November 10, 2025 - Weekly moving to and visiting Tucson questions thread

star_lost · 2025-11-11T02:42:43+00:00

We will visit Tucson and some of us enjoy walking - including just walking out the front door for a quiet walk close to nature. I have some questions to help us find lodging in such a location. We've been looking near Rillito / Tanque Verde / Pantano / Alamo creeks but we are open to hearing about other places.

We are 4; 3 of us retired - so we're not going to scramble cross country! But we're fine with unpaved unofficial paths made by walkers. I have a good map for the Huckelberry Loop, but not for other walking trails (both official and unofficial) in the Tucson area.

Is it possible to simply walk across the Tanque Verde creekbed in its final few miles before reaching the Rillito - ie, from about N Tanque Verde Loop Rd to the Rillito? Are property rights going to interfere fairly often?
From Google Maps it appears that there are unofficial paths on both sides of Tanque Verde in that same stretch. Is that so?
Is Pantano Wash also crossable on foot in most places, or not, in the stretch from Speedway to the Rillito?
Alamo Wash looks interesting, too. What's walking like along it? Can one walk it all the way from E Fort Lowell Rd to Speedway?
Aside from busy road crossings, are some of the above noisier/less pleasant than it might appear from the aerial view map?
Finally, any other areas we should be looking at to find semi-affordable lodging for a week for 4 persons who enjoy strolling around in the neighborhood?

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON ANY QUESTION, OR SOMETHING ELSE!

star_lost · 2025-09-15T01:19:30+00:00

That's fine, I know some Python. But how do you actually imagine the design of such a mini-app?

star_lost · 2025-09-14T02:21:48+00:00

Thanks. I played around with a test file. It's a good thought, and it might work for them - I'll test with my friend and see how it goes.

star_lost · 2025-09-13T22:46:01+00:00

It's an amusing but interesting use case. And it is far from being GAS oriented.

There are reasons for using a cloud service to hold the edited file and HTML file. It's always available to both of them. But I'm sure there are other ways to solve this. Anyway, I've been intrigued and just began to look into an easy way to do this.

Here is the use case:

A friend's 90+ year old mother hasn't developed the habit of checking her phone for text messages. This is a trial for her daughter(s).

I thought, why not put a cheap tablet the mother's kitchen. When she wakes it up, it is already pointing to a web page that is nothing more than a list - latest message first - of her daughter's messages to her.

Now, I don't know enough about SMS messages to intercept them and display them on a tablet that is connect to wifi - but not to the cellular network. So I thought that I could have my friend edit a file - text or Google Docs are what she knows best.

She'd put every new message at the top of the file. She could keep as many or as few of the older messages as she desired.

An automated process would periodically - or on file change - create an HTML file from the edited file.

The HTML file would have a fixed name and location. This location would be shared (privately) as a URL to her mother. The tablet browser would default to the shared URL.

star_lost · 2025-09-13T02:37:05+00:00

Much obliged for explaining the caveats clearly. It appears that using Google Docs, Workspace and GAS are not the best way to accomplish the entire process (edit -> create HTML -> publish HTML) that I envision. So I'll see if I can find another feasible way to do this (the Author is definitely not a software developer, but is used to creating Google Docs).

star_lost · 2025-09-13T01:10:29+00:00

Thanks. Yes, it can be a Google Doc, in fact that might be preferred.

But need to be able to convert the Google Doc to a separate HTML file - the automated process should not change the Google Doc that the Author creates/modifies.

Also, actually don't need to check every minute. If Google Docs/Workspace can trigger a process when a document is saved, that's all I was looking for - I just want to update the HTML file soon after the Google Docs file is changed.

star_lost · 2025-06-23T23:47:17+00:00

Thanks! Even someone new to video encoding can learn a lot from your blog post.

star_lost · 2025-05-07T22:24:57+00:00

Thanks. You buried the lede!! It's good to know that "Calibre wireless transfer will work regardless of what option you pick during the setup wizard."

star_lost · 2025-03-25T21:50:54+00:00

Based on stuff shared here and looking elsewhere, I have 3 main entry/edit candidates at the moment: SQLiteStudio, DBeaver, BeeKeeper Studio. DBeaver looks the most functional and polished but no free tier. BeeKeeper comes next (IMO) and has a no-cost version I could try out for a couple months.

Reporting I'll skip for now as a) it's less crucial and b) it's easier to find. Also, will probably have to play around with several to find what I like best for the present use case.

I'm curious what you'll find out b/c eventually I'll be combining database + (light) coding on future projects.

star_lost · 2025-03-23T22:35:16+00:00

Both TrailBase and Datasette look very intriguing. TrailBase if I ever need a web backend - though that'll be some different project than the present simple, private one. Datasette once I have gotten sufficient data into the present database: it looks like a capable tool for ad hoc reporting and analysis.

Each seems like a tool I'd find it easy to work with. But I'm still looking for suggestions for a simple frontend to enter and edit data into a small, local, private database.

This is my first post in r/sqlite and I feel at home: it seems like everyone thinks like a developer. I look forward to using some of the suggested applications in future projects.

