FirstTiger's recent activity
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
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Comment on You're running for office on a somewhat petty, yet univerally-understood single issue. What is it? in ~talk
FirstTiger LinkExcluding a situation where universally everyone goes deaf & therefore needs to have sufficient visual space to communicate-- Toilet stalls should have no gaps between the door and the doorframe....Excluding a situation where universally everyone goes deaf & therefore needs to have sufficient visual space to communicate--
Toilet stalls should have no gaps between the door and the doorframe.
And if they do, any "accidental" eye contact by another bathroom user is lifetime barred from the good hand dryer.
And, if elected to second term, I will bring a bill to the legislature prohibiting flickering fluorescent lights! -
Comment on Has anyone worked at <20 person startup before? How was it? in ~tech
FirstTiger LinkMy startup experience has been in the biotech/gene therapy sector. I held a position at that company for a little over three years before I decided to move on to graduate school. When I started...My startup experience has been in the biotech/gene therapy sector. I held a position at that company for a little over three years before I decided to move on to graduate school. When I started there, I was just the 3rd employee to be hired, and by the time I left, the overall company had grown to ~15 people.
The initial experience was quite interesting- I literally helped to build a molecular biology lab from scratch (assembling furniture, installing the water purification system, establishing protocols for brand-new equipment, etc.) I put in long hours, but it didn't bother me then- I was learning new techniques & actually using my bachelor's degree in a way that felt meaningful. We had new ideas to bring to the market, we were funded out for several years with seed capital and grants, and I genuinely thought if we could actually develop product based on those ideas, the company would be successful.
Over time, though... it became painfully obvious that the people hired to be in R&D leadership shouldn't have been. They would frequently shift priorities in the lab, fail to communicate with others in the company about changes they made to projects, and engage in petty, near-shouting matches in the conference room if data they were presenting in a meeting was questioned. Several scientists burned out and quit after working themselves sick over a project, only to have that project scrapped by leadership. The misogynistic attitudes of one manager were frequently papered over by the CEO/co-owner (I suspect because they were members of the same religious community)...
So, yeah. Even with good base ideas & plenty of funding, the workplace turned toxic because of poor leadership and an unwillingness to actually address that toxicity. The company is still going, with a small market presence- but I wonder where it might actually be now if it weren't for the internal conflicts I was present for during my time there.
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Comment on What are some good, non-microtransaction riddled mobile games? in ~games
FirstTiger LinkI don't mobile game much- but I really appreciate the simplicity & variety within the Lichess app. It connects you to the same platform as Lichess.com, for open-source free chess. I appreciate it...I don't mobile game much- but I really appreciate the simplicity & variety within the Lichess app.
It connects you to the same platform as Lichess.com, for open-source free chess. I appreciate it mostly for it's support for chess variants- such as Antichess, King of the Hill, Horde, and (my personal favorite) Atomic.
It's very well used even by grand & international masters, so even if you don't feel like playing a game, you can watch a number of tournaments with excellent gameplay (heck, even Magnus Carlson shows up periodically to play a bullet tournament). -
Comment on AlbumLove recommendations thread: August 2023 in ~music
FirstTiger LinkRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (2012) I had been introduced to this composer by a deeply underrated, criminally underappreciated DJ formerly operating out of Classical MPR...Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (2012)
I had been introduced to this composer by a deeply underrated, criminally underappreciated DJ formerly operating out of Classical MPR (Minnesota Public Radio), Garrett McQueen (look him up at least, if this album doesn't appeal to you!)
I've struggled at times to love classical music because of the tendency of some classical broadcasters to stick to the same composers & pieces, acting like the genre is basically stuck playing the chords dead men wrote centuries ago. But, then I listened to Richter's re-writing of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and it made me feel- vividly. I have to be careful to not listen to this album while doing visual work- the imagery that passes through my mind completely distracts me from any other artistic vision. I can loop it around and around for hours, and feel regretful when I have to stop listening.
I overall would recommend the composer for his work, but most of his other albums contain tracks with talking/human voices, and that takes away a bit of the pure emotion (for me) of listening to an instrumental album.
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Comment on Human touch in ~talk
FirstTiger LinkI'm glad to hear that your complaint was treated in such a humane way. It's far too rare to be treated like a 'real' person by a business, especially such a large one.I'm glad to hear that your complaint was treated in such a humane way. It's far too rare to be treated like a 'real' person by a business, especially such a large one.
