monovergent

joined 2 years ago
[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

My uncle has worked many years in IT and sometimes lectures me on digital privacy and security. But I got a glimpse of his phones and computers, it was disappointing. Bogus security apps and optimizations and a refusal to update Windows. Probably different situation with OP's father, but quite emphasizes the importance of continuing education.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Kemove K87 with Red switches and o-rings at work. Keeps noise down and the tenkeyless layout is a nice compromise between desk space and functionality. Might switch it out for an ikbc tenkeyless with Cherry MX Silent Red switches that I got for cheap once. That I purchased to see if something without o-rings would feel better, but I'll have to fix a couple broken switches first.

At home, a no-name tenkeyless with blue switches because that was what was on discount and I didn't mind the clicking. Before that, I used a Monoprice full-size with brown switches and o-rings to keep the loud pinging down. Miss the feel of the brown switches, but not how much space it took on my desk.

I originally worried that my typing accuracy would suffer on the reds due to the lack of tactile bump, but I'm growing to prefer it since I don't find myself making more typos, while the low actuation force makes long typing sessions more comfortable. Haven't looked at more niche low-profile, etc. options though, can't quite convince myself to drop more than $50 on a keyboard.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

OP probably isn't self-hosting it. I haven't got around to self-hosting it either and:

  • a majority of instances no longer include Google
  • many instances return absolutely bogus results
  • the ones that return reasonable results have a 50% chance of getting 'Suspended: timeout'

The rate-limiting has hit once-reliable instances really hard in the past few months.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Have been guilty of this when placing an online order, one time I simply forgot, the other time an obligation presented itself and I didn't have time to go out of my way and pick it up. As for ordering at the counter and abandoning, IDK. Could be having to run for some urgent matter, but I'd agree it happens way too often to be just that.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

If I had to go WiFi-only, there would probably be hours-long gaps when I am unreachable. So my compromise is to use a non-KYC data-only SIM. Even if VPN is left off, it routes traffic first to a datacenter far from my actual location, and there is no longer a route for unencrypted calls and SMS and the associated spam. I don't have a habit of streaming media on the go, so the data lasts quite a while and there isn't much of an urge to use public WiFi.

Doesn't fully eliminate the problem as IMEI is still sent and the cellular modem is still a rogue black box, but a step in the right direction. Knowing that the cellular modem can run whatever code with deep privileges as it wishes, I try to keep as little of my business on my phone as I can, with the bulk of my workflow centered around my laptop. Don't get me wrong, I don't think this automatically makes me immune, but I do think it's a neat little exercise. Perhaps one could abstract the problem of the modem by getting a separate wireless hotspot.

My friends and family have accepted that they either need to get Signal, XMPP, or Matrix or I will be largely unreachable. The only remaining need for SMS and GSM voice calls stems from work, which is all handled by my work phone that is powered down, or at least disconnected, once I leave for the day. It sucks that this is not the norm, but it looks like I am quite fortunate that my friends, family, and employer all tolerate this workflow.

Take a look at "IoT" SIM cards, they're a bit expensive and data-only, but might not be subject to the same KYC regulations.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Anyone else wanting to move to CoMaps but procrastinating because they'd have to go about downloading the maps again?

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wow! That's much more that I would have thought. Can't wait to liberate my dad's phone over the holidays, he's on board with me getting GrapheneOS on it. Will have to see what I can do to their home network as well though since mom's stuck on a carrier-locked phone.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

Wouldn't be too bummed out about being single forever, but I'd also like to know what it's like to settle down with a partner. I think I'd prefer the married life, can't point out the exact reason why though.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

Me over here having to provide my own work phone because BYOD. At least it's my old phone I upgraded from, so the cost is already sunk.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Some are assholes. Others have zero self-awareness. I stress about every little offense I might have possibly made, while astoundingly many others run around unaware that they are being jerks all day. I suspect the unnecessary playing of audio out loud in public stems from a very similar cause.

Confronting those who lack self-awareness is hard for those of us with excessive awareness, but it often gets the job done. Also a quick litmus test for who's just unaware and who's really an asshole.

Have you noticed this phenomenon increasingly often, or has it been much the same throughout your years?

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