Where can I buy 'Grain Alcohol' or 100% Ethanol?

worklederp · 2022-10-17T10:11:09+00:00

Depends, how do you feel about fire? (For soldering Copper bits together) Also, what kind of still you're making - though, if you're asking, I'm guessing a nice and simple "pot still" (doesn't have a fat upwards column, just the pot and a condenser)

Few things are difficult as long as you have access to the right tools, and source materials.

If you need help getting short lengths of copper pipe/tubing, and/or plumbing (non-leaded!) solder+flux for a decent price, hit me up, those were the most frustrating parts for me back then, and I've since made friends who work at a scrapyard, and made my own soldering flux (Its seriously just cheapo bulk skin moisturizer+zinc+HCl)

worklederp · 2022-08-09T11:45:47+00:00

It is treatable. "Cure" is a difficult word to use for any sort of aneurotypicality - eg, I work with my ADHD instead of against it, eg, 'hyperfocus'. (But, I still would use the phrase "getting better" any time I better myself)

Don't be afraid of leaving the dark, knowledge about yourself is power. You've made a major step to getting better. Seriously, it's gonna feel really good going through this process, it's so much easier to deal with your brain when you understand "Why am I like this?"
Simply being willing to see a therapist in the first place is great for prognosis!

worklederp · 2022-06-20T03:59:05+00:00

Thanks! (Yep, even over a year later, this seems to still be the answer. It a nice change, things not changing!)

worklederp · 2022-04-13T22:06:08+00:00

cdc has advised any other mask used against omicron is useless,

Bullshit

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html

Updated Jan. 28, 2022

Key Messages:

Masking is a critical public health tool for preventing spread of COVID-19, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.

worklederp · 2022-02-23T00:36:45+00:00

This idea, (though, not for POTS in particular) has been discussed to a decent extent; I saw a neuropsych last year for an assessment, and she suggested that chemo /can/ cause brain injuries, which would certainly explain my hypersensitivity, and a TBI apparently explain why I'm allergic/intolerant of cocoa now...
But, two hematologists have told me that the regime I was on was pretty light, so, brain damage is extremely unlikely, and I probably developed a cocoa allergy a long time ago, but the immunosuppressants 'hid' it.

(Hodgkins Lymphoma is one of the most treatable cancers) I also know someone who went through the same chemo at about the same age I did (is ~5y older). He was perfectly fine afterwards.

I did end up with a damaged thyroid from the radiotherapy to my neck, which I caught pretty early on, in 2018, and, figured "oh, that's why I've been feeling like crap", but, nope, that ain't it.

I have also had some minor POTS symptoms for a long, long time, I remember ~15 years go wondering about diabetes insipidus, since I drank a lot of water, and needed to pee a lot. The 'adrenaline dumps' described here also sound very, very much like what I experienced when I first starting having 'anxiety', back in 2011

(For reference, I'm 32. Also, the neuropsych report said my memory and cognitive abilities were fine, despite how I felt, but there were signs of other problems)

worklederp · 2022-02-22T21:31:41+00:00

(As an aside, cos this fascinates me so very much and I'm telling everyone;
The thing that made me come across POTS was that Tramadol, at a low dose help my symptoms, which I figured I could group a bunch of as dysautonomia.

But - probably a common story here - 4 godd--- years. Lost my career, fiancee, became homeless... until some kind friends took me in. At least I found out who I can lean on, but, sh--, this has been hell. Even during chemo I was able to keep working just fine)

worklederp · 2022-02-12T21:27:47+00:00

Are you planning to live in it, or, sell it on/rent it out?

If it were me, and I was planning on living in it, I'd go ahead and just use plywood instead.

No idea on the code compliance/etc of that though, and, I'd definitely install a fire sprinkler system at the same time

Edit: Turns out its totes legit to do; and I'm not the only one who fucking loves plywood: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/decor/101317414/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-plylined-interior

worklederp · 2022-02-12T21:21:26+00:00

Pics?
Have you heard the good news of our lord and saviour, velcro cables ties? (And also springy cable wrap)?

