SiN Posted December 9, 2012 Looks pretty useful! I'm too afraid to start using it. :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 9, 2012 That's what she said. (The Fleshlight.) It sounds like maybe you're a little too attached to your Fleshlight. (You haven't given it a name, have you?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 9, 2012 I'm too afraid to start using it. :/ Well I've bookmarked it. (The first step.) Edit: Ooh, and there's this, too: http://anti-social.cc/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butler Posted December 9, 2012 Mrs. Butterworth or is this not an appropiate time to give out the names of our fleshlights? In the the vein of eliminating computer distractions I enjoy this: http://they.misled.us/dark-room Also, Wireless Headphones make life much better. I use Logitech g930. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 9, 2012 Sweet! Yes, I can see how wireless headphones would be very useful. I've nearly tripped over my headphone cables so many times. Dark Room looks interesting, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonCole Posted December 9, 2012 f.lux is interesting but kinda assumes that you like/observe natural light in the room your computer is, which is something I don't do. Zenni Optical As a glasses-wearer, one thing that has improved my life significantly is zennioptical.com. This'll come off a little shilly, I'm sure, but I really do love this website because it makes such a bad, expensive experience (glasses-buying) and improves on it significantly. Basically, you just buy glasses direct from manufacturer - as long as you have your prescription, you can order glasses on the cheap at your leisure. The only thing that might throw you for a loop is them asking you for PD/pupillary distance, which is just the distance between your pupils - something a friend can do for you with a ruler and a brief moment of weirdness as they look directly into your eyes. Anyways, the site has all kinds of frames for $5-10, with tinting for $3 at various shades (10%, 30%, 90% tint) and colors. You can also get other features like anti-glare coating or transitional tinting at a deep discount as compared to local establishments ($6-15 vs $30, at least at places around me). Anyways, paying attention to promotions and being a little stingy with my choice of frames has gotten me a collection of six pairs of glasses and sunglasses to match different outfits for less than $100. I also got a pair of prescription goggles for racquetball play for only $30. It's worth a try if you're tired of getting glasses for upwards of $100 a pop and having to deal with Lenscrafters trying to sell you on every little addition. How Long to Beat If you're like me and are paralyzed by the sheer number of games you have on Steam/your console backlog, I really like howlongtobeat.com for helping narrow down my choices. It's basically just a repository of people posting their completion times for games at various levels of completion - speedrun, normal run, completionist run, etc. It's great when I'm feeling the need to beat something but can't be bothered to play something that is surprise 20 hours to get there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted December 9, 2012 Me too (well, often, not all the time), especially for work related stuff. I think it makes me a better software developer. Most of my colleagues don't understand it, not even when I explain it. They just complain that I'm being negative and that nothing is good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben X Posted December 9, 2012 Do you think the warning to verify with hashes is overkill? Any thoughts on this, tech nerds? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gwardinen Posted December 9, 2012 How Long to Beat This is actually pretty cool. I really should start busting through my backlog. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 9, 2012 Any thoughts on this, tech nerds? It's overkill, but there's no harm in getting HashTab and comparing them to make sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 9, 2012 How Long to Beat If you're like me and are paralyzed by the sheer number of games you have on Steam/your console backlog, I really like howlongtobeat.com for helping narrow down my choices. It's basically just a repository of people posting their completion times for games at various levels of completion - speedrun, normal run, completionist run, etc. It's great when I'm feeling the need to beat something but can't be bothered to play something that is surprise 20 hours to get there. Awesome! I wish I'd known about this years ago. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brkl Posted December 9, 2012 I take back my comments regarding flux, it's great once you get used to it. I wish I could find a good solution to make it affect my mouse cursor as well, because now it looks blue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nachimir Posted December 9, 2012 Bicycles improve my life, even in winter. I used to spent a fair amount of time running to stay fit, now staying fit comes from something practical and built into my routine. It requires much less discipline. I really like my Now and Zen alarm clock. It goes "ting" once right at the time of my alarm, and then waits 8 minutes before it goes "ting" a second time, then waits 4 minutes to go "ting" a third time, then waits 2 minutes, etc etc. It's a nice gentle way to wake up and usually I'm up and alert by about 2 minutes after the first "ting." Ooh! They look sound excellent. If I can get a nice enough chime, I think I could make an even more minimalist one. I used to use a lamp on a timer switch to wake up, and it woke me very reliably, but I kept screwing it up in winter: It would wake me, I'd glance over at it, think "Oh, fuck, I fell asleep with the light on again", switch it off and go back to sleep thinking it was 3a.m. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben X Posted December 9, 2012 Bicycles improve my life, even in winter. I used to spent a fair amount of time running to stay fit, now staying fit comes from something practical and built into my routine. It requires much less discipline. Totally agreed, although you can't read ASOIAF on a bike, and your lips get all dry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luftmensch Posted December 10, 2012 This isn't exactly following the rules of the thread, since I don't actually use this, but I've heard a lot of people say they really like ZenWriter. The principle is that it creates a calming and distraction-free setting for you to write. I think it's portable too, so you can put it on a thumb drive and work anywhere. Related to things I do use, I have two workout books, which I only got because I respect the authors. The serious one is The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss, which is a mighty comprehensive tome of all things health and fitness. I haven't made my way through it, but just flipping through it and picking out tips, I've felt better about myself already. Encouragingly, it's really emphasizes tracking data and experimenting, and notes that everything in the book is effectively based on individual cases, and you should really record your own data to see what really works for you. The other workout book I use is Solitary Fitness, written by the infamous Charles Bronson, Her Majesty's most expensive inmate. I've found it useful because it's about how to exercise when you don't have any special equipment (or, in his case, you're locked int solitary confinement, thus the title), and the writing is very optimistic and jovial. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
melmer Posted December 14, 2012 http://m.io9.com/5968406/oculus-rift-vr-headset-to-be-used-in-sinful-robots-erotic-encounters-video-game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderPeel2001 Posted December 15, 2012 http://m.io9.com/596...ters-video-game Please don't take a dump in this thread. As I said before: This thread was intended for things you actually use, and improve your life, not just random links. Speaking of which, that Productivity Owl Chrome extension really works! (At least, for me.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luftmensch Posted December 15, 2012 http://m.io9.com/5968406/oculus-rift-vr-headset-to-be-used-in-sinful-robots-erotic-encounters-video-game In the words of The Dude: I prefer to jerk off manually. Sorry I've got nothing to add. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nachimir Posted December 15, 2012 Speaking of which, that Productivity Owl Chrome extension really works! (At least, for me.) Oh yeah! I used delayed gratification at all times for similar reasons. It makes any site you waste time on just a little bit less sticky, and I've been a lot more productive since installing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
subbes Posted December 16, 2012 Good pens, ink and paper improve my life. You may or may not want to take it to the same extent as I do (I have spent $140 on a pen). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brkl Posted December 17, 2012 flexible, hooded nib that gently yields Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twmac Posted December 17, 2012 Well, I've mentioned it many times before and a lot of you guys already use it but I found the backloggery has got my game purchasing habits under control. This is a sub page that shows me that I am starting to make progress, finally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
subbes Posted December 17, 2012 yields With a nib that yields, you can write stuff like this! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luftmensch Posted December 18, 2012 Related, brush pens are absolutely marvelous. I tend to tear up the felt tip ones, but the synthetic bristle brush pens are a treat. Yes, I do believe they have improved my life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites