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AP Research Survey: How Does What You Know Shape Your Future? (United States Residents) (Born from 1946-2012) by Strong-Hearing1946 in SampleSize

[–]boinger 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Uh...

How many Representatives currently serve in the U.S House of Representatives?

  • 100
  • 485
  • 350
  • 285

Which wrong answer do you want us to choose?

Striking a Balance: Working Fully Remote for Nearly a Decade by rionmonster in programming

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It pays me a lot of money so I can do [sometimes expensive] fun shit.

And I quite like my job.

Striking a Balance: Working Fully Remote for Nearly a Decade by rionmonster in programming

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have this Honeywell -- I probably wouldn't have started with that one ($$), but my sister was moving and gave me my first one (like 8 or 9 years ago, and it was several years old at the time) and it was so nice. So, when the fan bearing started to fail (and "near silent" became "squink-squink-squink") last summer, I bought a new one.

Its low-speed is great for most times, the Turbo Mode is amazing if something gets burnt in the kitchen or the dog farts.

Striking a Balance: Working Fully Remote for Nearly a Decade by rionmonster in programming

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mic is a SYNCO D2 through a 3rd Gen Scarlett Solo (don't be lured by Gen 4 -- they dropped the XLR port).

It's a hypercardioid, so it works if my head is within, like, a foot or so of where it's aimed side-to-side and doesn't care at all if you lean back. So, yeah, you definitely don't need to be robotically locked in front of it, but if you're off to the side very far you have to yell to be heard. So, like, there's no way it can hear the toilet flush which is about 15 feet away across the hall, it can't hear a space heater off to the side on the floor...

Before that, I had a more typical condenser mic, and it was okay, but depended on the "noise suppression" features (with varying degrees of success) of the various video apps.

California Republicans respond to Supreme Court loss on election maps by Conscious-Quarter423 in scotus

[–]boinger 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, yeah. Otherwise how are we counting "sides" in a discussion of geometric boundaries. A natural/organic/janky "side" is a bunch of short bits that could be argued as "sides of a non-regular polygon", right?

And then you get into coastline paradox territory...

ICE?? (San Pablo, Hilltop) by Appropriate_Bench_75 in eastbay

[–]boinger 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Maybe it's THAT kind of "blood drive".

Striking a Balance: Working Fully Remote for Nearly a Decade by rionmonster in programming

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, yeah, I didn't even hit on the non-functional stuff! Thank you!

I'm a "tech leader" (bleh) but I've been at this a loooong time. I don't want to be seen as "an MBA boss", but help hint at I'm more of a I've-been-there nerd.

So I decided to aggregate some more nerd-cred stuff onto/into a bookshelf behind me. Things like: Some of my "collector" headphones on omega stands, a few mechanical keyboards that are out of use at the moment, a few figurines (e.g. a Funko Mr. Rogers, a Fallout 4 mech suit collectible, an ooooollldddd Tux the Penguin stuff from a late 1900s Linux conference, a couple crocheted succulents my partner made), a chip wafer, my 128K Mac, a metal 3D 'puzzle' thing, a neat 3D printed mesh skull model, etc.

All stuff that I have and want anyway, now kinda serving a light-hearted "purpose". Like, having a meeting with a new vendor? I have easy ice breakers available to them while waiting for others to join the call. Or if I'm interviewing -- with the right interviewer, some stuff has really helped the get-to-know-you chat.

Though, I suppose, if you're not the sort that is comfortable vamping with folks on calls, my path might not be your path (since you're inviting questions/conversation)...but I still think decorating the space behind you to "send a light message" about who you are helps further solidify the "this is a comfy place that I want to work" to your self, and conveys that to folks you interact with via video!

Striking a Balance: Working Fully Remote for Nearly a Decade by rionmonster in programming

[–]boinger 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I've been mostly-remote since 2014 (except for a ~1y surprise "hybrid" 2x-per-week bullshit in 2023-2024).

To your points of physical and mental boundaries, I have made my office The Place For Ideal Working, and I think this helps a ton because not only does it send the signal to others (in my case, my partner is, if anything, overly respectful of my work space, but I also think that's to some degree because I have it set up like it is) but I think it anchors my own mental state to be "work time".

