Notices by Shaula Evans (shaulaevans@zirk.us)

Dear socially privileged people of the world:

It doesn't matter if you "approve" of others (and especially Others) or not. We're all going to keep going about our business and leading our weird little lives the best we can as we see fit.

You have permission to let go of your entitlement and anger. It will leave so much more room for happiness for you and the people around you.

Don't take my word for it. Try it.

@slothrop @ifixcoinops That looks wonderful. How did you come across it?

@ifixcoinops Did you ever find a toaster?

@ifixcoinops I was shopping for a toaster several years ago and learned that there are basically two ways to categorize them:

1. the spectrum of cheap to affordable-ish toasters that absolutely do not work (the majority of toasters) vs a handful of models that may work if you're willing to sell a kidney to buy them; and,

2. toasters that off-gas nasty chemicals like PFAS from their non-stick coatings (vast majority again) vs ones that aren't trying to kill you.

Pick your criterion. 🙁

You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.

*Many people in many contexts do not understand this. (I tend to do well with people who do.)

**Metaphorically. Maybe you can literally with determination and special equipment. That's not the point.

I have said this before but I will say it again: there are some lovely people in the world and an awful lot of them are in the Fediverse.

If you really want people to join the Fediverse, or install Linux, or whatever, don't yell at them (it dosn't help) -- adopt them.

Offer meaningful, on-call (tech) support to someone to tackle the project of your choice. Stay available/involved until they truly find their way. Then take on more people as your capacity allows.

Also look at how this concept applies to non-tech needs in your community, too. Interesting.

It's the difference between bullying or grandstanding versus helping.

I just installed a new set of smoke alarm / carbon monoxide detectors.

I've never installed them myself before, so I was surprised to learn that you are supposed to test them once a week, and vacuum the vents every three months.

PSA: If you haves smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors, check the manufacturer's advice on how often to test & how often to clean. 1/n

#HomeSafety #SmokeAlarm #CarbonMonoxide #CarbonMonoxideDetector

If you are concerned about scarcity and affordability of essential goods in the US related to tariffs and *gestures at everything*, what are you buying in advance and what are your priorities? I"m trying to think this through myself.

*This is a question for intelligent, informed people, not prepper cultists. There's a difference.

Question with absolutely no context:

If I was going to add Yet Another Language into my language studies this year, what would you recommend and why?

Fun answers only please, it's January 2 and we don't want to stifle from seriousness.

#Language

A good friend who is a devout, hijab-wearing, Salafi Muslim is thinking of joining Mastodon (or a Masto fork). Can anyone recommend Muslim community-oriented instances? I'd especially appreciate recommendations from Muslim women. 🙏 ❤️

#MastodonMigration #AskFedi #Islam #Muslim #Muslimah #Hijabi #Sunni #Salafi #Salafism @islam

I'm talking with a friend facing huge relationship issues because their partner has been showing significant (negative) personality changes. My friend is now wondering if this might be due to #covid.

1. I'm looking for links to studies on covid-driven personality changes. If you have some, please share.

2. If you've personal, direct experience dealing with (covid or other cause) major personality changes with a partner, do you have short term advice? ("Leave" is not an immediate option.)

I'm watching a historical drama and I'm compelled to point out that if the person you love fakes their death to get away from you, you really need to step back and question your choices in life.

If you work from home on a computer and know your hardware, I've got questions for you as I work on upgrading my own set-up. (Desk size & distance are not limitations, budget however is.)

1. For mostly text-based work, do you prefer a 24" or 27" monitor?

2. For the monitor size of your choice, what do you consider to be minimum, goal and stretch goal specs?

I am really curious about what you use & why you made that choice, espec. if you bought it yourself sans unlimited budget. 1/2

#AskFedi

Context: I've been working from home on a 15" laptop for years, with increasing frustration.

I can sit any distance from a screen with my set-up, that's not an issue. Budget is definitely a consideration. I'm not looking at bleeding edge tech, a gaming monitor, or a 32 inch screen.

I'm currently thinking: 24" screen, 1080p, IPS (VA is probably out of price reach, 10-15 degree tiltable stand, maximum 250 nits, color accuracy, USB-C w/ charging a bonus.

Anything you'd rec. to ⬆ or ⬇grade? 2/2

A Good-At-Your-Job Problem:

One of the big, ongoing projects I do for a client regularly achieves > 400% industry average in measurable results.

This month, client was unhappy at the "poor performance"

The results were still > 200% of the industry average.

Like, I swing for the fences and all, but 200% is still remarkable. 😅

The US winter superspreader events season kicks off this week.

Eating indoors with unmasked, unvaxxed, untested people in unfiltered air is playing roulette with your life. Normalcy bias is going to get people killed & disabled.

Stan up to peer pressure. Decline invitations. Or "get a migraine" at the last minute if you have to.

Consider whether other people's feelings are more important than your life, health and ability to function.

Or spin the chamber & click. It's up to you.

It is entirely possible to "survive" doing without mass gatherings for the holidays. Really, it is.

Signed,

the girl who's been locked alone in the house for 4 years and 8 months, and hasn't had a Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, birthday, or anything else all this time

Some people choose misanthropy, others have misanthropy thrust upon them.

*I fight it, tooth and nail, but... people aren't making it easy.

@ifixcoinops I am a far cry from a tall person, and yet as a short person with cold feet, I enorse this message! lol

Thanks for the tag, Dan.

Also, I stash my morning clothes in the bed with me overnight, too. It's so much easier to get out of bed if I'm warm in my bones and have something toasty to wear.