BeardyHat'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 What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat LinkI think I'm calling it quits on Elden Ring. I made it to the Mountaintops of Giants and it seems like such a sudden ramp up in difficulty--and annoying ass enemies--that I feel kind of done. Elden...I think I'm calling it quits on Elden Ring. I made it to the Mountaintops of Giants and it seems like such a sudden ramp up in difficulty--and annoying ass enemies--that I feel kind of done. Elden Ring is generally a fine game and there's a lot I like about it, but I do think it generally pales in comparison to the Souls series, especially Dark Souls 3. At this point, I feel like I'm well done with Elden Ring and probably will not be returning to it (again) to finish it off or start a new character or whatever.
After owning it for years and with the recent announcement of the new game, I finally decided to give Ace Combat 7 a go. I've only played one other Ace Combat game in the past, that being Skies of Deception on PSP and while I was initially put off by the Fantasy/Sci Fantasy trappings of the game, I really just enjoyed playing it. I don't give a lick about the story, but the Jets are fun to drool over and the flying generally just feels fun. I did get to one of those "Boss Battles" like the 7th mission or whatever, where there's an NPC who is clearly cheating by being able to fly and maneuver beyond the laws of physics, as well as taking multiple strikes from Missiles/Guns, but I guess that's whatever. It's not my favorite aspect of the game, but it's still fun enough. I've not played it for a few days now, but I'm thinking I'll go back to it relatively soon here.
Saturday was a rare day for me. I very rarely play games with my friends these days and even more rarely for long periods of time, but I ended-up playing Valheim with them from about 1pm to 10pm, with random breaks in between. My kids went off to a neighborhood birthday party and then ended-up playing with other neighbor kids afterwards and my wife left the house around 5pm, so I didn't have a lot going on. I'd been thinking about jumping back into it with the 1.0 patch and seeing my friends play convinced me it was time. So we made good progress and I had an awesome time hanging out with them all day and I've been jonesing for more Valheim ever since. I don't particularly feel like going back to my own playthrough from about two years ago, but my friend didn't start a dedicated server, so I haven't been able to jump on and just mindlessly gather resources for our base, so I'm kind of at a loss for what to do. I did end-up starting a new world with 3x resource gain and played for a brief period of time, but it's just not the same at the moment.
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Comment on Deciding whether (or not) to have a child in ~life
BeardyHat LinkI have two kids. Yesterday, one of them was having a complete meltdown about putting on any kind of footwear to go to school. After 25 minutes of this, I went from being completely calm and...I have two kids.
Yesterday, one of them was having a complete meltdown about putting on any kind of footwear to go to school. After 25 minutes of this, I went from being completely calm and patient to lifting them up and yelling at them and telling them to "Get in the fucking car, we're going to school." It put a damper on my day and made me feel like shit for pretty much the rest of the day.
This morning: I'm still in bed right now, but they've gone downstairs and are happily playing. I can hear them and they figured out how to somehow get into (it's locked and unplugged on the inside) the arcade cabinet I built and start playing it. Normally, it's deliberately turned off, because it often causes problems and a lot of frustration and yelling (Retro Games, eh?), but I also couldn't be more proud of the two of them.
They had a problem, they worked together and they used to ingenuity to figure out a solution. I'm not even mad.
But this is what it's like. There are highs and there are lows. You're a different person now. Not right away, but you'll find in a few years time you're very different. Yes, you will worry about the future; you'll worry about them. Especially as a person like myself with anxiety or depression. But you can't do shit about most of that. My kids have an otherwise good life and I'm doing my best, along with my wife, to raise two conscientious, independent adults and that's all you can do.
And for what it's worth, one of my kids was born in the early years of the first Trump Administration and the second was born right at the beginning of the Pandemic, April 2020. It's hard, it's taxing, it's full of worry and anxiety about the future, but those aren't the only things it is either. It's exciting, it's fun, it's rewarding, it's funny, it's silly and for me, it changed me for the better.
Edit: I also want to say, we just got a report from my oldest teacher the other day. They's excelling in class, reading and doing math very well and they're a role model to his classmates. They help their classmates with their work when they're done and otherwise lead by example. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but we need people like that if we're ever going to get through the future. I was never that person, so to see it in my kid is just something else.
