BeardyHat's recent activity
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Comment on open_slate: private and powerful 2-in-1 tablet in ~tech
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat LinkLast year I decided I wanted to play through the original Half-Life again, as it's been awhile for me. So I played through it on my Steam Deck, loved it and then jumped into Black Mesa, which was...Last year I decided I wanted to play through the original Half-Life again, as it's been awhile for me. So I played through it on my Steam Deck, loved it and then jumped into Black Mesa, which was pretty great, up until Xen where it falls off a cliff.
But I finished that back in March of 2025 and I've been flitting around to other things lately, until recently when I was bored and looking for something to play, so I thought to myself: Why not play Half-Life 2? It's been ages since I last played it and in spite of loving it, I never did play it as much as I played the original game, given it came out when I was a teenager and I was obsessed with it.
So I ended-up finishing Episode 2 this week having polished off the main game and the first Episode and man, what a fantastic series, though the ending of Episode 2 leaves me disappointed allover again, which sucks. So at this point, I'm going to try and motivate to see if I can finally play Half-Life: Alyx. I have the setup for it, it's just the motivation is lacking; I generally don't want to jump around and do VR in the evenings when I finally have time to game, once the kids are in bed. But I know my wife would like to watch, so that may help.
I'll probably also end-up playing through Portal again as well, since it's also been awhile for me there and it adds some to the story. I do feel a little guilty replaying old stuff I've already played, when there's so many games I really want to play, but just don't feel like.
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Comment on Survey reveals almost 50% of California teachers may quit teaching soon in ~life
BeardyHat LinkTeaching seems very hard right now. Last week I chaperoned my oldest kids class on a field trip. There's a "friend" my child has, who isn't really a friend, but has glommed on to my kid, so I...Teaching seems very hard right now.
Last week I chaperoned my oldest kids class on a field trip. There's a "friend" my child has, who isn't really a friend, but has glommed on to my kid, so I ended-up watching him along with my kid. And man, I don't think he's a bad kid, but he clearly lacks for attention and discipline at home, acting out pretty aggressively at school. I could just see my kid's teacher's exasperation with this particular child and I know he's not the only one like this that she has in her class of 22.
I don't know how she does it, other than being young and having the energy to deal with these kids.
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Leon S. Kennedy is a car salesman now
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentMy cars now are a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan with 247k miles, a 2013 Honda Fit and my project 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I still get enjoyment out of working on my cars, but there's just no reason to...My cars now are a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan with 247k miles, a 2013 Honda Fit and my project 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I still get enjoyment out of working on my cars, but there's just no reason to go fast. I've got nothing to prove, I just want to get my family to my destination safely.
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Comment on Lenovo’s new ThinkPads score 10/10 for repairability in ~tech
BeardyHat LinkAwesome to see and I'm excited to own one in a couple of years when they're fully depreciated and sold off by the businesses buying them now. I'm a sucker for Thinkpads. I've owned more than half...Awesome to see and I'm excited to own one in a couple of years when they're fully depreciated and sold off by the businesses buying them now.
I'm a sucker for Thinkpads. I've owned more than half a dozen now in 10 years or so and currently own two, I look forward to many more.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentIt's hard for a lot of people to care. They're overworked, underpaid and generally just trying to get by. I get your frustration, I feel it too, even in the little things. I've been a board member...It's hard for a lot of people to care. They're overworked, underpaid and generally just trying to get by.
I get your frustration, I feel it too, even in the little things. I've been a board member and President of my community association for near 6 years now and basically begged people to show up and still nothing. I've had people complain at me about neighborhood issues when these same people do not pay their (voluntary) dues, do not come to the meetings, do not participate in neighborhood activities and generally just don't try to be a part of our community, but expect everything in return. I've told these people off... Politely and diplomatically, of course.
But we're a nation of 400-million, so attitudes vary. I've been out on the streets, marching in utterly packed protests, been out there since 2016, in fact. Didn't feel like our participation changed anything at that time, so it's understandable that people don't feel like bothering when they're already feeling the pressure and running as fast as they can just to get by.
But I've seen attitudes changing. My parents won't change, much as I've talked to them, but they're in their 70s. My sister, who is one of those who didn't care, hardly voted, not really politically active had her blinders ripped off. She's not out there in the streets or anything, but she realizes now that this shit matters and has come to understand that her vote matters and that it needs to be cast a certain way right now.
I have other friends who are similar, but are now more active. They've come to those protests, finally. People are becoming more engaged. Look at Minnesota, we won a small victory there because Americans kept up the pressure. It's minor and the fight must continue, but those brave people were out there in the cold, getting their asses kicked, getting murdered by jack booted thugs. That ain't nothing.
And that's the kind of stuff that makes me proud to be an American. I'm 41, I've voted in every election since I was 18. My first Presidential election was Bush/Kerry in 04; I was never proud to be an American. I was always ashamed of my country and my people, because I felt similar to you: "what the fuck is happening?"
