Kind_of_Ben's recent activity
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Comment on How would you rate adulthood? in ~life
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Comment on How would you rate adulthood? in ~life
Kind_of_Ben I'm elder Gen Z in the US, so my legal adulthood started shortly before Trump came on the political scene. I haven't gotten to be an adult without worrying about him yet. So that's great. I hate...I'm elder Gen Z in the US, so my legal adulthood started shortly before Trump came on the political scene. I haven't gotten to be an adult without worrying about him yet. So that's great. I hate to bring politics into yet another thread, but it would be dishonest to ignore the effect that modern American fascism has had on my adulthood.
I've hated both jobs I've had since graduating college (I am/was a band teacher). College and grad school were the only things that felt right to me since reaching adulthood, and even those had a lot of bad times mental-health-wise. I have no idea what to do with my future because I no longer feel sure at all of the field I trained for and can't figure out if it's worth fighting to stay in it.
I lost proximity to all of my friends each of the three times I've graduated schools. I currently live with my parents because my most recent job was 20 minutes from their house, and because I don't think I would do well mentally living alone. My remaining true friends live 1.5 hours away, 2.5 hours away, and 9 hours away. I sleep 12-14 hours a night and I think it's because of the mental health medication I'm taking. I'm not sure because my therapist is kind of useless.
I don't want to be a kid again - the freedom is great. The rest, not so much.
3/10
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Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games
Kind_of_Ben Ope my mistake! I see it now!Ope my mistake! I see it now!
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Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games
Kind_of_Ben (edited )LinkCan't believe there's not more Halo in here ! All of the Bungie Halo games have fantastic OSTs, and the 343 ones aren't half bad either (4 and 5 are good but just don't feel like Halo IMO, while...Can't believe
the onlythere's not more Halo in hereso far is one mention of Halo: Reach! All of the Bungie Halo games have fantastic OSTs, and the 343 ones aren't half bad either (4 and 5 are good but just don't feel like Halo IMO, while Infinite is pretty solid). I was going to try to recommend one or two in particular but they're all so good. Combat Evolved is what kicked everything off and established the themes and styles of the music. 2 and 3 are just epic and expansive and emotional. ODST is dark and moody. Reach takes the original themes and injects so much tension and desperation into them. It's incredible how the themes transform over the course of the series, and how they always serve the story so well.I grew up with these games and this music so I'm definitely biased but I know from talking to others over the years that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Highly recommend giving them a try!
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Comment on Meta scrambles to delete its own AI accounts after backlash intensifies in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben Wow. Sounds like that was (part of) what drove the CollegeHumor -> Dropout transition. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing.Wow. Sounds like that was (part of) what drove the CollegeHumor -> Dropout transition. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing.
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Comment on Tildes Demographics Survey, year… uh, it’s 2024? in ~tildes
Kind_of_Ben I'm very rusty, but my master's in data science included dataviz with Python, R, and Tableau. If you don't get any takers, I can take a crack at it!I'm very rusty, but my master's in data science included dataviz with Python, R, and Tableau. If you don't get any takers, I can take a crack at it!
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Comment on I think I have a broken AT&T route? in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben Very cool! I know most of those. I love the quotes with the MOTD. We have networks named for authors - our home WiFi is SANDERSON and the little private access point we used to take when traveling...Very cool! I know most of those. I love the quotes with the MOTD. We have networks named for authors - our home WiFi is SANDERSON and the little private access point we used to take when traveling was ROTHFUSS.
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Comment on Brazilian judge orders Adele song be pulled globally over plagiarism claim in ~music
Kind_of_Ben I always think of Adam's work when things like this come up. Such good stuff.I always think of Adam's work when things like this come up. Such good stuff.
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Comment on I think I have a broken AT&T route? in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben Totally off-topic and not helpful, but Vergil is an ODST reference, right?NO PARKING AT ANY TIME
-VergilTotally off-topic and not helpful, but Vergil is an ODST reference, right?
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Comment on Brazilian judge orders Adele song be pulled globally over plagiarism claim in ~music
Kind_of_Ben (edited )LinkAfter one listen of each song, I hear similar chord progressions and melodies with similar contours, possibly emphasizing the same scale degrees (I'd have to do more analysis to be sure). IMO......After one listen of each song, I hear similar chord progressions and melodies with similar contours, possibly emphasizing the same scale degrees (I'd have to do more analysis to be sure). IMO... meh? The chord progression is not unique - they never are - and there's only so many ways of constructing a melody over a specific progression such that it lays in a way that feels good to the ear of the popular listener. Off the top of my head, the incredibly-well-known jazz standard "Autumn Leaves" has a similar progression and melody that emphasises a very similar set of descending scale degrees (albeit with a very different contour).
I think I'd be surprised if the composer of "Million Years" had never heard "Mulheres" even once, they're similar enough that I can imagine the Brazilian tune was an inspiration (maybe only on a subconscious level). But I think it being outright plagiarism is unlikely.
