Banazir's recent activity
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Comment on Oblivion Remastered releases today in ~games
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Comment on The GNU nano text editor is named by analogy in ~tech
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Comment on Kindle modding wiki in ~books
Banazir LinkMileage may vary with this jailbreak. I tried it a few days ago and got an error page when I tried to access the store to finish the process. I followed their troubleshooting steps, which involve...Mileage may vary with this jailbreak. I tried it a few days ago and got an error page when I tried to access the store to finish the process. I followed their troubleshooting steps, which involve completely factory resetting my kindle, and tried again and got the same result. A few people have submitted Github issues with similar messages.
I'm not saying that these steps don't work, I doubt they would have published them if that was the case, but there's likely to be roadblocks that pop up when following processes like this one. They did their best to make these steps as painless as possible, but it's a constant battle to beat companies like Amazon.
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Comment on Murderbot | Official trailer in ~tv
Banazir Link ParentThose books are pretty thin, I was expecting a shorter season for each. Granted, showing and describing what would normally be an inner voice takes longer, and it seems that we'll get more...Those books are pretty thin, I was expecting a shorter season for each. Granted, showing and describing what would normally be an inner voice takes longer, and it seems that we'll get more backstory as a result, so I'm also cautiously optimistic about this turning out well.
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Comment on Is it possible to completely hide one’s activity on the Internet from one’s ISP? in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentThere is far more to the story than just a single tweet. The overwhelming majority of Proton's actions and Andy Yen's behavior point to a liberal bias, not being a Trump supporter. I've shared it...There is far more to the story than just a single tweet. The overwhelming majority of Proton's actions and Andy Yen's behavior point to a liberal bias, not being a Trump supporter. I've shared it once but nobody seemed to care, but please at least skim this to get a better idea: https://medium.com/@ovenplayer/does-proton-really-support-trump-a-deeper-analysis-and-surprising-findings-aed4fee4305e
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Comment on Do you take inventory of your hobbies and projects? in ~life
Banazir LinkI meant to respond to this when you first posted, but got sidetracked - ironically, by one of my growing hobbies. I kind of keep a small list of things I do in the back of my mind, partially as a...I meant to respond to this when you first posted, but got sidetracked - ironically, by one of my growing hobbies. I kind of keep a small list of things I do in the back of my mind, partially as a response to something interesting I read recently. When we are asked to introduce ourselves, when people ask what we do, we usually respond with our jobs as if those are what define us. That made me start thinking about what I do for my own fulfillment, which is a much more interesting list (even if some is job-adjacent).
So far, here's what I have for my hobbies/activities:
- Blacksmithing - this one is newer for me, but it's something I've been dreaming about and researching for well over a decade. My forge is small and my projects are basic for now, but I've been enjoying it and already have so many projects stacked up.
- Working out - For a long time I primarily did calisthenics, but after putting on weight (intentionally) and stalling out for half a year I have switched to weightlifting. I'm just doing the Stronglift 5x5, but my gains in the past 3 months have been huge. I'm probably hitting the end of newbie gains, but I still look forward to my workouts 3x a week (as long as I don't have to compete for the squat rack).
- Reading - I read more in middle and high school than I do now, and I've fallen way behind on all the series I want to read, so I do try to make time to read every day. I'm currently in the middle of a re-read of The Fellowship of the Ring, but once I'm through the series then I'll wrap up a couple of Brandon Sanderson series I need to get through before venturing to other novels. I mainly read sci-fi and fantasy, but I do have some more technical reading that I enjoy - either tech stuff or blacksmithing related, usually.
- Homelab - I have a decent homelab that I use to run services for myself and my friends. I have a DIY NAS running TrueNAS Core, a few micro PCs, and an old laptop running Proxmox and various VMs. The laptop is going to be shifted over to running GNS3 soon so I can do more network labs, which is where the work-adjacent part of my hobbies comes in. Coincidentally, I got interrupted while writing this up by one of the higher admins at work telling me that all the decommissioned gear taking up space at our datacenter location is up for grabs before it gets hauled away. I probably won't be getting any rack mount servers, but there may still be something good in there!
