Sapholia's recent activity
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
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Comment on "Shower thoughts" and other things to ponder in ~talk
Sapholia Link ParentI think you must be thinking of the time the Batman and Superman animated series had a crossover? IIRC, someone took a plane from Metropolis to Gotham.I think you must be thinking of the time the Batman and Superman animated series had a crossover? IIRC, someone took a plane from Metropolis to Gotham.
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Comment on What does your computer setup look like? in ~tech
Sapholia Link ParentAn upgrade isn't really in the cards for me right now, but someday maybe! Fortunately I tend to be pretty comfortable as I am. This setup also allows for the occasional repositioning to lie on my...An upgrade isn't really in the cards for me right now, but someday maybe! Fortunately I tend to be pretty comfortable as I am. This setup also allows for the occasional repositioning to lie on my front with my laptop in front of me, for sleepier computer use.
I haven't considered open-ear headphones, but mostly because this solution works for me. It's best to avoid cluttering up the day bed with too much stuff, and if I have to get up real quick it's easy to just yank the single earbud out (it's wired, so it stays attached to the laptop) and go. I also look more available and not like I'm shutting out the rest of the house, which is an effect that shouldn't be discounted. I do appreciate the suggestion, though, since it hadn't occurred to me before. It could be worth thinking about if using them could fit into the routines here.
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Comment on What does your computer setup look like? in ~tech
Sapholia LinkSystem76 15" Gazelle laptop with Pop!_OS Logitech MX Ergo trackball cheap mono single earbud I have the laptop on a tilted laptop stand, and I usually hold it in my lap as I semi-recline on a day...- System76 15" Gazelle laptop with Pop!_OS
- Logitech MX Ergo trackball
- cheap mono single earbud
I have the laptop on a tilted laptop stand, and I usually hold it in my lap as I semi-recline on a day bed. The trackball lies beside me on the bed, as the most convenient option for this kind of setup. Fortunately trackballs are my preferred mouse anyway. I can't use a standard mouse without eventually causing wrist pain, and some years ago (with a more standard desk setup) I went through a LOT of ergonomic mice and setups to finally settle on trackball as the kind that causes me no issues.
I use a single earbud because I need to keep an ear open for the rest of the house. It means I can't fully immerse myself in games, but I was never much of an audio person anyway.
The laptop has a full keyboard with numpad, but the keys are crowded together such that, even having owned the laptop a few years, I can't instantly feel my way to the arrow keys, Home/End/PgUp/PgDn, and so on. So I recently got textured sensory stickers and cut them to fit on strategic keys, which helps a great deal. Also I may actually use some of these stickers for their intended purpose, because it does feel soothing to run my fingers along them.
I'm a little envious of @bo0tzz's setup, because it sounds like a more sophisticated version of mine. And I do wish I could bring my screen closer to my face (or just have a bigger one, like theirs).
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Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies
Sapholia Link ParentI'm assuming they're skipping his origin story completely, which makes sense as everyone knows it already. They also know his character, so there isn't much establishing to do there either. But...I'm assuming they're skipping his origin story completely, which makes sense as everyone knows it already. They also know his character, so there isn't much establishing to do there either. But your point is well taken; all the other characters (except Lois and his parents, probably) will need an introduction, and that's a lot to crowd into one movie. Even Lex will need some kind of villainous monologue, because his motivation and plot could be anything.
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Comment on What’s your “I didn’t know I needed that” item? in ~life
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Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies
Sapholia Link ParentI did a bit of poking based on what you said here. The intent is so muddied that I think it doesn't actually matter if he's technically Lex's son or not. There are a couple of vague "he's the Jr."...I did a bit of poking based on what you said here. The intent is so muddied that I think it doesn't actually matter if he's technically Lex's son or not. There are a couple of vague "he's the Jr." handwaves, but all the discourse about it (from those involved with the movie's production, including a quote from Snyder) is just treating it as a fresh take on a classic villain.
