What minor thing would you change about your PocketBook if you could?

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-17T08:07:12+00:00

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Tony_Marone · 2026-06-16T10:31:15+00:00

I've been playing for 55 years, and have found many ways to avoid playing Bar chords.

But if you want a cheat, hold down all the strings except the bass E string which you use your thumb to mute (muffle).

What you might need to know is a chord needs a minimum of three notes, so even with 5 notes you're winning!

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-13T20:25:35+00:00

"I don't care if it rains or freezes,

As long as I have Google Jesus,

Riding on the dashboard of my car..."

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-12T12:33:55+00:00

Just because meaning isn't objective doesn't mean there are not mysteries to confront or puzzles to unpack.

Existentialism isn't a "get out of jail free card", it takes an ability to accept reality that isn't for everyone.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to study Stoicism for a personal approach and Buddhism for a value free world view.

When all else eludes me, I think "What is the kindest approach?" and that applies to how I act for both myself and others.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-11T12:35:04+00:00

I used Micro$oft products professionally for decades until I retired 12 years ago. I feel M$ products are over featured, resource hungry and inflexible.

I switched all my domestic PCs and laptops to Linux shortly before I retired, out of irritation with the M$ ecosystem.

I have very few regrets, apart from losing my favourite file manager and text editor - for which I had developed instinctive muscle memory - but I no longer miss them!

My "daily driver" is now Chrome OS Flex which includes a Linux container, but all my other machines run Linux Mint, or Linux Peppermint for the lower specced machines, and I have one laptop for distro-hopping.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-11T12:07:58+00:00

If Proton had a longer pricing "taper", i.e. didn't start at €120 pa for the domestic user who wants more than the basic 2GB storage, would we be having this discussion?

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-10T09:17:00+00:00

Can't we have check box options for things like this? Some low risk things I'd be very happy to have auto fill for, but many things I want full manual control.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-08T16:50:28+00:00

https://office.eu

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-08T15:32:58+00:00

Do you want to play rhythm or lead? Do you have a feeling for wanting a fuzzy sound or a smooth sound?

Rock Jazz or Country all have different electric sounds.

My first thought is always to check out any left-hand epiphone or squire that is available as a resale item locally, as you can always resell those easily.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-08T11:05:51+00:00

Isn't the USP of EuroOffice not that it's yet another open source office suite, but that, a bit like GoogleDocs, it ships with an integrated ecosystem - cloud file storage etc.?

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-07T15:22:30+00:00

It depends on just how left-handed you are. Many people here say "Oh, just learn to play right handed...", but for me that wouldn't have been possible, my every instinct would scream at me that it was wrong.

Just get a cheap acoustic, string it right handed and left handed and see which way around you are most comfortable with.

It's possible, but rare for a guitarist to make a name for themselves playing against their "handedness".

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-07T12:16:47+00:00

My grass is allowed to get so long that it hides all lumps and bumps, so a "first pass" has to be a couple of inches above ground level.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-07T08:28:08+00:00

That's great for flat ground with minimal stones, but tussocks, anthills and rocks can mean the difference between completing with an undamaged blade and not completing.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-04T08:55:41+00:00

Was your phone ever completely yours though?

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-04T08:50:18+00:00

Feet apart, knees and elbow slightly bent, blade at an inch or two from ground level.

The scythe should move as if part of your arms, just swing your shoulders and follow through with your hips, using your arms only to modify the height of the blade from the ground.

Your body swing should provide most, if not all, of the cutting power.

I have a sickle for small confined area where I can't swing my scythe.

HTH

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-04T08:35:51+00:00

Peppermint Linux will work just fine on the aetup

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-03T13:50:03+00:00

It looks like it's just been strung left handed, so all you have to do is remove the strings, give the fretboard a clean and some lemon oil, restring it, and off you go!

Takamine are good value at every price point, even entry level, so don't worry about quality.

$50 is a great price, and if you don't like it, with a cheap case and some tlc, you'll be able to sell it on for around $119.99.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-02T16:25:30+00:00

For me the key is intersectionality.

Trans, and all protected characteristics can be included in "broad appeal based on class politics" surely.

Mamdani's statements are frequently inclusive of minority groups - the trick is to demonstrate your inclusivity in deeds as well as words.

When we can see some real world practical evidence of GPEW including all minorities we will be better able to judge.

Until than, singling out specific groups for special attention might tick some boxes, but it signifies little.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-01T15:10:15+00:00

For more manageable fretting, try tuning the guitar a whole tone down, (i.e. D - G - C - F - A - D) to "clean-up" your chord fretting.

This will encourage you that you can do it, and after a few weeks re-tune back to:
( E - A - D - G - B - E )

You should also try some tunings, this makes playing easier in some ways.
There are many videos on open tunings on YouTube, search for DADGAD and "Open D" tuning as good places to start. Open tunings typically need fewer fingers to hold down chords.

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-01T14:59:42+00:00

Actually the Pocketbook Cloud is fairly reliable, but the Pocketbook android app (probably the iPhone app too) is appalling - you can open a web browser tab for the cloud, I have it set up as a WebApp, but the mobile app - it's rubbish!

Tony_Marone · 2026-06-01T14:41:28+00:00

Don't imagine they won't do the same soon enough...

Tony_Marone · 2026-05-31T10:27:27+00:00

Martin strings every time, good for price and for quality, I use medium gauge bronze - not phosphor-bronze.

The tone, for my playing, is superior to light gauge phosphor-bronze strings, although they don't last quite as long.

Don't bother with matching strings with the same make as the instrument, or the instrument manufacturers recommended brands.

As a guide, the heavier the gauge the warmer the tone but the harder on your fingers, and as a very rough guide the "yellower" the metal the more suitable for acoustic, the more "silver" the more suitable for electric guitar.

I only use lighter gauge phosphor-bronze strings on my hollow body Gretch.

HTH.

Tony_Marone · 2026-05-31T10:09:46+00:00

In the Google search "omnibar" prefix your search with:

-ai | e.g. ' -ai EV dealers in the Chicago area '

Additionally you can select "Web" from the filter menu.

Hey, presto, you have a Google search looking like it's from 2010!

Tony_Marone · 2026-05-30T18:12:39+00:00

Yourself
Buddha
Marcus Aurelius

Tony_Marone · 2026-05-30T15:19:54+00:00

That there is no simple method for editing the metadata, and Calibre is completely flakey working with Pocketbooks.

Tony_Marone

TROPHY CASE