Banazir's recent activity
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Comment on Nine dead after shooter opens fire at Canadian high school in ~news
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Comment on Nine dead after shooter opens fire at Canadian high school in ~news
Banazir Link ParentThanks for the additional context for comparison. I don't know the stats on mass shootings (Canada or the US), so it makes this even more heartbreaking with more facts.Thanks for the additional context for comparison. I don't know the stats on mass shootings (Canada or the US), so it makes this even more heartbreaking with more facts.
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Comment on Nine dead after shooter opens fire at Canadian high school in ~news
Banazir LinkI can't think of a way to say this that doesn't come across as flippant, but I thought this kind of thing only happened here in the States. It seems that this event has shocked the nation a lot...I can't think of a way to say this that doesn't come across as flippant, but I thought this kind of thing only happened here in the States. It seems that this event has shocked the nation a lot more than it shocks us when it happens, so it's definitely not common.
I admit that I was initially frustrated that there wasn't much info on the shooter. It took a second for me to realize that this is exactly what I've been asking for - don't publicize them. Honestly no names should be shared at all out of respect for the families of the victims as well, which is what was done here. I would still like to know more about the event itself and the leadup to it - was this school specifically targeted, why was it done, did the shooter use a banned firearm, etc, but it's too early to ask for that info and this article did all the rest right.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Banazir LinkI picked up Fallout: New Vegas during the Steam Winter Sale and almost immediately dove in. Despite its age (15 years old now!) the gameplay is excellent. The core RPG mechanic of gaining levels...I picked up Fallout: New Vegas during the Steam Winter Sale and almost immediately dove in. Despite its age (15 years old now!) the gameplay is excellent. The core RPG mechanic of gaining levels and applying points to skills and perks feels much better than later Bethesda games imo. My main early complaint was that shots that were clearly on-target kept missing, but I discovered that was a product of my Guns skill being low, which adds a multiplier to the bullet spread. I've been doing a sneak/guns build for combat (cue Skyrim stealth archer jokes) and it's been feeling pretty good. I'm finally at the point where a sneak crit with the AMR on a Deathclaw can one-shot it, so I'm a lot more confident roaming around now. For social gameplay, I've really enjoyed the faction reputation system and wish it came back in future Bethesda games. It's mildly frustrating to have a questline cut off because you don't want to piss off your preferred faction, but it makes decisions feel a bit more impactful.
The game is somewhat held back by the limitations of the game engine. Dialog trees are fairly limited, although knowing what level you need in a skill to achieve success is really nice in the times you can leave and come back later. Having the physics tied to framerate means I had to lock my monitor to 60 Hz because I couldn't find any other way to cap FPS, but otherwise I couldn't hit anything on the move. There's been a few other nitpicks along the way, mainly physics engine issues and lack of weapon mod interchangeability (why can't I move scopes around?), but nothing that truly ruins the experience.
I've also been playing Hades II on my Switch so my wife can watch. She's a disaster with a controller and can't get past the first boss after dozens of tries, but she still wants to experience the story and characters, so this is our "together" game. She makes decisions about who to gift items to and who to curry favor with, and I make decisions about boon choices and how to play each run. The system worked well for us with the first game, and it continues to do so now.
I like the mix of new and returning characters, I'm very glad to see that they didn't get rid of the entire cast of the first game. Some gods have had their personalities shift a bit, but in a way that fleshes them out more rather than just tossing the old version. I've gotten to the point that I can reliably read and beat both boss options (not saying who either option is, but the ability to choose between routes is presented early on) if I make it to them with reasonable resources at my disposal. The gameplay feels very similar to the first one, just with a little "more" to it, and each of the weapon choices feels unique without having a clear best one to take every time.
If you enjoyed Hades, I definitely recommend picking up Hades II. If you haven't played the first one, I recommend playing that first - it's excellent, and there's definitely spoilers for the first game here.
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Comment on I'm back in ~talk
Banazir Link ParentThere's a reason I spent a year reading and lurking before requesting an account, and I'm glad I did. Most of the time I have nothing meaningful to add to conversations (even this could just be...There's a reason I spent a year reading and lurking before requesting an account, and I'm glad I did. Most of the time I have nothing meaningful to add to conversations (even this could just be noise), and I feel like too many redditors just feel the need to be heard no matter what.
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Comment on Why should anyone care about low-level programming? in ~comp
Banazir Link ParentAnother Randy fan here! It looks like his whole video archive is back (some of the older ones were inaccessible for a while), I'm glad that the entire journey is visible again. I found him through...Another Randy fan here! It looks like his whole video archive is back (some of the older ones were inaccessible for a while), I'm glad that the entire journey is visible again. I found him through his pixel art video 6 years ago and I'm glad I did. Hopefully we'll get a version of Arcane (or whatever the name is at that point) eventually!
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Comment on Ian's Shoelace Site is still the best site for tying your shoes in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentI've been using it for about half the time you have and recently found out that one of my friends also uses the Ian knot. Another friend wanted to learn so we tried to teach her and she just...I've been using it for about half the time you have and recently found out that one of my friends also uses the Ian knot. Another friend wanted to learn so we tried to teach her and she just couldn't wrap her mind around it for some reason.
