Baeocystin's recent activity

  1. Comment on People without an inner voice have poorer verbal memory in ~humanities.languages

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    Ha! Fair enough. :) If you ever do feel like taking up another language, even just for fun, I bet you'll see what I mean pretty quickly.

    Ha! Fair enough. :) If you ever do feel like taking up another language, even just for fun, I bet you'll see what I mean pretty quickly.

  2. Comment on People without an inner voice have poorer verbal memory in ~humanities.languages

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    Something you can try is thinking in a language that you aren't very fluent in. You'll find that you know your whats and wants before being limited by vocabulary and grammar, and you can then...

    Something you can try is thinking in a language that you aren't very fluent in. You'll find that you know your whats and wants before being limited by vocabulary and grammar, and you can then catch the feeling of what you're after, if that helps. :)

    2 votes

  3. Comment on Fifth American tourist arrested at Turks and Caicos airport after ammo allegedly found in luggage in ~travel

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    I don't want you locked up. But I stand by what I said. Loose rounds are irresponsible, and the reaction should be 'I fucked up, and here is what I will change to make sure this doesn't happen...

    I don't want you locked up.

    But I stand by what I said. Loose rounds are irresponsible, and the reaction should be 'I fucked up, and here is what I will change to make sure this doesn't happen again', not a shrug and a whatever. Bullets aren't a stray french fry or a random pen.

    47 votes

  4. Comment on Fifth American tourist arrested at Turks and Caicos airport after ammo allegedly found in luggage in ~travel

    Baeocystin
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    It genuinely surprises me the number of people here who think a stray bullet or two in a bag is 'no big deal', and not in a good way. I've owned firearms, and spent plenty of time at the range....

    It genuinely surprises me the number of people here who think a stray bullet or two in a bag is 'no big deal', and not in a good way. I've owned firearms, and spent plenty of time at the range. Going out plinking is a lot of fun. At no point have I ever, ever casually mixed bullets and bags, or thought nbd about loose rounds. The casualness is shameful.

    41 votes

  5. Comment on People without an inner voice have poorer verbal memory in ~humanities.languages

    Baeocystin
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    I don't have an inner voice. That doesn't mean I'm not constantly thinking, or have trouble with words. It's just that I only word when it's time to word; otherwise, words are an unnecessary step...

    I don't have an inner voice. That doesn't mean I'm not constantly thinking, or have trouble with words. It's just that I only word when it's time to word; otherwise, words are an unnecessary step that slow things down.

    It is (IMO) exactly like the subvocalizing when reading- once you realize that you don't have to, your reading speed can increase dramatically. The same realization applies to inner speech. Why form words when you can think in concepts, many of which don't have analogous words? Form your thoughts, play around at the level of ideas, and when it's time to communicate, that's when you smoosh things in to shape with shared language. Until then (again, IMO) you're artificially limiting yourself.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on I gave up meat and gained so much more | A tale of one person's life, culture, and growing up in ~life

    Baeocystin
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I'm of the same opinion. I think something that some vegans/vegetarians miss with their argument that being raised for meat is wrong is that it isn't a choice between farm or freedom; it's a...

    I'm of the same opinion. I think something that some vegans/vegetarians miss with their argument that being raised for meat is wrong is that it isn't a choice between farm or freedom; it's a choice between existing at all or not.

    And I think a life where an animal is raised in a humane manner, and meets a swift, as-painless-as-possible end is, frankly, better than most of us get. Are we there yet for the vast majority of animal husbandry as it exists today? Not at all, and that's where I think real improvements can be made. But I also think of the chickens we had as a kid, hanging out with us in the garden, getting excited when they see a snail on the tomatoes... A few years of egg-laying, followed by a quick chop when the time comes? A better life than their wild ancestors, and one worth living.

    5 votes

  7. Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    There can be a little seepage from a fresh puncture. Very small amounts! Think of the amount of water it would take to saturate a q-tip, and the seep amount is usually about a quarter of that....

    There can be a little seepage from a fresh puncture. Very small amounts! Think of the amount of water it would take to saturate a q-tip, and the seep amount is usually about a quarter of that. Just enough to see a damp spot on the tire. And that's about it. :)

    1 vote

  8. Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    Chiming in with some more thoughts, hope you don't mind. :) I do carry a CO2 inflator if I'm going on a longer ride. Just two cartridges. https://youtu.be/liDFmAjFDIs?si=AkdX1eBjZFX8_OkV&t=49 for...

    Chiming in with some more thoughts, hope you don't mind. :)

    I do carry a CO2 inflator if I'm going on a longer ride. Just two cartridges. https://youtu.be/liDFmAjFDIs?si=AkdX1eBjZFX8_OkV&t=49 for the why if it.

