Captcha_Code's recent activity
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
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Comment on What self-help / personal development books did you find valuable? in ~books
Captcha_Code Link ParentYes, Atomic Habits I think is the ultimate self help book, because you really can apply it to virtually every facet of life that you want to improve. Diet, exercise, spending time with loved ones,...Yes, Atomic Habits I think is the ultimate self help book, because you really can apply it to virtually every facet of life that you want to improve. Diet, exercise, spending time with loved ones, learning new skills, literally anything and everything I feel like it can help with.
My one criticism with it is how slow the book tells you to take things. On the one hand, I know a lot of people will try to change 20 things in their life at one time and then get burnt out and quit, and the book tries to prevent that. But on the other it encourages you to do something like.... Put on your shoes every day for 3 months and get in the habit of that, then walk to the mailbox daily for three months, then finally walk to the end of the street... It would be years and years before you got into a habit of going for a mile walk every day. And it only encourages you to do try and do one or two new habits at a time. I think most people are capable of wayyy more than that.
The author says he went from cleaning his room daily to being a star athlete in 4 years due to his methods. It's not really consistent with the pace he tells people to take the atomic habits. People shouldn't primarily rely on self motivation or discipline to achieve their goals. He's right about that. But sprinkle a little in and I think most people are capable of a lot more than putting on their running shoes for three months.
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
Captcha_Code Link ParentNice quip, but I'm not really sure what you're trying to imply in the greater context of what I said. The next sentence clearly shows a stark contrast between the two.Nice quip, but I'm not really sure what you're trying to imply in the greater context of what I said. The next sentence clearly shows a stark contrast between the two.
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
Captcha_Code (edited )LinkI have to remind myself of their active and open genocides and authoritarian policies regularly because I find myself drifting towards the same mindset. When I think about it for more than one...- Exemplary
I have to remind myself of their active and open genocides and authoritarian policies regularly because I find myself drifting towards the same mindset. When I think about it for more than one second, I would obviously prefer to live in a western democracy than China. But there's little doubt in my mind that if the world was a strategy game, China would be taking up lead from the rear at the moment.
I think all Western nations in are a pretty slow and gradual decline. Capital has captured almost every western democracy at this point. It's most obvious here in the US, but there's a clear, graduation progression towards it in Europe. You see this with the overwhelming prevalence of ineffective austerity policies, growing surveillance, and similarly rising wealth gaps. Etc.
Right now China has an extremely strong leader who is not subservient to capital. Their public works projects, strong strides towards renewable energy independence, and ever increasing standard of living for their people are feats to admire from afar. In the US, our infrastructure is crumbling and any attempts to fix them cost an exorbitant amount of money. A bridge that was built for (inflation adjusted) $100M in 1970 costs $2B to repair in 2026 due to our awful public bid system that rewards ineffectiveness. Our country still can't even agree that climate change is real and we have a president who is actively destroying green energy projects like a petulant child. And our standard of living is getting worse every single year due to stagnated wages and runaway costs (which applies to Euro countries too).
It's difficult to not be jealous at times. That's when I have to remind myself not to romanticize China. As bad as things are in the US, our democracy still stands, and I'd live here any day over China. Authoritarian governments are really, really fragile. As it stands, authoritarianism combined with an effective leader has helped thrust China into the running for the next global superpower. But Xi won't live forever. If the next authoritarian is captured by capital, all those gains can easily be lost and they'll experience and even more rapid decline if standard of living than we have experienced in the west due to lack of democracy. (See: Russia going from world superpower to a bygone relic of the atomic era due to authoritarian government being captured by capital).
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What kind of contractor do I call to evaluate another contractor's work?
I'm going to try to make a very long story short, but we had a large structural retaining wall replaced. The driveway sits on top of the retaining wall. It is about 7 feet tall at the highest end...
I'm going to try to make a very long story short, but we had a large structural retaining wall replaced. The driveway sits on top of the retaining wall. It is about 7 feet tall at the highest end and tapers down over about 30 feet.
We selected a contractor who was at the higher end of the price range but not like the highest highest. It's not like we cheaped out. But we are SO not happy with the work. There are sagging "deadman" posts, there are a ton of shims forced into it to make it lean the correct direction, and it is visibly not dug out enough.