Similarly, my mom saw me tie my shoes and asked how I did it so quickly. I did take an opportunity to troll her by slowly showing her "first you put one lace forward, and the other backwards..." before I finished the knot quickly with "...and then you just tie them!" My dad thought it was hilarious, and I did go through it slowly as a proper demonstration later, but my mom was definitely flabbergasted by the original demonstration.
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Comment on Postal arbitrage in ~finance
Banazir Link ParentAdditionally, sending a card/letter gives me an opportunity to be personal. None of the random junk items will have any actual meaning to the people I care about, and most will probably prefer not...Additionally, sending a card/letter gives me an opportunity to be personal. None of the random junk items will have any actual meaning to the people I care about, and most will probably prefer not to get those items instead. Hand-writing a letter or card actually takes time and effort from me, which is worth more than the cost of the stamp imo.
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Comment on Hacktivist deletes three white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentThanks for making the distinction between hate speech and threats/incitement to violence. I definitely conflated those two when I probably shouldn't have. I think it should still be brought up. If...Hey so hate speech is absolutely protected by the first amendment.
Thanks for making the distinction between hate speech and threats/incitement to violence. I definitely conflated those two when I probably shouldn't have.
The paradox of intolerance applies in other, non-governmental - spaces.
I think it should still be brought up. If someone's argument in favor of a statement is the first amendment, it's admission that their best defense for it is that it's not illegal. Just because something is legal to say doesn't mean it should be acceptable. Hate speech is an easy item to categorize as unacceptable, but I acknowledge the slippery slope of political motivation to put other speech in that category (e.g. conservatives acting like being LGBT+ is a problem).
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Comment on Hacktivist deletes three white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentThis strays into the paradox of intolerance. Nazi speech is, by definition, hate speech, and so it is not protected by first amendment rights. Also, your argument assumes that this is occurring...This strays into the paradox of intolerance. Nazi speech is, by definition, hate speech, and so it is not protected by first amendment rights. Also, your argument assumes that this is occurring within the United States. I do support the application of the first amendment worldwide, but it still has limits.
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Comment on The first really new compass since 1936 (a new, public domain design without liquid in the dial) in ~engineering
Banazir Link ParentThe specifics are part of why it hasn't been seen yet. How many combinations of ring diameters and copper alloys did he have to test to get the best result? That's a lot of testing to do when...The specifics are part of why it hasn't been seen yet. How many combinations of ring diameters and copper alloys did he have to test to get the best result? That's a lot of testing to do when existing compasses already sell well. I purchased 3 or 4 Silva 1-2-3 compasses through 12 years in the BSA as a youth, they worked well and were cheap enough to be replaced when they inevitably broke due to lack of care. Everyone had one, especially on backpacking or hiking trips when we had a paper map. More recently I finally bought myself an upgraded model, partially to satisfy the desires of my inner child. Existing fluid-dampened compasses are cheap enough to make and popular enough that there's already plenty of profit without having to do research or even modify existing product lines.
I will say that the demonstration at 12:18 was genuinely impressive. While I don't get the same oscillation as the undampened needle, seeing the new system lock in almost immediately felt unnatural. I assume other eddy-dampened compasses stop just as quickly, but this is the first I've actually observed so the effect was new to me. Couple that with the convenience he mentions (which is why I've never felt the need to look outside of plastic compasses) and I absolutely see the appeal of his invention.
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Comment on Five browser extensions to make every website more useful in ~tech
Banazir LinkHalf of what PrintFriendly does is already done via reader mode in Firefox. It strips the page to just content, no ads or interactable sections, and I can choose the color scheme and font to match...Half of what PrintFriendly does is already done via reader mode in Firefox. It strips the page to just content, no ads or interactable sections, and I can choose the color scheme and font to match my needs. I get that it also lets you reformat for printing (hence the name) but that's not a common use case. Just use reader mode in the browser before adding another extension.
The rest of the list felt similar. Scribe could be nice but I wouldn't be surprised if I could do a better job myself. Grammarly is only going to be useful if I'm doing a lot of writing via the browser, which I usually don't. DarkReader is known to break formatting on some sites. Glasp seems useful as well, but I also try to dedicate time to actually consuming the original content. Summaries lose nuance, and I don't trust an AI to get it.
So yeah, I'm good too.
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
Banazir Link ParentAs another Tolkien lore nerd, I personally thought that War of the Rohirrim was good outside of two things early on, both in the same scene. mild spoiler I didn't think the mumakil or the watcher...As another Tolkien lore nerd, I personally thought that War of the Rohirrim was good outside of two things early on, both in the same scene.
mild spoiler
I didn't think the mumakil or the watcher in the water should have been included at all. It's unlikely that Rohan would have encountered either, as the mumakil were from a far-off land and the Watcher should be a one-off creature imo. Both just felt like fanservice rather than good plot devices.The story expands upon a single major event in Rohan's history that gets a paragraph and a half total in the appendices of RotK. This is how additional Tolkien media should be done - find places where an event is mentioned but never expanded upon. There's so many stories to be told that don't require major changes to the existing canon (looking at The Wizard in RoP as an example of breaking canon), and even things that aren't mentioned but alluded to. War of the Rohirrim did a pretty good job of that, so for me it gets an 8/10.
