Tlon_Uqbar's recent activity
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Comment on Californian police can’t stop sideshows. Solution: Make the streets more annoying. in ~transport
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Comment on Californian police can’t stop sideshows. Solution: Make the streets more annoying. in ~transport
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentTaking over a public street is part of the appeal, I imagine. It's an assertion of power. Not only are they showing off, they're doing it right in the middle of everything. And they leave their...Taking over a public street is part of the appeal, I imagine. It's an assertion of power. Not only are they showing off, they're doing it right in the middle of everything. And they leave their marks for everyone to see afterwards. I bet it's a bigger rush than doing the same in a dark, out of the way parking lot.
I feel for the people who have to deal with these, though. It's super obnoxious behavior.
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Comment on I worked for Mr Beast, he's a sociopath in ~tech
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentRe: why didn't he just leave? Peer pressure can be extremely powerful. He had a group of relative peers (the crew) as well as people with power over him (his employers essentially) all more or...Re: why didn't he just leave?
Peer pressure can be extremely powerful. He had a group of relative peers (the crew) as well as people with power over him (his employers essentially) all more or less coercing him to stay. Even if "coercion" is too strong a word, they're likely still strongly suggesting that he stay. Add to that completion bias ("well I started this, might as well see it through") and a healthy dose of sleep depravation, and you have someone who's not making completely rational decisions. I'm glad he did get out when he did, before getting more hurt.
No one likes to imagine themself as a victim, so hearing stories like these we often think to ourselves "I would do it different and leave." But that's missing how malleable humans really are. I'm not saying that MrBeast is a cult or anything, but this is why people stay in cults, abusive relationships, etc. When you're in that highly-controlled environment, it can be really hard to imagine other options.
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Comment on We tried and failed to find performance differences in our twenty-six microwaves in ~food
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentIt also has one of those, lolIt also has one of those, lol
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Comment on We tried and failed to find performance differences in our twenty-six microwaves in ~food
Tlon_Uqbar LinkI sort of figured at this point all microwaves are made in the same factory (or handful of factories) with different branding slapped on the outside. What I will say is that a good differentiating...I sort of figured at this point all microwaves are made in the same factory (or handful of factories) with different branding slapped on the outside.
What I will say is that a good differentiating factor is a dial input. Have that on my current microwave and it's actually faster than hunting and pecking on a keypad.
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Comment on Designed to fail: Chemical release at LyondellBasell in ~misc
Tlon_Uqbar LinkI'm only being slightly facetious when I say that one of the absolute best uses of my federal tax dollars is making CSB videos. It's pretty much entirely irrelevant to my life and work, but I've...I'm only being slightly facetious when I say that one of the absolute best uses of my federal tax dollars is making CSB videos.
It's pretty much entirely irrelevant to my life and work, but I've actually learned quite a lot about industrial process safety from watching them over the years.
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Comment on PC gaming is mainstream. Now what? in ~games
Tlon_Uqbar LinkI think about it like this: in the 2000s the stereotypical image of a "gamer" would be a group of bros playing Halo/CoD on a couch. Now the stereotypical image of a "gamer" is someone playing at a...I think about it like this: in the 2000s the stereotypical image of a "gamer" would be a group of bros playing Halo/CoD on a couch. Now the stereotypical image of a "gamer" is someone playing at a desk with a headset and all RGB'd out.
I think the popularity of Twitch had a massive impact on getting PC gaming (back) into the mainstream.
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Comment on How to get into photography? in ~hobbies
Tlon_Uqbar LinkIn addition to the great answers already provided, I would reiterate this advice: get out there and shoot! Automatic, manual, whatever. Use your camera, use your phone, use whatever you have at...In addition to the great answers already provided, I would reiterate this advice: get out there and shoot! Automatic, manual, whatever. Use your camera, use your phone, use whatever you have at the moment. You won't improve technically without making (and fixing) mistakes. You won't find a style if you don't try out different things. Make photography a habit, and that practice will help you immensely regardless of what other resources you're looking at to learn.
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Comment on The bridges of New York City in ~humanities.history
Tlon_Uqbar LinkWell, he hits on the major bridges, I guess. Mostly East River crossings. What about the Space Age, boisterous Verrazano? The towering 19th C. Highbridge? The utilitarian (and often forgotten)...Well, he hits on the major bridges, I guess. Mostly East River crossings. What about the Space Age, boisterous Verrazano? The towering 19th C. Highbridge? The utilitarian (and often forgotten) Henry Hudson? The Throgs Neck? The Whitestone?
