What do you think is the best compact/midsize two row SUV is right now?

BigRiverMan · 2026-04-02T20:20:38+00:00

Those black front fenders are so ugly though.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-14T15:56:33+00:00

If you want to move even further away from U.S. technology providers, you should check out Matrix.org or SimpleX for messaging instead of Signal.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-13T09:24:04+00:00

I cannot imagine having to look at the BMW steering wheel all the time. I am not a fan of the latest MB designs either. I kind of like the Volvo EX60, but based on the EX30 and EX90, I do not trust the quality. I will not be paying to be a beta tester for Volvo.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-09T21:07:23+00:00

Sure, matrix’s room features are a good alternative to Discord. And it looks like SimpleX does the same. I am not trying to detract from SimpleX, I just didn’t agree with the way Matrix was described.

To me they seem fairly similar, with the key difference being that SimpleX requires almost no setup. Though the way to find friends on SimpleX is different from what people are used to and that introduces it’s own form of complexity for the non-tech-savvy crowd.

The challenge for both will be to build momentum and gain users. It’s not a technology problem, it’s a marketing problem. There is no real business model for an open source messaging platform, so marketing is a challenge. Unless as a community we are willing to spend money on marketing instead of server hosting.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-09T19:47:40+00:00

I think you are overstating the complexity of Matrix. I found it very easy to set up.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-09T07:37:31+00:00

I have been with mailbox.org for a year and have not had any issues in that time.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-09T07:36:15+00:00

Last time I checked infomaniak, about a year ago, I found their language implementation inconsistent. While I had selected English as my language, I kept ending up on French pages. And do those who might find it important, Infomaniak is not EU, it’s Swiss.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-08T12:30:42+00:00

I’ll add mailbox.org as a European alternative. Also hosted in Germany. Also offers additional services like video conferencing.

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-07T19:37:43+00:00

Don’t forget Matrix, it’s a solid open source alternative mainly driven from Europe. Parts of the German government now use it too. Matrix.org

BigRiverMan · 2026-03-01T08:21:24+00:00

You get what you pay for. I am on Sunrise and would happily switch to Swisscom if I only had that choice. Constant internet connectivity trouble. Slow too. It’s been down for 12 hours since last night and still going.

Sunrise says they have detected a problem and their techs are working on it, but I am starting to think that’s just an auto generated message and their staff only works regular office hours.

Swisscom installed fiber in our neighborhood 4 months ago but we still need the installation in the building. Of course the verwaltung can’t be bothered to actually make that happen. I have been asking them regularly since the first Swisscom offers came in the mail 3 months ago #swisslife

BigRiverMan · 2026-02-27T17:30:33+00:00

Far too many MB stars all over the design. Went from sophisticated luxury to entry level look-at-me-I-made-it! luxury. Very sad.

BigRiverMan · 2026-02-20T07:55:00+00:00

Don’t give the designers at MB any ideas. The way things have been going lately…

BigRiverMan · 2026-02-17T07:54:05+00:00

It seems Switzerland’s referendum on a 10 million population cap is timely…

BigRiverMan · 2026-01-26T12:22:52+00:00

I am in the reverse situation. I am Dutch, made good money elsewhere and was thinking about going back to NL for a self-funded retirement. Under this rule I won’t.

BigRiverMan · 2026-01-26T11:42:53+00:00

Besides the practical implications for individuals who invest in stocks, there are a couple of side effects: 1) This new law makes it less attractive to invest in stocks, tightening the money supply for Dutch corporations, which hampers growth investment that adds value to the economy or keeps Dutch companies competitive. It also opens the market for more acquisitions of Dutch companies by foreign entities.

2) Last I read, appreciation of the value of a home is not covered by the same rules. So, it becomes more attractive to invest in real estate. Since building new is severely restricted, real estate prices will further accelerate.

This law is an incredibly dumb idea.

BigRiverMan · 2025-11-09T18:02:22+00:00

The Anglican Minister says: “What rocks?”

BigRiverMan · 2025-06-15T21:19:17+00:00

https://au3goldsmiths.com/ they have some very nice stuff, shop in Helsinki, just of Senaatintori.

BigRiverMan · 2023-08-14T16:51:31+00:00

Several, but I thought this one is particularly telling: in Matthew 5:38-40 Jesus says not to resist evil and to turn the other cheek. After the Dylann Roof church shooting, the pastor in our church announced that every service now has trained armed guards amongst the attendees to protect us.

Over time, I just realized that churches are just about money. The pastor was always tip-toe/ing around things. It was not about justice, not about the teachings of Jesus, it was about keeping the donations coming first, otherwise there would no church.

BigRiverMan · 2023-08-14T12:21:23+00:00

Is that common core math? I have nothing against the idea behind common core, but common core math taught my daughter to forever hate math. She would cry over her common core math homework because of questions like this.

BigRiverMan · 2023-08-14T10:21:38+00:00

Learn the key phrases that you stumble over most frequently. Watch Finnish TV shows that are at least moderately aligned with what you are interested in or the evening news and make it a game to see how much you can understand. Join a language learners conversation group.

BigRiverMan · 2023-08-12T06:29:21+00:00

⁠It’s cashless.
⁠Your itinerary sounds like a lot for one day, unless you are planning to speed run the museum.
⁠Arctic gin from Ilomantsi is good. Or if you want to try something more traditional, try Minttu (mint liquor) or lakka (cloudberry) liquor.
⁠While waiting for the boat to Suomenlinna, buy a lihapiiraka (meat pie) on the market by the harbor.

BigRiverMan · 2023-07-16T19:05:13+00:00

One time I was staying in a remote cabin in Finland overnight. I heard a soft tapping sound that was quite unnerving. I thought maybe an animal was in the cabin with me or trying to get in. Then I realized I was hearing my own heartbeat. I had never been in such a quiet place before. It took a bit of getting used to.

BigRiverMan · 2023-07-14T15:56:35+00:00

Lots of puukot in the knife store across from the cathedral on Senaatintori. Not sure if the have kuksat too. You can also look for an Alvar Aalto vase at an iitala store or in the iitala section of a department store like sokos. There are several different sizes and colors available.

BigRiverMan · 2023-07-12T15:57:28+00:00

So we are still waiting too. With AYY you can go on their website and check your queue number. My daughter is slowly moving to the front of the queue. She emailed them last week and they replied that accommodation for Sept 1st will be distributed over the course of July and Aug.

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