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    1. Deep thoughts on tattoos and tattooing culture

      This is my first post so please let me know if I'm doing anything incorrectly! I'm not very clear on how tags work... Apologies. I'm curious if there are many tattoo enthusiasts around. I love...

      This is my first post so please let me know if I'm doing anything incorrectly! I'm not very clear on how tags work... Apologies.

      I'm curious if there are many tattoo enthusiasts around. I love both talking about and looking at tattoos. I have found that more visual-focused places like Instagram or even Reddit don't really allow much conversation on the nuances of the industry, its artists, artistry, criticisms, and so on.

      I am a heavily tattooed woman, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I'm happy in my own body. A curse because being fetishized makes me uncomfortable.

      I both love and hate tattoos entering more into the mainstream. As that as happened, artistry has come leaps and bounds alongside it.

      Anyone have any deep thoughts on tattoos and modern tattoo culture?

      32 votes
    2. Home and garden: Boring “watch grass grow” thread

      (This is my first tildes thread please be gentle) Hello, saw in another thread there was one person interested in boring hobbies of what we're up to so, brace yourselves! This is going to be a...

      (This is my first tildes thread please be gentle)

      Hello, saw in another thread there was one person interested in boring hobbies of what we're up to so, brace yourselves! This is going to be a thread of me talking to my greenhouse plastic walls about literally watching grass grow, waiting for paint to dry and putting a puzzle together.

      Would love to hear about your gardening and home inside/outside/building/demolishing/decorating efforts!

      Maybe a sort of memorial thread for plants that died under our care. RIP little dudes.

      37 votes
    3. Any skydivers here?

      I love to skydive even though I'm relatively new. It's given me lots of motivation to lose weight and the community so far is great! As a trans woman in the US South who jumps in the South, I've...

      I love to skydive even though I'm relatively new. It's given me lots of motivation to lose weight and the community so far is great! As a trans woman in the US South who jumps in the South, I've found them to be incredibly accepting and welcoming, and there's nowhere I'd rather be than hanging out at the drop zone on a pretty day!

      Anyone else like to skydive?

      8 votes
    4. Best products to bring back to Europe from the US

      I'm a US citizen living in Berlin, and I'm currently back in the US (Northeast Ohio specifically) for a family wedding. We've got a lot of extra room in our suitcases, so I want to bring stuff...

      I'm a US citizen living in Berlin, and I'm currently back in the US (Northeast Ohio specifically) for a family wedding. We've got a lot of extra room in our suitcases, so I want to bring stuff back that's hard(er) to get ahold of in Germany. I figured this is a good place to ask for any recommendations from others who live in Europe or have experience traveling!

      As an example, here are some of the common recs I've seen in threads on r/germany:

      • bulk OTC meds like aspirin and tylenol (not hard to find in Germany but cheaper in the US)
      • brown sugar
      • double-acting baking powder
      • Frank's red hot sauce (maybe other hot sauce as well, Germans are not a spicy people)
      • Ranch dressing (I've heard the powdered kind is better bc it's easier to pack?)
      • Adobo seasoning (probably other Latin American ingredients too but this one specifically is a must-buy even for my white ass)
      • specific brands of candies & junk food not available in Germany (though ime this category is the easiest to find at US-themed international stores, albeit at high prices)
      • Levi's jeans for some reason (I don't really get this one tbh but I always see Germans saying it in threads)

      I know for sure I'll get home and immediately regret not having purchased something. Anyone with experience traveling between these two continents, please let me know if you think of something missing from this list!

      16 votes
    5. Anyone here in or familiar with Denver and the surrounding area? Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist...

      Ok, so the "Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist..." isn't entirely true like it was in my post about NYC last year, but everyone was extremely helpful and threw out...

      Ok, so the "Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist..." isn't entirely true like it was in my post about NYC last year, but everyone was extremely helpful and threw out suggestions I wouldn't have even thought about looking for. So here I am again to bug you wonderful people for Tildes Travel Guide 2: Electric Denver Boogaloo

      Same as before, staying for a week, I do have a rental car this time (trying to decide between the comfort of a Lexus or sportiness of an Alfa Romeo, damn car guy indecisiveness) so transport is less of an issue, anything that you'd suggest to see/do?

      13 votes
    6. Wildflower plantings

      I've recently been trying to get an area of my yard to grow with perennial wild flowers. For 2 years straight, I plant seeds and nothing comes up. I'm starting to think that the seeds the store...

      I've recently been trying to get an area of my yard to grow with perennial wild flowers. For 2 years straight, I plant seeds and nothing comes up. I'm starting to think that the seeds the store sells are just a scam. Even when I tried to germinate them in potting soil, nothing grew. Anyone here have any sort of advice?

      21 votes
    7. Treasure hunting

      Anyone metal detect or coin roll hunt? Or magnet fish? I do both, ive coin roll hunted for a year, and I just started metal detecting a month ago I'm in canada, which has pros and cons for metal...

      Anyone metal detect or coin roll hunt? Or magnet fish?

