Englerdy's recent activity
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Comment on ‘Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers’ brings artistry to a Halloween tradition in ~life
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentI feel like at some point where going to see a reversal where companies start losing business to competitors who enter the market with a comparable product and aggressively advertise on their...I feel like at some point where going to see a reversal where companies start losing business to competitors who enter the market with a comparable product and aggressively advertise on their quality of customer service. "Use us and get help from real humans!" Maybe that's a naive hope, but it's a hope I'm clinging to all the same.
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Comment on ‘Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers’ brings artistry to a Halloween tradition in ~life
Englerdy Link ParentI really like pumpkin carving and highly recommend it if you get the chance. Just be mindful of the knife you use. You can get specialized carving knives. They're dirt cheap in the US and sold in...I really like pumpkin carving and highly recommend it if you get the chance. Just be mindful of the knife you use. You can get specialized carving knives. They're dirt cheap in the US and sold in grocery stores once a year. You really only need to buy them once and just tuck them away for the next year. Heck I'd send you a pack if you have trouble finding them where you are. Pumpkin carving knives aren't usually sharp which helps protect you from slipping and cutting yourself when your hands get a bit slippery. They also don't need to be since pumpkins are so soft. You could still injure yourself if you get careless, but it's much harder to do on accident.
The seeds inside are really yummy when lightly oiled and roasted with salt (as u/balooga points out)! Lots of people fully clean the seeds, but I generally prefer to leave them with bits of the pumpkin pulp still on them. It adds a lot of savory flavor in my opinion. Lots of people don't use carving pumpkins for food, but they are completely edible. Unfortunately once they've been carved and left as a decoration for a few days they're not safe to eat, but sometimes wildlife will still eat them. They can be composted though.
Americans generally only cook/bake with small pumpkins called sugar or pie pumpkins. They are good pumpkins, but they're not the only ones that are good for eating. I literally just learned that Heirloom pumpkins (there are many varieties with different shapes and colors) which are commonly used purely for decoration are both edible AND taste really good. I just slow roasted a few as an experiment and they taste great! I'll absolutely use them in sweet breads or for pie despite them not being "pie" pumpkins.
In case anyone is interested, my method of slow roast was to cut them into smaller chunks, pull out the seeds to roast separate, and put them in an oven at 300F for a few hours (3 to 4 I think, I just kept checking them to make sure they didn't over bake). After roasting I separated the skin from the pumpkin, dumped the pumpkin into a food processor and blended it until it was smooth puree. I tried this approach instead of what you commonly see only to better reduce their moisture content so I wouldn't have to strain water from the puree. I wanted to be able to go straight from the food processor to freezer bags without needing to seperate water which is a pretty common step for preparing pumpkin puree for pies. As far as I can tell the puree is a good consistency for pies and breads so I'll definitely use the method again in the future!
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentThey may not buy on the quality of support (for now at least), but you might certainly lose customers if the support is bad enough. Unless that's what you're already implying in which case yeah, I...They may not buy on the quality of support (for now at least), but you might certainly lose customers if the support is bad enough. Unless that's what you're already implying in which case yeah, I wish companies would stop looking at support as a financial drain and instead a quality compliment for maintaining a customer base. But maybe that's just be being wishful as a customer. =_=
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Comment on A man rescued a bear cub, now they’re inseparable in ~life.pets
Englerdy Link ParentI liked his comment that he was potentially more of a pet to the bears than the other way around. It's a comical thought, but the bears, especially being so young, probably do see him more as a...I liked his comment that he was potentially more of a pet to the bears than the other way around. It's a comical thought, but the bears, especially being so young, probably do see him more as a goofy playmate than a caretaker. Though him saying that they still try crawling into his lap even though they're too big made my heart melt a bit. There is definitely a bond between the bears and him even if they don't realize their own size and strength relative to the man.
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Comment on Tildes exclusive: the Ethoscore Project in ~creative
Englerdy Link ParentI've watched it twice through and found it phenomenal both times. I think you're in for a treat!I've watched it twice through and found it phenomenal both times. I think you're in for a treat!
