sharpstick's recent activity
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Comment on I just switched to an iPhone, what should I do to make the most of this change? in ~tech
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Comment on Best "dad" jokes and puns! in ~talk
sharpstick LinkIt was a bad day at the zoo, Brad was helping deal with an escaped lion when his boss pulled him aside and told him that there was another major problem and it was with the dolphins. They were...It was a bad day at the zoo, Brad was helping deal with an escaped lion when his boss pulled him aside and told him that there was another major problem and it was with the dolphins. They were being extremely amorous and inappropriate with each other and there was a group of school kids coming for a tour. They needed to calm down the dolphins before the kids arrived and there was only one thing could be done in a situation like this. Brad needed to go down to the beach and capture three or four baby sea gulls. Once they were swimming on the surface of the water the dolphins would stop what they were doing. So Brad went down to the beach and after a lot of effort, came back with some baby sea gulls in a bag. He was walking along a back entrance to the park when there, right in front of him, on the path was the lion. It had a tranquilizer dart sticking out of it and so must have run and finally collapsed here on the path. But the kids were coming soon and Brad had to get to the aquarium. As gently as he could he stepped over the sleeping lion and was about to continue on his way when a policewoman ran up and told him he was under arrest. When Brad asked why she said it was for transporting young gulls across sedate lion for immoral porpoises.
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Comment on Children predict the year 2000 (1966, video) in ~life
sharpstick LinkI read an unrelated article a little white after watching this and it reminded me that Star Trek first aired in 1966. It's easy to see why people, even young people, were attracted to its positive...I read an unrelated article a little white after watching this and it reminded me that Star Trek first aired in 1966. It's easy to see why people, even young people, were attracted to its positive view of the future.
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Comment on I have an issue with the 3 Body Problem in ~tv
sharpstick Link ParentYes, it is in the show and it well done, not just from an overall special effects standpoint, but also from a human level experience of the devastation it brought within the ship.Yes, it is in the show and it well done, not just from an overall special effects standpoint, but also from a human level experience of the devastation it brought within the ship.
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Comment on Love in ~creative
sharpstick LinkThank you for sharing this. It is lovely.Thank you for sharing this. It is lovely.
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Comment on The worst masterpiece: ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ at 100 in ~music
sharpstick LinkThis work holds a special place in my heart because it was my entry into classical / orchestral music as a young teen. Growing up there was nothing around me but country music and easy listening....This work holds a special place in my heart because it was my entry into classical / orchestral music as a young teen. Growing up there was nothing around me but country music and easy listening. At 13 we moved to an actual city and one evening I heard "Rhapsody In Blue" on the radio and knew I has been introduced to something amazing.
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Comment on Researchers were able to isolate the brain from the rest of the body of a pig, and kept it alive and functioning for five hours in ~science
sharpstick LinkSo, what happen to the body? For this to be of any practical, therapeutic application we'll need to be able to put it back in and get everything working again.So, what happen to the body? For this to be of any practical, therapeutic application we'll need to be able to put it back in and get everything working again.
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Comment on RIP PDQ Bach in ~music
sharpstick LinkI remember playing "Oedipus Tex" in the car with my kids and laughing our head off as well as "Iphigenia in Brooklyn." Thank you Mr. Schickele for the many laughs and family bonding.I remember playing "Oedipus Tex" in the car with my kids and laughing our head off as well as "Iphigenia in Brooklyn." Thank you Mr. Schickele for the many laughs and family bonding.
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RIP PDQ Bach
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Comment on Threads is starting to make content available on the Fediverse in ~tech
sharpstick LinkHaving slowly removed myself from most social media apps over the last few years in order to enjoy a higher quality of life, I set up a Mastadon account in July. I started out cautiously but...Having slowly removed myself from most social media apps over the last few years in order to enjoy a higher quality of life, I set up a Mastadon account in July. I started out cautiously but quickly found so much to like about it. To me it is, like Tildes, the exact kind of social platform I am looking for. It is very reminiscent of what social interactions used to be like on the internet, meaning, first, that there are no ads. I think we have all been habituated into thinking that constant ad interruptions are just what the internet is supposed to be like, but it wasn't always that way and it doesn't have to be like that now. Second, my feed is a true timeline feed, not an artificially generated feed designed to keep my attention as long as possible. This means that I sometimes may miss things and that is okay. It's social media at a different, healthier for me, pace.
