lou's recent activity

  1. Comment on New books aren’t worth reading in ~books

    lou
    (edited )
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    I don't read new books, but I'm in my forties. I talk to young Brazilians often, and they read recent books almost exclusively. The main issue preventing them from reading more is, by far, book...

    I don't read new books, but I'm in my forties. I talk to young Brazilians often, and they read recent books almost exclusively. The main issue preventing them from reading more is, by far, book prices. Social media doesn't feel nearly as significant for that outcome.

    Most of what they read is, pardon my French, total crap. But they do seem to extract lessons and accumulate meaningful experiences from those books.

    I am talking about bookworms and aspiring writers, though. So that may not apply to the general population.

  2. Comment on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S1E1 - "Kids These Days" in ~tv

    lou
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    Link Parent
    EDIT: It seems like a lot of people are being hit with strong (maybe unfair) negative criticism on Instagram and Facebook. Probably Twitter and TikTok as well. Which explains why they're so...

    EDIT: It seems like a lot of people are being hit with strong (maybe unfair) negative criticism on Instagram and Facebook. Probably Twitter and TikTok as well. Which explains why they're so defensive on /r/startrek even though criticism on that sub was actually pretty mild (especially in comparison with their views about nutrek in general). I don't use those social media platforms, so I'm not seeing that.

    1 vote
  3. Comment on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S1E1 - "Kids These Days" in ~tv

    lou
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    In any case, a lot of people are complaining about nonexistent expressions of hate, and it's kinda interesting. I mean, if a bunch of people are silently hating on something, how can the internet...

    In any case, a lot of people are complaining about nonexistent expressions of hate, and it's kinda interesting. I mean, if a bunch of people are silently hating on something, how can the internet know about it? It's just odd to me because all I see is praise and people complaining about a lack of praise.

    2 votes
  4. Comment on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S1E1 - "Kids These Days" in ~tv

    lou
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    I haven't watched the show yet. I just think it's funny that /r/startrek is basically flooded with praise for this show and barely any strong criticism. And still, people will complain and...

    I haven't watched the show yet. I just think it's funny that /r/startrek is basically flooded with praise for this show and barely any strong criticism. And still, people will complain and complain about the "hate" this highly praised show is getting. Perhaps it's an over reaction. Or maybe is just the Karma meta right now.

    2 votes
  5. Comment on Nova Launcher: An update in ~tech

    lou
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    I bought Nova years ago and I was unhappy with it for a while. Now I got Kvaesitso from F-Droid. It is minimal, it has everything I need and it is actually 100% free. I highly recommend it.

    I bought Nova years ago and I was unhappy with it for a while. Now I got Kvaesitso from F-Droid. It is minimal, it has everything I need and it is actually 100% free. I highly recommend it.

    3 votes
  6. Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health

    lou
    Link Parent
    Oh. I usually boil them in a little more water than the amount I will drink. So if you're drinking a cup, than a cup of water and a quarter more. I don't know if that is obvious, but is highly...

    Oh. I usually boil them in a little more water than the amount I will drink. So if you're drinking a cup, than a cup of water and a quarter more. I don't know if that is obvious, but is highly concentrated. Not really meant to be a pleasant tea, just medicine really.

    1 vote
  7. Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health

    lou
    Link Parent
    Boil at least three peeled garlic cloves in water for 15 minutes.

    Boil at least three peeled garlic cloves in water for 15 minutes.

    1 vote
  8. Comment on What are your favorite home remedies or comforts when you're sick? in ~health

    lou
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    Garlic tea has a high success rate at reducing coughing for me.

    Garlic tea has a high success rate at reducing coughing for me.

    4 votes
  9. Comment on I am kinda curious about the demographics of Tildes in ~talk

    lou
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    We used to have a census. I'm a Brazilian male, 43 years old.

    We used to have a census.

    I'm a Brazilian male, 43 years old.

    1 vote
  10. Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv

    lou
    Link Parent
    It is slow. But I'm scared to say that because on Reddit people will basically call you a dumb TikTok teenager if you say that.

    It is slow. But I'm scared to say that because on Reddit people will basically call you a dumb TikTok teenager if you say that.

  11. Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv

    lou
    Link Parent
    I kept waiting for it to become full-blow sci-fi but the reality is that Pluribus is relationship drama first, sci-fi second. If you like drama than it's interesting and unique. If you're looking...

