In this day in age, and if you're an average user, I'd be surprised if you didn't max out more often with 8 gigs of ram, compared to those with 16 gigs of ram. That's not to say it can't be done.
I'm running 32 gigs right now. I'm currently using 9.8 gigs. I have 2 or of 3 Edge browsers in use, 5 tabs in total. 2 Youtube videos are paused, and the rest are low end resource tabs. Steam on standby, Discord open, and Spotify open and ready. Closing Steam dropped it down to 9.1 gigs of ram in use.
I personally own a DataVac Electric Duster (with attachments) that I got on sale for just under $100. It might seem like a lot to pay, but I did the math and figured via forums that people tend to dust their computers 2-4 times a year. I've had mine for over 7 years now and it doesn't seem like it's going to die anytime soon. And why would it? I've used it about 20 times. It should have a life of 180 - 300 uses, but that's just a hunch. It's also powerful enough to be used around the shop or workbench for other things besides dusting your electronics. Just use a bit of caution while using. I tend to gently hold my fan blades while I focus the duster on them. It does well, and I then just use several q-tips to carefully wipe the blades clean of any lingering dust.
Here's a breakdown of the cost. $100 / used 2 times a year / for 10 years = $5 a year.
I got curious about what compressed air in a can is now days and it seems to be about $4.50 - 5.25 per can online, and this was in a bulk buy of 6-12 cans, with each can being 10-12oz. While a can could be saved after using what you need, it has a chance of leaking compressed air from the can while it's in storage. Not an issue with an electric duster. You don't have to reorder cans if you just get an electric duster. And another selling point that was important for me, it's a heck of a lot better on the environment to just get an electric duster for your PC than it is to have a pack of cans shipped to you, use and toss the spent can. And because it's a compressed item, even after being spent, it's harder to find anyone willing to recycle them.
Moving onto an electric duster was one of the best things I've done to help take care of my electronics. Especially my PC.
I recognize EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) but I didn't recognize the others. What is IA and FSF?
They are definitely not supposed to look like that. Call your doctor/primary care right away. It looks like an allergic reaction of some sort. Call your primary care.
I don't recall where I learned this, but I believe it was from a documentary about the Mexican cartels that I watched years ago.
Simple answer: Yes. It's very much a cat and mouse game, and sometimes they sacrifice the few so that others can successfully smuggle in their load of drugs.
Long answer: They operate in huge numbers of people moving their drugs into the US (and other countries for that matter). They gather information from smugglers, scouts, informants, and even insiders of all sorts. With this kind of info network, they are better able to adjust where and when they send someone over. And if we look at who these people are that smuggle the drugs over, they sadly are those that either don't have better opportunities where they're from, have been kidnapped and forced to smuggle, have been blackmailed, have been extorted with threats of their loved ones being killed, tortured, or kidnapped. So they are often stuck in following through with the demands or face the cartel's consequences. Hence why some will be used as decoys, told to get caught with a small load. This gives the cartels a chance to simultaneously send several others elsewhere, all in the hopes that the bigger loads get through. Which actually was or is (?) a viable strategy. And we haven't even talked about the five ways that they commonly move their drugs into the US. On land, underground, in the air, on the water, and underwater with custom made submarines called a Narco-submarine
Something that I haven't seen in the comment section yet is having a diet that supports your brain functions.
(I want to preface that in no way do you have to start a new diet for you to feel improvements. But it sure helps to build it out fully. Also, I'm using the word diet as in what you eat to sustain and improve your body, brain, and the systems within. And not one of those strict, fad-like things.)
Starting my day with something high in protein, healthy fats, omega-3s, minerals, fiber, and if I can, antioxidants, is a must. I personally love eating a yogurt bowl for breakfast every day, as it provides all of the above. Mine consists of 4 Tps of plain yogurt (meaning no flavor, added sugar, or additives), 2 Tps of low sugar count flavored yogurt such as peach, vanilla or strawberry yogurt, 3/4ths of a cup of rolled oats, 1/2 - 3/4ths of a cup of low overall sugar and high protein trail mix, 1-1 1/2 Tps of chia seed and 3/4ths to 1 cup of no added sugar almond milk. And if in season, I absolutely add washed blueberries to my bowl. The trail mixes I use all have deshelled sunflower seeds as their mix. With peanuts, almonds (whole, halved or slivered), cashews, pumpkin seeds, raisins, and sometimes semi-sweet chocolate chips as well.
Where's what we should be focusing on with our diets as people with ADHD:
Protein for Neurotransmitters
A consistent recommendation is to start the day with a protein-rich breakfast and include protein in snacks throughout the day, because protein supports the production of brain neurotransmitters essential for focus and attention.
Healthy Fats and Omega-3s
Regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids (from sources such as eggs, salmon, almonds, walnuts, avocados, flaxseed, etc.) as they may improve focus and support overall brain function for those with ADHD. Fish oil supplements are sometimes suggested.
Reduce Sugar and Additives
Dr. Hallowell routinely warns against diets high in sugar and artificial ingredients, as these can cause blood sugar spikes and worsen symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. "A diet high in carbohydrates, sugar, trans-fatty acids (and all those other ingredients contained in the many processed foods we Americans love to consume) is not beneficial for anyone, least of all people coping with ADHD." - Feeding Your ADHD Brain... Literally
Hydration and Micronutrients
Proper hydration and intake of key micronutrients are vital for brain health, especially for individuals with ADHD. Staying hydrated helps regulate neurotransmitter production, particularly dopamine, which supports focus, mood stability, and impulse control. Mild dehydration can impair attention, memory, and executive functioning, leading to brain fog, irritability, and fatigue—issues commonly experienced with ADHD. - Hydration and ADHD - Nutrition in the Management of ADHD: A Review of Recent Research
A reminder that I'm not perfect in achieving these things and still struggle in my life, regardless of whether I eat healthy consistently or not. But I can tell you that it has greatly helped me not feel as out of it every day, low energy, in a brain fog, lack of 'average' focus, etc. One other thing to add to this is either taking a multivitamin (that you've researched) or, for me, drinking a Vitamin Water daily. From that, I'm getting vitamin B12, which helps support your energy production. And while it's not definitive in research, higher or normal amounts of zinc (8-10mgs /d) have been shown to suggest that it can help reduce symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Some studies have shown that having a regular amount of zinc in your body may enhance the effectiveness of stimulant medications. - Finally Focused: Mineral Imbalances & ADHD (Part 1: Zinc Deficiency & Copper Excess)
Hope this helped.
I'd recommend asking this over at !moviesuggestions@lemmy.world.
As for my answer:
There are more, but that's a solid selection IMO.
unexpected Spinal Tap reference
I'm gonna categorize things, as that's how I would want to see my info while planning. These are just in order of how they came to me and not of importance.
Comfort
Pillows: Sure, hotels and motels have pillows for you, but you have to be there to use them. I recommend everyone bring at least one pillow. If you have room or a demand, bring more than one. Being able to nap or just get a bit more comfortable in the car goes a long way.
At Least One Pair of Lightweight Footwear: Comfort is important while on a trip. You want to be able to have something to wear while you're just moving in and out of the car, hotel/motel, or even walking around most indoor attractions. Breathability and lack of weight can help keep people from dropping down into "grumpy pants territory," while on your trip.
Safety
Trip Planning
Holy moly! This website is amazing. I wish it wasn't hamstrung by Internet Archive's rate limiting, though.
"The Internet Archive is rate limiting and then blocking this site due to increased usage. I have reached out to them. I also need to make some changes with this service to avoid hammering their API. Please check back after I've been able to get this fixed. "