Bal's recent activity
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Comment on Geert Wilders set for political comeback in Dutch election in ~society
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Comment on Geert Wilders set for political comeback in Dutch election in ~society
Bal Link ParentDenmark is remarkably stable, with barely any changes in the last year. The leading party of the coalition (Social Democrats, centre-left but more centre than left, with an immigration policy...Denmark is remarkably stable, with barely any changes in the last year. The leading party of the coalition (Social Democrats, centre-left but more centre than left, with an immigration policy similar to right wing parties) has a small plurality of 20-25% in recent polls and most of votes they lost since the election went to a left-wing opposition party.
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Comment on Looking at getting a new phone - help with my odd requirements? in ~tech
Bal Link ParentNot necessarily. I recently bought a Sony phone that was made in Thailand, Samsung phones are mostly made in either Vietnam or Korea, Apple has moved some production to India and Google seems to...Not necessarily. I recently bought a Sony phone that was made in Thailand, Samsung phones are mostly made in either Vietnam or Korea, Apple has moved some production to India and Google seems to be a mix of Vietnam and China, with plans to move to India as well.
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Comment on Looking at getting a new phone - help with my odd requirements? in ~tech
Bal Link ParentDespite being a Taiwanese brand, Zenfones are manufactured in China (PRC).Despite being a Taiwanese brand, Zenfones are manufactured in China (PRC).
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Comment on What everyday things can you replace with a higher-quality alternative? in ~life
Bal Link ParentAll soaps will kill bacteria, as the detergents chemically lyse the cell membranes. Fungal contaminants are more resistant to this, though.All soaps will kill bacteria, as the detergents chemically lyse the cell membranes. Fungal contaminants are more resistant to this, though.
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Comment on What everyday things can you replace with a higher-quality alternative? in ~life
Bal Link ParentIf you get a ceramic rod instead of a steel one, that's enough to keep soft-ish (so normal German) steel sharp permanently, without the need for other sharpening.If you get a ceramic rod instead of a steel one, that's enough to keep soft-ish (so normal German) steel sharp permanently, without the need for other sharpening.
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Comment on Favorite "chow" meal? in ~food
Bal Link ParentPretty much any umami-rich ingredient works well for the last one, I've made something like that with miso before and it was great.Pretty much any umami-rich ingredient works well for the last one, I've made something like that with miso before and it was great.
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Comment on Can we get an ~ai? in ~tildes
Bal Link ParentI understand what they said, but to me, this inherent quality of AI makes it impossible to do that.I understand what they said, but to me, this inherent quality of AI makes it impossible to do that.
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Comment on Can we get an ~ai? in ~tildes
Bal Link ParentI disagree. All generative AI we have currently just learns from and combines elements of previously existing works. That is the opposite of creativity.AI is tech but can be used for creative purposes.
I disagree. All generative AI we have currently just learns from and combines elements of previously existing works. That is the opposite of creativity.
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Comment on ‘Bread is much easier’: How Japan fell out of love with rice in ~food
Bal Link ParentThat makes more sense. Though the 37g of sugar (I assume that's in 100g total product) is still quite crazy to me. I looked up a popular brand of fruity sweetener yoghurt here, and all versions...That makes more sense. Though the 37g of sugar (I assume that's in 100g total product) is still quite crazy to me. I looked up a popular brand of fruity sweetener yoghurt here, and all versions contain around 10g of total sugar (and no other sweetener), which I already find too sweet for my taste.
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Comment on ‘Bread is much easier’: How Japan fell out of love with rice in ~food
Bal Link ParentIs it really that difficult to get unsweetened yoghurt in the US? I'm in Europe and my go-to breakfast is skyr with müsli, with the only sugar coming from the dried fruits in my müsli.Is it really that difficult to get unsweetened yoghurt in the US? I'm in Europe and my go-to breakfast is skyr with müsli, with the only sugar coming from the dried fruits in my müsli.
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Comment on Let's share some obscure forgotten tunes (<20K plays/views) in ~music
Bal LinkTucker Theodore - I Wasn't Waving It's a song I really love, but one that has achieved little to no success by any metric. With 556 views on Youtube, it seems to be his most popular song, though...Tucker Theodore - I Wasn't Waving
It's a song I really love, but one that has achieved little to no success by any metric. With 556 views on Youtube, it seems to be his most popular song, though it isn't on Spotify (not that it would matter that much with 12 monthly listeners). It's hazy, haunting, depressing but somehow comforting. Would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in abstract, folk-influenced indie music. -
Comment on Anyone have a competition-winning cookie recipe? in ~food
Bal LinkNo competition experience, but I'd like to throw in these hazelnut cookies by Stella Parks as some of my absolute favourites. Her recipes are excellent in general, too.No competition experience, but I'd like to throw in these hazelnut cookies by Stella Parks as some of my absolute favourites. Her recipes are excellent in general, too.
