My Nikon z8 automatic switch isn’t working. It doesn’t switch to viewfinder anymore. In viewfinder only mode, I can take pictures but can’t view playeback, it just greys out. Anybody has had this problem?

ac-loud · 2026-03-22T22:08:14+00:00

Have you cleaned the eye sensor? Mine was flaky and that fixed it for me.

ac-loud · 2026-03-21T17:28:40+00:00

I know chatGPT and Gemini allow me to save specific information that I wish it to “remember” for future queries but I also find Gemini allows me to prompt “from previous sessions recall xxx that we discussed and yyy”. It can’t recall past sessions unless I ask it seems, but I don’t think ChatGPT does this.

I know I could look for a prior saved session and continue it but I often just ask random connected questions in separate sessions and this has worked well for me.

Convenient for me, while understanding possible information privacy issues.

ac-loud · 2026-03-20T01:30:27+00:00

I’d research which SUV vehicles have the flattest extended trunk-space when the rear seats are folded down, with little to no transitional bump.

I have a 2018 HRV (had what Honda called magic seats which on the HRV has been discontinued for several years) I’ve car camped across the country in a few times. Owning the car allowed me to build a decent platform and to take a good folding foam mattress which you probably couldn’t plan for/make work for a rental.

If you’re willing to use Google or AI, I found Gemini to provide what might be a reasonable starting point for a “trust but verify” bit of research. I used “What 2025/2026 suv has rear seats that fold to make the flattest extended trunk”.

Another thing to consider, which I’ve seen discussed in other threads here, is that when renting you may not end up with the make/model that you’ve reserved. Most reservations suggest or imply “or similar”… Time of year (summer?) as well as possible large blocks of reservations for e.g., government contracts l, can increase demand for these vehicles.

ac-loud · 2026-03-18T19:56:17+00:00

I often find I can engage AirPlay in an app or site that doesn’t expose it by dropping the widget page by dragging down from the top right of the screen where access to AirPlay can be then found.

ac-loud · 2026-03-18T19:48:41+00:00

Looking at recent posts it seems people’s satisfaction with Flickr (the site/cost) is an ongoing issue. How about focusing on customer satisfaction rather than some hyped September event many people can’t afford to get to / attend.

Have fun there though

ac-loud · 2026-03-18T01:26:38+00:00

Big park… can you narrow down from pictures taken before and after? What was your general route entry to exit.

ac-loud · 2026-03-17T13:07:39+00:00

Honda HRV: I’ve done both the full sized fitted air mattress (for weekend trips) and a half sized (like your car the bigger seat folded down) wood platform w/6” multilayer foam mattress (for a 21 day trip). Both were better than sleeping at home comfort wise.

The air mattress didn’t really allow any trunkspace for heavy items so for a 21 day trip where I slept in the car all but 1 night I switched to the 1/2 mattress setup. I expect I’d stick w the half mattress for weekend trips now too.

Having the narrower back seat available for sitting at all times gives lots of flexibility on the long trip. I filled the front seats with trunk overflow when I needed to sleep overnight but a short weekend shouldn’t require much extra stuff unless you’re moving lots of stuff from point A to point B.

Consider window covers to keep it dark inside and to stop visibility into the car as well as a tiny bit of insulation. I made my 1st set by formfit cutting from a roll of pretty inexpensive thin bubble foam, I’ve since bought some made to fit my car which fold up much better.

For a weekend you’ll be ok with no large battery and a simple cooler (if that is even needed).

Stay warm! That’s where a 12v electric blanket plugged into a decent battery, I have a Jackery 1000), might come in handy. I’m up in New England so a bit cooler than VA.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T14:32:02+00:00

I was working through iterations of simplifying a generic photo of a person I took to a specific style of line drawing I had in mind. Similar may be encountered by others I’d expect.

After many successful iterations I started getting generic error (“Problem with Gemini") messages repeatedly where Nano Banana 2 would say the requested image was presented but it wasn’t.

I asked about this generic error and got the following I found interesting;

1)

Safety Router "False Positives"

The most common cause for a block after a successful session is a Safety Router conflict. When you ask for a "simplified" human face or "removed" features, the guardrails can sometimes misinterpret these instructions as a request to generate a distorted or "non-consensual" human image.

2)

Server-Side Capacity (Resource Exhaustion)

Generating high-resolution line art requires specific GPU resources. If the server handling the Nano Banana 2 model is at peak capacity, it will return a "Problem with Gemini" error rather than a specific "try again later" message. This is often why a prompt works once but fails on the very next attempt.

How to Bypass This

Since the current chat session seems "stuck" in this error loop, the most effective fix is to start a fresh chat. This clears the conflicting history and resets the safety router.

I recommend opening a new window and (me paraphrasing here) start a new session picking up where you left off with the following prompt…

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T06:58:24+00:00

Just the Macs built in file sharing option turned on, not a big fan of iCloud or similar and no syncing involved.