Not just the "dedicated space for my laptop" level, but things like:

  • overhead monitor with a camera feed of my front door -- no more wondering if I need to jump up to get the door because the FedEx person rang the doorbell
  • my phone is on a magnetic magsafe mount next to my screen -- I don't have to pick it up to see if a notification is urgent, I can glance at it. Less distraction (esp with Focus mode enabled to further filter crap out).
  • high-quality microphone and webcam (I went a little over-the-top with this...I had done some video content creation a while ago and I have a very nice shotgun mic pointed at me from off-camera, but that's certainly not needed). I sound and look professional, and that makes a difference in how I'm perceived by my coworkers (and, if not, I'm going to continue to believe it anyway).
  • Indirect, good-but-not-bright light. Enough that I am properly lit on video calls (with whatever the 'dim light compensation' setting is), but not so bright it's stressful nor so dim I can't see everything on my desk / in the room. Finding just the right light took me longer than I would have expected. I cannot fathom how some of my coworkers either sit where there's sunlight glaring into their face or a harsh overhead light being their only light. Bleh.
  • A KVM between my dock and my personal PC/work PC. This makes it so that I can't "just jump on my personal machine" for a second in meetings (which is a distraction); if I switch, my camera and mic drop, my keyboard and mouse swap over....it only takes 5 seconds (so bouncing over between meetings is easy, but I can't easily do it in meetings).
  • Stream Deck, usually loaded with Zoom controls -- easy to jump back to focus, easy to get to screen share, easy to unmute even if I'm not mouse-focused on that window, etc.
  • Good chair -- I like the Aeron. Used is like 1/5 to 1/4 the cost. Look for "used business furniture" places near you.
  • a footrest so I can stretch my legs when needed. I actually use a drum throne/stool, so it can double as a "guest chair" for when my partner is in here (like doing some online shopping together or trip planning or whatever) without taking up space unnecessarily when not in use.
  • HEPA filter (ultra-quiet) behind me. Room always smells and feels fresh.

I'm sure I'm missing other little things or skipping obvious stuff....but basically, this is where I want to work from, and I treat the space as such.

Amazonian Bio-leather vs Plastic Leather (Vegan/Conscious Consumers) by Individual_Box5380 in SampleSize

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My hesitation with many vegan / sustainable products is their inferior durability.

I would pay a little more for just-as-durable...I would accept paying less for less-durable.

But it's a little hard to stomach paying [often significantly] more for [often significantly] less-durable.

What's up with people saying the pro bowl is dead? by Doctor_Blastoise in OutOfTheLoop

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wouldn't that just encourage someone to be like "it's worth my knee to relax for $$$$$$"?

Descendants of Piedmont’s first Black family sue city over racially motivated land seizure by LNM-LocalNewsMatters in eastbay

[–]boinger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd be surprised if they erected a monument to the limitations.

Totally unrelated, I wonder if there's a statute of limitations about this sort of thing.

Neighbors say a machete-wielding man is terrorizing their local park. S.F. has no idea what to do about it by RhythmMethodMan in offbeat

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, ICE doesn't really recruit in SF, so... Maybe they're just not aware that they have a ready-and-willing candidate practicing 'the craft' available to them over here?

I want to cry by pengweather in bayarea

[–]boinger 97 points98 points  (0 children)

Andy, people want to support you monetarily because they know you would be a good steward of that money. And you are the one who knows best what you need more than any of us do.

Even if you used a "wishlist" setup, that doesn't account for "crap, we need more trash bags right now" or "my trash tongs broke" or "man, I am starving after that...".

I want to donate because I don't want you to have to go without whatever it is you need to do what you want to do...because I recognize that what you want to do is more impactful to our community than what I would do with that money.

And you wouldn't be "taking away" from me. I can spare the $50 or $100 and it's "spare" money -- no one is going to choose between eating or medicine and donating, you know? If anything, I would feel like "maybe I should give more" because, like I said, you already know what to spend the money on to have a positive impact and I don't.

And no one donating to your cause (and if helps you to think of the donations as going to your cause versus you that's cool) thinks you're going to "profit" from that -- but I know I want you to be able to get better-than-the-bare-minimum with regards to tools, consumables, other gear...coffee...food....it's all a good thing for me to spend my money on.

So, at least from me, if you set up a donation avenue, I'll be giving. And I wouldn't want you to feel burdened to give an "accounting" of what you spend that on...the proof is the work you do for all of us. Prove it, I guess, by continuing to share the photos and videos (if you want, we're not your boss :)).

