Promonk's recent activity
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Comment on Windows 11 is closing a loophole that let you skip making a Microsoft account in ~tech
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Comment on Windows 11 is closing a loophole that let you skip making a Microsoft account in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentBut my cousin had a problem installing printer drivers on Linux 15 years ago and also a terminal emulator killed my mother, so I think I'll continue on my blind march toward corporate dystopia,...Also go over majority reactions when anyone suggests using Linux.
But my cousin had a problem installing printer drivers on Linux 15 years ago and also a terminal emulator killed my mother, so I think I'll continue on my blind march toward corporate dystopia, thank you.
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Comment on “I don’t see how we can save it.” in ~life
Promonk LinkMaybe this is a silly question, but how feasible would it be to attempt to transplant the tree? Have you gotten the opinion of an arborist? Japanese maples aren't usually the hugest of trees, even...Maybe this is a silly question, but how feasible would it be to attempt to transplant the tree? Have you gotten the opinion of an arborist? Japanese maples aren't usually the hugest of trees, even old ones. If Louis XIV can have an entire forest just planted at Versailles, surely saving one little old maple is attainable for us mere mortals.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI'd even go so far as to say that CP isn't really a Culture series book, more of a "set in the Culture Universe" type of thing. There's only one character in it that's from the Culture, and you...I'd even go so far as to say that CP isn't really a Culture series book, more of a "set in the Culture Universe" type of thing. There's only one character in it that's from the Culture, and you don't really get a feel for anything having to do with them in the course of it.
It does showcase Banks's audacity in approaching far-future technology and the social ramifications of things like the ability to create star-system-scale megaprojects and whatnot that would take center stage later on in the series, so it's not the worst intro to his work. OK, it is the worst intro, but it could've been even worse.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentIt's been a little while since I read them, and I don't have a clear picture of the flow of the series and the themes each book tackles, so I'm sure you're right. I'm kind of dredging it up as a...It's been a little while since I read them, and I don't have a clear picture of the flow of the series and the themes each book tackles, so I'm sure you're right. I'm kind of dredging it up as a gestalt of the whole thing with maybe a bit more emphasis on the last few books, so maybe that's where I'm getting my impressions.
I can empathize with the eye-rolling at some of the contrived situations. That always gets on my nerves, and doubly so when it's clearly the author's intent to justify morally dubious acts by the protagonist. That's part of why I'm working on a time machine that will allow me to go back and rescue any shred of time I wasted as a kid on some of the things Piers Anthony wrote.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI think it also has to do with what morality specifically she wanted to address. She seemed more interested in exploring a sort of post-colonial intercultural morality rather than interpersonal...I think it also has to do with what morality specifically she wanted to address. She seemed more interested in exploring a sort of post-colonial intercultural morality rather than interpersonal sexual and gendered ones, though she does intentionally introduce gender and sexual politics, so maybe it's a wash.
I guess my overall impression is more that she fell more on the "who are we to impose our notions of morality on other cultures?" side of things rather than "maybe gender and sex aren't as definitional and rigid as we think" side. She pretty clearly had a desire to write about a heroic warrior culture of the sort to ravish away a modern independent damsel, especially early on in the series, and a lot of the moral dilemmas are constructed in a way to justify her favored culture's view. Which, yeah, that's maybe not great. She does end up softening the Barrayarans a great deal by the end though, and that's specifically through the fusion of the Beta Colony's ethics with the Barrayar moral code via the persons of Cordelia and Miles.
Like I said, I can't really say I'm onboard with where she ends up, but I will give her credit for actually approaching the moral tension rather than simply ignoring it. It would have been easy to just take as a given that the traditionalist morality of Barrayar is superior without question, but she makes a point to inject some contemplation of the underlying morality of it, which is better than I can say for a lot of escapist space opera.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI wasn't thinking of communications specifically, just of the sort of odd anachronisms in technology you often see in older sci-fi. I used cell phones as a shorthand for how many sci-fi authors...I wasn't thinking of communications specifically, just of the sort of odd anachronisms in technology you often see in older sci-fi. I used cell phones as a shorthand for how many sci-fi authors envision futuristic settings that are essentially their own times with a couple of twists, not being able to actually see the future course of tech. Communications always come to mind for me because I remember reading stories written in the 50s about the far-off future time of 2010, in which characters have the miraculous ability to simply print out entire newspapers at home instead of going to a newsstand or having it delivered, as though printing your daily newspaper makes a lick of sense when you can just read it on a screen. That sort of thing.
