Gazook89's recent activity
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Comment on Requesting your thoughts that may help me decide between moving to Chicago or Portland (Oregon)? in ~life
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Comment on Getting permission from your significant other in ~life
Gazook89 LinkI do this. I don’t think it falls into any of those categories, for me. I just want to be sure that I’m not forgetting any other prior commitments, either scheduled or...I do this. I don’t think it falls into any of those categories, for me. I just want to be sure that I’m not forgetting any other prior commitments, either scheduled or non-scheduled-but-still-anticipated. The former is just typical stuff like maybe my wife has plans with her friends that hasn’t had a chance to tell me about yet. The latter is just making sure my wife wasn’t just hoping to spend the night home with me, or has extra work to do at home and so needs me home to handle kids that might come out of bed.
Regarding phrasing, I used to occasionally say “ask the boss” or “check with management”, but do so less now (I’m mostly just following cues about the vibe of the conversation up to this point). Most anyone I hang out with is also friends with my wife— we are lucky to have good close friendships with other couples and each others friends— so the joke is a little thin.
I also make plans without checking with my wife, especially if I’m certain there is nothing planned at home, but I do still let her know and am willing to cancel if needed. I guess you could say I’m “asking permission”, by to me it’s just communicating intent and being okay with adapting my schedule if needed. Fortunately, she’s nearly always okay with me making plans even if it makes her evening slightly more difficult.
Many people don’t have such a good relationship so all of the above may not work for them. And all of your options I’m sure are true for some people, either individually or all at once. Apply explanations at your own risk.
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Comment on Can we talk about rice cookers? in ~food
Gazook89 LinkI own a Tiger JAX-T and it works well, used several years, Japanese and basmati rice. Also have an instant pot that works well but I’ve never used it for riceI own a Tiger JAX-T and it works well, used several years, Japanese and basmati rice.
Also have an instant pot that works well but I’ve never used it for rice
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Comment on Requesting your thoughts that may help me decide between moving to Chicago or Portland (Oregon)? in ~life
Gazook89 Link ParentOurs is about to get bigger though not sure it’ll beat Edmonton still though. We are adding an indoor water park and convention centerOurs is about to get bigger though not sure it’ll beat Edmonton still though. We are adding an indoor water park and convention center
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Comment on Requesting your thoughts that may help me decide between moving to Chicago or Portland (Oregon)? in ~life
Gazook89 LinkNot helpful noise: come to Minneapolis and split the difference!Not helpful noise: come to Minneapolis and split the difference!
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
Gazook89 Link ParentI bought a linocut block and chisel? knife? carver? the other week but haven't pulled it out of the box yet. I remember liking it way back in high school art class a couple decades ago, and I saw...I bought a linocut block and chisel? knife? carver? the other week but haven't pulled it out of the box yet. I remember liking it way back in high school art class a couple decades ago, and I saw it at the art store and thought I'd try it again. But I'm kind of stuck on the art part-- I mostly just want to carve as i remember that being very satisfying. So I'm thinking I might just find designs online and somehow transfer them to the block and then start.
Do you have much prior experience with 2d art? You've got good designs.
Another problem is that I keep thinking "sure, i like the idea of this design, but do i need it as a linocut? Am i going to reproduce it more than once?"
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Comment on Jeopardy! YouTube Edition | Teaser in ~tv
Gazook89 Link ParentIs this Rebecca Black, the fan of Friday? Is she still somehow relevant at all? I figured she was working in a bank or something after all these years.Is this Rebecca Black, the fan of Friday? Is she still somehow relevant at all? I figured she was working in a bank or something after all these years.
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Comment on Making React ProseMirror really, really fast in ~comp
Gazook89 LinkOfftopic: On my iphone, with Orion browser, I had no problem with this website. Just moved to mac with Orion browser again, and it took a long time to load the page. And, I can't seem to load the...Offtopic: On my iphone, with Orion browser, I had no problem with this website. Just moved to mac with Orion browser again, and it took a long time to load the page. And, I can't seem to load the first editor by clicking on it? And, just before that, the "@nytimes/react-prosemirror@0.7.0-next.10" part appears as "@nytimes/[email protected]" and when clicked takes me to a cloudflare error that tells me it is protecting an email address?