      I do both, ive coin roll hunted for a year, and I just started metal detecting a month ago

      I'm in canada, which has pros and cons for metal detecting, a con would be all our modern coins are made of plated steel, so they both sound bad when you swing over them, and the rot beyond use in not that long time

      A pro though is we have 1 and 2 dollar coins, in the states you might go a year before swinging over a Sacajawea dollar, but in canada you might find multiple loonies on the first time out

      In a bit over a month, of metal detecting I found 2 sterling rings, a silver dime(it was a fresh drop not ancient) and a sterling earring, the earring was gold plated, I was hoping I found gold till I saw the 925 and makers mark, looked on the makers website and it was all gold plated sterling

      Coin roll hunting I recently hit the jackpot of the year most definitly, four whole rolls of silver dimes, thats $380 and only cost me $20 to aquire

      14 votes
    8. Anyone here familiar with Scotland?

      I am in Scotland for a little vacation with a friend, and am looking for recs! We are mainly in Edinburgh, but have a car and are open to just about anything! I don't really mess with touristy...

      I am in Scotland for a little vacation with a friend, and am looking for recs! We are mainly in Edinburgh, but have a car and are open to just about anything! I don't really mess with touristy stuff, but am willing to try if you think its worthwhile! Also will be here for the rest of the week! We are planning on going to the gardens for sure, but other than that don't really have a whole lot planned. I would like to go to Galloway at night and see the milky way though. I love the scenery so I don't mind a short drive. Thanks :)

      16 votes
    9. Visiting DC, any recommendations?

      I’m going to be in Washington, D.C. for the next week (give or take a day). I’ll be staying in Arlington, VA and plan on utilizing public transportation while I’m there. Any unconventional...

      I’m going to be in Washington, D.C. for the next week (give or take a day). I’ll be staying in Arlington, VA and plan on utilizing public transportation while I’m there.

      Any unconventional recommendations or things I should know?

      13 votes
    10. What is your opinion of snuff tobacco?

      I must preface by saying that no form of tobacco is safe for consumption, and no reasonable person should use tobacco for any reason other than maybe in religious ceremonies. I just happen to be...

      I must preface by saying that no form of tobacco is safe for consumption, and no reasonable person should use tobacco for any reason other than maybe in religious ceremonies. I just happen to be an unreasonable person.

      I took a bunch of my stuff that was stored in my mother's house this week, among them some snuff tobacco in a good state of conservation. I like the smell and the ritual. I went by a tobacco shop and bought two additional tiny containers of snuff -- mint, and cinnamon. It was very cheap. I enjoy using it throughout the day.

      A lot of people snort it like cocaine, but that is not the way to do it. You should simply press your thumb into the snuff (which will get some of it on the thumb), block one nostril with said thumb, and then gently breathe with the other nostril. It has a high that is similar to smoking, but milder and more gradual. I find it very pleasant.

      You shouldn't ever use tobacco. But, if you have used snuff tobacco, I would like to know how was your experience.

      10 votes
    11. Is anyone here in or familiar with NYC? Going on a trip and have zero idea what to do as a non-tourist...

      I'm spending 5 days in NYC starting next week. While I've traveled plenty, it's almost always been alone, frequently short term (2-3 days including flights in and out), and work related so I had...

      I'm spending 5 days in NYC starting next week. While I've traveled plenty, it's almost always been alone, frequently short term (2-3 days including flights in and out), and work related so I had people to either ask for suggestions or just went out on my own. If the trip didn't fit into the above categories it was typically to somewhere I'm relatively familiar with or had a lot of lead time to prepare my trip.

      That is not the case right now. I've never had any interest in NYC so I don't have a list of places I'd like to experience in my head, I don't have a ton of time to research a plan and filter out all the "top 10 things to do in NYC" websites, I'll be with my wife so going off wandering on my own isn't an option, and this will be the first trip where I don't have a rental car to just go get lost in and see where my randomness takes me. I'm also not the tourist type so there's no interest in "the tree" or Times Square, etc.

      So I beseech you fellow Tilderinos, as someone that doesn't care about being a tourist, doesn't have a social media presence to feed I'm-here-and-you're-not selfies to, and needs actual destinations to go to due to a lack of independent mobility, what should someone with pretty much 72 hours of completely free time in NYC actually do?

      16 votes
    12. What do you collect?

      Collections can be made of anything. Some items have no purpose other than being part of the collection itself, something to look at and feel warm inside, while others are more functional or...

      Collections can be made of anything. Some items have no purpose other than being part of the collection itself, something to look at and feel warm inside, while others are more functional or enjoyable by themselves.

      Some collectors are moved by a desire for completion, some by nostalgia, or historical preservation. There are also those who accumulate objects which they believe will grow in value.

      People collect books, movies, posters, magazines, rocks, cars, tools, swords, sand, tshirts, game cartridges, music CDs, videogame consoles, dolls, action figures, computers, letters, stamps, coins, digital files of all kinds, and knives. Anything that you cherish having in great numbers can be a collection.

      So what do you collect, and why?

      16 votes
    13. What are your failed hobbies?

      As I spent some time recently clearing out my closet, I looked longingly at my keyboard that I purchased with the intent of learning and practicing while working from home, as well to my ant farm...