I see what you mean about the questionable content, and yeah, it could be a bit much to recommend without some kind of preface. I think the series as a whole approaches sexual violence and what we'd consider abuse in an interesting way, though. I could see such a series just kind of taking violence and abuse as a given and never really questioning the ethics of it, and many do. McMaster-Bujold actually tackles the ethics of it to an extent though, even if I don't entirely go along with her conclusions. There's a tension between Beta Colony and Barrayar that's more nuanced than just "weak soy-boy space liberals vs. manly-man future Spartans" (though that nuance may only come as the series developed; it's been a minute since I read them). There's a moral contemplation of the subjects of abuse and cultural context that I could easily see being completely ignored in other entries in the genre, and I think the willingness to actually approach the subjects goes a long way.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI only read them for the first time less than a decade ago, so I didn't have the nostalgia goggles on going in, and I still enjoyed them. I've read a lot of old sci-fi though, so I've got some...I only read them for the first time less than a decade ago, so I didn't have the nostalgia goggles on going in, and I still enjoyed them.
I've read a lot of old sci-fi though, so I've got some practice in the particular brand of suspension of disbelief where societies are capable of interstellar flight but still don't have cell phones. I could see it being more difficult to read if that kind of thing trips you up though.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI just meant I'm surprised I don't see more people recommending it generally. I can see how it might not be the best rec for this thread.I just meant I'm surprised I don't see more people recommending it generally. I can see how it might not be the best rec for this thread.
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Comment on The strangest encounter in ~talk
Promonk Link ParentOh certainly, but at the very least, it's a problem that needs addressing. If the owner thinks throwing the dogs outside in a run all day is a sufficient solution, he's wrong. Besides, doggy...Oh certainly, but at the very least, it's a problem that needs addressing. If the owner thinks throwing the dogs outside in a run all day is a sufficient solution, he's wrong.
Besides, doggy daycare or hiring a dogsitter are an option for short-term fixes until a longer-term solution can be found. It takes money, certainly, but then if you haven't got the resources to ensure your dogs aren't stressed out by separation anxiety for half of every day and you aren't capable of keeping your dogs who are prone to such anxiety with you, then ownership of such a dog isn't for you at this time.
It's one thing if you're suddenly in a position where you have to work something out, but that's not the situation for most dog owners. Most people decide to get a dog, and a lot of them have no clue what they're signing up for. I think a lot of people (not most) think of their dogs like furry robots or toys or something, when in reality they are their own creatures with their own personalities and needs. If a dog is left out to bark constantly for hours on end every day, those needs aren't being met. That's just how dogs are.
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Comment on New hard / mil SciFi read recommendations requested - just finished a marathon series in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI'm kind of surprised I don't see more people recommending the Vorkosigan Saga. They're a little goofy, and Miles a tad bit Mary Sue, but they're good fun. That was the first series I thought of...I'm kind of surprised I don't see more people recommending the Vorkosigan Saga. They're a little goofy, and Miles a tad bit Mary Sue, but they're good fun. That was the first series I thought of when OP mentioned military sci-fi, though they come nowhere near "hard sci-fi."
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Comment on The strangest encounter in ~talk
Promonk Link Parent6-12 hours a day. Assuming @vord wasn't employing hyperbole, yeah, that's animal abuse in the form of neglect. Some dogs can't handle being left alone, some can. The difference is the dog's...... has 2 dogs that bark nonstop for about 6-12 hours a day.
6-12 hours a day. Assuming @vord wasn't employing hyperbole, yeah, that's animal abuse in the form of neglect. Some dogs can't handle being left alone, some can. The difference is the dog's reaction to being alone and how the owner handles it.
We finally found a good home for her that could give her what she needed.
You see the distinction implicitly. That dog needed a constant companion because of how she was raised, and you got that for her. You were good guardians. Someone who leaves dogs out to bark for half of every day is not.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Promonk Link ParentI played the first one a little, and nitpicky as it sounds, I'd say it's more like DOOM (OG) but with magic spells and roguelite balancing. Aside from some elevation changes impacting line of...I played the first one a little, and nitpicky as it sounds, I'd say it's more like DOOM (OG) but with magic spells and roguelite balancing. Aside from some elevation changes impacting line of sight and stuff, the environments don't play as big a role as they did in Quake. It's more about juking and jiving and prioritizing enemies, more like how the original DOOM worked.
I haven't played the sequel, so it's possible they've integrated more Quake-like mechanics this go around. The devs are clearly deeply influenced by the old-school FPS genre, so it would make sense to make the sequel take after DOOM's spiritual successor
In fact, I may be misremembering, but I think the franchise is itself a reboot of an old late-90s IP. If it isn't, then the feel of it is so close that my brain concocted that backstory.
Incidentally, Ziggurat 1 works great on the Steam Deck, in case anybody is wondering. It wasn't rated 'playable' last time I checked, but all I had to do was manually adjust the resolution settings and it worked a treat. I used to show it to people as a demo of the gyro controls in FPS games on the Deck.
