0x29A's recent activity
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (February 2025) in ~health.mental
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A LinkListening to stuff not released recently: System of a Down, A Perfect Circle, Concrete Caveman, Archspire, Helms Deep, Fear Factory Listening to some stuff / prepping my list of best of last...Listening to stuff not released recently:
System of a Down, A Perfect Circle, Concrete Caveman, Archspire, Helms Deep, Fear FactoryListening to some stuff / prepping my list of best of last week's releases from:
Century, Mura, Thlipsis, Mogwai, Wardruna, flipturn, Rose City Band, Jeshi, Tokyo Tea Room
And also stuff from two weeks ago, as follows:
Clean-sung, instrumental, or otherwise non-extreme music.
The Weather Station - Humanhood
Indie folk-rock/singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. What's neat about this is the whole record was improvised together by six musicians and came out beautifully. Horns, strings, synths, pianos, melotron, guitar- a mix of all sorts of instruments come together for some great tracks. Tamara's vocals are still are a big driving force behind the music here, laying very present in the mix, but surrounded by this rich, lush swell of instrumentation.Soft Vein - Through Blinds
Romantic, melancholic darkwave/post-punk from California. Vocals are more dynamic than the typical all-baritone post-punk you would expect. The dreamy, effected vocals really fit nicely over-top of the cold, dance-ready beats and solemn guitars. Perfect night drive music!Tumenggung - Back on the Streets
80's traditional heavy metal from Indonesia. Great guitar work and just a fun overall throwback anthemic sound. Think Judas Priest and similar acts. Some REALLY great choruses here, very memorable melodies and hooks that immediately make you recall some similar songs from the 80s. They nail the sound.Crimson Storm - Livin' On the Bad Side
Heavy/power/speed metal from Barcelona. Powerful, dynamic, sharp singing vocals that have some edge/rasp to them while remaining in clean territory. Great musicianship here- wild guitar solos, fast riffs, driving rhythm section, vocal harmonies.
Extreme heavy music (harsh vocals)
Sarcator - Swarming Angels & Flies
Blackened thrash from Sweden. Band name was created from combining Sarcofago and Kreator which I find amusing. Alkahest was good and so far I think this record may top it. The vocalist does some wildly fast guitar work while doing great black/death/thrash vocals. They even have some sections that go into near-black-metal blasting territory. Some of the fastest riffs you'll ever hear. In addition to the previously mentioned bands, also sometimes reminds me of Schizophrenia.
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Comment on What have you been making lately? in ~hobbies
0x29A LinkCalling it "making" or a "project" is probably over-selling it massively, but finishing getting my little emulation corner set up in my room. Comfy chair + reused old PC hardware and peripherals +...Calling it "making" or a "project" is probably over-selling it massively, but finishing getting my little emulation corner set up in my room. Comfy chair + reused old PC hardware and peripherals + an IKEA cart to put a monitor on and store peripherals. Reconfiguring an old ER-X router that had some minor issues as a simple switch for running a cable to the PC for fast internet/syncing.
Using Batocera (emulation linux distro) as the front-end for the system. It has Syncthing built-in which I'll use to sync my game library and potentially saves too between multiple devices.
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Comment on No Man's Sky: Worlds Part II in ~games
0x29A LinkThis looks incredible. I haven't revisited since like 5-10 updates ago (and even then, the game was already in a wonderful state and already far away from the bad original launch). Having...This looks incredible. I haven't revisited since like 5-10 updates ago (and even then, the game was already in a wonderful state and already far away from the bad original launch). Having procrastinated on revisiting this game means it's going to be an absolutely new experience for me because so much has changed even in just ONE of the updates, I can't imagine playing after so many updates have gone by.