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Comment on What is your "when I found out about 9/11" story? in ~talk
BeardyHat LinkI don't remember a lot about the day itself, but I do remember the morning. It was about 6:45am here in Denver and I'm pretty sure I was still in bed, not ready to get up for school. I was 17 and...I don't remember a lot about the day itself, but I do remember the morning. It was about 6:45am here in Denver and I'm pretty sure I was still in bed, not ready to get up for school. I was 17 and had just recently began my Junior year in High School.
Suddenly my Mom is calling me in to her room, she's got the TV on as she always does when she gets up and starts getting ready in the morning, so she can watch the early shows (Possibly Regis and Kelly at the time?). She calls me in, I groggily get up and see one of the towers smoking, where my Mom explains that a plane has crashed into it. We're talking about it as such a weird accident, how could a plane be flying so low in New York City that they'd hit a skyskraper?
A short fifteen minutes later, while the cameras are still rolling on the WTC, the other plane comes in at full speed and crashes into the other tower. At that point, everything just went kind of surreal and I don't remember the rest of the day. My Mom took me to school--can't remember if I rode the bus or she dropped me off--and I recall little bits, talking about it in class, possibly having TVs on in a handful of classrooms to watch what was happening (it was a newer high school) and that's about all I remember. Don't recall if we went home early or what happened after I got there. I can really only vividly recall that early morning wake-up and watching things go down on Live TV.
It's weird to feel a little bit of anxiety and PTSD just writing it down here. It didn't directly affect me in anyway, but it certainly was an inflection point in our American history and is likely a big reason why we are where we are today. It's hard to believe it's been 25 years and now I'm 42 years old.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 nominations topic in ~games
BeardyHat LinkBoost: Resident Evil (REMake) Been mulling over what I want to do for several days now and thinking I wanted to boost Descent or maybe nominate a classic DOS or Windows game, but I've been busy...Boost: Resident Evil (REMake)
Been mulling over what I want to do for several days now and thinking I wanted to boost Descent or maybe nominate a classic DOS or Windows game, but I've been busy and haven't had much time to think on it.
So instead, I'm coming in and boosting something I've been wanting to play for awhile now anyway.
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Comment on In search of the hypothetical iPhone Duo buyer in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentOut of curiosity, why not just ditch the laptop stand, keyboard and track pad? Obviously it's not a massive space savings, but it's not nothing either and seems rather extraneous, somewhat...Out of curiosity, why not just ditch the laptop stand, keyboard and track pad? Obviously it's not a massive space savings, but it's not nothing either and seems rather extraneous, somewhat defeating the point of a laptop?
Or perhaps there's a more compact stand where you could continue to use the laptops built in keyboard and track pad?
Not throwing shade, just genuinely curious.
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Comment on Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentMoto still has good options. I just bought my wife a 2024 G Power (had more RAM than the newer ones) for $137 back in April. I have a Pixel 7 Pro (which I myself received for free as a hand me...Moto still has good options. I just bought my wife a 2024 G Power (had more RAM than the newer ones) for $137 back in April.
I have a Pixel 7 Pro (which I myself received for free as a hand me down) and the G Power seems basically the same and has features I miss from my other Motorola phones.
In the history of Smart Phones I think I only ever bought one Flagship Phone, which was a $800 HTC in like 2010 or something. That phone showed me there was no real benefit to buying an extremely expensive phone over a cheap ass one; they're functionally the same and they last, in terms of usefulness, the same amount of time.
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Comment on My son pooped in the toilet in ~life
BeardyHat Link ParentOh yeah, all good advice. Never did do this, but the toilets would flush constantly for my kids and my oldest refused to dry their hands because of the noise from the dryers being so damn loud.Oh yeah, all good advice.
Never did do this, but the toilets would flush constantly for my kids and my oldest refused to dry their hands because of the noise from the dryers being so damn loud.
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Comment on My son pooped in the toilet in ~life
BeardyHat LinkCongrats for your kiddo! Don't be disappointed when they regress though. There will be a back and forth! One of the most effective things I found when I was training my second kiddo was just to...Congrats for your kiddo!
Don't be disappointed when they regress though. There will be a back and forth!
One of the most effective things I found when I was training my second kiddo was just to remove the diaper entirely and let them run around half naked. Accidents were common trying to use underwear, but not existent bareassed.
