafted furniture.

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Mullvad CEO gives ≈€452,000 to the Örebro Party in ~society

    Zorind
    Link Parent
    I think it sounds like maybe what you’re trying to get as is the varying levels of “guilty by association”? Like, you don’t agree with the Örebro Party’s views, but you do want to still have a...

    I think it sounds like maybe what you’re trying to get as is the varying levels of “guilty by association”?

    Like, you don’t agree with the Örebro Party’s views, but you do want to still have a decent VPN.

    And Mullvad’s VPN is good, aside from the fact that its founder donated to the Örebro Party, and you’re not sure if that is a line too far for you to drop it?

    I think we all struggle with this in our own way, it’s very frustrating when the “good” products in a space are supporting things and are one of a few that are as good at their product as they are.

    E.g., if my local coffee shop donated to Nazis, I would go to the other coffee shop instead. A little harder when there is less choice.

    I struggle with this too, because I work for a company that does a lot of work with customers that I don’t always agree with, but I got hired when the job market was bad and it hasn’t really improved, and my wife is currently still looking for work. So I still work there, and I enjoy what I work on, and I’m not directly supporting the worst aspects and that’s what I have to live with.

    So I sit here and make excuses and the college student me who studied ethics and got a minor in Philosophy and really liked the concept of “Virtue Ethics” dies a little bit every day and wishes the world was a less horrible place, and wonders how much I’m contributing to the current state of things, and what I could be doing differently. But I also haven’t shopped at Target in 3+ years (after their anti-pride debacles) and I used to shop there weekly.

    Ethics is hard and we can all only do what we can, and it’s all squishy and horrible and would be so much easier if there weren’t Fascists and Nazis and bigots.

    14 votes

  20. Comment on Normal Golf Game | Trailer in ~games

    Zorind
    Link
    I’ve been following some of his dev logs for it, I really should play the demo. Thanks for the reminder! I highly recommend the videos on his channel, he talks about his time working on Jetpack...

    I’ve been following some of his dev logs for it, I really should play the demo. Thanks for the reminder!

    I highly recommend the videos on his channel, he talks about his time working on Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja, if you ever played those early smartphone games!

    3 votes