Tlon_Uqbar's recent activity

  1. Comment on Looking for lessons in the ‘She Said’ box-office beatdown in ~movies

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    Anecdotal, but I've not heard of this movie until just now. Maybe the marketing wasn't as successful as this piece assumes it was?

    Anecdotal, but I've not heard of this movie until just now. Maybe the marketing wasn't as successful as this piece assumes it was?

    7 votes

  2. Comment on Recommendation for cheap video editing machine and monitor in ~tech

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I'm going to throw out a recommendation for BenQ monitors. They're typically a little cheaper than Acer, Asus, other quality monitor brands. But they have the stuff you want: high-quality,...

    I'm going to throw out a recommendation for BenQ monitors. They're typically a little cheaper than Acer, Asus, other quality monitor brands. But they have the stuff you want: high-quality, factory-calibrated IPS screens.
    I'm editing on a 25'' 1440p BenQ monitor, and I'm more than satisfied with it. (Granted I'm editing FHD not 4K, but I assume they make 4k monitors if that's what you really need/want.)

    2 votes

  3. Comment on What's a great recipe with sardines? in ~food

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I've made this recipe with canned sardines a few times and it's really easy and quite delicious Ingredients: 4 thick slices crusty sourdough bread 1 garlic clove, halved Softened butter, as needed...

    I've made this recipe with canned sardines a few times and it's really easy and quite delicious

    Ingredients:

    • 4 thick slices crusty sourdough bread
    • 1 garlic clove, halved
    • Softened butter, as needed
    • 1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
    • 1 can sardines (6 to 7 ounces), deboned if you like
    • ¼ small sweet or red onion, thinly sliced
    • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
    • Fresh lemon juice, to taste
    • Flaky sea salt
    • Coarsely ground black pepper
    • Fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)

    Steps:

    1. Toast the bread under a broiler (on both sides) or in the toaster.
    2. While the toast is still warm, immediately rub it (aggressively!) with the cut side of the garlic clove, then spread toast generously with butter. Top butter with tomato slices and lightly salt them.
    3. Top tomatoes with sardines and then onion slices. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then season with more salt and pepper. Garnish with basil if you like and serve immediately.
    4 votes

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

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I've been playing a lot of Shin Megami Tensei V, and having a really good time with it. I've dipped my toes into SMT games, mostly through Persona. But I also played SMT IV, which I really wanted...

    I've been playing a lot of Shin Megami Tensei V, and having a really good time with it. I've dipped my toes into SMT games, mostly through Persona. But I also played SMT IV, which I really wanted to like, but the erratic difficulty curve and frustrating RNG made me give up. SMT V is more forgiving while still feeling like a hefty challenge. They did a superb job in balancing it. The art direction in all of the games is killer, and I love playing any RPG that's not in a typical high and/or dark fantasy setting. Amazing music, as well, so much so that my typically not-interested-enough-in-games-to-care girlfriend commented on how cool the music is.

    1 vote

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

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    Zachtronic games are incredible. You're right, they're super addicting, but I also feel like I'm using my brain with them instead of being passive. That makes me feel somewhat better. TIS-100 is...

    Zachtronic games are incredible. You're right, they're super addicting, but I also feel like I'm using my brain with them instead of being passive. That makes me feel somewhat better.
    TIS-100 is my personal favorite. It's the purest instance of 'I-can't-believe-it's-not assembly language' gameplay, as in you are actually programming limited 'CPUs' that are 'hooked together in a network'. Basically it's a gamified Little Man Computer. Highly recommended.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on How Covid shook the US: Eight charts that capture the last two years in ~health.coronavirus

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    Random question I got from this: Why was mining and logging hit so hard? Other sectors it makes intuitive sense why they lost jobs. But I'm not seeing the mining and logging connection.

    Random question I got from this:
    Why was mining and logging hit so hard?
    Other sectors it makes intuitive sense why they lost jobs. But I'm not seeing the mining and logging connection.

    2 votes

  7. Comment on What really happened during the 2003 blackout? in ~science

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I very distinctly remember this. Lost power for 8-10 hours in the New York suburbs. Pretty crazy to walk outside and see wilderness-level darkness in my ho-hum neighborhood.

    I very distinctly remember this. Lost power for 8-10 hours in the New York suburbs. Pretty crazy to walk outside and see wilderness-level darkness in my ho-hum neighborhood.