It will be interesting to see how Threads integration changes things. I have no doubt that their motive is to eventually find out someway to show me ads and monetize my attention but I'm hoping that this is difficult to do in the federated environment. Time will tell.
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Comment on Album of the Week #9: The KLF - Chill Out in ~music
sharpstick LinkIn my mind album was all ground work for Jimmy Cauty's work as part of The Orb. Specifically one of the most beautiful examples of this plunderphonics genre Little Fluffy Clouds....In my mind album was all ground work for Jimmy Cauty's work as part of The Orb.
Specifically one of the most beautiful examples of this plunderphonics genre Little Fluffy Clouds. -
Comment on Fact sheet: US President Joe Biden issues executive order on safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence in ~tech
sharpstick Link ParentI've been using the Perplexity AI app for several months specifically because it lists its sources as part of its feedback and will often times include a intro sentence about how certain it can be...I've been using the Perplexity AI app for several months specifically because it lists its sources as part of its feedback and will often times include a intro sentence about how certain it can be about the answer it gives based on the data it can find. I have seen it become a lot more nuanced in its answers the more capable it becomes.
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Comment on “Going shopping” is dead: How stores sucked the fun out of an American pastime in ~finance
sharpstick LinkTwo things that make me not want to shop at a store. Shelves/displays that are disorganized or outright trashed. The items are mixed up, knocked over and on the floor throughout the store....Two things that make me not want to shop at a store.
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Shelves/displays that are disorganized or outright trashed. The items are mixed up, knocked over and on the floor throughout the store.
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Constantly having to work my way around employees stocking the shelves. Boxes and carts in the aisles sometimes with someone actively stocking, sometimes not.
You would think these things would be mutually exclusive but they are not. My decision to not shop at my local Target came when I could not find the item I wanted because the shelf was a complete mess and an employee was stocking items right next to it and they walked away leaving it a mess.
If they don't care about their store why should I?
A Pop Shelf opened next door and they are eating Target's lunch with friendly staff, organized product and pleasant atmosphere.
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Comment on What "lost" web page would you like to find again? in ~tech
sharpstick LinkThere was a simple Web 1.0 site dedicated to the song "Being Boring" by the Petshop Boys. It was a deep dive into every bit of BTS and trivia you could imagine and methodically made the case for...There was a simple Web 1.0 site dedicated to the song "Being Boring" by the Petshop Boys. It was a deep dive into every bit of BTS and trivia you could imagine and methodically made the case for it being the perfect pop song. As a big fan of the song myself I enjoyed learning about it and following the link to all of the many different versions and covers of the song. From time to time I have made some attempts to find it but I think it is gone for good. I just remember the care and obvious love that went into making an entire site dedicated to one singular thing.
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Comment on What weird food combo did you not realise was weird? in ~food
sharpstick Link ParentI just discovered ketchup and mustard flavored Doritos a few weeks ago. They are amazing! Especially when eaten together. I think they are only available for a limited time in my area, or else...I just discovered ketchup and mustard flavored Doritos a few weeks ago. They are amazing! Especially when eaten together. I think they are only available for a limited time in my area, or else they were so popular they sold out quickly. I hope they become a regular thing.
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Comment on Autistic adults: how do you stim/self-soothe in public? in ~talk
sharpstick Link ParentThat is so good to hear. I will let her know that this helped you. That will make her happy. :)That is so good to hear. I will let her know that this helped you. That will make her happy. :)
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Comment on Autistic adults: how do you stim/self-soothe in public? in ~talk
sharpstick LinkWhen my wife is particularly stressed in public and needs to stim, she will tap her fingers to her thumbs is a purposeful way like she is counting on her fingers. This seems to strike a balance...When my wife is particularly stressed in public and needs to stim, she will tap her fingers to her thumbs is a purposeful way like she is counting on her fingers. This seems to strike a balance between helping her stay calm and a somewhat socially acceptable repetitive action.
