AAA1374's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard a doubt for Sunday's North London derby after suffering an ankle injury on international duty for Norway in ~sports.football
AAA1374 LinkBeen thinking about how we'd get on without him for a while and I'm not excited to see it honestly. The NLD was never going to be a simple fixture as it was and this doesn't help nerves - but I...Been thinking about how we'd get on without him for a while and I'm not excited to see it honestly.
The NLD was never going to be a simple fixture as it was and this doesn't help nerves - but I trust Arteta and the boys.
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Comment on Help on deciding whether to stay with a low cost simple life, or to "live life to the fullest" in ~life
AAA1374 LinkI'm actually on the other side of this where I'd like to live close to work and just sell my car to drop the extra cost and baggage. If I could manage to simply cut the costs by just owning my...I'm actually on the other side of this where I'd like to live close to work and just sell my car to drop the extra cost and baggage.
If I could manage to simply cut the costs by just owning my vehicle outright and going for absolutely minimal insurance I'd be cool with keeping it - unfortunately I don't have that freedom in my budget, and while I need it for work I can't justify cuts. That's honestly the biggest thing for me - I like the freedom it provides, I just hate the cost.
That being said, if you can find a cheaper but reliable vehicle that's probably a valid expense if you have space for it.
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Comment on Steam updates user reviews with a new helpfulness system in ~games
AAA1374 Link ParentYou may be on a beta, I frequently find that I'm having the same experience with steam features and it's because I signed up for betas way back.You may be on a beta, I frequently find that I'm having the same experience with steam features and it's because I signed up for betas way back.
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Comment on Has there ever been a time before where so much social change was occuring in quick succession of each other? in ~humanities.history
AAA1374 Link Parent1900-1920: modernization, electrification, industrialization, pandemic, first world war 1920-1940: great depression, prohibition, beginning of WW2 1940-1960: end of WW2, nuclear proliferation,...1900-1920: modernization, electrification, industrialization, pandemic, first world war
1920-1940: great depression, prohibition, beginning of WW2
1940-1960: end of WW2, nuclear proliferation, cold war, shifting of American political parties, beginning of Korean war and other proxy wars
1960-1980: Vietnam, hippie movement, birth of computing and 'modern' technology and music, recessions and gas shortage, various drug crises, civil rights, widespread movement of sexuality
1980-2000: "end" of cold war, birth of the Internet (and the preamble to the information age), rise of terror attacks, beginning of 24 hour news cycle, operations desert storm and shield, AIDS crisis, various drug crises
2000-2024 (shut up I'm not doing one for 4 years): 9/11 and the war(s) on terror, rise of the information age, widespread movement of sexuality, various drug crises, pandemic
I'm missing so much, but generally every generation feels like this. It's normal to have way too much going on for any one person to accept or understand. Some things feel so big until we zoom out. We're living in turbulent and terrifying times, sure, but just like your grandparents complain about you being young and knowing nothing, Plato complained about the beardless youths not knowing anything as well.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
AAA1374 Link ParentI absolutely adored Tunic and 100%ed it way back - it's so much fun and I never got tired of the moment when I'd leave an area just to be right back somewhere I was in early game and just didn't...I absolutely adored Tunic and 100%ed it way back - it's so much fun and I never got tired of the moment when I'd leave an area just to be right back somewhere I was in early game and just didn't see the exit of.
I thought the game was reasonable in difficulty once I got used to spamming "bombs" and the combat in general. One of the early bosses drummed it into me about a dozen times over and after that I just didn't struggle anymore - it just got fun.
Enjoy the rest of it!
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Comment on Why did Google Maps have a big black smudge in the South Pacific before 2012? And why did it disappear? And what does it have to do with Captain Cook? And what is a phantom island? | Map Men in ~humanities.history
AAA1374 LinkAs always, it's so fascinating and entertaining to see Mark and Jay give such a storied glimpse into something most people would never know (or think) about. I recommend pausing to read the diary...As always, it's so fascinating and entertaining to see Mark and Jay give such a storied glimpse into something most people would never know (or think) about.
I recommend pausing to read the diary at about 3 minutes in just to appreciate the extra work that had no need to be in there but really adds that extra level I've come to expect from Jay Foreman.
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Comment on Which food delivery app, in your opinion, is the best? in ~food
AAA1374 Link ParentFor me it was actually the opposite - when I lived in a less densely populated area I found myself using services more because it was so much work to get in my car, drive somewhere, pay, bring it...For me it was actually the opposite - when I lived in a less densely populated area I found myself using services more because it was so much work to get in my car, drive somewhere, pay, bring it back, eat, then feel like shit.
In a more populated area, I find myself willing to walk 20 minutes to a restaurant, eat, then walk back - and the pleasant thing is that I've also gotten an opportunity to walk in while doing it.