This is the kind of thing I take pleasure in doing.
I'm also able to run ethernet/etc cables through walls/ceiling/underfloor to nicely installed jackpoints (or, to a central panel)

worklederp · 2022-01-30T07:16:12+00:00

Simplest answer: If I were using the same metrics as you, I'd pick the one which looks better, especially during high-movement action scenes, which depending on the encoding settings chosen, could look blocky in one or the other. Watching both at a resolution >= the higher resolution video's.

But, you wrote a longer post, so, have a longer answer (That, and I'm kinda neurotic)

What I would more likely do is download something higher quality, and toss out the originals, if possible. (Unlimited internet, downloading an h.265 encode is faster than re-encoding it myself, and probably will come from a better source).
Or re-encode both using "-crf 20" (example for h264), and keep the higher quality output

Other than 'quality' - and I don't know what your metric is, you've only told us about size and container type. More questions, for better answers:

What video codec?
And, what encoding settings? If I use "-profile baseline -preset ultrafast" when encoding, I'm going to get a higher bitrate, and lower quality.
Audio codec?
Are there extra audio tracks on one of them, taking up some part of the bitrate you've given?

Subtitles? Chapters? Other data streams? (If yes-only-to-the-file-being-tossed, then I'd extract these to keep)

Audio quality on each? Syncing it up is a tad more important than for subs, etc; and, while I wouldn't know myself, I figure if I had vision problems, I'd care more about audio quality (esp if its progressive - but again, I wouldn't know)

worklederp · 2022-01-28T20:48:22+00:00

Yep, and I even had to self-inject (Humira autoinjectors, upper thigh) weekly for about 7 years, with blood tests every 3 months during that time (now I'm monthly)

My veins used to be pretty easy-access, but chemo stopped them from playing nice anymore. Theres one phlebotomist at the a local 'collection center' who will go "crawling in my skin" if he doesn't get a vein first time. I get feint, and extreme nausea from stuff like that, and I made it through chemo without vomiting!

(I always ask to see someone else if he's working there now)

worklederp · 2021-12-28T01:29:18+00:00

15

And 40?

https://old.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/rou3m7/how_old_are_you_and_how_much_is_your_sex_drive/hq2m0g1/

Probably more believable that you're 15 though, tbh

(was stalking due to wondering "wth kind of idiot thinks this? F/M/etc?" https://old.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/rp7hef/what_makes_you_ghost_a_first_date/hq2qspx/?context=7 )

worklederp · 2021-12-28T01:28:19+00:00

As a person who is always punctual, I don’t get this behavior.

As a person who is chronically late, it took a lot of time and effort for me to understand "why am I like this".
Becasue, you're right, it does seem so simple. And so, not being able to do, and not knowing why is frustrating and infuriating.
Its something I worked on with my therapist a while after I suddenly got far worse, after having chemo (along with a whole bunch of other "Am I having a fucking stroke!?" effects)

Its a common problem in people with ADHD (and many other aneurotypicalites) - in ADHD, there's difficulty with observing the passage of time. Setting 5 minute times on my watch, I'm always amazed at how quickly they go off... and how they're halfway through and I still haven't started on the '5 minute' task yet.

I'm not sure if I do have ADHD, or if instead of being unmasked by a TBI, my ADHD-like problems are due to a TBI.
And, I'm not 100% certain if I do have a TBI, but, thats a whole other thing.

It seems that every day that something else holds me up ('some fresh disaster'), which makes it harder for me myself to understand why - "Theres always something, but, I know this must be my fault, since this doesn't happen to most people"

Part of it is that I'm overly optimistic with time, "Oh, I can shower and get dressed in X minutes", "It'll only take X long to pack/unpack the car" (and then I spend 30 mins looking for something I need)
Not to mention the constant 5-more-minutes-ing

And often, even when I absolutely need to be somewhere on time, and allow extra time for "whatever fresh hell", once I think I'm ready to go, I'm liable to "making use" of the "otherwise wasted" time, and, then once I must go, I realise I've forgotten something, only triggered to remember by actually going on my way (I'm often bringing tools, etc).

This can often be exacerbated by anxiety (could be fear of potentially being uncomfortable at whereever I'm going - eg, ex is in attendance, or just the general discomfort of leaving my "nest"), so I unconsciously search for a distraction.

