BradleyNull's recent activity

  1. Comment on Your creative ways to say "none of your business"? in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    I got better at it over time. I remember being more of a people pleaser when i was young and stuff like that would have been hard. I would have hedged infinitely, just skirting around saying 'no',...

    I got better at it over time. I remember being more of a people pleaser when i was young and stuff like that would have been hard. I would have hedged infinitely, just skirting around saying 'no', but never say it. Then eventually cave and say 'yes'.

    I think i was about 28 when I got over it and i realized it when I was at a bar and this guy was trying to get in front of people in line to order - and actually succeeding. He got to me and he had some line prepared like "Hey man, my friend is bartending. Let me go ahead and we'll all get served faster." Had i been younger, i wouldn't have been so naive to have believed him - but i certainly would have made up an excuse or beat around the bush or something - but in that moment i just looked at him and said "No." And he was taken aback - he held up his hands and started talking like i had just told him to 'fuck off'. But all i said was 'No.'

    Pretty powerful word, that. And yeah nowadays I am also pretty blunt.

    6 votes

  2. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Yeah, i was using that system, but it doesn't show amounts - which is critical when you need to juggle inventory and weight. I staked out an outpost and calculated the costs of the things I wanted...

    Yeah, i was using that system, but it doesn't show amounts - which is critical when you need to juggle inventory and weight. I staked out an outpost and calculated the costs of the things I wanted to build there, so i could got and buy or drill what i wanted, but still had to write out the exact amount of those things I needed on a notepad.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    I really dislike Starfield for a different reason. I have dumped hundreds of hours into every fallout and every elder scrolls game - and I'm a person that even loved the barren wasteland of...

    I really dislike Starfield for a different reason. I have dumped hundreds of hours into every fallout and every elder scrolls game - and I'm a person that even loved the barren wasteland of Fallout 3. There's something compelling to me about traversing wide spaces and wondering what's around each corner.

    But that mostly hinges on actually traversing the space. Ironically, you don't do that in Starfield. Everything you explore in Starfield is a little compartmentalized area - there are no 'between the places' spaces. Just can't overstate how ironic that is for a Bethesda game set in space. It almost reminds me of what I hate about modern World of Warcraft - that there's almost nothing happening in the world ... everything, instead, happens in little instance spaces you teleport to (although i heard the new expansion may be an exception).

    This feeling is particularly exceptional given the procedurally generated nature of the worlds. Now i'm teleporting to little boxes of procedurally generated rocks with some really underwhelming caves, natural formations, and settlements. And these things were all set the world to make it feel more alive, but the lack of personal touch seems to make it feel the exact opposite.

    It's very hard to feel "in" the game. Everything seems to be pulling me out. And speaking of pulling out, i'm sitting here pulling my hair out navigating all the terrible menus in the game. Man, those things really suck. I had to take a step back to 2000, where I'm keeping track of things on a separate physical notepad next to me because I can't keep track of what i have on my ship, what i need to buy, and all the ingredients i need to finish building my little outpost setup. What a slog. Menus need a lot of help, and I really need a shopping list in the game.

    10 votes

  4. Comment on Would y'all mind if I post playlists here? in ~music

    BradleyNull
    Link
    Probably not an issue now. It's something i think could eventually devolve into "low effort content", but cross that bridge when we get to it. If it inspires others to do the same then we may want...

    Probably not an issue now. It's something i think could eventually devolve into "low effort content", but cross that bridge when we get to it. If it inspires others to do the same then we may want to do like a monthly big post.

    3 votes

  5. Comment on Best genre, artist, playlist etc., to boost productivity when writing? in ~music

    BradleyNull
    Link
    The first System of a Down album, the song 'State of the Union' by Rise against, some Botch songs, Silversun Pickups. Kind of high energy gritty songs i guess is what does it for me.

    The first System of a Down album, the song 'State of the Union' by Rise against, some Botch songs, Silversun Pickups. Kind of high energy gritty songs i guess is what does it for me.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Tech billionaires launch California ‘utopia’ website in ~design

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Does this relieve housing pressure? People tend to want to get all their value back for the houses they're leaving. So they're going to either sell the houses to people of similar socioeconomic...

    Does this relieve housing pressure? People tend to want to get all their value back for the houses they're leaving. So they're going to either sell the houses to people of similar socioeconomic standing, rent the houses out, or sit on the property. If the house is sold to someone of similar socioeconomic standing, then nothing has effectively changed except the person who moved gets to live in a nice new place - good for them, but still totally out of reach for most people. If the house is rented out, then we have people in poorer circumstances funneling money to an already extremely advantaged city. If the owners sit on the property then they essentially kill parts of the towns they leave.