I always read the patch notes for each new patch, but I just hadn't set aside the time to jump back in, until now. I need a chill game again, this might be it
Last time I played or at least launched the game was Oct 2022
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A (edited )LinkTrad metal that just released: Century - Sign of the Storm Checking out last week and this weeks releases to prepare for writing upcoming roundups of those, but this is one of the releases I can...Trad metal that just released: Century - Sign of the Storm
Checking out last week and this weeks releases to prepare for writing upcoming roundups of those, but this is one of the releases I can go ahead and point to as a top selection
Also, Helms Deep - Treacherous Ways from 2023. It's more on the trad/heavy side of power metal, which is my strong preference. I don't typically enjoy the super cheesy, polished, often symphonic, often way overdone power metal.
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Comment on WEATHERCORE - Songs from the Weather Channel 1984-1996 in ~music
0x29A LinkWeather channel vaporwave is one of my favorite types of vaporwave This is going to the OG source of WC music I suppose which is coolWeather channel vaporwave is one of my favorite types of vaporwave
This is going to the OG source of WC music I suppose which is cool
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Comment on What is your weirdest kitchen appliance and what do you think of it? in ~food
0x29A Link ParentThis one's quite easy, IMO. It seems a bit intimidating, but once you've done in a couple of times it's simple. Have to dial coffees in just like you would on any other espresso machine. Basically...This one's quite easy, IMO. It seems a bit intimidating, but once you've done in a couple of times it's simple. Have to dial coffees in just like you would on any other espresso machine. Basically just putting the coffee in the basket, tamping it, putting the screen on it, warming the cylinder that goes on top of the basket (with gaskets), filling it with water, putting in the pressure gauged "top" part that pushes the water down and aligning the handle to press on it.
Most of getting quick with it is just getting used to doing it this particular way. Obviously more steps than an automatic machine, but none of them are that fiddly or time-consuming.
If I had to give any criticisms, the plastic lever/body creaks, but is very strong, but had I had more of a budget at the time, I would have gone with the metal ones, probably. It does feel weird to put a lot of pressure on it but it's not going to break or anything. The gauge helps you get the feel of how to press your shots the right amount (and if you want to draw down pressure towards the end of the shot, etc).
Other criticism is by default a pressurized removable "bottom" thing is attached to the basket, which is intended more for people using pre-ground store coffee, to give them a faux espresso crema. Low-end espresso stuff does this pretty commonly, and I don't entirely blame them, they know their market. It is removable, and I recommend that to make it more like a regular basket (either naked on the bottom or there's a non-pressurized 'funnel' kind of thing, either is fine just like a regular espresso machine).
As much as I do love it, and have pulled both bad and good shots with it, I am still very tempted to get a Delonghi Stilosa to try ever since Lance Hedrick recommended it- basically as the first "good" powered espresso machine he's found at budget prices (like $85 AND it has a stainless steel boiler inside, and is built in such a way that mods will be easy too)
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Comment on What is your weirdest kitchen appliance and what do you think of it? in ~food
0x29A LinkCoffee stuff and tea stuff, I think, depending on what counts. In terms of typical "appliances" probably nothing truly weird. But coffee/tea, for instance, the strangest one I can think of (that...Coffee stuff and tea stuff, I think, depending on what counts. In terms of typical "appliances" probably nothing truly weird.