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Comment on Making React ProseMirror really, really fast in ~comp
Gazook89 Link ParentI’m very into Codemirror, but have considered moving towards ProseMirror. Haven’t read the article yet though.I’m very into Codemirror, but have considered moving towards ProseMirror. Haven’t read the article yet though.
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Comment on Boston/Stow, MA with young kids in ~travel
Gazook89 LinkGot back from the trip and I'll just recap what we did in case it's helpful for others down the line. Again, this is for a family trip with two kids under 5 (but pretty much the focus for me was...- Exemplary
Got back from the trip and I'll just recap what we did in case it's helpful for others down the line. Again, this is for a family trip with two kids under 5 (but pretty much the focus for me was getting the near 5yo out of the house). In Stow, MA area with a rental car.
First, Boston Logan Airport
First, Boston Logan aiport was great. When we arrived and took the airport shuttle to the car rental center, we accidentally left the travel crib on the bus. We had reserved the car ahead of time, which made it pretty fast, but we were loading the car up before we realized we were a bag short. I sort of assumed we would just be buying a new crib, and that's pretty much what the car guys were implying, but while looking through the main lobby area I glanced at the shuttle drop off curb and thought "maybe if i just wait long enough the bus will circle around again and it'll be there". So I went out, and popped into the first bus in line just to check, and it was our bus! The driver had actually noticed the bag and sat for more than 20 minutes just waiting on me to come back. So that was awesome, and I thanked her profusely.
Another point for the Boston Logan was on our return trip, there was zero security line wait. On a monday at 9:30am. No line to drop off bags, no line to go through the scanners, and when one of our bags had to be pulled aside due to a forgotten set of cutlery (camping fork and butterknife) they basically checked it right away, stared at the knife for like 15 grueling seconds, and then put it back and let us go. It was the fastest american airport experience I've ever had.
Western Suburbs
Discovery Museum - Acton
Excellent museum. I guess last year or 2024 they won some big museum award and I think they deserve it. Every exhibit was operational, nothing broken, which for kid-oriented museums is a feat, in my experience. It was kept neat, too. Things that needed to be staffed were staffed. I noted in my original post that I didn't like "big empty museums", and this was the opposite: small, but densely packed. It was "information dense", too, with good signage about concepts. It had an excellent infant area, and I'd say the upper-bound on age was probably like...10? I don't know, that's a little out of my wheelhouse, someone with older kids could probably better say. We were there on a cold day but still enjoyed the outdoor treehouse area + the trails in the woods that extend from the museum. It was difficult to get my kid out of the museum after about 5 hours there (we did a lunch at Not Your Average Joes down the road and then came back). One note: it's very possible to get wet in the water area.
Butterfly Place - Westport
A small butterfly "greenhouse" where you enter a half-dome-like atrium filled with free flying butterflies. There isn't a lot to do here, but we found that if you just find a place to sit and maybe where a colorful shirt, you can have up to 4 butterflies land on you at a time. Unfortunately, it was me wearing the colors, which bred some jealously in the kid before I transferred my sweater to her. We spent about 3 hours here, which I think as probably longer than anyone else there. Kid loved it the whole time. She is very social and pretty much became a tour guide. There are some awesome stick bugs there, too. Good place to hand a phone to a kid and let them take pictures for awhile.
Castle-In-The-Trees Playground - Littleton
Spent about 3 more hours playing here after the butterfly place. Based on reviews from locals I talked to earlier in the week, I was expecting a little more, but it was still a good playground. I have a lot of opinions about playgrounds but I don't want to dive into that right now. But there were a lot of kids at this one even on a weekday (it was maybe spring break?). I assume this changes later in the season, but there was no trash can or bathrooms here, which was kind of a bummer. If you are in the area with a kid, this a good free place to check out.
Concord & West Concord Libraries - Concord
Both libraries are gems, as far as I can tell. The main Concord library has a cool historical adult area, a "hip and with-it" teen room, and a new kid wing with backyard play area. The librarians were very nice (they almost always are, so no surprise there) and helpful, and it was poppin' with kids, moms, and even some dads. Lots of toys, quiet areas, a makerspace.
West Concord library is much smaller, but everything above applies here except the makerspace. I heard good things from other patrons about other local libraries like in Lincoln, for instance.