    3 votes

  8. Comment on Where do I start with _____? in ~talk

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link Parent
    Sweet, both look like great stuff. Thanks!

    Sweet, both look like great stuff. Thanks!

    1 vote

  9. Comment on Where do I start with _____? in ~talk

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    Where do I start with electronics? My GF got me a "build your own game console" maker kits, which was basically a PCB and a bunch of components to solder onto it (and instructions of course). I...

    Where do I start with electronics?
    My GF got me a "build your own game console" maker kits, which was basically a PCB and a bunch of components to solder onto it (and instructions of course). I built it and, hey hey, the thing actually worked.

    I'm interested into diving more into building electronics, but looking where to start obviously. Kits are cool I guess, but I think I'd be more interested in a simple project that would teach me more about the nitty-gritty of designing/building electronics. The kit I made was more "solder this resister here, and then this capacitor there," etc. I want to start learning about electronic design and engineering so I could eventually make my own gizmos or hack more complex electronics.

    I have a couple of desktop synths, so I was thinking about something music related. But I'm not sure what would be a very novice project to start with.

    4 votes

  10. Comment on Do you wear a non-smartwatch? If so, what do you have? in ~hobbies

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link Parent
    Yeah, I feel myself teetering on the edge of the rabbit hole that is vintage watches. The rational part of my brain is saying no, but the lover-of-shiny-things part of my brain is giving an...

    Yeah, I feel myself teetering on the edge of the rabbit hole that is vintage watches. The rational part of my brain is saying no, but the lover-of-shiny-things part of my brain is giving an enthusiastic yes.

    3 votes

  11. Comment on Do you wear a non-smartwatch? If so, what do you have? in ~hobbies

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    A Raketa Big Zero that I ordered off of eBay just arrived yesterday from Ukraine. I'm not a collector, but I really liked the look of it, and they go for pretty cheap, so I pulled the trigger....

    A Raketa Big Zero that I ordered off of eBay just arrived yesterday from Ukraine. I'm not a collector, but I really liked the look of it, and they go for pretty cheap, so I pulled the trigger. It's my first manual watch, winding it and hearing it tick is pretty fun.

    I have a couple other fairly cheap watches: a Ted Baker (don't remember the model) and a Casio A168. All chosen for aesthetics and the fact that they don't cost a fortune. I just like the look of a watch as an accessory and have been wearing one for most of my life. Plus I find it easier to check the time on a wristwatch over looking at a phone, with the bonus of having fewer distractions in the form of push notifications.

    4 votes

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

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    Not exactly answering the question, but I spent some time last weekend modding my arcade stick (the 8BitDo Arcade Stick). Added Sanwa buttons with concave caps (cuz that's what I like) in a Super...

    Not exactly answering the question, but I spent some time last weekend modding my arcade stick (the 8BitDo Arcade Stick). Added Sanwa buttons with concave caps (cuz that's what I like) in a Super Famicom color scheme, and put an 8-way gate into the stick (stock one works well enough for me).

    Mostly use the stick for shmups, and put in a good session of ESP Ra.De. which is what I've been focussing on recently in the shooter department. I'm a big fan of Cave shooters. What I like about bullet hell is the way they force you into a state of flow. It's relaxing almost? Or maybe more accurately, they force you to drop away distractions, worries, life, literally everything else on your mind that's not trying not to get hit in the game.

    3 votes

  13. Comment on What do you collect? in ~hobbies

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I primary collect records, LPs mostly, but I've been trying to dip my toes into 45s more lately. Been doing it for a long time (since high school), so my collection is pretty eclectic at this...

    I primary collect records, LPs mostly, but I've been trying to dip my toes into 45s more lately. Been doing it for a long time (since high school), so my collection is pretty eclectic at this point as my tastes have changed over the years. Mostly focus on Jazz LPs these days, and hopped onto the City Pop/Japanese AOR/Fusion wave that's been cresting for the past few years, but I think I've tapped that latter well dry at this point (for what I like, at least).

    I try not to get too precious about finding the original/desirable pressing and having perfect sleeve condition. I'd rather have an ugly/damaged sleeve with the record in playable condition than have nothing at all. Still, I've acquired a few gems over the years, and that's definitely fun.

