SleventhTower's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on A better way to watch YouTube in ~tech
SleventhTower That's good to know. Although I kind of doubt that Watch History is the only factor going into your recommendations. Wouldn't there be other data too?That's good to know. Although I kind of doubt that Watch History is the only factor going into your recommendations. Wouldn't there be other data too?
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Comment on A better way to watch YouTube in ~tech
SleventhTower I'll try not to totally rehash what other people are saying. But I actually really like YouTube. I use adblock and Sponsorblock, and I consistently give feed back through liking, adding to...I'll try not to totally rehash what other people are saying. But I actually really like YouTube. I use adblock and Sponsorblock, and I consistently give feed back through liking, adding to favorites/watch later, and clicking "Do not recommend this channel again". I have hundreds of subscriptions at this point. YouTube feels like one of the few platforms that has not completely changed and lost its charm, despite the real issues and controversies that have happened over the years.
In the past, when I tried using the Subscriptions page as a sort of homebase, (out of curiosity), it felt quite boring and flat. There are a lot of channels I subscribed to because they put out one or two videos I really liked. But then they've pumped out a bunch of uninteresting vlog or exhaustive list-style videos since then. If I stick to YouTube's recommendations, I'm not even aware of that. The exhaustive videos are not shown to me, because they're not popular in general.
As others have said, it might be a function of how I've already used YouTube. My account is from like 2006, and I've used it actively since then. So the recommendation algorithm really seems to get me. Maybe the advice in the article only applies to new or relatively new (<5 years old?) accounts?
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Comment on Will an AI actress really become ‘the next Scarlett Johansson’? in ~movies
SleventhTower There used to be AMVs (Anime Music Video) and FMVs (Fan Music Video) on early YouTube, which seem similar. Plus compilations and tributes. The term "edit" has replaced all those older terms it seems?There used to be AMVs (Anime Music Video) and FMVs (Fan Music Video) on early YouTube, which seem similar. Plus compilations and tributes. The term "edit" has replaced all those older terms it seems?
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Comment on EA is reportedly about to be sold in a record-setting $50 billion buyout to an investor group that includes private equity and Saudi Arabia in ~games
SleventhTower It's like there's a local restaurant that's existed for the last 30 years. I've only gone a few times when friends and family wanted to go, because they serve a style of pizza that I don't really...It's like there's a local restaurant that's existed for the last 30 years. I've only gone a few times when friends and family wanted to go, because they serve a style of pizza that I don't really like. One time I got mild food poisoning from it. Now the restaurant has been bought by a certified shitbird. While previous owners had multiple scandals tarnish their reputation too.
It's good to know there's another reason not to eat at the restaurant again. But it won't change that much for me personally.
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Comment on Grape glut: Too much wine across the world leaves tons of US grapes rotting this crush season in ~food
SleventhTower Anecdotally, I just visited a vineyard and ate some wine grapes off the vine. And they were surprisingly not bad. I thought they would be too tart, but they were actually a pleasant balance of...Anecdotally, I just visited a vineyard and ate some wine grapes off the vine. And they were surprisingly not bad. I thought they would be too tart, but they were actually a pleasant balance of sweet vs tart. The main issues were the thicker skin and larger seeds. If wine grapes were available to me, I would probably eat them. But I can see how they're not very marketable compared to snacking grapes.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower I also downloaded and played a bit of 2XKO, a new fighting game set in the League of Legends universe currently in closed beta (easy to get in). I've been excited at the prospect of getting into a...I also downloaded and played a bit of 2XKO, a new fighting game set in the League of Legends universe currently in closed beta (easy to get in). I've been excited at the prospect of getting into a new fighting game. And it is a really well-polished game whose controls feel great.
But it didn't quite grab me. I've never played a tag team fighter (where you can swap between two (or more in other games) characters in a single match), so maybe that was a hang up. I was also fairly tired at the time, and learning a new fighting game requires some focus. But I have a vague memory of feeling this way with other fighting games. And I suspect that if I push through the initial ambivalence, I'll enjoy the result. So I am determined to have another session at least.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower I think my most played game over the past month or two has been Monster Train. Not usually through marathon sessions, but just by putting in an hour or two while eating dinner and/or watching...I think my most played game over the past month or two has been Monster Train. Not usually through marathon sessions, but just by putting in an hour or two while eating dinner and/or watching something. I'm late to the game, but that's typical for me. It's a roguelite deckbuilder pretty similar in format to Slay the Spire, but different enough to feel fresh.
I've almost unlocked everything in the base game. And a few times I've felt burnt out and thought "I don't think I'll play that again for a while" but within 1-3 days I'm playing it again. The gameplay is hard to match. It's playable in 20 minute bursts. It rarely requires full attention, (although I do regularly come back to the game mid-run and make significant errors due to forgetting a key part of my particular deck in this run). And yet there are so many moments when I feel like a genius, like I won the lottery, or I'm just surprised at a new interaction I hadn't considered.
Anyway, even as I'm ostensibly reaching the end of the base game's rope, there is still a DLC I haven't bought. And a recent sequel. Feels good to have all that lined up.
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Comment on Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads in ~tech
SleventhTower I just found out I could turn the jingle off too. The dryer has like 12 buttons that can be long pressed, short pressed, cycled through etc. There are plenty of input options. And yet turning off...I just found out I could turn the jingle off too. The dryer has like 12 buttons that can be long pressed, short pressed, cycled through etc. There are plenty of input options. And yet turning off the jingle requires you to hold two buttons for precisely 3 seconds and isn't explained anywhere but the manual (wasn't readily available as it's a rental unit). Whyyyyy
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Comment on It’s the little things that make me not fully jump to linux in ~comp
SleventhTower I find this true for software in general. Unless you're willing to do or hire someone to do custom software development, you're better off modifying your use case to fit existing solutions than...Stray off the beaten path even a little and there’s a significant chance you’ll find yourself out in the weeds
I find this true for software in general. Unless you're willing to do or hire someone to do custom software development, you're better off modifying your use case to fit existing solutions than (extensively) modifying existing solutions to fit your use case.
