SleventhTower's recent activity

  1. Comment on CVS Caremark ordered to pay $290 million penalty in US Medicare fraud case in ~health

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    They are easily the worst thing about my insurance plan.

    They are easily the worst thing about my insurance plan.

    3 votes

  2. Comment on Europa Universalis V release date announced (Nov 4th) and prepurchase now available in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link
    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.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on ‘Being short is a curse’: the men paying thousands to get their legs broken – and lengthened in ~life.men

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    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.

    9 votes

  4. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    This is where I'm at too. It was fun to play the beta, and it's well put-together. But it didn't really scratch my Battlefield itch, just a more general FPS itch. At this point, it's unclear...

    This is where I'm at too. It was fun to play the beta, and it's well put-together. But it didn't really scratch my Battlefield itch, just a more general FPS itch. At this point, it's unclear whether the big vehicle-based action will be back in the same way IMO.

  5. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    Supposedly the new map is going to be Empire State and be infantry-focused, aka small. So idk. But I'll still play it and probably have fun, so whatever.

    Supposedly the new map is going to be Empire State and be infantry-focused, aka small. So idk. But I'll still play it and probably have fun, so whatever.

  6. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    I've really been craving some big vehicle-based action lately, which the old Battlefields were somewhat uniquely capable of scratching. The beta has been mostly fun, but it hasn't really scratched...

    I've really been craving some big vehicle-based action lately, which the old Battlefields were somewhat uniquely capable of scratching. The beta has been mostly fun, but it hasn't really scratched that itch. The maps are small and the action is chaotic. After not playing any online FPS for a while, I'm afraid I'm just enjoying it as a short-term diversion.

    Otherwise I mostly agree with your points. Overall BF6 seems like a pretty good package at this point. But I really wish one of the big maps were available during the beta weekends. I need to know whether the big tank/chopper/jet battles will scratch that itch.

  7. Comment on The analog life: Fifty ways to unplug and feel human again in ~health.mental

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    I used to have the same judginess. And to be fair, I still think the watches with cell capabilities and advanced apps are at least overkill for a lot of people. But after getting a free Fitbit...

    I used to have the same judginess. And to be fair, I still think the watches with cell capabilities and advanced apps are at least overkill for a lot of people.

    But after getting a free Fitbit that effectively nudged me to walk and exercise more. And after noticing that seeing and dismissing texts/notifications on my watch meant I often didn't have to pull out my phone (and get sucked into my phone for 5, 10, 100 minutes). I've seen that are some big benefits, depending on the person.

    1 vote

  8. Comment on The real reasons your appliances die young in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    I guess the author wanted the 1:1 comparison, but it's kinda funny to mention buying anything at Sears in 2025. When there are only a handful of stores left, and there's basically no hope...

    I guess the author wanted the 1:1 comparison, but it's kinda funny to mention buying anything at Sears in 2025. When there are only a handful of stores left, and there's basically no hope remaining for them.

    5 votes

  9. Comment on AI is transforming Indian call centers in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    As an aside, I wish this topic was discussed a little more. There can be a huge difference in a workday that consists of solving 10 simple problems and one complex problem. Versus a workday of...

    reps have to field more complex tasks at 100% their capacity, instead of having them relax between tougher calls

    As an aside, I wish this topic was discussed a little more. There can be a huge difference in a workday that consists of solving 10 simple problems and one complex problem. Versus a workday of solving three complex problems. Even if I enjoy solving the complex problems, it becomes overwhelming when they come one after another. Especially when they overlap and require input or actions from other people, and I have three partially solved problems that I'm juggling and context-switching between.

    But I find there isn't really a place to have a nuanced conversation about my workload in most corporate environments. I can say I have too much on my plate, but I can't say I have the wrong mix of tasks on my plate. I guess because it's not seen as realistic or worthwhile to pick and choose tasks in a corporate environment. But I think there could be value in trying to match appropriate tasks to appropriate people.

    15 votes

  10. Comment on What fashion trend will you refuse to let die? in ~life.style

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    In places with a hockey culture, it never really dies. The virus lays dormant.

    In places with a hockey culture, it never really dies. The virus lays dormant.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on What's a game that you feel like you missed out on? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    This is mine too. I loved reading about the game - it felt like such an interesting and alive world. But by the time I could convince my parents to spring for a subscription, the CU and NGE had...

    This is mine too. I loved reading about the game - it felt like such an interesting and alive world. But by the time I could convince my parents to spring for a subscription, the CU and NGE had happened. I did play it, and the atmosphere/worlds were pretty cool, but it felt like the soul of the game was dead.

    2 votes

  12. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    Link
    I've been playing No Man's Sky for the last week or so. I know it was a huge deal/controversy when it came out, but I basically missed all that. I only heard of the drama and redemption arc...

    I've been playing No Man's Sky for the last week or so. I know it was a huge deal/controversy when it came out, but I basically missed all that. I only heard of the drama and redemption arc through YouTube video essays later on. I first tried the game a couple years ago, but I had limited hard drive space back then, and the survival crafting loop bothered me at the time, so I bounced off it.

    This time the game is grabbing me though. I guess I have more patience for methodically collecting and building things. My job has become heavy on critical thinking and fuzzy requirements lately, and I crave simple, plainly achievable tasks. I've enjoyed slowly learning Gek words, gaining inventory spaces one at a time (which almost doesn't seem worth all the trouble it takes tbh), and coming across new goofy planets. All while watching a low-medium intensity show on my other monitor.

    I will say there are some significant friction points though. The mission tracking and POI system doesn't seem to work that well.

    Ex. What planet am I supposed to deliver a package to for my mission? Well, go into space, look at the Galaxy Map, find a gift icon which matches the icon next to my mission (which is not a super obvious connection by itself), and go to that system.