But coffee/tea, for instance, the strangest one I can think of (that would make someone that recognizes most appliances go "wtf is that") is a manual hand-lever espresso maker
That and the hand grinder, probably
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
0x29A (edited )LinkRecent (released week of 01/10/2024): Loathing & the Noose | FAITHXTRACTOR WYATT E. - Zamāru ultu qereb ziqquratu Part 1 | HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records Our Hearts In Your Heaven | Pale Summer Ends....Recent (released week of 01/10/2024):
Loathing & the Noose | FAITHXTRACTOR
WYATT E. - Zamāru ultu qereb ziqquratu Part 1 | HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records
Our Hearts In Your Heaven | Pale
Summer Ends. Some Are Long Gone | Trauma Bond
Perverts by Ethel Cain
DEMO I - "Folklore" | The Blood Mountain Black Metal Choir
Not recent:
ACxDC - G.O.A.T
Terminal Nation - Echoes of the Devil's Den
Astrophobos - Malice of Antiquity
Necrophobic - Dawn of the Damned
Adversarial - Solitude with the Eternal
Malignant Altar - Realms of Exquisite Morbidity
Antichrist Siege Machine - Vengeance of Eternal Fire
Midnight - Hellish Expectations
POISON SPEAR - INSTITUTIONAL TRUST
Lurve - Run, Get Drunk & Fall in Love Again
Terror Cell Unit - Come And Test Christremoved, person behind this has fascist projects -
Comment on Blogs: Show your own writing and good posts you have found recently in ~creative
0x29A LinkMost of my posts are music recommendations (weekly). The writing is also very informal and probably not great from a vocabulary or technical perspective, idk. It's fairly off-the-cuff. I do have a...Most of my posts are music recommendations (weekly). The writing is also very informal and probably not great from a vocabulary or technical perspective, idk. It's fairly off-the-cuff.
I do have a very few other posts outside that norm. I haven't figured out exactly how to expand from there or if I have the desire to do so. I think so, but I'm still thinking that through. Maybe tea/coffee reviews at some point, since those are things I'm really into? Maybe. Maybe link roundups eventually or something.
I've thought about putting my thoughts on tech news and AI and other stuff there, but it really just feels like it doesn't fit the vibe so I keep away from that stuff- I doom about that stuff plenty elsewhere. Trying to keep things weird, creative, and positive for the most part. So if it is tech related, it's a guide or talking about something cool and interesting instead.
Also considering some just random rambling thoughts I have about everyday life types of things.
I'll link the blog again here, but I honestly do not know which post to highlight, so I'll just link the page that lists all posts, so someone can choose: https://inward.garden/weblog/
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Comment on Sarcator – Where The Void Begins (2025) in ~music
0x29A LinkYes! looking forward to this record. Band name was created from combining Sarcofago and Kreator which I find amusing. Incredibly talented young people. Alkahest was good and so far I think this...Yes! looking forward to this record. Band name was created from combining Sarcofago and Kreator which I find amusing. Incredibly talented young people. Alkahest was good and so far I think this record may top it. The vocalist does some wildly fast guitar work while doing great black/death/thrash vocals. They are fast and aggressive and stay away from most of the tropes/cheesy side of thrash.
I also highly recommend Schizophrenia (the active one from Belgium) as another fast, talented young band doing incredible work
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
0x29A (edited )Link ParentSure, it is a genuine crisis to those that see any dismantling of US hegemony as a bad thing (I don't). So, I understand why they're approaching it the way they are, I just share no sense of...Sure, it is a genuine crisis to those that see any dismantling of US hegemony as a bad thing (I don't). So, I understand why they're approaching it the way they are, I just share no sense of desire to protect said system's hegemony or protect our citizenry/youth from distrusting and dropping support of it. In fact, I specifically prefer more people distrust it and see our own internal information warfare the government and its corporate and media buddies wage on the public
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
0x29A Link ParentOh there's no mistake Congress now buys into the justifications. I'm sure the arguments are compelling to Congress, which means absolutely nothing to me, as next-to-none of them align with my...Oh there's no mistake Congress now buys into the justifications. I'm sure the arguments are compelling to Congress, which means absolutely nothing to me, as next-to-none of them align with my views or represent me, even remotely. They're all up to their noses in the US's horseshit.
I'm not even saying the law is unconstitutional, because whether or not something aligns with their interpretation of that religious text matters little to me
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Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech
0x29A LinkAh yes, "national security", a classic item of US propaganda, the convenient excuse the nation loves to hide behind to justify its actions.Ah yes, "national security", a classic item of US propaganda, the convenient excuse the nation loves to hide behind to justify its actions.