- Tabletop gaming - I meet with coworkers weekly, usually for Frosthaven but occasionally other games when the guy who actually owns the game can't make it. I also have a D&D campaign that's been going roughly bi-weekly for the last 2.75 years, we finally foiled part of a big end-of-world scenario and now we're cleaning up all the trailing ends. I have no clue if this will continue afterwards, as life changes are making it harder to meet regularly, but I'm hoping to keep gaming with these guys for a while.
- Video Games - I put this one last because it just seems right. I've fallen out of the competitive game space and focused on single-player and co-op gaming. I've loved Monster Hunter since Tri came out on the Wii so I consider that my longest-running favorite, and Wilds has been a blast so far. I also have a Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough that's fallen on the back burner, and I occasionally log into Helldivers 2 because I enjoy the gameplay there.
I have other activities - cooking, DIY repairs, light programming - that I do as well, but not to the point that I consider them to define me. Some of my hobbies are weekend-only things (blacksmithing) while others are kept moving via half-hour snippets every day or so (reading, homelab). Some things have taken more or less time of my day, but I feel like I've struck a good balance overall.
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Comment on Apple will soon support encrypted RCS messaging with Android users in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentTbh this is more because the RCS standard is updating. Apple allowed RCS messages last year (prior to that it was just MMS), but they wouldn't be encrypted. Now we have options for RCS encryption...Tbh this is more because the RCS standard is updating. Apple allowed RCS messages last year (prior to that it was just MMS), but they wouldn't be encrypted. Now we have options for RCS encryption outside of Apple->Apple and Google->Google messages.
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Comment on The future is Niri in ~comp
Banazir Link Parentawesomewm is also my preferred tiling wm. I've always loved using Lua for some reason, so the ability to tinker and adjust my wm in one of my favorite languages just feels fantastic. I started...awesomewm is also my preferred tiling wm. I've always loved using Lua for some reason, so the ability to tinker and adjust my wm in one of my favorite languages just feels fantastic. I started with i3, played with dwm for a bit, but awesome has been my home for over 5 years now and I don't see myself changing soon.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
Banazir LinkI finally got a break in the ice and snow that have been sweeping the Midwest, and I got to break out my forge for the first time! I did one test burn for a few minutes a month ago but wasn't...I finally got a break in the ice and snow that have been sweeping the Midwest, and I got to break out my forge for the first time! I did one test burn for a few minutes a month ago but wasn't quite ready to do any work with it, so this was the first real test of it.
My first solo project was a pair of tongs made from half-inch rebar. The "stock" wasn't quite long enough for me to heat one end without getting burned on the other, so I did have to use my old slip-joint pliers to hold the material while it heated. I also didn't let it initially heat for long enough, so while the outside of the steel was bright orange, the inside was less malleable. After a few heats it was all at a more forgeable temp, but before that I didn't make much headway.
Overall, I'm proud of the result but not happy with it. One of the jaws is skewed so they don't overlap perfectly, the handles get in each others way when I close the tongs, and the rivet is complete trash. However, they are functional, which is all I need in order to get going, so I can actually put smaller stock in the forge to heat without having to hold it the whole time.
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Comment on Posteo.de or Mailbox.org - Struggling to find an alternative to Proton in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentI'm going to trust the mountain of evidence in the article I shared rather than a single tweet based on Trump being tagged. I suggest you read it yourself as well.I'm going to trust the mountain of evidence in the article I shared rather than a single tweet based on Trump being tagged. I suggest you read it yourself as well.
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Comment on Posteo.de or Mailbox.org - Struggling to find an alternative to Proton in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentExcept he was applauding Trump's pick for the position, nothing else. He's far from a Trump supporter. If you want details, read this:...Except he was applauding Trump's pick for the position, nothing else. He's far from a Trump supporter. If you want details, read this: https://medium.com/@ovenplayer/does-proton-really-support-trump-a-deeper-analysis-and-surprising-findings-aed4fee4305e
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Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
Banazir Link ParentI really think Rise beat world in terms of speed and arcadiness. Everything got extra mobility options both in and out of combat, and the wirebug recovery mechanic means that taking a hit costs...I really think Rise beat world in terms of speed and arcadiness. Everything got extra mobility options both in and out of combat, and the wirebug recovery mechanic means that taking a hit costs you less time as well. Several weapons got new counterattacks as well IIRC, although I only used LBG and Lance so I don't know the specifics. Coming from World and GU, Rise did not feel right for a long time, and I never really did adapt to the wirebug moves.
