@donaldham@mstdn.social

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

Donnow if this is happening for everyone, but gmail is totally shitting the bed. Their inbox categories just aren’t being routed correctly and now I’m getting push notifications for literally everythi

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 24, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online My spam filters on Gmail aren't operating today. System-wide problem?

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

For real, in a sports car, why would you not just always show the gear you were in, even if you were in an automatic shifting mode? In the revision of the MMI that came with the B9 (where everything b

Ancestor 2 @donaldham@mstdn.social Open

@donaldham@mstdn.social

@octothorpe@mastodon.online My GTI, with the VW/Porsche/Audi 7-speed dsg, had a sport/manual mode. You engaged it by moving the selector left. Used as an automatic, it didn't display the gear, but rem

Parent @octothorpe@mastodon.online Open

@octothorpe@mastodon.online

@donaldham@mstdn.social What year was the GTI? It's possible the same mechatronic/DSG system as my 2015 RS5. BTW, I made the mistake of googling a mechatronic system, as I thought it would be cool to

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 22, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online I had a MK VII 2021 GTI. When I bought it, I already had a regular 2020 Golf SE 6-speed manual and didn't NEED a new car, but I was determined to own a GTI before the MK VIII generation came out with all the reviled haptic controls. I do love a manual, but that DSG was amazing. Sharp, intuitive, especially in Sport mode. It even did a sharp downshift that you could feel as you slowed, to prepare for coming out of a turn.

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

VAGCOM’d!

Parent @octothorpe@mastodon.online Open

@octothorpe@mastodon.online

For real, in a sports car, why would you not just always show the gear you were in, even if you were in an automatic shifting mode? In the revision of the MMI that came with the B9 (where everything b

Current reply

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 22, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online My GTI, with the VW/Porsche/Audi 7-speed dsg, had a sport/manual mode. You engaged it by moving the selector left. Used as an automatic, it didn't display the gear, but remapped throttle response and shift points, even downshifts, to be sportier; used to manually shift, it always showed the gear you were in. My 2013 BMW has the same features, but is a conventional 6-speed ZF auto, not DSG. Dunno, maybe a German version of Jekyll and Hyde for different driving styles?

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

The RS5 is out of surgery and back home! Fun fact: the mechatronic system has part of the anti-theft system built into it, which requires the keys to get re-coded. Also fun: the VAGCOM mods I made whe

Current reply

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 20, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online It sounds as though you're only a few tweaks away from regaining the full glory of German engineering. I say that unironically as the owner of a 12-year-old BMW. I love, love love my car. I dread, dread, dread the prospect of a major repair. Congratulations on getting your baby back.

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@Gargron@mastodon.social

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/115737483111161917 I have to admit, the performance of a Chromium-based browser compared to Firefox is abysmal. I don't have that many tabs but it lags a lot and t

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 14, 2026

@Gargron@mastodon.social I had been using Firefox on my Android phone because, unlike mobile Chrome, it runs extensions I want, UBlock Origin and Privacy Badger. But I hate the new AI focus of Firefox. Vivaldi doesn't allow extensions either. About 10 days ago I switched to the Waterfox browser, a Firefox fork, and love it. It effortlessly let me sign in to my FF account and transferred my bookmarks. Extensions: no problem. It's run flawlessly. Not a hint of AI. @Waterfox@mastodon.social #Vivaldi_browser #FireFox

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

The RS5 goes in for heart surgery next week. ::sigh::

Ancestor 2 @donaldham@mstdn.social Open

@donaldham@mstdn.social

@octothorpe@mastodon.online Ow, that sounds scary. What is being done?

Parent @octothorpe@mastodon.online Open

@octothorpe@mastodon.online

@donaldham@mstdn.social replacing the mechatronic system. Basically the very expensive widget that manages all the gear changes.

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 09, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online Good luck to your baby and your wallet! My GTI had what might have been a cousin, VW's 7-speed DSG gearbox. It was very, very good, but I didn't own the car long enough to ever experience "when it was bad, it was horrid."

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

The RS5 goes in for heart surgery next week. ::sigh::

Current reply

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Jan 09, 2026

@octothorpe@mastodon.online Ow, that sounds scary. What is being done?

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown.

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Dec 25, 2025

@octothorpe@mastodon.online Merry Christmas and happy wassailing to you and Bill!

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Dec 24, 2025

The fictional town of Darrowby in the Yorkshire Dales is filmed in the actual village of Grassington, home to a charming visitors center. Sheep are *everywhere* in the Dales, and they sold this mug with whimsical sheep. I think coffee mugs are a great way to remember a special trip. This one reminds me of the day I stood in front of Skeldale House. https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/grassington_national_park_centre/ #AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Dec 19, 2025

What was it like to be in the kids' choir singing "Christmas Time Is Here" for the original soundtrack of "A Charlie Brown Christmas?" #NPR #VinceGuaraldi #Christmas #Peanuts https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5640171/a-charlie-brown-christmas-christmastime-is-here-peanuts-schulz

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CM Harrington @octothorpe@mastodon.online

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Dec 15, 2025

Non-rage, non-scary fun thing: A Mastodon post months ago showed me WeatherStar4000+ from netbymatt.com, a functional duplicate of the old current conditions display from the Weather Channel on cable. It even includes the light jazz background music from the old days. Fun. Try your own location! https://weatherstar.netbymatt.com/ PS, today's weather is the reward year-round desert residents receive for staying through the 120-degree F temperatures in the high summer. #CAWX #Weather #PalmSprings

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@octothorpe@mastodon.online

When I am not watching All Creatures Great and Small, I think about how lovely, and fun, and funny it is. When I watch it, I am suddenly confronted with how intensely hard-hitting it is. Its ability t

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Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

Donald Ham

@donaldham@mstdn.social

Gay partnered (for 17 yrs)Boomer in California (Palm Springs area). Napa wine tour concierge 2019-23. Pre-retirement I was a tech analyst studying emerging technology. Step-Papy to 2 amazing 20-something daughters. Big time cat dad.

mstdn.social

@donaldham@mstdn.social · Nov 27, 2025

@octothorpe@mastodon.online I'm rewatching all the seasons before we get the new episodes in the US in January. Yesterday it was the story of the urchin boy Wesley and his dog Duke. I'm so grateful someone is telling simple sweet stories like that, even if they make my eyes leak.

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