Shimmer's recent activity
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Comment on Fallen kingdom: why has Disney had such a terrible year? in ~movies
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Comment on The extreme ambitions of West Bank settlers in ~life
Shimmer LinkThis woman is a great example of the dangers of religious extremism. If you believe God is on your side, you can do anything to the other side.If someone decides to invent a new religion today, who will decide the rules? The first nation that got the word from God, the promise from God—the first nation is the one who has the right to it. The others that follow—Christianity and Islam, with their demands, with their perceptions—they’re imitating what existed already.
This woman is a great example of the dangers of religious extremism. If you believe God is on your side, you can do anything to the other side.
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Comment on The legacy of Star Trek: The Animated Series, fifty years on in ~tv
Shimmer LinkI love that series. Pure Star Trek. The animated format allowed for a lot of creativity. Anyone who appreciates TAS will probably also enjoy this amazing homage.I love that series. Pure Star Trek. The animated format allowed for a lot of creativity.
Anyone who appreciates TAS will probably also enjoy this amazing homage.
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Comment on It looks like Facebook will be forcing me to switch to Messenger. What are my options? in ~tech
Shimmer Link ParentWhoa, I didn't even know that existed. Thank you!mbasic.facebook.com
Whoa, I didn't even know that existed. Thank you!
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Comment on Meet the American nomad prepping for doomsday by living in a homemade cart pulled by sheep and drinking their milk | World Wide Waste in ~life
Shimmer LinkI admire him for living his life the way he wants, but I wouldn't really call him a prepper. If society collapses, his cart-based lifestyle isn't going to last long.I admire him for living his life the way he wants, but I wouldn't really call him a prepper. If society collapses, his cart-based lifestyle isn't going to last long.
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Comment on The profound loneliness of being collapse aware in ~enviro
Shimmer LinkFWIW, California’s two biggest reservoirs are all but full after reaching perilously low levels late last year. Not sure how long it will last, but it is a bit of good news. Sometimes we get lucky.California grows a lot of food. What happens when there’s not enough water for the crops?
FWIW, California’s two biggest reservoirs are all but full after reaching perilously low levels late last year. Not sure how long it will last, but it is a bit of good news. Sometimes we get lucky.
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Comment on A GPT-4 capability forecasting challenge in ~tech
Shimmer LinkCaveat: This comment contains no direct spoilers, but it does discuss tendencies that are relevant in the quiz. Anytime GPT is asked to spell, it's almost certain to fail. GPT is trained on tokens...Caveat: This comment contains no direct spoilers, but it does discuss tendencies that are relevant in the quiz.
Anytime GPT is asked to spell, it's almost certain to fail. GPT is trained on tokens (short pieces of words), and so has very limited ability to predict individual letters.
Another thing I find interesting is that GPT is pretty good at abstract math, but lousy at arithmetic. I think that's because it's able to understand complex patterns, but not able to apply even simple algorithms.
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Comment on Claremont Institute publicizes excerpt from a book openly calling for right wing revolution/coup in ~misc
Shimmer LinkIsn't this pretty normal for Claremont at this point? I mean, they were involved in an actual coup attempt on Jan. 6. 2021, so it's hardly surprising to see them "openly calling" for another...Isn't this pretty normal for Claremont at this point? I mean, they were involved in an actual coup attempt on Jan. 6. 2021, so it's hardly surprising to see them "openly calling" for another attempt now.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Shimmer LinkI suspect this might be true, but not in the way Musk wants.soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand
I suspect this might be true, but not in the way Musk wants.
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Comment on Anders Behring Breivik's manifesto was listed for sale on Waterstones website – UK bookseller removes anti-Muslim document by Norwegian extremist in ~books
Shimmer LinkThis seems like a nothingburger. They had a listing for the book in their database from an aggregator, but you couldn’t actually buy it. It wasn’t physically on display or even in stock. I’m not...This seems like a nothingburger. They had a listing for the book in their database from an aggregator, but you couldn’t actually buy it. It wasn’t physically on display or even in stock.
I’m not even sure it would be unethical to sell the book, even if it’s technically illegal in the UK. Should Mein Kampf also be banned?
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Comment on Why Oppenheimer 70mm is breaking IMAX projectors in ~movies
Shimmer Link ParentI guess I can understand wanting to putter around once in a Model T, but I wouldn't want to take one on the highway. Nolan seems to have deliberately created a situation where IMAX is pushed to...But, I don't know, I wanna experience it.
I guess I can understand wanting to putter around once in a Model T, but I wouldn't want to take one on the highway. Nolan seems to have deliberately created a situation where IMAX is pushed to (and perhaps beyond) its limit. I wouldn't want to pay for that experience.
