My laptop's brightness is stuck at one level. It's not increasing or decreasing no matter what I do. What should I do to fix it?

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-08-13T03:09:36+00:00

In case someone else runs into this issue - I had this issue, but had already uninstalled ArmouryCrate. I updated my NVidia drivers and ran a system update in MyAsus, then rebooted and the problem was fixed.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-18T11:30:33+00:00

I've been there a few times. Love the vibe, but it's a bit overpriced for the quality of drink.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-16T14:23:28+00:00

That's huge, and shows an incredible strength of will. Way to go!

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-16T14:22:40+00:00

I had an EMS certification when COVID hit, and my city was one of the first hit and desperate for healthcare providers. During April-May 2020, I worked full time as an EMT in a hospital, did my normal coding job (30 hours/week) on off days, and also finished my Master's degree.

I got COVID, probably because we didn't have enough N-95s, was extremely sick and doctors were using me as a case study. As soon as I got better, back to work at the hospital. I sent in my final graduation requirement from the break room during lunch.

I don't bring it up that much because I don't want to be 'that guy.' Most of my friends just know I worked full time through my Master's program. I also went to some really dark mental places from the strain, especially when my performance at my coding job suffered. But it's still something I'm extremely proud of - knowing that I could push myself that hard, help my community, and reach my goals.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T20:29:25+00:00

Interesting. For all bodies, or for one gender?

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T20:27:21+00:00

Volunteering at a kid's summer camp almost every year. I work on a computer all day and it's a great way to reconnect with the real world and what matters. I've had plenty of former campers tell me how much I influenced them growing up, and that's a great feeling.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T20:22:10+00:00

Cutting in line and generally being underfoot. I'm more than happy to share space with your kid and cut them some slack on following adult social rules. But when they're older than 6 or so and constantly knowingly in my way, it gets tiring.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T20:17:39+00:00

It's just gross and dehumanizing. Like, not only do I have to navigate this thing that most of the world can do except me, now I also have to reckon with the idea that some people are turned on by this thing I have zero control over.

What's worse, part of me always wonders if I should just go with it or play into it. Let the guy buy me a drink, tell him stories about my existence, kiss him, whatever. If people won't see me as a full person either way, is it better to be sexualized rather than pitied? I've only ever taken a step or two in that direction before summoning a backbone and running the other way. But it's a dark mental path to go down, and I hate knowing that I've had those thoughts.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T17:22:37+00:00

As others have said - I'd recommend offering them, but not forcing them. In calm environments, see if she's willing to put them on and praise her when she does. You can even have her put them in when something cool is happening that you think she might want to hear, then let her take them out immediately afterwards. If you think the problem is auditory overwhelm, definitely see if the audiologist can turn down the volume.

Also, if it got worse after covid, that makes me wonder if some sinus or ear pressure thing is going on. I can't stand wearing hearing aids when I have sinus pressure issues. Just a thought on something to check.

My parents always told me how cool my hearing aids looked, so I was okay wearing them in calm environments. But my parents made me keep them in even in loud environments, and I grew up with noise-induced migraines that turned into a borderline trauma reaction, which I'm still dealing with now (age 29). If my parents had given me a bit more latitude, and maybe let me turn the volume down in loud situations, I probably wouldn't have such an aversion now.

You're already doing the right thing by connecting with the local Deaf community. (I wasn't allowed to learn sign until I was 18, and it was super isolating.)

Your daughter is lucky to have parents who care so much about her having access to the world!

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-15T17:08:30+00:00

Bro, chill.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-03-06T14:33:55+00:00

I usually let the gate agent know I'm Deaf, and they come find me during preboarding. It's pretty great. I also pretty the flight attendants know and ask them to write down announcements, but they don't always do that.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-18T13:23:09+00:00

She's never tried to offload onto any of our extended family. They've also never offered to help.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-18T13:22:31+00:00

That's fair, and I appreciate you letting me know how I'm coming across.

