JCPhoenix's recent activity
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Comment on 9/11 attacks in realtime (dashboard) 7:46am-12:00pm in ~humanities.history
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Comment on A tool to determine which US city you should live in in ~life
JCPhoenix LinkI got NYC as my Number 1, which I've never been to. My second was DC, which conveniently, I just moved to! Well, the Virginia side, anyway. 3rd was Boston (also never been), but 4th was Chicago,...I got NYC as my Number 1, which I've never been to. My second was DC, which conveniently, I just moved to! Well, the Virginia side, anyway.
3rd was Boston (also never been), but 4th was Chicago, where I did live for school. Missed it all the time after I went back home to Kansas City.
I definitely prioritized public transit and walkability, so it makes sense that these cities popped-up. Coming from Midwest, I'm totally fine with cold, snowy winters (and hot summers), but I hate absolutely hate super hot summers. I don't think I could do Phoenix or Las Vegas.
Food is whatever; I still eat like a college student even though I'm in my late 30s. Though it is nice to have decent restaurants. But it's not a huge need for me.
Population size isn't a big deal, but I do prefer to live in cities/metros. Really, those that have international airports within about an hour.
Beach or forests doesn't matter. Political leanings matters a little, but most larger cities are fairly liberal. And though I lived in blue/purple city, it was in a red-ish state, so I'm used to that.
And "cheap housing?" What does that mean? 🙃
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Comment on Helldivers 2 support studio Toadman Interactive to shut offices in Sweden and Norway – some positions at developer's Berlin office also at risk in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentThe issue is that since PS2 is a persistent-world MMOFPS that tends to focus on large battles, only having 1500 players spread across 5 servers worldwide is a huge issue. Every server (or rather,...The issue is that since PS2 is a persistent-world MMOFPS that tends to focus on large battles, only having 1500 players spread across 5 servers worldwide is a huge issue.
Every server (or rather, a "continent," and there are 2-3 out of 5 active at once usually), I think, is able to support about that many players. And when a single server has that many players during primetime, that's when the game really shines. There can be large battles of 100+ vs 100+ (vs 100+), mid-size battles of like 48 vs 48, and then small battles of like 12 vs 12. There's something for everyone. And it's very dynamic; a small 12v12 at a base can scale up in seconds or minutes. But if there are only 200-300 players on a server, spread across 3 factions...It's hard to generate those dynamics. Ok, maybe there's one big battle on the map, but if you're not into that, then all you can do is "ghost-cap," taking undefended territories, with the hopes of generating a fight. It's boring. Or there are several small skirmishes, but you really like the biggest fights; tough luck.
For many years now, there've been requests to merge the two US-based servers. I think the same has been asked of the two EU-based severs. Because the population issues have been present for awhile and only getting worse. But at this point, merging the servers is only just a band aid. How long before the single US server is down to a few hundred at primetime? And merging all into one I think is impossible due to physics: latency.
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Comment on Helldivers 2 support studio Toadman Interactive to shut offices in Sweden and Norway – some positions at developer's Berlin office also at risk in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentI don't play anymore -- haven't played in over a year -- but right away I was thought, "didn't they just take over development of Planetside2?" This game just cannot catch a break. 12yrs and this...I don't play anymore -- haven't played in over a year -- but right away I was thought, "didn't they just take over development of Planetside2?"
This game just cannot catch a break. 12yrs and this game has always felt like it's always just circling the drain. Even at the start, it was worrisome at times.
If Eve Online developer CCP (owned by Pearl Abyss) wasn't such a shitshow on its own, I'd wish for them to take over Planetside 2 and somehow integrate the universes in some manner. I know there's a fair amount of player crossover between those two games.
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Comment on Haas driver Kevin Magnussen will be suspended from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after exceeding the permitted number of penalty points in a year in ~sports.motorsports
JCPhoenix LinkI believe he's the first to receive an automatic race ban under the current system of penalty points. I do think it's strange that the driver gets all their penalty points wiped clean after the...I believe he's the first to receive an automatic race ban under the current system of penalty points.
I do think it's strange that the driver gets all their penalty points wiped clean after the ban. Not saying a race ban isn't a big deal. Imagine if this was Lando or Max instead of KMag; missing a race could absolutely destroy their chance to win the WDC. It could certainly affect a team's chances at the WCC since the team has to use a less-experienced reserve driver as a replacement.
