CptBluebear's recent activity
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Comment on Canada's oil windfall may yet wipe out its losses from tariffs in ~finance
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Comment on Zack Snyder's ‘The Last Photograph’ is getting destroyed at TIFF: “Unabashedly sh*t on every level” in ~movies
CptBluebear LinkThis just makes me want to see it more hoping that it's in "so bad it's good" territory. Doesn't sound like it but there's this itch wanting to figure it out for myself.This just makes me want to see it more hoping that it's in "so bad it's good" territory. Doesn't sound like it but there's this itch wanting to figure it out for myself.
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Comment on 'Jaadugar: A Witch's Life in Mongolia' discussion in ~anime
CptBluebear (edited )LinkAnis states early on (I want to say episode one, but it could be two) that "We're property, not people". With how anime audiences tend to skew younger and media literacy in general is rather low...Earlier during its run there were complaints that the show romanticized slavery but I don't think that's the case, the critics is there just unstated.
Anis states early on (I want to say episode one, but it could be two) that "We're property, not people".
With how anime audiences tend to skew younger and media literacy in general is rather low I'm not surprised. It actually is stated, not just through the quote above but through the eyes of Sitara, who grew up as a literal child knowing no better. The first and only "affection" she receives creates her entire world view. It's only after that she learns that her fellow slaves weren't as happy as they always seemed.
Despite her love for her former masters, we see them for what they are: Slave owners that pull families apart and just because Sitara feels she was treated well doesn't make up for the fact that she was no more than property.
What we then see through Sitara is her being taught a slave's value: The other house slave from Tus, Zumurrud, dies from heartbreak learning that her brother (also a slave) was murdered and her hope for freedom is lost, which causes the other house slave, Anis, to kill herself by attacking the Mongols.
The Mongols visibly kill plenty of slaves en route from Tus to the steppe, we learn that stepping on the threshold of one's home is grounds for instant death, we learn that running away is death, we learn that failure might mean death, etcetera etcetera.
The show sanitizes none of the slavery bits. What I think happened is that people have this idea of chattel slavery with the associated physical abuse and then fail to see that while not physically abused, Sitara is still only property.
So does the show wants to say revenge is bad and one should ignore wrongdoings in the past, or is it that revenge is fine even when not everyone affected is a bad person?
When viewing it through the lens of a child slave I don't think there's a right answer. She doesn't even know the answer to this question.
Edit: spacing failures now changed for more legibility
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Comment on BlizzCon discussion thread in ~games
CptBluebear LinkAnd they just released a new Warcraft 3 campaign. I'll be honest, at $30 it's rather steep.. especially after the overall fiasco that Reforged was. It's tempting, even though I have little faith...And they just released a new Warcraft 3 campaign.
I'll be honest, at $30 it's rather steep.. especially after the overall fiasco that Reforged was. It's tempting, even though I have little faith in the storytelling of current day Blizzard employees.
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Comment on Nintendo - Customer appreciation sale in ~games
CptBluebear LinkI'm sure they appreciate their customers by giving them more stuff to sell.I'm sure they appreciate their customers by giving them more stuff to sell.
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Comment on Jet Lag Season 19: Japanorama | Trailer in ~hobbies
CptBluebear Link Parentspoilers A rod he cast a grand total of zero times. With Tom being just as befuddled by under water creatures it seems to transcend just Jet Lag.spoilers
A rod he cast a grand total of zero times. With Tom being just as befuddled by under water creatures it seems to transcend just Jet Lag.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentAs referenced in my post, a TV is but one example. One can easily opt out of TV alone, can you also opt out of stepping into a friend's car? The Ring doorbell you passed on the way? Perhaps your...As referenced in my post, a TV is but one example. One can easily opt out of TV alone, can you also opt out of stepping into a friend's car? The Ring doorbell you passed on the way? Perhaps your speech has been recorded by someone else's Apple Watch.
