Promonk's recent activity
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Comment on Does Shawarma Law give a more definitive answer on whether or not a Hot Dog is a sandwich? in ~food
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Comment on A new retro-inspired game based on Bill & Ted is in development in ~games
Promonk LinkYou know, it seemed kinda dumb and lame at the time, but we really could all use a reminder to be excellent to each other.You know, it seemed kinda dumb and lame at the time, but we really could all use a reminder to be excellent to each other.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Promonk Link ParentI didn't find Baldur's Gate 3 overwhelming in that way, and I'm very susceptible to side quest burnout. Like you, I'm not exactly a completionist, but I do make an attempt to clear quests that...I didn't find Baldur's Gate 3 overwhelming in that way, and I'm very susceptible to side quest burnout. Like you, I'm not exactly a completionist, but I do make an attempt to clear quests that appear in my log. BG3 does a good job of discouraging that impulse pretty early on, since there's no way to successfully finish all quests in a single playthrough (at least, as far as I'm aware). It does take a bit of mental realignment to get over the hump of "gotta finish everything in my log, can't fail anything," but once I got used to it, I found it kind of liberating.
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Comment on Fixing pointing stick on thinkpad in ~tech
Promonk LinkIs it specifically whenever you wake the system from sleep that you get this issue? If so, it's likely a problem with putting the USB hub that trackpoint runs through into a low-power state. I...Is it specifically whenever you wake the system from sleep that you get this issue? If so, it's likely a problem with putting the USB hub that trackpoint runs through into a low-power state.
I assume there's a dotfile somewhere or other that handles power management for individual hubs and devices. I would start by trying to bar the system from putting the trackpoint into a low power state. In Windows that is handled through Device Manager or the registry, but things work differently in Linux Land, so I'd consult the Wizards at the Arch Wiki for guidance.
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Comment on Anthropic's financials are surprisingly strong in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI mean, their financials can still be surprisingly good and utterly doomed at the same time. The two ideas aren't objective nor mutually exclusive. I can't get over how poorly everyone seems to...I mean, their financials can still be surprisingly good and utterly doomed at the same time. The two ideas aren't objective nor mutually exclusive.
I can't get over how poorly everyone seems to have internalized the lessons from the Dotcom Bubble. Often it seems like people just drop a "pets.com, amirite?" and completely misinterpret what that whole thing was about. It was throwing billions into infrastructure build-out on entirely speculative projections for near-term demand that popped that party balloon, and here we are not even 25 years later blowing up an even bigger, more speculative balloon all over again.
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Comment on What do you watch on Nebula? in ~hobbies
Promonk Link ParentThis is maybe not the place for this comment, but seeing as how you broke his name out specifically at the top of your comment: Does anyone else get a strange vibe off of Captain Disillusion? I...This is maybe not the place for this comment, but seeing as how you broke his name out specifically at the top of your comment:
Does anyone else get a strange vibe off of Captain Disillusion? I truly have nothing to support this but a gut feeling, and it's entirely possible–even likely–that I'm completely off-base, but that dude gives me the kind of feeling I've had a few times in the past about creators before the coin drops and you find out they're actually a colossal POS in their personal lives. I hope I'm wrong, since his work seems mostly to the good from what I can tell. Hell, it could be it's just the face paint thing tripping me up.
I'm just curious if anyone else got a strange vibe off the dude.
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentNo, I was thinking of exactly the sort of "throw a prompt at DALL-E" or whatever that we generally refer to as slop. I'm of the opinion that art is mostly what the audience makes of it–proper...No, I was thinking of exactly the sort of "throw a prompt at DALL-E" or whatever that we generally refer to as slop.
I'm of the opinion that art is mostly what the audience makes of it–proper "death of the artist" stuff–which would leave open the possibility of completely algorithmically produced art qua art. I just don't think it can clear the bar of "good" or very worthwhile art, at least as things stand. I think there needs to be some element of intentionality to a work to make it worth the effort to consider.