    I know this is all super negative, and I don't like to be like this - but I'm not really going to be excited about a bunch of billionaire's pet project when it feels like it's going to turn into a Utopia for only the Elite.

    6 votes

  7. Comment on Tech billionaires launch California ‘utopia’ website in ~design

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    I like the idea of the city, but my personal cynicism stems from a general distrust of most capitalist-led ventures. I'm suspect that this will be a 'by billionaires, for billionaires' kind of...

    I like the idea of the city, but my personal cynicism stems from a general distrust of most capitalist-led ventures. I'm suspect that this will be a 'by billionaires, for billionaires' kind of project. The fact that urban projects have been spearheaded in the past doesn't fill me with hope, because i feel like the entire zeitgeist is different in this area and this time. I would love to be wrong, though.

    11 votes

  8. Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Not quite sure what you mean by '...has been debunked.' The article you linked even recognizes the differences in 'complete' vs. 'incomplete' proteins. When I was taking nutrition classes, we...

    Not quite sure what you mean by '...has been debunked.'

    The article you linked even recognizes the differences in 'complete' vs. 'incomplete' proteins. When I was taking nutrition classes, we referred to the balancing of 'incomplete' proteins as taking 'complimentary' proteins. The fact that plant based sources, with a few exceptions, are largely absent in one amino acid or another is well established. Of course, a vegan diet can be rich in all amino acids - one just has to know how to vary their diet to get the compliments - which is the core of the question being asked by OP.

    8 votes

  9. Comment on Meat eaters of Tildes - what have you tried to make use more ethical? in ~food

    BradleyNull
    Link
    I have not done much to try to source ethical meat. i would like to, and i think it's important, but most of the methods of doing that are prohibitively expensive for me, or require more space...

    1. I have not done much to try to source ethical meat. i would like to, and i think it's important, but most of the methods of doing that are prohibitively expensive for me, or require more space than i have, or are mired in my own cynicism - meaning, like, when someone says 'cage free chicken' in the U.S. I know that doesn't really mean what it means on the surface. It's hard to put any trust into someone selling you something because businesses are intentionally misleading.

    2. I can eat vegetarian for long stretches of time, but not vegan. My main source of protein can be protein shakes for a long time, totally eliminating any need for meat in my meals. My real food tends to just be veggies, nuts, fruits, and rice. I will get something like chicken teriyaki once a week.

    3. I like the quorn products, but they're hard to find near me and they're pricey. Beans and rice are always a classic - but the beans are hard on my stomach. Protein shakes are palatable, but I wouldn't call them tasty - they're more just a means to an end. Same with fried tofu.

    5 votes

  10. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Thanks for that. Yes part of the reason I struggle with this is exactly what you said - the software/data engineering contribution is abstract. But there's also this other part, and i'm not sure...

    Thanks for that. Yes part of the reason I struggle with this is exactly what you said - the software/data engineering contribution is abstract. But there's also this other part, and i'm not sure i'm going to be able to articulate it correctly - being a part of these organizations sometimes feels very inefficient. A fitting comparison given the subject matter is that i often see it like an engine. A complex set of moving parts, but 70% of that energy is being dissipated as heat. Maybe it's just the places i've worked, but there often seems to be a lot of motion but nothing really happening.

    But yeah, I work in local government so my job isn't as lucrative as one i could get somewhere else - but I do get a fair amount of free time as my entire job is about automation and I regularly automate things I do. So i figured I would fill that time with studying. I just made a profile on that job board though and I will browse through it.

    Thank you.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Thanks for that link, I made a profile and I am perusing it now.

    Thanks for that link, I made a profile and I am perusing it now.

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Thank you for the ping, yes I will check these out.

    Thank you for the ping, yes I will check these out.

  13. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    The skin is not as stretchy - it is a bit thinner than a perogi. You can get them with different meat fillings, or potatoes. My favorite being mixed! And yes, I am compelled to eat an unhealthy...

    The skin is not as stretchy - it is a bit thinner than a perogi. You can get them with different meat fillings, or potatoes. My favorite being mixed!

    And yes, I am compelled to eat an unhealthy amount every time I get them. There's a restaurant near me that sells them, but there's also some larger russian communities and eastern european goods stores further north of me that sell them frozen. They're very good.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Broad category: Dumplings Smaller Category: Pel-mini Single cuisine: Pel-mini with sour cream, hot sauce, cilantro, curry powder, and vinegar. Bunker rations: I'm just gonna go with my single...

    Broad category: Dumplings

    Smaller Category: Pel-mini

    Single cuisine: Pel-mini with sour cream, hot sauce, cilantro, curry powder, and vinegar.