    I kept waiting for it to become full-blow sci-fi but the reality is that Pluribus is relationship drama first, sci-fi second. If you like drama than it's interesting and unique. If you're looking for sci-fi you may find it pretty basic.

    1 vote
  12. Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv

    lou
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    Yes, it was too slow. No, I don't use TikTok and I'm 43 years old. And no, I do not think it should be super fast. I think it could use some adjustment to reduce overly long self indulgent shots...

    Yes, it was too slow. No, I don't use TikTok and I'm 43 years old.

    And no, I do not think it should be super fast. I think it could use some adjustment to reduce overly long self indulgent shots by two to five secom. It would still be a slow burn, meditative experience.

    2 votes
  13. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    lou
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    I'm reading "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke and it's great. The chapters are short and sweet. I looked for a simpler description of the ship elsewhere because some things are ambiguous...

    I'm reading "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke and it's great. The chapters are short and sweet.

    I looked for a simpler description of the ship elsewhere because some things are ambiguous in the book. Just enough to help me picture it. No spoilers.

    I decided that 2026 is the year when I educate myself on science fiction classics. It'll be great.

    2 votes
  14. Comment on US to stop processing visa applications from seventy-five nations in ~society

    lou
    Link Parent
    Brazil is multi cultural and Argentina is pretty white.

    Brazil is multi cultural and Argentina is pretty white.

  15. Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech

    lou
    Link Parent
    I don't think WhatsApp was at fault back then. And the hegemony took place long before Meta acquired it. It's just that the phone companies charged extra for SMS for a very long time. Even today,...

    In Brazil (and many other countries), somehow Meta wormed their way into that position.

    I don't think WhatsApp was at fault back then. And the hegemony took place long before Meta acquired it. It's just that the phone companies charged extra for SMS for a very long time. Even today, I'm not sure if they're unlimited. But that doesn't matter anymore.

    4 votes
  16. Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech

    lou
    Link Parent
    I'm sorry, I'm really trying to understand. How can this be simpler than clicking on a button to uninstall and then on another to install?

    I'm sorry, I'm really trying to understand. How can this be simpler than clicking on a button to uninstall and then on another to install?

    I cut off access at the root, on the DNS servers of my devices. I use NextDNS, which made my life easier: I added all the Meta domains I know to the block list and activated a specific third-party list for the company's domains. It's outdated, but I imagine it covers a lot that would slip through my manual filtering.

  17. Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech

    lou
    Link Parent
    There are many other situations in which you are forced to use WhatsApp, like school, college, and most workplaces. I'm sorry about your family :(

    There are many other situations in which you are forced to use WhatsApp, like school, college, and most workplaces.

    I'm sorry about your family :(

    5 votes
  18. Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech

    lou
    (edited )
    Link
    I'm Brazilian like the author. It's impossible to live in Brazil without WhatsApp. Even excluding social interactions, WhatsApp is used by many businesses and even by the government. I do block...

    I'm Brazilian like the author. It's impossible to live in Brazil without WhatsApp. Even excluding social interactions, WhatsApp is used by many businesses and even by the government. I do block myself from WhatsApp regularly and aggressively using Lock Me Out on Android. But even then it's a gamble. If something comes up that requires WhatsApp I'm pretty much fucked.

    I'm not sure why the author did so many complicated things when he could simply uninstall the app. I'm failing to grasp what is the point of doing all that complicated stuff instead.

    I changed my WhatsApp profile photo and left a status message saying that I am available via SMS/RCS, Signal, and email.

    That probably works if you work in IT and have lots of IT friends. Family is unlikely to adapt. Unless they're okay with being essentially an outcast, I don't think the author will stay away from WhatsApp for much longer. This is like punching the ocean.

    11 votes
  19. Comment on Recommendations needed: Favorite “comfort” movies in ~movies

    lou
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    That is very personal, what is comfortable to some is not comfortable to others. The Godfather and anything Star Trek does the trick for me. Harry and Sally with the wife is quite cozy. All that...

    That is very personal, what is comfortable to some is not comfortable to others. The Godfather and anything Star Trek does the trick for me. Harry and Sally with the wife is quite cozy. All that 80s and 90s romcom Nora Ephron era was amazing.

    4 votes