I see so many people paint themselves into corners and waste a bunch of time trying to get a tool to do something that it's simply not designed to do.
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Comment on Reddit announces new limits on moderating large subreddits and for moderators to remove content sitewide in ~tech
SleventhTower That is a good point I hadn't noticed. Although I think part of the difference is that YouTube's algorithm seems more tightly tuned than Facebook or Reddit's in the sense that it mostly shows you...That is a good point I hadn't noticed. Although I think part of the difference is that YouTube's algorithm seems more tightly tuned than Facebook or Reddit's in the sense that it mostly shows you new content that is actually similar to content you like. So if you only follow/watch thoughtful content on YouTube, it will mostly show you other thoughtful content. While FB and Reddit seem a lot more loosey-goosey with their recommendations, which allows us to see more non-thoughtful content on those platforms. Despite there being plenty of non-thoughtful content on YouTube too. YouTube encourages more selection bias, as another way of framing it.
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Comment on Vimeo enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in ~tech
SleventhTower Ah, that explains a lot. Meetup's UX had slowly been declining for years, but the fact that Bending Spoons acquired them in January 2024 explains the steep decline. A lot of groups have abandoned...press release lists Meetup and Evernote among their portfolio
Ah, that explains a lot. Meetup's UX had slowly been declining for years, but the fact that Bending Spoons acquired them in January 2024 explains the steep decline. A lot of groups have abandoned the platform recently.
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Comment on The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia in ~health
SleventhTower I hate that we have to keep having these types of conversations. So many social problems are directly caused by a lack of regulation. And the arguments against regulation obviously stem from a...I hate that we have to keep having these types of conversations. So many social problems are directly caused by a lack of regulation. And the arguments against regulation obviously stem from a conflict of interest most of the time.
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Comment on The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia in ~health
SleventhTower This seems like a particularly unreliable method. Also, how would you possibly determine the exact moment that someone's skin started burning? Isn't that something you can't really measure until...This seems like a particularly unreliable method. Also, how would you possibly determine the exact moment that someone's skin started burning? Isn't that something you can't really measure until after it has already been happening for a while? The only readily available indicators (red skin and pain) lag behind the burning mechanism (DNA damage). And those indicators are fairly subjective too. As you say, there's definitely a place for this kind of test, but I can't imagine it being the primary test.
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Comment on What is a business/org that's so terrible no one should use if possible? in ~life
SleventhTower I tried to use a "$1 off Blizzard or Royal Treat" coupon that was from a grocery store receipt which was located on the same block and had the Dairy Queen location's address printed on it, and it...I tried to use a "$1 off Blizzard or Royal Treat" coupon that was from a grocery store receipt which was located on the same block and had the Dairy Queen location's address printed on it, and it was rejected. Was not given any sort of explanation. So I have a similar grudge.
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Comment on What happens when you trade doomscrolling for hopescrolling in ~tech
SleventhTower I'm a little curious to see how well this strategy works. Not to contribute to the doom mysel, but I'm reminded of the fact that the few aggregators of positive news I have seen often fall into...I'm a little curious to see how well this strategy works.
Not to contribute to the doom mysel, but I'm reminded of the fact that the few aggregators of positive news I have seen often fall into the pattern of featuring news like "Orphan-crushing machine plans to crush 3% fewer orphans per year by 2040". Like it's really incremental progress and/or it just serves to remind me of how bad some things in the world are in the first place.
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Comment on Study finds Rotten Tomatoes scores inflated by 13% compared to ten years ago in ~movies
SleventhTower I don't love the site in general, but IMDB's scores have been the most reliable for me. If it's an 8, there's probably something to it that I will enjoy. 7, probably at least decent. 6 and below...I don't love the site in general, but IMDB's scores have been the most reliable for me. If it's an 8, there's probably something to it that I will enjoy. 7, probably at least decent. 6 and below is a gamble. I don't feel like that has changed over the years, although I've not done any analysis of course. Other scoring systems seem to require more of a nuanced reading.
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Comment on CVS Caremark ordered to pay $290 million penalty in US Medicare fraud case in ~health
SleventhTower They are easily the worst thing about my insurance plan.They are easily the worst thing about my insurance plan.
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Comment on Europa Universalis V release date announced (Nov 4th) and prepurchase now available in ~games
SleventhTower As a casual EU4 player (maybe 300 hours over the years, although I've barely played it in the last few years), I'm excited to have a fresh start. I find it kind of overwhelming whenever I think...As a casual EU4 player (maybe 300 hours over the years, although I've barely played it in the last few years), I'm excited to have a fresh start. I find it kind of overwhelming whenever I think about playing EU4 again. There just seem to be an infinite number of versions of the game with all the different DLCs, and I can't tell if I'm playing the "right" one.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life.men
SleventhTower There are a lot of just-world believers and answers that happen to be the most convenient answer to the question in this thread. People don't necessarily deserve the life they live.There are a lot of just-world believers and answers that happen to be the most convenient answer to the question in this thread. People don't necessarily deserve the life they live.
It is a really great drop-in game. I don't feel particularly good at it, and in fact, I don't know if I've gotten better even after understanding more mechanics (I just learned what the Boss Curse does after being confused by its effects multiple times) and unlocking a lot of stuff. But it's enjoyable nonetheless.