      As I spent some time recently clearing out my closet, I looked longingly at my keyboard that I purchased with the intent of learning and practicing while working from home, as well to my ant farm kit where I had unsuccessfully kept a queen and small colony for a few months until they died several years ago. I'm sure we all have these tokens of failed experiments or forays into hobbies that once seemed interesting but we ended up losing interest in.

      What are yours? Why were you initially interested in it and why did you stop?

      24 votes
    14. Where can I buy a kit internal combustion engine?

      Title. I am interested in buying a kit model engine to assemble and run. I am fine with anything from a single cylinder to a V8. It has to be a kit. It needs to run on a fuel (I want an actual,...

      Title. I am interested in buying a kit model engine to assemble and run.

      • I am fine with anything from a single cylinder to a V8.
      • It has to be a kit.
      • It needs to run on a fuel (I want an actual, running engine)
      • It should not be made in China (would strongly prefer US/Europe/Japan).

      Are there any particular companies or stores I should look at?

      7 votes
    15. Any SF Bay Area mountain bikers? Looking for info.

      Hey all. I just bought my first mountain bike. I don't know much about mountain biking but when I've taken a hybrid out onto logging trails it's been super fun so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I have a...

      Hey all. I just bought my first mountain bike. I don't know much about mountain biking but when I've taken a hybrid out onto logging trails it's been super fun so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I have a few questions before I head out into the mountains:

      1. What kind of mountain-biking specific gear do I need?
      2. Where should I go as a beginner? Ideally somewhere with not too many hikers or other cyclists. I have plenty of stamina from my regular uphill cycling routine, but I don't want to get into intense steep riding and jumps right now.
      5 votes
    16. What's the best way to learn piano without an in-person teacher?

      I recently bought a keyboard and am going to dedicate 30 minutes a day to practicing piano. My goal is to be able to play my favorite songs (jazz & indie mainly), improvise, and generally be...

      I recently bought a keyboard and am going to dedicate 30 minutes a day to practicing piano. My goal is to be able to play my favorite songs (jazz & indie mainly), improvise, and generally be competent.

      I also want to learn how to sightread, so I've been using https://sightreading.training which has been really useful! I have a background in music (guitar, mostly) and know music theory as well.

      Unfortunately due to COVID, Delta, etc, I am not really interested in in-person lessons at the moment, so I was wondering if any tilde users had advice about learning to play through resources online or books!

      I'm also really interested in any tips that anyone may have!

      14 votes
    17. Do you wear a non-smartwatch? If so, what do you have?

      I recently went back from Pebbles to a green Casio F91W with a green NATO strap. I did a quick mod tonight to disable the beeping... which lead to everybody in multiple channels chatting about...

      I recently went back from Pebbles to a green Casio F91W with a green NATO strap. I did a quick mod tonight to disable the beeping... which lead to everybody in multiple channels chatting about 'dumb' watches and even old calculator / data watches.

      I love watches -- from reps to cheap Casios to fancier ones. Indulge me with a little show and tell :)

      22 votes
    18. Looking for help with a DIY / household engineering project - hanging a water reservoir from my bed frame

      I have a Platypus Hoser water reservoir. And I have a metal canopy bed. Awhile back, I realized that I can hang the water reservoir from one of the top rails of the bed, and it gives me a way of...

      I have a Platypus Hoser water reservoir. And I have a metal canopy bed. Awhile back, I realized that I can hang the water reservoir from one of the top rails of the bed, and it gives me a way of drinking water in bed, with no risk of spilling it on myself or my bed, and without even needing to sit up.

      The only problem is, it leaks. It's a very slow leak, but it's dripping onto my bed or the carpet next to it, which obviously I'd like to avoid. And occasionally a droplet will fall on my outstretched hand or arm as I'm falling asleep, which tends to jerk me awake.

      You can see from the picture of the water reservoir above, the hole for hanging it is at the top, and the outlet for the hose is at the bottom. The way I'm hanging it now is just by threading a short length of "velcro tape" (tape without adhesive, but with velcro on each side so that it can stick to itself) through the hole and then around the top rail.

      So the way I have it now, all the water pressure concentrates on the spot where the hose screws on to the reservoir, and no matter how hard I tighten it, it still finds a way to leak.

      What I'd like to do is find an alternate way of hanging it, so that it's laying flat and there's much less water pressure on the outlet. Ideally I could also wrap the reservoir in a hand towel or something to absorb any leaks rather than letting them drip onto my bed.

      What I vaguely have in mind is that I'd like to build a "sling" of sorts that I could hang from the rail, and then lay the reservoir inside that sling. If I could find a very small plastic tarp (say 18 inches square) with metal grommets on each corner, that would more or less do what I want. But for understandable reasons, no one seems to make tarps that small.

      I'm sure there's something along those lines that I can assemble from inexpensive / easy-to-find parts. But...I can't think of what it might be.

      6 votes
    19. Do your lime trees produce much fruit?

      2 years ago we planted a lime tree in our backyard. It was already about 5-6 feet tall when we planted it. There's a lemon tree next to it that is probably 50 years old and produces more fruit...