We have tried to work with the contractor but he keeps cheaping out and "jerry rigging" it further to fix the defects. At this point, we are thinking small claims court. We want an expert to come out and tell us if it is structurally sound and document the defects.
I thought maybe a general home inspector could just inspect a part of it, but we contacted three and they said they only do whole structure inspections, like the whole house. And even if the retaining wall was included they would not really look much further than making sure it's not rotten. I tried a structural engineer but the two I contacted almost seemed confused at what I was asking. One just told me they don't do things like that and the other one I'm pretty sure just wanted me to go away and said $10k.
What kind of speciality can tell me if this thing is going to collapse or not? I feel like this is important information if we sue the previous contractor. Any help would be appreciated.
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Comment on Are we burning it down by proxy? in ~talk
Captcha_Code Link ParentThat is my experience too. Heard a couple of fireworks on the 3rd, a few hours on the 4th, and then randomly one firework last night. In most years, I am hearing them every single night...That is my experience too. Heard a couple of fireworks on the 3rd, a few hours on the 4th, and then randomly one firework last night. In most years, I am hearing them every single night intermittently for hours in the week before and after the 4th.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Captcha_Code Link ParentNot quite what I mean. I more meant "primary hobby", as in, you don't really have any other hobbies and it's the only thing you spend your money on for entertainment purposes. $1000 a year isn't...Not quite what I mean. I more meant "primary hobby", as in, you don't really have any other hobbies and it's the only thing you spend your money on for entertainment purposes. $1000 a year isn't much if that's really the only thing fun/extraneous you regularly spend money on, but if you have two or three other hobbies also taking up $1000 a year each, now you're spending $3000-$4000 a year on hobbies. That's not chump change. But if you don't have any other hobbies, then you're right, $1000 a year on hobbies isn't much.
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Comment on There is no reason to buy another PlayStation or Xbox in ~games
Captcha_Code Link ParentI think that this either might be a very privileged opinion, or an opinion by someone who values gaming as a primary expenditure to their budget. I'm upper middle class and I hardly ever but games...I think that this either might be a very privileged opinion, or an opinion by someone who values gaming as a primary expenditure to their budget.
I'm upper middle class and I hardly ever but games at MSRP if they're over $50 because I just can't justify that. Sure I might get 100 hours of gameplay out of it and that's only $.50/c an hour but you really don't know what game is gonna be a 10 hour game and what will be a 200 hour game until after you start to play it. The only time I'm really ever able to justify MSRP is 1) a Nintendo game that I know will never go on sale bc Nintendo and I know I want to play anyway, or 2) a game I have 90% confidence I'll get 100+ hours out of. That's few and far between, maybe once every year or two.
PlayStations and Xboxes will always go on sale eventually. My spouse begged for the newest Xbox when it first came out and I gave the thumbs down for 6 months and by the end of the 6 months it was almost 50% of the original price at some retailers and we purchased it. Knowing that, how could I NOT be price sensitive for future consoles? It happens every time. Personally I think paying full retail for the newest consoles that only have like 2 AAA games released for them is financially irresponsible. Giving time allows for prices to meet the true market price, the manufacturer to get the kinks out, and for a variety of games to release... It just makes rational sense to me.
It's definitely dependent on what you value spending your money on for sure. Not saying you're incorrect, but from my perspective, this is a consumerist FOMO mindset for the majority of people.
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Comment on I made a satirical AI detector in ~tech
Captcha_Code LinkAnd I expect models in the near future will be trained not to use as many emdashes or the "not just X, its Y" simply because of how much people notice them. Eventually these models will likely...And I expect models in the near future will be trained not to use as many emdashes or the "not just X, its Y" simply because of how much people notice them. Eventually these models will likely become so refined to weed out the stereotypical "AI mannerisms" that they become indistinguishable from human written content. In fact, I'd argue already most people only notice the most obvious AI content and skip over a huge amount of it.
I think AI content will ultimately be the destruction of social media, at least for a subset of people who value organic content. Some people genuinely don't care if the consuming they're consuming is real or "synthetic". My mother knows her entire FB feed is AI slop but she's entertained by the funny, dancing, talking cat.