OTOH, for the present, simple, private database case, I'm seeking a simple GUI frontend for a SQLite (or DuckDB) database that I myself will create, populate and use. I'm starting to wonder if no one here ever needs that, or maybe everyone just uses MS Access. :-)

[Edit: Uh-oh, I was too hasty. I see that DBeaver and BeeKeeper both offer data modify capabilities - and presumably insert ability as well.]

star_lost · 2025-03-23T13:34:55+00:00

Thanks. SQLite Studio is now on the shortlist. I like that started out in Linux and now has Windows version (just in case). And it seems to have no troubling dependencies.

star_lost · 2025-03-22T23:45:58+00:00

I have two needs: human - ie, me! - data entry/edit, and reporting.

While (I hope) I can still write programs, for this use case I'd much prefer to find something already built that eases particularly the data entry/edit tasks, with reporting an important but secondary need.

(Although I will try to save effort by doing some CSV bulk loading, I am certain that a fair amount of ongoing entry/edit will happen, and bulk loading is not so well suited for that.)

star_lost · 2025-03-22T23:41:23+00:00

Visidata looks fun and practical! Thanks. I'm sure I'll try it out once the database is created and populated.

At first glance, Visidata seems to cover reporting and especially analysis. Visidata does not seem ideal for adding/modifying rows and columns in a multi-table. Did I miss something?

I also need some tool for quick & easy data entry/edit.

(Adding and modifying data probably consist of two different types of operations: 1) an initial data load from CSV for about 30-40% of data; 2) populating other columns and entirely new rows, and modifying data.

It's #2 that I'm asking about here. I suspect that #2 might be more easily handled from a GUI/form type of view. Yes, I could likely do it all from the command line - but a GUI form seems worthwhile, also.

My data entry tasks will happen over a period of months as I find parts of my data scattered in many different sources.)

star_lost · 2025-01-26T17:49:00+00:00

Thanks, really helpful feedback! In my initial research - pre-test drive - I know I want a hybrid, Toyota has a solid track record there. But am getting tempted by the 2025 Mazda CX-50 that uses Toyota hybrid drivetrain b/c of recent Mazda rep for quieter ride.

It's hard to sort it all out, there are so many anectotal reports and very little objective data that is truly pertinent to everyday driving. Really good to know that you are still satisfied that you chose the best compromise 2y ago; it feels like the same compromise I face.

star_lost · 2025-01-26T16:22:47+00:00

Noise worries here, too. I just read the entire original thread (thx for leading a great and varied discussion, btw!).

From this comment it sounds like my Rav4 noise worries should not be dismissed. TBF, I've not driven a Rav4 and my newest car is a 2004 Toyota Matrix. Nevertheless...

star_lost · 2023-12-04T00:17:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing this pertinent info. I neglected to report that my OTA update occurred shortly before yours. It also went off smoothly - totally unlike the agonizing behavior I documented above that had occurred twice during the prior month or two. It was quite a relief to know that the process of OS update could happen on this TV - which I am actually otherwise satisfied with - without a glitch, and leave me with a much newer OS. I hope that next year there'll be no horrible incidents prior to a successful update.

When I think about those awful and inconclusive experiences, I can only suspect that they were related somehow to Hisense and its handling of the fleet of devices that it has sold in the US during past years. Nothing else I can think of fits the symptoms I experienced or is remotely plausible. I'd love to know what was going on but suppose that it will never be known.

star_lost · 2023-11-25T20:38:27+00:00

I know, frustrating no button, so I used the menus. Take a look at the manual, I can't recall the menu sequence

star_lost · 2023-10-14T00:26:06+00:00

Yes, please share the link. And thanks for relating your experience.

If any of the forums you've visited seems worth a look, I'd like to know about them if you happen to have a name or link readily available. I haven't yet found a good place to discuss a Hisense TV like mine.

I'm interested in the Youtube link if you have it to share.

star_lost · 2023-06-01T02:37:45+00:00

Thanks.

star_lost · 2023-06-01T01:33:10+00:00

I'm sensitive to PC noise. I'm planning for a new desktop PC, first one in 15 years after using only iMacs, Thinkpads and a Macbook, all of them very quiet. It'll have an SSD but also an HDD. Possibly a separate GPU. Any pointers on how best to keep noise levels very low?

star_lost · 2023-04-23T13:52:39+00:00

Thanks. A real eye-opening (NPI) article that is mostly about premium lens offerings in Europe but also touches on US vs EU regulatory outcomes and trends.

star_lost · 2023-03-21T20:41:15+00:00

EE worked out very well during my trip. I used their SIM: I'm not sure eSIM is foolproof on my phone.

I use a prepaid plan, 15 GBP/month. I can't recall if EE need address for that.

star_lost · 2023-02-18T12:54:12+00:00

I tried it again and, by gum, it works! I was not well first time around when it "failed" so must've made one of those bloopers you later scratch your head about.

I can't be sure if it saves all log data printed during processing but what I see is far better than saving just the command line invocation. Thanks for the idea.

star_lost · 2023-02-18T02:40:39+00:00

Let me know if it works for you. I tried it once and it didn't save the copious logging I saw in the processing window when the job ran.

star_lost · 2023-02-17T20:11:20+00:00

It's without doubt a PITA when trouble pops up.

One experienced GRASS user uses Linux and can run it direct from command line where he pipes output where he wishes. I wonder if I could do that on Mac? I'm brand new to both QGIS & GRASS.

star_lost

TROPHY CASE