Captain_Wacky's recent activity
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Comment on The 100 best novels of all time published in English in ~books
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Comment on The 100 best novels of all time published in English in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkFive entries go to a single author, (Woolf) and four apiece to another two authors. (Dickens and Austen) Not a single mention of Borges or Saramago, either.Five entries go to a single author, (Woolf) and four apiece to another two authors. (Dickens and Austen)
Not a single mention of Borges or Saramago, either.
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Comment on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ reviews mixed: “Boring and lifeless” vs. “best Star Wars in years” in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI feel like that would be the "free space" in a "Star Wars Reviews" Bingo card.I feel like that would be the "free space" in a "Star Wars Reviews" Bingo card.
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Comment on Tildes Survey #5: Pineapple on pizza? (Results) in ~talk
Captain_Wacky Link ParentYou may hate canned pineapple, which happens to be a pretty consistent thing. If possible, find a pizza place that serves fresh-cut grilled pineapple on their pizza. That'll make a true-believer...You may hate canned pineapple, which happens to be a pretty consistent thing.
If possible, find a pizza place that serves fresh-cut grilled pineapple on their pizza. That'll make a true-believer out of anybody.
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Comment on Can helium-3 create a gold rush on the moon? in ~space
Captain_Wacky LinkI feel like Betteridge's Law of Headlines would apply here. IIRC, there's only one private entity (Axiom Space) who's actively trying to put a continuously-manned space station into orbit....I feel like Betteridge's Law of Headlines would apply here.
IIRC, there's only one private entity (Axiom Space) who's actively trying to put a continuously-manned space station into orbit. According to Wikipedia, they planned on assembling four modules and attaching them to the ISS by 2024. They had money issues in 2023, scaled back the anticipated size of their initial station in 2024, and secured more funding in 2026. They are running their business (or at least the engineering dept) out of a refurbished "Fry's Electronics."
NASA wants to deorbit the ISS in 2030, with the Axiom Space Station running independent of the ISS by 2028. They have yet to place a single module, and it is currently May of 2026.
If private entities have yet to clear that hurdle, any talk about industry on another celestial body is pure fantasy. We don't have anything resembling a factory in LEO, let alone the Moon.
Not saying it's impossible, just highly improbable, till more realistic milestones are met.
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Comment on Robot dogs with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg heads roam around Berlin museum in Beeple’s new exhibit in ~arts
Captain_Wacky LinkAs if the robo-dogs and their wacky (yet precise) gait wasn't unsettling enough...As if the robo-dogs and their wacky (yet precise) gait wasn't unsettling enough...
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Comment on Interresting Reddit/Discord alternative : surikata.app in ~tech
Captain_Wacky LinkI really, really dig the aesthetics, but after putzing around for a few minutes, I can see the "vibe coded" quality, specifically with what I think was the "about this site" page. Scrolling queue...I really, really dig the aesthetics, but after putzing around for a few minutes, I can see the "vibe coded" quality, specifically with what I think was the "about this site" page.
Scrolling queue cards that roll off screen, all of which on an overlay and a "dead image" symbol on the top left corner, and a close button on the right that doesn't close, and the mission statement about said website is all just mindless business-yammering about the qualia of meerkats.
Really do dig the aesthetics though.
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Comment on Spaceballs: The New One | Coming to theaters April 23, 2027 in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentClearly older cast: "......Fortnite? The fuck is a Fortnite?"Clearly older cast: "......Fortnite? The fuck is a Fortnite?"
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Comment on Nvidia CEO declares AI could start, grow, and run a successful technology company worth more than a billion dollars—excerpt from Lex Fridman Podcast in ~tech
Captain_Wacky LinkI mean, in a sense, they're not wrong... .....the AI just has to be stupendously lucky, is all. Just like any other human trying to run a business. I don't see it as a flexing of the capability of...I mean, in a sense, they're not wrong...
.....the AI just has to be stupendously lucky, is all. Just like any other human trying to run a business. I don't see it as a flexing of the capability of AI, so much as I see it as a quiet confession that anyone can be successful given enough seed funding.
"Sirens of Titan" by Vonnegut had a wonderful scenario illustrating this.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkFinally got to "More Everything Forever" by Adam Becker. Various Podcasters and Bloggers have chronicled aspects of this, but this book does a good job of describing the current zeitgeist at...Finally got to "More Everything Forever" by Adam Becker.
Various Podcasters and Bloggers have chronicled aspects of this, but this book does a good job of describing the current zeitgeist at Silicon Valley, which (as a whole) appears to have fallen victim to cult-like thinking with the Effective Altruists and the logical fallacies produced by a room full of engineers who think they can tackle what they perceived to be "problems" within the Humanities... And how all these things are exacerbated under the current AI grift.
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Comment on ‘Zootopia 2’ jumps to $556.4m global opening for biggest WW start of 2025 in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI tend to liken the Furries to the BDSM community, because of how interconnected the sex and costume can be. As such, the more "complete" the costume in public, the more skeeved I can't help but...I tend to liken the Furries to the BDSM community, because of how interconnected the sex and costume can be.