      2 years ago we planted a lime tree in our backyard. It was already about 5-6 feet tall when we planted it. There's a lemon tree next to it that is probably 50 years old and produces more fruit than we can use. We're constantly giving away lemons to our friends and neighbors, baking stuff with the ones we keep and we still too many left! But our lime tree barely produces anything. The first year it produced 3 limes, all of which were hard and almost juiceless. This year, so far it has produced a single fruit which doesn't yet look ripe. The thing is that it produces tons of buds that look like they're going to become limes, but they either die or are eaten by squirrels, I guess. I've heard a similar story from a coworker about her lime tree. Is there any secret to getting a lime tree to produce fruit?

      10 votes
    20. Anyone here grow palms?

      I went to college in Massachusetts, and after awhile the winters began to get to me. A study-abroad trip to Paraguay helped me fall in love with palms. After I graduated, I explicitly looked for...

      I went to college in Massachusetts, and after awhile the winters began to get to me. A study-abroad trip to Paraguay helped me fall in love with palms. After I graduated, I explicitly looked for work in areas of the Southeast where I could grow palms, eventually settling in the Midlands of South Carolina (USDA Hardiness Zone 8a), which can grow a reasonable variety (our state tree is the cabbage palmetto, Sabal palmetto, and it is incredibly common in the area). I’ve currently got two potted palms: a European fan palm, Chamaerops humilis, and pygmy date palm, Phoenix roebelenii (the latter needs to be housed in the garage during the winter).

      11 votes
    21. Good electronics repair shop?

      I recently went into my attic and pulled out my old 1990s 4-track Fostex X-26 tape recorder. I was hoping to transfer some of my old band tapes to the computer. Alas, it is dead. While it turns...

      I recently went into my attic and pulled out my old 1990s 4-track Fostex X-26 tape recorder. I was hoping to transfer some of my old band tapes to the computer. Alas, it is dead. While it turns on, the motor appears frozen, and the device hums. (I don't mean there's line noise when you plug a speaker into it, I mean the device itself audibly hums, even when not using the tape controls.)

      I have seen online that some people repair theirs. It's probably beyond my skill level to do so, though. (And I don't really want to do it myself.) I have contacted a few shops near me (Los Angeles), but have gotten no replies, unfortunately. I was wondering if anyone here knows of a good shop that would repair an older device like this.

      I have also contacted some places that claim to do cassette to digital transfers, but none have replied to my questions about whether they can deal with a 4-track recording. Also, just looking at their prices, it seems like it would cost significantly more to have them convert my tapes than to get the recorder repaired. (And I'm not sure what's on all of the tapes, so I don't really want to hand over some embarrassing practice tape or tape containing some out-of-context banter between takes on it.)

      I've looked online for a used one, but all the listings I've found have been "for parts only", which is what mine would be if I were to sell it. And knowing how these things go, they probably all have the same broken part. So any recommendations are appreciated!

      10 votes
    22. Good basic electronics toys for twelve year olds?

      Back when I was a kid, I had a radioshack 200-in-1 science fair electronics kit this one I loved that thing, and it sparked an interest in tech that ultimately led me to a CS degree. Id like to...

      Back when I was a kid, I had a radioshack 200-in-1 science fair electronics kit this one

      I loved that thing, and it sparked an interest in tech that ultimately led me to a CS degree.

      Id like to buy something similar for my much younger sister, but nowdays everything I can find is arduino or raspi based. Id love to get something like that eventually, but I think it might be better to get a kit that more focuses on individual components first... Does anyone know of one sold these days?

      Alternatively, if anyone has one of these and would be willing to scan the book, Id love to build one of these as a breadboard-based system.

      13 votes
    23. What are you doing in your garden?

      The following are ramblings from my garden. I would love to here the ramblings from other people's gardens. It's spring where I am, and I absolutely love spring! The last full moon (the one in...

      The following are ramblings from my garden. I would love to here the ramblings from other people's gardens.

      It's spring where I am, and I absolutely love spring! The last full moon (the one in February) I call the Angry Goose Moon, because it's around that time that my male goose turns into a monster, and I need to pull out my shield (a garbage bin lid) to move around the yard while warding off his attacks. His change in demeanor signifies the onset of spring for me.

      Some people divide spring into early spring and late spring, but I live in a cool, wet environment that has a very long spring which is why I prefer thinking about the garden in terms of the moon cycle. The beginning of spring is Angry Goose Moon. During this phase, the hummingbirds start visiting, waiting for our native red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) to bloom. Everyday it gets closer and closer (I expect it to be in full bloom any day now). My hated Burkwood Osmanthus (Osmanthus × burkwoodii) begins rapidly trying to turn into a tree, and I'm reminded that I still haven't figured out what to plant in its place as I trim it back down a manageable level. And OMG the freaking cranesbill geranium (Geranium sanguineum) has once again gotten into everything, but I loathe to get rid of it all because the bees love it so much. This year I am being way more ruthless than years pass and have filled several bins of it for the yard waste collectors.

      Usually this is also when I start seeds, but I'll be leaving for six weeks, so the seed catalogues will be collecting dust this year. Instead I'm checking out my propagation efforts from last year. I need to move a beautiful hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) that gets way to big for the area it's in, but I've been afraid to move it case it dies, so last year I took 30 cuttings, which all rooted. It looks like 29 of those made it through the winter. I have no need for 29 more hydrangeas, but I now know I can move the mother plant, and if it dies, I'll have something to replace it with. In the mean time I'll plant the new ones in bigger pots to give away next year when they are more established.

