Asinine's recent activity
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Comment on Help with setting up a PiHole - I would like to become worthless to tech companies! in ~tech
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Comment on Blocking of unverified apps on Android starts in Brazil and other three countries in ~tech
Asinine Link ParentWell, presuming you've left the conversation, I'll just reply to the rest here... China has known data collection tendrils throughout their electronics' software, and that doesn't bode well for...Well, presuming you've left the conversation, I'll just reply to the rest here...
China has known data collection tendrils throughout their electronics' software, and that doesn't bode well for most countries who'd rather not just share all their inhabitants' information to them.Things like security (cameras and systems) are especially tense to keep intact when Google wants in on the still-legal-portion of the data. So as I'm backing up Weldawadyathink, I suspect that's their reason for their response.
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Comment on Blocking of unverified apps on Android starts in Brazil and other three countries in ~tech
Asinine (edited )Link ParentI've recently joined another company (due to an acquisition) and I can no longer use the Outlook app with the new policy standards, because my hardened GrapheneOS is flagged as rooted, courtesy of...I've recently joined another company (due to
a monopolistic takeoveran acquisition) and I can no longer use the Outlook app with the new policy standards, because my hardened GrapheneOS is flagged as rooted, courtesy of the Microsoft Intune app. Ironically, I can open Outlook in my phone's browser without issues.
I know the unverified bs for Google is coming, but as a GenXer who maybe is just old and yelling at kids to get off my lawn and turn their music down, I also figured how to not get wrecked by downloading questionable items on Napster, or using sketchy stuff like my first jailbroken smart phone (iPhone 3GS), or refusing to actually use programs, apps, or any technology that could actually make my life more convenient but at the sake of privacy and becoming the product being sold.I find it amusing that as a kid, I thought integrity was standing up for your personal rights for which you should be responsible (with ongoing events (edited for typo) [and themes like the Cold War, punk rock, Robin Hood mentality, etc.]), and now I see in hindsight that it was. But I guess society in general thought we won that battle somehow, and now we can relax and let someone else take over.
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Comment on With most information hidden, the game Stratego had stumped AI—until now in ~games
Asinine Link ParentWe had it as kids in the US, and it's one of the games I remember requiring good strategy but still being simple enough for all ages. Honestly, I'd forgotten about it, and it may have been one of...We had it as kids in the US, and it's one of the games I remember requiring good strategy but still being simple enough for all ages.
Honestly, I'd forgotten about it, and it may have been one of my favorite games growing up.That being said, up to 2000 moves?! Apparently I've never been anywhere near pro level.
Players were surprised, for example, by how often it tucked its flag into a corner behind just two bombs, a rarely played setup.
Hah, I remember that being the newbie move and it being until I was a bit older before I branched away from this. Dang, bringing up lots of memories. I may need to grab another copy and also learn these variants.
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Comment on Irreverent ads make me want to buy things even less in ~talk
Asinine Link ParentI used to work for Carl's Jr (fast food, originally western US) where the slogan in the late 90s was "if it doesn't get all over the place it doesn't belong in your face". Then they cashed in on...I used to work for Carl's Jr (fast food, originally western US) where the slogan in the late 90s was "if it doesn't get all over the place it doesn't belong in your face". Then they cashed in on Paris Hilton (or she cashed in on them? She's done a few more and apparently directed some a decade+ later, but is keeping up the ads).
And it was a huge seller back in the day, and probably still is.
Granted, their burgers are still some of the best around, which is why I could tolerate working at fast food for five years and still eat there after the fact... -
Comment on Wikipedia's list of the best video games: how many have you played, and what's missing? in ~games
Asinine Link ParentSeriously. I've refrained from starting a new comment, because I feel there are some lame options on there (partially because I didn't own any consoles until 1999, and I played most of the ones...King's Quest
Seriously. I've refrained from starting a new comment, because I feel there are some lame options on there (partially because I didn't own any consoles until 1999, and I played most of the ones before limited at friends' houses)... including my first Sierra encounter with the Black Cauldron which, of them all, should have been mentioned if only one Sierra game was imo. I mean, Half-Life definitely deserved to be there, but it wasn't a Sierra game.
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Comment on What is your pet peeve with language acquisition? in ~humanities.languages
Asinine Link ParentLikely due to a lot of the inconsistencies/incongruencies that the Normans introduced to it, while it still retained a lot of its Angle/Saxon/Scandinavian history. AKA it's the French's fault. :)...In English, it’s a full on crapshoot.
