Last weeks thread here

Welcome to this week’s casual kōrero thread!

This post will be pinned in this community so you can always find it, and will stay for about a week until replaced by the next one.

It’s for talking about anything that might not justify a full post. For example:

  • Something interesting that happened to you
  • Something humourous that happened to you
  • Something frustrating that happened to you
  • A quick question
  • A request for recommendations
  • Pictures of your pet
  • A picture of a cloud that kind of looks like an elephant
  • Anything else, there are no rules (except the rule)

So how’s it going?

  • terraborra@lemmy.nz
    2·
    1 day ago

    Looks like Google’s Ai Overview has been pushed onto the NZ market. That’s finally tipped me over to make DuckDuckGo my default. Next stop, hosting my own searxng instance.

    • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
      1·
      1 day ago

      I’ve jumped around lots of search engines over the years, and I quite liked running a self-hosted searx. It was a little slow (think 3-4 seconds to load results on average), but you can reduce this by picking the search engines you use carefully (it keeps stats on response time so you can adjust over time).

      I’m using Kagi at the moment but searx was a favourite. I had it on a server, but in hindsight I think I would probably put it on my computer itself to reduce the lag and ensure I could always access it without needing it publicly accessible (my main PC is a laptop). Also, make sure you’re using SearxNG, the original Searx is no longer maintained.

      • terraborra@lemmy.nz
        2·
        1 day ago

        I’ve got a home server that I vpn into for pihole anyway so will just host it on the same machine. In theory I shouldn’t notice too much difference in the way of response time

        The main issue is finding the time and energy to get it all set up and running properly.

        • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
          1·
          1 day ago

          When I was using it Searx was a whole pile of tinkering 😆. I think it probably runs just fine without the tinkering, but then you want to stop with all the pinterest results so you try to work out how to filter them out. Then you learn about plugins and so on.

          IIRC though, if you’re familiar with docker then it was pretty straightforward to spin up an instance.

  • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 days ago

    Uni student (among other things).

    High school senior are now off on exams, and uni doesn’t start until around end Feb. Semester one is further away than Semester one lasts.

    Our education is failing, students aren’t getting involved, and we are finding it harder to focus post covid. So let’s put our students on ln a 4 month holiday during high unemployment rates, rising costs of living and a burning, resource emptying world. Great for mental health.

    /rant

  • MadMonkey@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 days ago

    $528 for a teeth cleaning and a filling in the capital. Inc. Student discount. Is this the norm now or have I been scammed?

  • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
    2·
    2 days ago

    One of my kids wants a trumpet for Christmas. Does anyone know of a pretty cheap trumpet? Doesn’t have to be musical. I see $20 plastic ones on ali express, metal ones start at more like $150. Not sure how good the plastic ones would be, plus it’s a bit close to Christmas now for ali express shipping to be sure to arrive on time.

    • eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nzEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Are you wanting a toy or a musical instrument? Cheap musical instruments tend to be terrible actual instruments. Maybe try Amazon AU? Might be a bit more expensive than Ali express, but you’ll probably get it faster if it’s shipping from aussie

      • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
        2·
        2 days ago

        Well that’s the thing. I don’t want to spend a pile of money for an actual musical instrument, because it’s not going to be for lessons or anything, but I also don’t want a disappointing pile of junk.

        Thanks for the Amazon suggestion. Maybe something like this? It says it comes with a music sheet for simple songs for kids to play, that sounds promising?

        • eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nzEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          That looks like it’s coming from Amazon UK according to the “Sold by” and “Ships from” section, so may take longer.

          The two top review from Aus aren’t promising lol:

          Doesn’t seem to work very well at all

          The trumpet was my daughters only Christmas wish. It arrived damaged due to poor packaging. Placed into a satchel instead of being boxed. If we had time to find a replacement it would have been returned.

            • eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nzEnglish
              2·
              1 day ago

              Most brass instruments aren’t cheap! It’s why my parents were smart enough to rent the saxophone when I was in high school because they knew I wouldn’t stick with it 😅I think trumpets are also really loud when learning to play, RIP your neighbours ears 😂

              • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
                2·
                1 day ago

                The average orchestra must be worth more than the average house!

                Now I have to work out how to fulfil the wish for a trumpet while not encouraging it too much 😆. Maybe the cheap plastic ones are the right path.