LetterCounter's recent activity
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentI feel similar to you. But trusting corps blindly isn't a good thing to do. And that includes alternatives to Unity.I feel similar to you. But trusting corps blindly isn't a good thing to do. And that includes alternatives to Unity.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentTo be clear, I don't care that Tencent is Chinese owned, I care about the influence of the CCP on them. What I care about is that they own a large stake in many game companies. I do not want my...To be clear, I don't care that Tencent is Chinese owned, I care about the influence of the CCP on them. What I care about is that they own a large stake in many game companies.
I do not want my games making money for them, and of course, to be balanced, I don't want want my games making money for (former) EA execs either.
So many of the replies to what I said so far are accusing me of having some sort of hidden motives or unfounded bias. But it really is simple. I don't want to be controlled by a massive corporation.
And while I understood I haven't given very many reasons besides that why others should stay away, my point is the same:
If you don't like the business practices of Unity, you shouldn't be jumping ship to Unreal just because it's a major competitor. You should research the company first. Figure out if it's really the ecosystem you want to be a part of.
If the benefits of switching outweigh the costs/risks, then fine, switch. But don't get blindly tossed from one out of touch corporation to another thinking things will improve.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentPartially, although my reaction against using Unreal comes from the fact that Tencent has a 40% stake in Epic, and I dont want a portion of my games' income going to them specifically for many...Partially, although my reaction against using Unreal comes from the fact that Tencent has a 40% stake in Epic, and I dont want a portion of my games' income going to them specifically for many reasons.
As a company, Tencent is worse than Unity, by far. I don't get why people jump ship to Unreal if their reason is they don't like the way the company is run.
Now, before you get the wrong idea, I'm not a Unity defender, I just think shady corps are on both sides.
Use the right tool for the job, and if you have objections to the way a company does business, research the way its competitor does business and who benefits financially if you find success with them instead.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentI find Epic to be infinitely worse than Unity as a company and how predatory they are. I'm not sure if you are doing yourserlf a favor if you don't like Unity's business modelI find Epic to be infinitely worse than Unity as a company and how predatory they are. I'm not sure if you are doing yourserlf a favor if you don't like Unity's business model
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Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
LetterCounter Link ParentOne could also assume that the company knew this was a possibility while they were ramping up production and sales. If people aren't buying, then that division wouldn't be profitable. The whole...One could also assume that the company knew this was a possibility while they were ramping up production and sales. If people aren't buying, then that division wouldn't be profitable. The whole point is that until they sell more, in won't offset the investment.
Lowering prices is one way to incentivize sales, but I don't think most people really understand the benefit of EVs yet. It's changing, but slowly and in an economy where loans are harder for people to afford.
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Comment on What's the best way to avoid scams when being paid by strangers on the internet? in ~finance
LetterCounter Link ParentYou may already have been scammed as well. If they've seen the design, they've probably screen captured your design and can easily replicate it. If you balk at their preferred payment menthod,...You may already have been scammed as well.
If they've seen the design, they've probably screen captured your design and can easily replicate it.
If you balk at their preferred payment menthod, they might just ghost you, knowing they've already got a screenshot or 3 if they need it.
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Comment on Why do some people posting ChatGPT answer to the discussion/debate/question? in ~tech
LetterCounter LinkIt seems like a waste of everyone's time. Like a worse version of "here's a link to Google"It seems like a waste of everyone's time. Like a worse version of "here's a link to Google"
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Comment on Trans men enter Miss Italy pageant in droves after trans women are told they can’t compete in ~lgbt
LetterCounter LinkWhile quite funny on face value, the official response to this will be interesting to see. The way I see it, the pageant might simply change the rules to restrict entry to individuals born female...While quite funny on face value, the official response to this will be interesting to see.
The way I see it, the pageant might simply change the rules to restrict entry to individuals born female who present in traditionally feminine ways.
Oddly, I think that would be consistent with the mentality behind most pageants. I would hazard a guess that most winners of nearly all "Miss" Anything pageants present traditionally feminine and win based on how closely the entrants match those standards.