...What I'm saying is New York is a great town for bridge lovers.
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Comment on Monster Hunter Wilds | First trailer in ~games
Tlon_Uqbar LinkThe trailer seems to imply it'll be fairly story/cutscene heavy, similar to World. That has me a bit worried. Myself and my usual hunting partner (we both easily have 1000s of hours of Monhun...The trailer seems to imply it'll be fairly story/cutscene heavy, similar to World. That has me a bit worried. Myself and my usual hunting partner (we both easily have 1000s of hours of Monhun under our belts) bounced off of World pretty hard, because of how the story/cutscenes got in the way of multiplayer. We just wanted to play together from the get go, like you can with every other Monster Hunter. Rise brought back the classic lobby system, so here's hoping they bring that back again for Wilds.
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Comment on How did people correct for inaccurate time pieces in the past? in ~humanities.history
Tlon_Uqbar LinkYou could always "reset" the local clock (or church bell ringing, etc.) to noon local time when the sun was at its zenith. Seconds-level accuracy wasn't really needed until the advent of global...You could always "reset" the local clock (or church bell ringing, etc.) to noon local time when the sun was at its zenith. Seconds-level accuracy wasn't really needed until the advent of global navigation and the need for calculating longitude (this need is actually what drove the development of seconds-accurate timekeeping). Before wage labor and significant inter-city travel, did it really matter if the church bells were 5 minutes "off?" The church bells were the local timekeeping, no need to sync with anyone else.
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Comment on What is your "can't miss" movie that you will not pass up if showing in theaters? in ~movies
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentSame here. My film studies minor has done nothing to help my professional life and is overall pretty irrelevant. But I loved being 'forced' to watch movies that I otherwise would have never known...Same here. My film studies minor has done nothing to help my professional life and is overall pretty irrelevant. But I loved being 'forced' to watch movies that I otherwise would have never known about, let alone seek out on my own. Mostly I miss the access I had to a huge DVD library. Spent a ton of college just checking out dope movies for free (I guess besides tuition, lol).
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Comment on What is your "can't miss" movie that you will not pass up if showing in theaters? in ~movies
Tlon_Uqbar LinkThis thread made me realize that I missed seeing a 35mm screening of Brazil last month :( I love old movies (and new ones too), and love getting the opportunity to see them the way that they were...This thread made me realize that I missed seeing a 35mm screening of Brazil last month :(
I love old movies (and new ones too), and love getting the opportunity to see them the way that they were meant to be seen. Besides a couple already mentioned here (2001 and Apocalypse Now in 70mm), some screening I've gone to that stand out to me are:
- The Battle of Algiers with a 4K restoration. Such an engrossing movie. Seeing it in a theater is amazing.
- Stalker with a 2K restoration from original negatives. Not a ton of opportunities to watch Tarkovsky in theaters, but his work hugely benefits from it.
- My Neighbor Totoro in 35mm. Super nostalgic.
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Comment on What happens when prosecutors offer contradictory versions of the truth? in ~misc
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentThis 100%. And even more disturbing to me is the fact that a relatively small number of prosecutors disproportionately apply the death penalty to cases. From the report:This 100%. And even more disturbing to me is the fact that a relatively small number of prosecutors disproportionately apply the death penalty to cases. From the report:
the application of the death penalty is—and always has been—less about the circumstances of the the offense or the characteristics of the person who committed the crime, and more a function of the personality and predilections of the local prosecutors entrusted with the power to seek the ultimate punishment.
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Comment on Timasomo 2023: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentThe printed zines have arrived! Honestly, they turned out way better than I thought they would. The printing quality is great (glad I sprung for the higher-grade paper, too). I was worried that...The printed zines have arrived! Honestly, they turned out way better than I thought they would. The printing quality is great (glad I sprung for the higher-grade paper, too). I was worried that some detail would be lost in the printing process, but aside from a few very minor imperfections (mostly washed out skies) everything came out just about as good as one can expect, imo. I'm super excited!! Here are some pictures of a few spreads:
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Comment on Subversive, queer and terrifyingly relevant: six reasons why Moby-Dick is the novel for our times (2019) in ~books
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentIt lives up to its reputation, for sure. What I love about it is that it's just so damn weird. Way, way ahead of it's time in regards to style.It lives up to its reputation, for sure. What I love about it is that it's just so damn weird. Way, way ahead of it's time in regards to style.
