knocklessmonster's recent activity
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Comment on Chinese police officers will soon be on patrol in Hungary in ~news
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Comment on The hidden, magnificent history of chop suey in ~food
knocklessmonster LinkI love this sort of revisionism. I always took the "kitchen scrap" theory to be akin to nachos' origin of having a bunch of stuff to make a meal, but not a specific recipe, but definitely get how...I love this sort of revisionism. I always took the "kitchen scrap" theory to be akin to nachos' origin of having a bunch of stuff to make a meal, but not a specific recipe, but definitely get how it could be a troubling. The real history is generally more interesting here, especially as somebody who likes to find how a dish was originally created in its homeland.
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Comment on California says restaurants must bake all of their add-on fees into menu prices in ~finance
knocklessmonster Link ParentThe issue is that they may be, but to use Pizza Hut, a recent encounter I had, it becomes a "service charge" for operating in California, on top of menu price. Instead, Pizza Hut can add $0.50 to...The issue is that they may be, but to use Pizza Hut, a recent encounter I had, it becomes a "service charge" for operating in California, on top of menu price.
Instead, Pizza Hut can add $0.50 to every price to cover the cost.Comapnies hate it because they try to depend on consumers to pay attention, or rather expect them to miss the less-than-transparent pricing and just pay it once the order is completed.
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Comment on I'm curious how people on here stay politically engaged and aware while maintaining mental health? in ~life
knocklessmonster LinkEngage as much as you can comfortably. If anybody gives you guff for it, ignore/block them. People are the center of politics, and everybody who wants to be politically engaged needs to be at...Engage as much as you can comfortably. If anybody gives you guff for it, ignore/block them. People are the center of politics, and everybody who wants to be politically engaged needs to be at their best when they do so.
Being politically engaged and interested is only good as far as you can meaningfully comprehend and contribute safely to whatever cause you support, whatever that looks like for you. Destroying your mental health because "I have to be tuned in all the time" is the surefire way to put yourself into an intellectual and emotional pit, which will throw off how you see the world and yourself, and affect how you engage in politics.
Point is, find a balance, prioritize emotional health and try to engage as is comfortable. Even if that's just quietly pushing the needle your way in your daily life or whatever with no new outside information, that can be enough.
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Comment on Does anyone play Vintage Story? in ~games
knocklessmonster LinkI believe I've heard of the game before this thread, but wound up buying it. It's pretty great, feels like if Minecraft was designed as a survival-oriented game with a full building system and...I believe I've heard of the game before this thread, but wound up buying it. It's pretty great, feels like if Minecraft was designed as a survival-oriented game with a full building system and more fine-grained voxels. I like how you craft items with knapping for stone tools, even.
Strangely, it actually pushed me back to Minecraft 1.7.3b which I'm running via Prism launcher, but I'm planning on switching back and forth.
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Comment on Sony backed down from the PSN requirement to play Helldivers 2. How will this change how the community reacts to game changes? in ~games
knocklessmonster LinkTo answer the question in the title, it won't change anything. The same shenanigans played out here as they always do over the slightest inconvenience. It just happened that this was a...How will this change how the community reacts to game changes?
To answer the question in the title, it won't change anything. The same shenanigans played out here as they always do over the slightest inconvenience. It just happened that this was a significant, international inconvenience. It worked this time because Sony also knew they royally fucked up with the plan, but Arrowhead also dropped the ball (by self-admission) by not making it absolutely clear that this was going to happen. This left the players justifiably mad.
I also don't think Sony will have any qualms next time around requiring players to sign up, they'll just clarify the language beforehand and not grant an exception to avoid a situation where the developer, for some reason, doesn't warn the playerbase about a coming requirement.
