CptBluebear's recent activity
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Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
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Comment on Is there a site where I can check if a game has multiple endings or missable stuff without spoilers? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentThat's a very interesting website. I loathe missables. Just the idea of it makes me want to play according to a guide. It's almost a compulsion and it doesn't make games better. It's mainly...That's a very interesting website. I loathe missables. Just the idea of it makes me want to play according to a guide. It's almost a compulsion and it doesn't make games better.
It's mainly because I tend to play games once, so anything I miss just seems like a waste.
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Comment on Vladimir Putin approves changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentThis change was announced a while ago and what it ends up doing is making it more difficult for others to assess what the actual end-state is for Russia to decide to lob nukes. They are keenly...This change was announced a while ago and what it ends up doing is making it more difficult for others to assess what the actual end-state is for Russia to decide to lob nukes.
They are keenly aware of MAD, like anyone else, so I'm sure they won't start pressing the rocket button like it owes them money. Russia does not want nuclear war either. Their entire tactic is preventing additional aid and it's proven successful to continuously say "hey guys, we have them too y'know", but their doctrine didn't allow them to follow through with these threats*. This change is worrisome, but it's worrisome because it broadens the definition and makes it more difficult to assess what they consider to be the real red line, not because it signals they're about to start a nuclear winter.
*doctrine is ultimately just a document. Russia, as well as any other nation, can forgo their nuclear deterrence doctrine and start throwing hands if they'd feel suicidal for shits and giggles. So while that document is definitely important, as it signals your likely standpoint on the use of nuclear weaponry, it is just a piece of paper and the threat is between the lines.
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Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentI thought that was the Dutch holding that sold their part of the business. You may be right though. There's no doubt in my mind however whether or not they're complicit. A business this size...I thought that was the Dutch holding that sold their part of the business. You may be right though.
There's no doubt in my mind however whether or not they're complicit. A business this size operating in Russia does not get away with noncompliance.
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Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
CptBluebear Link ParentYou can ask Mycketforvirrad to change your title.You can ask Mycketforvirrad to change your title.
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Comment on Should I stop using Kagi because they do business with Yandex? in ~tech
CptBluebear (edited )LinkOnly you can say if you're overreacting. I know I stopped short of actually trying them on account of them being Russian, but plenty of people continue to use the service for a variety of reasons....Only you can say if you're overreacting. I know I stopped short of actually trying them on account of them being Russian, but plenty of people continue to use the service for a variety of reasons.
Do you consider them being Russian important enough to stop using their service? Then no, you are not overreacting, you are considering your principles.
Do you consider them being Russian is not important on a geopolitical scale? Then you can continue using their services.
Edit to add: So I did some extra reading up on Yandex and they're all in all your bog standard scummy corpa except Russian instead of from the US.
They got caught harvesting Ukrainian user data back in 2017.
They promote Russian propaganda websites as top results.
But also denied the FSB their encryption keys.It looks to me that they're toeing the line of what's acceptable to function in Russia and what's acceptable as a scummy business.
Nothing shows that they're actually fully on board with what the Kremlin is doing, but there's also nothing that fully exonerates them from it either.Considering their size, they are far more than a search engine, you can somewhat assume they are in the pocket of the Kremlin or at the very least have to comply with their wishes.
So, overreacting? If you do not want to (indirectly) support the Russian war effort I don't think you want to support Yandex.
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Comment on Question: Pedicure pricing differences in ~life.women
CptBluebear LinkI wonder how ~life.men would respond to the same question. Don't you?I wonder how ~life.men would respond to the same question. Don't you?
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Comment on China population set for 51 million drop as pro-birth moves fail in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentYes it literally is a ponzi scheme. Look at retirement. It functions essentially similar to other ponzi schemes: You need the money of new investors to pay old investors. A lot of our systems...Yes it literally is a ponzi scheme. Look at retirement. It functions essentially similar to other ponzi schemes: You need the money of new investors to pay old investors.
A lot of our systems function the same way. Perpetual and infinite growth only functions if you have additional buy-in. Countries in the West with a negative replacement rate use immigration as a method to prop this up.
It sounds reductive to say it's just a ponzi scheme and call it a day. And it is... but it unfortunately also isn't.
I’m really hoping someone with a deeper understanding than mine will chime in and reassure me that because of X and Y reasons, our current population trajectory makes sense and can continue apace for millennia.
I'm not the former and I can't do the latter. I'm sorry on both counts.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentOh for sure! But I was referring to the reviews in that linked video and some of them were made with 0,3 hours of in game time. Calling for a refund in like 15 to 20 minutes. Which means they may...Oh for sure! But I was referring to the reviews in that linked video and some of them were made with 0,3 hours of in game time. Calling for a refund in like 15 to 20 minutes. Which means they may have actually refunded after a single line about communism.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentReviews for this game are pretty funny, but it always baffles me how little people are willing to engage with anything outside of their comfort zone. Single line praising communism? RFEFUNEDReviews for this game are pretty funny, but it always baffles me how little people are willing to engage with anything outside of their comfort zone. Single line praising communism? RFEFUNED
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Comment on The Game Awards nominees 2024: Controversially, DLCs/expansions can now compete for GOTY in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentA nomination is already incredible praise. The fact the rules were bent to facilitate a DLC should be an incredible win for FromSoft. I agree in principle, something new should take the crown, and...A nomination is already incredible praise. The fact the rules were bent to facilitate a DLC should be an incredible win for FromSoft.