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
AAA1374 LinkI'm trying to scrap together a basic plan for a documentary style video project. I want to make short form documentaries because it'll allow me to exercise so many of the creative hobbies I've...I'm trying to scrap together a basic plan for a documentary style video project. I want to make short form documentaries because it'll allow me to exercise so many of the creative hobbies I've built up my skills in over the last few years, but I'm having some slight difficulty finding a topic I'm able to start with here. Partially because I've not become super familiar with my surroundings but also just because I've been busy with a full-time job that hasn't really given me any time to rest in the last year.
Then it'll be a matter of principal research, writing, location filming, editing (for the first time in nearly a decade), mixing, and actually publishing it - then not getting discouraged when it's not a particular success. But I genuinely relish the challenge of putting it all together and pushing myself to do more than I ever have before.
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Comment on What online subscriptions do you pay for? in ~tech
AAA1374 Link ParentAs a small indie musician, I'd actually be really offended if anybody pirated my music. I'd send you a .WAV file for free if you just asked lmao. In all seriousness, I don't make anything by...As a small indie musician, I'd actually be really offended if anybody pirated my music.
I'd send you a .WAV file for free if you just asked lmao.
In all seriousness, I don't make anything by comparison to an actual job off of my music. It's my hobby, and it's one I'm so glad I have, but I'd rather have people listening to it than paying for it. I'd love to make money off of it, too, don't get me wrong - but I don't expect to. If somebody wants to hear it and doesn't want to pay, I would seriously send them the music myself just because they're interested.
That being said, I would be more upset if it was used for a large scale project, like a game, without some form of agreement between myself and that creator. Listening to my music and using it for your own profit are two totally different things though so that hardly applies in this case.
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Comment on Who's running for US president in 2024? Meet the candidates — and likely candidates — vying for your vote in ~society
AAA1374 Link Parent1800 was such a complicated and ridiculous affair that it caused the 12th amendment to be passed. My understanding is that the president and vice president election still was not a separate affair...1800 was such a complicated and ridiculous affair that it caused the 12th amendment to be passed. My understanding is that the president and vice president election still was not a separate affair until after this election.
And the Garner one is definitely a gray area but it kind of counts. It's weird, the US is weird, and it smells bad. (Source: live in the US)
Quick edit to add that it shouldn't be surprising a vice president would run against their incumbent president under the older system where both had run for the same office (1796 election to 1800). Dramatically different circumstances than the current thing to be fair though.
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Comment on Who's running for US president in 2024? Meet the candidates — and likely candidates — vying for your vote in ~society
AAA1374 Link ParentI believe at that point though you're talking prior to vice presidents being chosen as running mates - I think it was actually the election after this (1804, with the 12th amendment) that vice...I believe at that point though you're talking prior to vice presidents being chosen as running mates - I think it was actually the election after this (1804, with the 12th amendment) that vice presidents officially no longer were awarded as second place for presidential elections.
So effectively it doesn't really happen. The only other time I can think of was one of FDR's VPs (Garner?).
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Comment on Starfield - what are your thoughts? in ~games
AAA1374 Link ParentOhhhhh, yeah I get what you mean. I did notice that and it bothered me a bit too. Even if most of it was useless and empty anyway, it was always nice to have the option to open a random thing. As...Ohhhhh, yeah I get what you mean. I did notice that and it bothered me a bit too. Even if most of it was useless and empty anyway, it was always nice to have the option to open a random thing.
As far as immersion goes, I kind of agree - there are some weird things with the food and drinks but honestly I'm willing to just let it go, they did put fresh apples in ancient unopened crypts in Skyrim.
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Comment on Starfield - what are your thoughts? in ~games
AAA1374 Link ParentQuick point to mention that at least on PC, you can definitely open a lot of containers by selecting the "transfer" option. It took me about 20 minutes to realize it since I was just grabbing...Quick point to mention that at least on PC, you can definitely open a lot of containers by selecting the "transfer" option. It took me about 20 minutes to realize it since I was just grabbing everything in sight for a while.
I'm not enamored with the game, but since I didn't pay for it I'm not offended - though I was definitely disappointed when I selected the Ronin class only to realize that the early part of the game makes it almost impossible to stealth kill with melee. So my badass build was immediately taken out back and shot in the head with the guns the game clearly wanted me to use.
It's fine though, nothing exceptional in my eyes, but it's not egregious in my experience either. Though I seem to be the only person in that camp.
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Comment on Starfield - what are your thoughts? in ~games
AAA1374 Link ParentYou're definitely having a worse experience than I, and I was going into it looking for problems. I didn't pay for it to be clear, it's free on Game Pass, but even still I'm surprised at how not...You're definitely having a worse experience than I, and I was going into it looking for problems.
I didn't pay for it to be clear, it's free on Game Pass, but even still I'm surprised at how not bad it's been. I'm playing on low settings in 1080p on a mobile 3060, and it's not had any problems after building shaders (which took like 3 minutes when launching).
