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  • Showing only topics in ~hobbies with the tag "survey". Back to normal view / Search all groups
    1. Gardeners in da house?

      I've enjoyed the challenges of gardening in zone 5 -6 and zone 10 - 11, and am wondering about others' experience. Climate change, with migrating pests/diseases and more erratic weather, are...

      I've enjoyed the challenges of gardening in zone 5 -6 and zone 10 - 11, and am wondering about others' experience.

      Climate change, with migrating pests/diseases and more erratic weather, are definitely noticeable trends.

      While it's interesting to grow ornamentals and food crops that wouldn't ordinarily be available, it's also disturbing to find falling yields and utter collapses of formerly successful "easy" plants like basil and temperate climate tomato varieties.

      There are limits on how much can be accomplished with purely "organic" controls - I've had to experiment with soil ecology (MycoStop for fungal infections, etc.). Allergenic plants are an increasing problem. There are brand new animal pests where I live as well - iguanas, pythons, and other hot-climate reptiles.

      I'm curious about others' gardening results, and suggestions for improving adaptability.

      12 votes
    2. Dvorak, Colemak and other alternative keyboard layouts

      I wouldn't really consider it a hobby, but couldn't think of where else to try and have this discussion. How many of you have ever heard of, or even considered the idea of alternative keyboard...

      I wouldn't really consider it a hobby, but couldn't think of where else to try and have this discussion.

      How many of you have ever heard of, or even considered the idea of alternative keyboard layouts!? As unanimous as it is, why are the letters of the alphabet even placed that way on our keyboards anyway? Alternative keyboard layouts attempt to optimize the layout by placing letters in such a way as to make typing more ergonomic. Often ideas include focusing on the home row, rolling fingers, alternating hands, high frequency letters on index and middle etc.

      Some examples to look into if you've never heard of the concept:

      • Dvorak, the most well known alternative keyboard layout. Prioritizes alternating hands by separating vowels and consonants by hand.

      • Colemak. As opposed to Dvorak, prioritizes rolling the fingers rather than alternating hands and attempts to limit same-finger bigrams.

      • BÉPO, a layout optimized for the French language!

      • Others include Carpalx, Workman, MTGAP, Norman and many, many more. Creating rather than using layouts has sort of become a hobby for some...

      So what do you think? Supposed ergonomics vs standardization. Would you ever consider switching or do you think it's a bunch of hocus pocus? Perhaps you have switched or tried to switch and would like to share your experience.

      20 votes
    3. Share your DIY projects

      I am currently trying to learn how to fix things myself by learning how to solder and fix things like that. I also want to DIY some things for quite some time. My current project is working...

      I am currently trying to learn how to fix things myself by learning how to solder and fix things like that. I also want to DIY some things for quite some time.

      My current project is working through the book Make:Electronics , I bought it at humblebundle some years ago. Yesterday I powered a led via a power outlet for the first time, by connecting it to a cut off USB cable. I'll share a picture of the abomination later.

      So: what have you built at home? What are you building? What are you planning to build?

      8 votes
    4. Is anyone here into vexillology?

      Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags (...) What are your favourite flags? Countries, regions, cultures, organisations, anything goes.

      17 votes
    5. What're you drinking this week?

      We've had a what're you listening to?, a what are you doing, etc... I am interested in what you're drinking this week. I've discovered a fascination for Whiskey. I've been drinking an odd...

      We've had a what're you listening to?, a what are you doing, etc...
      I am interested in what you're drinking this week.
      I've discovered a fascination for Whiskey. I've been drinking an odd collection of Whiskey drinks, a couple of Scotch's (Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder) and some cheap Bourbon (Evan Williams, Ezra Brooks). I tried Irish (Jameson, Tulamore dew) too, but I can't get into it.
      Not all this week, obviously.
      This week it's been pretty much just Ezra Brooks. It's pretty good for a cheap Bourbon. Pretty heavy Oak flavor that I quite enjoy, not much complexity, but you know. It was 20 bucks.

      Are there any fellow Alcohol hobbyists? What're you into this week?

      17 votes
    6. Anybody "hobonichi" or bullet journal?

      I own a hobonichi, which is really just a hipster day-planner. The key feature for me is the river paper, which allows water colouring. I try to water colour everyday. Started that way at the...

      I own a hobonichi, which is really just a hipster day-planner. The key feature for me is the river paper, which allows water colouring.

      I try to water colour everyday. Started that way at the beginning of the year, and after a few months, now pretty much use it as a day-planner. Of course, I would love to get back to it, and will make an effort to at least catch up over the weekends.

      Would love to hear how you journal and any habits that work for you.

      12 votes
    7. Comic Books - tell me about your favorites, my Tilderinos!

      Or whatever else you'd want to talk about concerning comic books! A new comic book shop has opened in my town, and my fiancée and I are pretty excited about it. We've never really been into them,...

      Or whatever else you'd want to talk about concerning comic books!

      A new comic book shop has opened in my town, and my fiancée and I are pretty excited about it. We've never really been into them, but we're pretty excited to get into them. On that note, does anyone have any good recommendations for a newcomer?

      As a neat aside, we have a thirty-plus year old comic book-ization of Return of the Jedi, and that's pretty cool.

      7 votes
    8. Mechanical keyboards, anyone?

      I'm only a beginner down the rabbithole known as mech-keebs, but I thought I'd source some thoughts here. Apologies if this has been expanded on in other ~hobbies threads. Those of you who have...

      I'm only a beginner down the rabbithole known as mech-keebs, but I thought I'd source some thoughts here. Apologies if this has been expanded on in other ~hobbies threads.