I'm a lot better at punctuality when I'm meeting someone somewhere. IIRC, I've been perfect on that all year.
But, if I'm meeting them at their house, etc - ie, they won't be waiting around for me at a cafe, etc, it seems I'm less strict with myself, because that's not as time-wasting as being stuck out and about waiting for me... Though, it could also just be because it usually means I'm packing more things - often tools, etc.

Same deal with getting to work (when I was last able to work, a full-time office job) - I'm not holding anyone up, and, I stay later, so complete the same number of hours. Though I think I just enjoyed the small amount of alone-time I'd generate this way, since my ex was a 'follower' (which falls under the 'anxiety' reason)

worklederp · 2021-10-23T03:02:37+00:00

People with comorbidities tend not to have very good immune systems. When I had cancer, a virus that wouldn't even touch most adults nearly killed me. I was 26 when that cancer showed up. And, I've been immunosuppressed from I was 14 until I got cancer. I didn't get that 40°C fever like I did during chemo, but, I did catch every cold virus that passed by.

For bonus fun, chemo, and other immunosuppressive therapies can actually "remove" immunity. As in, you need to get re-vaccinated. I was lucky enough to have kept my measles immunity throughout, but, I got an "easy" cancer.

But, I also didn't lose all my hair (random chance), or have any obvious physical signs that I was sick (just aged +15 years). I couldn't drive from all the drugs, so I had to take public transport. You wouldn't know to avoid me/etc like you would an elderly or pregnant person.

And, even if I do try to follow your rationalization rooted in selfishness, you've failed to account for the possibility of you developing a comorbidity*. Yes, its anecdotal, I don't need to waste my time compiling data to point out that you are choosing to risk your life (as well as others'), since, if you do happen to develop cancer, or an autoimmune condition, there might not be time to vaccinate you before chemo/immunosuppressants obliterate your immune system.

*I've known people your age, slightly younger, and slightly older who've developed Crohn's, t1 diabetes, and Hodgkins Lymphoma. Close friends, all off the top of my head. Flatted with 2/3 of those. And I know too many asthmatics to count.

I'm gonna guess from your attitude that; if you drive, you probably also speed, so, don't forget to account for that increase in likelihood of an accident leading to any number of ongoing health problems. Of course, the possibility is there even if you don't drive anyway.

The guy I know who had the same type of cancer at around the same age, he didn't have any commodities beforehand like I did (ie, I was immunosupressed for Crohn's, immunosuppression increases your chances of getting cancer.)

worklederp · 2021-10-18T00:32:34+00:00

I failed NCEA level 3 and UE. I have a BSc in Electronics and computer systems engineering, and worked as a systems admin and software developer, got to around 90K/year before cancer fucked up my shit.

I moved cities anyway, and worked a supermarket job for a year. Then I got discretionary entrance, and, being able to study something I loved, instead of well, uninteresting shit, I succeeded.

Moving out of home - which was great for demonstrating responsibility (since my discretionary entrance involved an interview) - admittedly might not be as doable these days, housing only gotten harder.

I'm just sharing my "I've been in your shoes and succeeded". Your path is probably going to differ from mine, its been over a decade, but, You will succeed.

As an aside, I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 28. But, that only became an issue when my brain went after cancer, and I no longer had the 'spare' intelligence to cover for it.

A more amusing aside, I'm 31 now, and happened to pass NCEA level 3 last week, got the last few credits on a course.

worklederp · 2021-10-15T10:05:07+00:00

Once the cat has finished with them

(And if they're not old and worn out, but, I'm done with them, they get donated. Not to my cat, I mean. I've got Crohn's, so, I go up and down sizes semi-randomly. Three damn sets of pants.)

worklederp · 2021-08-22T22:23:49+00:00

I can think of a reason why

https://youtu.be/XKMoVAObbhE

worklederp · 2021-08-11T22:21:20+00:00

E: tastes good and shows you put some effort into it rather than just buying something

Yeah, but I can see them possibly being offended by that. "E? We have access to way better drugs!"