Walden Pond - Concord
I've been to Walden before, and it's one of my favorite parks anywhere, partly because it's really nothing more than just a really nice pond, with a nice beach, surrounded by nice woods. This trip I was with a kid who usually won't walk anywhere unless there is some snack at the other end, and it was fairly cold. But earlier I noticed the book Walden just by chance as we left the library (in their book sale area) and showed it to my kid, which then made the trip to the actual pond much more interesting for her just because it seemed "famous" or something. And she walked around the whole pond. It's just nice woods. Visitor center docent/employee was very engaging and they had some kid stuff there, too. They will have a new beach shelter this summer. One extra tidbit: my kid peed in the woods about 40 feet from site of the original Thoreau cabin (after inquiring about bladder status for 5+ hours at this point and being given firm negatives).
Codman Farm - Lincoln
This is a community-owned farm that the city of Lincoln was given a few decades ago. They have a hired farmer that manages it, and volunteers help with certain things. It has veggies but also raises chickens, cows, pigs, goats for meat which I believe is butchered there on site. They have a market there on site where you can buy the goods they make. It's an event space, too, and I heard they are soon reconfiguring the whole barn for more event space, bigger store, etc. The cool thing about this farm is that you can walk pretty much anywhere outside except the animal pastures. And it's free. If you want a little more of a "refined" farm experience and pay for it, check out Drumlin Farm nearby.
Boston
Childrens Museum
It's better than the Saint Paul Childrens Museum, but Discovery Museum was better, in my opinion. Boston CM does have lots to do, though, and is very lively. The main climbing structure is quite something, but I was very nervous my kid would climb high enough to get scared and require me to go up into it-- and I do not think that even as a slim guy I could manage to do, the gaps are very small, especially with so many kids in it. Some exhibits are a bit worn (there is a "home depot" tools area that is basically garbage at this point), and there is quite a bit of "scenery" aka stuff that looks fun but really has no interactive or educational component to it. And, I think for my kid at least, we would have been just as happy at the excellent and free playground just down the boardwalk from the museum (Martin's Park, I think).
Modern Pastry Shop
Kids like whipped cream filled cannoli with chocolate chips, who knew?
Final notes
The Stow/Acton/Maynard area is really pretty, even in the drab early spring months. For someone from the midwest, it's interesting to see the little family farms mixed in with small towns, big and small houses, woods, creeks, ponds, etc. The driving was easy, too. Looking at maps is a little weird because of the adjustment needed when looking at distances (midwest proportions vs massachusetts proportions).
One downside is that it's expensive out there.
Thanks for the suggestions I got from this thread, but I also got a ton of info from asking the librarians but especially just other parents (and their kids) about places to go. Everyone I met in the western suburbs would inevitably suggest the Discovery Museum first, but then I got a range of responses. I unfortunately didn't write them all down, but I mostly just wanted to share the experiences we actually had, not places we "thought about" going to. Overall, would definitely go again and my kid has added it to the long list of places she wants to live when she grows up.
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Comment on Bernie vs. Claude in ~society
Gazook89 LinkI didn’t get to watch all of it. But I was thinking that Claude would know everything about Bernie, and be sure you cater its responses to him.I didn’t get to watch all of it. But I was thinking that Claude would know everything about Bernie, and be sure you cater its responses to him.
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Comment on I’m looking for landscape architects or designers who use watercolor in their master plans in ~arts
Gazook89 Link ParentEmailing them might even be better, as there is less urgency in an email which gives them more time to look and time to think.Emailing them might even be better, as there is less urgency in an email which gives them more time to look and time to think.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Gazook89 Link ParentYou might consider a free version with all of the features, and then premium content packs. I was just looking at the Cthulhu Architect "Handouts" generator last week and it's very cool, and they...You might consider a free version with all of the features, and then premium content packs. I was just looking at the Cthulhu Architect "Handouts" generator last week and it's very cool, and they sell a premium subscription to get more options. I also know of openfront which is all free, but they sell skins as one-time purchases. It seems very "corporate" but maybe both options, where you have discrete content packs to sell, or the option to pay a monthly subscription for the "season pass" or whatever, but the base product is all free and even open source. I dunno. As I type that sounds like a lot of "business work".