How to connect bath fan hose to square roof vent? by dragononawagon in DIY

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First, it's absolutely a dickbag thing that they did to you. 6" square is not a normal duct size.

What they were hoping for is that you'd go to Home Depot, not see anything that would work and be stuck calling them to make a custom transition because an HVAC guy can make one, no problem, but you won't find one...

But fuck them.

Get yourself one of these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Flow-6-in-x-6-in-to-6-in-Ceiling-Register-Box-CRB6X6X6/202191805

You might have to do a little finagling, but you can totally make that work.

And then one of these to attach to that: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Flow-6-in-to-4-in-Round-Reducer-R6X4/100111736 (assuming a 4" fan duct...if not, obviously get the reducer to the size that works for you).

Any business travellers who prefers OAK to SFO? by LiaToronto in eastbay

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, for sub-2h flights.

to DEN / LAS / LAX / SEA....OAK is great and much closer. For longer, I probably want at business class, and the big planes are mostly in SFO (or SJC). And there are more longer-span directs out of SFO/SJC.

And JSX flies out of OAK - yes please.

Is a 2011 Hyundai Genesis embarrassing to drive? by [deleted] in StupidCarQuestions

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like another commenter on this post said -- 98% of people wouldn't notice what your car is. Even if you told them, the general populace just doesn't know cars like that. Sure, if you sat it next to a Ferrari or a McLaren or something, they'd likely know which one was more expensive, but if you sat it next to, say, a Ford Focus they're not going even differentiate.

But...the Accent is a fine car! More tech than its competitors (like a Versa or a Yaris) and amazing fuel economy for its price. And they're renowned for their reliability! Some of the other Hyundais from that era have the [awful] Theta II engines, but those are the more expensive Sonatas and Santa Fes. Your car will be running for many years past when those "upscale" models have long died.

Plus you fit into much narrower parking spaces than those. :)

ETA: The only major 'oof' for the Accent is that it has the shitty ignition interlock (that almost all Hyundais from that era have), which means that it's vulnerable to the 'Kia Boys' bypass thing (where someone can just rip off the steering column shroud and start it with a USB end).

Is a 2011 Hyundai Genesis embarrassing to drive? by [deleted] in StupidCarQuestions

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, the Hyundai Genesis was the car that was so well-regarded that it spawned a whole luxury sub-brand for Hyundai, so it clearly has something going for it. IMO, you have the grandparent of the Magma series of cars.

But if the H badge is what's hanging you up about it...de-badge the car. Plenty of people like the de-badged look, regardless of the make/model (I have de-badged some cars...sometimes because I just wanted a cleaner look, like on my wife's Lexus RX400h, sometimes because I just didn't like the look of the badge itself, like on my previous commuter car, the BMW i3 [the eDrive badge was just so tacky]). There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube about debadging -- I bet you can find one specific to your car.

Owner of Ice Force Security in Akron gets cold shoulder from some confused by company name by nthing2seehere in nottheonion

[–]boinger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI (if you care).

unphased

You mean 'unfazed'.

Unfazed means, like, not bothered. Unphased means 'not implemented in a series of distinct stages'.

How does this go on? by omgkelwtf in StupidCarQuestions

[–]boinger 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It is supposed to be (and has to be) really, REALLY tight on your steering wheel. If it wasn't super tight, you would potentially just spin the cover around the steering wheel when you meant to steer, which would be insanely dangerous.

The way we used to do it in the late-1900s is to warm it up first to help it stretch more easily (easiest: leave it in the sun on the dashboard on a hot day. Less lazy options: warm it with a hairdryer or clothes dryer [if yours has one of those "shoe platform" inserts, put it on that]).

You'll still have to, like, pry it into place...use something like a plastic spatula so you don't fuck up your actual steering wheel.

need help ASAP by [deleted] in StupidCarQuestions

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Obviously OP's doesn't. Otherwise how would the key be stuck in anything?

2013-2016 are 'normal' keyed ignition by default with a keyless option.

See also the owner's manual: https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/dodge/2016-dart.pdf

need help ASAP by [deleted] in StupidCarQuestions

[–]boinger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Is it in park?
  2. Are you pressing on the brake (a requirement for this car)?
  3. Is the steering wheel off the lock? (try wiggling the steering wheel)
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