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Comment on White House directly intervened to shut down Jeffrey Epstein files probe in ~society
Englerdy LinkIt's pretty bizarre to me that so much of the Republican party seems to roll over time and time again after YEARS of crying foul, and conspiracy, and "the deep state." Like, ok, your guy seems to...It's pretty bizarre to me that so much of the Republican party seems to roll over time and time again after YEARS of crying foul, and conspiracy, and "the deep state." Like, ok, your guy seems to be doing the same "deep state" stuff you've created elaborate conspiracies around, and you're just trying to find excuses to explain why it's not actually a problem? And like, they seem to think he's really charismatic and a really great speaker. I feel like I'm living a completely parallel reality to my fellow countrymen so much of the time these days. Weird times. :/
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Comment on These snakes can cartwheel away from danger. Scientists just uncovered how the slithering creatures perform their acrobatic rolls. in ~science
Englerdy Link ParentI mean, it's genuinely not that far off from hoop snake. A few are down right hoopy!I mean, it's genuinely not that far off from hoop snake. A few are down right hoopy!
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Comment on If you use your computer in a dark environment, buy a monitor light! in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentIs it? I guess I was envisioning something that was more of a backlight than this. That's interesting though.Is it? I guess I was envisioning something that was more of a backlight than this. That's interesting though.
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Comment on If you use your computer in a dark environment, buy a monitor light! in ~tech
Englerdy LinkI'm not sure I've seen the kind of product you're referring to. Do you have a link to what you're talking about? Sounds really nice!I'm not sure I've seen the kind of product you're referring to. Do you have a link to what you're talking about? Sounds really nice!
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Comment on Security certificate in Playdate console to expire tonight, update ota ASAP or you'll have to use a firmware restore tool in ~games
Englerdy Link ParentNot the person you were messaging, but I'm a sucker for novelty and I genuinely really like mine. There are a few games I really enjoyed playing start to finish. I'm not sure how much play time...Not the person you were messaging, but I'm a sucker for novelty and I genuinely really like mine. There are a few games I really enjoyed playing start to finish. I'm not sure how much play time it's gotten, but I still pick it up and play from time to time. It's not the most immersive platform, but I still find it really charming and it was worth the purchase to me despite the steep price.
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Comment on Security certificate in Playdate console to expire tonight, update ota ASAP or you'll have to use a firmware restore tool in ~games
Englerdy LinkBased on the Bluesky comments it looks like as long as your Playdate updated after April 8, 2026, you've already got the new certificate and there's nothing to worry about.Based on the Bluesky comments it looks like as long as your Playdate updated after April 8, 2026, you've already got the new certificate and there's nothing to worry about.
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Comment on Anthropic says revenue jumped 45% to $16.8 billion in third quarter in ~tech
Englerdy Link ParentTo be fair, despite all available verifiable evidence suggesting the president should be in very poor health, he's still somehow kicking. Though as a media man I suppose a fair amount of his time...To be fair, despite all available verifiable evidence suggesting the president should be in very poor health, he's still somehow kicking. Though as a media man I suppose a fair amount of his time in public could be smoke, mirrors, and A LOT of drugs, and he could be in kind of rough shape in private. It's amazing what having access to the absolute best medical resources in the world can do. Heck, as far as I can tell even the spirit of Mitch McConnell was dragged out of hell and forced back into his body by the best medical treatment money can buy.
**I want to be clear that I'm not trying to say this as a pure joke. There's kind of a morbid joke here, but also my very real reflection that even when it seems like something should be on the verge of collapse, it might be able to hang on for a lot longer than anyone could have expected. And for some of these AI companies, I suspect a few of them genuinely might "fake-it-till-they-make-it" long enough to actually become stable companies.
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Comment on The state of AI video in ~tech
Englerdy LinkI agree we're on our way to AI video looking pretty indistinguishable from raw video, at least as a glance. This video still hits me with big uncanny valley vibes in the movements, but I agree the...I agree we're on our way to AI video looking pretty indistinguishable from raw video, at least as a glance. This video still hits me with big uncanny valley vibes in the movements, but I agree the generated videos are getting better and better. I remain optimistic that generated videos and pictures will always retain some of the generative artifacts when you zoom way in and odd features, but who knows, maybe they'll figure out a way to clean those up. I sure hope it's always possible to detect these, at least forensically.
But for the every day person without third party verification to backup if an image or video is real, you're right. We might be at the point where we just assume everything online is fake unless we can verify otherwise.
