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Shaleesh [she/her, comrade/them]

@ Shaleesh @hexbear.net

Posts
36
Comments
627
Joined
5 yr. ago

  • Ribbon is super easy to source actually. Most models use a standard width for the ribbon itself and someone invented a universal spool that will work in about 95% of them. Unless its really old (pre 1920s ish) youre going to be able to find someone who sells ribbons that fit the other 5%. You can even find ribbons with fun color combonations. I was just typing on a green and brown one to go with my hedgehog notecards. Worst comes to worst you can transplant ribbons onto other spools, its pretty easy, but a little messy, I reccomend wearing disposable gloves.

    Regarding the machines themselves...

    Olivetti Lettera 32's have an excellent reputation for holding up to the test of time and suiting modern users needs. Same goes for Lettera 22s. I'm totally not biased at all.

    Larger machines will be more comfortable to type on and may have some extra nifty features, but most people seem to prefer compact models for the convenience. Only the super deluxe models are going to have a key for 1s and !s. On all others the ! is going to be a combonation of an apostrophe and a period, the letter l doubles as a 1 as well.

    Before buying you should type a little on it to see if the keys and functions work properly. Also check ebay for price references but not etsy, for some reason the prices for machines are severely inflated on etsy. Most vintage typewriters are fairly well made and will still function well unless they got the shit beat out of them or were exposed to the elements for an extended period. These things also require very little lubrication, if any.

    Rubber parts are definitely going to be significantly degraded, however.

    The biggest victims of rubber degredation are the platen and the rollers, this is what feeds the paper through the machine. Unless replaced/restored a vintage platen is going to be rock hard by now. Thats not so big of a deal. The quick fix there is to have one or two extra sheets of paper "backing" the one youre writing on. This will "soften" the typing surface, helping with print quality and noise concerns. The rollers however, could be fucked up. If kept in the locked position for decades they can warp and develop divots that will harm their ability to feed paper properly. Everything will work... kinda? and youll have some issues with things like feeding or spacing, but its nothing that cant be worked around.

    There still exist typewriter repair shops if youre willing to shell out the cash for service and shipping, or you can try your hand at repairs (this is fun, really). There are guys on the internet (ebay and etsy are good bets) that 3D print replacements for now-desintegrated rubber parts, especially the feet. Guides on home-made fixes for hard platens and warped rollers are out there too and they're really not that bad as long as you dont lose parts and screws. Youtube is your friend, and if you have an Olivetti you will have an abundance of resources.

    I also reccomend finding a box or bag or case or something to cover/store it in when not in use. These things dont like dust. Vintage cases can cost more than the machines themselves, a reasonably close fitting cardboard box will do. Finding some sort of pad to put under the machine while in use is a pretty good idea too. This makes operating it a bit quieter and may prevent it from shifting around on a table. There are some very nice cork/felt ones out there but theyre just nice to have, not critical.

    Also liquid white-out that comes in the bottles with the brushes? Like a dollar each and indespensable for typewriting.

    Pardon the endless word vomit. I like typewriters.

  • Me, yesterday, sowing: "WTF why do I have so much tape? This is rediculous. I'm just gonna throw away every roll I see, I'm sure that this will leave me with some leftovers at the new apartment."

    Me, today, reaping: "WTF how the hell am I out of tape?"

  • Why is this so funny lmao

  • They found another way to brutalize black and brown children. Great. Can't wait till we all see footage of one of these dousing a neurodivergent kid having a crisis. Wonderful.

    Hot take but even if this did "stop the shooter" even once its just not worth it to add yet another level to the prisonlike environment of american public schools.

  • sighs heavily

    Okay so I guess they had been experiencing relationship conflict because their boyfriend wants kids at some point and they don't. What gets me about this is that theyre both in their early (early early) 20s and theyve been together for like 10 months at most? Its the longest relationship either of them have been in IIRC so I guess I get why they would even worry about this? I feel like Im talking mad shit here because I've never been in a relationship[only technically true, its complicated] and don't intend to[also complicated] but I've experienced enough to be able to roll my eyes at people sometimes.

    Anyways, that wasn't the impetus of the fight. I think they assumed this whole "moving my friends shit" thing would be easier than it was and to be fair, I did too. My buddy doesnt handle heat or exertion nearly as well as we thought they did and mattresses are annoying to move at the best of times and it made tensions boil over.

  • Me with more movingposting.