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Comment on Bye bye blue checkmarks: Twitter removes legacy verifications in ~tech
FirstTiger Link ParentRight? I don't even really see there being a pretense about being fair or transparent towards user privileges here. Musk giving away blue checkmarks on seemingly his own personal whims just makes...Right? I don't even really see there being a pretense about being fair or transparent towards user privileges here.
Musk giving away blue checkmarks on seemingly his own personal whims just makes me think of toxic, overpowered Reddit moderators. The kind that break a community over their own ego.
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Comment on Chinese EV maker NIO has opened its first European "Power Swap Station" in Denmark – drivers can stop to replace their battery with a fully charged one in ~tech
FirstTiger LinkI wish I had the ability to check out this kind of EV charging infrastructure out for myself. I admit, I appreciate not having to go to a gas station to fuel my car (especially when most of my...I wish I had the ability to check out this kind of EV charging infrastructure out for myself. I admit, I appreciate not having to go to a gas station to fuel my car (especially when most of my driving is commuting). But for longer trips, it would be nice to have a quicker option than waiting & charging at a public charging station.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
FirstTiger LinkMy Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh. I've been meaning to read this one for a while, just because the central premise seemed intriguing. The main character, with the assistance of...My Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh.
I've been meaning to read this one for a while, just because the central premise seemed intriguing. The main character, with the assistance of a wildly incompetent psychiatrist, attempts to sleep an entire year using psychotropic drugs to escape her feelings and increasingly alienating relationships.
I initially felt rather unable to sympathize with her as a character, but at as the story has been progressing, I'm kinda beginning to see why she is as she is. Emotionally neglected most of her life, with no real goals or ambitions.
A bit of a surreal read, but weirdly enthralling. -
Comment on Barbie | Teaser trailer 2 in ~movies
FirstTiger Link ParentNot trying to knock Gosling, not at all- I just haven't seen a movie with him in it in about a decade, so I don't think I have enough points of reference to say how I feel about him as an actor....Not trying to knock Gosling, not at all- I just haven't seen a movie with him in it in about a decade, so I don't think I have enough points of reference to say how I feel about him as an actor.
What would you say is the best movie he's acted in, thus far? One of the above? -
Comment on Barbie | Teaser trailer 2 in ~movies
FirstTiger LinkI'm willing to be cautiously optimistic about this movie- Margot Robbie is reliably good is most of her roles, and Greta Gerwig does intrigue me as a director (her work a couple of years ago on...I'm willing to be cautiously optimistic about this movie- Margot Robbie is reliably good is most of her roles, and Greta Gerwig does intrigue me as a director (her work a couple of years ago on Little Women I thought was a refreshing take on the classic (costume work aside...)).
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Comment on Daniil Dubov forfeits a game after refusing to wear a mask in Tata Steel Chess Tournament in ~games.tabletop
FirstTiger LinkStrange, to forfeit a match against Anish Giri... Still, I can appreciate that Dubov didn't create a whole scene with his masking refusal. Much more graceful way to go about it than to show up and...Strange, to forfeit a match against Anish Giri... Still, I can appreciate that Dubov didn't create a whole scene with his masking refusal. Much more graceful way to go about it than to show up and then be kicked out for refusing.
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Comment on ‘The Harder They Fall’ wins Best Picture at African American Film Critics Association Awards in ~movies
FirstTiger LinkAnyone with a better understanding of how to edit Wikipedia needs to add these awards to these movies' Wikipedia pages.Anyone with a better understanding of how to edit Wikipedia needs to add these awards to these movies' Wikipedia pages.
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Comment on IKEA has cut sick pay for unvaccinated workers, without mitigating circumstances, required to self isolate – retail giant acknowledged it was an emotive topic in ~life
FirstTiger Link ParentIt makes just makes plain sense from a financial perspective for IKEA to do this. No doubt it will leave some individuals feeling left out in the cold & inclined to leave the company... But that's...It makes just makes plain sense from a financial perspective for IKEA to do this. No doubt it will leave some individuals feeling left out in the cold & inclined to leave the company... But that's insurance. It factors monetary risk, not the insuree's feelings.