Do pageants bring anything positive to society? Do we really need to have propped up people who are often seen as conforming to the ideal? My vote is we get rid of pageants all together.
Reward people publicly who contribute something notable to society regardless of gender. That's my 2 cents at least.
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Comment on How to preserve a 9000 piece jigsaw puzzle? in ~games.tabletop
LetterCounter Link ParentOh my word, that's ridiculous. Did Michael's say why they wouldn't do it? Also, I just sent you a DM!Oh my word, that's ridiculous. Did Michael's say why they wouldn't do it?
Also, I just sent you a DM!
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Comment on How to preserve a 9000 piece jigsaw puzzle? in ~games.tabletop
LetterCounter (edited )Link ParentFoam core is rigid, but unless framed, will likely warp over time. The main benefit there is that it is lightweight on purpose so that it can be framed easily. Foam core on its own should not even...-
Foam core is rigid, but unless framed, will likely warp over time. The main benefit there is that it is lightweight on purpose so that it can be framed easily. Foam core on its own should not even be attempted to be hung, as it is a layered material that will separate from itself with too much moisture, weight, and time. A frame is likely the only thing that would prevent that. An alternative could be plywood or some other wooden backing. You would just have to glue the puzzle to it. This would be difficult, as sizing the wooden backing before gluing would be more challenging, since puzzles are rarely exactly the same dimensions all the way around.Definitely doable though.
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Assuming you go with a frame, 2 inches is the minimum I recommend for glass and acrylic, due to the extra weight. In addition, frames themselves do bow over time with enough moisture, the thicker the frame, the better. You can go with a metal frame, but at the dimensions of your puzzle, if you have glass especially, I become concerned about structural integrity. Without glass, I would be less concerned.
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It's been some time since I've seen frame prices, and of course every shop will be different, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Dry mounting to foam core should be no more than $80 USD at the highest end, unless prices have skyrocketed. I'd honestly expect close to $40, but my memory might be failing me. A cheap metal frame at those dimensions is probably about $100 probably a little bit more. Glass is the most expensive component unless you go with a fancier wooden frame, but if you go acrylic, you'll spend more than basic glass, but less than museum. (Side note, frames unlimited liked to do things like sell non-glare glass and put it directly against puzzles. Glass without spacers leads to moisture and mold damage. And once you add spacers to non-glare glass, it looks foggy. Don't do it! Go with acrylic with spacers instead if you want glass). A cheap metal frame, dry mounting, no glazing, very basic? Probably $150-200. Thicker wooden frame, glass or acrylic spacers, dry mounting? Maybe close to $300. It's important to note that the dimensions of your puzzle are what drive the costs.
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Your idea of breaking the puzzle into sections will not work if you've already used mod podge. You should absolutely do this before transport unless you want to rebuild large sections in the shop. (I've seen it happen). Sometimes, people will bring in a puzzle just on plywood or something, but it's not been glued or anything, leading to disaster.
This is why I advise people to not bring in their puzzle for a quote. Any frame shop should be able to look at a reference photo and exact dimensions and give you an estimate without the puzzle being there physically. But they won't place the order until they have the puzzle in front of them to measure themselves. So get a bunch of quotes, then when you're committing to one of them, then think about transport.
On that topic, once you're ready to transport, I would recommend you mod podge the entire puzzle first, using stiff cardboard as the base under your puzzle. Do it in your garage if you have one so you can transport it horizontally. Once completely dry, add another layer of cardboard on top. Tape the two layers of cardboard together with the puzzle between them. This should be mostly secure for transport.
If you or your friends and family don't have a vehicle wide enough for it, you could consider test driving a large SUV from a car dealer, drive it home, and drive back to the frame shop for drop off of the puzzle.
They should be able to store the puzzle flat in the meantime, and as long as they cover it overnight with plastic, you should feel safe for them to store it.
When it's time for pickup, go test drive a different SUV 😂
OH, and don't forget, always use two people to transport it. Keeping it flat as much as possible. It should be able to handle some slopes when mod podged and sandwiched between cardboard, just don't store it vertically like that.
