DoubleSupercool's recent activity

  1. Comment on America’s enterprising spirit is booming after decades-long slump in ~finance

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    Smarter Every Day just posted an interesting video on US manufacturing and trying to do everything "properly". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6HEes8daw

    Smarter Every Day just posted an interesting video on US manufacturing and trying to do everything "properly".

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6HEes8daw

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Why contacting customer service might not be best in ~life

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    Japanese "customer service" is 90%: "I'm sorry, that's not possible". People confuse polite customer service with ACTUAL customer service when they visit Japan and only see it in short bursts....

    Japanese "customer service" is 90%: "I'm sorry, that's not possible".

    People confuse polite customer service with ACTUAL customer service when they visit Japan and only see it in short bursts.

    Basically, you almost always have to push, and generally push until you get a manager, and then things suddently become possible. Even though, a lot of "service" in Japan just doesn't exist because there are rules and systems in place that just cannot be bent, even when it will clearly solve the problem.

    18 votes

  3. Comment on America’s enterprising spirit is booming after decades-long slump in ~finance

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    I was just watching a video by a guy who manufactures air filters in the USA and he similarly broke down where China has the advantage and where the USA has the advantage, and it’s mainly...

    I was just watching a video by a guy who manufactures air filters in the USA and he similarly broke down where China has the advantage and where the USA has the advantage, and it’s mainly non-glamorous industrial stuff that needs high quality, reliability, fast turnaround, customisability, and ongoing service.

    China has the advantage in tech stuff because they literally have entire cities dedicated to manufacturing, with raw materials, suppliers, manufacturers and customers all in the one place.

    America has also essentially lost a generation or more of manufacturing knowledge. Even if you wanted to buy something or source materials, you couldn’t.

    24 votes

  4. Comment on Does anyone use DaVinci Resolve Fusion for motion graphics? in ~creative

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    Honestly, start with the official tutorials. They have a bunch of videos and files. If you come from an Adobe / layers paradigm, honestly the biggest shift is getting your head around the power of...

    Honestly, start with the official tutorials. They have a bunch of videos and files. If you come from an Adobe / layers paradigm, honestly the biggest shift is getting your head around the power of how node-based compositing works. After you get the fundamentals of how everything is connected, it all makes a lot more sense, and going back to layers can be a real chore.

    Having said that, the more timeline/layers based approach in AE does work quite well with motion graphics vs VFX, where you tend to work on one shot at a time, that is maaaaaaaybe over 100 frames.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on Microsoft PowerToys in ~tech

  6. Comment on Microsoft PowerToys in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    I like the colour picker BUT, why Windows doesn't have a universal colour picker that lets you SAVE swatches across apps, like OS X, is absolutely beyond me. Yes, I picked the colour. Can you now...

    I like the colour picker BUT, why Windows doesn't have a universal colour picker that lets you SAVE swatches across apps, like OS X, is absolutely beyond me. Yes, I picked the colour. Can you now SAVE the colour so I can switch apps and quickly USE said colour?

    No?

    Cool cool.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Microsoft PowerToys in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    (edited )
    Link
    I definitely use a bunch of the tools as a teacher including the Mouse Highlighter and Zoomit for zoom/markup effects for screens. There are a BUNCH of tools that are awesome for teachers. You can...

    I definitely use a bunch of the tools as a teacher including the Mouse Highlighter and Zoomit for zoom/markup effects for screens. There are a BUNCH of tools that are awesome for teachers.

    You can get Zoomit separately but now I think it is included as standard part of the suite.

    Also a bunch of useful tools for things like Registry, Hosts, and Environment Variables.

  8. Comment on An interview with Timo Furuholm, Finnish parliamentarian and former footballer – exploring why so many players lean right-wing and discussion on the upcoming 2026 World Cup in ~sports.football

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    One of the hallmarks of conservatism is seeing society as having hierarchies. You don’t get to be an elite level player without thinking you are just naturally better than everyone else.

    One of the hallmarks of conservatism is seeing society as having hierarchies. You don’t get to be an elite level player without thinking you are just naturally better than everyone else.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Modern, abstract art makes me angry in ~arts

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    They imply those things…. in OUR culture because we have constructed that meaning for them, the same with resolving chords or melody progressions. Those things aren’t like “facts” of music....

    They imply those things…. in OUR culture because we have constructed that meaning for them, the same with resolving chords or melody progressions. Those things aren’t like “facts” of music. Different cultures can see things like happy/sad music as completely different.

    The point of music is still abstract. It’s a representation of a feeling, and they way that is expressed varies wildly from culture to culture.

    4 votes

  10. Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    Just started painting. No idea what I am doing, so acrylics and medium just creating a mess with brushes and palette knives. I always find an excuse not to do it, so it’s important to just do...

