Promonk's recent activity
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Comment on "People are turning themselves into lab rats" – the injectable peptides craze sweeping the US in ~health
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Comment on Commonly misspelled words quiz in ~humanities.languages
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Comment on Why are we still doing this? in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentSure. My point was just that FlOPS has a specific meaning that isn't synonymous with general compute. It would be like saying "why don't we just call graphics processing 'trigonometry'? That's...Sure. My point was just that FlOPS has a specific meaning that isn't synonymous with general compute. It would be like saying "why don't we just call graphics processing 'trigonometry'? That's most of what it is anyway."
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Comment on Why are we still doing this? in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentCompute isn't just about floating point operations, though.Compute isn't just about floating point operations, though.
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Comment on Let's talk about tropes! in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI think it depends on who you ask, but since you asked me, I'll tell you my own opinion. Are you familiar with the concept of a dead metaphor? They're when an expression is coined as a specific...I think it depends on who you ask, but since you asked me, I'll tell you my own opinion.
Are you familiar with the concept of a dead metaphor? They're when an expression is coined as a specific metaphor, but loses the metaphorical sense along the way for one reason or another until people forget it was ever metaphorical to begin with, and only understand the expression in its idiomatic usage. "Kick the bucket" is one, "red-letter day" is another.
I think of cliches as being akin to that, only instead of a figurative meaning being lost, it's the affective impact of the thing that's been lost along the way.
One literary example I think of often is Holden Caulfield. When Catcher in the Rye was published, the character type of a precociously cynical teenager rejecting the niceties of adulthood as insincere and hollow was fresh, and had immense impact. It was so impactful that you can almost categorize YA literature by whether it was written before or after Catcher (BS: Before Salinger, AS: After Salinger). These days we have a special term for the Holdens of the world: "edgelord." That character type, that trope, has lost a lot of its affective impact. It's still possible for a character like that to be thought-provoking and emotionally impactful, but most often they've degenerated to cliché. "Seen one, seen 'em all."
We tend to use the term "trope" in colloquial usage to mean cliches, but the technical meaning is broader than just familiar plot devices and characters. In its technical sense it includes those as well as rhetorical figures and devices. For instance, periphrasis, metaphor and synecdoche are all rhetorical figures/devices, which are a type of trope. I bet you'd have to look hard to find someone who'd dismiss the use of any simile as being cliche; I submit that would depend on the specific simile employed, and whether that particular simile has been overused and thus has lost affective power.
I don't know if that clears things up any, but I gave it a shot. I wrote this during my work breaks over the course of my day, so apologies if it is a bit disjointed and not very illuminating.
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Comment on Let's talk about tropes! in ~books
Promonk Link ParentI wasn't intending to be condescending or critical, I was curious about what Choco actually liked about the books they were talking about. I should know not to post any kind of comment online for...I wasn't intending to be condescending or critical, I was curious about what Choco actually liked about the books they were talking about.
I should know not to post any kind of comment online for at least an hour after I wake. I guess I need more time to get my textual tone and reading comprehension straight.
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Comment on Let's talk about tropes! in ~books
Promonk Link ParentIt wasn't my intention to criticize, I just noticed that most of what you listed were cliched tropes that you disliked, and I was curious if there were any you did like. I missed the ones you...It wasn't my intention to criticize, I just noticed that most of what you listed were cliched tropes that you disliked, and I was curious if there were any you did like. I missed the ones you expressed appreciation for, so I apologize for my poor reading comprehension this morning. I responded almost the first thing after I woke up, so I wasn't at my sharpest, I guess.
I was mostly using "trope" and "cliche" as synonyms, but there is a distinction. It wasn't my goal to hash that out, but we could if that interests you. I'm usually down for actually making use of my English degree for a change.
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Comment on Let's talk about tropes! in ~books
Promonk Link ParentYou just listed off a bunch of cliches you dislike. Are there any tropes or cliches you do like?You just listed off a bunch of cliches you dislike. Are there any tropes or cliches you do like?