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Comment on Case before Norway's Supreme Court claims that depriving sex offender of a Snapchat account is unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights in ~tech
knocklessmonster Link ParentIn the US (just where I live, but we also are very reluctant to remove individual access to social media), it can be part of one's probation if the crime is related to a given medium. I would...At what point do you stop a sexual abuser from accessing Snapchat if that's where they're performing the crime,
In the US (just where I live, but we also are very reluctant to remove individual access to social media), it can be part of one's probation if the crime is related to a given medium. I would assume a sex offender here would need to have used social media as a part of their crime currently. However a rule for the specific sort of sexuql crime one was convicted of, similar to some but not all sex offenders not being allowed to live near schools, could also be a thing.
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Comment on The California man who hid for six months in a secret room inside Circuit City in ~life
knocklessmonster (edited )LinkHe told his mom he "lost focus." Seems like he got too comfortable and went back to his old ways. He probably would've been caught at some point however, that old Circuit City was going to become...He told his mom he "lost focus." Seems like he got too comfortable and went back to his old ways.
He probably would've been caught at some point however, that old Circuit City was going to become something else eventually.
It was definitely a trippy story.
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Comment on Is there an intuitive (but powerful) music thingie? in ~music
knocklessmonster Link ParentThe post isn't about beginner friendly, but intuitive and powerful interface. A major advantage Bespoke has is its general transparency as a modular system. There's logic to sort out for more...The post isn't about beginner friendly, but intuitive and powerful interface. A major advantage Bespoke has is its general transparency as a modular system. There's logic to sort out for more advanced setups, but it works perfectly fine in simpler contexts, and doesnt have three to five interfaces to learn, just a bunch of modules that show you how they behave, and optional scripting modules.
Another major feature that led me to that comment is that It locks to scales which removes the major barrier to musicality, a major thing I struggled with early on, as well.
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Comment on Bespoke Synth - a highly modular DAW in ~music
knocklessmonster Link ParentHonestly my first thought was to just start plugging VSTs in. I only use samples for drum machines, and it's got a pretty robust interface for that. What sort of documentation did you use to pull...Honestly my first thought was to just start plugging VSTs in. I only use samples for drum machines, and it's got a pretty robust interface for that. What sort of documentation did you use to pull this off? I'm impressed, and like the screen mover.
That was a pretty cool demo! I actually shouted you out on @Halfdan's post looking for an intuitive music interface because you actually show this off really well.
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Comment on Is there an intuitive (but powerful) music thingie? in ~music
knocklessmonster LinkOh my goodness, I think we've all failed you horribly here, or at least three of us did, and this demands a top-level comment. Bespoke Synth with Surge XT and Vital, and you've got a nice, easy...Oh my goodness, I think we've all failed you horribly here, or at least three of us did, and this demands a top-level comment.
Bespoke Synth with Surge XT and Vital, and you've got a nice, easy modular interface with non-linear arrangement, and easy to use sequencers that let you go much deeper at your own pace. @Bauke posted something he did which gave me an epiphany that this probably checks all of your boxes. The two VSTs I mentioned are free and run on Windows, Linux and MacOS, an probably anything else you could build them on. Get TheModArchive's Waveworld bundle for a bunch of solid drum machine samples and you're off to the races.
Its connections are completely straightforward and its sequencers are small and customizable. You have to create your own workflow, but it's not that hard, and you can take your time to learn how things work to go deeper.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
knocklessmonster LinkAdded a headphone jack to a pair of Sony MDRv6 headphones. I wanted to try this on something and got them for $50 used. I like them, but the cable transmits movement noise into the cavity so the...Added a headphone jack to a pair of Sony MDRv6 headphones. I wanted to try this on something and got them for $50 used. I like them, but the cable transmits movement noise into the cavity so the 7506s at my desk won't be modded. The only solution I can think of is to create a shock absorber for the jack of some sort, but there is no room for it.