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI actually disagree slightly. I think "AI" is capable of producing art, just not very good art. That's getting into the weeds of aesthetics and art theory though, so it's not really worth going into.I actually disagree slightly. I think "AI" is capable of producing art, just not very good art. That's getting into the weeds of aesthetics and art theory though, so it's not really worth going into.
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Comment on ChatGPT keeps telling people 404 Media can solve their tech support problems in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentIsn't that just THE problem with LLMs and machine learning in general? It has no perspective of its own, so has no context to evaluate its output as being a thing in a world of other things, or...Isn't that just THE problem with LLMs and machine learning in general? It has no perspective of its own, so has no context to evaluate its output as being a thing in a world of other things, or even of itself as a thing in a world of other things. I think perspective, or the sense of the thinker as being a unique entity in a context of other entities, has to be essential to discernment, to judgment.
From what I can tell, pretty much every complaint I see regarding "AI" (whatever exactly that is) can be reduced to this problem, yet I don't think I've ever seen anyone frame the issue in this way. I'm not so clever or conceited to think this is some unique and earthshaking perspective on it though, so I guess I'm missing something.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
Promonk LinkI've been on a decades-long quest for the perfect (to me) mac and cheese, and I recently made a huge leap forward. A couple of years back I bought a bag of sodium citrate for that purpose, but...I've been on a decades-long quest for the perfect (to me) mac and cheese, and I recently made a huge leap forward.
A couple of years back I bought a bag of sodium citrate for that purpose, but never really messed around with it much. The other day I finally got a batch of cheese sauce to turn out how I expected it to, so I think I'm dialing in on the correct proportions to make a base sauce. My findings are: 1 packed cup of freshly shredded, semi-hard natural cheese, 3/4 cup whole milk, 2 TBs salted butter, and around 3/4-1 tsp sodium citrate. Heat to boiling over medium to medium-high heat, stirring briskly CONSTANTLY. This makes something with a consistency very much like gas station nacho cheez sauce, but with actually good cheese.
This still isn't IT, though. It lacks that cheese pull so essential to top-tier M&C. I used Tillamook red label as a base cheese with a rather disappointing Gruyere-style cheese for a little added funk. I think the Tillamook red (I refuse to call it "sharp" as they do because it ain't that) serves as a good base, but you need something a little more flavorful, a little funkier for the highlight. I worry that a really mature cheddar might be too hard for this process, but that's next on the laboratory agenda. I also want to play around with layering whole natural cheese between layers of prepared pasta and sauce for that stringy pull.
I shall report back with further findings as I progress.
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Comment on Alberta voters reject plan for referendum to leave Canada in ~society
Promonk LinkAnybody care to take a whack at steel-manning the separatists' list of grievances, and how they expect independence would resolve them?Anybody care to take a whack at steel-manning the separatists' list of grievances, and how they expect independence would resolve them?
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Comment on Grand Theft Auto VI | Launch trailer in ~games
Promonk LinkIf you are a gamer who is just not that excited about GTA VI, I want you to know you aren't alone. I'll probably play it at some point down the road when it goes on sale for $20 or so, but I...If you are a gamer who is just not that excited about GTA VI, I want you to know you aren't alone.
I'll probably play it at some point down the road when it goes on sale for $20 or so, but I simply cannot be assed to care much about it, and certainly not to pay $80-$120 for the privilege.
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Comment on I deliberately bet like a problem gambler. DraftKings made me a VIP. in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentOh, I wasn't really responding to your statement, with which I agree, more or less. I just dislike AA being sorta synonymous with recovery. It's a program with some deep flaws that nonetheless...Oh, I wasn't really responding to your statement, with which I agree, more or less.
I just dislike AA being sorta synonymous with recovery. It's a program with some deep flaws that nonetheless works well for a certain percentage of addicts. The attitude many AA/12-step adherents have is that if it doesn't work for you, you're just beyond help. It's an attitude that often trips into toxicity.