To me, the points shouldn't reset, but drop back a little. So a driver collects 12 penalty points, is given a race ban, then the total should drop back to 8pt or 6pts; the removal of points reflecting the severity of a served race ban. Then if they continue to drive poorly and dirty, there's still the potential for additional bans. But if they clean themselves up, then the points expire over time as they normally do; each point expires 12mo after each was earned.
Though given the consistent inconsistency of stewarding, maybe it is a good thing that they're wiped altogether. I agree with KMag that that shouldn't have been a penalty. Even Gasly agreed. If the points didn't reset, there's the chance for some situations where different stewards decide to just keep messing with a driver, giving points and automatic bans where perhaps there shouldn't be.
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Comment on Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
JCPhoenix LinkAlso, KMag received a 10sec penalty and 2 penalty points for his collision with Gasly. Which means KMag now has 12 penalty points in the last 12mo. Should mean an automatic one race ban for Baku....Also, KMag received a 10sec penalty and 2 penalty points for his collision with Gasly. Which means KMag now has 12 penalty points in the last 12mo. Should mean an automatic one race ban for Baku.
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Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix 2024 - Results
Warning: this post may contain spoilers
I'm back! I missed Zanvdoort since I was moving cross-country.
Anyway, this turned out to be a fun race! I wasn't sure how it was going to end up but the tire strategies kept it interesting. Not sure if the Ferraris, particularly Leclerc, made a big gamble, or that the McLarens snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Probably a little column A, little column B. Either way, I did not expect a Leclerc victory; they probably didn't either. The Tifosi will be partying hard tonight!
Red Bull continues to, unfortunately for me, shit the bed. During the first half of the race, Perez could barely overtake Russell, even though Russell had a damaged front wing. Later in the race, when Max switched to new mediums, with Hamilton ahead on slightly used hards, Max still couldn't close the gap. The gap even opened up! At least both RBRs finished in the Top 10 (more impressive for Perez, less so for Max).
I didn't see what happened to Yuki that caused him to retire; need to find that out.
Lastly, congrats to Colapinto finishing P12! Excellent for an F1 debut.
Onward to Baku.
Next race:
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit
Sunday, September 15Provisional Race Results -- SPOILER
Pos No Driver Car Laps Time/retired Pts 1 16 Leclerc Ferrari 53 1:14:40.727 25 2 81 Piastri McLaren Mercedes 53 +2.664s 18 3 4 Norris McLaren Mercedes 53 +6.153s 16 4 55 Sainz Ferrari 53 +15.621s 12 5 44 Hamilton Mercedes 53 +22.820s 10 6 1 Verstappen Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT 53 +37.932s 8 7 63 Russell Mercedes 53 +39.715s 6 8 11 Perez Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT 53 +54.148s 4 9 23 Albon Williams Mercedes 53 +67.456s 2 10 20 Magnussen Haas Ferrari 53 +68.302s 1 11 14 Alonso Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 53 +68.495s 0 12 43 Colapinto Williams Mercedes 53 +81.308s 0 13 3 Ricciardo RB Honda RBPT 53 +93.452s 0 14 31 Ocon Alpine Renault 52 +1 lap 0 15 10 Gasly Alpine Renault 52 +1 lap 0 16 77 Bottas Kick Sauber Ferrari 52 +1 lap 0 17 27 Hulkenberg Haas Ferrari 52 +1 lap 0 18 24 Zhou Kick Sauber Ferrari 52 +1 lap 0 19 18 Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 52 +1 lap 0 NC 22 Tsunoda RB Honda RBPT 7 DNF 0 Fastest Lap: Lando Norris
Source: F1.com
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Comment on When can I generate invite codes? in ~tildes
JCPhoenix Link ParentYup. I'm still on reddit, as well. I tried quitting for a few months, but I still found myself going back to places like /r/sysadmin for work or subreddits specific to my interests since Tildes or...Yup. I'm still on reddit, as well. I tried quitting for a few months, but I still found myself going back to places like /r/sysadmin for work or subreddits specific to my interests since Tildes or other sites didn't really cater to those interests. Various motorsports series, games, smaller political subs, information on the war in Ukraine, etc. By like November of last year, I was back on reddit daily.