But I've had that change of heart relatively recently. Seeing people out on the streets with me, seeing people pissed off and trying what they can to do something about it, it reminds me that I'm part of a long lineage of Americans, of all stripes, of all races that came out and protests and said, "this shit ain't right and I want a change." A lot of those people died, plenty in my own state.. But you have Americans like Jane Addams, MLK Jr., W.E.. Debois, brave Americans who I'm not comparable to, but who fought the power and won, who changed things, some at the cost of their lives. That's the shit that makes me proud to be an American.
I'm not saying I don't understand your frustration, I do, I feel it. But we're not all the same and many of us are doing what we can to fight those in power while still struggling along in our daily lives, to get through work, pay our bills, take care of our kids and all the other little frustrations and difficulties that come with life and life in the USA right now.
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Comment on Apple announces Macbook Neo, a new budget Mac in ~tech
BeardyHat LinkHonestly looks pretty nice and I like that they're bringing back colors. For reference, I am and have always been a PC guy. Never owned a Mac, do not like Apple products generally, but this looks...Honestly looks pretty nice and I like that they're bringing back colors.
For reference, I am and have always been a PC guy. Never owned a Mac, do not like Apple products generally, but this looks nice and it's wonderfully affordable. Don't think I would ever buy one, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it either.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentI made a post above, but yes also this. I don't even change my desktop wallpapers anymore. Switch Windows to dark mode and let it ride. Most of the time I'm going to have windows up and I'm not...I made a post above, but yes also this. I don't even change my desktop wallpapers anymore. Switch Windows to dark mode and let it ride. Most of the time I'm going to have windows up and I'm not going to see it anyway. The only time I see my desktop is when I'm using one of the folders on it and even then, I'm not paying attention to what the background is.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentI still like tinkering to an extent. Linux is a bridge too far for me, honestly. In theory I like it, but I find the 90% of my time with it is tweaking things and trying to get stuff to work and I...I still like tinkering to an extent.
Linux is a bridge too far for me, honestly. In theory I like it, but I find the 90% of my time with it is tweaking things and trying to get stuff to work and I absolutely can do it, but I just quickly lose patience because I want to use my PC for what I want to use it for, rather than dick with it constantly.
There's nothing wrong with Linux, I like it and even have it running a few things in my house; but the difference with those things is that they're setup and going and don't require constant futzing with.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentWe still like you. We're not all in lockstep. Also for what it's worth, Dear Leader also called our own military a "bunch of Suckers." Dude has no respect for anyone except himself.We still like you. We're not all in lockstep.
Also for what it's worth, Dear Leader also called our own military a "bunch of Suckers." Dude has no respect for anyone except himself.
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Comment on The secretive company filling video game sites with gambling and AI in ~games
BeardyHat LinkI mostly skimmed this, none of it was surprising. But I'll take a moment to point out a new site from many former RPS contributors: jank.coolI mostly skimmed this, none of it was surprising.
But I'll take a moment to point out a new site from many former RPS contributors:
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentI'm just so generally sick of it. We have watched some Clone Wars together, but they weren't super keen on it and given my general distaste for anything Star Wars these days, I had no real...I'm just so generally sick of it. We have watched some Clone Wars together, but they weren't super keen on it and given my general distaste for anything Star Wars these days, I had no real interest in continuing either.
I struggle to even play Star Wars games I once loved, like Dark Force 1/2, Jedi Knight 2, KOTOR, etc.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentAlmost 6 and 8. We've played a few games together; I recently bought Grounded to play with them, which was fun, but the time is still difficult to find. Their screen time coincides with my routine...Almost 6 and 8.
We've played a few games together; I recently bought Grounded to play with them, which was fun, but the time is still difficult to find. Their screen time coincides with my routine of cleaning my kitchen and cooking dinner and after dinner, they're all done with screens. So sometimes they'll watch me play a game after dinner, because that's finally my relax time and then they go to bed an hour or two later.
We'll see if it changes as they get older and become teenagers, but I honestly may still not play many games with them. I've been a solo gamer my entire life, even when I was playing multiplayer games, I generally played by myself with a brief period of time in my early 30's where I played a lot with a friend of mine. But even these days my buddies want me to play games with them, I usually don't because it's finally my time to unwind and relax, so I have to be in a certain mindset to want to play and interact with people and I'm kind of expecting this to carry through with my kids.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentActually, 90% of my music is still Metal, but otherwise the rest is absolutely correct. I had my wife make all my band t-shirts into a quilt like ten years ago now; I don't spend my entire day...Actually, 90% of my music is still Metal, but otherwise the rest is absolutely correct.
I had my wife make all my band t-shirts into a quilt like ten years ago now; I don't spend my entire day sifting through forums and looking for new bands or music. I occasionally get some new albums or bands filtering to me through random sources, but I largely just follow the bands I like.
