fiber arts friends - I have another friend who's interested in getting back into spinning. she's shopping for fiber, and I want to direct her to cool folks to get fiber from! she's currently using a drop spindle, and looking at kick spindles, so is also interested in second-hand / cheaper ones.

please send me links to pass along!

Sockpuppet: Blog: Transgender Day of Visibility https://sockpuppet.band/blog/1010-Transgender-Day-of-Visibility #Recommendations #Transgender #LGBTQIA #Music #Trans #Blog

Dear Hive Mind
I am in the market for new or refurb MacBook Air. I really want it under $CAD1500. The goal is longevity (5-7yrs) for use as a standard word processor/internet/media consumption device.

I am currently leaning toward these options. I'd be interested in what you would recommend.

This is an upgrade from an Intel based Air with 8GB/128GB which has been maxed out on storage for a couple years now.
#Mac #Apple #Recommendations #Poll

#lazyweb #indieweb looking for #recommendations on #podcasts

Anything #science #technology #health #history #weirdnews #movies related. Hell, recommend anything.

Also, are #indiepodcasts a thing? If so, they get bumped to the head of the line.

So, our less-than-ten-year old defective-from-the-factory Samsung cooker has bitten the dust. I'd like to hear from the bakers and chefs what ovens you've had, whether or not you like them, and SPECIFICALLY WHAT you like or dislike about them.

My own priorities are utility and reliability (the Samsung failed on both accounts). We do a lot of bread baking, as hot as possible (290 -- 315C / 550-600F), other baking anywhere from 120--230C (250--450F), as well as broiling and roasting.

Bread baking likes a steamy oven. The oven need not have a steam feature but should be able to hold steam if added (e.g., a pan on the oven floor). The unit as a whole must handle bread-baking temps without melting or damage (another massive fail of the Samsung).

Other nice-to-haves: convection, and settings for bread proofing and fruit/meat drying.

The range hobs should support a Moka pot, which requires burner grates that support a small-diameter vessel (6--10cm / 3--4 in). Closed-cross designs work, open-cross does not. (This is a curiously common failing of many cookers.)

Griddle and wok rings would be nice, but not necessary.

Gas range preferred (I know), "dual fuel" electric oven works.

Boosts appreciated.

Does anyone have any #recommendations for free #music production apps for #android that already comes with a decent set of default sound packs?

I haven't really attempted to make electronic music before and would really like to as it's my favorite genre.

I know a ton about music fundamentals, as I am an acoustic musician and sing, did choir, can read music, and have an advanced understanding of musical theory.

I just need to mess with something basic.

Sockpuppet: Blog: Bandcamp Friday for March 2025 https://sockpuppet.band/blog/2648-Bandcamp-Friday-for-March-2025 #Recommendations #BandcampFriday #Blog

Hey world, I'm trying to read the news less obsessively, and I'd like to look into options for staying up to date on a more weekly or monthly basis.

Wants:
Printed infinitely preferred, not digital: I'll have a baby in July and I want to be less screen-bound
Source critical and left-leaning
Bonus if it can focus on positive news over doom-based headlines

I know that's wishing for the moon on a stick, but I thought I'd ask. I'm in the UK for reference.

Those who self host... how are you managing your fleet? Mine is growing and am currently doing manual SSH to run updates, etc.

What tools are out there that allow me to manage a fleet of Linux VMs? Not looking for anything fancy, but running upgrades would be great at a minimum. Thanks!

Sad news of Mozilla. It's time, finally, to delete Firefox.
Now I want to replace Thunderbird. It's been a battle recently, slow or freezing, unable to connect to the usenet server.

Yes, I still use Usenet. Not for binaries, but for the discussion groups. They are somewhat deserted now, but perhaps some of those who followed the lures of money-making platforms will return.
#Recommendations, please, for access to #Usenet?

Can anyone please recommend a good #manga or #LightNovel series that's set in #China?

I'm doing the #52BookClub #reading #challenge and one of the side quests (so to speak) revolves around #LunarNewYear. While I have ideas for the other two prompts, in the side quest, I'm still looking for one set in China... as a country that celebrates it!

I've had a deep craving to smell like strawberries lately. Strawberries and vanilla would work too.

My strawberry ChapStick isn't enough.

Any recommendations for a perfume or body lotion that would fit that description?

I'm looking for recommendations for a respirator that's easy to put on and take off a face with long hair and glasses. Specs I need:

* N95 or better
* Protected filter housing; not adjacent to skin
* Adjustable fit
* Minimally restrictive air intake, or enough sealed space to feel air moving on my skin
* Not valved
* Available in US

Preferred:
* Not disposable

My concerns, in case you're aware of something that addresses them, without necessarily fitting the specs.

Duck-billed disposable N95s (3Ms V-flex) seem to address the anxiety restricted airflow triggers in me after about 30 minutes in an oval shaped N95. They also sit right on my skin, so when a hot flash makes my face sweaty, that triggers concerns & anxiety that the sweat may be compromising the integrity of the mask.

I have a valved P100 that's comfortable enough, but is a) a production to put on and take off, and b) doesn't protect other people from me.

I have a pointy European nose, which doesn't fit properly inside most masks made for the Asian market.

Got any recommendations?

#masks #masking #recommendations
#CovidIsNotOver #pandemics #SelfProtection
#medical #health #respirators #shopping

Apropos of nothing, you should play "In Other Waters" if you haven't already. It's an absolutely fantastic story-based game, and is a fantastic example of how to create a vibrant world in the player's mind with only minimal graphics. Plus, it has space lesbians.

#GameRec #recommendations

P.S.: I happened to check its listing on Steam, and it's currently 75% off until February 19th. Considering that I'm still thinking about it years after I played it, less than $4 is more than a reasonable price

I have to say it again.
#PairDrop is amazing.
https://pairdrop.net/
And looking their FAQs, seems pretty reliable... #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #Secure #Security #P2P #WebRTC #ZeroTrust #Windows #Linux #MacOS #GNU #LibreSoftware #Sharing #GPL #nodejs #PWA
https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/pairdrop/blob/master/docs/faq.md
Contributing Guidelines:
https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
#Donate
https://buymeacoffee.com/pairdrop
#tools #webtools #favs #recommendations

Does anyone have any #recommendations for an #audio recording app for #android that automatically uploads a stream of audio online?

I want this for my own protection as I will be going to #protests and #livestreaming and #recording for various projects I am starting.

I want to have an audio and/or #video feed going at all times when not actively streaming, so that if something insane happens and I lose my #phone I don't also lose the files for evidence.