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Comment on mRNA vaccine technology has helped repair broken hearts in mice in ~science
FirstTiger LinkA very intriguing combination of mRNA vaccine technology & CAR-T cell therapy! I will have to keep an eye out for more work from this research group, see if their work manages to progress beyond...A very intriguing combination of mRNA vaccine technology & CAR-T cell therapy! I will have to keep an eye out for more work from this research group, see if their work manages to progress beyond the animal model stage ( where so many interesting ideas die, sadly...).
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Comment on By 2025, American democracy could collapse, causing extreme domestic political instability, including widespread civil violence. By 2030, the country could be governed by a right-wing dictatorship. in ~society
FirstTiger Link ParentRegrettably, staying in an destabilizing country would likely be harder than immigrating.Regrettably, staying in an destabilizing country would likely be harder than immigrating.
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Comment on By 2025, American democracy could collapse, causing extreme domestic political instability, including widespread civil violence. By 2030, the country could be governed by a right-wing dictatorship. in ~society
FirstTiger (edited )Link ParentI suspect you are right, at least in terms of exports. I am (somewhat) less inclined to agree regarding armed conflict. The American military requires every solider to formally swear to defend the...I suspect you are right, at least in terms of exports.
I am (somewhat) less inclined to agree regarding armed conflict. The American military requires every solider to formally swear to defend the Constitution, not to obey the orders of a demagogue. I can think of several individuals I know who take that vow very seriously, to the point that they would willingly disobey orders if they thought it violated constitutional law, or came from a person who lacked the authority to issue the order. But if recent history is indicative, any institution can be weakened by repeated misinformation and assault... And the individuals I know may not be representative of the American military as a whole.
I would hope that longstanding personal/cultural ties would further prevent military action against Canada too, but if the US military can be used to attack US citizens under the excuse of protecting federal property or to clear way for a photo op, then I regret to say I'm not sure Canadian citizens would have their rights respected in such a scenario.
Two years may not be enough time to fully prepare, but some amount of planning for the worst is not nothing. It would involve a large shift in Canada's national priorities, but if the country's physical safety is at stake, then they will need to change.
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Comment on By 2025, American democracy could collapse, causing extreme domestic political instability, including widespread civil violence. By 2030, the country could be governed by a right-wing dictatorship. in ~society
FirstTiger LinkTruthfully... I'm not planning to be in the US in 2024 to find out if what this article predicts comes true. I am not hopeful about the 2024 elections, about how they will be conducted or about...Truthfully... I'm not planning to be in the US in 2024 to find out if what this article predicts comes true. I am not hopeful about the 2024 elections, about how they will be conducted or about how the results will be taken.
My first plan was Canada, given it's relative closeness to American culture & likelihood my educational qualifications would be accepted there. But an unstable country would likely cause serious trouble for its neighbors... No matter how those neighbors conducted themselves around that country. Whether or not I end up residing there, I do hope for Canada's sake it prepares itself in an honest, frank way for likely a very different relationship with the US going forward.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~news
FirstTiger LinkNow we wait for her sentencing. I wonder if she will be offered a lesser sentence in exchange for testifying against other associates of hers & Epstein, or if the prosecution will ask for the book...Now we wait for her sentencing. I wonder if she will be offered a lesser sentence in exchange for testifying against other associates of hers & Epstein, or if the prosecution will ask for the book to be thrown at her... I don't know if I prefer one way over the other.
The Epstein saga raises a question in my mind- is it better to catch & declare as many people as possible guilty (risking some get fewer negative consequences in exchange), or to deliver sentences to the remaining 'big' actors fully commensurate to their crimes?
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Comment on Why boyish girls are judged less than girlish boys in ~life
FirstTiger Link ParentOr, good ol' sexism in different clothes. The stubborn lie that what is 'female' is inferior or merely good in service of what is 'male,' the vaulted superior. Which is an ongoing frustration, yah.Or, good ol' sexism in different clothes. The stubborn lie that what is 'female' is inferior or merely good in service of what is 'male,' the vaulted superior.
Which is an ongoing frustration, yah.
I recently saw the sci-fi classic "War Games" (1983) from my partner's personal movie collection.
Aside from the helicopter chase towards the end of the movie, so much of the film felt so real!
I had heard about phone phreaking as an early hacking method, but never really understood how it might work- it was an incredible plot point!
I could do with the love interest character (played by Ally Sheedy) either being recast as a dog or rewritten to actual have a human personality, though. Which is a problem I have with a number of older sci-fi movies, which leads me to enjoying the genre less than I would like :/