In an hour I managed to whip up a Docker image for Ubuntu via Fedora's ubuntu-toolbox image, wkth KXStudio's repo configured so I can use its applications in Distrobox more easily with manifests. The image should rebuild weekly, and I plan to track it to get it on 24.04 ASAP, and come up with a system to see changes to the kxstudio package so I can upgrade the dockerfile I made.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
knocklessmonster LinkIf anybody is interested, I have a kxstudio container working!, so the idea is then that if anybody wanted to, say, make a Cardinal distrobox environment using upstream's package, there's an...If anybody is interested, I have a kxstudio container working!, so the idea is then that if anybody wanted to, say, make a Cardinal distrobox environment using upstream's package, there's an Ubuntu image with the repo, you just need a Distrobox manifest and you can spin it up in two minutes (gotta download that image first, which is the long part). I'm mostly using it for upstream Carla (virttual patchbay) and Cardinal (falktx's fork of VCV Rack 2, with all of the open source plugins), but it's helped streamline my process significantly and should work on any distro that can easily run distrobox.
I also wanted to use carla's wine VST bridging, which was why I'm switching it over from my previous Arch image.
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Comment on Is there an intuitive (but powerful) music thingie? in ~music
knocklessmonster LinkPolyend Play, which can be had for $400 US, as mentioned. It's quite powerful and super fun. The Tracker is solid as well and can be had used for around the same price, but more fiddly by design....Polyend Play, which can be had for $400 US, as mentioned. It's quite powerful and super fun. The Tracker is solid as well and can be had used for around the same price, but more fiddly by design.
I'm partial to Renoise, a tracker, for computer-based music because it has three main interfaces: Patterns, Samples+Instruments, and Mixer with an arrangement blade to the left and fx/automations on the bottom. The complaint is they look unintuitive but there is also no data abstraction which, I think, lets you focus on just putting stuff down. Sampled instruments/drumkits are super easy to configure, and automation (changing parameters in real time) is super easy either with channel effects or automation graphs.
In tight second is Bitwig, but it's a bit pricy. You can do what I did and buy a used/cheap license and upgrade it, so I got on board for like $150 off buying a used Bitwig 16 track license and upgrading it. It has everything one needs to make music. It costs like $150 to renew, but you can use the major version last released in your year-long license indefinitely. Like Renoise, it runs on Window, Mac and Linux
FL studio is amazing, but I don't like it for workflow reasons. Enough people do, though, and it truly is a deal, especially if you catch sales. I got the full bundle for a total of $400, starting at Signature and catching the Complete set on sale for $200. It's all perpetual licenses as well, and runs on Windows and Mac.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
knocklessmonster Link ParentFrom Variety, it looks like there'll be Free, Premium, and Premium + Audio Books, which will see the change. The current model offers 15 hours of audio books per month, and extra money needed to...From Variety, it looks like there'll be Free, Premium, and Premium + Audio Books, which will see the change.
The current model offers 15 hours of audio books per month, and extra money needed to go beyond, so it looks like they just want to shift to cash up front for people who want audiobooks.
The new tier is separate from the royalty change which is its own bad decision, for artists at least.
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Comment on Spotify lowers artist royalties despite subscription price hike in ~music
knocklessmonster Link ParentThe basic plan will not have audiobooks at all. The free account will still have ads.The basic plan will not have audiobooks at all. The free account will still have ads.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
knocklessmonster Link ParentI'll throw my hat in and say Fallout 1 is great once you get used to the gameplay which is, frankly, some of the easiest 90s crpg gameplay. I'm using some spoilers to help me not get stuck but it...I'll throw my hat in and say Fallout 1 is great once you get used to the gameplay which is, frankly, some of the easiest 90s crpg gameplay. I'm using some spoilers to help me not get stuck but it feels like you don't even need those if you have a notebook handy.
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Comment on Clothes shopping as a short & fat (trans) guy with narrow shoulders in ~life.style
knocklessmonster (edited )Linkif you can get Levi's reasonably keep am eye out for their 541, aka "athletic cut." They're cut bigger for the rear and taper down, have a bit of spandex to stretch and accommodate up a pant size...if you can get Levi's reasonably keep am eye out for their 541, aka "athletic cut." They're cut bigger for the rear and taper down, have a bit of spandex to stretch and accommodate up a pant size (2in) from their label. Check other brands for a similar style if you can't find these. I only wear stretchy jeans because while I may be fat I also like having full range of movement to squat and bend in jeans and slacks.