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Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies
Sapholia Link ParentYou might be right. I could have looked at it more favorably if it dropped Wonder Woman on me (I have no opinions either way on Doomsday myself). But I think my issues with it would have still...You might be right. I could have looked at it more favorably if it dropped Wonder Woman on me (I have no opinions either way on Doomsday myself). But I think my issues with it would have still overshadowed that. Mostly I just don't mesh with Zack Snyder's directing style at all, though I didn't really solidify that opinion until years later. Also, Lex Luthor was such a completely out-there take on the character, I spent most of the movie trying to figure out if he was actually supposed to be original Lex, or if that was maybe his father that he spent so much time talking about.
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Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies
Sapholia Link ParentTheir reveal would have been better received, or the whole movie would've been? I wasn't a fan of that one, but it didn't have anything to do with Wonder Woman and Doomsday.Their reveal would have been better received, or the whole movie would've been? I wasn't a fan of that one, but it didn't have anything to do with Wonder Woman and Doomsday.
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Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies
Sapholia LinkI'm happy to see a return to colorful, and hopefully positive and idealistic, Superman. So far, James Gunn hasn't let me down on his superhero projects. I think GotG3 was the last MCU movie to be...I'm happy to see a return to colorful, and hopefully positive and idealistic, Superman. So far, James Gunn hasn't let me down on his superhero projects. I think GotG3 was the last MCU movie to be of any real substance, after a whole string of disappointments.
I'm hoping that despite some fun reveals in the trailer, they haven't shown everything and are saving some for the movie. There are some characters in there that I'm already happy to see. I'm tentatively optimistic, and that's after feeling a lot of superhero burnout myself.
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Comment on Do any of you use Hulu? Looking for shows that entertain adults but a 7 year old can be in the room. in ~tv
Sapholia (edited )LinkLight dramas: Scrubs - comedic drama about new doctors working in a hospital, very charming with relatable characters but also with some hard-hitting moments The Rookie - cop show with a liberal...Light dramas:
- Scrubs - comedic drama about new doctors working in a hospital, very charming with relatable characters but also with some hard-hitting moments
- The Rookie - cop show with a liberal bent, middle-aged Nathan Fillion is inspired to switch careers from the construction business to police officer; I like this show because of the focus on uniformed officers instead of just detectives, and also the focus on proper procedure in police work
- Eli Stone (this ends somewhat inconclusively but still worth a watch IMO) - lawyer gets a brain aneurysm which makes him hallucinate musical episodes, which inspire him to take on cases for the little people
- Buffy; Angel; Firefly - probably don't need a lot of introduction, but I most like these for turning tropes on their heads
- The Orville - if you've been missing 80s/90s era Star Trek, I highly recommend this show; EDIT: I guess there are probably a couple of episodes of this I would skip watching with the kid around - there's one with an alien who releases a pheromone that makes everyone very, uh, attracted to him, and another that deals with the subject of porn addiction (S01E09 and S02E02)
- Veronica Mars - teenage private investigator looks into the death of her best friend, much less Disney Channel than it sounds, very worth watching; EDIT: maybe not this one - I'm now remembering that, although it's not shown on screen, there are some themes of dealing with the aftermath of sex with no/dubious consent
- White Collar - convicted forger helps the FBI solve white collar crimes; the charm just oozes off this show and the chemistry between the characters is fantastic, and there's often a fun mini-heist in an episode
- Elementary - I like this take on a modern Sherlock Holmes better than the BBC adaptation; Jonny Lee Miller plays sober addict Sherlock in NYC and Lucy Liu plays his sober companion Watson
- Burn Notice - a burned spy takes on whatever work he can find in Miami; great for turn-your-brain-off action
Sitcoms:
- My Name is Earl (also ends inconclusively but also very worth watching) - small town petty criminal Earl has a life-changing moment and makes a list of all the people he's ever wronged and tries to make it up to them one by one; EDIT: there's a stripper and a prostitute in this show, but they're treated just like any other character - I think the only danger, really, is seeing the stripper in a skimpy stage bikini
- Raising Hope - from the same creator as the above, a teenage boy is suddenly saddled with a baby he's fathered, and his family rallies behind him to support her raising, often in hilarious fashion
