Captain_Wacky's recent activity
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Comment on Interresting Reddit/Discord alternative : surikata.app in ~tech
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Comment on Spaceballs: The New One coming to theaters April 23, 2027 in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentClearly older cast: "......Fortnite? The fuck is a Fortnite?"Clearly older cast: "......Fortnite? The fuck is a Fortnite?"
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Comment on Nvidia CEO declares AI could start, grow, and run a successful technology company worth more than a billion dollars—excerpt from Lex Fridman Podcast in ~tech
Captain_Wacky LinkI mean, in a sense, they're not wrong... .....the AI just has to be stupendously lucky, is all. Just like any other human trying to run a business. I don't see it as a flexing of the capability of...I mean, in a sense, they're not wrong...
.....the AI just has to be stupendously lucky, is all. Just like any other human trying to run a business. I don't see it as a flexing of the capability of AI, so much as I see it as a quiet confession that anyone can be successful given enough seed funding.
"Sirens of Titan" by Vonnegut had a wonderful scenario illustrating this.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkFinally got to "More Everything Forever" by Adam Becker. Various Podcasters and Bloggers have chronicled aspects of this, but this book does a good job of describing the current zeitgeist at...Finally got to "More Everything Forever" by Adam Becker.
Various Podcasters and Bloggers have chronicled aspects of this, but this book does a good job of describing the current zeitgeist at Silicon Valley, which (as a whole) appears to have fallen victim to cult-like thinking with the Effective Altruists and the logical fallacies produced by a room full of engineers who think they can tackle what they perceived to be "problems" within the Humanities... And how all these things are exacerbated under the current AI grift.
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Comment on ‘Zootopia 2’ jumps to $556.4m global opening for biggest WW start of 2025 in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI tend to liken the Furries to the BDSM community, because of how interconnected the sex and costume can be. As such, the more "complete" the costume in public, the more skeeved I can't help but...I tend to liken the Furries to the BDSM community, because of how interconnected the sex and costume can be.
As such, the more "complete" the costume in public, the more skeeved I can't help but feel, and I think that's where the bulk of the disdain comes from.
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Comment on US shoppers, drawn by steep discounts, power through Black Friday in ~finance
Captain_Wacky LinkThe only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run. Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing...The only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run.
Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing doors at the end of the year, announcement made on Black Friday.
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Comment on One of Sweden's most famous literary characters, Pippi Longstocking, turns 80 years old today in ~books
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI always thought she was a character from Appalachia, and assumed said stories were based in the 1800s. I had no idea that the stories were not only Swedish, but quite contemporary! (Relatively...I always thought she was a character from Appalachia, and assumed said stories were based in the 1800s.
I had no idea that the stories were not only Swedish, but quite contemporary! (Relatively speaking)
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Comment on Giant mirrors in space to reflect sunlight at night? No thank you, astronomers say. in ~space
Captain_Wacky Link ParentWhat an incredibly evil idea.What an incredibly evil idea.
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Comment on Experiences with united healthcare in ~health
Captain_Wacky LinkHad United briefly, sprained an ankle, urgent care doc sent me in for an X-ray just to rule out the unlikely chance of a hairline fracture, still got billed $800ish after insurance. With the most...Had United briefly, sprained an ankle, urgent care doc sent me in for an X-ray just to rule out the unlikely chance of a hairline fracture, still got billed $800ish after insurance.
With the most routine and banal of the sports-related injuries, you'd think it would be a no-brainer as to who covers what parts of the costs. Nope. Total black magic to them. Would've totally shrugged my shoulders at $200. Nope, gotta gouge it at fucking $800.
I just took my beating and left. I shudder to imagine what it would be like with them if I was in a car crash.
The Nintendo character did nothing wrong.
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Comment on New research shows attention lapses due to sleep deprivation coincide with a flushing of fluid from the brain in ~science
Captain_Wacky LinkFascinating, I wonder if any of this could tie into ADHD or any other mental "states?" (Idk correct term) where focus and/attention are problematic.Fascinating, I wonder if any of this could tie into ADHD or any other mental "states?" (Idk correct term) where focus and/attention are problematic.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkFinished "The Lusiads," and will pick up a more contemporary story, "The Beast in the Clouds," tomorrow. The premise is the least two accomplished of the Roosevelt sons go on an expedition (in an...Finished "The Lusiads," and will pick up a more contemporary story, "The Beast in the Clouds," tomorrow.
The premise is the least two accomplished of the Roosevelt sons go on an expedition (in an effort to gain goodwill from Teddy) to collect a Panda, an animal who at the time was relatively unknown to science, akin to colossal squid of today.
Since we kind of already know the outcome, this story is absolutely going to be all about the journey, with building anticipation towards the reveal on the gentle nature of pandas and how that's going to take the wind out of the Roosevelts' sails, thinking they're on the trail for some sort of apex predator.
Almost feels like it should be a subplot for a venture bros episode. It feels like something Hank and Dean would get into.
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Comment on Swedish fisherman digging for worms stumbles upon cache of silver coins, beads, rings and pendants dating to the 12th century in ~humanities.history
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI can see how that could be a slippery slope, though. Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.I can see how that could be a slippery slope, though.
Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.