Edit: Yeah it's totally the A section of Autumn Leaves, even in the Turkish song @lou posted. Chord progression and emphasized scale degrees in the melody.
Edit 2: Okay so Tidal says the composers of "Million Years" are Adele and Greg Kurstin. It has a bio for Kurstin which says after high school he "continue[d] his piano studies at the New School ... immersing himself in the jazz scene ... while also exploring hip-hop and Brazilian music ...". I would put money on Kurstin having personally played Autumn Leaves at one point or another, and it sounds possible that he would have been familiar with "Mulheres" too. So could they have copied the song? Sure. Are there loads of other places Kurstin likely came into contact with similar musical ideas and practices? Absolutely.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Kind_of_Ben I posted about it last week when it came out! It's not quite "holy shit" for me but it is very good. It's neat how many different elements it manages to pull together into a package that just works.I posted about it last week when it came out! It's not quite "holy shit" for me but it is very good. It's neat how many different elements it manages to pull together into a package that just works.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Kind_of_Ben Thanks for this review, I've had my eye on it but been hesitant due to the negative coverage. Will be trying it on sale eventually!Thanks for this review, I've had my eye on it but been hesitant due to the negative coverage. Will be trying it on sale eventually!
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Comment on Tildes Demographics Survey, year… uh, it’s 2024? in ~tildes
Kind_of_Ben Thanks for doing this! I love these sorts of things. Excited to see the results.Thanks for doing this! I love these sorts of things. Excited to see the results.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben Same - if it doesn't require a card, I'm interested!Same - if it doesn't require a card, I'm interested!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Kind_of_Ben Yes! I explore everything when I play games and this is tickling my brain in just the right way.Yes! I explore everything when I play games and this is tickling my brain in just the right way.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Kind_of_Ben Indiana Jones and the Great Circle came out last night! I'm only about two hours in so I don't have much to say yet, but I am definitely enjoying it. Troy Baker is putting in an excellent Harrison...Indiana Jones and the Great Circle came out last night! I'm only about two hours in so I don't have much to say yet, but I am definitely enjoying it. Troy Baker is putting in an excellent Harrison Ford impression (not perfect but it feels like Indy). The game as a whole feels like a cross between Tomb Raider, those old Nancy Drew games from HER Interactive, and maybe some Splinter Cell. Now that I write it, that sounds like an odd mix, but trust me, it works. Also the game looks incredible and runs at a rock-solid 60fps on the Series X.
Closing note: the game makes a 10/10 fascist-punching simulator. Really hits the spot right now.
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Comment on What long book series is worth its page count? in ~books
Kind_of_Ben Calling both Mistborn and Stormlight Archive "long" books feels like calling both Cleveland and NYC "big" settlements haha. It's technically true, but one is on a whole other level of size.Calling both Mistborn and Stormlight Archive "long" books feels like calling both Cleveland and NYC "big" settlements haha. It's technically true, but one is on a whole other level of size.
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Comment on US officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben Whoops. Apologies, I totally missed it. :/Whoops. Apologies, I totally missed it. :/
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Comment on US officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben (edited )Link ParentIt was never true? "Saying you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is like saying you don't care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say." Edit: missed the /s :(What ever happened to if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear?
It was never true? "Saying you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is like saying you don't care about freedom of speech because you have nothing to say."
Edit: missed the /s :(
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Comment on Touch typing learning software in ~tech
Kind_of_Ben (edited )Link ParentSeconding typing.com. I've taught both 7th graders and 3rd graders typing classes in a US public school and this is what I used. It's pre-planned gamified curriculum with a good logical...- Exemplary
Seconding typing.com. I've taught both 7th graders and 3rd graders typing classes in a US public school and this is what I used. It's pre-planned gamified curriculum with a good logical progression from home row to the rest of the keys etc. Very easy to have them open the site and just work for a while. It also has a set of highly customizable games they can use to practice what they learned in the lessons, including a zombie defense game, a space shmup, a couple carnival games, and more. There are tests too, either timed or a certain amount of words. They can choose to do exercises that target their "problem keys" if need be. I liked that these tests and a lot of the lessons had the kids typing informational text, things you might learn in other classrooms like social studies or ELA, rather than just gibberish (though it does start with gibberish until they learn enough keys to write full words).
Additionally, there's a bunch of stats panels you can access as a teacher so you can track your kid's activity and see their progress. It requires a separate account that's registered as a teacher and the kid has to join a class you create. Some stats are visible from the student side too though.
Definitely use adblock. Not the most intrusive ads I've ever seen but more than enough to distract a kid (and ads are a plague anyway, but I digress lol). Though if you feel there's enough value in the platform and the premium features sound good, you can pay to remove the ads. I wish I could tell you what the premium features were but my school didn't have a subscription so I don't remember.
This is hard to remember but helpful to hear. I definitely need to try to be more honest with myself about what is within my power to change, and not let things that are difficult or unpleasant get in the way. Thanks for taking the time to write your response.