Carrow's recent activity
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Comment on "Visa" gift cards - What should I be looking at? in ~finance
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Comment on US Border agents shoot, wound two people in Portland in ~society
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Comment on "Visa" gift cards - What should I be looking at? in ~finance
Carrow Linkhttps://www.privacy.com/ may do the trick. You'd still link your CC to it, but they generate virtual cards for you. I haven't used it myself but other folks including tilderinos have recommended it.https://www.privacy.com/ may do the trick. You'd still link your CC to it, but they generate virtual cards for you. I haven't used it myself but other folks including tilderinos have recommended it.
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Comment on US Border agents shoot, wound two people in Portland in ~society
Carrow Link ParentI don't know why everyone is saying ICE instead of CBP (not you, folk like the mayor). Same basket sure, and they all need to get the fuck out of our cities. But feels worth noting that they are...I don't know why everyone is saying ICE instead of CBP (not you, folk like the mayor). Same basket sure, and they all need to get the fuck out of our cities. But feels worth noting that they are border agents and were operating in a state without a border. What were they doing there?
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Comment on AutoEnricher: System can diagnose infections in twenty minutes, aiding fight against drug resistance in ~science
Carrow LinkNext you're gonna tell me it can be done from a single drop of blood. Jokes aside, Raman could give enough resolution for microbial so it doesn't seem impossible. It was needing a ML algo for the...Next you're gonna tell me it can be done from a single drop of blood.
Jokes aside, Raman could give enough resolution for microbial so it doesn't seem impossible. It was needing a ML algo for the ID that raised my eyebrow. But it's probably just a more effective, black boxy search and bin, not so different from what I'd do with XRD a long time ago before ML was a buzzword.
Let's see how replicable it is and get some thorough false positive type tests. When time is precious, false positives are quite bad.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Carrow LinkI've been going through that Godot course on Zenva from humble bundle. I've got several mini projects and a couple games with 2 brief levels. I have added my own touches along the way. Like the...I've been going through that Godot course on Zenva from humble bundle. I've got several mini projects and a couple games with 2 brief levels. I have added my own touches along the way. Like the RTS game, the course just implemented the AI targeting the nearest player unit. I added an aggro system that can allow enemies to gauge targets by HP too, flip the sign so they can seek the farthest enemy in range and/or healthiest enemy in range, and they can be tweaked for different enemies to give them different behaviors.
Also been learning sprite art. I still like my first set best, carabineers and recolors. Did a battery and a pair of itty bitty guys too. Tried a ball but lighting was hard. Started in earnest on characters with Ms Dusa, but went too big and detailed, need more practice on smaller less detailed characters. Did a couple basic coins but they were quick and pretty whatever.
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Comment on Moving out soon. Think out loud with me regarding saving money vs. quality of life. in ~life
Carrow LinkI wouldn't consider living with men I don't know well unless I had zero other options, even friends of a friend. I'd instead seek out a queer group and see if folks there want to room if that's...I wouldn't consider living with men I don't know well unless I had zero other options, even friends of a friend. I'd instead seek out a queer group and see if folks there want to room if that's the route I'm going.
I've rented some dozen apartments and none had nothing for onsite laundry, they usually had coin operated machines in the basement or some such.
We just bought a house and doubled our square footage. Getting a new bed, couches, and rugs hurt, I didn't want to risk bed bugs in our new home, but I probably wouldn't be so strict in your position. Everything else we sought off Facebook marketplace and saved a pretty penny.
When I first moved to this city, I shared a house with four other people while working from home. Met them through a good friend, they consisted of her best friend, best friend's partner, and two of their friends. Some were inconsiderate of the fact I needed to work from home. Getting mad at me for using the spare room for an office bc they were using it as an office, getting off work at 3 and loudly playing Rock Band (drums ofc), that sort of thing. I ended up spending all my time in my tiny bedroom, barely big enough for my bed, personal PC, and work desk. This was awful for my mental health, about on par with drowning in alcoholism living alone during a bad time. They weren't bad folks, just too much of conflicting lifestyles in too small a space. Other posters have cited benefits of roommates that I've never had materialize outside living with my best friend or partner.
So YMMV, roommates may make more sense on paper financially, but for me, I'd view the roommate situation as a social/emotional/mental gamble vs the safe bet of living solo (and hopefully there is some sort of onsite laundry if not in unit?).
Another route to consider is, how flexible is the house situation? Would they be cool with you staying a couple months to build up a better savings cushion to furnish a place? It sounds like you've got enough savings to move, modestly furnish, and still have ~6 months emergency savings built up. That's what I'd build my savings off of -- ensuring I've got 6 months stuffed in a money market account yielding some 3-4% and anything else beyond that can go to index funds or saving for huge purchases.