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Comment on Pets 2! in ~life.pets
Captcha_Code Link ParentBeautiful dogs! Sounds like they have an absolutely wonderful life. I've always so desperately wanted to live in the country or wilderness and be able to just let my dogs run around and know...Beautiful dogs! Sounds like they have an absolutely wonderful life. I've always so desperately wanted to live in the country or wilderness and be able to just let my dogs run around and know they'll come home. My mother in law does it with her pup and he's always so healthy and happy. That's definitely a dog's life for sure.
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Comment on What are some rookie mistakes you've made as a cook? in ~food
Captcha_Code LinkFollowing the amount of spices listed in a recipe. I am not sure why, but most recipes on the internet, even for international foods, vastly understate the amount of spices needed to create good...Following the amount of spices listed in a recipe. I am not sure why, but most recipes on the internet, even for international foods, vastly understate the amount of spices needed to create good flavor. They're almost always bland as hell if you follow the recipe to a T. I'll see something like "rub the whole chicken with 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder" and just guffaw now.
I usually do about four times the quantity of spices as any given recipe calls for, sometimes more. I usually do 10x garlic powder and 2-4x everything else.
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Comment on Black Mirror - Season 6 - Get hype thread in ~tv
Captcha_Code Link ParentBlack Museum for sure here. So fucked up, but concluded with some fucked up, fair justice.Black Museum for sure here. So fucked up, but concluded with some fucked up, fair justice.
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Comment on Black Mirror - Season 6 - Get hype thread in ~tv
Captcha_Code LinkI can't believe I missed this! I thought that they had quietly scrapped Black Mirror due to terrible Season 5 reception. It just didn't have that Black Mirror feel to it. It's almost like they ran...I can't believe I missed this! I thought that they had quietly scrapped Black Mirror due to terrible Season 5 reception. It just didn't have that Black Mirror feel to it. It's almost like they ran out of ideas and were fishing the bottom of the suggestion box. Even if they only do 3 episodes like last time, I hope they're at least of better creative quality that cause a bit more existential dread.
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Comment on Not entirely sure how to fill the void Reddit has left in ~talk
Captcha_Code LinkMost of my scroll time on reddit was out of sheer boredom, not productive research. The former is what I'm trying to cull. I don't mind if I still type in "random research topic reddit" on Google...Most of my scroll time on reddit was out of sheer boredom, not productive research. The former is what I'm trying to cull. I don't mind if I still type in "random research topic reddit" on Google every now and again and view it on the mobile site. Google is a cesspit of SEO optimization for near useless websites with bad or oversimplified answers. Reddit is a good tool to get straightforward, typically accurate answers from knowledgeable people. I'm not going to cut off my own foot in protest of APIs. That's not sustainable and will likely lead me right back to reddit.
Again, mindless scrolling constituted 95%+ of my previous reddit traffic. If I can cull that, that's going to be felt almost just as much as if I did 100%. I've read 2 books in 3 days and have started on a third one. I'd like to do other productive things with mt time as well, but I'm taking it slow since too much too fast isn't great for creating sustainable habits.
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Comment on Pokémon - What is your favourite game in the series and why? in ~games
Captcha_Code Link ParentI think either! I don't think there's enough of a difference between the two of them to give a recommendation. I personally think Black has the better exclusive Pokemon between the two of them, so...I think either! I don't think there's enough of a difference between the two of them to give a recommendation. I personally think Black has the better exclusive Pokemon between the two of them, so if I had to pick one, I'd go with that one!
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Comment on Any Android games that are worth playing these days? in ~games
Captcha_Code LinkIt is a PC-to-mobile port, but "Papers, Please". It's $4.99 on the Google Play Store. Best mobile game I've ever played. The gist of the game sounds incredibly boring. You are a border checkpoint...It is a PC-to-mobile port, but "Papers, Please". It's $4.99 on the Google Play Store. Best mobile game I've ever played.
The gist of the game sounds incredibly boring. You are a border checkpoint agent for a fictional dystopian country, and you have to check people's documents to determine if they're allowed entry into the country.
However, the game progresses over time with more and more rules added throughout the game, so you might only have to check 3 pieces of information at the beginning, but dozens and dozens at end game. It's a really good rest in detail orientation and the amount of rules in end game make it absolutely wild.