That said, I do try to spend time on Tildes, Beehaw, Mastodon every day. Before, I was pretty much only on reddit. While reddit may not have lost me as a user completely, I'm definitely not as active as I once was. I don't use reddit on my phone anymore. I've given up most of my mod positions; I barely moderate those I'm still a mod on. I don't pay for Reddit Gold anymore. I'll never go back to the kind of user I was before APIgate.
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Comment on When can I generate invite codes? in ~tildes
JCPhoenix LinkI feel like it was a while before I got some codes. I do know that we get occasional top-ups of codes, but I don't think it's on any schedule. Like I have 10 codes again, even though I gave a...I feel like it was a while before I got some codes. I do know that we get occasional top-ups of codes, but I don't think it's on any schedule. Like I have 10 codes again, even though I gave a bunch out last year during the reddit exodus in that r/tildes thread.
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Comment on What do you actually do at work? in ~life
JCPhoenix LinkI just left a job that I was at for a total of like 16-17yrs over two stints. Literally started when I was 18yo, like a week before my first day of college. I didn't plan to stay that long; it...I just left a job that I was at for a total of like 16-17yrs over two stints. Literally started when I was 18yo, like a week before my first day of college. I didn't plan to stay that long; it just kinda happened.
Anyway, I was the sysadmin for a small, but global, non-profit. I say sysadmin, but day-to-day, it was more helpdesk/desktop support. Anything from "my printer isn't working!" to troubleshooting issues with the backup system for our server.
Plus whatever other "miscellaneous duties" needed doing. I did some light web design and webpage updating, using HTML/CSS and some JavaScript. Some years ago, I helped with email marketing and social media.
At our conferences, I was in charge of logistics: shipping our materials and equipment to the venue and getting it back home afterwards. I helped our meeting planner determine our A/V needs at these events. During the event, I was in charge of the registration desk, while also playing IT/AV tech, and also being the director/producer for the big general/keynote sessions. Like I actually directed the hotel AV techs to switch feeds, play videos or music at certain times, etc. Sometimes I was the one controlling things from the booth. Most of these conferences were in the US (we're a US-based organization), but I also got to travel internationally for some events: Barcelona, Toronto, and Cancun. I've been to many US cities that I probably wouldn't have gone to on my own. I enjoyed traveling 1-3 times per year for work.
More recently, I was a project manager for a huge 2-3yr project that had us merge multiple CRMs into one CRM. I had to give reports to team members, the whole staff team, and even leadership. I can't say I was a great PM, but I got the experience.
It was an office job and I had my own nice office; before we went full WFH anyway. Casual attire; my typical go-to was jeans, untucked polo/button-up shirt, hoodie, and sneakers.
Because it was a non-profit, the pay was kinda crap. Typically, non-profit employees make far less than our for-profit counterparts doing the same work. My final salary was $67500/yr, as an hourly employee working 40hrs a week. Though I almost never actually put in 40hrs/week worth of work. With that salary, I lived a comfortable enough life as a single person with no kids. Also, I only have an Associates Degree (2-yr degree).
I don't know how non-profits work outside the US, but I think working in smaller or mid-sized non-profits is a great way to dip your toes in all sorts of things. I know specialization is the way to go, but being a jack of all trades was great. The experience is invaluable. Never know when I may need to put those skills to use again elsewhere. I'll be doing "pure" IT in my new job, but maybe some day I'll decide to do something in AV or logistics or assisting with meeting planning. It's nice to have options.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
JCPhoenix Link ParentI was an Infiltrator main in PS2. I think during that session, I was trying to finish an Auraxium of one of my SMGs, so I was almost entirely at the front the whole time! I rarely SL'd, and never...I was an Infiltrator main in PS2. I think during that session, I was trying to finish an Auraxium of one of my SMGs, so I was almost entirely at the front the whole time! I rarely SL'd, and never PL'd. But I agree with you; probably is easier for them since they're mostly watching the map from a Sunderer.
As I've gotten older, it has gotten much, much harder to stay up for 24hrs straight. It's definitely been a while -- probably on the order of years -- since I last did it. I think I did about 20hrs earlier this year, attempting to watch a 24hr motorsport endurance race. That was difficult, even though I prepared somewhat beforehand.
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Comment on Why your vet bill is so high in ~life.pets
JCPhoenix LinkA couple I know adopted two kittens a couple years ago. One of the kittens, after like a 2-3mo, got real sick. This led to a some emergency visits to the vet, rounds of testing, a few different...A couple I know adopted two kittens a couple years ago. One of the kittens, after like a 2-3mo, got real sick. This led to a some emergency visits to the vet, rounds of testing, a few different types of medication, and then even an experimental drug that my friends had to import from like New Zealand, since it wasn't approved in the US.