Your email provider? Password manager? Payment Services? Supermarket cameras?They're all gathering data. You cannot opt out unless you completely disconnect and live in the boonies. Even if you do that, it's a lifestyle so difficult you can likely not do it alone and need contact with others who may have their phone in their pocket listening in (did you see Apples latest conversations transcription feature?).
So really, I ask again, what can you realistically do?
To your latter point, yeah, you can do what you can do to minimize impact and I think that makes a decent amount of sense. In this case however, it's a Sisyphean struggle if there's not also a way we could pressure regulators to do it for us.
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Comment on In search of the hypothetical iPhone Duo buyer in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentI can dig that. Perhaps niche isn't how I would describe my tendencies, but I do appreciate pieces of tech that are out there or if they're pushing boundaries. I must say that I appreciate a...I just like niche tech I guess.
I can dig that. Perhaps niche isn't how I would describe my tendencies, but I do appreciate pieces of tech that are out there or if they're pushing boundaries.
I must say that I appreciate a superb price to quality ratio more than I appreciate the extreme end of performance or price though. This results in most of my tech being a mix between well known established devices at a good price and rarer choices that see (sometimes unfairly) smaller market shares.
A €2000 phone is a bit much for my liking but I can totally understand the appeal of something that's niche and well made. If I were in the market for a foldable it wouldn't be outlandish to look at this one.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentThe game is rather tense. In a good way. The stressed animations convey information so well that I get fully immersed in the moment. It also feels like you don't need Counter Strike level of skill...The game is rather tense. In a good way. The stressed animations convey information so well that I get fully immersed in the moment.
It also feels like you don't need Counter Strike level of skill to contribute. The aiming is forgiving without feeling too easy or cheap and makes a lot of sense even with the free look mouse aim.
Positioning is therefore much more important. With the low but not instant TTK it's all about getting the drop on someone more than it is who can click on a face the quickest. Both listening and looking for clues of enemy presence can get you far and if you do get into a prolonged firefight, those moments where you run out of ammo and switch to your pistol and eke out a win are heart poundingly satisfying.To the point of weapons, they all feel responsive and useful. The pistols are just as lethal so they don't feel like they're there just for show and there's a good amount of difference in handling between an assault rifle and an SMG or a shotgun.
I said earlier on Tildes that I hoped this update would elevate the game from a tech demo into a game and I think they succeeded. I haven't had a shooter feel this good to play in a hot minute.
Edit to add: After some thinking I do want to mention some downsides. While the game feels and looks realistic and tight, it does suffer from an identity crisis.
With the focus on realistic looking environments and gunplay, you'd expect more tactical gameplay but most game modes are a glut of aggression with messy spawn points and it quickly turns into a shoot, die, respawn, repeat kind of ordeal. At this point only the Versus game mode where you play team versus team until the last man standing feels like it benefits from communication and a tactical approach.
It's still early in the development so I can see it evolve and grow over time, but right now it's still a bit incongruent. -
Comment on IKEA Kallax “Storageborn” in ~games
CptBluebear LinkGood thing they clarified because what the fuck? I don't know how to respond to this honestly. If horse armour was the harbinger of MTX to come, this is a jumping the shark moment.Frequently asked questions
Is this real? Yes.
Good thing they clarified because what the fuck? I don't know how to respond to this honestly. If horse armour was the harbinger of MTX to come, this is a jumping the shark moment.
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Comment on My son pooped in the toilet in ~life
CptBluebear Link ParentThat potty sure would've been useful to have about a month or two ago. Take this advise to heart and never leave the home before having your kid go. Even the shortest of trips.That potty sure would've been useful to have about a month or two ago.
Take this advise to heart and never leave the home before having your kid go. Even the shortest of trips.
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Comment on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | Zelda 40th anniversary Direct trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentPerhaps I am fighting ghosts, but I never intended to have to go this deep into it when it was at best a musing on how it could potentially suck to have an underpowered machine deliver an...Perhaps I am fighting ghosts, but I never intended to have to go this deep into it when it was at best a musing on how it could potentially suck to have an underpowered machine deliver an inconsistent performance. It's the consistency of quality, or lack thereof, that'll make it or break it. Not the frames itself. Though the indication it plays at 60 is a good sign that I hadn't seen.
