I use Arctic for Lemmy on iOS

Typically for devices that require a hub, it’s because they do not have WiFi chips. Often manufacturers leave off WiFi chips because the power draw is too high for the batteries, but there are other reasons too.

The hub act as a bridge between whatever local networking protocol is used (zigbee, z-wave, BLE) and the LAN. For example, a lightbulb may use z wave to talk to a hub, the hub uses Ethernet/wifi to connect to the LAN, the LAN connects to the WAN.

In some cases, you can setup a system that controls everything locally without needing an internet connection at all. This is often preferred in the home automation space by users who want to ensure reliable access to devices.

Some centralized hubs can talk directly to many brands of devices without needing many proprietary hubs, but they tend to be expensive or require a licensed dealer to install.

For a DIY option, look into Home Assistant running on a raspberry pi

Loved that fun buddy cowboy movie. Such a great time… until

The Babadook had me hiding behind my hands too scared to look at the screen. I was so uncomfortable with what was happening on screen

What is doorstep toast?

I think the best part of the book was the hubris of the government. They threw technology at a problem that was untested and unplanned.

if we spend enough money, surely we can solve the problem

Such a late 80s and 90s sentiment

Actually I really liked The Andromeda Strain including its ending, but it had a similar let down feeling. I think it’s worth the read. See how we thought about pandemics in the 90s before we had a major outbreak in the western world (excluding HIV)

Crichton is best when he’s writing hard science fiction like Andromeda or Jurassic Park. Sphere is too science fantasy for him and he struggles with how to make it work.

You disliked the ending to The Sphere more than The Andromeda Strain?

Oh you’re in for a treat! I love all these books

If I had to pick, I’d go with Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow first. It’s very accessible and very good

Same Bed, Different Dreams is a treat, but it can be a little confusing. Especially if you don’t have much context with the history of the Korean Peninsula

• One Day by David Nicholls because it uses overlapping narratives and different perspectives to tell one story
• The Dog Stars by Peter Heller because it uses a post apocalyptic backdrop to take you on an emotional journey with the characters
• This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud because its overlapping narratives over decades continually recolor events and motivations and outcomes
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin because its three protagonists have their own stories to tell, but they are intertwined and dependent. -Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park because the complex story structure lends itself to a powerful emotional journey for the protagonist and the reader

People who like war thunder tend to be military folks. Some of those military folks have access to sensitive materials. Some of those people make bad choices about sharing sensitive materials

Yo that’s super cool! My nerd brain went straight to a virtual table top map for D&D

What was the map used for?

• Sonarr for television
• Radarr for movies
• Readarr for ebooks and audiobooks

Documentation in the Servarr Wiki

Showrunner Michael Schur wrote a book about the philosophy research they did for the show.

The audiobook has the full cast doing bits, sketches and explainers

Left 4 Dead 1 & 2

Killing Floor

Deep Rock Galactic

Here’s a big eclectic mix of

Transatlanticism by Deathcab for Cutie

Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet

Cubafrica by Manu Dibango

E MO TION: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

Home is Where Your Heart Was by Plej

Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans

Flood by They Might Be Giants

There’s a fascinating historical nonfiction book by Erik Larson that covers the early days of the American civil war.

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War is mostly focused on the soldiers and officers manning Fort Sumter in South Carolina, the site of the first battle of the war. But it also includes lengthy discussions of how Lincoln was vilified for things he never said and blamed for things he didn’t actually do.

The southern states, specifically the landed elite, were very interested in starting a war so they could maintain their wealth and power so they used Lincoln as a scapegoat to rouse the masses

That or you’re driving after dark with your lights off 😅

It’s like flashing your lights at oncoming traffic to warn them of a speed trap ahead