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Comment on Eastern philosophy says there's no "self". Science agrees in ~humanities
sharpstick LinkI know that people's have different experience with what is it like to be people, but I will recount my experience of being a person with a chatty brain. For me, part of maturing into adult hood...I know that people's have different experience with what is it like to be people, but I will recount my experience of being a person with a chatty brain.
For me, part of maturing into adult hood was recognizing the story teller part of my brain, the one that produced random thoughts, and realize that that was not me, just my brain trying to make sense of the world. There is a big difference between not being able to stop a thought and taking it as reality. I am not my thoughts, I am the one who uses my mental processes to interrogate my thoughts, emotions and instincts against a set of morals, standards and accumulated knowledge to the best of my ability. This is not a perfect process by any means but I believe that this is what Descartes was referring to when he said "I think, therefore I am." He was not saying "I have random ideas and notions that flash through my brain, therefore I exist." The whole book is an interrogation of himself and his own ability to be certain of anything, including his own personhood. He eventually comes to a starting point in the fact that he is able to have this self-inquiry at all and be aware of it.This is what gives him a claim to existence as an entity separate from his base inputs and outputs. This is what he means by "thinking."
The questions is not about what part of you is the storyteller, but what is the part of you that is hearing and believing those stories without question? This is where suffering come it, the unexamined life, the person who cannot or doesn't know how change their story about themselves when faces with facts and proof. This is where magical thinking comes from. I don't know that telling people that they don't exist is helpful in combating this in any way.
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Comment on Tildes and identity politics in ~tildes
sharpstick LinkAs someone who has been here for a while I can say that one of the things I like most about Tildes is it general, low-key inclusiveness of a wide variety of identities. The term identity politics...As someone who has been here for a while I can say that one of the things I like most about Tildes is it general, low-key inclusiveness of a wide variety of identities. The term identity politics is a pre-loaded term that connotes a lot of unspoken assumptions and is often used as a conversation stopper / excuse to stop listening and respecting an individual's perspective. There are other way to explore and respect identity without bringing in the polarization of politics. Just because we may not have the latter does not mean we don't value the former.
I think this respect is shown most in the fact that I see very little attempts to "win debates" here. Information and perspectives are presented and explored, questions may be asked and disagreements voiced, but readers are generally left to make up their own minds. We may not always get it right, but I think Tilde has a genuine desire to be a welcome and inclusive space where objective rationalism is but one of many ways to explore a topic, and when it is used, it is not weaponized to the degree that it can be in other forums.
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Comment on Food suggestions, dieting help in ~health
sharpstick (edited )LinkWhen I lost my first significant amount of weight here is what worked for me. Take what you can from it. I didn't do all of these at once but added them over time and as I found out what worked...When I lost my first significant amount of weight here is what worked for me. Take what you can from it.
I didn't do all of these at once but added them over time and as I found out what worked for me.- Gradually reduce the amount of sugar you take in to near none. Especially in drinks.
- Allow yourself to feel low levels of hunger for longer periods of time.
Don't eat just because the clock says so.
The less sugar you eat the easier this will be. - Eat when you are truly hungry, before you become overly, irrationally hungry.
- Gradually reduce carbs to a modest level and increased the amount of protein and fiber.
- If you snack to keep your low-level hunger going, eat a small protein.
Get rid of bad snack so they are not an option. - You can count calories and tracking food but I tapered off as I started to find what worked.
- Track your weight second-thing every morning.
This helped me understand my natural weight fluctuations and not get concerned over being a pound or two up for one or two days. Your looking for long-term trends and a sense of accomplishments. Putting together a string of 4 or 5 days where I did well made me less likely to want to break that trend. - Get used to telling yourself "no" and listening to and obeying yourself. Small wins in this area lead to bigger wins like sticking to your plan in social settings. This is tough.
- Don't reward your dieting successes with food. You are not banking calories for later, you are eliminating them.
- Plan times when you can not follow the plan and relax the rules but no more than twice a month. Weekly is too often.
Doing this I went from 240 to 170 over the time frame of about a year and a half. It was slooow going at first but eventually the weight started coming off and I hit weeks at a time when I plateaued but I stayed with it.
I hope this helps. Good luck. You can do it.
There are all kinds of super powers hidden in the System Settings > Accessibility page.
My favorite is Touch > Back Tap.
I have mine set to Double Tap = App Switching and Triple Tap = undo typing.