The cat thankfully recovered after the experimental medication, and is doing very well these days -- maybe too well, as the cat is a chonker these days! -- but they spent something like $6000 total.
That cost naturally spawned a conversation among our group of friends. I also have a cat, but if I were in their shoes and had to pay $6000, I could do it, but that would've been over half of my savings at the time. Even today that's still a good chunk. Would that be a wise choice of my emergency savings? What happens if I paid the vet bill and then my car broke down? Or I lost my job? Or I, myself, had some kind of medical emergency?
$6000 would've been like 4-5 months of rent + utils. If my car repair bill was $6000, that probably means I'm going to buy another car; that could be a hefty down payment. I don't know what $6000 gets me in a hospital, maybe a pair of disposable slippers, but still.
I even thought about if it was "worth" spending that much on a kitten that they "only" had for no more than a few months. I don't think I actually mentioned that to the group -- they'd probably think I'm some kind of monster -- but I definitely thought about it. $6000 to save this kitten, or let it die and go adopt another one for $200? Does how long you've had your pet matter?
This couple is definitely in a better financial position than me. It was a lot of money to them, too, but it didn't hurt their wallets as much as it would've hurt mine.
My cat and I have been together for 8yrs. I got him as a kitten, too. About a week after he came home with me, I had to bring him to the emergency pet hospital at like 1am. Luckily, it just turned out to be a Cold, but seeing a kitten struggling to breath and sneezing/coughing all over the place and snot running down its little nose is pretty sad and scary. That was like $500 total.
But would I spend $6000? I don't know. Does that make me a bad person for being unsure? I don't know, but I know some or even many people would think so. And it's a shame that corporations and investors are willing to take advantage of that, that emotional pressure and social pressure, to wring a few extra hundreds or thousands of bucks out of people.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
JCPhoenix Link ParentI think my longest gaming sessions have been about 14hrs. I did it once in Planetside 2 and then I've done it a few times in Eve Online. In, Eve, it was easy, since these were massive battles with...I think my longest gaming sessions have been about 14hrs. I did it once in Planetside 2 and then I've done it a few times in Eve Online.
In, Eve, it was easy, since these were massive battles with "TiDi" -- "Time Dilation", essentially the servers and clients slow to slower than a crawl to process the insane amount of player commands and data being sent. Playing in TiDi doesn't require any fast paced thinking or concentration, because it takes well over a minute for anything to happen.
But in PS2, which is a persistent world FPS, after 14hrs straight, I was dizzy, I was nauseous, I had a headache, my eyes hurt...I just felt awful. I wasn't even that tired, but I just had to lay down. And I pretty much immediately passed out.
I know WoW, as an MMO, probably isn't as fast-paced as an FPS, except maybe in some instanced content. I've done some 8-10hr sessions in FFXIV, but then I start getting bored. And tired.
So to play WoW for 78hrs straight is absolutely insane to me. Honestly, after playing anything for 78hrs straight, I don't think I'd want to play games for awhile!
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Comment on ‘T4T’ isn’t just about dating, it’s about community care in ~lgbt
JCPhoenix LinkIs there some kind of debate or controversy within the Trans community about T4T versus dating Cis people as well? I'm not Trans, so just wondering. To me, it's not surprising that people seek out...Is there some kind of debate or controversy within the Trans community about T4T versus dating Cis people as well? I'm not Trans, so just wondering.
To me, it's not surprising that people seek out those who are similar to themselves or have had similar life experiences. It's said "opposites attract." Yeah, if you're a magnet, but I don't think that's really true for people, especially with those facets that are on a deeper level.
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Comment on Why do I get sick every time I visit my parents? in ~health
JCPhoenix Link ParentIt's funny you mention that Las Vegas "cures" you of you allergies when you visit. Because for me, it's the opposite. My family is from the Midwest, and my parents moved there in 2018. And we all...It's funny you mention that Las Vegas "cures" you of you allergies when you visit. Because for me, it's the opposite. My family is from the Midwest, and my parents moved there in 2018. And we all have seasonal allergies.