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Comment on Buying a game from a director that you really have problems with (Kingdom Come) in ~games
0x29A Link ParentThat's fair, we all draw our lines differently and I do think no one should expect someone avoiding buying things because of ethical/moral reasons to be super consistent in doing so. That's where...That's fair, we all draw our lines differently and I do think no one should expect someone avoiding buying things because of ethical/moral reasons to be super consistent in doing so. That's where the truth of no ethical consumption gets very real. I am not going to expect someone to avoid the cheapest grocery store because the company's owner sucks. It's complicated and we all gotta live.
I do think the decision can be easier with media like art and games because it's not something we absolutely need to purchase, but it's still complicated
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Comment on Walgreens replaced fridge doors with smart screens. It’s now a $200 million fiasco. in ~tech
0x29A (edited )Link ParentI abhor the industry, think we'd be better off without it, and think it should be under extreme regulation, or even regulated out of existence, which I would support. I would even be okay if it...I abhor the industry, think we'd be better off without it, and think it should be under extreme regulation, or even regulated out of existence, which I would support.
I would even be okay if it kills thousands of websites that rely on it in the process, but that's a different story somewhat. Regardless the strong regulation should at least at a minimum, apply to all public physical spaces, and even some private ones
All products, locations, and especially services where people are already spending money should not be allowed to show ads to make ad revenue on top of the other money they are making already. Ad revenue as an entire paradigm should not exist.
I can moderate these views somewhat to preserve some online services but if ads are going to exist in some form, the regulation about the size, type, placement, language, length, volume, etc should be extremely regulated
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Comment on Buying a game from a director that you really have problems with (Kingdom Come) in ~games
0x29A Link ParentI do think there is a counter line of thinking to this though- just because there's "no ethical consumption" doesn't mean we give up trying and abandon drawing lines in the sand where we can....I do think there is a counter line of thinking to this though- just because there's "no ethical consumption" doesn't mean we give up trying and abandon drawing lines in the sand where we can.
Using that phrase as a shield for ignoring the impact of all consumptive behavior and making choices based on that, is a cop out that perpetuates the problem
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Comment on Walgreens replaced fridge doors with smart screens. It’s now a $200 million fiasco. in ~tech
0x29A LinkAs if we're not bombarded with ads enough already, now being able to see what is in a cooler before we open it is obscured by ads and incorrect fake representations. I hope Cooler Screens loses...As if we're not bombarded with ads enough already, now being able to see what is in a cooler before we open it is obscured by ads and incorrect fake representations. I hope Cooler Screens loses and goes out of business and I hope any retailers hostile enough to install similar products have a similar experience
Classic SV tech startup MO of making up problems that don't really exist and selling products to solve them.
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Comment on Drake sues for defamation over Kendrick Lamar song in ~music
0x29A Link ParentAh nice. Good thought on using the wayback machine.Ah nice. Good thought on using the wayback machine.
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Comment on Drake sues for defamation over Kendrick Lamar song in ~music
0x29A LinkWeird, when I share that link, the title and description say the case was withdrawn. But the article headline and info imply the opposite. I suppose BBC's meta description info for the page is screwyWeird, when I share that link, the title and description say the case was withdrawn.
But the article headline and info imply the opposite.I suppose BBC's meta description info for the page is screwy
Not good, not great, just... getting by (emotionally/etc). What's been going on the US sure is a lot to ingest (and I know that's the point). Knew it was coming but feels just as awful now that it's here.
I'm clear-headed enough that no need to worry about me causing any harm to myself, it's just... everything is so fucked and will be for a long, long time
It's daily and it just doesn't stop coming. Sigh. I know there's the whole "yeah the courts will fight a bunch of unenforceable stuff"... but that doesn't mean that people aren't harmed in the meantime by people following orders regardless of legality. Apparently the pres can just order water released from dams wherever they want, without regard to human life, which happened today