This is your unsolicited advice for the day.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentI had a little fiddling with mine to unblock some stuff that was automatically blocked, but otherwise it's been pretty great for the several years I've had if now. I even used it to block...I had a little fiddling with mine to unblock some stuff that was automatically blocked, but otherwise it's been pretty great for the several years I've had if now.
I even used it to block Pinterest at my wife's request because she felt she was too addicted.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentThanks for this. My LG has only connected to the Internet once (when a guest ignored my instructions on how to use it as a dumb monitor and connected it anyway), but I'm going to implement this...Thanks for this. My LG has only connected to the Internet once (when a guest ignored my instructions on how to use it as a dumb monitor and connected it anyway), but I'm going to implement this anyway.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentWe often poke fun at my brother in laws girlfriend, because she likes ads. When told she could block them, she says, "But then how would I know what to buy?" Sweet woman, but utterly confusing, as...We often poke fun at my brother in laws girlfriend, because she likes ads. When told she could block them, she says, "But then how would I know what to buy?"
Sweet woman, but utterly confusing, as well.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentTell the Chud Majority in office that it's illicitly records their Grindr encounters and I bet we'd see legislation the next day.Tell the Chud Majority in office that it's illicitly records their Grindr encounters and I bet we'd see legislation the next day.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentI also use a regular old PC as an HTPC. I actually thought about setting up an easier to use interface than just the Windows Desktop, but my wife actually prefers navigating a desktop environment...I also use a regular old PC as an HTPC. I actually thought about setting up an easier to use interface than just the Windows Desktop, but my wife actually prefers navigating a desktop environment with the wireless KBM combo to a more "user friendly" interface.
Which works for me. Less work and it makes it easy for my kids to get into Steam to play their games.
But I guess it all makes sense, I've been using old PCs in this capacity since like 2010 or so, when we still had a big old Sony Trinitron CRT.
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Comment on Adulting -- what advice or encouragement did you receive / wish you had received when you were just starting out moving out? in ~life
BeardyHat LinkJust put shit on autopay. It seems like you're going to run out of money, so you choose to pay your bills as they're due, but that's going to result in your overdrafting, being late on your bills,...Just put shit on autopay.
It seems like you're going to run out of money, so you choose to pay your bills as they're due, but that's going to result in your overdrafting, being late on your bills, etc.
Make-up a schedule:
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First paycheck of the month goes to these three bills and accounts for $500, comes out on exactly the 11th every month.
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Second paycheck goes to these four bills and accounts for $1000 a month and comes out exactly on the 26th.
You'll be thankful you did and you'll always be aware of when those chunks are coming out of your account, which will make you better with money.
Always check your bank account. You might be scared to, but you'll be better off knowing what you have in there in the long run and eventually, you'll just have a running tally in your brain with your autopay and you may not need to check it terribly often anymore.
Finance something you can afford. Don't go out and buy a $70000 car, but maybe go to a credit union and get a loan for $10k for a reasonable used car (or something expensive) and get that shit on autopay. Start building that credit as a young person now, because it's going to benefit you to have a good credit score sooner than later.
And just a general piece of advice I like to give my kids:
If you don't do anything hard and you never fail, you won't learn anything.
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Comment on Anyone sold their 40k armies? How'd you feel about it? in ~games.tabletop
BeardyHat Link ParentYeah, it's just confusing to me that people like it so much. Obviously, different strokes, but I just cannot see any appeal to it.Yeah, it's just confusing to me that people like it so much. Obviously, different strokes, but I just cannot see any appeal to it.
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Comment on Anyone sold their 40k armies? How'd you feel about it? in ~games.tabletop
BeardyHat Link ParentI'll definitely be selling what I have. I have a fairly limited income at the moment and while selling all my stuff will be a massive pain, it'll bring me an influx of cash to invest in other...I'll definitely be selling what I have. I have a fairly limited income at the moment and while selling all my stuff will be a massive pain, it'll bring me an influx of cash to invest in other stuff I'm more immediately interested in, even if it's just STLs for my other wargames.