    Just started painting. No idea what I am doing, so acrylics and medium just creating a mess with brushes and palette knives. I always find an excuse not to do it, so it’s important to just do SOMETHING. Do it, finish it, do another.

    Just signed up for Ableton’s “rent to buy” academic version for Ableton Live. Honestly, that’s the way to do it. Monthly rental price and after 12 months, it’s yours outright. Went from dodgy copies to paying because it’s a good deal.

    3 votes

  11. Comment on Re-watched the Bourne Trilogy after several years, I understand now why it was so influential in ~movies

    DoubleSupercool
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    Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the Bourne movies an almighty sharp left turn from the OTT campiness that James Bond had devolved into? You had all those Bond movies and then Austen Powers...

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the Bourne movies an almighty sharp left turn from the OTT campiness that James Bond had devolved into? You had all those Bond movies and then Austen Powers parodying spy films, and Bourne was back to spies being badasses.

    You can then see that kickstarting the grittier Bond reboots.

    2 votes

  12. Comment on Apple announces significant price increases for MacBooks, iPads, more in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    I am using a Lenovo Loq with a 5070 in it. I forget the CPU. It’s okay and now our uni is mainly on sharepoint stuff, it plays well with windows obviously. However, the MacBook Pro really is a...

    I am using a Lenovo Loq with a 5070 in it. I forget the CPU. It’s okay and now our uni is mainly on sharepoint stuff, it plays well with windows obviously.

    However, the MacBook Pro really is a different beast for every day laptop use. It’s just sooooo much nicer to use.

    To be honest, nowadays I mainly use my laptop in clamshell mode with external everything in my office and then basic stuff in the classroom. The keyboard, screen, and track pad are pretty pants on the LOQ.

    When I was doing assistant work and doing my Masters, I was using my MBP everyday as my laptop and it was great. Yet to find a Windows machine that comes close, and if it does, they’re about the same price.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on The 2026 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 25 - July 9) in ~games

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    Yeah, it's very much a kludge that doesn't really work too well, unfortunately. It's just a baffling decision in 2026.

    Yeah, it's very much a kludge that doesn't really work too well, unfortunately. It's just a baffling decision in 2026.

    3 votes

  14. Comment on Apple announces significant price increases for MacBooks, iPads, more in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    I remember back in the day when they used to have completely separate regional pricing. Got a fully specced out 17inch MBP with HD screen in Malaysia for well over $1000 less than back home. Ahhh,...

    I remember back in the day when they used to have completely separate regional pricing. Got a fully specced out 17inch MBP with HD screen in Malaysia for well over $1000 less than back home. Ahhh, the good old days.

    4 votes

  15. Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music

  16. Comment on The 2026 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 25 - July 9) in ~games

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    I was so disappointed that they STILL didn't provide a "no head bob" option in the 2nd. I couldn't continue with 1 due to nausea.

    I was so disappointed that they STILL didn't provide a "no head bob" option in the 2nd. I couldn't continue with 1 due to nausea.

    4 votes

  17. Comment on Apple announces significant price increases for MacBooks, iPads, more in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    In Japan, even the Neo is very expensive, and underpowered for the money, even with edu discounts. Stuff basically doesn't go on sale here. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is not the same as...

    In Japan, even the Neo is very expensive, and underpowered for the money, even with edu discounts. Stuff basically doesn't go on sale here.

    Unfortunately, the rest of the world is not the same as the US when it comes to tech prices.

    4 votes

  18. Comment on Apple announces significant price increases for MacBooks, iPads, more in ~tech

    DoubleSupercool
    Link
    I couldn’t even afford the baseline MacBook on my research budget as a university lecturer BEFORE the price rises. After being a Mac user for over 15 years, I dropped them last year.

    I couldn’t even afford the baseline MacBook on my research budget as a university lecturer BEFORE the price rises. After being a Mac user for over 15 years, I dropped them last year.

    2 votes

  19. Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    Here in Japan, it’s standard to have a microwave/oven combos. Standalone ovens are extremely rare, and American sized ones are special import and setup :(

    Here in Japan, it’s standard to have a microwave/oven combos. Standalone ovens are extremely rare, and American sized ones are special import and setup :(

    1 vote

  20. Comment on What do you think is the best sandwich? in ~food

    DoubleSupercool
    Link Parent
    I absolutely need the coriander/cilantro/pakuchi, but I know somebody have a bad reaction to it. Apart from that, the crispy baguette is key. You need to look like a sandstorm hit your shirt after...

    I absolutely need the coriander/cilantro/pakuchi, but I know somebody have a bad reaction to it. Apart from that, the crispy baguette is key. You need to look like a sandstorm hit your shirt after you finish eating it.

    1 vote