As such, the more "complete" the costume in public, the more skeeved I can't help but feel, and I think that's where the bulk of the disdain comes from.
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Comment on US shoppers, drawn by steep discounts, power through Black Friday in ~finance
Captain_Wacky LinkThe only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run. Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing...The only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run.
Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing doors at the end of the year, announcement made on Black Friday.
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Comment on One of Sweden's most famous literary characters, Pippi Longstocking, turns 80 years old today in ~books
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI always thought she was a character from Appalachia, and assumed said stories were based in the 1800s. I had no idea that the stories were not only Swedish, but quite contemporary! (Relatively...I always thought she was a character from Appalachia, and assumed said stories were based in the 1800s.
I had no idea that the stories were not only Swedish, but quite contemporary! (Relatively speaking)
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Comment on Giant mirrors in space to reflect sunlight at night? No thank you, astronomers say. in ~space
Captain_Wacky Link ParentWhat an incredibly evil idea.What an incredibly evil idea.
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Comment on Experiences with united healthcare in ~health
Captain_Wacky LinkHad United briefly, sprained an ankle, urgent care doc sent me in for an X-ray just to rule out the unlikely chance of a hairline fracture, still got billed $800ish after insurance. With the most...Had United briefly, sprained an ankle, urgent care doc sent me in for an X-ray just to rule out the unlikely chance of a hairline fracture, still got billed $800ish after insurance.
With the most routine and banal of the sports-related injuries, you'd think it would be a no-brainer as to who covers what parts of the costs. Nope. Total black magic to them. Would've totally shrugged my shoulders at $200. Nope, gotta gouge it at fucking $800.
I just took my beating and left. I shudder to imagine what it would be like with them if I was in a car crash.
The Nintendo character did nothing wrong.
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Comment on New research shows attention lapses due to sleep deprivation coincide with a flushing of fluid from the brain in ~science
Captain_Wacky LinkFascinating, I wonder if any of this could tie into ADHD or any other mental "states?" (Idk correct term) where focus and/attention are problematic.Fascinating, I wonder if any of this could tie into ADHD or any other mental "states?" (Idk correct term) where focus and/attention are problematic.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkFinished "The Lusiads," and will pick up a more contemporary story, "The Beast in the Clouds," tomorrow. The premise is the least two accomplished of the Roosevelt sons go on an expedition (in an...Finished "The Lusiads," and will pick up a more contemporary story, "The Beast in the Clouds," tomorrow.
The premise is the least two accomplished of the Roosevelt sons go on an expedition (in an effort to gain goodwill from Teddy) to collect a Panda, an animal who at the time was relatively unknown to science, akin to colossal squid of today.
Since we kind of already know the outcome, this story is absolutely going to be all about the journey, with building anticipation towards the reveal on the gentle nature of pandas and how that's going to take the wind out of the Roosevelts' sails, thinking they're on the trail for some sort of apex predator.
Almost feels like it should be a subplot for a venture bros episode. It feels like something Hank and Dean would get into.
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Comment on Swedish fisherman digging for worms stumbles upon cache of silver coins, beads, rings and pendants dating to the 12th century in ~humanities.history
Captain_Wacky Link ParentI can see how that could be a slippery slope, though. Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.I can see how that could be a slippery slope, though.
Offer rewards for important archaeological finds, and then you got antiquity hunters, with no real desire to preserve archaeological context.
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Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky Link ParentIt's a weird one, but I stand by it. A cultural institution who's mission statement is to explicitly educate the public on advertising could have been the needed "shot in the arm" for the American...It's a weird one, but I stand by it. A cultural institution who's mission statement is to explicitly educate the public on advertising could have been the needed "shot in the arm" for the American zeitgeist against anti-intellectualism and hyperconsumerism, especially if it was introduced at a time like the 60's~70's.
After a certain number of years and funds raised, there'd be plenty of ways to move this organization around to keep itself alive and relevant. Start an art collection and a gallery wing, but it's all posters and advertising from acclaimed artists and design firms and whatnot, use that as a further money printer. Expand the gallery to include neon signs, like the "American Sign Museum" in Cincinnati. Have a computer wing, throwing spam mail to accounts, pop ups and banner ads making example websites useless, etc.
Theoretically, American companies would be throwing money at said institution to feature their name and advertising and it could be done in a way that doesn't compromise the original mission statement.
It would be a tough nut for conservatives to try and crack, because on the surface level it totally does celebrate consumerism. Coca Cola and Pepsi both would be pissed at them if they shut it down. It absolutely is celebrating Americana, but at the same time absolutely educating the public on what "FOMO" is, how easily "wants" and "needs" can be conflated, etc.
It'd be really neat.
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Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky (edited )LinkA Smithsonian institution dedicated to junk* mail would have done the nation some good, especially if it was introduced in an era like the 1970s. Edit: changed "spam" to "junk"A Smithsonian institution dedicated to junk* mail would have done the nation some good, especially if it was introduced in an era like the 1970s.
Edit: changed "spam" to "junk"
Ahhhhh, you are correct about that!