      Last fall I divided up some of the lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) I planted last year, plopped them into 10 pots, and brought them indoors to winter over. It looks like five of them made it. It won't be late enough for me to get them in the ground before I leave, but I will put them into bigger pots and get them under artificial light. Hopefully they will still be alive when I get back.

      I'm not much of a rose fan, but outside my back window is a shrub rose (Rosa glauca) that has beautiful red tinged foliage and purple stems. It only flowers for a short time, and the flowers aren't anything to write home about, but they are followed by nice plump rose hips that I harvest for tea. It is absolutely in the wrong spot with its large growth and overly thorny stems. Last year I took a lot of cuttings of it and some natives roses that inhabit the same area, and it looks like most of them made it. Once they are large enough (another year or two) I'll plant them in a spot where their flesh ripping thorns won't be bothersome, remove all the large specimens, and replant the area with berries (I'm thinking about a mix of blueberry and honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea). Another potting up project before I go.

      I enjoy plant medicine and started quite a few medicinal plants from seed last year. I started a bit late so nothing got in the ground, but it looks like most of them were able to winter over in the potting shed, but not all of them. I sowed 30 seeds of skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) of which only 6 germinated. I was going to move those six into the house to winter over, but I ended up with a spider mite problem in the house from having earlier brought in my toothache plants (Acmella oleraceae) and didn't want them to get infected. Unfortunately none of the skullcap survived. The toothache plants in the house didn't survive either, and I wish I had extracted their medicinal properties before their death, they were certainly large enough. But this paragraph started like it was going to be about wins. The biggest win, the one I'm most excited about, is that all of my mountain meadow arnica (Arnica chamissonis) made it! Their first leaves of spring are pushing through the soil, and their roots are pushing out of the holes of their pots. I don't believe there is a better plant for muscular aches and pains than arnica, and I am looking forward to harvesting it to make salves. I did seed way too many than my garden can hold, so as soon as I determine whether or not they they also are infested with spider mites, I will offer them up for other people to add to their gardens. I'm also excited that all the elecampane (Inula helenium) made it through the winter, though once again I seeded way too many. The added bonus is this plant can tend to be weedy in my locale, so I will only plant a couple down in the weedy medicinal area to let them compete with each other.

      Side talk about garden pests. Besides slugs, which if I allow the ducks to move through the garden, don't damage too much of my garden, my gardens are fairly pest resistant. I spent a lot of time last year moving through it with a magnifier taking pictures and videos of the smaller insects that live among the plants. It's a whole other world living just out of reach of my normal vision! Of particular interest to me were a few of my phlox plants (Phlox paniculata) that had deformed leaves. On closer inspection I saw what I assume is spider mites. A few weeks later, taking video again, I saw what I assume are predatory spider mites, and a few weeks after that the phlox started growing correctly. There are so many predators out there doing "gods" work, and if any of you gardeners are ever bored, I suggest rabbit holing into garden predators.

      I'm rambling, where was I?
      Oh yeah.
      I also use this time to severely prune stuff back that missed my list the year prior. In my culinary herb garden there is a bay tree (whether it's Laurus nobilis or Umbellularia californica I do not know). It's a monster that should not be planted where it is. I know I could hack it it back almost to the ground and it would come back, except that its branches cover my bathroom window in a way that gives me privacy from the cabin on the other side of the creek, while letting light in. It's this constant battle between keeping it small enough that wildlife can't use to get to the roof, yet large enough to afford me bathroom privacy. I just hacked a bunch of it off and I suspect I'll be doing the same again in the fall.

      This place has a lot of problems, and I have to remain vigilant in celebrating the successes and not getting lost in lists of things to do. But there's a lot of beauty in our property, and I do enjoy experiencing it. Angry Goose Moon is the time of year when I am filled with the most hope for the future.

      28 votes
    24. What are you crafting?

      Is anyone else finding time for crafting these days? I'd love to see/hear about what you're working on! I have spent the last month very slowly drafting a pattern for a skirt. After much time...

      Is anyone else finding time for crafting these days? I'd love to see/hear about what you're working on!

      I have spent the last month very slowly drafting a pattern for a skirt. After much time spent feeling apprehensive about cutting fabric (it's only an old bed sheet, but still) to test my first effort, last week I finally put scissors to cloth and sewed it together. I made several mistakes, but was so happy to have finally gotten that far, I didn't even feel bad about them.

      I have a new basic block pattern drafted, and have even added a kick pleat so I can practice making that part. The new pattern has been cut and is ready to sew. 🤞 Here's hoping I did a better job this time!

      11 votes
    25. Any fans of regular non-smart watches?

      I recently fixed my old wristwatch when I realized the need to know time is one of the causes for my smartphone addiction. It is nice to know the time from a device without WhatsApp, a web...

      I recently fixed my old wristwatch when I realized the need to know time is one of the causes for my smartphone addiction. It is nice to know the time from a device without WhatsApp, a web browser, or notifications.