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Comment on I deliberately bet like a problem gambler. DraftKings made me a VIP. in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentEh, not usually. Most of the addicts I've known have been miserable whilst in the throes of their addiction. Addictive stuff is usually only fun for a short while and rapidly becomes a psychic,...Eh, not usually. Most of the addicts I've known have been miserable whilst in the throes of their addiction. Addictive stuff is usually only fun for a short while and rapidly becomes a psychic, emotional, physical and financial burden almost immediately.
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Comment on I deliberately bet like a problem gambler. DraftKings made me a VIP. in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI realize this is a typo, but it made me giggle anyway. More to the point, there's probably a discussion to be had about AA/12-step and its effect on the way we think about addiction recovery....... non-for-profit addiction help services like AAA...
I realize this is a typo, but it made me giggle anyway.
More to the point, there's probably a discussion to be had about AA/12-step and its effect on the way we think about addiction recovery. Having seen its effect first-hand, I don't think it's as unmitigated a good as many people think.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
Promonk Link ParentChatJizzPT ClaudeBalls Insemini Couldn't come up with anything for Grok.ChatJizzPT
ClaudeBalls
InseminiCouldn't come up with anything for Grok.
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Comment on OpenAI releases findings on 377 math problems, further roiling field in ~science
Promonk (edited )Link ParentI think "booster" vs "believer" is a distinction without a difference. I have, to the point that I'm not particularly concerned with being charitable about it. I will be civil about it though,...I think "booster" vs "believer" is a distinction without a difference.
I have never seen them reply in a way that remotely dips over the line.
I have, to the point that I'm not particularly concerned with being charitable about it. I will be civil about it though, which is why I phrased my response as I did. I've seen a few instances in which Skybrian's demeanor while discussing this subject flirts with disrespect for their interlocutors, but I've always refrained from commenting before now.
Skybrian is more than welcome to their opinion, which is why I suggested not engaging with them if you are an AI skeptic. There's just no point to it.
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Comment on OpenAI releases findings on 377 math problems, further roiling field in ~science
Promonk Link ParentYou are. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but @skybrian is something an AI booster. That user is the source of many if not most of the AI hype-cycle links posted here these days. They reply...I think we're just operating on completely different wavelengths when it comes to LLMs.
You are. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but @skybrian is something an AI booster. That user is the source of many if not most of the AI hype-cycle links posted here these days. They reply in strong terms whenever anyone criticizes the claims made by OpenAI et al., to the point that I would say they occasionally dip a toe over the line of Tildes's number one rule. But as skybrian is an established power user here, and as Deimos appears pretty disinterested in doing much with Tildes any longer, I wouldn't expect anything much to happen because of it.
I suggest not engaging with them on this topic. I don't think they're interested in the same kind of discussion about it that you or many others of us are.
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Comment on Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ finally breaks Mariah Carey’s all-time record for weeks at US no. 1, eclipsing ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ in ~music
Promonk Link ParentLooking back, I don't think I was responding to you so much as those were my thoughts about said discourse, and a reply to you seemed as good a place as any to share them unasked. I've been sorely...Looking back, I don't think I was responding to you so much as those were my thoughts about said discourse, and a reply to you seemed as good a place as any to share them unasked.
I've been sorely distracted today, so sorry if I came off as argumentative or something. 'Twas not my intent.
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Comment on Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ finally breaks Mariah Carey’s all-time record for weeks at US no. 1, eclipsing ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ in ~music
Promonk Link ParentIf someone wants to come and inject some actual soul and life into country music, I'm all for it. Even better if the country-fied folk rock scene that's been vibrant during the last twenty-odd...If someone wants to come and inject some actual soul and life into country music, I'm all for it.
Even better if the country-fied folk rock scene that's been vibrant during the last twenty-odd years of bland corporate country drivel can get some love too.
My only real beef with the cube rule is calling the 5-plane set "quiche." By my lights, quiche is defined by the composition of its protein, not the configuration of its starch. Eggs are what make the quiche, not the pastry.
I nominate "tart" instead.