    This is the tire slime I use. ~6oz per tire for my 4" fat bike. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ENSRS0/

    Valve stem cores + tool: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ENSRS0/

    The janky tool that comes with the slime bottle is frustrating to use. This one is great. Spare cores are nice to have. After sliming the tubes, run a Q-tip soaked in isopropyl around the inside of the valve body before reinstalling the core, it'll save you a lot of trouble getting things to seat properly.

    Both of these are tools that should be doable with a minimum of hand strength required. The valve cores can be a little fiddly if you have fine motor issues, but the tool is pretty forgiving if you take your time.

    Hope this helps.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport

    Baeocystin
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Happy to help! Fat tire bikes do feel very different than mountain bike or road bikes, and you do notice the extra friction, especially if you're running at lower pressures. (Which you should be...

    Happy to help!

    Fat tire bikes do feel very different than mountain bike or road bikes, and you do notice the extra friction, especially if you're running at lower pressures. (Which you should be doing, to get the benefits of the tire size.) It's not terrible or anything, but it's there. That's if you're riding without assist.

    Once a motor comes in to play, it's all benefits. They eat bumps and pavement discontinuities that would have you wince on a mountain bike, and crash on a road one. They float over softer dirt and gravel without mushing out. Most importantly for my no-longer-young frame, they're a lot easier on my body, even without the mechanical complexity of shocks.

    The one negative that just is what it is, is that fat tires also collect goat's head thorns in my area to an annoying degree compared to my more traditional mountain bike. I played around with all kinds of liners (really didn't like the increased wheel mass) and expensive, thicker tubes that didn't really help. My ultimate solution was to go back to regular tubes and double-dose with tire slime. I don't even bother patching them, just pull out the thorns and keep riding. If you don't have nature's caltrops in your area, this may be less of an issue, but it's worth mentioning just in case. I recommend the slime regardless.

    The reason I regret not getting a folder is because there are several trailheads in my area that I'd love to ride, but regular car/bike mounts are surprisingly difficult with heaver e-bikes, and hard on the bike itself to boot. My friends that have folding ones just toss them in their car's trunk, which fast, easy, and much more gentle on the bike itself. We're all old enough that our single-track days are behind us, so any durability differences between folding and non-folding frames hasn't shown up.

    [edit] A couple of pictures of my bike, with seatpost, mirror, grips, etc. Mine does have front shocks, but (to my surprise when I learned this) I prefer the ride with them locked out, and just using lower pressure (8-12PSI) to smooth the ride. https://photos.app.goo.gl/B4JJE4fivynKmikF9

    4 votes

  10. Comment on E-bikes: Seeking advice on a commuter bike that meets disability needs in ~transport

    Baeocystin
    (edited )
    Link
    I'd say the latest folding Rad stepthrough: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/electric-bikes/products/radexpand-plus-electric-folding-bike?variant=40266316939360 I wouldn't worry about...

    I'd say the latest folding Rad stepthrough: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/electric-bikes/products/radexpand-plus-electric-folding-bike?variant=40266316939360

    I wouldn't worry about hydraulics; cable-activated discs are more than adequate, and simpler to maintain in many ways. Belt drive is very nice, but again, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

    I've been riding a RadPower non-folding bike since 2015. Still using the same battery, original chain, same discs. A few thousand miles. It's ~65 pounds, but you don't feel the weight at all when riding with even minimum assist. The spring seat (with spring chosen appropriate for my bodyweight) and rear-view mirrors are my only add-ons. Fat tires at a medium-low pressure are excellent shock absorbers, and (IMO) a good safety benefit on rougher roads. Don't bother with the extra weight of the tube protectors, just pre-slime the tubes.

    Mine uses a slightly older version of the same motors the modern ones use, and the 750W is perfectly adequate for getting my 250-lb self up even very steep hills with minimal effort. I do have to help some, but it really isn't much if I don't want to, and my ~175lb friend doesn't need to pedal at all. My only regret is not getting the folding version, as storage (and travel with a vehicle) is so much easier! I'm 50/m, FWIW.

    [edit] The seatpost I mentioned https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/seating/products/sr-suntour-sp12-ncx-seatpost

    3 votes

  11. Comment on Generative AI for Krita in ~tech

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    No need to convert to seconds, something like t=2m18s works, too.

    No need to convert to seconds, something like t=2m18s works, too.

    7 votes

  12. Comment on Is Nebula worth it? in ~tech

    Baeocystin
    Link
    I'm going to go against the prevailing opinion here and say no, it isn't. The content is sparse, and the management of what you want to see on the page is awful. The vast majority of what I come...