I agree in principle, something new should take the crown, and I'll probably not vote for SotE. But I'll be lying if it wasn't a very strong contender. If anything, if they do take the win, I just hope other studios see that a chunky DLC gets the bag and that it'll reduce low effort DLC releases that plague the industry.
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Comment on The Game Awards nominees 2024: Controversially, DLCs/expansions can now compete for GOTY in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentThat talking point would have merit if everyone was talking about DLC the size of, ohh let's say, Starfield, but Shadow of the Erdtree could nearly standalone as a game itself. It sets a dangerous...That talking point would have merit if everyone was talking about DLC the size of, ohh let's say, Starfield, but Shadow of the Erdtree could nearly standalone as a game itself.
It sets a dangerous precedent, but SOTE could be rewarded for delivering on a DLC and then some.
I'd argue that exceptions should remain exceptions though. DLC shouldn't be automatically in the running unless it's a sizeable release.
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Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentYes it likely was. But it was also a red line which "Ukraine" ostensibly crossed. Which should warrant a stronger response according to their own threats and doctrine. It only made them look weak...Yes it likely was. But it was also a red line which "Ukraine" ostensibly crossed. Which should warrant a stronger response according to their own threats and doctrine.
It only made them look weak and unwilling to follow through.
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Comment on Daisy, the AI granny wasting scammers’ time in ~tech
CptBluebear LinkThe article is so repeat-y with its paragraphs I'm starting to think Daisy is moonlighting as a columnist as well. Honestly though, nothing but praise for the initiative. If it helps at least one...The article is so repeat-y with its paragraphs I'm starting to think Daisy is moonlighting as a columnist as well.
Honestly though, nothing but praise for the initiative. If it helps at least one person not get scammed it'll be worth it.
I do wonder what it'll be like in the near future. We'll probably see AI Daisy the Granny talk to AI Michael from Microsoft before too long, fully automated scam economy let's go!
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Comment on China population set for 51 million drop as pro-birth moves fail in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentYou aren't. But China is an exceptional case in this regard. Other notable mentions are Japan and South Korea. Even then China outpaces them by far because of the one child policy from the past.You aren't. But China is an exceptional case in this regard. Other notable mentions are Japan and South Korea. Even then China outpaces them by far because of the one child policy from the past.
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Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentMoscow is already being hit. One drone even hit the Kremlin. You could argue that was a false flag, but even if it was... Why didn't that trigger the nuclear response? The long and short of it is...Moscow is already being hit. One drone even hit the Kremlin. You could argue that was a false flag, but even if it was... Why didn't that trigger the nuclear response?
The long and short of it is that we can't know when they do, nor can we accept nuclear threat as a viable means of expanding territory. And of the two, not responding is likely worse in the long term.
Add the fact that simply supplying Ukraine with HIMARS was a supposed red line, or sending jets, or long range equipment, or or or or or or and you see that the red line is rather invisible.
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Comment on How well do you cook? in ~life.men
CptBluebear Link ParentWatch them hate the dino nuggets. May as well look at a horoscope or the moon cycle to determine whether or not my daughter will like something today, because it's impossible to glean otherwise....Watch them hate the dino nuggets.
May as well look at a horoscope or the moon cycle to determine whether or not my daughter will like something today, because it's impossible to glean otherwise. Food she'd gorge two plates of goes untouched the week after. Except broccoli. That goes well any day of the week.
It really does diminish the fun of cooking because it reduces options and really puts a damper on creativity. Make something interesting and there's a good chance it'll be pushed aside.
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Comment on Wicked, Dune, It, and deceiving the audience about two-parters in ~movies
CptBluebear Link ParentIt would've been better, but Dune was considered unadaptable. Filming it back to back would've been a risk. Peter Jackson also had waaay more clout.It would've been better, but Dune was considered unadaptable. Filming it back to back would've been a risk. Peter Jackson also had waaay more clout.
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Comment on Joe Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US long-range missiles in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentThere is good reason to suspect Russia doesn't respond at all beyond what's already happening. I would elaborate why I think so but I'm afraid I don't have the time right now. So if you'll allow...There is good reason to suspect Russia doesn't respond at all beyond what's already happening.
I would elaborate why I think so but I'm afraid I don't have the time right now. So if you'll allow me to be a bit reductionist I'll say that we would've seen a response already when their territorial integrity was threatened, because we already see strikes hundreds of kilometers inside their borders as well as a cross border incursion by ground troops.
The tricky part is that Russia is muddying the waters on when they do consider things escalatory so we really don't know. Should we just not respond then? What we do know is that Russia continuously (and successfully I might add) sabre rattles with a nuclear threat to prevent further aid and what that quite simply shows is that you should never bow down to a threat of this type or you give carte blanche to anyone with nukes to start grabbing clay.
If anything that will proliferate nuclear bombs further than today, because it will be the only viable defense. We should never let that happen.
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Comment on In praise of Arcane season 2 in ~tv
CptBluebear Link ParentIt was, but then they purged and retconned a bunch of it and pushed it all elsewhere. There aren't many people that still remember the Megling Genocide for example.It was, but then they purged and retconned a bunch of it and pushed it all elsewhere. There aren't many people that still remember the Megling Genocide for example.
That Dutch holding owned just about 20 to 25% of the entire conglomerate, so while that's a large share, it wasn't most of it. They sold (late and at a discount) because of sanctions.
I'm also no expert, so thanks for the insights!