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Comment on ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ insiders say ‘everyone knew this is probably not going to be a good film’ in ~movies
Banazir LinkI mentioned that I was going to see this film, and that I'd come back to review it. I'm a few days late, but here's as spoiler-free of a review as I can give: Overall, it's much better than...I mentioned that I was going to see this film, and that I'd come back to review it. I'm a few days late, but here's as spoiler-free of a review as I can give:
Overall, it's much better than critical scores claim it is. It is far from the worst of the MCU, and despite multiple writer changes it has a cohesive plot and mostly decent dialogue. The villain monologues are the worst of the writing, but Sam's lines were pretty solid and lacked a lot of the MCU "quippiness" that I've come to expect. Sam came across as thoughtful and conflicted, as he had personal loyalties and patriotic duties pulling him in seemingly opposite directions. I'm not a very critical viewer, but as a lead I thought that Anthony Mackie did just fine.
As for connections to the rest of the MCU, it definitely seems like one of those films that has a bunch of important details that will come up later. You don't have to watch Falcon & Winter Soldier to understand the characters' backgrounds and moral conflicts, as each character is introduced in turn and their background is explained without making it seem like they're talking down to the audience. It has a surprising connection to the Eternals, and it potentially sets the stage for several characters to return to come back within the MCU. There's also the obvious connections back to earlier Captain America films, as well as the end of Endgame with the passing of the torch.
I particularly enjoyed how they showed how Sam is able to fill the shoes of Captain America without being a super-soldier, and the first 5 minutes or so was a fantastic introduction to the new Cap. From the start to the end, Sam shined whenever combat involved the use of his wings. I could constantly spot technical advancements from within the MCU related to other characters, such as jets that looked like they used Iron Man's repulsor tech.
Overall, I think this is a very enjoyable film, and I think it got too much heat before it even came out. Yes, there are weak points with the villain's plot and dialogue, but the leads were solid and the new characters were fun. If you're worried about the critical response, I'd say it's overblown, and it's much more likely that people are just more critical of MCU films as superhero fatigue gets worse. Granted, I've only seen a few MCU films since Endgame, but I still think this one deserves a positive reception.
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Comment on "A calculator app? Anyone could make that." in ~comp
Banazir LinkA few days ago, I helped a streamer I watch with part of her display. The section that showed total donations would occasionally show something like $1.2300000000006, which annoyed her because it...A few days ago, I helped a streamer I watch with part of her display. The section that showed total donations would occasionally show something like $1.2300000000006, which annoyed her because it would cause the text to go outside the boundary of where it was supposed to go. I'm a regular enough viewer that she trusted me when I asked for the JavaScript code handling events and updating the display, and a quick
.toFixed(2)was enough to clean up the error completely.I saw this article on HN a couple days ago and shared it with her community, since the first few paragraphs are a good intro about why the issue happens. I decided not to dive deeper into it, since she's not a technical person and the details would bore her, but I found the timing convenient and a bit of a Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. Either way, this kind of problem is incredibly interesting to me, and I am still disappointed by how little the courses in my comp sci degree actually touched on information theory and data representation.
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Comment on ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ insiders say ‘everyone knew this is probably not going to be a good film’ in ~movies
Banazir Link ParentIn the comics, Sam Wilson has held the mantle of Captain America much longer than Bucky did, IIRC. While they could have handed the role to Bucky first, I think it would have been too hard for...In the comics, Sam Wilson has held the mantle of Captain America much longer than Bucky did, IIRC. While they could have handed the role to Bucky first, I think it would have been too hard for casual audiences to accept that Captain America is a mantle that gets passed around, not just a singular person. Sticking with the people who filled the role the longest is the simplest option imo, which means Bucky gets skipped.
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Comment on ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ insiders say ‘everyone knew this is probably not going to be a good film’ in ~movies
Banazir LinkWhile I don't have high hopes for the film, I feel like some of the issues presented are a bit of a stretch. For example: For one, Red Hulk is pretty clearly red. If he was a bright tangerine...While I don't have high hopes for the film, I feel like some of the issues presented are a bit of a stretch. For example:
A demagogic military leader who transforms into a rampaging, orange-skinned superhuman, the character shares certain unmistakable traits with Donald Trump.