The original was designed around 20fps. This remake looks much faster than the original too which again shows that you need consistent frames more than anything. If at any point in time during Ganondorf Tennis you experience frame drops, you will feel it in your timings.
I stick to my point: it needs to feel smooth or it will not feel good and the Switch has shown it struggles with similar large scope games. I'm worried is all.
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Comment on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | Zelda 40th anniversary Direct trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI feel like both of you and @redwall_hp are misunderstanding me as you're defending the console when that isn't what I'm criticizing. I think the Switch is fine for what it is. I also think...I feel like both of you and @redwall_hp are misunderstanding me as you're defending the console when that isn't what I'm criticizing.
I think the Switch is fine for what it is. I also think releasing games that probably feel mediocre to play because of the unstable frame rates can be a problem.
Let's boil it down to saying it should stick to its lane. It's great for first party Mario games. Less so for your Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, Duskbloods type of games. And I think with the way the OoT remake looks, it's aiming to be part of the latter three.
I'm under to pretention the Switch isn't good for a handheld, I'm saying they may be trying to bite off more than they can chew because let's face it, it performs about as well as a thirteen year old console while trying to play games that need current day hardware to perform.
Firstly, it is absolutely unreasonable to expect current generation graphics on a handheld device.
Yes, which is why I question the release of games that may require current gen hardware.
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Comment on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | Zelda 40th anniversary Direct trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentI think that proves my point though. That's previous gen. The PS4 launched thirteen years ago. It runs those games at a similar level as a PS4 too. When you're creating current year blockbusters...and has been collecting PS4 ports that look pretty damn close to the original releases.
I think that proves my point though. That's previous gen. The PS4 launched thirteen years ago. It runs those games at a similar level as a PS4 too.
When you're creating current year blockbusters there are a lot of people that think you're doing the game a disservice if it's an unstable 20-40 lag fest.For games that want to boast higher fidelity, the Switch isn't helping.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentAnd there's little that even we can do. Worse, there's a non-zero amount of people that just stopped caring. If everything violates your privacy, nothing does. It's all out on the street anyway....You do, I do, maybe even most people on this site do
And there's little that even we can do.
Worse, there's a non-zero amount of people that just stopped caring. If everything violates your privacy, nothing does. It's all out on the street anyway.
"Another leak yesterday, a new leak tomorrow, who the hell cares about it anymore? My TV is a beaut."
If you're looking for a new TV, why care that LG steals your data? Sony does it too. Not much different from Samsung either.Even as someone that cares about privacy, there is a point even I give in. I can barely participate in society otherwise. Just getting in a car made anywhere after 2020 is enough for your private life to be forfeit.
I'll just keep the privacy invading sources to a minimum while politically voting for parties that show interest in curbing data harvesting. Shockingly few parties even in my country's fragmented political landscape I might add, but still, it's the best I can do.
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Comment on LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentI mean I do, but what can you realistically do these days? It's genuinely difficult to find a dumb tv that has decent specifications, but aside from televisions it seems like everything is a...Its just something that, bafflingly to me, most people don't care about.
I mean I do, but what can you realistically do these days? It's genuinely difficult to find a dumb tv that has decent specifications, but aside from televisions it seems like everything is a privacy nightmare. From other people's doorbells to smart home systems to meta glasses, you don't even have to participate yourself. If it's not your own car secretly recording things, it'll be your friend's car you get into.
Back in the day, Facebook notoriously kept profiles of people that didn't even have a Facebook account.Even if you do your best and get privacy oriented pieces of kit or software. It's all but guaranteed that they'll get silently bought out and turn into spyware somewhere down the line.
Literally the only way is to not be online whatsoever.
I don't think we should blame people for their inability to escape the tracking yoke. We should blame the severe lack of regulation and, more importantly, the enforcement of any privacy laws.