    Times are changing (for the better in this case!), so more and more "rare groove" music is available digitally or even streaming or YouTube (which is a surprisingly good resource for rare records, if you just want to listen). But what I always liked about record collecting is finding those rare gems that only exist on vinyl: finding something beautiful and unique but forgotten.

    9 votes

  14. Comment on What do you collect? in ~hobbies

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link Parent
    I bought a Yashicamat, my first TLR, last year, and I've been having a blast shooting with it. I'm with you that it feels kind of wrong to collect machines and then have them sit unused. The...

    I bought a Yashicamat, my first TLR, last year, and I've been having a blast shooting with it. I'm with you that it feels kind of wrong to collect machines and then have them sit unused. The pleasure, for me at least, is experiencing the ingenuity and build quality of the cameras hands-on by, you know, using them for the purpose they were built.

    I collect records, as well, and I feel the same way: I don't really understand acquiring a record and then never listening to it (or even opening the shrink wrap). What's the point?

    3 votes

  15. Comment on Trump blog page shuts down for good in ~tech

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link Parent
    Breitbart lost something like 90% of its advertisers after a boycott sometime soon after the 2016 election. They didn't have the money anymore to keep up with the algo changes. I used to work for...

    Breitbart lost something like 90% of its advertisers after a boycott sometime soon after the 2016 election. They didn't have the money anymore to keep up with the algo changes.

    I used to work for a clickbait website. It takes resources to keep up with the social algorithm cat-and-mouse game, but it's definitely possible to pivot and stay afloat. What I mean to say is, a driven bad actor (or actors) could likely still game the feeds as well as the "fake news" tsunami in 2015-16, despite the small efforts Facebook and Twitter have made.

    11 votes

  16. Comment on Discord celebrates six years, changes logo and font in ~design

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    The pip of the i "pushing down" the stroke makes that one letter look like it's the wrong size. Do like the discussion of why and how they changed the logo. Think it looks good, and it's more...

    The pip of the i "pushing down" the stroke makes that one letter look like it's the wrong size.

    Do like the discussion of why and how they changed the logo. Think it looks good, and it's more legible at small scales.

    8 votes

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

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link Parent
    That looks pretty cool. Think I'll check it out. I like the trend of more "relaxed" city builders. As much as I like diving deep into something complex and nuanced (Dwarf Fortress, e.g.), these...

    That looks pretty cool. Think I'll check it out.

    I like the trend of more "relaxed" city builders. As much as I like diving deep into something complex and nuanced (Dwarf Fortress, e.g.), these days I don't usually have the time to go down those rabbit holes, at least not regularly. Like something that can scratch that itch in a more "snackable" format.
    Was a fan of Islanders, which is something in that vein. Though, it was pretty short, didn't take too long to find the optimal strategies.

    5 votes

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

    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link
    I've been playing a ton of Monster Hunter Rise. Me and my usual hunting buddy got a couple of meaty sessions in last week, and the game got it's hooks in us. I think it strikes a pretty damn good...

    I've been playing a ton of Monster Hunter Rise. Me and my usual hunting buddy got a couple of meaty sessions in last week, and the game got it's hooks in us.

    I think it strikes a pretty damn good balance between classic MonHun and the more "modernized" and Westernized MH: World. The quality of life and UI improvements they brought back are very much appreciated, and thankfully it uses the classic MH lobby system (the way multiplayer worked in World was the dealbreaker for me).

    I am a little disappointed in some of the streamlined gameplay choices (read: they made it easier than I'd like). Finding a monster and keeping it paintballed to keep track of it was an integral part of the hunting experience, wish they'd kept that in. Also giving a straight-up notification and icon for when a monster is capture-able is pretty lame. Learning monsters' behavior/animations is Monster Hunter. I mean, I get why they made it more handhold-y, the classic games can feel pretty impenetrable. But it was those quirks that made the series unique.

    Still, the core hunting in Rise is fantastic. Highly recommended.

    4 votes

  19. Comment on Top Shot: The NBA on NFT in ~finance

    Tlon_Uqbar
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    I'm pretty bearish on NFTs, but they're certainly fascinating! Found this piece interesting, because it dives into the social/community aspect of value creation. The communities surrounding NFTs...

    I'm pretty bearish on NFTs, but they're certainly fascinating!

    Found this piece interesting, because it dives into the social/community aspect of value creation. The communities surrounding NFTs (and cryptocurrency, in general) are more important than the technology underpinning them.

    2 votes