Also, make sure the mod podged puzzle is completely dry before putting the top layer of cardboard on, or you'll have to remove cardboard specks from your puzzle later.
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Comment on How to preserve a 9000 piece jigsaw puzzle? in ~games.tabletop
LetterCounter (edited )LinkI used to work at a frame shop and here's my expert recommendation. Start with any sort of acid free mod podge or equivalent. Note, it will hold the pieces together but is not suitable or long...I used to work at a frame shop and here's my expert recommendation.
Start with any sort of acid free mod podge or equivalent. Note, it will hold the pieces together but is not suitable or long term vertical weight at that size. It only really holds together small 16x20 puzzles or smaller if you try to hang it.
Next, contact a local or chain frame shop (many craft stores have a dedicated frame shop) and find out what their maximum dimensions are for a process called dry mounting.
This process will use a vacuum seal and heat to adhere the back of the puzzle to a foam core board using either to sticky foam core, or regular foam core with a layer of plastic adhesive. The rolls of plastic adhesive always worked better!
Once mounted, you'll likely want to frame it. If you want to avoid glare, go with a museum grade glass. If that's not as important, use their acrylic. In any case, insist on spacers between the glazing and the puzzle to prevent moisture and mold.
Finally, you will almost certainly nded to get a custom frame. Go with your style, but avoid frames smaller than 2 inches wide. Definitely avoid metal frames unless the framer is skilled with mounting hardware to avoid bowing.
Finally, on price. Don't overspend and get quotes from multiple frame shops. Just be prepared with the exact dimensions of the completed puzzle and a picture of it.
Avoid Frames Unlimited at all costs. They were usually 3x more expensive than the shop I worked at and we constantly redid their work all the time!
A good frame job will last a lifetime.
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Comment on E-ink tablets for note-taking in ~tech
LetterCounter Link ParentI also have the supernote! It's a great writing tablet and doesn't require a subscription service. It's really nice to write on, responsive, and the devs/company are active with the community. It...I also have the supernote! It's a great writing tablet and doesn't require a subscription service. It's really nice to write on, responsive, and the devs/company are active with the community. It is very smooth and focused in its capabilities. Couldn't recommend it more.
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Comment on Is fandom.com actually getting worse? in ~tech
LetterCounter (edited )Link ParentI'm going to take a different approach from others here and argue for two things that legitimatize adblockers besides just preventing viruses. Right to privacy: without using adblockers and other...I'm going to take a different approach from others here and argue for two things that legitimatize adblockers besides just preventing viruses.
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Right to privacy: without using adblockers and other antisnooping measures like VPNs, non-chromium browsers like Firefox, and other measures, 3rd parties like ad services are capable, willing, and proven to violate my right to privacy by building ad profiles, collecting personal data and the like. I wouldn't want cameras in grocery stores tracking my identity as I shop and ad services knowing who I am, my browsing habits, and my identity as a whole all without my informed consent is a violation of my rights. If using an adblocker protects my rights to privacy even a little bit, it's justified.
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Ownership of my own device: If I buy a newspaper with advertisement inserts, I have every right to remove them and throw them away without looking at them. Likewise, I have the right to control what is downloaded onto my storage media, whether that be hard drive or ram. If I don't give consent to have some website serve me content of any kind against my will, why should that be forced upon me?
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Comment on What precautions to take when someone is out to get you? in ~life
LetterCounter LinkSomething you should be careful about is exactly what actions and words you're saying around people in the same circles as your ex and her BF. That includes your kids. Do not slander them, do not...Something you should be careful about is exactly what actions and words you're saying around people in the same circles as your ex and her BF. That includes your kids.
Do not slander them, do not express frustration about them, do not wish harm. If your kids ask how you feel about your ex, simply say you had your disagreements with them, but respect them as a person. Give every indication of the truth, that it was a former relationship with them and now your lives have separated. Wish them the best and have documented communication to that effect.
And the biggest challenge? You can't lie, you have to mean it. Avoid confrontation and in any direct conversations you have, do your best to deescalate and be kind.