This LG stuff is blatantly inhumane, so is Nissan's or Kia's horrifying privacy agreement that state they will collect and share your data up to and including your orientation and sexual activities.
There's a point you need to look at these companies, as well as your own and their governments before looking at the people just trying to get by buying a TV they thought was nice. -
Comment on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | Zelda 40th anniversary Direct trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentYou're right, it ran at 20 fps during the days 30 fps was noteworthy. Not that anyone cared about fps those days. I certainly didn't. But most of us do now. It's simply the existence of high...You're right, it ran at 20 fps during the days 30 fps was noteworthy. Not that anyone cared about fps those days. I certainly didn't. But most of us do now. It's simply the existence of high fidelity solid 60fps games that makes the Switch look like a rather poor investment.
Not just that, when it likely can't keep the frames stable it'll just feel sluggish and slow. I'd rather have a game made around a stable 20fps than one that fluctuates between 40 and 60. Now, this is of course mostly speculation. There is a slim chance it runs well.
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Comment on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | Zelda 40th anniversary Direct trailer in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentBecause he looks like and has the facial proportions of a porcelain doll. It's also on the Switch so this game will run at a smooth 40fps with these graphics. I mean.. I'm being a sourpuss but I...Well, except young Link... who looks a bit wonky to me for some reason and just a bit "off"
Because he looks like and has the facial proportions of a porcelain doll.
It's also on the Switch so this game will run at a smooth 40fps with these graphics.
I mean.. I'm being a sourpuss but I can't help but feel underwhelmed by the recreation of a legendary game on a console that runs on half horsepower on a good day.
The original game didn't just set the bar, it created the bar.If this runs well and has some of the charm the original janky Zelda entries had it may very well be a good game.
Unrelated, but hearing Matt Mercer revisiting his role as Ganondorf seems like a good choice.
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Comment on What's a show you love that's from before your time? in ~tv
CptBluebear Link ParentIs that the one where they fly a tank? If I'm right then yes I agree with you, I think that says enough about that film too lmao.Is that the one where they fly a tank? If I'm right then yes I agree with you, I think that says enough about that film too lmao.
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Comment on How do you find new anime to watch? in ~anime
CptBluebear LinkMother's Basement! I'm not in a rush to join the new seasons so I eagerly await Mother's Basements "Ones to Watch Season/Year". Unlike most other YouTubers, Geoff waits until he has seen at least...Mother's Basement!
I'm not in a rush to join the new seasons so I eagerly await Mother's Basements "Ones to Watch Season/Year".
Unlike most other YouTubers, Geoff waits until he has seen at least one or more episodes per show of the season before making the seasonal ones to watch. I tend to wait for those YT releases and then pick up what he's putting down.I appreciate that he's mature in his approach while also recognizing (and sometimes celebrating) the idiosyncrasies and occasional outright weird anime things that pop into existence. His maturity towards the topic is expressed in the normal paced video and script without leaning into crazy quick edits.
Additionally he releases the "Hottest Trash of the Season" videos that lean into the weird that only anime can offer.
With a similar approach as the regular show, he assesses this season's strange, trashy, or outright trash shows and manages to pull some genuinely good shows from the dregs you might have otherwise overlooked if you looked at the synopsis or tags alone.
Keep in mind that while trashy has a different meaning than trash, he nevertheless finds both in equal measure.These videos are presented with a knowing smile that yeah, anime is super trashy at times. Sometimes though, trashy is what you want. You can't always be in the mood for the Michelin star restaurants, sometimes the roadside mystery meat burger hits a much better spot. I've pulled some genuine hits out of the bins at Chez Garbàge even if that means you have to look beyond the "insert bad anime trope" from time to time.
Tried and true. Works even outside of the US.
The amount of people complaining about leftist policies here in the Netherlands is staggering. Especially when the last explicitly left cabinet was in 1977.
There were other left parties in the ruling cabinet after but always with a right or center right party next to them.
Still, everything bad with the country is supposedly because of leftists..