    Big move was yesterday, first night in the house was last night. My friend brought his boyfriend and they had a couple fight in the front yard, I think that was partially my fault. My body hurts but not that bad. A couple items were broken or destroyed but tbh I could stand to have less shit. Im gonna be getting rid of so much more stuff lol. Ive been running back and forth from the old place to the new (its a little less than an hour away) for the past week trying to move smaller stuff with my dinkymobile. Turns out I gotta go back again because in the flurry of activity yesterday I managed to miss some second-tier essentials (shampoo, coffee filters, sleep suppliments, ect) so I really aught to go back today...

    But that means standing and this chair is so comfortable.

  • Its quirkily branded milk advertised by content creators. The Blue Chew of dairy products if you will.

  • f-droid link

    Its a good app with a lot of functions but the GUI is jankfest 2k26. Each task is divided up into their own thing? Like the "put two or more images side by side" is a seperate thing from "put two or more images on top of eachother". Other than that it all works very well once you figure out the weird workflow.

  • Submachine has a "remastered" edition on Steam nowadays. Its very very good.

  • Moving has gotten to the point where its starting to get kinda okay. Still need to figure out a time for the crew to move the big big stuff but my dinkymobile has been handling a lot more than I expected her to.

    I need to get rid of so much clothing this is absurd oh my lord.

  • Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi yes

    I would ike another one please :3

  • ok so its halfway done, check the main post

  • Bet, gimme like an hour to get to work on it

  • So do I go back and rewrite the trans mega post to be about the best worst book I ever read, which just so happens to be a critically acclaimed self insert hitler fanfic?

  • Good luck! Im in the process of moving right now and it always sucks.

  • I think that article hurt me. I regret reading it.

    The article suggests that instances of this kind of offense peaked 15 years ago before subsiding until recently. However, video evidence of these kinds of assaults circulated on imageboards (often by the perpetrators themselves) throughout the 2010s. The problem could be larger and more persistent than what the article is claiming.

    Dunno if that needed spoilering, felt wrong not to.

    Edit: damn I post like shit when Im triggered, hope its chill that I went back and edited

  • "rocket"

    Like this kinda thing?

    I'm gonna need a bigger tortilla...

  • New mega up

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net

    ??? - Trans Megathread for July 20th through July 26th, 2026

  • Thankfully its only about an hour away so doing this in multiple trips is feasible.

  • Ughhhhhhh...

    I'm moving in to the new apartment starting tomorrow and Im really not having it today. Almost nothing is boxed up, everything is a mess, and I'm trying to guide my roomate-to-be though a lot of stuff because this is her first time doing any of it. I'm feeling awfully depressed, completely listless, and utterly trapped in place.

  • chat @hexbear.net

    I just had to ask some teenager in a tactical vest to let me into a bathroom

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net

    (CW: Transphobia, Child Abuse) How Do We Talk About Trans Kids?

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net

    CW: Transphobia - SCOTUS Rules Against Trans Student Athletes

    transgenderlawcenter.org /transgender-law-center-condemns-scotus-opinion-in-hecox-and-bpj/
  • Main, home of the dope ass bear. @hexbear.net

    It really sucks that queermarxism(dot)com is owned by a fascist

  • guns @hexbear.net

    Damn, Namers are Huge

  • food @hexbear.net

    Random Kitchen Tips

  • badposting @hexbear.net

    A Radiohead cover band called Slaydiohead that's a ripoff of the other guy's and also actually gay.

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net
    Locked

    The Planet Venus - Trans Megathread for May 25 through May 31, 2026

  • guns @hexbear.net

    Modern Western Armored Vehicles On Display in the DPRK

  • badposting @hexbear.net

    what if instead of python it was guython and it was a programming language for the fellas

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net
    Locked

    International Transgender Day of Visibility - Trans Megathread from March 30th, 2026 to April 4th, 2026

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net
    Locked

    Green Lake and Round Lake - Trans Megathread from February 23rd, 2025 to March 1st, 2026

  • fashion @hexbear.net

    Good Nail Clippers

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net
    Locked

    Our Final Victory In The War On Christmas Draws Ever Nearer! - Trans Megathread from December 22nd, 2025 to December 28th, 2025

  • guns @hexbear.net

    Whats this thing on the DSHK? (Highlighted in red)

  • traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns @hexbear.net
    Locked

    OceanLab - Trans Megathread from November 3rd, 2025 to November 9th, 2025

  • music @hexbear.net

    Noisia feat. Prolix - Asteroids [Drum and Bass] (5:37) - 2014