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Comment on Anyone sold their 40k armies? How'd you feel about it? in ~games.tabletop
BeardyHat Link ParentI have plenty of MtG myself. Though that stuff doesn't bother me, because nothing really needs to be done with it. Most of the stuff is in a cabinet and I've left a handful of decks assembled for...I have plenty of MtG myself. Though that stuff doesn't bother me, because nothing really needs to be done with it. Most of the stuff is in a cabinet and I've left a handful of decks assembled for when my friends and I get together, we have something easy to do that is compatible with multiplayer.
Seeing what Hasbro is doing with MtG at the moment really makes me resolve to never buy another card pack again. I am just not down with all the crossover stuff, not to mention the expense and the constant changeover. It's actually very similar to how GW operates, given they're constantly invalidating units, let alone entire armies (see Beasts of Chaos in Age of Sigmar) and then bringing out new editions constantly and then having constant, obligatory rules updates (Generals Handbooks).
But yeah, my other caveat comes in the fact that I just do not at all care for the Lore in 40k at all. Obviously you and many other people do, but for me, it never really clicked. In fact, the reason I chose Orks in the first place is because it felt like they were "Immune to Lore" for lack of a better term. Like they just didn't matter, all they want to do is krump and dakka and it doesn't go any further than that. 40k lore seems so arbitrary to me, I can't invest myself in it in anyway.
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Comment on Anyone sold their 40k armies? How'd you feel about it? in ~games.tabletop
BeardyHat (edited )Link ParentI do think selling it off and letting someone else paint the vast majority of it would feel like a load off. And honestly, you're right and it should be telling to me that amongst all the wargames...I do think selling it off and letting someone else paint the vast majority of it would feel like a load off. And honestly, you're right and it should be telling to me that amongst all the wargames I own models for, 40k is the least of the stuff I've painted. Both my Age of Sigmar armies are 95-100% painted, my Bolt Action armies are also 95-100% painted and while my other, smaller wargaming armies are significantly less so, they take up less space and were overall less investment, so I don't mind them sticking around.
I do keep looking at my Orks and thinking I ought to be painting them or making some progress, but whenever I paint one or try to batch paint them, I rapidly feel bored and also overwhelmed by just how much there is that needs to be done. One of the things 40k taught me is that I'm not a huge fan of army style games because there's just so much that needs to be painted.
I'm not necessarily ADHD (though I apparently have symptoms), but looking at all the unpainted 40k makes me feel absolutely overwhelmed and stressed by the fact that I'm not doing anything with them. Having them gone would be a relief.
And yeah, I have zero interest in Space Marines. I have no interest in pretty much any 40k videogame and even moreso if it's got Space Marines in it. I'm a huge fan of FPS games, as well as classic FPS games, but I can't bring myself to muster even the slightest interest in Boltgun due to that fact.
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Comment on Anyone sold their 40k armies? How'd you feel about it? in ~games.tabletop
BeardyHat Link ParentI think that's where I'm struggling a little bit. Normally, I'm not a terribly sentimental person and am always ready to jump on the train of selling stuff off that I'm not using and making space...I think that's where I'm struggling a little bit. Normally, I'm not a terribly sentimental person and am always ready to jump on the train of selling stuff off that I'm not using and making space for new stuff; it's largely how I've been able to afford a lot of my hobbies given I have very limited income at the moment.
But I am looking at selling stuff off as an opportunity to put that money elsewhere, as well as get rid of a display case in my office, or at least open the shelves up to something different. I have a lot of wargaming stuff that I've bought or 3d printed and the 40k stuff is taking up a lot of space that could be used better for things I'm actually interested in.
I think it's just some part of me feels a little wrong for not liking 40k when it seems to be such a popular universe and game system. So part of my brain is leaving room for me being wrong about not liking it, though I'm certain that I'll never come back around, given I've been pounding my head against a wall with it for several years now.
I've been dabbling a bit in No Man's Sky recently and honestly, that game just feels utterly hollow to me. While I was playing Valheim, I was comparing it in my head and thinking that one of the things that makes Valheim feel so good is the simple interactions of say, cutting down a tree. First you cut it, then you need to split the log and then you need to further chop that log into the boards you need.
Things feel physical and like they exist within the world, which I find interesting.
And now that you mention it, I do have a server PC myself, I could just run the dedicated server there. I'm not sure if my friends would actually pop on it or not though, given the progress we made the other day. Though I could probably setup a very basic base and then cart some resources over from one of my other worlds to try and ramp us up to where we were.