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Comment on What kind of stationery do you like? in ~creative
Bal LinkI'm not hugely into stationery or penmanship, but I picked up a bunch of Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm pens a while ago after doing some research and I've been super happy with them for taking notes.I'm not hugely into stationery or penmanship, but I picked up a bunch of Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm pens a while ago after doing some research and I've been super happy with them for taking notes.
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Comment on Please help me pick an eReader! in ~books
Bal LinkI personally use a Kobo Libra H2O (not the latest model), and it has been a perfectly decent experience. Fits all your criteria (water resistance, good battery, epub support, lighting with night...I personally use a Kobo Libra H2O (not the latest model), and it has been a perfectly decent experience. Fits all your criteria (water resistance, good battery, epub support, lighting with night mode). One negative has been that if you transfer files to it from your computer, you have to be extremely careful about taking the safe disconnection stuff seriously, it actually screws up its file system if you don't.
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Comment on What's your favourite ice cream flavour? in ~food
Bal Link ParentUnfortunately I haven't had a store-bought brand that I'd call great, they tend to skimp on the amount of nuts they use. All the best I've had were from local gelato places, or ones I made myself...Unfortunately I haven't had a store-bought brand that I'd call great, they tend to skimp on the amount of nuts they use. All the best I've had were from local gelato places, or ones I made myself using this recipe.
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Comment on What's your favourite ice cream flavour? in ~food
Bal LinkGood pistachio and hazelnut (separately, just couldn't decide between them) are unbeatable.Good pistachio and hazelnut (separately, just couldn't decide between them) are unbeatable.
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Comment on Thoughts on Final Fantasy 16 in ~games
Bal (edited )Link ParentThere have been a lot of indie RPGs in the vein of classic JRPGs, Chained Echoes for example got a lot of acclaim recently. We also just past the massive CRPG revival of the last decade. SE also...There have been a lot of indie RPGs in the vein of classic JRPGs, Chained Echoes for example got a lot of acclaim recently. We also just past the massive CRPG revival of the last decade. SE also keeps making titles like Octopath Traveler or Triangle Strategy, so I think the genre is very much alive and well, just maybe not so much in the mainstream.
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Comment on Shoegaze! in ~music
Bal Link ParentFirst of all, I appreciate the thorough response and the large number of recommendations! I totally get how hard it is to figure out what I mean by that because "intensity" isn't a well-defined...First of all, I appreciate the thorough response and the large number of recommendations!
I totally get how hard it is to figure out what I mean by that because "intensity" isn't a well-defined thing at all, I struggle there too. One approach I'd say is just to say that it's what they lost between this version of Azemichide and this version, years later - so, sharper production with the distorted guitars given a lot of prominence, Chiaki's much roughter vocals than later in her career, and especially those climactic moments that this song has in the demo near the end, compared to the sanded down version on the album. I think that is even more prominent on songs like Taikotsu Shinogi with its almost post-rock-like peak.
Other music within Japanese rock (not mentioned in your response) that have had similar appeal to me include the occasional Hitsujibungaku song (mostly early, like on the Blue EP or, less emotional but similar in sound, the first Bungeitengoku EP.I know some of the bands you've recommended quite well - Itsue does actually have a similar appeal on the few longer songs they have, though it lacks a lot of that roughness. In fact I like all of the bands in the first batch you mentioned, especially Fermenting Dregs and Yuragi. I'd never heard of Brandy Senki or School Food Punishment before, and enjoyed those tracks a lot! Downy was actually one of my favourite discoveries in the last year and definitely has a similar emotional appeal.
The Culenasm song you linked is probably the closest to what I'm looking for, actually! I've listened to some of their music before, but I remember it being a lot less rock-y, maybe they moved away from this kind of sound too?
Glad you got back into their music a bit! There's a lot of shoegaze I like, including many Japanese bands, but their output up to Long Goodbye has a very special place in my heart.
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Comment on What, in your opinion, are the best true wireless earbuds for the price? in ~tech
Bal Link ParentIt's worth adding that Sony wireless earphones are almost the only ones with user-replaceable (though unfortunately difficult to find) batteries, which should help a lot with longevity.It's worth adding that Sony wireless earphones are almost the only ones with user-replaceable (though unfortunately difficult to find) batteries, which should help a lot with longevity.
Not sure about the Belgian situation and even about Denmark my view might be different from most, as I moved here a few years ago from another European country that is in much worse shape. If I tried to sum it up quickly, I'd say that it comes down to how much more difficult it is for extremism to take hold when everything is, generally speaking, functional. It's remarkable how easy it is to ignore politics when wages are solid, healthcare is public and accessible, education is free and even subsidised for students, housing is reasonable, unemployment is low, and so is inflation. It's not paradise, but any mistakes politicians make, any global or regional crises that occur are far less likely to strike discontent when you can just get on with your life as they happen.