    Bunker rations: I'm just gonna go with my single cuisine, but freeze dried. Because i got a freeze dryer and it's awesome.

    1 vote

  15. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    The thesis is the only part of my master's i didn't complete. My instructors were all surprised because i was generally a very interested and capable student in classes, but it was that focused...

    The thesis is the only part of my master's i didn't complete. My instructors were all surprised because i was generally a very interested and capable student in classes, but it was that focused attention on one thing that made it difficult. I'm interested in trying school again, but this time I have my diagnosis in hand and my psychiatrist said I could call her up to get started on a ritalin/aderall regimen. For now, though, i've opted to just use therapy. Fortunately I got a really good therapist who also has ADHD. One of the biggest things I've learned to do is just accept those parts of the ADHD that aren't such a problem. I fought against my symptoms arbitrarily because i just didn't want to accept that I function in my manner. Acceptance has led to far fewer symptoms of depression and I bounce back much quicker when i get a little sad. Anxiety is still there, but I got one end of the spectrum reduced, at least.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link
    I'm a software engineer, but I feel some existential and ecological dread. I want to go back and study materials science and electrical engineering and see if I can contribute to solar cell or...

    I'm a software engineer, but I feel some existential and ecological dread. I want to go back and study materials science and electrical engineering and see if I can contribute to solar cell or energy storage research. Unfortunately school is expensive, so I'm trying to game it out as much as possible. I have an advanced degree in experimental psychology, so I can flesh out many of the pre-reqs for another degree - I need to polish up on my math and chemistry, so I'm working on that in my own and looking to take some community college classes and/or CLEP exams to flesh out the other pre-reqs.

    Not sure how I'm going to make time for classes, though. I don't really have anyone to fall back on or anything. I have to support myself. I think my best bet is ASU online and taking it at my own pace. I am lucky in that I make a decent wage and my mortgage is cheap, but this is still hard to do especially since I'm in my late 30's now. Getting more education is difficult. I wish there was some support - not just selfishly for myself, but for anyone - for education related to weathering the inevitable crises coming our way. I mean, at some point we have to let go of our current capitalistic systems and selflessly study, build, and mend what we can to mitigate ecological disaster, right?

    9 votes

  17. Comment on What’s an unrealistic expectation you feel pressured to meet? in ~talk

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Yeah and it's one of those unspoken things that nobody is that productive and a lot of our time is just kind of wasted at work. I hope for future generations' sake, they develop shorter work...

    Yeah and it's one of those unspoken things that nobody is that productive and a lot of our time is just kind of wasted at work. I hope for future generations' sake, they develop shorter work schedules because we just don't need to spend that much time in the office.

    26 votes

  18. Comment on Is it just me or in the last few years has everybody gotten full sleeve tattoos? in ~talk

  19. Comment on What did you recently do in your hobby that you're proud of? in ~hobbies

    BradleyNull
    Link
    I played a song at speed on the drums! It's a simpler song - Self esteem by the offspring. But I was having difficulty getting the double-stroke kicks at speed. Yesterday was the first time I got...

    I played a song at speed on the drums! It's a simpler song - Self esteem by the offspring. But I was having difficulty getting the double-stroke kicks at speed. Yesterday was the first time I got it in time. I isolated the part i was having a hard time with and just played that over and over, gradually building up to song tempo and I finally got it. I wasn't able to do it multiple times though, so I gotta work on my drumming stamina, but even getting it once was an accomplishment.

    11 votes

  20. Comment on When did you learn you had ADHD? in ~health.mental

    BradleyNull
    Link Parent
    Sparksbet is right on the money with everything they said and I couldn't agree more. I will just add to say - I'm opting out of medication for now. I may try some in the future, but I'm just...

    Sparksbet is right on the money with everything they said and I couldn't agree more. I will just add to say - I'm opting out of medication for now. I may try some in the future, but I'm just working on therapy. And therapy has definitely helped. It's helped me accept just being different and to stop fighting my nature. It's helped me lean into some of the ADHD habits to even help me in my life. One example of this is cleaning. I would get so stressed out about cleaning because i would get this idea in my head that i need to focus on one thing (let's say the kitchen) to the exclusion of anything else. And focusing on one thing was hard and I would end up dropping it early and getting very little done.

    What i do instead now is just put on some music and put myself in the place where things need to be done. I put no expectations on myself to accomplish one task - I just let my brain wander and pick up some laundry, put away some dishes, clean the toilet, etc. I avoid perfectionism in the form of trying to be overly efficient - i don't try to plan my route around the house so i'm optimally cleaning. I just let things go naturally and let my brain lead the way. It may be less efficient, but it's better for my mind.

    5 votes