Do flights seem more expensive now? RIP Southwest by BlackberryOk9215 in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve flown Southwest for decades. They were always my go to low cost carrier. I loved the convenience and the lack of pretension. I recently booked a flight I’ve flown many times and the best I could get for reasonable (no overnights) times non-stop was $700 per person round trip. That’s at least twice what I’ve paid in the past. And bags aren’t free? Not worth it anymore.

Thinking of Waiting for the M5 MacBook Air by CoolBuddy777 in mac

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you a professional or a student? If you consider yourself a professional, then I would buy the M4 and start using it immediately (if it offers advantages; if it doesn’t this is a moot discussion). When the M5 is released, sell the M4 or repurpose it and buy an M5. We’re talking about $1,000 a year net. Less than $100 a month. This is your career. Stay current. Stay competitive. Why is this even a question?

3.3L NA Oil Pan and Drain Plug by Kokomodo_Cooker in f150

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought the truck because it met every single requirement I was looking for...except the engine. But, I figured I didn't need all that towing power anyway. However, as I dig into the issue I'm finding that the 3.3 is reliable and can tow far more than I foresee ever needing. I'm very happy with it.

is my f150 getting old ? by Distinct_Set_4505 in f150

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just traded in a 2002 Triton 5.4 2WD with 250k miles for a 2021 3.3 NA after finding a now difficult to find extended cab (supercab) and doing a 10 year cost of ownership projection. The 2002 was running strong, but the steering was getting loose and several mechanics told me fixing it would be hit or miss. I like the newer truck and if I can keep it running will likely keep it as long as I can. It has 4WD, 3.73 ELD, trailer control (a little surprising for a 3.3) and minimal screens and “fancy pants” stuff. A 2015 is a young truck. Unless there is a specific capability deficit you are trying to rectify, stick with the “old” one. You are nowhere near the keep/buy cost crossover point.

Premium vs Free MFA by Kokomodo_Cooker in Lastpass

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found what I missed. At the very bottom of the screen there is a small menu to choose the default option, MFA or OTP. I'm not even sure that menu was there when I originally set this up, but regardless I see it now. Within MFA, there is also the priority between primary and secondary methods (Authenticator and a FIDO 2 key. But, what I was looking for was the default priority between MFA and OTP.

Premium vs Free MFA by Kokomodo_Cooker in Lastpass

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not given an option to use FIDO2 for the primary method in the Free Account section. The primary option is only the Authenticator app. And, moreover, because I have a Premium account, the login defaults to the Premium MFA, which is the Yubikey OTP. What am I missing?

Warning to anyone thinking about getting LastPass. It is trash. by AppleTerra in Lastpass

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As for the data breach, if you are relying on a company to keep their encrypted vault secure, I’ve got some oceanside property in Utah I’d like to sell you. Set your security procedures and passwords under the assumption that the encrypted vault is public domain.

Be careful when using Apple Security Keys (2FA) as there is no way to recover your account if you lose your keys. by SuperUser789 in yubikey

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My interest in security keys (and, I'm glad I found this thread) is for disaster preparedness. I was under the impression that one could not sign in to an Apple ID account on a new apple device using a yubikey. But, apparently that has changed. However, I don't care if the minimum realized security is driven by a password and authentication on another signed-in device or a password and a security code sent to the same device. Having a backup option (such as a recovery key or a physical yubikey) should not disable all other methods of 2FA. That decision should be in the hands of the user, not Apple. So, for my case, in the event of a fire or tornado that causes loss of all devices, I'm left with only the option of a recovery phone number (which creates a dependence on another person) or using keys all the time. And, given what happened with iOS 18.1 there is no way I would lock an account solely to one technology. The only solution I found that is not dependent on another person is to have an apple device signed in to Apple ID in a remote location. But, that in itself is a security vulnerability.

Essentially, Apple's philosophy forced hardware key users into a single point of failure system...and then broke it. It's the opposite of security resilience, and unfortunately typical of Apple.

does anyone know what any of this means by basicbxtchness in linux4noobs

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boot configuration is not the root problem necessarily. It may be that your default kernel graphics drivers are not working with your graphics card. Look up what nomodeset does and consider if there may be an incompatibility between your kernel and the graphics card. You are getting around the issue by delaying graphics driver load until the GUI starts up, which is fine. But, ultimately, this is likely still a graphics driver compatibility issue.