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Comment on You are a better writer than AI (yes, YOU!) in ~creative
Carrow Link ParentPsychosis can manifest in a variety of ways, but at its core, it is a difficulty (or inability) to distinguish what is and isn't real. LLMs don't know what's real, if you give your thinking over...Psychosis can manifest in a variety of ways, but at its core, it is a difficulty (or inability) to distinguish what is and isn't real. LLMs don't know what's real, if you give your thinking over to them, you soon won't either. Less "addicted to talking to yourself" and more "enraptured with a sycophant".
Not to sound insensitive, but I think folks treating LLMs as friends and partners are on the brink, primed by tech companys' marketing. I think typical views of psychosis are naïve and far more -- otherwise healthy -- individuals are susceptible than we'd like to think (I'd go so far as to say everyone is susceptible in the wrong circumstances). As is, folks suffering are easily othered, and that sort of isolation makes help more difficult.
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Comment on Anime: Your personal year in review for 2025 in ~anime
Carrow LinkHaikyuu!! It's a volleyball sports anime. So much fun, really gripped me, even when I was laughing at the shounen tropes. I thought it was satirizing them but nope it's just shounen. Didn't think...Haikyuu!! It's a volleyball sports anime. So much fun, really gripped me, even when I was laughing at the shounen tropes. I thought it was satirizing them but nope it's just shounen. Didn't think I'd be into a sports anime, but my partner started watching it and I got pulled in. They started it since it often popped up as the best sports anime, so now we don't know which way to go if we want another.
We also started Little Witch Academia, a cute witch girl anime from Studio Trigger. We haven't gotten far in, but I'm charmed. I'm braced for a classic Studio Trigger mid series shake up, don't y'all harm a hair on their heads.
Bleach Thousand Year Blood War looks great, but we were disappointed in the pacing for the most recent... Set of releases? Not as bad as some of the Hueco Mundo bits. We had more fun with the start of the arc.
I rewatched Death Note and Cowboy Bebop. My memory did not fail me, I still quite enjoyed them. Second arc of Death Note was still worse/frustrating to watch, probably because production was rushed. I liked Mello much more but that's more a statement on how I've changed. Not sure I have much to add about Cowboy Bebop, it's damned good.
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Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games
Carrow (edited )LinkI find with RPGs, trying to min/max to the right outcome with the most content and having wikis/guides too available drains the fun from them. And that's my fault for how I'm approaching it, so...I find with RPGs, trying to min/max to the right outcome with the most content and having wikis/guides too available drains the fun from them. And that's my fault for how I'm approaching it, so here's how I'll come at RPGs with a different angle.
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Embrace failure and roll with the consequences. I find leaning into the roleplay part helps me lean out of the game part where I want to min/max interactions. You don't ask your DM if you can save scum or reroll after all. I'll even go so far as picking the clearly worse option if that's the choice my character would make.
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Explore. If you hit a safe area like a town and see a dark region in the area you passed, talk to the locals to see if they have a quest then go on back and look around. Larian links their acts to the big map you're on, generally you'll have a good idea if the plot is going to take you away.
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Drop the guides and wikis, put away the phone and turn off the second monitor, wherever you're looking at them. It is easy to fall into a pattern of following them instead of playing for yourself. If you find yourself stuck or wanting more info before proceeding, go do something else and come back later. If the stuck point is still rattling your brain after your play session, then look it up. This kinda emulates the sense of playing a game at the same time as your friends, talking about it, then going back and playing.
These are my more general RPG and Larian game tips, I haven't got much specific to starting BG3 again. As for mods, I'll peruse some of the most popular/downloaded to see if there are any nice quality of life ones or see if there exists a QoL add on for some gripe I've got, but I was happy with the vanilla BG3 experience (before I too fell off and failed to finish).
Happy questing :)
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Comment on The Odyssey | Official trailer in ~movies
Carrow Link ParentNow y'all just clowning on me lol, is it a good show though?Now y'all just clowning on me lol, is it a good show though?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Carrow Link ParentI loved my Logitech g13! Even coded some cute widgets for it. Unfortunately Spirit lost it along with all my luggage a bit back. But yeah does seem the big limitation for a lot of HOTAS setups is...I loved my Logitech g13! Even coded some cute widgets for it. Unfortunately Spirit lost it along with all my luggage a bit back. But yeah does seem the big limitation for a lot of HOTAS setups is your key availability. Hoping to finally get in on VR next year with the new Valve headset.