    I'm going to go against the prevailing opinion here and say no, it isn't. The content is sparse, and the management of what you want to see on the page is awful. The vast majority of what I come across is cross-posted to YouTube anyway, and I really don't care about a few-week exclusive.

    I sub, as I like supporting creators directly, but I cannot honestly say I enjoy using the service, and unless things improve, I will probably not renew next year.

    [Edit]- Full disclosure, I do most of my watching via the FireStick app, so that may be affecting my opinion.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on Generative AI for Krita in ~tech

  14. Comment on Generative AI for Krita in ~tech

    Baeocystin
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    I've integrated this in to my regular workflow, and it's been a tremendous amount of fun. I fully agree with @Staross - these tools flourish as elements of an overall art system. A complementary...

    I've integrated this in to my regular workflow, and it's been a tremendous amount of fun. I fully agree with @Staross - these tools flourish as elements of an overall art system.

    A complementary AI-based tool for Krita is object-aware masking. https://github.com/Acly/krita-ai-tools

    I have fun with the generative AI plugin, but this masking tool probably saves me more actual time. I almost shudder when I think how much time this would have saved me back in the day.

    10 votes

  15. Comment on What do I do if I don't have any clothes? in ~life.style

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    Appreciate the insight. Thanks for replying.

    Appreciate the insight. Thanks for replying.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on How do you take notes while reading? Do you have a “marginalia” process? What has helped you learn better and retain new knowledge? in ~creative

    Baeocystin
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    Completely Serious Answer- I don't, and my retention is the better for it. If I focus on note-taking, I lose the forest for the trees. Rather, I simply re-read. My first pass through a document is...

    Completely Serious Answer- I don't, and my retention is the better for it. If I focus on note-taking, I lose the forest for the trees.

    Rather, I simply re-read. My first pass through a document is a low-pressure read, focusing on what catches my eye. Once I'm done, if I feel like there is more to be found, I read the material again. New ideas and connections naturally spring up upon repeat exposure. I read again. Am I still getting more from the process? Again!

    Most importantly, by the time I'm done with the process, the concepts I've learned are very stable in my memory, because they have multiple anchors across multiple moods, times, and reads to keep them fixed in usable brainspace.

    Spaced repetition works, and it works shockingly well. IME, everything else is painting the bikeshed.

    27 votes

  17. Comment on AI video won't work in Hollywood, because it can't make small iterative changes, former Pixar animator says in ~movies

    Baeocystin
    Link Parent
    You're spot-on with the force multiplier take. If you want a fun example of what pros can do, Corridor made an 'animation' using AI to do the heavy lifting a year ago:...

    You're spot-on with the force multiplier take. If you want a fun example of what pros can do, Corridor made an 'animation' using AI to do the heavy lifting a year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVT3WUa-48Y

    They have a detailed how-to on their main site, and technology has improved a lot since then.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on Philips agrees to pay $1 billion to patients who say they were injured by breathing machines in ~health

    Baeocystin
    Link
    The machine referenced is the Phillips Dreamstation 1. Why articles never mention such salient details is maddening. I'm also someone who used one for several years. Nothing more to do at this...

    The machine referenced is the Phillips Dreamstation 1. Why articles never mention such salient details is maddening.

    I'm also someone who used one for several years. Nothing more to do at this point, but the what if stress is real.

    11 votes

  19. Comment on How ECMO is redefining death in ~health

    Baeocystin
    Link
    Fascinating article. ECMO kept my uncle alive years ago during an emergency bypass surgery; he'd had a 'widowmaker' heart attack, where the major blood supply to the heart itself was blocked, but...

    Fascinating article. ECMO kept my uncle alive years ago during an emergency bypass surgery; he'd had a 'widowmaker' heart attack, where the major blood supply to the heart itself was blocked, but prompt ECMO/bypass saved his heart and allowed him to live on for almost 20 years longer. We're all grateful for it.

    5 votes

  20. Comment on The "Great Games"- AAA titles, easy brand recognition- are what everyone pushes. But sometimes you need a "just average" game. in ~games

    Baeocystin
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    I really like games sized like Orcs Must Die! or Orcs Must Die! 2. A complete experience, engaging loop, and nothing more than what it is, by which I mean no multihour grinds to pad the playtime,...

    I really like games sized like Orcs Must Die! or Orcs Must Die! 2. A complete experience, engaging loop, and nothing more than what it is, by which I mean no multihour grinds to pad the playtime, not unneeded logins or social, just some good, well-done fun. OMD2 co-op with my cousin has been some of the most fun gaming moments we've had, even though we've played plenty of the big-budget titles as well.

    1 vote