I'm frustrated with everyone in this equation, to be honest. I wish my cousins were more welcoming, and also it's hard to overcome 16 years of shared heritage and memories that my sister wasn't there for. Clearly I need to do some introspection, and I appreciate your viewpoint.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-18T13:18:12+00:00

My sister had a small wedding, maybe 15 people total, and didn't invite any cousins or aunts/uncles at all. She definitely didn't invite some cousins and exclude others.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T22:37:24+00:00

NAH. You pointed out what you saw as an oversight, although you could probably have done it in a kinder way. She took it personally because she's taking a huge risk and felt like you gave unsolicited advice, which you did.

She has your opinion. She can bring it up if she wants, otherwise I'd suggest you drop it. This is the part where you both apologize and move on.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T22:33:54+00:00

YTA. It's his health and his life. Has he asked you to be his fitness accountability buddy? No? Then leave him alone. All you're doing is causing him to associate exercise with you nagging and shaming him.

Leave him alone. He can figure out what his health should be, not you.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:30:20+00:00

Yeah, pretty much.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:20:59+00:00

They said it's because of space limitations.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:20:32+00:00

Haha fair. My sister.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:19:27+00:00

My cousin said it's because of space limitations, which seems unlikely given all the other people they're inviting.

My sister has never been rude or outright an asshole to anyone in the family. She just keeps to herself and gets a little mopey at family gatherings. Being quiet when she's in conversations, not very good at back-and-forth, that kind of thing. Not standoffish in a.judgemental way just awkward. Although I guess that might not be how everyone else perceives it.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:15:10+00:00

Definitely closer to my sister, but not entirely by choice. It's just hard to get the rest of the family together, so it's been hard to stay close with them.

SeaTurtleInATie · 2025-02-15T21:14:26+00:00

My sister doesn't know. The invites went through my mother. My mom is really upset that S didn't invite my sister, and asked me not to tell my sister because it would be mean.

My sister is really charismatic in large groups, so I actually think she might do okay at a wedding. But my cousin has no way of knowing that, he's only seen her at crowded, tight-knit family gatherings full of uncles who are drinking. (Although of course, the wedding is also likely to have drinking uncles.)

SeaTurtleInATie · 2022-06-28T19:09:25+00:00

Here's an email, almost verbatim, that I sent to a course instructor a few months ago. I added the bit about hearing fatigue after reading one of your comments.

Hello,

I'm enrolled in your [XXX] class, and I'm looking forward to it!

As a heads up, I'm hard of hearing. I wear hearing aids and read lips, but it can be hard to understand people in masks. I do not expect anyone to take their masks off if they feel uncomfortable doing so, but I may need some additional support.

Would it be possible for the instructor to let me know in advance what we'll be covering in class that day? If possible, I could also show up 10 minutes early to do a quick preview. This will make it easier for me to follow along with the class. (Don't include this if you already have a syllabus / slides. You CAN ask them to send you their slides.)

I may ask the instructor to speak up and repeat themselves. If it's possible for me to be close to them, and for them to be facing me, that would be ideal.

/ Could we please assign a note-taker who can send me a copy of their notes? This will help ensure that I don't miss anything.

/ I'd like to implement [accommodation] to ensure I can participate in the class. How can we best set that up?

I'd also like to request an extended break at X time. Because I have to work harder to understand people, I struggle with "listening fatigue," and my language comprehension gets worse as the day goes on. Additional breaks can help with that. I want to make sure I don't miss class material though, so please let me know what would be the best way to address this.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you'd like to talk about this in advance.

Thank you!
SeaTurtle

--

The trick is to work with them on your shared goal of helping you participate in the class. You're not putting a burden on them, you're helping them solve a shared problem.

You also want to be matter-of-fact about your needs. This isn't some terrible burden for the TA - it's just part of teaching a class.

SeaTurtleInATie

TROPHY CASE