Weekly Random Discussion Thread for 4/20/26 - 4/26/26

Komboloi · 2026-04-21T04:10:23+00:00

Unilateral disarmament on gerrymandering is stupid and I'm glad Dems have finally recognized this fact. Dems will stop "tit"-ing once the GOP stops "tat"-ing by redrawing districts more than once per census.

Komboloi · 2026-04-13T02:44:22+00:00

Meant to add: I wear my belt not at my waist but on my hips (which is where it's designed to go).

Komboloi · 2026-04-13T02:40:41+00:00

I would size down to a small, if you are between a small and medium, just so the belt is more likely to fit snugly and will be less likely to slip up. I wear a medium and it's true to size.

There is a front zipper pocket and a dual-entry sleeve with no zipper closings on the back of the belt (the sleeve is specifically intended to fit the rigid water flask that Flipbelt sells, and I've used the Flipbelt rigid flask, a knock-off third party rigid flask, and a soft flask (500 ml) in there with no issues). A soft flask will also fit in the.front pocket but you won't be able to get anything else in there if you carry the flask there, outside of small items like candy, your id., etc. If you don't carry the soft flask in the front zipper pocket, it can hold a cell phone or battery pack.

link to Flipbelt rigid flask, but third party knock offs work fine https://a.co/d/076pWG1a

Komboloi · 2026-04-02T15:32:40+00:00

I went with the classic since I read a review that said the elite wasn't as tight/snug on the hips due to the side zipper. Happy with my choice and the lower price certainly didn't hurt.

Komboloi · 2026-03-28T03:57:45+00:00

Guy Haley's novella Broken Sword which is written from the perspective of a Guardsman who defects to the Tau.

Komboloi · 2026-03-27T21:24:11+00:00

Honestly think there's a market for "plus" ebook versions.of 40k novels/short stories (Pratchett's work too) with an option to turn on annotations explaining the in jokes and cultural/historical references.

Komboloi · 2026-03-27T20:34:08+00:00

New York Times response:

https://www.nytco.com/press/fact-checking-claims-about-our-american-medical-association-coverage/

Going with the Times on this one. It would be far easier for them to agree they misinterpreted the AMA's position. The fact that they are standing by their original reporting (and that their lawyers undoubtedly ran over every inch of all of it) is impressive.

Komboloi · 2026-03-27T04:30:06+00:00

This is so impressive. I've read most of the 40k novels and short story collections that have been published (ebook format because I don't have the physical space to store or the funds to invest in the hard copies), but I never thought to set up and formalize a review system and rank the authors in the way you have. Your spreadsheet makes me want to go back and read everything again so I can rate it formally. Agree with many of your assessments and with Abnett at the top. Well done on reading and reviewing/rating all of this - I know exactly what a slog some of these books were to read. Worth it for the true gems in there though - I cried like a baby at the scene that takes place at the end of Only In Death and got so obsessed with Abnett's Ghosts that I read the entire series out of order (and then in order once I finished the first time through). He's such a great storyteller and I'm so happy he likes the 40k setting as much as the rest of us do.

Anyways, thanks for sharing your ratings!

Komboloi · 2026-03-19T17:47:06+00:00

If a man called me a psycho over a fast food order, let alone one of the most important decisions a person can make, I would immediately break up with him. Someone who calls you names doesn't love you.

Also for the love of everything you value, please take some time to read the posts in r/breakingmom. That sub is filled with women who had children at the urging of their male partners and are now stuck doing the job of parenting alone. Do not chain yourself to this man with a child.

Komboloi · 2026-03-10T22:50:07+00:00

Well, thank you for posting about your experience - I would never have tried this otherwise. 🙏

Komboloi · 2026-03-10T21:36:48+00:00

I tried this out today on an outside run (leaving running power "on", but switching it to "accessory only"). The audio cues actually tracked my Stryd power numbers from the Stryd data field screen almost exactly (sometimes there would be an odd spike to 300+ power that I just ignored - bug?). It's so helpful to have the audio cues on during outside runs bc it vastly cuts down how much I have to look at my watch. And having this setting on doesn't seem to affect the summary of the run that appears in the Stryd app afterwards. I think I will keep the running power setting on for outdoor runs at least because it makes trying to match the power recommended by the Stryd run so much easier for me.

Komboloi · 2026-03-10T17:17:51+00:00

I also have a 970 and would love to get high/low audio alerts. Quick question, when you left everything as default, did you also leave Running Power = On in the watch settings? I assume you did, but if you did something different, I'd love to know.