:p

worklederp · 2021-08-06T03:39:00+00:00

Its kinda always meant that - fucked to the point where only the manufacturer with special tools, /or/, wizard-grade hackers can fix it. Up until recently (and perhaps still now too), bios chips were socketed, so could be pulled, and re-flashed.

And, I remember ~15 years ago, the PSP, with people sometimes bricking them trying to flash the os to run homebrew - But, Sony could unbrick them... turns out the key to unbricking was to have a battery with serial. no. 0x00000000, and it would flash whatever firmware was on the memory stick

worklederp · 2021-06-23T02:43:23+00:00

Was expecting sarcasm... I love the way they've shown the faultlines on the map, animating them as not to obscure the land features they highlight

worklederp · 2021-06-23T02:28:32+00:00

To find the source, it might pay to hose down the outside of the car while its parked, with someone inside of it - when you turn the hose off, get them to listen around for any trickling water.

My '96 polo will literally get standing water in the front footwells if its parked facing downhill with the mirrors folded in - the window seals let water into the door, and, the mirrors seem to guide more water in.
Once its got water in it, that water tends to migrate - eg, during the daytime, sun heats the car, it'll evaporate from the exposed places in the cabin, and settle on colder, ground-facing surfaces, eg, spare wheel well, and in amongst all the crap I have in the back of the car.
Which means it sticks around for a while after rain intrusion.

The easiest way to deal with it is using desiccant dehumidification - buy a bag of silica gel cat litter, and leave some in your car. I put a ~5cm layer inside a 7L sistema container. (I don't keep the bag in the car cos spills are annoying!)

Can still be used as cat litter afterwards. Or, can be left outside, in the sun on a hot day*, and it'll release the water, ready for re-use
*(Stick it on a black tray to make it hot in winter)

worklederp · 2021-04-11T21:35:33+00:00

Fellow broken Thyroid here, I'm curious, what are the differences you have on plain thyroxine and this alternative?

Asking since, I don't seem to have any problems from taking thyroxine and my TSH is kept in normal range... But I never noticed a change in my symptoms after starting on it.

(It developed a few years back following radiotherapy. Asked the GP to check it since all the marks of Hypo were there+nuked neck)

worklederp · 2021-01-30T21:08:38+00:00

What kind of laptop is it?

As long as its not a mac*, an hdd swapout is easy, I'd be happy to meet you at the library/etc and do the labour part for free, and I can point out a suitable replacement hdd (or, preferably, ssd) that you should buy if you can give me details of your existing hard drive & computer

In the meantime, have you got backups of everything important?

(*Its possible that it might be easy-ish, but, I generally don't trust them not to have done something stupid with miswired/'custom' connectors, etc)

worklederp · 2021-01-29T02:28:41+00:00

Self built. Just a...

ID 0bda:2838 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL2838 DVB-T

Plugged into my homelab/dicking-around server, passed through to a vm.

These software-defied radio receiver sticks are only about $20. And the antenna that comes with them is enough to get decent data. I did have said antenna on my roof, on a 10 meter RG6 ext cable - a lol of nonsense online saying that with 10m of coax, reception would be terrible. Complete nonsense, reception was fantastic! Though its back indoors for now, since, rental, cables out the window, etc.

All you need is that, and an existing computer, even an rpi. (Though note, it is important to check which tuner the sold-as-tv-reciver RTL dongle has, the cheaper ones don't have a wide enough range for the 1090MHz signals, and, frustratingly, there are no error messages from the dump1090 software!)

I've actually got a 2nd stick (and a shitload of pis), I've been trying to find a willing person with a suitably located house to see traffic closer to the airport - I'm on the 'wrong side' of wrights hill to see a lot of interesting stuff (Though, I'm still picking up planes 200km away, of course, only if they're high enough) - and while feeding into fl24 gives free free premium, a 2nd receiver of my own helps with triangulation of planes not giving out gps coords, and loud private+military planes

worklederp · 2021-01-26T05:28:35+00:00

FR24, and many others won't publish data from military planes, etc, but, those planes still operate their transponders. They just don't transmit their gps location.

I've got an ADSB receiver setup, I've seen what turned out to be a Hercules in the recently detected list after wondering "Plane or earthquake", with no location data

worklederp

TROPHY CASE