Web people of Mastodon! I am looking for a developer I can pay to help design a webtool that I can use to run a (large) March madness-style bracket with visitors voting on the winners of the matchups.

I have some design thoughts but no idea where to find the right kind of web developer to help me bring these to life.

Recommendations (and boosts) very welcome! #AskingForAdvice

We(*) are finding it tricky to find an appropriate instance of #PeerTube for me to start posting short maths-based videos.

In parallel with us looking and checking out tags, etc., does anyone here have any thoughts to share?

TIA.

#AskingForAdvice

(*) @virtuosew and I

Is there somewhere a sensible analysis of various packages/systems for writing papers/articles/etc.

Forty years ago I wrote my PhD in the original #TeX and have never really got into #LaTeX ... now I hear that there are things like #Typst and perhaps others.

What options are there, and how do they compare?

#AskingForAdvice ...

Autists: if you experience grief for things like activities, clubs, social gatherings, etc., how do you process it?

#autistic #AskingForAdvice #BoostsOk

I'm frustrated that it seems like the place to go for #protest actions is #Instagram. I'm not sure for how much longer that will be the case, given the #MetaPlatform's capitulation to #fascists, but it seems like most groups that are organizing right now have nothing on their websites and everything on the mainstream #SocialMedia platforms. Does anyone have any advice for how to find out about protests and local organizing on #Mastodon and the #Fediverse? I have no desire to go back on any corporate-owned social media platform, and I suspect that protest info won't be permitted there for much longer, but I also want to stay in the loop.

#AskingForAdvice #USPol #USPolitics

Going for an interview for an IT support apprenticeship in a few days, really hoping I get it because it will be a huge step towards retrading into a new career for me.

I can't physically keep up with welding fabricating anymore, perk of my time in the army.

Anyone got any tips or general advice for someone trying to shift into IT?

#askingforadvice #IT #jobs #job

My whole body hurts and lowering myself down to sit is nasty - struggled getting out the bath lastnight! I have started working out and this is after 1 day of half hr on treadmill, and yesterday I did a 20 minute beginners workout with squats and planks. Is this normal and should I be resting until it fades or keep at it?

#fitness #AskingForAdvice

So how useful and practical are 3d printers that don't cost thousands of dollars and someone might buy for home use these days?

And what are the concerns about things like indoor air quality and contamination from the device or printing materials?

And how much maintenance do 3d printers require? What if you let one sit for a month and then come back to it?

And how bad are they in terms of plastic waste?

I'm going to need more data, because the kid (14YO) is not going to stop agitating for getting one for at least the next month.

And my first stabs at searching have been fucking useless because SEO and AI slop plus AI search results have destroyed my ability to find things online.

#askingForAdvice #3dPrinting

On Picking Someone’s Brain

I really hate the term “Pick Your Brain.”

First off, it just sounds yuck.

Secondly, when you want to pick someone’s brain it usually means you want FREE advice.

To me pay people for their time, especially if you’re picking their brain on something they do for a living.

What do you think?

#askingForAdvice #brainPicking #payPeopleWhatTheyReWorth #pickingSomeonesBrain