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Comment on The strangest encounter in ~talk
Promonk (edited )Link ParentNot only that, but it's quite a jump from "lights off more fireworks than I think is sensible" to "maybe he's an arsonist firefighter." I mean, I'm sure such people exist, but I don't think that...Not only that, but it's quite a jump from "lights off more fireworks than I think is sensible" to "maybe he's an arsonist firefighter." I mean, I'm sure such people exist, but I don't think that logical leap quite clears Occam's Razor.
Constantly barking dogs is just animal abuse, which I hate more than nearly anything. There's only so much you can do about it though, unfortunately. You could call animal control, but a distressing number of people don't take that seriously for some reason.
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Comment on Enough with the bullshit (a letter to fellow bullshit sufferers) in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI didn't nuke my account or my comments, I just don't participate anymore. I figure that was the stuff they wanted in exchange for giving me a place to jabber at people, and while it remained a...I didn't nuke my account or my comments, I just don't participate anymore. I figure that was the stuff they wanted in exchange for giving me a place to jabber at people, and while it remained a place I wanted to do that in, I guess the deal was fair enough.
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Comment on Perhaps I should write worse? in ~talk
Promonk Link ParentThat's probably because the only reason someone would even know em dashes are a thing anymore–let alone how they're supposed to be used–is because said person has had some training in journalism...That's probably because the only reason someone would even know em dashes are a thing anymore–let alone how they're supposed to be used–is because said person has had some training in journalism or one of the other defined writing styles. I never got any proper training in style until college, and even then I might have missed em dashes altogether if I hadn't joined the school newspaper.
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Comment on Perhaps I should write worse? in ~talk
Promonk Link ParentDon't worry. If what you're saying makes sense, no one worth listening to will think you're a bot. Strive for clarity in both thinking and style, and your humanity will show through. Dropping the...Don't worry. If what you're saying makes sense, no one worth listening to will think you're a bot. Strive for clarity in both thinking and style, and your humanity will show through.
Dropping the word 'fuck' in every once in a while helps too.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of March 17 in ~society
Promonk Link ParentTheoretically, they hurt the country they're applied to by lessening demand for their goods as well. In practice, tariffs are usually frowned upon because they don't stimulate trade, they dampen...It does hurt other countries as well, but only because they will feel obliged to implement their own tariffs.
Theoretically, they hurt the country they're applied to by lessening demand for their goods as well. In practice, tariffs are usually frowned upon because they don't stimulate trade, they dampen it.
I think Trump believes he's addressing trade deficits by cooling demand for imports. Thing is, the money we spend on imports is then used to buy trade goods from other nations, which in turn means those countries now have money to buy from us. The classic economist's view is to judge the health of economies by how much money circulates in exchange, not by how much is held by any one entity. Slapping tariffs on everything doesn't contribute to money moving around, it reduces demand and means less money gets to change hands.
It's such a boneheaded, simplistic bludgeon to use as a tool on an intricate and unfathomably complex system. It's "number goes up" idiocy taken to the extreme.
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Comment on San Francisco jails are packed for the first time in decades in ~society
Promonk Link ParentThe "correct" levels are probably fundamentally unknowable, statistics being what they are. My opinion is that it should be as close to zero as we can ethically manage, so any increase is worthy...The "correct" levels are probably fundamentally unknowable, statistics being what they are. My opinion is that it should be as close to zero as we can ethically manage, so any increase is worthy of skepticism and scrutiny.
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Comment on San Francisco jails are packed for the first time in decades in ~society
Promonk (edited )Link ParentI think incarceration is a far more serious thing than the majority of US culture appreciates. We're far too blasé about locking people up, especially considering the evidence for its efficacy as...- Exemplary
I think incarceration is a far more serious thing than the majority of US culture appreciates. We're far too blasé about locking people up, especially considering the evidence for its efficacy as a deterrent is spotty at best.
I'll put it another way: I believe that incarceration is in essence and in practice the most socially acceptable form of torture. Statistics suggest that its reformatory and deterrent effects are dubious, at least as practiced widely in the US. We've known this for decades, if not centuries, yet we continue to see broad cultural support for its practice. Why? I think it's because we view it solely as punitive, and that other reasoning is largely post hoc rationalization. We do it because we want to hurt the people who hurt us, either individually or as a society. We do it to inflict suffering. We do it to torture.
Thus, to my thinking the use of incarceration should always be scrutinized and criticized, even when it can't be reasonably argued that the imprisoned only committed "victimless crimes." This doesn't mean that I'm in favor of its abolition entirely; I do think there are valid reasons to incarcerate some people that go beyond our desire for punitive suffering. But I think this also means that each case should be scrutinized far more gravely than we are apt to do.
I'd argue that's less true now than ever before, but even if we disregard that, the solution to that problem isn't nestling even deeper into Microsoft's monopolistic garden. Developers will go where the users are. It's a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum, but as people become more and more frustrated with the bullshit economy, I think we'll see more people willing to put out a bit of effort to break free.