You don’t typically pay to run Linux distros. They’re open-source. I can’t imagine they’d be subject to this.

Apparently there’s a way to install Win11 and bypass all these requirements.

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/bypass-windows-11-tpm-requirement

https://youtu.be/tx5TaozMXMQ

You were 100% right! They were basically all gone and the few that were left didn’t seem to be interested in me at all. What a pro tip this was! Thank you for your help! :)

I see what you mean. Personally I’m gonna side with the folks that need the block functionality as a defense against stalking/harassment though.

The lead eater can ban anyone they want but that doesn’t stop others from posting direct challenges to the lead eater’s rhetoric elsewhere. I think its better to help those in need than to leave them vulnerable with less than ideal tools to protect themselves.

The pear tree is on our property and I don’t want my neighbors to be uncomfortable due to the large amount of wasps hanging around. It’s just a matter of courtesy.

A block should also be able to prevent them from seeing your activity. That would not constitute silencing the blocked individual as they can still go anywhere and talk to/see anyone else on the fediverse, just not you.

Are they typically less aggressive at night?

Thanks for your feedback. I’m in Canada and as far as I know there are no laws or rules about this, but I don’t want my neighbors to be harassed by wasps, nor am I happy with how many of them harass me on my deck at the moment. I’m not looking to exterminate them, rather safely pick up the fruit and chuck it into a field next to my house so that they’re further away from us.

I just don’t want to risk being attacked by them if I try to move the fruit, y’know? I can’t safely run or even shoo them away right now due to the pain of my injuries.

Can’t beat them for games that require low latency input though. Just playing retro games on them is worth owning one.

Asking the real questions.

Guitar mainly, but I can play any of the typical instruments associated with rock/metal.

My favourite thing about the guitar is all the expressive ways you can play a single note. There’s the spectrum of how hard you pick it along with what you use to pick - fingers or plectrum, what angle you attack the string with said pick, vibrato, bend up to the note or down from it, slide into or out of it, etc…

It’s such an expressive instrument. I love it. You can really hear someone’s personality come out in their playing. There truly are endless different ways to play a single song. It all just depends on the choices you make.

If you like beautiful music, you need to give Opeth a spin. ‘The Drapery Falls’ is my favourite song to introduce Opeth with. Stunningly beautiful and shows the full range of their craft. https://youtu.be/YeTNkPXRrVY

If you haven’t tried Cornell’s “Merlin” app, I highly recommend it.

Bird watching is peaceful. I love it.

100% I’d retire. I’d sell all my shit, buy a sailboat and cruise around the world for the rest of my life.

You’re welcome. :) Good luck with the search.

If you have an Android and don’t mind having your phone on a tripod while you’re doing what you wanna do, DroidCam is a good option. It integrates with OBS easily and the paid tier isn’t super expensive and is a one time cost.

Alternatively, you can also get a cheap GoPro knock off that supports being a webcam. I have an Apeman action cam that works reasonably well for this purpose and was less than $100 CAD.

For purpose-built webcams, I’m really not sure.

Go to a family member’s house and try to show them something on YT.

Cringe in horror at the experience.

Who on earth is gonna shoot a starling for food?

Have you seen starlings? They can fit in the palm of your hand.

Some shit is just straight up poison though.

You hate to say it because you know this is a ridiculous take. There’s no fucking way that the parents are “more at fault” for their son’s death than the company whose product encouraged him to hide his feelings from his parents and coached him on how to commit suicide.

Read the lawsuit filing. https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Raine-v-OpenAI-Complaint-8-26-25.pdf

*I have excellent parents and even they were not privy to the depths of my emotions as a kid. * You are actively choosing to ignore the realities of childhood as well as parenthood to play some shitty devil’s advocate online.