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Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky Link ParentIt's a weird one, but I stand by it. A cultural institution who's mission statement is to explicitly educate the public on advertising could have been the needed "shot in the arm" for the American...It's a weird one, but I stand by it. A cultural institution who's mission statement is to explicitly educate the public on advertising could have been the needed "shot in the arm" for the American zeitgeist against anti-intellectualism and hyperconsumerism, especially if it was introduced at a time like the 60's~70's.
After a certain number of years and funds raised, there'd be plenty of ways to move this organization around to keep itself alive and relevant. Start an art collection and a gallery wing, but it's all posters and advertising from acclaimed artists and design firms and whatnot, use that as a further money printer. Expand the gallery to include neon signs, like the "American Sign Museum" in Cincinnati. Have a computer wing, throwing spam mail to accounts, pop ups and banner ads making example websites useless, etc.
Theoretically, American companies would be throwing money at said institution to feature their name and advertising and it could be done in a way that doesn't compromise the original mission statement.
It would be a tough nut for conservatives to try and crack, because on the surface level it totally does celebrate consumerism. Coca Cola and Pepsi both would be pissed at them if they shut it down. It absolutely is celebrating Americana, but at the same time absolutely educating the public on what "FOMO" is, how easily "wants" and "needs" can be conflated, etc.
It'd be really neat.
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Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky (edited )LinkA Smithsonian institution dedicated to junk* mail would have done the nation some good, especially if it was introduced in an era like the 1970s. Edit: changed "spam" to "junk"A Smithsonian institution dedicated to junk* mail would have done the nation some good, especially if it was introduced in an era like the 1970s.
Edit: changed "spam" to "junk"
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Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkAs it's not on your list, I can't help but suggest adding anything by Jorge Luis Borges to that list. Unhelpful, I know... But I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to suggest his works to...As it's not on your list, I can't help but suggest adding anything by Jorge Luis Borges to that list.
Unhelpful, I know... But I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to suggest his works to people.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky Link ParentThis year has been a bit of an outlier for me. Last couple of years I got interested in Latin American writing of the 20th century. Borges' opinions and essays got me interested enough to pick up...This year has been a bit of an outlier for me. Last couple of years I got interested in Latin American writing of the 20th century. Borges' opinions and essays got me interested enough to pick up the Iliad and the Odyssey, as I plan on reading a couple Roman philosophers I might as well pick up the Aeneid as well, and since I like Saramago and Pessoa I might as well pick up The Lusiads, too.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkCamões' "The Lusiads" is a bit of a wild read. It's a relatively contemporary "Origin myth," drawing direct reference from the Homeric epics as well as the Aeneid, centered on the Classic God's...Camões' "The Lusiads" is a bit of a wild read.
It's a relatively contemporary "Origin myth," drawing direct reference from the Homeric epics as well as the Aeneid, centered on the Classic God's interest in the travels and exploits of the Portuguese empire.
It's very heavy-handed myth making with characters in the typical European Colonizer mindset, for example they can't understand why shelling the coastal villages of Mozambique would lead to subversively hostile peoples waiting for them further along up the coast, then ultimately just blame the local's 'treacherous' behavior as a failing in their Muslim philosophy.
For a short book (again in comparison to the Homeric Epics) it really does read like a story from the Classical era, and it's really delightfully jarring to picture Hermes/Mercury putting on his sandals and flying down to Mombasa to do business.... with Vasco da Gama.
I also find it quite an important read, as it was the authors intent to be incredibly Jingoistic for Portugal, and yet within that very text, there they are putting themselves in positions so idiotic only intervention by The Gods can save them... but still twisting that story around to make it seem like they're the chosen ones of Western Civilization.
I haven't finished it yet, but that's my take so far, 3 chapters in. Shouldn't take more than a week.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Captain_Wacky Link ParentYeah, I had that scenario/service in mind when I was writing the above. A person with low emotional intelligence receives one of these as a gift, and believes (believe being the key word) it did...Yeah, I had that scenario/service in mind when I was writing the above.
A person with low emotional intelligence receives one of these as a gift, and believes (believe being the key word) it did them some good. In their ignorance they gift someone the same thing online, consciously thinking they're actually about to do some good, and subconsciously motivated for the internet points.
Anything else beyond that point is just insult added to injury.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Captain_Wacky Link ParentWhile I understand the question being semi-rhetorical, unfortunately I can see a few angles where someone could genuinely be thinking they're doing something good in sending an AI'd relative. I'll...What kind of brain does it take to think this would be wanted and acceptable?
While I understand the question being semi-rhetorical, unfortunately I can see a few angles where someone could genuinely be thinking they're doing something good in sending an AI'd relative.
I'll spare the details, but if anything it all serves as an amazing case study for one to mentally process in terms of the general "banality of evil."
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~arts
Captain_Wacky LinkI've seen this "slurry" being referred to in conversation as "pink-slime," in reference to Chicken McNuggets. Ex: The Emoji Movie is the pink-slime of American Cinema.I've seen this "slurry" being referred to in conversation as "pink-slime," in reference to Chicken McNuggets.
Ex: The Emoji Movie is the pink-slime of American Cinema.
I really, really dig the aesthetics, but after putzing around for a few minutes, I can see the "vibe coded" quality, specifically with what I think was the "about this site" page.
Scrolling queue cards that roll off screen, all of which on an overlay and a "dead image" symbol on the top left corner, and a close button on the right that doesn't close, and the mission statement about said website is all just mindless business-yammering about the qualia of meerkats.
Really do dig the aesthetics though.