And if it's true, do your best to compliment your ex in front of your kids. Don't tell them to tell your ex, just do it genuinely.
The whole point of this is that your kids and others in your ex's circle will talk, and if anyone ever responds to your ex, the goal is for them to only have good things to say about you, but also to have you only say good things about your ex. Hopefully that will have some positive impact on the situation.
Good luck!
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Comment on The "X Factor" was never going to work in ~tech
LetterCounter Link ParentI don't understand your point in mentioning a mythological story in reference to musk. He's just a billionaire doing billionaire things. No one is asking anyone to worship him. Whether he is...I don't understand your point in mentioning a mythological story in reference to musk. He's just a billionaire doing billionaire things. No one is asking anyone to worship him. Whether he is prideful is clear to anyone.
Not trying to be rude, I just don't think your example is very relevant.
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Comment on Flipboard begins to federate in ~tech
LetterCounter Link ParentI appreciate your write up and have two thoughts. The explanation, while it does sort of make sense, is still a lot of information. I'd rather just go to each website and sign up individually....I appreciate your write up and have two thoughts.
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The explanation, while it does sort of make sense, is still a lot of information.
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I'd rather just go to each website and sign up individually. It's not like I want thousands of logins, I'd just sign up for the 3 or 4 that interest me most.
If one or two of those websites contain links for all the others, all the better for me, I suppose. And I'd certainly gravitate towards the websites that have the most content.
I do understand how frustrating someone like me can be. I'm tech inclined and have been using computers for 20+ years. I know several programming languages, know more under the hood than the average user.
But it's just not clicking with me. I know in theory what you're describing has merit, but I just don't care. I'm sorry, that must sound unnecessarily hostile and I'm not trying to be.
I just want the old model, flaws and all.
Perhaps an analogy: I want to visit a store and be part of their rewards program, get discounts there. I want to go to a second store, and cancel my membership there because quality has been dropping. I want to go to a third store and try a free sample of something, find out what unique offerings they have but ultimately decide to never come back.
I don't want a central identity. I want the freedom to come and go as I please. I don't want a "shopper's pass" that let's me go to any store and get discounts at each.
Does that analogy make sense, even if my behavior and thoughts are not logical on his topic?
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Comment on Flipboard begins to federate in ~tech
LetterCounter Link ParentBut that's the thing, I haven't even heard any emotional appeals! Just: "it's better, trust me bro!" I've heard that with NFTs AND crypto too. Look where that got people.But that's the thing, I haven't even heard any emotional appeals! Just: "it's better, trust me bro!"
I've heard that with NFTs AND crypto too. Look where that got people.
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Comment on Flipboard begins to federate in ~tech
LetterCounter LinkSo, this is probably just a me problem, but I am utterly bored by the concept of the Fediverse. I'll admit, part of my problem maybe due to a lack of knowledge as I haven't really dug into it. But...So, this is probably just a me problem, but I am utterly bored by the concept of the Fediverse.
I'll admit, part of my problem maybe due to a lack of knowledge as I haven't really dug into it. But it just sounds incredibly boring and not worth my time investigating.
As for this post specifically, it is not clear to me what Flipboard is, why it joining the Fediverse is important in any way, and what impact this change will have.
And I think that gets to the root of why I'm ambivalent towards the Fediverse as a whole. It seems like a chore to understand, to use, and overall, not worth the investment of mental energy to care about.
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Comment on Dropbox spooks users with new AI features that send data to OpenAI when used in ~tech
LetterCounter LinkCoincidentally, I recently canceled my sub with them and began migrating all my storage to Proton Drive. I couldn't be happier!Coincidentally, I recently canceled my sub with them and began migrating all my storage to Proton Drive. I couldn't be happier!
I don't recall saying I'm boycotting anything.
I'm saying that switching game engines as a reaction to what Unity has done is fine, but jumping to Unreal without research on Epic games and how they operate isn't doing anyone favors.
Neither company should be trusted to benefit the developer and both stand to gain if you do well. So the question comes down to whether a migration of game devs to Unreal benefits us in the end if we give Epic more control of the game developer market.