      Here it is, nothing fancy but extremely durable, about 15 years old: https://imgur.com/gallery/daDVelR

      I’m looking into getting a Casio digital wristwatch with a simple alarm function and a light to see it in the dark. Again, nothing fancy. Just a piece of reliable, single purpose hardware. I love things like that.

      They also look really nice.

      Do you have and enjoy “dumb watches”? Why? Let’s talk about that :)

      30 votes
    26. Do you carry a knife with with you? If so, what type/company?

      I do, and my personal go-to is the SOG Key Knife. Small, fits perfectly on my keychain, usable for most daily tasks, and not made in China, despite being inexpensive. I also tend to keep an old...

      I do, and my personal go-to is the SOG Key Knife. Small, fits perfectly on my keychain, usable for most daily tasks, and not made in China, despite being inexpensive. I also tend to keep an old folding Buck my dad gave me in my bag for heavier duties.

      Edit: added a photo of the SOG.

      Second edit: Don’t get a knife for self-defense, they require significant training to properly use without getting hurt, and put you closer to your assailant. Learn situational awareness first and foremost, then if you still would like, pick up some pepper spray or a firearm.

      24 votes
    27. Are there any other dog trainers here?

      I spent a lot of my youth training my dog for obedience and agility. I sorta-kinda got back into it about eight years ago when I got my first dog while living on my own. My trainer at the time...

      I spent a lot of my youth training my dog for obedience and agility. I sorta-kinda got back into it about eight years ago when I got my first dog while living on my own. My trainer at the time stopped offering classes a few years ago. This was shortly after my dog and I competed in our first USDAA trial (which was a disaster, but that's to be expected).

      I finally got around to ordering some new equipment (four jumps, a tunnel, and a set of weave poles), and I was reminded of how much fun it is! My dog (Loki, a 7 y/o Australian Shepherd) picked up right where we left off when I set up a super small course in the back yard at lunch today.

      Does anybody else on Tildes compete or do any dog sports for fun? I'd love to hear what you're doing or any other stories about dog training people have. :)

      10 votes
    28. Any motorcyclists here?

      I live in Colorado and I love cycling along twisty mountain roads. The experience of being on a bike rather than in a car is a completely different way of experiencing the state. I'm always going...

      I live in Colorado and I love cycling along twisty mountain roads. The experience of being on a bike rather than in a car is a completely different way of experiencing the state.

      I'm always going like 40 mph slower than the cars that pass me though, and I can only go so far before I'm completely exhausted, so I'm considering getting a motorcycle (It seems like I'd actually be safer, since at least I'm going the same speed as the people trying to kill me now). I'm signed up for an MSF class next week to get my endorsement.

      I'd love to hear people's opinions on first motorcycles if anyone has them. I don't think the type of motorcycles people normally recommend (Suzuki TU250X etc) will work for me because of the large amount of steep road riding I'm planning to do, so I think I need something with a bit more torque. Something like the Triumph Street Scrambler seems like a good idea!

      I'm also looking for advice about whether it's completely insane to store such a bike outside. I don't have a garage, but I do have a driveway behind my house in an alley where mostly only the residents of the block ever go. I can also block my bike in with my car when I'm not using it. Is this situation plus a disc brake and a cover enough to keep my motorcycle safe-ish from theft?

      6 votes
    29. Are there any sailors on here?

      So if there are any sailors or prespective sailors on here some questions. What region do you sail in? Captain or crew (I guess also own or crew)? What kind of boat? What level do you sail at?...

      So if there are any sailors or prespective sailors on here some questions. What region do you sail in? Captain or crew (I guess also own or crew)? What kind of boat? What level do you sail at?

      This is a lot of questions I know, but I've gotten into sailing more and more over the last few years and I've found it's one of the main things that's kept me sane throughout the pandemic.

      13 votes
    30. Do you have any hobby electronics projects in progress?

      I’ve been wanting to get in to hobby electronics now that I have some free time, but I’m not sure what I want to start with. I am super interested in building an 8-bit computer but I’m curious...

      I’ve been wanting to get in to hobby electronics now that I have some free time, but I’m not sure what I want to start with. I am super interested in building an 8-bit computer but I’m curious what other types of things people have built or are building. Feel free to talk about any Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects as well even if they’re not strictly ‘hobby electronics’.

      8 votes
    31. Cheap/small alternative to the guitar

      Being cooped up inside has made me realize how much time I spend in front of screens, for work and for play. I think it would be healthy for me to try to find something that's not screen related...

      Being cooped up inside has made me realize how much time I spend in front of screens, for work and for play. I think it would be healthy for me to try to find something that's not screen related to do but remain socially distant, and I think learning to play an instrument would be a good candidate.

      The problem is, I don't know which one to learn. When I was in middle/early high school I played the drum set, but having moved out on my own I certainly don't have the space for that anymore. I also thought about the recorder, since people play cool medieval music on it, but I'd rather not subject my neighbors to the shrill monstrosity that is someone learning to play recorder. I like the type of music that can be played on a guitar, but ideally I'd like something physically smaller, and perhaps a little more interesting. Also, for social distancing's sake, it would be ideal if it was an instrument where it is possible to teach oneself how to play.