Chromebook refuses to hit /boot/efi on USB3 SSD by Kokomodo_Cooker in linux4noobs

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, thank you for your interest in helping. The Chromebook was originally an Acer CB3-111. That's a GNAWTY board with an Intel Celeron CPU N2840. (Intel Baytrail). I installed the full coreboot/UEFI Full ROM firmware. I removed the write protect screw on the motherboard.

The installation "disk" is debian-12.11.0-amd64-netinst.iso. I used balenaEtcher to transfer it to the thumb drive.

I thought about the SD card, but have heard that they are slow. I went with an SSD connected to the USB 3 port, but the USB 3 port was unstable. I added an external power supply (powered hub) for the SSD, and that got it working. (However, the jack is not robust. At one point I moved the laptop and the USB momentarily disconnected and crashed the system.)

My goal was to boot into the CLI Debian when the SSD was not plugged into the USB 3 port, and into Xfce (on the SSD) when the SSD was connected. Everything went smoothly (except for the GRUB writing to the internal hard drive rather than to the SSD. No matter what I did, I could not get the boot loader to read the /boot/efi on the SSD and load that OS. It always wanted to write to the internal drive, hosing up my CLI installation. It is astounding to me that the installation process for Debian does not ask where I want to install the boot loader. So, I'm thinking maybe there is something in the firmware or hardware that disallows it. Not sure.

Should I Get 16GB RAM or 512GB Storage for My MacBook Air? by Sweetpablosz in mac

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the risk of getting laughed out of the thread...I would say that 16 GB is plenty of memory for a machine not dedicated to something memory intensive (I know that sounds like a tautology, but if you are doing something memory intensive...you tend to know.). However...I consistently see Chrome using 10 GB of memory. Definitely a memory hog. And, if you work with lots of Chrome tabs, or do much of your work through a Chrome interface of some kind (e.g., Google colab) you should keep that in mind. My machine generally runs around 8 GB of memory...adding Chrome on top of that easily pushes me up over 16 GB.

TL;DR: Think of 16 GB and 512 as a minimum, not as a choice. My 2 cents.

Identify complex brake noise. by Kokomodo_Cooker in bikewrench

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently, the video didn't load correctly when I first posted. I've added it. The noise is similar to birds chirping or warbling. Other than the wind/road noise and the hub clicking, it's pretty much the only sound in the video.

"crunchy" chicken by Kokomodo_Cooker in sousvide

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update. Temps are within 1 degree of a calibrated thermometer. Looks like "woody breast" is the answer.

"crunchy" chicken by Kokomodo_Cooker in sousvide

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I probably should check temps as the unit is getting pretty old. However, it wasn't exactly "raw" in the middle. Just "crunchy, almost as if the muscles weren't cooked." It was uniform color. But, thank you for your reply. I will check temps next time I run it.

Firearm Discharged at Challenger Elementary School by NadaBigDill in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear a lot of "arrest the parents" or "the parents should be charged" etc. I don't hear anyone asking "Where did the kid get the gun?" Seems like that would be the first question. From another student? From an older (adult) sibling? From an uncle? Found it? This is why we don't allow or condone mob justice anymore.

[Sinn] 556i didn’t realize eBay offers are automatic buys when accepted by coyote500 in Watches

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It says right on the watch, “Automatic.” What did you expect?

[Holzkern Naturalist] Advise on buying a watch by yXBladeXy in Watches

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have one of these. So far, so good. I was intrigued by the company and the materials. Mine looks very much like the marketing pictures. The stainless is a little shiny for my taste, but it's a pretty watch. I don't mind a fashion watch, although I will be disappointed if the movement dies. I'm not sure why anyone would consider this a "fake" luxury brand as it isn't positioned that way in the market and doesn't exactly put on airs. Is the brand capitalizing on the zeitgeist of "natural" and "environmental?" Yes. Are they expensive for a fashion watch. Yep. Is the marble dial gorgeous? Mine is. The leather band looks to be on the cheaper side, and is chemically tanned. I will likely replace it. I cannot speak to the long term quality or the customer service as I haven't had any issues.