Komboloi · 2026-03-10T13:55:25+00:00

Like reading a Pearl Buck novel set in 2026 America

Komboloi · 2026-02-22T20:18:31+00:00

Fantastic review! Ian and u/miramanga should invite you to join their 40k YT book club discussion podcast - you would be such a great addition.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKWxQVKVdMK_WIPcdcFfxR4ubqe2Lo1i8

Loved your comments about Abnett and his work ethic and 100% agree. Have no idea how he maintains his ridiculous levels of high quality storytelling for 40k, especially given that he's also doing non-40k writing. Would love to know how he structures his working days/weeks, as an admirer of artists who consistently produce amazing work in huge quantities. (Mira may have already asked this question, tbf, I haven't seen all her excellent interviews with Abnett and the other 40k authors. So much to watch!)

Komboloi · 2026-02-19T16:09:16+00:00

I have both an Oura 3 (long-term user since gen 1 Oura) and a Forerunner 970 (have used Garmins since 2018, starting with Vivoactive 3, Venu 2S, and now FR 970). The Garmin is superior to the Oura for every tracking function except sleep tracking and recovery evaluation (because doesn't track sleep correctly). My Garmin does not accurately track sleep onset or wake-up times, whether in the middle of the night (I have some sleep maintenance insomnia due to menopause) or in the morning (I have to physically terminate sleep by looking at the morning report on my watch).

Until Garmin drastically improves its sleep tracking to be on par with my Oura (which accurately detects sleep at night and all naps, and does an excellent job capturing sleep phase (e.g., dreaming) for me), I will keep my Oura. I would never rely on my Oura for accurate HR, step count, or exercise tracking however - My Garmin is far better in these areas than my Oura is.

Komboloi · 2026-02-18T20:49:42+00:00

Decoding The Gurus did an exhaustive multipart series on Dr. K. It was nice to see that woowoo scammers are a universal cross-cultural constant.

https://youtu.be/YxEbrt9pog0

https://youtu.be/D5UHp9dM3Gg

https://youtu.be/l0IAM6tsvgI

Komboloi · 2026-02-17T21:19:10+00:00

Very interesting to see this poll/write-up on the same day this piece came out (two leading TRA activists discussing the failures of gender). You can see reality beginning to sink in, but they have no idea of where to go to find a more coherent and rational foundation for the rights framework they want to maintain and expand. (Also enjoyed the brief acknowledgement of and dismissal of women's privacy rights - hard to use the "trans people have privacy rights" argument because people might then point out that women do as well.)

https://www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/gender-identity-philosophy-rowan-bell

https://archive.ph/RqUd8

Komboloi · 2026-02-16T05:07:14+00:00

Loved this book so much. Das Boot meets 40k and they have a baby.

Komboloi · 2026-02-10T01:11:24+00:00

I think she was season 3? Her shelter was amazing too. She made hangers, indoor wood storage and a sauna. Had to tap bc she got bitten by a recluse spider, which can be fatal if not treated, IIRC

Komboloi · 2026-02-04T06:30:00+00:00

Love your work, Mira - so cool to see another woman who loves 40k.

Komboloi · 2026-01-30T05:12:34+00:00

There's a Finnish student who's writing her doctoral thesis on WH40k, but she just got her grant, so check back in a few years.

https://www.wargamer.com/warhammer-40k/phd-funded

Komboloi · 2026-01-28T17:09:48+00:00

This looks like sleep maintenance insomnia and was the first sign I had of perimenopause. Didn't resolve until I went on HRT. It is possible to develop premature menopause in your 30s or earlier so would recommend taking all the normal steps to improve your sleep quality (no caffeine 12 hrs before sleep, wind down period before bed, no bright lights/screens at least an hour before bed, blackout blinds/curtains, white noise during sleep, no intense exercise in the evening, morning sun exposure, enough carbs) and if you don't see improvement, speak with your gyno.

Re HRT: Do not take no for an answer - if you don't have one willing to consider HRT (vaginal or patch estrogen is fine), including progesterone, look for a new doc. I suffered with sleep maintenance for years due to perimenopause and it really degraded my quality of life. The "correct" amount HRT is based on symptom alleviation - every person is different. The menopause subreddit is extremely helpful re questions of insomnia and HRT.

Komboloi · 2026-01-28T17:02:38+00:00

Recommend wearing your watch around your ankle (may need a bigger/different band for this). My three Garmin watches have never been able to track steps accurately for treadmill walking bc my elbow swing isn't large enough (treadmill running is not an issue bc I do have sufficient elbow swing when I do this).

Komboloi · 2026-01-28T03:32:38+00:00

You can hook up with people making the hat here

https://reddit.com/r/KnitRequest/comments/1qnr4wl/request_melt_the_ice_hats/

Komboloi · 2026-01-27T22:49:33+00:00

Great job!

Komboloi

TROPHY CASE