As for the shows though, I think that's just age, honestly! My favorite band came to town last year and I went to see them, but I was honestly sort of dreading it, because I knew how late it would be and standing all night with my bad knees sounded like hell. I was amused and hugely grateful when they went on at like 9pm and I thought to myself, "I'm going to be in bed by 11!" This is 40, apparently.
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Comment on Humble Choice - March 2026 in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentI'll fight @ricewind for Etrian. But they can have it first, since they beat me to it.I'll fight @ricewind for Etrian.
But they can have it first, since they beat me to it.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat LinkLots of things, mostly bands? Used to be very into Melo-Death Metal, bands like Dark Tranquillity (yes, that's spelled "correctly") and some early Death Metal like Death. I'm pretty much over...Lots of things, mostly bands?
Used to be very into Melo-Death Metal, bands like Dark Tranquillity (yes, that's spelled "correctly") and some early Death Metal like Death. I'm pretty much over those things in general. I really very much enjoyed Melo-Death, but Death as a band is something I felt like I had to like, rather than genuinely enjoyed and I'm kind of over that now.
Multiplayer games: After I had my kids, I was still trying to play multiplayer games. I was deep into World of Warplanes and World of Tanks at the time. I kept trying to play them, but would get angry whenever I needed to stop playing a match to attend to my children. It was then I realized they just weren't compatible for me anymore and I stopped completely; since then, I've totally lost interest in them and multiplayer is never a selling point as it once was when I was a teen/20-something.
Fast cars: There was a time, again in my teens and early 20's where I really wanted a fast car. It was important to me that I could beat other guys my age in a stoplight race. I regularly tweaked and souped my vehicles to make more power, as well as took them to the drag strip to race against myself and see how I was doing.
Somewhere around 23 or 24, I realized that there was really no point in this and that I was generally a pretty slow and cautious driver. I sold my last fast car and bought a Honda Civic for the gas mileage and never looked back. I still like cars; I still repair and modify them, but I'm far more concerned with utility and comfort over anything else. I would so much rather have my ancient minivan than any of the fast cars I used to drive.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
BeardyHat Link ParentI hear this. I was also somewhat of a mild Star Wars fan. Enjoyed the movies, enjoyed the games, even somewhat enjoyed the prequals as they released. But these days? Completely over it. Feel like...I hear this. I was also somewhat of a mild Star Wars fan. Enjoyed the movies, enjoyed the games, even somewhat enjoyed the prequals as they released. But these days? Completely over it. Feel like Star Wars has been jammed down my throat and I just cannot possibly care anymore; feels like absolute slop.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
I've had a few of these 2-in-1's, including:
Surface Go 1
Thinkpad X12 Gen 1
Surface Go 2
Surface Pro 7
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
I got the Thinkpad and the Surface Pro because I thought I'd appreciate the extra power and the slightly bigger size over the rest of the tablets which are 10", but I ended-up not liking them because of the size. The power was acceptable, though not significantly better than either of the Surface Go's because all of them were fanless.
Ultimately, between the Thinkpad and the Pro, I went back to the Go 2, because a 10" keyboard is perfectly useable for regular PC tasks, it had enough power for older games and to run most simple applications and they were a great size for actually using as a tablet. I often like to play stuff like Heroes of Might and Magic in tablet format, as well as read magazines or guides for games in tablet mode and the 10" form factor is perfect for that; I can hold it with one hand and scroll, the screen is a reasonable size and it's even mostly comfortable to laydown and hold up or hold on my side.
The 12" just never felt great. They felt like too much of a compromise to me. Too large and uncomfortable to use strictly as a tablet, but using them as a laptop felt stupid because (at the time) I had a Thinkpad X1 Nano which was only a hair bigger, offered more power and a better keyboard/mouse experience. Even now, I have a big old 16" Thinkpad P1 Gen 4 and at 4lbs, it's about twice the weight of a Surface Pro, but still feels very portable and is significantly more powerful, so again I think, "Why am I not just using my proper laptop?"
The Samsung Android tablet has taken some getting used to, but it's grown on me quite a bit. I've actually stopped using my Surface Go 2 and am considering selling it because the Samsung is significantly better in terms of screen and speakers. It has sufficient enough power to play some Android games such as Civ 6, unlike the Surface Go and it still has access to Heroes of Might and Magic. Plus can emulate DOS, as well as a lot of older consoles (Dreamcast Typing of the Dead plays great. Can you tell I'm mostly game focused?) with ease and the battery life, while obviously worn, is quite good.
I do dislike how Android is pretty locked down and I need to use hacks to get to some of my files deep in the OS, but obviously you don't seem too concerned with Android given you're interested in Linux.
Anyway, all that said, 10" is absolutely where it's at for me and it feels like a perfect compliment and travel companion to my Steam Deck for when I want more intensive games, but still want the opportunity to use a proper keyboard for stuff like this post (I am using the Samsung Tab to type this. Though irritatingly, no spellcheck with the Samsung keyboard attachment), as well as have the versatility to use it how I like to use tablets.