    Ok I'm in that system. Now what planet do I go to? No indication. The mission text just says go to a planet basically. It doesn't name the planet. After trying to figure it out for 10 minutes, I just say fuck it. I'll explore this system and find something new to do instead of the mission. I take a minute or two to travel to a far off planet in the system. Once I arrive at that planet, I notice that there's a gift icon on my HUD thing. Uhh OK. The gift icon is pointing back to a planet that I was just nearby. So I take a minute or two and retrace my steps back to where I just was.

    I land at a little spaceport thing, which has a trade terminal in the middle of it. The gift icon is centered on that terminal. I have the package I'm supposed to deliver in my inventory. I walk over to the terminal and interact with it. I'm allowed to buy or sell things, but there is nothing related to my mission. Ok, I guess I'll find something else to do.

    It was only when I tried to do another delivery mission that I realized the issue. The package had been in my starship inventory and not my exosuit inventory. When you land on a space station, that doesn't matter. You can buy and sell stuff from either your exosuit or starship inventory. But when you land on the little spaceport things, your starship inventory is not available at the trade terminal, so the delivery mission step didn't get triggered. At least, I think that's what happened. Maybe I'm wrong.

    Anyway, it's a good game when I don't think about it too much.

    3 votes

  13. Comment on Jevons Paradox: A personal perspective in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    Link
    It's a thoughtful article, and I find it somewhat inspiring. But if your answer to the question, "what do we do with excess productivity?" doesn't include (and at least initially, focus on)...

    It's a thoughtful article, and I find it somewhat inspiring. But if your answer to the question, "what do we do with excess productivity?" doesn't include (and at least initially, focus on) creating a more equal society, I find it hard to take seriously.

    Maybe I'm asking too much. The article is focused on the individual. But also maybe that's the problem.

    6 votes

  14. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    SleventhTower
    (edited )
    Link
    I played a bit of the weekend-long beta for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves -- full release in a couple months. For those in the know, this is an SNK fighting game, which I'm aware of but have...

    I played a bit of the weekend-long beta for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves -- full release in a couple months. For those in the know, this is an SNK fighting game, which I'm aware of but have never played. I've been wanting to get into a fighting game again, but haven't felt like picking up Tekken 8 or Street Fighter 6 again for various reasons. So CotW just happened to swoop in at the right time for me.

    I only played a few matches, but I did really like the characters, game feel, animation style, and music. The main menu music is weirdly addicting. I didn't care to invest much time to really learn combos or game mechanics. I know enough for me to want to buy the full game when it's released (assuming there are no big lingering technical or other issues), and I'd rather learn at that point in a contiguous manner.

    Otherwise I picked up Snowrunner again, which a couple years ago I stupidly started playing on Hard mode and got burned out on without making it far enough to really understand it. It turns out playing on Normal mode is a better introduction to the game, and I am finding it satisfying. And given its slow pace and methodical gameplay, it's pretty easy to play while watching a show/movie, so I've been spending a lot of time doubling up.

    1 vote

  15. Comment on Algorithmic complacency: Algorithms are breaking how we think in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Same, there are of course arguments that algorithmic content is inherently bad and that relinquishing any control over the process of content selection is a bad idea. But when people claim that...

    Same, there are of course arguments that algorithmic content is inherently bad and that relinquishing any control over the process of content selection is a bad idea. But when people claim that social media algorithms do a bad job of delivering content for them, I do wonder whether they're aware of and using the "Not interested" type of features. I use them a lot, and I find that at least on YouTube the home feed is mostly videos from my subscription or genuinely good recommendations from creators who are similar to those I'm subscribed too. Other social media algorithms are not necessarily as malleable as YouTube's though.

    3 votes

  16. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    I've never heard of those. Looks cool, thanks!

    I've never heard of those. Looks cool, thanks!

    2 votes

  17. Comment on How to cook the perfect boiled egg, according to science in ~food

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    They're calling them periodic eggs huh?

    They're calling them periodic eggs huh?

    2 votes

  18. Comment on Toyota reduces price of new hydrogen car in California to just over $15,000 — with $15,000 of free fuel in ~transport

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    Is this financially viable? And how much would the emissions from the transport ship offset the emissions reduction of the overall plan, assuming that Japan would be replacing coal, oil and/or...

    Is this financially viable? And how much would the emissions from the transport ship offset the emissions reduction of the overall plan, assuming that Japan would be replacing coal, oil and/or natural gas with the green hydrogen? I know it's all theoretical. Just wondering if anyone has a ballpark guess.

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Are LLMs making Stack Overflow irrelevant? in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I think what you're saying is broadly true, and it is a good rebuttal to bring up. But that's a pretty black and white picture you're painting too. AI art can be uncreative and unimaginative and...

    I think what you're saying is broadly true, and it is a good rebuttal to bring up. But that's a pretty black and white picture you're painting too.

    AI art can be uncreative and unimaginative and still put 80-90% of artists out of business. The graphic designers I know have all complained about how their work doesn't let them be creative.

    And similarly, LLMs won't suddenly be unable to produce good coding results for everything. The industry doesn't change that quickly. The LLMs will fail at specific new topics or technologies, like they already do. And I guess that enough people will write relevant blog posts or whatever, and the LLMs will eventually catch up.

    19 votes

  20. Comment on US Supreme Court unanimously backs law banning TikTok if it’s not sold by its Chinese parent company in ~tech

    SleventhTower
    Link Parent
    If I'm not mistaken, PWAs are still (purposely) limited on iOS in the US. So TikTok would have fractured support pathways if they took that approach.

    If I'm not mistaken, PWAs are still (purposely) limited on iOS in the US. So TikTok would have fractured support pathways if they took that approach.

    7 votes