Or, if it's really good, sell it for $100 as a one-time purchase.
EDIT: Oh and also, i'm interested in helping with an alpha. I'm a contributing dev to Homebrewery and this is right up my alley.
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Comment on The US Mint dropped the olive branch from the dime. What does that mean for the country? in ~society
Gazook89 (edited )Link ParentI can’t read this article, but I had read elsewhere that this was approved in September 2024 for the 250 anniversary of the revolutionary war, and then future designs for subsequent years are...- Exemplary
I can’t read this article, but I had read elsewhere that this was approved in September 2024 for the 250 anniversary of the revolutionary war, and then future designs for subsequent years are already approved and just go back to the “normal” design.
Maybe this article covers that, I don’t know, paywall. But adding it here in comments.
Edit: another article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/13/dime-redesign-trump-america/
The final design of the coin was one of several illustrations reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee in 2024. That October, right before Trump would be elected for a second presidential term, the impartial federal advisory committee recommended the design to the treasury secretary.
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The U.S. Mint says that in 2027, the dime will return immediately to its previous design featuring Roosevelt.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
Gazook89 Link ParentWhat platform is it for? Windows/Mac/web? Have you decided on closed or open source or if you plan to make some money it?What platform is it for? Windows/Mac/web?
Have you decided on closed or open source or if you plan to make some money it?
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Comment on Crimson Desert | Official launch trailer in ~games
Gazook89 LinkAre there books that give me the literary equivalent of this? I'm not going to play a game, but I see trailers occassionally that impress me with the mechanics or world building and I think...Are there books that give me the literary equivalent of this? I'm not going to play a game, but I see trailers occassionally that impress me with the mechanics or world building and I think "that'd be cool to read". I just haven't dipped into fantasy books that much, so that's on me.
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Comment on Boston/Stow, MA with young kids in ~travel
Gazook89 Link ParentThanks for mentioning the train— we’ve done that in the past but I completely forgot about it. We were contemplating heading into Boston for at least a day and that would be helpfulThanks for mentioning the train— we’ve done that in the past but I completely forgot about it. We were contemplating heading into Boston for at least a day and that would be helpful
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Comment on Boston/Stow, MA with young kids in ~travel
Gazook89 Link ParentRegarding farms, we are actually visiting family that owns/operates a neat vegetable/flower farm and store. So got that covered. And, we’ve been to the heritage museum pre-kids— it was awesome....Regarding farms, we are actually visiting family that owns/operates a neat vegetable/flower farm and store. So got that covered. And, we’ve been to the heritage museum pre-kids— it was awesome.
Candlepin sounds interesting— smaller ball would be a plus.
It’s also occurred to me that libraries are typically good kid spots.
Thanks for the tips!
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Boston/Stow, MA with young kids
Hi all, We are headed to Stow, MA for a week from the midwest, and have two kids in tow. 5 and 1 year olds. We will have a rental car available to us, and are looking for things to do while we...
Hi all,
We are headed to Stow, MA for a week from the midwest, and have two kids in tow. 5 and 1 year olds. We will have a rental car available to us, and are looking for things to do while we aren't visiting with family. Right now on the radar is the Maynard Discovery Museum, the Worcester EcoTarium, and the Franklin Children's Museum.Mostly interested in burning some energy, but I'm highly motivated to avoid children's museums that are basically cavernous-but-otherwise-empty dumping grounds for school field trips. I find that in my area it is the smaller museums that are generally more interesting.
Thanks in advance!
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Comment on A day in the life of an ensh*ttificator in ~tech
Gazook89 Link ParentAbsolutely feel the same way. Pretty much right away I knew this word would be everywhere, and would mean just about anything depending on who was saying it. There is something so titillating and...Absolutely feel the same way. Pretty much right away I knew this word would be everywhere, and would mean just about anything depending on who was saying it. There is something so titillating and transgressive about sneaking a cuss word into everyday conversation that people can’t resist.
Yeah, north side between the current mall and the highway. Big surface lot there. I don’t know all the specifics though.
In the past decade they did also build out an extension to the mall in that direction, too. Added the first directly connected hotel and an office tower. And a bigger food court. That food court is largely empty though— kinda just waiting to be connected to something larger.
Sorry for late response, didn’t notice I had something in inbox.