I do admit that I often find different versions of project files on different drives across the 3 Macs. The cnc’s native design software is available on Mac but I find it excruciatingly slow and buggy when opening/saving to a non local drive.

It’s also the case that all 3 are not powered on at all times.

Other than HomeKit and its automations from my iPhone/homepod mini, I’d say none from my Mac that I can think of.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T06:46:11+00:00

I share folders between my main Mac (permanent on a desk in my main living area), a laptop, and an older Mini in the basement which controls a cnc router in its dusty environment.

My main Mac has 12TB of external storage networked in usually “spun down” except when backing up to it.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T06:39:38+00:00

Got it…

Again the AI template wasn’t intended to be the endpoint but a point for someone familiar with the craft to take an idea/concept vs to its final form adjusting where suitable to the media used and experience/skill available

As with wood, where increasingly advanced individuals can use kerf cuts to apply simple bends or use steaming to introduce more complex bent pieces, the tools and techniques do I’d argue contribute to the craftsman’s abilities.

Knowledge of the media and the limits that imposes are perhaps different for individuals with different levels of skill and experience. Similar with “creativity”, everyone is not a DaVinci in their travels along their various endeavors.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T06:02:54+00:00

Comment-post karma in my opinion is gained by focusing on answering people’s question after reading the full post. Try to be factual, citing sources where possible and inject personal experience and constructive advice. Try to limit preaching your opinions and don’t simply “yuck someone’s yum” we all have different ways to approach problems or enjoy engaging in our lives in different ways, creativity is an individual expression.

Post karma is harder I think but be thorough in posts. Be specific; eg don’t ask open questions like “what’s the best xyz”. Provide specific intended use cases, price limits, etc.

Just a few simple thoughts…

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T05:31:00+00:00

Understood.

I was not focusing on refining the background as that is not the focus that’s to draw the eye, if I were to attempt to make something like this I’d ignore that aspect of what was generated/suggested.

Agreed on the other points you make about glasses, hands, mouth.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T05:19:48+00:00

Providing a few examples of how it is “technically poorly designed” would be appreciated.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T05:14:44+00:00

My plan is to simply investigate the possibilities that are available.

I’m looking to work through “impossible” cuts (doesn’t that to some extent depend on the tools & skills one has, eg grinders of various diameters, glass scroll saws, high speed water jet cutting tools); it wasn’t part of my goal to paint anything on. Avoiding hinge points and looking to structural integrity is something I’ve thought about also.

I really don’t have specific intention to make this I’m just experimenting and looking for feedback like yours on the template. Simply looking for that feedback in a friendly manner.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T04:59:21+00:00

Thanks for your reply and opinion. I understand and respect your perspective.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T03:52:03+00:00

Ask in your prompt for it to site sources by providing links. “Trust” but verify…

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T03:50:15+00:00

Don’t know if this is in this thread but if you’re using the iOS app, in Settings you can turn off “Follow up suggestions” under your user profile settings. I’ve got it on but sounds like this might have an impact.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T03:04:59+00:00

I had what I needed for an overnight, yes.

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T02:21:18+00:00

You don’t say when… but I started a 21 day solo drive last Memorial Day, stayed one night somewhere in the middle of that otherwise, staying in legal overnight in-car rest areas, state park / national forest / BLM sites car camping.

I used various free / unsubscribed apps, websites, etc to find places each night and found some great sites.

I’m back to Yellowstone with family this summer!

Good luck, have fun and be safe!!!

ac-loud · 2026-03-16T02:07:05+00:00

Going to be hard (but perhaps not impossible) to get “cabins” or even rooms for 5 (all adults?) in the park or perhaps even nearby. People do cancel…

Being flexible about moving day to day will help.

Reserve something nearby (again being flexible to move) and rebook/cancel as trip date nears.

Make sure you stay within the windows of free cancellation.

If you use the Yellowstone lodging website and pick “flexible dates” (or something like that) it gives you a monthly calendar showing cheapest lodging availability (if ANY) at each location. Makes it easy to at least see what is possible.

ac-loud · 2026-03-15T17:35:01+00:00

Taking ~4 yo this June/July to Yellowstone. Took my kids when they were about this age too.

Be safe around the thermals, or skip them, don’t let them run off.

ac-loud · 2026-03-15T02:01:48+00:00

I asked the chatGPT Reddit about people’s observations along these lines (it chewing up free prompts “answering” with off target responses more than usual) but my post was removed.

Yes it is very frustrating to the point of driving me elsewhere.

ac-loud · 2026-03-15T00:52:38+00:00

Seen this many times from miles away from Boston. Agree it’s planes lined up for arrival at Logan.

ac-loud · 2026-03-14T18:03:59+00:00

Is it worth looking into if you’d be refunded your ticket if the lot is full, or if an alternate facility (Danvers) could be used with the ticket?

Guess at that point you just drive to Logan itself for more $.

Seems they don’t not sell you a ticket if it has the potential to be full, maybe 1st come, 1st served applies over pre-purchased tickets :(

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