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Comment on Why are American carrots so skinny? in ~food
Tlon_Uqbar LinkMy supermarket has both, actually: bunches of the skinny carrots (with greens) and loose, trimmed fat carrots. Maybe shop around a bit?My supermarket has both, actually: bunches of the skinny carrots (with greens) and loose, trimmed fat carrots. Maybe shop around a bit?
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Comment on Timasomo 2023: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentThank you so much! And thank you for putting this on! I had a great time, and it definitely helped me get out of a bit of a rut with my photography. It's awesome seeing and trying out everyone's...Thank you so much! And thank you for putting this on! I had a great time, and it definitely helped me get out of a bit of a rut with my photography. It's awesome seeing and trying out everyone's projects. Looking forward to next year.
You hit on exactly why I love B&W photography. IMO, color can be a bit of a crutch, or at the very least can overwhelm the other elements of a photograph. B&W forces you to stick to the fundamentals: composition and light.
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Comment on Timasomo 2023: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
Tlon_Uqbar Link ParentThank you! I really appreciate the kind words. I never had any premeditated plans to start visiting cemeteries. But after visiting a few on my travels and finding them quite beautiful and...Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
I never had any premeditated plans to start visiting cemeteries. But after visiting a few on my travels and finding them quite beautiful and interesting places, I started seeking them out more, usually if there's some history with them. They are usually quite pleasant places, actually.
(Didn't know where the Borges was coming from, but then remembered my username, haha.)
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Comment on Timasomo 2023: The Showcase in ~creative.timasomo
Tlon_Uqbar (edited )LinkPhoto Zine: Overworld Underworld EDIT: The printed zines have arrived! Check out my comment below if you want to see some pictures of the results. Overworld Underworld is a zine I made compiled...- Exemplary
Photo Zine: Overworld Underworld
EDIT: The printed zines have arrived! Check out my comment below if you want to see some pictures of the results.
Overworld Underworld is a zine I made compiled from black and white photographs I made in the past several years. The above link is to the digital version, but a print version is with the printer now. It's going to be in newsprint, which I thought was a good medium for B&W, and I sort of like the ephemeral nature of it. I'll update here when the print copies arrive, which I'm really excited for.
The theme "overworld underworld" arose naturally from reviewing my photographs. It wasn't the only theme that I came up with, but the collection that makes up the zine ended up being the perfect size for a one-month project. The photos contrast what lives above and what lives below (visually and metaphorically). I could ramble on about the thought process for each choice, but I think the photos do speak for themselves in regards to the theme. Primarily they are tied together aesthetically, without any extensive context or statement. In short, these are photos that I like and say similar things, and altogether constitute a very small body of work that I want to share!
I'm pretty happy with how the whole process went. My original, ulterior goal was to have an excuse to (finally) review all my photographs and get started on putting together a proper portfolio. I completed that goal, though still have a lot to cut down. The zine wasn't the first time that I did the sequencing and layout for a photo book/zine. But before I did it was with a class, so it was my first time on my own. The biggest challenge was actually the tool that I used: Photoshop. InDesign (or similar) would have been much better suited to the job, but I wasn't willing to give Adobe more of my money just for this one project. Everything went pretty smoothly and gave me a lot of confidence to tackle similar, bigger projects with my work. I even worked up the courage to submit some of my photos to an open call for a group book. Don't know where that will go, but I hope to do more in the future.
I think that's enough from me. Feedback is welcome. I'm sharing the zine with a CC license. Feel free to use any photo for non-commercial purposes with credit. Now I'm going to take a look at what everyone else accomplished. This was fun!
Would that be the appropriate response? All for what? Some reckless driving citations. Car chases are dangerous with a lot of potential for collateral damage. Probably not the best idea either.
The police trying nothing and then throwing up their hands saying they don't know what to do sounds very typical to me. But these infrastructure-based responses make a lot of sense to me. Deter people from doing it in the first place so that the police don't need to get involved at all.