j780

Get a library card! My local library card includes free digital access to newspapers " from 100 countries in 60 languages" as well as streaming video, audiobooks etc. They also have a makerspace with 3d printing, green screen, recording studios, video games, tool rental etc. all at low or no cost. I let my card expire but I see it's still free in my city.

No, but the U.S. needs to catch up with plastic cash. Laundering cash can be a good thing ...especially during a pandemic!

I recently agreed that yes, "the vaccines have been tested on millions of sheep"... and now the chickens can get shots.

I didn't get the opportunity to use that in person.. let me know how it goes ;)

That's encouraging to me as I feel that those are areas in which I've done well. I guess I get the most value out of staying up to date on the newest tools by knowing when NOT to use them.

I'm in a similar situation but with an even bigger gap. My strategy, so far untested, is to concentrate on a newer technology where I can be a bit rusty but no worse than anyone else. I'm looking forward to other comments here.

I thought I'd see if I could build an 8mm film scanner using stuff you can buy at the dollarstore to leverage your smartphone. So kinda the google cardboard of film scanners.

I've set up a kickstarter preview here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2114964482/17400909?ref...

Apart from the higher numbers a good reason to be concerned about the novel coronavirus is the "novel" part. The 1918 pandemic was initially known as the three day flu but the second wave mutated into a 12 hour death sentence.

Then one of the whatsap co-founders initiated the Signal Foundation! See "2018–present" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_%28software%29

Maybe they didn't fail us... Wikipedia: On February 21, 2018, Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton announced the formation of the Signal Foundation

This is very interesting and reminds me of something I read 4 years ago. I had wondered about data compression related to brain research after I had read this blog: https://probablydance.com/2016/04/30/neural-networks-are-imp...

Not only that.. but depending on where you're from and where you traveled you might have more trouble with reverse culture shock. We in the west tend to be quite wasteful and this is even more acute in North America. Commercialism drives our workforce and the continuing arms race of work and buy is even more apparent once you've seen more of the world.

1 month trip, skipped return flight; became a 6 month trip. another 1 month trip turned into 7. last second 2 month trip... got home 2 years later!

Not having a planned return date made it much easier to travel. I met people 1/2 way through a year trip who were having a complete breakdown. I always figured I'd be home a month or so later and just wanted to see a bit more before I headed home! I'm very clean cut so I never had any issues with alcohol nor was I even tempted to try drugs. Remote island = cash payoff but same country caught at the airport is jail or even a death sentence! Don't get complacent. Better yet just don't do it. I had a relative get stabbed 8 times at home while I was out "risking my life" traveling... all I got was rabies shots "just in case". Oh.. rabies.. NO CURE. Once Symptoms appear = DEATH in 99.97% of cases. Insurance flies you home to die. Research it!