I'm not enthralled with the game, it definitely feels a bit hollow to me so far - but combat is fine in my experience, and there's enough character customization that I do think people who enjoy it can get a ton of play time out of it.
Overall, I'm just kind of, "meh" on it. Would've preferred Elder Scrolls VI.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~movies
AAA1374 LinkI'm actually in almost exactly the same boat. RHPS was the only musical I ever really got into at all for a while. That being said, I used to work at a movie theatre and got to see La La Land for...I'm actually in almost exactly the same boat. RHPS was the only musical I ever really got into at all for a while.
That being said, I used to work at a movie theatre and got to see La La Land for free. I wouldn't have, because I hated musicals, but plenty of people who claimed the same said it was just worth it.
It definitely got me, I loved it - but it didn't ignite anything in me, so I'm curious if anything can. I've put up with plenty of them for the sake of being with people who wanted to watch them, but I just can't enjoy them.
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Comment on What’s a value that you hold but also struggle to live up to? in ~talk
AAA1374 Link ParentI understand this and I don't know if it's just me or what, but it was actually shockingly easy to divorce myself from it. I started by diminishing my exposure to social media and eliminating...I understand this and I don't know if it's just me or what, but it was actually shockingly easy to divorce myself from it.
I started by diminishing my exposure to social media and eliminating anything that directly shoved a lot of politics in my face. Not that I don't keep abreast of the information, but I don't watch videos of highly politically motivated people intended to incense people or anything. This alone meant that my exposure was reduced and I saw that there weren't as many people in my daily life who behaved in ways that raised those concerns.
In addition, I just compartmentalized religions to an extent. I've never really been religious particularly, but I get that religion in all its forms is or was a means of controlling fears. We created Gods and monsters to break the curse of the unknown, and as we conquered the world to make it known - we killed our gods until all that was left was death itself. Right now people are growing fears in different ways, and turning to their one-size-fits-all religion across America.
Their fears are that their way of life is changing, that their community is under threat, that they may not be strictly black-and-white good guys, that there are even just problems that need solving. People are reactionary, and with time will calm down.
Religion isn't inherently an evil - it's a place of community and mutual devotion. The problem is that it's easy to mishandle a bomb, and these communities are currently pent up. But there are a lot of people who aren't so stuck into all of that such that they fail to see the forest for the trees. Plenty of people found religion to make them feel at peace with the things they can't change instead of being angry because they can't change it. In a case where I can assume a person in front of me is delusional and wielding the weapon of indignance or that they're simply trying to find temperance of their fears - I'll choose optimism over malice.
Maybe it's the long standing policy of that assumption that people generally are trying to do the best they can for themselves that means I don't take offense to much. But one way or another, I get the concerns you raise and I hope you're able to find the peace you want as well. Peace and love to everyone in the meantime.
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Comment on Winners: Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year in ~arts
AAA1374 LinkI don't think I liked the overall winner anywhere nearly as much as some of the other shots in the competition. I also feel like the bee was underrated, that bee made me feel something, man. Also...I don't think I liked the overall winner anywhere nearly as much as some of the other shots in the competition. I also feel like the bee was underrated, that bee made me feel something, man.
Also what a fascinating shot to capture light pollution from satellites - it gave me a feeling of morose perversion, as if not even the sky is out of the grasp of our poisonous influence.
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Comment on Best and worst US states to drive in in ~transport
AAA1374 LinkThis kind of matches my experience having driven across the country. Some of the areas they label as having bad infrastructure I don't think were as bad as some other areas. But, giving minor...This kind of matches my experience having driven across the country. Some of the areas they label as having bad infrastructure I don't think were as bad as some other areas. But, giving minor exceptions where I think some places are honestly only marginally better or worse than the results bore out, I actually think this kind of makes sense.
Also just fun for me that the places I told people were bad to drive in I can now give them this map and show them they're just wrong.
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Comment on What's your method for shopping for laptops? in ~tech
AAA1374 LinkI tend to keep my hardware running as long as possible so I don't regularly have to purchase anything, but I did in the last year purchase a new laptop to replace my aging hardware that wasn't...I tend to keep my hardware running as long as possible so I don't regularly have to purchase anything, but I did in the last year purchase a new laptop to replace my aging hardware that wasn't able to do even the light gaming I like to do from time to time.
All I really did was just wait until Black Friday, look at some of the better deals on various websites, then waited a few days for returns to come in on units I was interested in so I could get open box products for even cheaper. I was able to get a $1000+ laptop for around $600.
I think a bigger thing is that generally I keep abreast of what hardware is available and so I know roughly what level I'm looking for. That also helps me get my budget down before I even start looking and often you can filter for specific hardware.
See, it has the total opposite effect for me. It absolutely got me and I detest deck builders. But part of that is the imposed self challenge of only using the default deck and just hoping for good hands and jokers.
It's very pleasant to just sit there and semi-absent-mindedly roll through a run or two. Totally get how it doesn't click for everyone but I enjoy it a lot.