MortimerHoughton's recent activity

  1. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

  2. Comment on Jungle – Someday, Somewhere (2026) in ~music

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Thanks, that was a fun song and a fantastic music video. Appreciate you bringing it to my attention.

    Thanks, that was a fun song and a fantastic music video. Appreciate you bringing it to my attention.

  3. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I was reading "How to be an Epicurean" by Catherine Wilson, but only made it about half way before decided that she wasn't doing that good at advocating Epicureanism, at least not to me, although...

    I was reading "How to be an Epicurean" by Catherine Wilson, but only made it about half way before decided that she wasn't doing that good at advocating Epicureanism, at least not to me, although I can't honestly say if it was her fault or Epicureanism.

    Now, I am currently a couple of chapters into "Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In". It's ok, and would have served as a nice introduction, but it's short, so I expect to see it through to the end.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    MortimerHoughton
    Link Parent
    I've read the third book and it's really good, a fantastic continuation to the series. Amazon also has a short story from the series, The Lion's Tusk. Just in case you're wanting more.

    I've read the third book and it's really good, a fantastic continuation to the series. Amazon also has a short story from the series, The Lion's Tusk. Just in case you're wanting more.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I just finished reading the fourth book in the Grand Illusion series by L. E. Modesitt, titled Legalist. It was okay, but took a little detour from the main series. I'm looking forward to...

    I just finished reading the fourth book in the Grand Illusion series by L. E. Modesitt, titled Legalist. It was okay, but took a little detour from the main series. I'm looking forward to finishing it with the fifth book.

    Now, I'm reading how to be an epicurean by Catherine Wilson. I'm only through part one at the moment, so not much to comment on.

    What I'm really looking forward to is the next book in the Ana and Din mystery series. It's been a fantastic series so far.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on Behind the scenes at the Blackwing pencil factory in ~creative

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Thanks, that was very interesting and a well done video too.

    Thanks, that was very interesting and a well done video too.

    3 votes

  7. Comment on Ink | Official teaser in ~movies

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Trailers like this make me doubt myself. I can't tell if this is a good movie or not.

    Trailers like this make me doubt myself. I can't tell if this is a good movie or not.

  8. Comment on HOPE | Official teaser in ~movies

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Thanks for sharing. My wife and I are looking forward to it. Although, my first question to her was, "Small village police departments have machine guns?"

    Thanks for sharing. My wife and I are looking forward to it. Although, my first question to her was, "Small village police departments have machine guns?"

    1 vote

  9. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I can't relate to the people in this article at all. They all seem very strange to me.

    I can't relate to the people in this article at all. They all seem very strange to me.

    14 votes

  10. Comment on Determinism and Back To The Future in ~humanities

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I think the idea you captured from movies on time travel actually do square better with most peoples ideas of free will than how you explained free will. Most people would say that they exercise...

    I think the idea you captured from movies on time travel actually do square better with most peoples ideas of free will than how you explained free will. Most people would say that they exercise some degree of reason in the exercise of their free will. If the circumstances are the same for each time they make the decision, I don't think many would argue against the idea that they would make the same decision, since the reasons for doing so would also be the same. I don't believe that many would argue that having reasons for our decisions is an argument against free will, so I would conclude that these two things; namely free will and rational decision making, are not in conflict in most peoples understanding of the two.

    5 votes

  11. Comment on Most and least expensive US supermarkets in ~food

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    This tracks with my experience in Dallas. We do a lot of our shopping at Costco and Aldi's because they have some of the best value.

    This tracks with my experience in Dallas. We do a lot of our shopping at Costco and Aldi's because they have some of the best value.

    9 votes

  12. Comment on Hoopla Bonus Borrows for January 2026 in ~books

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Thanks for sharing this. Didn't know about it and hoopla is part of my library's electronic offerings.

    Thanks for sharing this. Didn't know about it and hoopla is part of my library's electronic offerings.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on pat's soundhouse - Car Alarm (extended reprise) (2025) in ~music

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Thanks for sharing. Actually really cool and I enjoyed it more than I would have expected if I was just told what it was going to be

    Thanks for sharing. Actually really cool and I enjoyed it more than I would have expected if I was just told what it was going to be

    4 votes

  14. Comment on Toll roads are spreading in America in ~transport

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    It isn't clear to me what this concluding sentence to the article means.

    Rather than charging drivers to use the infrastructure they rely on, the state would take over private assets, give them away and make people queue.

    It isn't clear to me what this concluding sentence to the article means.

    4 votes

  15. Comment on YouTube is awful. Please use YouTube, though. in ~tech

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    Reading this reminded me of the saying,

    Reading this reminded me of the saying,

    It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.

    11 votes

  16. Comment on What's your favorite RSS reader? in ~comp

  17. Comment on Sweden's leading business dynasty prepares for succession – the sixth generation of Wallenbergs is stepping up in ~finance

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    That island getaway that the family uses to meet sounds like it's straight out of the Lisbeth Salander book, which I suppose the author may have drawn some inspiration from. Edit: Ah, the Vanger...

    That island getaway that the family uses to meet sounds like it's straight out of the Lisbeth Salander book, which I suppose the author may have drawn some inspiration from.

    Edit: Ah, the Vanger family and Hedeby island

    1 vote

  18. Comment on US libraries scramble for books after giant distributor shuts down in ~books

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I'm guessing, but don't know, that this primarily affects American libraries. I wonder what the situation is like for other countries.

    I'm guessing, but don't know, that this primarily affects American libraries. I wonder what the situation is like for other countries.

    9 votes

  19. Comment on The Icelandic women's strike fifty years on – despite closing the gender pay gap by 90%, the nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners in ~life.women

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    I support the goal of women's equality, but it feels weird to me to say that Iceland is powered by two things, geothermal and women.

    I support the goal of women's equality, but it feels weird to me to say that Iceland is powered by two things, geothermal and women.

    5 votes

  20. Comment on Making liquid nitrogen from scratch (an absurd amount) in ~science

    MortimerHoughton
    Link
    This video was kind of crazy, both with how badly the original goal failed (save money on a pre-built system) but also on just how unsafe much of it seemed.

    This video was kind of crazy, both with how badly the original goal failed (save money on a pre-built system) but also on just how unsafe much of it seemed.

    5 votes