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Comment on IOI Partners, the publishing division of IO Interactive, and Build a Rocket Boy have concluded their publishing agreement for MindsEye in ~games
Promonk LinkSeems like IO got the better end of that partnership. At least it doesn't appear they bankrolled development. If you're going to be attached to a turd of a game, it's better to be the guy holding...Seems like IO got the better end of that partnership. At least it doesn't appear they bankrolled development. If you're going to be attached to a turd of a game, it's better to be the guy holding the scooper rather than the bag.
One wonders how much IOI influenced the timing of the launch of this obviously unfinished joke of a game, though. I doubt highly that given enough time and resources the devs could've made it into a blockbuster, considering the lead is woefully and clearly out of his depth when it comes to actual game design beyond the visuals, but I bet their QA could've squashed a few more bugs and made the thing playable if they weren't crunched to release by an arbitrary and unrealistic deadline. That could've been down to the lead running his mouth, but it might also have been the fear of losing the publishing deal, too. Seems like publishers/marketing are always the ones hucking sabots into the gears, even if they aren't writing the checks.
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Comment on What do you think about putting your driver's license in your digital wallet? in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentThat depends on jurisdiction. Some states only require people to "exhibit" IDs upon police request, and SOP then is for the officer to take a snapshot with their phone to take back to their...... but cops do need to take your ID back to their car if they've pulled you over.
That depends on jurisdiction. Some states only require people to "exhibit" IDs upon police request, and SOP then is for the officer to take a snapshot with their phone to take back to their cruiser for lookup. Nothing gets under a cop's skin like making their job a little harder by adhering to the letter of the law when it comes to civil rights however, so you better damn well know your rights back and forward and be prepared for a routine stop to turn into an hours-long ordeal if you want to insist.
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Comment on Sony pulls back from PlayStation games on PC in ~games
Promonk Link ParentI couldn't help but notice a distinct absence of Steam in your calculations. I suspect they might have more influence on the market than you appreciate. That is a bold statement that I don't think...I couldn't help but notice a distinct absence of Steam in your calculations. I suspect they might have more influence on the market than you appreciate.
And PS5 is already the best gaming experience, hands down, anyway.
That is a bold statement that I don't think I've ever seen anyone claim before, certainly not so confidently. Would you care to expand?
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Comment on British Columbia announces it is making daylight time permanent after years of promises in ~society
Promonk Link ParentSomething I've always wondered about that song: did Dolly not get a lunch break? I've never had an employer roll my lunch break into my shift like that, but maybe that's just peculiar to my...Something I've always wondered about that song: did Dolly not get a lunch break? I've never had an employer roll my lunch break into my shift like that, but maybe that's just peculiar to my state's asinine labor laws.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Promonk LinkThis week I tried again to get into Persona 5 Royal, but I've bounced off again, albeit a little more softly than in previous attempts. This time it was the pacing that was the biggest obstacle....This week I tried again to get into Persona 5 Royal, but I've bounced off again, albeit a little more softly than in previous attempts.
This time it was the pacing that was the biggest obstacle. I'm engaged with the plot and the battle mechanics, but the tutorials and introduction are glacially slow in rolling out. I've said in the past that JRPGs are like stray cats: it takes a little time and effort to gain their trust well enough for them to allow you to play with them, and nowhere is that more true than in Persona games. It took me about 7.5 hours of playtime before I felt like I was released to actually play the game, and even then some pretty substantial guardrails were still up.
I have my doubts that the developers' expectations regarding the duration of play sessions will align with my own, but from what I've seen of the first Palace, it seems like it should be manageable. I'm hoping that the hour-long exposition sequences with few-if-any opportunities to save are mostly features of the tutorial, because I don't know how frequently I can jam them into my life otherwise.
So I took a little break from that and started my first A Link to the Past Randomizer run. I must've played that game three dozen times over the years, but I've never broken sequence before, so it's been a bit of a learning process. I had to dip into the spoiler txt to learn that you can bypass the Master Sword check at Agahnim's tower with the Magic Cape, because that would never come up if you weren't intentionally breaking sequence. I'm impressed with the resources the ALttPR community has built to help people give it a go, but I don't really have much to say aside from that.
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Comment on Statement from Dario Amodei on our discussions with the Department of War in ~society
Promonk LinkSeems like a drawn line, and that takes a modicum of gumption, at least. The logic in the argument getting there is fucking bonkers in its own right, though. The bit about how they'd go along with...Seems like a drawn line, and that takes a modicum of gumption, at least. The logic in the argument getting there is fucking bonkers in its own right, though.