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Comment on Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | Official trailer in ~movies
Englerdy LinkWeird music choice for the trailer, and a really long trailer (which usually doesn't bode well for if I'll like a movie), but I'm remaining optimistic the film will actually turn out pretty...Weird music choice for the trailer, and a really long trailer (which usually doesn't bode well for if I'll like a movie), but I'm remaining optimistic the film will actually turn out pretty decent. And maybe even faithful to the book. Fingers crossed!
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Comment on What Flock actually costs cities across America in ~society
Englerdy Link ParentOn the other hand, I'm finding that I'm glad to know what HOAs/areas have Flock cameras (based on community maps of the cameras) while looking for a place to live to know specifically what...On the other hand, I'm finding that I'm glad to know what HOAs/areas have Flock cameras (based on community maps of the cameras) while looking for a place to live to know specifically what communities to avoid. If the HOA thinks it's a good idea, it's a nice clear red flag at least.
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Comment on What it means when the US right refers to the ‘Indian question’ in ~society
Englerdy Link ParentIt gives the impression "damn these immigrants for putting in effort and making me look bad for not putting in any effort." These guys really just say what ever non-sense comes to mind and think...It gives the impression "damn these immigrants for putting in effort and making me look bad for not putting in any effort."
These guys really just say what ever non-sense comes to mind and think it's brilliant. I knew plenty of high achieving white kids who absolutely studied for the spelling bee (or who were made to study for the spelling bee by their parents). But I guess actually taking a second to think takes effort, and that again seems to go back to the root of the issue.
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Comment on Facilities betting big on low-cost, 100-hour iron-air batteries in ~enviro
Englerdy LinkI've been casually following Form Energy for about 10 years now. Really cool to see them taking on such a huge project. I feel like electrochemical storage without rare earth metals has huge...I've been casually following Form Energy for about 10 years now. Really cool to see them taking on such a huge project. I feel like electrochemical storage without rare earth metals has huge potential for the grid! I think other projects that use compressed gases and similar physical processes to store energy are awesome (even things like using molten salt storage with heat engines), but it's hard to beat the simplicity of non-moving storage approaches like batteries from a maintenance and reliability stand point.
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Comment on Advice on TV and media storage in ~tech
Englerdy LinkHonestly the best place to stay is going to be figure out how big of a TV you want, and then check your local Facebook Market and Craigslist. You'll find a lot of TVs that people are just trying...Honestly the best place to stay is going to be figure out how big of a TV you want, and then check your local Facebook Market and Craigslist. You'll find a lot of TVs that people are just trying to get rid of so their pretty cheap. A new TV is fun, sure, but if you're just moving into a new place with some friends you can probably scoop a pretty good deal used. Then, when you get it, factory reset the TV (which will reset the network settings and smart features). Then just don't enable the smart features if you don't want to use them.
If you buy used you don't have to worry too much about brand assuming you get it cheap. The goal is to get it cheap enough that if it's a dud, you can try again.
If you have Cable, basically any TV is going to be plug and play. They'll all have a CoAxial cable connection for your cable connection.
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Comment on US Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in ~society
Englerdy Link ParentEven just proposing the idea feels so comically evil. I immediately thought of this because humor is the only way I know how to process this: https://youtu.be/ToKcmnrE5oY?si=lQYYdD0JdMKijwNlEven just proposing the idea feels so comically evil. I immediately thought of this because humor is the only way I know how to process this: https://youtu.be/ToKcmnrE5oY?si=lQYYdD0JdMKijwNl
I definitely eat roasted pumpkin as a vegetable side dish in the same way as any other squash, but I suppose it's not as common of a dish. I feel like pumpkins are a weird part of the vegetable family where culturally people have stopped viewing them as food even though most of the varieties are safe to eat and tasty! Which is a bit of a shame to me. I can tell you from first hand experience that Heirloom pumpkins (I tried the green and white varieties specifically) often used for decoration are in fact delishious and I think it's a shame more people don't cook/bake them. When I was researching if they were safe to eat I discovered most pumpkins are completely safe, especially if they have soft squash like skin, but decorative gourds with hard outer skins are generally not recommended for eating and usually don't taste good.
But the large green and white pumpkins you see for decoration? They're absolutely food. Even carving pumpkins are totally safe and some people do cook with them. They're just not as flavorful as the smaller varieties.