      Am I overcomplicating things and should just learn guitar? Are there any instruments that hit inexpensive, self teachable, small, and can be used in music in ways similar to a guitar?

      13 votes
    32. Starbucks been there mug exchange

      Sorry if this is frowned upon in these parts - but I was wondering if anyone would be interested in an exchange thing of the mugs Starbucks do? Due to coronavirus most of the fun traveling I do is...

      Sorry if this is frowned upon in these parts - but I was wondering if anyone would be interested in an exchange thing of the mugs Starbucks do? Due to coronavirus most of the fun traveling I do is cancelled for the foreseeable future. I figure it might be fun to find a few folks who'd be willing to do a trade for a new mug from somewhere else.

      For what it's worth, I'm based in the northeast of the US, so I can likely trade a Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Maine mug.

      8 votes
    33. What are you into lately?

      I love planted aquariums and lifting weights but because of the corona and personal problems I haven't done any of that in this year. Lately, I am fixing old camera lenses and reselling them on...

      I love planted aquariums and lifting weights but because of the corona and personal problems I haven't done any of that in this year.

      Lately, I am fixing old camera lenses and reselling them on eBay I almost don't make any money but it is a lot of fun.

      And you guys? What are you doing besides eating, working and sleeping?

      22 votes
    34. Looking for resources to create a Wilderness Survival/Camping 101 syllabus

      Hi everyone, Recently I became interested in learning about wilderness survival for the first time since I was a Cub Scout. I like to camp, but I'm the type of person who pours a can of fire...

      Hi everyone,

      Recently I became interested in learning about wilderness survival for the first time since I was a Cub Scout. I like to camp, but I'm the type of person who pours a can of fire starter on the camp fire after setting it up tipi style and then goes around bragging about how good I am at fire-starting. (I would be completely lost without a lighter and starter fluid.) I am planning on taking a camping trip with a friend of mine who has a great deal of wilderness survival training after COVID-19 restrictions are loosened, and I would like to come prepared.

      I have found outlines for several course syllabi on wilderness survival, but not resources for each of them. Here are two examples below:

      Example 1

      Lesson I: Introduction

      Lesson II: The Psychology of Survival

      Lesson III: Introduction to wilderness survival planning

      Lesson IV: Fire

      Lesson V: Clothing

      Lesson VI: Shelters

      Lesson VII: Sustenance (Food and Water)

      Lesson VIII: Introduction to Signaling

      Lesson IX: Introduction to map and compass

      Lesson X: Survival Kits

      Example 2

      Lesson 1: Introduction to Wilderness Safety and Survival

      Lesson 2: Survival Essentials for the Wilderness

      Lesson 3: Selecting the Right Gear

      Lesson 4: Health and Safety

      Lesson 5: Treating Illness, Bites, and Stings in the Wilderness

      Lesson 6: Traumatic Injuries and Environmental Illnesses

      Lesson 7: Environmental Illnesses and Their Treatments

      Lesson 8: Understanding the Importance of Your Clothing

      Lesson 9: Procuring and Purifying Water

      Lesson 10: Food and Nourishment: Plants, Fruits, and Bugs

      Lesson 11: Food and Nourishment: Crustaceans, Birds, and Fish

      Lesson 12: Food and Nourishment: Tracking and Acquiring Mammals

      Lesson 13: Food and Nourishment: Preparing and Cooking Game

      Lesson 14: Navigation

      Lesson 15: Signaling

      I was hoping that perhaps some Tilderinos could help me out in filling in the blanks with resources for wilderness survival topics, or even some anecdotes about learning wilderness survival yourselves.

      Thanks for any help!
      -gbbb

      7 votes
    35. Frustrated with my Nikon D3500 and looking for advice on upgrading

      Got it last summer and been having and absolute blast with it, got a macro tube and a bigger 55-300 lens to play with. But time and time again I keep running into annoying little limitations. This...

      Got it last summer and been having and absolute blast with it, got a macro tube and a bigger 55-300 lens to play with. But time and time again I keep running into annoying little limitations.

      This model doesn't have a shutter release input thing, so remote shutter is locked behind a falling apart android app>bluetooth connection. There's a tonne of small little things like this that I wish I looked into before making the purchase

      Essentially - right now I'm thinking that I want to upgrade the actual dslr before investing any more into lenses, but I'm a bit too out of touch to know what the good models to go for 2nd hand or whatever.

      Are there any tildoes out there that have some experience with older but capable bodies?

      9 votes
    36. Postcard swap

      Hi! Anybody collect postcards? A few years ago I was very active user at postcrossing.com I would like swap postcards again. I'm from Spain.

      14 votes
    37. Home brewing

      So, I'm currently working up 2 1 gallon apfelweing batches. For a while I was doing many 6 gallon batches, but took a break for a while, and getting back into it. Any other homebrewers out there?...

      So, I'm currently working up 2 1 gallon apfelweing batches. For a while I was doing many 6 gallon batches, but took a break for a while, and getting back into it.

      Any other homebrewers out there? Anything fermented, even kombucha :)

      13 votes
    38. Watch enthusiasts

      Hi, I wonder if there are people here likes to collect watches. If so, please share about the watch that you're wearing right now, or maybe your watch collection. As for me, I own a few of Seiko...

