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qjkxbmwvz @startrek.website
Posts 3
Comments 738
hard to argue with
  • Same argument against vegetarianism/veganism --- we have teeth "designed" or evolved for eating meat, thus we should eat meat.

    ...we also have brains capable of abstract reasoning, but nevermind that!

  • The ability to be spontaneous in life is directly proportion to the size of your bank account
  • I think it has a lot to do with disposition and convenience. I'm lazy, and I don't like to drive if I can help it. But I live near enough to public transportation that we'll spontaneously decide to hop on the subway and grab dinner on the waterfront.

    It's not the money that's preventing us from hopping in the car to go to some new beach for dinner, it's the convenience.

  • Bike Manufacturers Are Making Bikes Less Repairable
  • It's funny that the high end (human powered/"analog") bikes tend to actually be pretty good at this. Want to change your $5k+ bike from 11s to 12s? Yep, should be doable --- you'll need to replace group set and possibly the rear hub, but it's totally possible.

    Upgrade from cable to electronic shifting? Again, totally doable.

    Switch from Shimano to SRAM or Campy? Yep, should be possible.

    Now, if you crack your carbon frame...well, that's another story.

  • Got my books and my CDs I am ready for Linux 7
  • That's how I started using Linux --- big book with CD, I think it was "RedHat Linux Secrets 5.4" or something. 2.0 or 2.2 kernel.

    Honestly, it was fantastic. And almost all of it is still relevant today. (Some of the stuff on xfree86 and the chap/pap stuff not so much.)

    But it gave a really solid (IMHO) intro to a Linux/*NIX system, a solid overview of coreutils, etc. And while LILO has been long replaced, and afaik /sys didn't exist at the time, it formed a good foundation.

    I'll refrain from commenting on any init system changes that have taken place since then.

  • it's talk tuah tuesday
  • Is the alternative that we all rent/buy (?) apartments?

    No --- duplexes/triplexes/etc. exist. And single-family housing does exist in mixed zoning areas. An SFH next to a duplex next to an apartment building is common in my city. However, in this case, the "back yard" is probably enough for a small garden and a bbq, but not a large lawn...which is fine, because there are parks in walking distance.

    Ideally, I'd like to not really have neighbors at all after my lifetime of experiences.

    Then city and suburbs aren't really for you, and it sounds like something very rural would suit you, and those around you, better.

  • Healthcare rule
  • You can also take a fairly selfish view and come to the same conclusion. Like, I don't want to see homeless encampments, or really sick and untreated people, or panhandlers, or (...) while I'm walking around in my city. I can solve this problem by 1) moving to a nice suburb, or 2) having my tax dollars go to fix a problem that affects me. 1) is off the table because I want to live in the city, and 2) --- while it helps the greater good --- also helps me directly. (2 can also be addressed in a draconian fashion, which is not what I'm advocating at all.)

    I think one problem is looking at things as zero sum. It's not. If you are healthy and housed and fed then you're not --- to be very crass --- an eyesore, you're adding to the fabric of the city. I want street musicians who are playing for fun, not because they're trying to make enough to afford dinner.

  • San Francisco's historical fleet

    People often complain about San Francisco's public transit --- and to be sure, it's not perfect by any means (multiple separate agencies doesn't help). But the historic streetcars are pretty neat!

    They're painted with the livery of various historic streetcars from all over the country (and a few international, I think). Best of all, they run alongside the modern fleet --- same route, same fare.

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    San Francisco @lemmy.world qjkxbmwvz @startrek.website

    Sutro Tower lights changed color?

    Noticed a few days ago that Sutro Tower's red blinking lights are now white. Just asked them on their website form, but wondered if anyone else knows the story with this.

    Personally, I miss the red ones!

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    Recommendations for first HF rig?

    Howdy!

    I got my Technician in early 2000s, and last year finally upgraded to Extra. Looking to set up a very basic shack.

    I'm looking for an HF setup, with most of my use probably using digital modes, but would like the ability to use voice.

    Current transceiver is on loan from girlfriend's dad, a Ten-Tec Scout 555 --- 50W HF unit with separate modules for each band. One limitation of this is that the modules set the mode, so it's LSB on 40m, making e.g. FT8 not possible (without some hacking of code or perhaps hacking the module).

    Antenna is end-fed with an off-the-shelf 49:1. Currently only have 20m half-wave, but have just enough room for a 40m half-wave in the attic, which is the ultimate goal.

    For digital modes, it looks like there are sort of 3 classes of radio:

    • "full digital" where the radio has e.g. a USB port and handles audio, transmit, and frequency set.
    • Some computer-control with RS232, but uses computer audio+adapter to transmit.
    • No digital, use adapter to transmit. This is what the current setup uses (and it works great!)

    I'm leaning towards a conventional transceiver, e.g., something from ICOM, Kenwood, Yaesu, (or others) rather than an SDR unit. I'd like the ability to go up to 50-100W if possible.

    I don't have a hard-and-fast budget; would like to keep it <$1000 if possible; mostly just looking at used transceivers. Something like a Kenwood TS-590 looks pretty amazing and very "plug-and-play" (but pushing up against price). Something like a Yaesu FT-920 looks pretty feature-rich too; and even something more affordable like an ICOM 706 or even a 725 is probably more radio than I need. Or just grab a new 7300 and call it a day!

    Anyway...clearly, I don't know exactly what I want, but figured I'd ask folks with more experience if they have any wisdom. Thanks!

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