For one, Red Hulk is pretty clearly red. If he was a bright tangerine orange color then I could maybe see it, but the color is a furious red that isn't mistakable. For another thing, Trump isn't much of a military leader. Yes, he is Commander in Chief, but he has no military experience beyond that (that I'm aware of). Ross is a former general, secretary of state, and spearhead for the Sokovia Accords - he has plenty of military and political experience, and was part of a move that still divides the fanbase today. While there may be some parallels, I don't think that they're as strong as the article wants them to be.
For the rest, we'll see. It seems like Mackie got flak for basically saying what Evans did 14 years ago, and what was a central theme of The Winter Soldier. Captain America represents the ideals of freedom that America prides itself in, not just the word "America" or just us as a nation - especially if we have strayed from those ideals.
I'll be seeing it tomorrow evening, my wife is a bigger comic fan than I am so she's more enthusiastic than I am. I'll try to come back and give an honest review on its own merits after. Right now the most damning issues that have been brought up are ones that could apply to any film - reshot scenes, rewritten scenes (to avoid similarities with current events), and last-minute additions.
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Comment on From beginner to conversational in three months of learning Russian: My takeaways in ~humanities.languages
Banazir Link ParentI could definitely see this becoming relevant for me as well. I took a semester of Russian in college as well as a few months of Duolingo beyond that, but I dropped it for several reasons. One of...I could definitely see this becoming relevant for me as well. I took a semester of Russian in college as well as a few months of Duolingo beyond that, but I dropped it for several reasons. One of which is that I cannot really hear soft vs hard sounds easily, which means ш and щ sounds identical to me, especially mid-word. Every native or experienced speaker just repeats them back to back like I should be able to catch it, but after months of trying I gave up.
Maybe Russian isn't the language for me, but I hate feeling like I gave up on something attainable for such a dumb reason. A couple people I've talked to more recently say that the difference doesn't really matter, and that context will be enough for people to tell the difference. I hope so, because this post might be the guideposts I follow to re-start learning (albeit at a slower pace).
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Comment on Why blog if nobody reads it? in ~tech
Banazir Link ParentI recommend trying a static site generator like Hugo or Pelican. You write markdown, execute one command to convert it to HTML, then upload the resulting files. A basic conf file lets you generate...I recommend trying a static site generator like Hugo or Pelican. You write markdown, execute one command to convert it to HTML, then upload the resulting files. A basic conf file lets you generate a menu and a homepage to your liking.
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Comment on PlayStation Network is still down after fourteen hours and no one knows why in ~games
Banazir Link ParentThe MH Wilds open beta is both this weekend and next, then we have two weeks before the game launches. I think a lot of players missed the beta weekend in November, so the double weekend is nice....The MH Wilds open beta is both this weekend and next, then we have two weeks before the game launches. I think a lot of players missed the beta weekend in November, so the double weekend is nice. I still think the game needs to be delayed so it gets optimized, right now it runs horribly even if I turn graphics down so it looks worse than World or Rise.
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Comment on I just turned 29 last month, what are some things I should be thinking about before my 30s? in ~talk
Banazir LinkThis is very timely for me, as I turn 29 in just a couple weeks. I'll be keeping an eye on this to see what advice you get, and hopefully take advantage of it! I do see some of the stereotypical...This is very timely for me, as I turn 29 in just a couple weeks. I'll be keeping an eye on this to see what advice you get, and hopefully take advantage of it!
I do see some of the stereotypical advice: exercise, diet, dental care, etc. I feel like that advice is easy to ignore because it comes up so often that we brush it to the side (yes dad/mom, I'll do <X>...), so I hope to see some more unique perspectives as well.
There's day-one DLC, but it looks like it's cosmetics and horse armor. The quests and expansions are included in the base game as far as I can tell. From the Steam page:
The graphic for the deluxe edition isn't clear, so it looks like Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine are deluxe-only, but the rest of the page says otherwise. I could be wrong, but I'm hoping I'm not. After all, Skyrim had the Legendary Edition with all 3 major DLC expansions for $30, and the Special Edition was free if you had Legendary Edition in your library. I don't think it's a stretch to expect the same in the Oblivion remaster.