If you like something, but don't want people to see it, Like and do not Boost.
If you like something and think other people might want to see it, both Like and Boost.
If you do not like something, but think other people need to see it, Boost and do not Like.
This message goes out to everyone who likes my post, but hides it from their followers for some reason.
I'm in the process of putting together a real home server for the first time. In the past, I've used repurposed hardware, but this time I have a 4 port NAS on which I plan to install Debian.
I'm planning to run Docker so that I can run:
pi-hole for DNS based network-level ad-blocking and stop-shit-that-thinks-it-is-smart-from-calling-home (migrated from different hardware)
calibre-web for ebook management and sharing
immich for photo and video management
ssh, stfp, and rsync for general file storage
plex for media (though it may be a while before I do anything useful with this)
Are there any other (self-hosted) services I should look into, especially since I will have serious storage space for the first time?
Are any of my fedi friends a #lawyer or have one they recommend to help me build an updated professional consulting agreement? It doesn't need to be anything crazy, just enough to protect me from bad actors/non-payment.
(My business is registered in CA, USA if that makes a difference)
Anyone here have experience with solar generator kits? The ones that have a small panel array and a battery unit with charge controller, power ports, etc.
Thinking of getting a small one for power outages, occasional bush use, and the looming threat of civilizational collapse.
Tips, brand recs, features to look out for, etc. are all appreciated.
Artists who are looking to use Print-on-Demand services, do not use TeeSpring!
I have orders people placed last November that still haven't gone through, & I can't get TeeSpring to respond at all, let alone tell me why.
If you are one of the people who hasn't gotten their order, I'm sorry! They don't share your info with me, so I can't DM you & explain. You should probably go cancel your order!
Do you use a POD company that's actually good? Please tell me about it 💚
PSA for my US trans friends: there's a Telehealth HRT clinic called QMed (QueerMed) that serves adults and minors in 47 states (excluding DC, unfortunately). They accept lots of private insurance (but not medicare/medicaid), and also offer a payment plan that covers appointments and lab tests for people without good insurance.
Their program is great for people going stealth or living in unsafe environments, as they don't need referrals or anything else from your primary doctor. They send all lab orders to a LabCorp location of your choice, and prescriptions are sent to any pharmacy. (I'm unsure if this includes mail-order pharmacies, but it does include chains like Walgreens and CVS that will ship your meds for a small fee.) In theory, the entire process can be private and zero-contact except for the labs.
They work with transfem, transmasc, and non-binary people, and many of their staff are themselves trans! They follow WPATH SOC-8 and target modern (cis-equivalent) hormone levels, while still being flexible enough to work with whatever your personal goals are. In my experience, their target seems to be "whatever makes you feel best within safe limits". With me, they've been willing to explore non-standard doses, injection schedules, and hybrid approaches as long as I can provide research showing it's effective or at least safe.
I can't speak to the transmasc experience, but I first started seeing them as a fem-aligned non-binary person who was already on oral Estradiol, Progesterone, and Spironolactone at mild doses. They had no issue with that, and later helped me increase those doses as I explored whether more "female" hormone balance would feel better. (still as part of a "non-binary" hormone plan!)
When I eventually realized I was binary transfem, they were just as understanding and helpful. They suggested changing Estrodiol forms to stabilize my levels at higher doses, and later helped me transition to injections when Spiro stopped working and other T blockers weren't an option for health reasons. (side note: they were actually willing to prescribe puberty blockers as an anti-androgen, but insurance wouldn't cover them and I couldn't afford the cost. I still think it's cool that they were forward-thinking enough to even offer that option, though!) I want to emphasize that I was not an easy patient for injections. I had severe needle-phobia, was clueless about the process, and proceeded to freak out many times over non-issues as I slowly learned how to inject. Through all that, they were patient, supportive, and never made me feel bad for panicking. Eventually I figured it out and even cured my needle phobia, for which they celebrated with me.
Now that I've finally achieved stable levels at the dose that feels best to me, they've let me transition to long-term HRT maintenance. This means 12-month prescriptions, infrequent tests, and minimal appointment requirements. This is something I was rather worried about, as my last provided never allowed long-term maintenance for various reasons. But with that, I'm now fully onboarded into the program and can speak to the whole experience. My overall opinion: QMed is the best HRT provider I've used, and the entire process has been smooth, flexible, and affirming.
I know a young person experiencing and learning to adapt to life with POTS
They are exploring mobility aids, but have very limited resources, so I’m looking for advice on rollators vs wheelchair for function, utility, flexibility, comfort, and because cost. In general they experience symptoms on the milder side of things; vertical and functional through most school days and activities, doing well for several weeks at a stretch then experiencing periods where worsening symptoms prevent them from keeping up. Activities out of the house include high school, drama, choir, public transit (including a walking ‘last mile’ at times) and craft/maker fairs. Location Edmonton, so winter climate a consideration.
Advice and comments from experience and boosts/tags welcome, I know there are many of you out there.
I have a friend who has been on mastodon.social for a while but is looking to become more active. I've suggested they move to a different instance, but now we are both wondering what instance would be a good one for them.
They say they are here for #Science and #Art ... they are a performer and performance-designer ...
Any suggestions? Are there any helpful sites for choosing an instance? I have my own, so I've not had this issue.
Y'know a lot of people pop up during any of these migrations, loudly claiming to be some oppressed minority, totally not being paid by big centralized corporate social networks to scare people away from the Fediverse, and they all say basically the same thing:
The Fediverse is full of persecution of said minority
Said minority has been attacked here and driven away, but protected and defended on centralized corporate networks (even when they're not)
Frame everything as if the minority is an identity you must embrace that makes everyone else an unwelcome outsider.
Heavy implications that the people programming the Fediverse are doing this on purpose
The only solution is totalitarian control to make sure nobody's allowed to be mean, which conveniently can only be done by the centralized corporate networks
Not saying they're full of shit, and fearmongering to persecute the minority they claim to defend, but watch out for this sort of thing. Someone saying they're oppressed does not mean they are oppressed. (Quite the opposite really. Oppressed people tend to be bullied into silence.)
What Linux distro should I use for my Lenovo T480 laptop?
I have been using Mint for a while, but I would like something more solid as I am going to do some graphic design and short video editing with a 4K monitor connected to it.
I have 24GB of memory, it should be enough for my standard use (dual 512GB M2 SDD).
ActuallyAutistic groupactuallyadhd group what do you do to help yourself deal with high anxiety related to work (like fear of not meeting deadlines, pressure, high workload, etc)?
a friend of mine would like to join the fedi. he'd like to post drawing he does and prefers an "imageboard" UI, so i advised him to go to a pixelfed instance.
does anyone know a good pixelfed instance for him (or an instance of another software with a similar UI)?
I'll be publishing it under my pseudonym, Mallie Sinn, to keep it separate from my career and make it clear what I offer there is personal opinion and not therapy or counseling. You can read it by following
@mallory_sinn or on the blog site itself: https://forbidden-queeries.ghost.io/
5 Aug 2025: When you write something, start with the date you wrote it, and include the publication date for any quote. Date is supremely important for context of all that follows.
Keep a standard series of patent notebook style hand written journals with dated notes and sketches.
It’s the quickest and most reliable way to fix it in your memory, log a digital note later, find it again, and link to a note by date in any journal volume.
Linux newbie advice on choosing a distribution
https://anonsys.net/photo/13949722896989462fd961f133727540-1.png ...