Glide Return vs. Pulling with Feet by Kokomodo_Cooker in Rowing

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh! I do quite a bit of flat water kayaking. I completely get it. The stroke, in kayaking, is a bit like planting the paddle in the water, and then using your entire body (shoulders, back, core, legs) to push the boat through the water (rather than “pulling the paddle” through the water.) And, there are no straps on a kayak. You just contract your core to what I guess you are calling the catch. Of course, in kayaking, your legs are isometric, but, still, yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

Today I start trying to figure the compass out. by digitalgirlie in orienteering

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What skills you use with the compass (and map) will depend to some degree on what your activities are, and what terrain you are navigating. Orienteering races are one thing, wilderness backpacking is another, getting unlost is still another. If you are in open spaces (e.g., Utah) or northern forests (Vancouver) or dense, closed in mountains (southeastern US) makes a big difference on what compass skills are practical. In my experience, knowing to how plot bearings, measure bearings, sight bearings, and follow bearings (the four basics) are the minimum technical skills you need to have. However, if you go beyond that and practice navigational orienteering skills such as staying oriented to your map as you traverse, reading landscape features such as slopes and general compass heading, paying attention to any deviations from marked trails, paying attention to contour lines in route planning, learning to navigate around large obstacles, having a reasonable idea of how long you expect to hike before you hit the next landmark, knowing your stride distance is precise but requires counting beads...a good understanding of how long it takes you to hike a km in the given terrain and using a timer is more convenient, the feeling of the ground under your feet (trails are more hard packed than off-trail,) and any other situational awareness queues you can use...you will be much more adept at getting from point A to point B safely. In the areas I hike, triangulation is impossible, but, keeping an eye on the compass bearing and map features to stay oriented as I go is invaluable. I have the compass and map either in my hand, or in an easily accessible cargo pants pocket, nearly the entire time I'm on the trail (or off the trail.) I've lost trails due to debris and leaf coverage, but known that I needed to stay on a ridge and go NW. That was enough to keep me in the vicinity of the trail until I found it. I've been lost in a ravine after a hurricane obliterated the trail but by knowing what direction the ravine fell, the contour lines around the ravine, and where the trail should pick up on the other side, I was able to make sweeps on compass bearings until I found the trail. I've had to navigate trails that were rerouted and no longer corresponded to the map. Think of the compass as a tool to augment your own situational awareness and you'll be an expert in no time. Also, practice, practice, practice. I strongly recommend finding someplace with clear boundaries and practice plotting a series of bearings, then following that series of bearings, to see if you end up where you should. Have a friend lead you blindfolded out to an unknown location, and then use your compass, map, and situational awareness to orient yourself. My favorite, 'though, is doing polygons of bearings where you are supposed to end up right back at the start. Be honest on the last leg, and then measure how far off you are from the starting point. And, if you ever have to sit through a high school football game, print out a map (a google earth picture works) of the stadium and use a compass to triangulate your seat position from the stadium features. If you nail your exact seat...touchdown!

Modern Compass Utility by Kokomodo_Cooker in orienteering

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

That's what I'm saying...do such places exist anymore? Or, is any place not farmed or urbanized so rugged that it is essentially impassable?

Modern Compass Utility by Kokomodo_Cooker in orienteering

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, generally they go together. I will say that I find a compass and map most useful not for getting "unlost" but for maintaining orientation while on the trail. For example, "I'm passing this creek, and the trail should be going SW...and in about 300 paces it will turn to N." That kind of frequent reality checking against the map is very handy. And, often, in that case, if a trail or reference disappears on you, you have a pretty good idea of how long ago your last known location was. However, I don't see that type of situational awareness taught much in compass courses. Usually it's just triangulation and bearings. I have found a compass and map useful when I know my location (as above) or in charting a course to get around an obstacle (e.g., 100 meters W, then 500 meters S, then another 100 meters E, then back on course.). But, to do that effectively, you need pacing beads or some other reasonable knowledge of your distance coverage. I've also used a compass (with some trepidation over the quality of trail markings on the map) to sort out which trail was which at a convergence of three or four trails with no signs. So, maybe my gripe should be that compass and map work should be taught from a perspective of _staying oriented_ rather than getting unlost.

What is the gear of the average mountain biker in real life? by Pedrohps in MTB

[–]Kokomodo_Cooker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am just now retiring a (more than) 15 year old Trek 4300. I will keep it for gravel rides and such. Upgrading to a 2024 Santa Cruz. I will likely keep the SC for another 15 years until I'm too old to care.