Likely due to a lot of the inconsistencies/incongruencies that the Normans introduced to it, while it still retained a lot of its Angle/Saxon/Scandinavian history. AKA it's the French's fault. :)
I found it absolutely interesting that the Germans opted for the Roman word for window (Fenster) when English kept the old German version of Windauge (lit. wind-eye). The Germans apparently changed around the time of Roman advancement because a wind-eye was just a hole in a castle tower or room that let you look out but didn't stop the wind or rain, but the fenestra was often in smaller, more "refined" buildings that had glass to allow you to see, but not experience the elements. Etymology is awesome, especially when it helps you understand your own language better, and the one you're learning. -
Comment on Wendy's - Songs to Listen to in a Wendy's Parking Lot (2026) in ~music
Asinine Link ParentFun fact: I worked in fast food from May '97 for five years. I learned to abhor the Muzak system, and while I actually was the only person who didn't like ska in basically any of my social groups,...Fun fact: I worked in fast food from May '97 for five years. I learned to abhor the Muzak system, and while I actually was the only person who didn't like ska in basically any of my social groups, I did find it hilarious that they'd play Reel Big Fish's "Sell Out" and would just have no lyrics at the start and then blank out the last line "I can't work in fast food all my life".
Unrelated, Wendy's is still one of my favorite fast food spots I'm okay with.
Edit: I feel the same about emo as I did about ska. And I feel just the same. And this playlist hits it correctly... but here we are 20+ years later and I now just find it amusing that I don't have to be youthful and judgemental. Now I just yell at them to get off my lawn. -
Comment on Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges in ~tech
Asinine Link ParentActual video without influencer interrupting.Actual video without influencer interrupting.
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Comment on What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear? in ~life.style
Asinine LinkI actually am wearing possible one of the oldest I still have: blue pj bottoms with the Pilsbury Doughboy on them. People at practice said they were pretty awesome and I realized I bought them my...I actually am wearing possible one of the oldest I still have: blue pj bottoms with the Pilsbury Doughboy on them. People at practice said they were pretty awesome and I realized I bought them my senior year in high school, or right after... so about 32 years.
I know I threw away older stuff from the early 90s when I moved up here about 5 years ago, but it was pretty cringe and needed to go haha. -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
Asinine Link ParentI always had Freddie Pharkas on my wishlist along with basically every other Sierra game after discovering them on my neighbor's Apple with King's Quest and then all the other games later with...I always had Freddie Pharkas on my wishlist along with basically every other Sierra game after discovering them on my neighbor's Apple with King's Quest and then all the other games later with magazines...
Ngl though, if I'm going for the point-and-click, I'd opt for Laura Bow's Dagger of Amon Ra. Not only is it still hilarious (and some bits did not age well, or maybe they did?), but I still regularly quote various parts and always look both ways before crossing any street. -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
Asinine Link ParentBut did you even know Korobeiniki before Tetris? Also, what does your dishwasher packing look like? Inquiring minds want to know!But did you even know Korobeiniki before Tetris?
Also, what does your dishwasher packing look like?Inquiring minds want to know!
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Comment on I'm addicted to Slay the Spire and am looking for a new game in ~games
Asinine Link ParentYou'll need to disable cloud storage because it's pretty religious on shutting things down and I've lost a few saves to corruption when it's not disabled, and a script definitely made things...You'll need to disable cloud storage because it's pretty religious on shutting things down and I've lost a few saves to corruption when it's not disabled, and a script definitely made things easier for me.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
Asinine (edited )LinkDESCENT I got this game (the full version - had the shareware one and played the heck outta it) for graduation back in 1995 I believe. It was amazing because with two hands on a keyboard, you...DESCENT
I got this game (the full version - had the shareware one and played the heck outta it) for graduation back in 1995 I believe. It was amazing because with two hands on a keyboard, you could control your spacecraft better than any game with a mouse in I've encountered in a fully 3d environment since. (This includes joysticks with extra items. The only thing it lacked was the gradient movement, but honestly the game didn't really need it at all.) Additionally, the whole game was intriguing and almost got a little easy once the controls were fully integrated into my muscle memory. My brother and I put so many hours into this, and still we'll reference it in reminiscing by the resulting "gabbagabbahey" sultry voice cheater.
Edit: also the soundtrack still slaps.
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Comment on I'm addicted to Slay the Spire and am looking for a new game in ~games
Asinine Link ParentNgl I save scum. It's made the experience way more enjoyable, and it's still a tough grind because of the save game mechanism. There have been a few times where I spent more time...Ngl I save scum. It's made the experience way more enjoyable, and it's still a tough grind because of the save game mechanism. There have been a few times where I spent more time reloading/retrying than actually playing the level. I actually appreciate the game more now that I can enjoy it without constantly being frustrated and angry - so judge me all you want, but games are supposed to be fun.
My previous longest playthrough, I ended up with a roster of mostly level 1-2s and high level dungeons because I couldn't figure how to get the right trinkets or understand the mechanics, because I'd be spending all my money trying to fix the broken heroes and replace the dead ones. -
Comment on I'm addicted to Slay the Spire and am looking for a new game in ~games
Asinine Link ParentI appreciate the feedback, and also the dm. I'll check it out, and thank you!!I appreciate the feedback, and also the dm. I'll check it out, and thank you!!
