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    1. Would it make sense to wrap my Calibre library in a Git project?

      Basically, the title question. I'm rethinking my entire data backup routine, considering using Git to start tracking much/most (all?) of my assorted projects' histories. In most cases, it makes...

      Basically, the title question.

      I'm rethinking my entire data backup routine, considering using Git to start tracking much/most (all?) of my assorted projects' histories. In most cases, it makes sense; but with my Calibre library, I'm not sure.

      Has anyone tried this?

      More particularly, if I do it ... what-all should be included in the .ignore file? Should I try to maintain a version history of the metadata.db file (an SQLite db file)? What about the ".calnotes" and ".caltrash" folders?

      Thanks.

      19 votes
    2. Recommendations for e-ink tablets?

      Last year, I took a promotion at work which meant I would be managing a few people and also involved with/overseeing a number of long term projects. As I've learned how to manage people, I've also...

      Last year, I took a promotion at work which meant I would be managing a few people and also involved with/overseeing a number of long term projects. As I've learned how to manage people, I've also learned that my previous methods for note taking are insufficient for what I'm doing and I'm losing track of things in my paper notebooks.

      My employer has offered to buy me a new laptop but I'm actually pretty satisfied with my current laptop, so I've been doing some research into e-ink tablets which I think will help me stay more organized while also allowing me to take notes by hand (my preference) rather than typing things into a Google doc as I've been doing for my one on one meetings.

      I don't have any experience with this technology and no way that I can get any hands on experience before buying something, so I'd love to hear from anyone who has used something like this, and especially if there's anything I need to consider that I haven't thought of.

      My use cases:

      • note taking / digital organization
      • online reading (I run literary magazines and our submissions come in through an online system, and there's no convenient way to download them as pdfs to read offline, so having access to a web browser is important)
      • access to Google Drive ideally so I can get to my notes from my desktop or laptop
      • it'll be used at my desk or on my couch in full light, so no backlight or front light is not an issue

      One of my coworkers has a remarkable tablet but he told me it's been less useful for him than he thought. In my research, this seems to be too limited for my uses.

      The Onyx Boox Go 10.3 seems to be what would work best for me but I've also read a lot of warnings about their poor customer service so I'm a bit hesitant.

      30 votes
    3. Searching for neighbours on the indie web

      Hi and welcome to this post I was just wondering if anyone else (besides me) is currently interested in the indie web and also in extension 88x31 Buttons. I have a small (and very much...

      Hi and welcome to this post

      I was just wondering if anyone else (besides me) is currently interested in the indie web and also in extension 88x31 Buttons.

      I have a small (and very much in-progress) website that I mostly coded myself. I started sometimes 2 years ago, so in 2024. And through that time it has gone through so many iterations. My site only consists of HTML and CSS and some minimal JavaScript. So I was just wondering if anyone also has an interest in the indie web and more importantly also has some buttons?

      The idea or goal with this post was to just find some more people to add as neighbors because I find it somewhat scary to just ask people out of the blue or email them.

      I also made my own if anyone wants to link it to their site please let me know.

      This is my button:
      https://postimg.cc/xqYQ8dJr

      <a href="https://luna-uwu.nekoweb.org"><img src="https://luna-uwu.nekoweb.org/button-luna.png" alt="Luna's Button"/></a>
      

      I guess the link to the site is this:
      https://luna-uwu.nekoweb.org/ (I think i posted it before)

      Some "definitions"

      What is the Indie Web?

      It is some sort of a movement to bring back personal blogs and personal websites there are a few hosting alternatives similar to geocities in the 2000s. One is called neocities and the one I'm currently using is Nekoweb because indeed the web should be for cats!

      What are these 88x31 Buttons?

      so these buttons usually link to other's people site and they are the size of 88x31px it's pretty small but since you can do it in the GIF format, you can even animate them, and they usually look pretty great.
      There are some examples on my site :) on the bottom :)

      I guess that's about it. I hope you have a nice time of day wherever you are.

      43 votes
    4. What do you think of robots in the military?

      Do you think it is ethical? Should robots be remotely controlled at all times or should they be automated? Who do you think should be held responsible if a robot accidentally commits a war crime?...

      Do you think it is ethical?
      Should robots be remotely controlled at all times or should they be automated?
      Who do you think should be held responsible if a robot accidentally commits a war crime?
      Do you think war would be more frequent if there were no humans fighting?
      Also a more general question: what do you think is the future of robots?

      24 votes
    5. Insomniathought: blocking people in social media can be a positive thing

      Most social media sites have options for muting and blocking people. As we know, muting is one-way (they see me, I don't see them) and blocking is two-way (neither see each other). Recently, while...

      Most social media sites have options for muting and blocking people. As we know, muting is one-way (they see me, I don't see them) and blocking is two-way (neither see each other).

      Recently, while having too much caffeine in my system way too late, I had the thought that "blocking" is a far more negative term than what it should be. Sometimes it's done in spite, absolutely. You wanna slap somebody for being how they are.

      But sometimes you just recognize that there's someone who you have nothing against, whom you might even like if you met them in real life, but in this context of limited human connect, you understand that the only possible communication between you and them would be toxic. That your opinions, your way of speaking, perhaps your whole existence offends them. Or vice versa.

      So you protect them from yourself by blocking them, in lieu of a better word. I think there should be a better word but I haven't figured out what it should be yet. "Spare"?

      (P.S. I think tildes should perhaps have such a functionality)

      22 votes
    6. New "old school" gadgets?

      I recently realized that many of my favorite gadgets are basically "new" versions of old technology. I use Sony Xperia 1VII, with a headphone jack, side mounted fingerprint, no screen cutout,...

      I recently realized that many of my favorite gadgets are basically "new" versions of old technology.

      • I use Sony Xperia 1VII, with a headphone jack, side mounted fingerprint, no screen cutout, stock Android. It's running the latest Snapdragon chip, however, and the camera hardware is better than the current iPhone (doesn't mean the software is better)
      • My favorite smartwatch is Pebble Time. My rePebble Time 2 is on the way. I'm currently using a Garmin, but I'm not exactly happy with it.
      • My keyboard is a Niz EC84. The default keycap looks like my keyboard in middle school and it is just perfect right out of the box (except I should've got the 45g one). As a Topre clone, it bounces with rubber domes. I don't like mechanical as the tactile point is not right at the very top of the curve. It also supports hardware mouse key and Bluetooth which is useful when you're working with multiple machines. (Sadly no QMK in this layout)
      • When I was buying my PC I couldn't find a single good modern case (i.e. with USB C ports in the front panel) that doesn't have any glass like old school PC. Luckily, Fractal North was just released back then and I immediately preordered.
      • I suppose the ThinkPad line may fit into this aesthetically, but it's not exactly the same as it was in IBM era. I heard that the Chinese are making new board for the old ThinkPad chassis though.

      I feel like this is an underserved market - why can't they just give me the same phone/computer I have but with the latest technological advancements. Sure, it'd be niche and many people will complain at the price, but at least there is a choice.

      Does anyone have other favorite new old school tech they wanted to recommend?

      32 votes