      Hi, I wonder if there are people here likes to collect watches. If so, please share about the watch that you're wearing right now, or maybe your watch collection.

      As for me, I own a few of Seiko mechanical watches (SNK809, SKX013, and the SARB017), and a couple of Casio digital watches (Casio Royale and W217H)

      Lately I'm starting to appreciate quartz watches even more and I'm starting to look at vintage Seiko and Citizen quartz watches.

      13 votes
    39. Watch enthusiasts/collectors

      Do we have any watch enthusiasts or collectors on here ?. I’m more of an enthusiast than a collector, i do owned a couple but wouldn’t call it a Collection.

      10 votes
    40. I haven't owned a car in twelve years. What should I buy?

      My question is exactly what it says on the title. For the past 12 years I've lived in a downtown area and all my workplaces have been metro accessible. I've gotten by with car shares and rentals...

      My question is exactly what it says on the title. For the past 12 years I've lived in a downtown area and all my workplaces have been metro accessible. I've gotten by with car shares and rentals and borrowing other people's cars when I really needed them. but I'm applying for a job that would have about 45min to 1 hour commutes each way and will need a car to get by. I'm also just looking forward to having one, both because I have a dog now and my wife and I will start trying for a kid soon and it just seems more convenient to get around than relying on lyfts.

      Yet having been out of needing to care about cars for 12 years, the modern world of everything being electronic is new and scary to me. Apparently transmissions don't need to shift gears anymore, there are alerts and alarms and sensors everywhere. . . I'm lost. I need help folks.

      So here's what I'm looking for, ordered by priority:

      • Visibility! I live in a city with busy streets and am terrified of accidentally killing a cyclist or scooter. So visibility is important to me, both blind-spot visibility and visibility on turns. Every rental or car share I've used has had shit for rear visibility. This includes the Ford Fiesta, the Mercedes GLC, and the Mercedes GLA. The Chevy Cruze has been okay, but still pales in comparison to the faithful 1999 Sentra of my youth.
      • Fun! I haven't owned a car in forever. I want to enjoy driving it. A manual is out as my wife will need to drive it too, but something that feels peppy and has a good drive feel is important to me. I really like to "feel" like I'm driving and want something with really responsive steering and an okay amount of pick-up. We don't need to be getting into racer level, but I also don't want it to feel like I'm struggling to merge onto the highway (as I often do in a rental Fiesta or Cruze).
      • Easy to park. Again, I'm in a city and parallel parking can be a giant pain and I always feel guilty holding up the people behind me when I'm doing it. Some of these features to alert when you're close to the car behind you or the simulated overhead view that some cars can give you seem great. I'd probably just settle for a backup camera and proximity sensors though.
      • Cost of ownership
      • Roomy and easy to get in and out of, including loading dogs and car seats for kids. I want to be able to drive around 5 people comfortably, with decent shoulder room and not make people feel cramped on long drives.
      • Not too "basic." As in, I value some level of novelty and originality and would prefer something unique that not everyone else has. This is the most childish of my requests, so I don't rank it too highly.

      Price-wise I'm leaning towards around $30,000 and could maybe be persuaded to get to around $40,000 for something that's REALLY perfect and cheap to own long-term. I'm currently considering a Prius, the Mazda3, a VW Golf, and a Toyota Rav4. I generally prefer sedans because of the responsiveness and drive-feel.

      My logical brain is leaning Prius, but my inner teenager is saying "DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO BEING A LAME OLD MAN!!" The Golf and the Rav4 Hybrid are kind of tied. The Rav4 is bigger and harder to park, but it is roomier and has a lower cost of ownership. The Golf seems easier to park and would be more fun to drive, but it's also kind of expensive if I opt for a GTI or sport version. Plus it has less room, seems less luxe, and. . .I don't know it just looks kinda bland. I'm definitely leaning towards a low-mileage certified pre-owned whichever way I go just to not have to pay for depreciation.

      So, any advice? Any other suggestions? Anything, feature-wise, I should be paying particular attention to?

      The Mazda3 hatch seems really nice, but I'm worried I will 100% kill a cyclist

      17 votes
    41. Any motorcyclists?

      I'm about to do my full motorbike licence here in the UK (direct access course) and currently looking at my first big bike, thinking about a 600cc Triumph at the moment. Wondered if there are any...

      I'm about to do my full motorbike licence here in the UK (direct access course) and currently looking at my first big bike, thinking about a 600cc Triumph at the moment. Wondered if there are any other riders here on tildes, what do you ride, what's your history with bikes etc.?

      16 votes
    42. What does your photography setup look like?

      I've been trying to get back into photography and love seeing what other photographers are using. My daily driver is a Nikon D5600 with the kit 18-55mm lens, as well as a 70-300mm lens. Nothing to...

      I've been trying to get back into photography and love seeing what other photographers are using.

      My daily driver is a Nikon D5600 with the kit 18-55mm lens, as well as a 70-300mm lens. Nothing to spectacular, but it gets the job done. I'm just a hobbyist, so I don't have any real professional-grade equipment, but hopefully with time I'll get some more stuff as I get better with what I already have.

      What are you using?

      10 votes