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Comment on I'm addicted to Slay the Spire and am looking for a new game in ~games
Asinine LinkI'm curious: I see the card base for StS, but I've been jonesing Darkest Dungeons since I started playing it in '22, and am back on a resurgence now that I am better understanding the mechanics....I'm curious: I see the card base for StS, but I've been jonesing Darkest Dungeons since I
got itstarted playing it in '22, and am back on a resurgence now that I am better understanding the mechanics.
How would you (OP or others) compare the two games? I'd been eying Iratus on the latest sale but didn't get it - it seems the best option for a DD clone. I'm on the fence about card-based games. I'm seriously trying to learn MtG:Commander but it makes me feel stupid. Haven't encountered an online version of card games that did though, and I did kinda get into Hearthstone, but I refused to p2w. -
Comment on Deciding whether (or not) to have a child in ~life
Asinine Link ParentI told my SO I'd be down for children if either 1) he wanted to birth them (ala Junior) or 2) we adopted. Apparently he didn't want them that much. And I would have loved nurturing a kid that...I told my SO I'd be down for children if either 1) he wanted to birth them (ala Junior) or 2) we adopted.
Apparently he didn't want them that much. And I would have loved nurturing a kid that already existed, just I wasn't going to make it myself.
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Comment on Deciding whether (or not) to have a child in ~life
Asinine Link ParentI know plenty of people who are sure of having children. Whether or not they should is a completely different topic.I know plenty of people who are sure of having children.
Whether or not they should is a completely different topic.
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Comment on What is your "when I found out about 9/11" story? in ~talk
Asinine LinkI was in California. I had the day before off (worked fast food, typically slept from 4/6am til whenever, but I do remember having gone to bed early). My mom (who annoyed me) had apparently tried...I was in California. I had the day before off (worked fast food, typically slept from 4/6am til whenever, but I do remember having gone to bed early). My mom (who annoyed me) had apparently tried calling a few times when the first plane hit, and since I slept through the calls and answering machine (I may or may not have turned both off?) and her knocking on the door, I woke up around 0730 to her pounding on my apartment bedroom window.
I was finally able to afford a tv since I swapped to an apartment and had a roommate (who was kinda rich [firefighter], compared to me haha), and she told me to turn the tv on. As I did, the news was just breaking that the second tower had fallen. I don't think she stayed long.
I had to work that night, and I'd borrowed the family's 10" b&w tv that had no inputs (so only antenna signal) when I first moved out, because I was seriously poor (couldn't afford a microwave or any furniture except the desk, bed, dresser, and computer I owned. I took a folding chair from my grandma's for the computer). I brought it to work that night and had it replaying the same ol'
(which reminded me of me asking my parents why they kept showing the same stuff in SF when the Loma Prieta hit), and the handful of customers who came in that night stood with us while they waited for their food to go.My sibs and I had planned a trip to fly into Buffalo, NY on 20 Sept to do an epic totally-winged road trip around the east coast. We were able to continue the trip with the first time not being able to have guests walk us to the gate. We were also the only people on the flight there not in first class.
We drove to Boston, through NYC and stopped at Liberty Park since we couldn't get into the city, and Washington DC, seeing three of the four crash sites. The fourth was nearby as we made our way back though State College PA (where we stayed) before heading back out to end the trip on the 25th in Buffalo.Having no issues walking into empty hotels, seeing groups of people on overpasses waving flags and holding banners, seeing snipers on the White House, waiting for a lone jogger to run by to take our picture, because no one else was around at 1100 on a Sunday where normally people are crowded to overlook the Easter Egg hunt lawn... it was eerie. I did not get to experience it, I just got the aftermath.
I finally got to visit NYC two years ago.
It was so distant, but still mind blowing seeing the aftermath. I had online friends who lived in the area, I knew someone who worked in the WTC. He was actually scheduled to be at work after the first plane hit and did not end up inside. It was very much like when the Challenger exploded; I wasn't directly affected, but I still was on very many levels. Definitely on a mindfuck sort of way.
You're so not wrong!
I've been eying making a pihole for a couple years but feel too overwhelmed with the lack of concrete information (well, information like I was a five-year-old). Also, time/attention span is something that I find I'm having more trouble dealing with heh...
https://www.smarthomeperfected.com/pi-hole-setup-guide/ is one of the sites I'd recently been eyeing. It still doesn't hold your hand much at all, for example, of all of the following instructions (aka, the first step) in
I know how to flash an SD card, image it, and how to boot it on ethernet. Set a hostname and enable SSH? Give it a fixed address? I'm guessing/hoping the official imager helps with setting those up, but I don't know. Also I suck at networking - I understand all those terms but don't know how to actually do the things. But at least I understand what will need to be done.
Overall, it seems like a lot of me googling (or DDGing/searXing in my case) for me to succeed, and ADD is likely to kick in.
Thank you for starting this thread though, and hopefully others can chime in with info or better sites for us layfolk!