I visit at least a few times a year. And my allergies tend to be worse there than back in the Midwest. My parents noticed the same; they take more allergy meds there than they did back here in the Midwest.
I feel like there was a time back in the 00s and even early 2010s (we have relatives there, so we visited frequently), when Vegas was like the allergy-free promised land. But it's been a long time since I've noticed that.
Ofc, allergies and allergens are complicated. So maybe it's just our family who seems worse off!
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Comment on The big question touching a nerve this election: "Can my husband find out who I am voting for?" in ~life.women
JCPhoenix LinkI totally understand wanting people, especially those close to you, to vote and to vote for your preference, the way you voted. On a broader scale, that's just called campaigning or canvassing....Another man wrote, "As a poll worker, I have had to deal with husbands and fathers who want to join their wives or daughters in the voting booth to 'make sure they vote the right way.'"
I totally understand wanting people, especially those close to you, to vote and to vote for your preference, the way you voted. On a broader scale, that's just called campaigning or canvassing. But to be in the booth with them, to make sure? To use Gov. Walz' description of things: That's weird.
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Comment on What toothpaste do you use? in ~life.style
JCPhoenix Link ParentNot gonna lie...chocolate-flavored toothpaste sounds...🤮 Though if I was a chocolate fiend, maybe that'd be a good way to make me stop eating chocolate!Not gonna lie...chocolate-flavored toothpaste sounds...🤮
Though if I was a chocolate fiend, maybe that'd be a good way to make me stop eating chocolate!
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Comment on What toothpaste do you use? in ~life.style
JCPhoenix LinkI use a couple different Arm & Hammer toothpastes. Kinda just whichever is available. Either their "Advance White" or "Peroxicare" ones. I've been using those for several years now. I have...I use a couple different Arm & Hammer toothpastes. Kinda just whichever is available. Either their "Advance White" or "Peroxicare" ones. I've been using those for several years now. I have fluoridated water where I'm at in the US, so I don't worry about that.
I also use an electric toothbrush. Since picking that up 4-5yrs ago, seems like my dentist is a lot happier with my dental health. No cavities since (actually no cavities in 7yrs).
Though I can still do better with flossing and using mouthwash more regularly.
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Comment on Brussels slaps down Thierry Breton over ‘harmful content’ letter to Elon Musk [as it was not approved by the European Commission] in ~tech
JCPhoenix LinkArchived link. OK I laughed. Elon sucks, certainly. But that's just funny.Musk responded to the letter from Breton with a meme from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder, that showed one character yelling: “Take a big step back and literally fuck your own face.”
OK I laughed. Elon sucks, certainly. But that's just funny.
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Comment on Debit card that matches the protection of a credit card? in ~finance
JCPhoenix Link ParentPrivacy is great. Like Grumble said, it's great for when you want to cancel something, but it's impossible to do so. I had one subscription where, while I could pause it, I could never figure out...Privacy is great. Like Grumble said, it's great for when you want to cancel something, but it's impossible to do so. I had one subscription where, while I could pause it, I could never figure out how to cancel it myself. And they were pretty nonresponsive when I tried emailing them. The pauses were only like 2-3mo at a time, so I was constantly having to remember to keep pausing it before I got charged. And there were times I forgot. So I just created a Privacy card, with a limit of like $1, then put those payment details into the system. I effectively cancelled my membership.
I also use it for places where I know I'm never purchasing again. Or very, very rarely will make repeat purchases. Set a limit to the amount, or even set the Privacy card as one-time use, and make my purchase. Then if the store gets breached, big deal. Attackers have a one-time use card, akin to a used Visa/MC gift card.
I was a high school freshman more than half way across the country in the suburbs of SLC at the time. I remember walking into my first period class, before the first bell, and seeing the news on TV (teacher always had news on in the morning). I don't think I saw any of the attacks live, due to the time differences, but I do remember watching the towers fall on live TV.
If watching the news replays of the second plane being swallowed by the South Tower was already insane, seeing these giant buildings collapse in the middle of Manhattan was something else entirely. Same goes for watching people jump out of the twin towers. Just a total "what in the fuck am I seeing right now..."
9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan, and later, the War in Iraq were my first introductions to domestic and international politics. At 14yo, I was old enough to understand what was going on and I started paying attention. I also think in some ways, as cliched as it sounds, I knew the world had completely changed that day. And not necessarily for the better. We're all still feeling the ramifications of 9/11, 23yrs later.