The game also has plenty of discourse on your morals and inter-game political beliefs, which develop over the course of the game. There's some money management and puzzles involved as well (not mini game puzzles). There are various game endings, with lots of bad endings and a few good endings, which will be determined based on the decisions you made throughout the game.
Definitely worth the $4.99. No ads or in app purchases once purchased.
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Comment on Today is my 11th Reddit Cakeday, and it is likely to be my last as an always-on user in ~talk
Captcha_Code LinkI am also an 11 year old user and I'll be leaving as well. There is one subreddit which I will likely continue to visit on desktop, as I don't see it having a potential following elsewhere on the...I am also an 11 year old user and I'll be leaving as well. There is one subreddit which I will likely continue to visit on desktop, as I don't see it having a potential following elsewhere on the internet that has the same atmosphere. (This particular sub is an advocacy and support group, but other communities on the internet tend to turn into hate groups.)
I am happy to be here and it feels so much more inviting than reddit has in a long time. I tended to post long, thoughtful comments on reddit to really dive into the subject, and I would occasionally get flak from users saying something like "wow, you wrote all that just for me to block you" or jeering at my walls of text. Really shows how discussion had devolved.
That all being said, I am a little disappointed to see so many topics on tildes being about reddit. I am sure the longer term users may be a little annoyed by it, which have asked many users to treat tildes as a reddit alternative, rather than a reddit replacement. What to longer term tildes users think of the influx of posts specifically about what's happening on reddit?
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Comment on Pets 2! in ~life.pets
Captcha_Code LinkHello everyone! This is Bodie and he's an 8 month old Golden Retriever. I have spent the last six months doing my best to make sure he grows into a wonderful dog citizen of people. He's grown into...Hello everyone! This is Bodie and he's an 8 month old Golden Retriever. I have spent the last six months doing my best to make sure he grows into a wonderful dog citizen of people. He's grown into just that and I'm so proud of him! Even in the midst of adolescence, he's taking it in stride and makes me proud every day.
Not everything works for every puppy parent or puppy, but we used positive reinforcement as the cornerstone of our training regimen. Zak George does a lot of great videos on this.
In the coming days, I'm going to create an A to Z guide on the first few months of puppy training for us that will help other Tildes users with the same challenge.
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Comment on Does Tildes *want* Reddit 'refugees'? in ~tildes
Captcha_Code Link ParentI have been searching for a reddit alternative for a few years. Just recently found tildes. I absolutely love that it is 100% text based. And frankly, I didn't even know that was something I...I have been on reddit for 18 years after being an avid user on Digg. I have found tildes.net to be great so far. I want to read, participate in discussions, and find cool new things in my interests.
I have been searching for a reddit alternative for a few years. Just recently found tildes. I absolutely love that it is 100% text based. And frankly, I didn't even know that was something I wanted.
But I spent the vast majority of my scrolling time reading the comments on reddit. Coming to tildes, I didn't even notice the lack of images until someone in a comment pointed it out. I guess I have always favored the discussions about images more than the images themselves, so their absence wasn't even noticed. I love it and am very happy to be here.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Captcha_Code Link ParentTry Medieval Dynasty! It has light survival mechanics (the first 3-4 hours of game play are survival-ish, but after that you have enough resources that the survival aspects can be largely...Try Medieval Dynasty! It has light survival mechanics (the first 3-4 hours of game play are survival-ish, but after that you have enough resources that the survival aspects can be largely ignored), but it's mostly a farming/city builder/simulation game. You can have a wife and kids and neighbors. It's so relaxing and it's got a decent story too.
Takes in-game years of hard work just to save up for something like a horse or cow, multiple in-game days to build a big barn, but it's soooo satisfying once you finish something or get that horse. Love it so much.
This doesn't count so much as cooking but if anyone has ever tried the Buldak noodles in the black packaging... They are to die for! They have a strong spiciness to them but with a fair amount of sweet and savory. I love those instant noodles so much!
Well, come to find out Buldak makes a hot sauce too!!! My spouse bought me a bottle and I have been putting that stuff on EVERYTHING! Slapped some on a burger tonight and it was awesome. Ive put it on fish, rice, tacos.... There's nothing that it didn't make even better. My spouse is starting to think I'm demented I think! But I can't get enough of this sauce.