- Malcolm in the Middle - boy genius Malcolm struggles with life, as does the rest of his working class family; the characterization and hilarity are off the charts
- 30 Rock - behind the scenes producing a live sketch show with a cast of extremely entertainingly wacky characters
- Superstore - follows the employees of a Walmart-like store; it's all great but the best parts IMO are the tiny vignettes it shows of customers behaving hilariously in thoughtless/entitled customer fashion (aside: this is the only TV show I've watched that acknowledged COVID in-universe, with the final season showing masking and distancing protocols in the store)
Anime:
- SPY x FAMILY - a spy needs to find a wife and kid for his cover for a long-term job, but they're all keeping secrets from each other; extremely wholesome
Cooking competition shows:
- Chopped - competitors have to cook three courses while incorporating four forced ingredients for each course, some of them curveball; I like this show for the emphasis on the food and not on the drama, and the interesting challenges that come with some of the ingredients
- Cutthroat Kitchen - competitors bid to sabotage each other with very tricky challenges, such as substituting ingredients with vastly inferior ones, or forcing two rivals to cook while attached to each other, or having to craft cooking utensils out of aluminum foil; Alton Brown hosts in delightfully evil fashion
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Comment on Do any of you use Hulu? Looking for shows that entertain adults but a 7 year old can be in the room. in ~tv
Sapholia Link ParentI love WWDitS, but there's a lot of hilariously vulgar sex talk and even one episode with an actual orgy in it. IIRC they pixelate things out in true mockumentary fashion, but I would still not...I love WWDitS, but there's a lot of hilariously vulgar sex talk and even one episode with an actual orgy in it. IIRC they pixelate things out in true mockumentary fashion, but I would still not call it family-friendly.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
Sapholia Link ParentFor what it's worth, even if your speaker hadn't been broken, the dialogue might well have been inaudible anyway. I watched it on a perfectly fine TV and kept turning the volume up and up, until...For what it's worth, even if your speaker hadn't been broken, the dialogue might well have been inaudible anyway. I watched it on a perfectly fine TV and kept turning the volume up and up, until finally at max volume I gave in and put on closed captions. Nolan is notorious for refusing to balance audio except for the ideal theater experience.
I don't really remember sound being important other than the dialogue, but perhaps that's because I was not getting the "intended" experience. If it ever comes to an IMAX near me, perhaps I'll give it another shot, but I'll always feel a little sour based on my initial watch.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
Sapholia Link ParentI didn't even know horse hair was used in plaster. The only use I've known for it is old-fashioned stuffed furniture. Not that I've ever seen any myself, but I've occasionally seen it mentioned in...I didn't even know horse hair was used in plaster. The only use I've known for it is old-fashioned stuffed furniture. Not that I've ever seen any myself, but I've occasionally seen it mentioned in books.
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Comment on Tildes Demographics Survey, year… uh, it’s 2024? in ~tildes
Sapholia Link ParentI'm simply marveling at the people who complained about the inclusion of questions that they didn't have to answer. It was right there in bold at the top: all questions are optional. Also do...I'm simply marveling at the people who complained about the inclusion of questions that they didn't have to answer. It was right there in bold at the top: all questions are optional. Also do people even know what demographics are?
It gives off real "I'm reminded that different types of people exist and I don't like it, even though they're over there not bothering me" energy.
I hope you got more pleasant/neutral responses than critical ones.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
Sapholia Link ParentIt definitely varies with personality as well as training. I have two mares I take care of. One's a gentle sweetheart but a tad easy to startle, and the other is amiable but shows her affection...It definitely varies with personality as well as training. I have two mares I take care of. One's a gentle sweetheart but a tad easy to startle, and the other is amiable but shows her affection with pushiness and demands for treats. Neither would hurt me on purpose, but I've known some horses you should stay away from unless you know what you're doing. Horses are prey animals with strong in-group mentality, and it definitely can show in their tendencies to either panic or preemptively defend themselves and their herd (even if it's a herd of two, or if the herd includes their humans). But a good-natured horse who's secure in their herd/routine/territory can be a delight to have a relationship with. You just have to learn their vocalizations and body language the same as you do with any other animal.