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: Holiday 2025 in ~games
Carrow Link ParentI don't know how I've gone this long without getting a copy of SUPERHOT but I'd love one if it's still availableI don't know how I've gone this long without getting a copy of SUPERHOT but I'd love one if it's still available
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Comment on The Odyssey | Official trailer in ~movies
Carrow Link ParentO Brother Where Art Thou is one of my favorite movies! So I suppose I did mean like that hah.O Brother Where Art Thou is one of my favorite movies! So I suppose I did mean like that hah.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Carrow Link ParentOh I forgot to say! If you haven't checked out the Acoustic Sessions, they're pretty neat! I'm hoping to see Joel and Shelby collab some more. I'd also recommend checking out Coromon if you...Oh I forgot to say! If you haven't checked out the Acoustic Sessions, they're pretty neat! I'm hoping to see Joel and Shelby collab some more. I'd also recommend checking out Coromon if you haven't already and like yourself some creature collecting. My fav pokemon gen is 3 and Coromon feels to me like what should've followed it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Carrow Link ParentYeah I remember starting MW5 with the HOTAS, by God it was painful but too danged fun feeling like I'm really piloting the beast. VR is the next step, hyped to hear it is a good experience!!...Yeah I remember starting MW5 with the HOTAS, by God it was painful but too danged fun feeling like I'm really piloting the beast. VR is the next step, hyped to hear it is a good experience!! Thanks for sharing.
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Comment on The Odyssey | Official trailer in ~movies
Carrow Link ParentI feel like some big budget Odyssey telling is absent from my collection, but I'd be more interested in a retelling, like a sci-fi adaptation or a satire of the hero's journey. Maybe they're out...I feel like some big budget Odyssey telling is absent from my collection, but I'd be more interested in a retelling, like a sci-fi adaptation or a satire of the hero's journey. Maybe they're out there and I'm just not interested in finding them.
But yeah I'm tired of hearing the same old white guy stories too -- I don't think these authors and poets are the GOATs, just the ones being culturally reinforced as such again and again above others.
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Comment on Indie Game Awards rescinds Clair Obscur's GOTY wins over use of generative AI [for now-removed background assets] in ~games
Carrow LinkThis quote seems relevant to half our conversation here: https://www.indiegameawards.gg/faq Emphasis mine. I think that's the most important trait of indie and the spirit of the original "without...This quote seems relevant to half our conversation here:
What is an indie game?
It's a tricky question without a strict, black-and-white answer. No matter who is asked - developer, publisher, showcase curator, journalist, creator, or various industry professionals - the answer varies across all parties. There are endless interpretations of a definition, and it will likely change alongside the state of the industry in the years to come. But after many conversations over the years with these various groups, the current definition agreed upon by the IGAs Curation Jury is as follows:
Existing outside of the traditional publisher system, a game crafted and released by developers who are not owned or financially controlled by a major AAA/AA publisher or corporation, allowing them to create in an unrestricted environment and fully swing for the fences in realizing their vision.
Publishers such as Devolver Digital, Annapurna Interactive, and Kepler Interactive are considered to exist outside of the traditional publishing system and fit within the current IGA Curation Jury’s definition.
Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, is not considered indie, nor are major standalone studios such as FromSoftware, Kojima Productions, or Valve as a few examples. First parties (Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony) and studios under their ownership, as well as third parties such as EA, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Sega, and Bandai Namco (to name a few) are considered AAA. Companies such as THQ Nordic are considered AA .
https://www.indiegameawards.gg/faq
Emphasis mine. I think that's the most important trait of indie and the spirit of the original "without publisher" definition. I consider Sandfall to only technically be indie on paper if we look at the traditional publishing angle their definition opens with. Just how beholden to investors are they?
But more to the point of portion I emphasized. When you have a team of hundreds (shouldn't ignore the contractors, outsourced staff, and other uncredited folks...), can you honestly say you're bringing a fully realized vision to light, and not something assembled by committee?
I can't give a dividing line number, it'd be arbitrary and quickly tested as time goes on and the environment... develops. None of this is pertinent to the gen AI point unless you consider that point as a scapegoat for trying to nix a dubiously indie game. I suppose I think they shouldn't have been left out for making a mistake, owning it, and fixing it? But I thought they shouldn't be included to begin with.
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Comment on The US Government unconstitutionally labels Immigration and Customs Enforcement observers as domestic terrorists in ~society
Carrow Link ParentStopped clocks. A fast or slow clock could be right more or fewer than 2 times. 🤓Broken clocks are right twice a day and all.
Stopped clocks. A fast or slow clock could be right more or fewer than 2 times. 🤓
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Winter Sale is live (runs Dec 18 - Jan 5) in ~games
Carrow Link ParentPerhaps unsurprising to none, A Normal Lost Phone plays best on mobile -- it makes for a more immersive experience. It is already off the Play Store, but their itch io posting includes an apk....Perhaps unsurprising to none, A Normal Lost Phone plays best on mobile -- it makes for a more immersive experience. It is already off the Play Store, but their itch io posting includes an apk. They were included with the huge Racial Justice Bundle and I think the more recent Palestine Support Bundle as well.
https://dearvillagers.itch.io/a-normal-lost-phone
https://dearvillagers.itch.io/another-lost-phone-lauras-story
Wow I hadn't heard any of this before, I'll strike it from my recommendations going forward. Thank you for the in depth explanation.