The bit about how they'd go along with mass surveiling citizens of other countries, but not domestically, was not especially reassuring. Can't imagine Anthropic's prospective international customers will be hyped to hear that.
My favorite part is where he seems to suggest that he'd be fine with autonomous killbots, if only they were good enough. Claude and his siblings are still too fallible, though. Shucks.
I'd rather you just didn't do those things altogether, Chief. Kinda seems like an asshole move, all things considered. I'd also like it if you didn't suck up all the RAM and water and dollars in the frigging universe while you were at it, if at all possible.
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Comment on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office in UK in ~news
Promonk Link ParentWhat would it even mean to take the connection seriously, though? The DoJ doesn't seem much interested in filing charges against anyone, and the FBI (nominally the US counterintelligence agency)...What would it even mean to take the connection seriously, though? The DoJ doesn't seem much interested in filing charges against anyone, and the FBI (nominally the US counterintelligence agency) is ... maybe on vacation or something? Their Slack has an "out of the office Mon & Tues" badge, but it's Thursday and they haven't responded, so I don't know.
I don't see people queuing up to storm the Bastille yet, so that's good, I guess?
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Comment on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office in UK in ~news
Promonk Link ParentI had thought the potential Israel connection was already a known possibility, given Maxwell's family ties. Lately though it seems like it's hitting people as a new revelation.I had thought the potential Israel connection was already a known possibility, given Maxwell's family ties. Lately though it seems like it's hitting people as a new revelation.
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Comment on Recommend me some deep dive YouTube videos / Portland trip recs! in ~travel
Promonk Link ParentThe Wahkeena-Multnomah loop is a bit more effort than Ten Falls, IIRC. The forest still shows heavy signs of the fires, but it mostly missed the immediate Multnomah Falls area, and it's still well...The Wahkeena-Multnomah loop is a bit more effort than Ten Falls, IIRC. The forest still shows heavy signs of the fires, but it mostly missed the immediate Multnomah Falls area, and it's still well worth a visit. It tends to be a bit more crowded than Silver Falls SP, though.
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Comment on I'm annoyed with mundane revisionist history in ~talk
Promonk Link ParentAnecdotally, the DVD player was a big draw for me. It definitely influenced my decision to buy a PS2 at launch, and it was my first DVD player to boot. It also helped that it played most of my...Anecdotally, the DVD player was a big draw for me. It definitely influenced my decision to buy a PS2 at launch, and it was my first DVD player to boot. It also helped that it played most of my catalog of PSX games, though I never ended up selling my busted-ass PSX that you had to flip over while running or it overheated. The launch price was a little steep for a new console at the time, but the array of functionalities it offered more than made up for it.
I'm wary of overgeneralizing from my own personal experience, but I gotta think I wasn't the only one out there who did that calculus. I'm not that clever.
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Comment on Norway's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining the country's monarchy, rejecting a proposed change to a republic in ~society
Promonk LinkThe idea of a nation having a pet family is so bizarre to me. Doubly so when the privilege afforded them by dint of their lineage only seems to make them rich for no apparent reason and shield...The idea of a nation having a pet family is so bizarre to me. Doubly so when the privilege afforded them by dint of their lineage only seems to make them rich for no apparent reason and shield them from the consequences of associating with the world's most notorious child abuser – post- 2008 conviction, I might add.
To each their own, I suppose. Lord knows my own benighted country has more than its fair share of nonsensical mores and institutions.
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Comment on SpaceX is acquiring xAI in ~space
Promonk Link ParentIt's this. I know technologically minded people who don't understand that vacuum insulates. They think, "space is cold, right?" and never consider that you need some form of physical contact to...... and/or overestimating the rate of heat exchange in near-vaccuum.
It's this. I know technologically minded people who don't understand that vacuum insulates. They think, "space is cold, right?" and never consider that you need some form of physical contact to dissipate the majority of the heat electronics produce.
Good Work piece from two weeks ago or so on this very subject. Once again, comedy news spoofs beat the mainstream guys to the punch (or are newsrooms just skimming ideas from the funny folks?).