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Comment on Without looking, do you have a vague idea of your coordinates? in ~talk
Banazir Link ParentIf the latitude and longitude are correct, I don't think it's going to matter if the nuke detonates above me or on me. I'm dead either way.If the latitude and longitude are correct, I don't think it's going to matter if the nuke detonates above me or on me. I'm dead either way.
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentYeah, that's a fair point - everything I listed is a major well-known manufacturer. I've considered getting a used Pixel to put GrapheneOS on, but I've been happy enough with my options in the...Yeah, that's a fair point - everything I listed is a major well-known manufacturer. I've considered getting a used Pixel to put GrapheneOS on, but I've been happy enough with my options in the sub-$400 space that I haven't been tempted. None of the bespoke options (for lack of a better term) offer the features I want at the price I can pay, so I'll stick with what I've got.
That said, I do need a new phone - mine is 4 years old and security updates ended earlier this year.
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentI haven't used a phone from any of those companies in over a decade. Those companies absolutely do work with other brands. I've used HTC, Sony, ZTE (rip), and Motorola with no issues from the...I haven't used a phone from any of those companies in over a decade. Those companies absolutely do work with other brands. I've used HTC, Sony, ZTE (rip), and Motorola with no issues from the carrier. Yes, half of those were bought from a store affiliated with the carrier in the first place, but there's still a wide variety of phones that all major carriers not only allow, but offer directly.
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Comment on Why humanity needs a Lunar seed vault in ~space
Banazir Link ParentI guess my question is "our only shot at at what?" If the Earth is destroyed to the point that current life needs a kickstart, likely due to nuclear armaments, then it's likely inhospitable to any...I guess my question is "our only shot at at what?" If the Earth is destroyed to the point that current life needs a kickstart, likely due to nuclear armaments, then it's likely inhospitable to any new life that would spring from those seeds. In the time that it takes for the world to recover enough, I think it's likely that an entirely new set of ecosystems and species will fill the space. It's entirely possible that the old native life will now be invasive or just not suited to their old locations anymore.
That's on top of the language problem. It's similar to the issue we have with nuclear waste disposal sites: how can we convey to an unknown future civilization that may or may not share our language what they should do? How would an alien species understand information about what is in the vault and use it to restore the old natural life? Would they do such a thing or simply study the existing state of Earth and view the vault as a historical artifact, not to be used if it's even understood? What about a future human civilization - would they know the vault is even there and know to look for it, or would they stumble upon it and have to decipher its intent?
I like the concept of a seed vault on the moon, but just like computers a backup is only good if you can restore from it. Otherwise, you just have 0 backups.
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Comment on Windows: Linux GPU gaming benchmarks on Bazzite in ~games
Banazir Link ParentApparently not all anticheat is the same. I've been playing Helldivers 2 on Linux almost since release (I started a couple weeks later) and I've had very few issues. Most of the problems I have...Apparently not all anticheat is the same. I've been playing Helldivers 2 on Linux almost since release (I started a couple weeks later) and I've had very few issues. Most of the problems I have encountered have been unrelated to my OS and were problems other players complained about regardless of platform
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Comment on Want to get a 3D printer for miniatures that work well with open source software in ~hobbies
Banazir Link ParentI have a Sovol SV06 Plus, and this is my experience. I used an Ender 3 (first gen) for four years and fought with it to get anything to print reliably; my Sovol is much more reliable with less...I have a Sovol SV06 Plus, and this is my experience. I used an Ender 3 (first gen) for four years and fought with it to get anything to print reliably; my Sovol is much more reliable with less work. I do still need to tinker with it now and then, but it does well enough that I don't worry about most prints failing. I still have trouble with really wide and flat prints peeling up, but from what I can tell that's hard for any printer.
Sovol is a happy middle ground IMO. It's not as plug and play as Bambu, but that means more control and customization if you want it.
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Comment on I created my own audio player, here is my experiences with the process in ~tech
Banazir LinkWhat an excellent writeup! I have a similar project I want to try at some point (a portable text editor with an e-ink screen, like the Micro Journal writerdeck) and this gives me hope that I can...What an excellent writeup! I have a similar project I want to try at some point (a portable text editor with an e-ink screen, like the Micro Journal writerdeck) and this gives me hope that I can make it work someday. I like that I can follow your thought process through mistakes and improvements, it's a nice set of guideposts to follow for future iterations.
I'm aware you can buy firearms up there, but I also remember handgun bans being put into effect as well as a few other categories. Since so many murders in the US are carried out using handguns and ARs, I wasn't sure if the shooter got their hands on one of those.