      Those of you who have been in the mech game longer, what switches have you tried? What do you find are your personal preferences on switches and why do you think that is? Have you ventured away from the very popular Cherry MX switches?

      What about keycaps? What are your favourite profiles or colourway designs? Preferred material? I am currently rocking a DSA set of keycaps from one of my favourite designers, MiTo: https://mitormk.com/legacy-dsa/ I got the blue/black Tron-inspired set. I gotta admit, I was a little skeptical of ABS caps, but they're really nicely textured in a way that's reminiscent of PBT, but without that powdery grippiness.

      Tell me about some of your favourite layouts too! I hear some pretty aggressive proponents of tenkeyless layouts, but I just really like my numpad for lots of numeric input. If it were just a gaming keyboard, I probably would be pretty happy with TKL though.

      Are you working on any new projects right now?

      Looking forward to all the responses!

      29 votes
    9. Anyone here interested in flashlights?

      One of my biggest hobbies is collecting flashlights. I guess I don't really "collect" them as much buy ones I want and sell ones I stop using. Is anyone here also a flashlight aficionado, or would...

      One of my biggest hobbies is collecting flashlights. I guess I don't really "collect" them as much buy ones I want and sell ones I stop using.

      Is anyone here also a flashlight aficionado, or would like to be?

      7 votes
    10. Rock climbing thread

      Any <insert tildes demonym here> into rock climbing? Done any cool routes recently? Have some interesting gym stories? Got some cool new gear? Post it here.

      8 votes
    11. Anyone interested in 3D printing?

      If there aren't many 3D printer hobbyists here, still feel free to comment if your interested. It's a great hobby open to all price ranges and skill levels. If you can't afford a printer, many...

      If there aren't many 3D printer hobbyists here, still feel free to comment if your interested. It's a great hobby open to all price ranges and skill levels. If you can't afford a printer, many libraries and schools have printers open to public use.

      What are your projects? What do you like to print? Materials? Printer? Etc.

      I've been getting into 3D printing more seriously. I have worked with cad software for many years but only printed on occasion, never personal stuff. I bought the Prusa Mk3 kit at the end of last year and patiently waited for its mid-spring arrival. It's a fantastic printer worth every bit of waiting. I print in PLA for fun stuff & online models and PETG for functional & outdoor models.

      My most recent print was a window fan mount for my car for car camping. I designed it to create some airflow to keep the car from getting stuffy while keeping bugs and water out. It's very low power, so no issue there.

      I am currently printing the pangolin awareness toy from thingiverse in white PLA for fun.

      What do you like to do with 3D printing? or what do you think of it?

      18 votes
    12. Musicians?

      Anyone play an instrument as a hobby? I'm currently learning how to play the violin I started about 2 weeks ago and really like it so far! I noticed my G string's fine tuner was not quite working...

      Anyone play an instrument as a hobby?

      I'm currently learning how to play the violin I started about 2 weeks ago and really like it so far!

      I noticed my G string's fine tuner was not quite working so I removed tension off the string to fix the screw--when I re-added tension I ended up breaking my string. This gave me an excuse to buy some nice starter strings! I can't wait to start playing on them I'm still waiting a few hrs to let them "settle in" on their own.

      7 votes
    13. Geocaching!

      Any of my fellow Tilderinos into geocaching? I've been aware of the hobby for a while, but I just recently decided to delve into it with my friends. Even though I'm in a rural area in the South,...

      Any of my fellow Tilderinos into geocaching? I've been aware of the hobby for a while, but I just recently decided to delve into it with my friends. Even though I'm in a rural area in the South, I'm still able to see tons of these things on the map! It's a fun way to venture outside and explore nature. The cache I found Saturday was well worth the mosquito bites, that's for sure!

      5 votes
    14. Anybody here interested in ham/amateur radio?

      I was wondering if there's anybody here who's interested in ham/amateur radio. I'm somewhat interested in it myself, and am planning on getting a BaoFeng BF-F8HP soon as my first radio, as well as...

      I was wondering if there's anybody here who's interested in ham/amateur radio. I'm somewhat interested in it myself, and am planning on getting a BaoFeng BF-F8HP soon as my first radio, as well as a Tech (or maybe even General) license.

      12 votes
    15. Car/motorcycle modifiers, restorers and racers... what do you drive, and what have you done to it?

      I'm a serial car/bike addict, and have owned close to 50 cars and 10 or so bikes. Usually at least mildly modified for performance/handling/modcons, if not heavily modified. I'm not so much into...

      I'm a serial car/bike addict, and have owned close to 50 cars and 10 or so bikes. Usually at least mildly modified for performance/handling/modcons, if not heavily modified. I'm not so much into visuals, as I am into improving cheaper cars so I can get more bang for my buck (I'm not well off).

      I've owned everything from 1960s Mercs and Holdens to brand new Subarus and VWs. V-twin sport bikes to show-level streetfighters. I just like weird/unique vehicles, and tinkering with them.

      Currently got a '97 Nissan Stagea RSFour imported from Japan. RB25DET with a few mods. FMIC, turbo back exhaust, intake, boost controller, turbo timer, TE37 reps, BC coilovers, and currently converting the centre console to a 7" RPi-driven touch screen with CONSULT integration to the ECU for sensor readouts, and setting it up for track days (half cage, etc). Pic.

      Also about to take on a late 80s JDM Honda Goldwing which I want to fully restore to meticulous detail, for no other reason than I think they look retro-cool and are massively underrated for cruising. I plan on doing a small turbo conversion, and upgrading the brakes and suspension, but keeping it looking 100% stock and perfect down to every last bolt.

      6 votes