They're not a slim cut and I wear a 46/44 waste and buy a 42 with no issues.
I can't help with shirts. Fresh Clean Threads, who I've been buying from make larger sizes cut to be looser around the bottom than the top, which may suit narrower shoulders, however. I'm not sure aure about their shipping to Germany, but I like them well enough.
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Comment on Fellow hardline materialists, how do you "enchant" the world? in ~talk
knocklessmonster (edited )LinkOur ability to exist when we do is pretty darn magical. The probability of every single event aligning to this moment is basically an impossibility. I guess my point is our existence is magical...Our ability to exist when we do is pretty darn magical. The probability of every single event aligning to this moment is basically an impossibility.
I guess my point is our existence is magical enough. The base purposelessness of it is a side effect that our intelligence generally negates by trying to understand what we need to do to exist better, such as forming societies, developing them, etc. Nihilism never bothered me because to me purposelessness is the default state of existence, at least beyond the four Fs (feeding, fighting, fleeing and mating).
I think looking at the likelihood of a given outcome and the fact that something beat the odds is enough, and we won on a ton of gambles across billions of years.
This is real big picture stuff, but if you're thinking about the nature of existence you're already thinking on this scale, or at least on the road to it. In a sense I feel truly "enlightened" when I stop to think about the means by which we came to exist, and am filled with an existential glee when confronted with the notion that we never had a reason to exist, we are simply here and must do what we can with it. This "enlightenment" is separate from any metaphysical/philosophical systems I engage with, qnd more a strong sense of joy knowing my place as an insignificant speck in an uncaring universe, and that I exist despite living in a universe that is demonstrably averse to this outcome.
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Comment on How can I completely and permanently remove the ability to access the internet from a Debian derivative? in ~tech
knocklessmonster (edited )LinkRemove network-manager, dhclient, dhcpcd, wireless-tools (I believe) and wpa_supplicant. I believe they still provide ISOs for upgrades, so you still have that option.Remove network-manager, dhclient, dhcpcd, wireless-tools (I believe) and wpa_supplicant.
I believe they still provide ISOs for upgrades, so you still have that option.
As a point of concern.
Imagine if the US were to set up police stations in Eastern European nations, or other places, under the guise of "protecting its nation's tourists." The final goals would likely be different, but the power dynamics at play and the questions of jurisdiction would be nearly identical. There would be similar responses, likely all justified and nearly identical questions asked.
Another point where this is troubling is China is trying to exert a cultural force on the world. The US already does to a large degree, and did so fairly organically (being centrally positioned after WWII helped, as did the US's global meddling in places that we could also call "less than organic"). China is using economic and "cultural exchange" systems to trade with countries and tie others into its alliance.
If I may go back to the Chinese/US international police comparison, there is one thing that fundamentally separates the US and China: An institutional belief in individual freedoms. As an American citizen we've got a ton of issues with law enforcement, but these ideas generally hold true, and criticizing and making fun of our leaders is not considered to be a crime. To compare the two countries, in the US I can say "Fuck President Biden, he looks like Winnie the Pooh," and not go to jail. The only way for me to go to jail with my words would be to 1) Threaten a government official's life, and 2) be found to be an actual threat to said official. I would likely be investigated, but could potentially not even know about it if the respective agency just writes me off.
In China, the state would treat my first sentence like the US would treat a credible death threat. I would be subject to detention, thorough investigation, and likely prosecution then incarceration. The presence of Chinese police stations in foreign countries mostly presents a threat to Chinese nationals for this reason, but also a not insignificant threat to the locals and any other tourists in the region due to the risk of doing something that falls under Chinese jurisdiction and criminal code. I would like to think these stations are only for Chinese, but the next question is "Why?" I sincerely doubt they're just trying to keep Chinese tourists safe, and would wager it's a more bold-faced strategy similar to Chinese stations in major cities, where the goal is to also ensure they are behaving in a manner that generally doesn't go against the government in any significant ways.
EDIT: Minor refinement. This is quite a nuanced topic, and I'm trying to answer more questions than I would reasonably leave somebody with.