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Comment on Why Oppenheimer 70mm is breaking IMAX projectors in ~movies
Shimmer LinkAs an old person who grew up trying to avoid lousy movie theaters, I have no desire to revisit the days of analog video and audio. It's a weird kind of nostalgia for a worse experience."We had really bad gate weave, where everything was shaking. There was dust all over the damn print. And these are things that I like."
As an old person who grew up trying to avoid lousy movie theaters, I have no desire to revisit the days of analog video and audio. It's a weird kind of nostalgia for a worse experience.
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Comment on Indiana Jones 5 could be Disney's biggest box office disaster since John Carter in ~movies
Shimmer Link ParentThis is because studios are unwilling to invest large sums into new ideas. Nearly every big movie these days must be tied to existing IP with a successful track record. E.g. Mario Brothers,...By the way, it’s weird how the culture sort of froze a few decades ago and they keep trotting out remakes where half the plot is explaining why Rambo or Jean Luc Picard or Han Solo is still trying to live the life of someone under 30.
This is because studios are unwilling to invest large sums into new ideas. Nearly every big movie these days must be tied to existing IP with a successful track record. E.g. Mario Brothers, Barbie, Marvel, DC, Disney live action remakes, etc. Reusing the same actors decade after decade just strengthens that tie-in.
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Comment on How America fell out of love with ice cream in ~food
Shimmer LinkI love ice cream, but I've given up nearly all dairy for both health reasons and to oppose factory farming. After a lot of searching, my favorite vegan dessert is currently So Delicious coconut...I love ice cream, but I've given up nearly all dairy for both health reasons and to oppose factory farming. After a lot of searching, my favorite vegan dessert is currently So Delicious coconut milk yogurt. Great taste and mouthfeel (especially the Key Lime flavor). Between that and oat milk for cereal, I don't miss dairy at all.
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Comment on What are the best cover songs that reinterpret the original into a different genre, style, or mood? in ~music
Shimmer LinkMad World by Gary Jules. So good that even Tears for Fears performs it that way sometimes.Mad World by Gary Jules. So good that even Tears for Fears performs it that way sometimes.
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Comment on Reddit is getting rid of its Gold awards system in ~tech
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Comment on "Layered" music that builds throughout the song? in ~music
Shimmer LinkThe Edge (from U2) made a soundtrack album in the 80's that I like. It has an instrumental called "One Foot In Heaven" that's layered in this way: Each instrument enters as a distinct voice...The Edge (from U2) made a soundtrack album in the 80's that I like. It has an instrumental called "One Foot In Heaven" that's layered in this way: Each instrument enters as a distinct voice layered on top of the previous instruments. I also recommend the song "Heroine" on the same soundtrack, which has vocals by a young Sinead O'Connor.
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Comment on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S02E04 - "Among the Lotus Eaters" Episode Discussion in ~tv
Shimmer (edited )LinkSNW is the closest thing we have to old-school Trek, so I really want to love it, but I can't say I do yet. Last night's episode was similar to others this season: likable characters, mediocre to...SNW is the closest thing we have to old-school Trek, so I really want to love it, but I can't say I do yet. Last night's episode was similar to others this season: likable characters, mediocre to good acting, and uninspired writing that they try to gloss over with high production values. Producers: Please give me good writing instead of fancy effects!
Some other problems that stuck out to me in this episode: Characters who mumble or talk too fast. (We had to turn on subtitles, which we hate.) Line deliveries by actors who don't seem to quite understand what they're saying.
The only thing that has really touched me so far this season is when La'an had to hide her feelings for "Kirk" at the end of their episode. (Sorry, I have to put his name in quotes, because he is a decent character, but not at all convincing as James Kirk.)
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Comment on Reddit demands moderators remove NSFW labels, or else in ~tech
Shimmer Link ParentYou're right, it's not easy, but that doesn't change the calculus. If anything, it just makes the need for a unified exodus more urgent.You're right, it's not easy, but that doesn't change the calculus. If anything, it just makes the need for a unified exodus more urgent.
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Comment on Reddit demands moderators remove NSFW labels, or else in ~tech
Shimmer Link ParentReddit is permanently and totally corrupted. It's foolish for moderators to imagine that their subreddit is some sort of oasis in that desert, and anything mods do to preserve their particular...- Exemplary
Reddit is permanently and totally corrupted. It's foolish for moderators to imagine that their subreddit is some sort of oasis in that desert, and anything mods do to preserve their particular subreddit only helps bolster the monstrosity that Reddit has become. If a specific community is that important, the only ethical course of action is to move it elsewhere.
Pixar is the only division of Disney that I can still get excited about. They've pretty much ruined Marvel, Star Wars, and traditional Disney by turning them all into soulless corporate product. ("Andor" was pretty good, though. I wonder how that one got through.)