I'm not their owner (nor am I actually any kind of equestrian or horse sage), but they know me well. Both of them will cooperate with me to an extent, especially when I reward them liberally with apple wafers, but they certainly have Opinions. The gentle sweetheart lets me comb the burrs out of her mane and coat, but she's got some on the insides of her ears that I have to work out at the rate of a few a day, because she's super sensitive in there. The pushy beggar lets me comb the burrs from anywhere for a while, including ears, but eventually she gets fed up with it -- and the whole time she constantly thinks it's time for the next treat even if I've just given her one.
The manes can vary a lot by breed, as well. Gentle sweetheart's got a pretty thin, medium-length mane, but a decently long and thick tail. And after she accidentally whapped me in the face with the dirty end of the tail once, I can certainly see the appeal of trimming it short. (I know you have to be careful though, because they do have an actual flesh-and-bone tail in the middle of all the hair, though I don't know the exact length of it. If it's a working horse, I can especially see keeping the tail trimmed or at least braided, to keep it from getting caught on things.) Pushy beggar's a percheron cross (example pic of a percheron), and her mane and tail are thick and long. She gets her mane cut shorter, probably to deal with the heat in the summers here. Just realized I haven't actually asked the reason for it. Other than the temperature concerns, and getting burrs stuck in them at this time of year, her mane and tail don't really seem to pose a lot of problems as is. The hairs are very coarse and wiry, so they don't tangle with themselves easily. And the other mare definitely gets her share of burrs, so you'd have to give them a buzzcut to avoid that problem.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
Sapholia LinkIt was as I was brushing burrs out of the horses' manes today that I realized I was living every little girl's dream. Unfortunately I don't think the little girls realize how much the horses toss...It was as I was brushing burrs out of the horses' manes today that I realized I was living every little girl's dream.
Unfortunately I don't think the little girls realize how much the horses toss their heads around to get away from the comb (I'm as gentle as I can be; I have a lot of experience with teasing tangles out of long hair), constantly mouth at you for treats, and of course, stick their heads in the burr bushes in the first place. Just to make my life more difficult, of course.
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Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
Sapholia Link ParentI've never heard of this kind of thing and it looks really cool! Is the primary purpose for heating or just decoration? Can you use them indoors without an outside vent?I've never heard of this kind of thing and it looks really cool! Is the primary purpose for heating or just decoration? Can you use them indoors without an outside vent?
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Comment on Split Fiction | Official gameplay reveal trailer in ~games
Sapholia Link ParentThe book was so deliberately obnoxious that I was sure it was going to be the final boss. I was pretty disappointed I didn't get to kick its ass. The rest of the game was on point, though. It was...The book was so deliberately obnoxious that I was sure it was going to be the final boss. I was pretty disappointed I didn't get to kick its ass. The rest of the game was on point, though. It was just stupid fun with wonderful co-op. Split Fiction looks awesome! Thanks for linking the trailer.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech
Sapholia (edited )Link ParentThanks for the info! Edit: Apparently you can only use the invite on a newly created account. (I'm still working through my 100 free searches, since I only use them for something I really want to...Thanks for the info!
I'm definitely up for trying it, if anyone has any invites left.Edit: Apparently you can only use the invite on a newly created account. (I'm still working through my 100 free searches, since I only use them for something I really want to find that the free search engines aren't helping with.) Thanks anyway, @Minori!
The aside in that article, about roses being the national flower and bison being the national mammal, is pretty ironic to me. Roses aren't native to the US, at least, not the typical garden rose most people think of. And calling the bison the national mammal feels like trying to gloss over how we devastated the population out of sheer greed in the 19th century.