TrostAft's recent activity
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Comment on NVIDIA announces financial results for second quarter fiscal 2024 in ~finance
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Comment on Good open source projects to contribute to? in ~comp
TrostAft LinkI believe the traditional recommendation is this repo https://github.com/MunGell/awesome-for-beginners You can search through there for something that's more relevant to your skillset + interest...I believe the traditional recommendation is this repo
https://github.com/MunGell/awesome-for-beginners
You can search through there for something that's more relevant to your skillset + interest (which you'd need to tell us to actually give you a recommendation).
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Comment on YouTube is testing a three-strikes policy for ad blocking in ~tech
TrostAft (edited )LinkI'm uncertain, I don't think I'm necessarily against this. Youtube is good service, it serves a tremendous amount of video globally, and is one of the only larger platforms whose model sustainably...I'm uncertain, I don't think I'm necessarily against this. Youtube is good service, it serves a tremendous amount of video globally, and is one of the only larger platforms whose model sustainably (relatively speaking) promotes great journalism. However, I do think that the amount of ads that Youtube runs plus the ads that the creators themselves run inside the video has reached a point where, if I had to sit through them, I would rather not watch the video.
To that end, I do happily pay for premium, because I recognize that high quality video costs a lot of money to serve. I also think it's the right payment model for a platform like Youtube; paying per channel would crush any hope that smaller creators would have to emerge from nothing. This way, there's room for anyone, pending quality, to exist on the platform. While Youtube certainly has made large mistakes while trying to moderate and otherwise run the platform, I think that's mostly unavoidable at the scale it operates at. Moderation at large scales is an impossible problem. Which doesn't excuse the mistakes (particularily the user-hostile design changes, like the downvote removal), but none have been too egregious enough to be a deal breaker for me.
But, largely, I've been thinking to downscale my dependence on 'free' (ad-supported or otherwise) services on the internet made by for-profit companies (particularity public or aspiring to be public companies). Companies run by people who care for nothing other than profit tend to use these to crush competitors by undercutting them. And once they're gone, the service steadily gets worse and worse, until it reaches the actual sustainable steady-state, and then goes further beyond because there's no one left to compete with them. And they feel nothing for doing this, because they never really cared about what they were building in the first place. And they don't care that it won't be around once it eventually fails: they got theirs, they'll be long gone before that.
I'm precisely referring to services like Youtube. While I still think that premium is on the right side of being worth it, it doesn't escape me that the platform is precisely going through the trajectory I outlined above. I just (stupidly) hope that whenever they hit the sustainable steady-state, that Youtube will be different and not lose their way.
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Comment on Any ThinkPad enthusiasts here? in ~tech
TrostAft LinkAlthough nowadays I run on a Macbook (work-provided), from 2016-2020 through uni I daily drove an X230, with an IPS screen mod and upgraded RAM & SSD. Fantastic little machine. Although by the end...Although nowadays I run on a Macbook (work-provided), from 2016-2020 through uni I daily drove an X230, with an IPS screen mod and upgraded RAM & SSD. Fantastic little machine. Although by the end it had grown a little frustrating with the limitations on screen resolution (and I had fallen out of love with the small laptop form factor), it was more than capable for basically everything I threw at it. Plus I was able to repair it everytime it was stepped on / dropped.
I think my next laptop that I buy with my own money would be a framework. I find that to be the spiritual successor to the philosophy, though I will miss the keyboard on that thinkpad.
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Comment on What kind of stationery do you like? in ~creative
TrostAft Link ParentI will second them. While I find their 0.38mm pens a bit too scratchy for my taste, I love the feel of their notebooks. Have been driving them for a long time.Muji
I will second them. While I find their 0.38mm pens a bit too scratchy for my taste, I love the feel of their notebooks. Have been driving them for a long time.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TrostAft LinkBlasted through bloodstained: ritual of the night this week; excellent little metroidvania. Although the writing could be better and some of the animations during cutscenes were broken, overall, I...Blasted through bloodstained: ritual of the night this week; excellent little metroidvania. Although the writing could be better and some of the animations during cutscenes were broken, overall, I thought it was a really enjoyable gameplay experience. The plot and characters were decent too. Makes me want to figure out emulating some of the OG Castlevania games on the PC. Why haven't they ported those yet!!
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Comment on Why I don't like ads in ~tech
TrostAft (edited )Link ParentI don't think it's right to say that the 'smartest people' in America are all working at the big tech firms. I don't want to exhaustively list them, but one of the better examples are the 17...I don't think it's right to say that the 'smartest people' in America are all working at the big tech firms. I don't want to exhaustively list them, but one of the better examples are the 17 national labs funded by the DOE that employs all manner of scientists and engineers working on climate, energy, pure math, supercomputing, etc. The world's largest super computer is housed at Oak Ridge National Lab, and a even stronger one is currently being built at Argonne National Lab, to be done soon!
And I don't necessarily think it's right to say that the 'smartest people' among even those in the big tech firms are all working on advertising, SEO, and investment banking. Certainly there are a lot of talented people in that space, but there are world-class teams working on building stuff more directly beneficial for humanity. Anything from Intel and NVIDIA, putting out the cutting edge (Intel facing stiff competition from AMD lately, admittedly), to even Facebook. Yes, I am going to try and say something positive about even Facebook here. Facebook, despite their public facing reputation, has put out many ubiquitous open source tools and regularly contribute back to the ones they use; I'm a scientist by trade and PyTorch is an incredible effort that they put out and maintain that I use everyday!
I'm not trying to say that everything that I even listed is perfect, and only good for humanity. I think your example of the Manhattan project is pretty apt of today: There's a lot of good happening, there's a lot of bad happening. Sometimes borne out of the same building minutes apart. The pendulum is swinging stronger the wrong way today, but it does, regularly, swing back.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
TrostAft LinkSome comfort music on repeat for me. A Color Map of the Sun by Pretty Lights, the deluxe editions with additional reels. Such awesome sounds, particularly like 'Go Down Sunshine'.Some comfort music on repeat for me.
A Color Map of the Sun by Pretty Lights, the deluxe editions with additional reels. Such awesome sounds, particularly like 'Go Down Sunshine'.
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Comment on The Steam Summer Sale has begun (June 29th - July 13th) in ~games
TrostAft LinkVery happy with this steam sale; got pretty much everything I was looking for. I encourage others to use the sale to search through the catalog of indie and older AA(A) games to pick things up...Very happy with this steam sale; got pretty much everything I was looking for. I encourage others to use the sale to search through the catalog of indie and older AA(A) games to pick things up that are outside of your typical genre / preferred developers.
Last spring I picked up Yakuza 0 for $5 on a whim, not thinking that much of it because my perception of the series was of its small inane side-games. Completely blown away, I just picked up the other half of the 11 titles RGG has on PC and am continuing through them, god knows when I'll finish. Similar story, earlier in my life, finding Larian Studios, Telltale & smaller indie VN creators, etc.
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Comment on Castlevania - The power of persuasion: The changing of Isaac's worldview in ~tv
TrostAft Link ParentRegarding your spoiler: Spoilers It was definitely a polarizing choice. I actually didn't mind it / almost liked it, but what bothered me more was that they didn't have any time to go into the...Regarding your spoiler:
Spoilers
I will say that while I liked the inclusion of Death, I found his potty mouth to be a little off-putting. Not because I'm against swearing, it just seemed kind of like...beneath him?
It was definitely a polarizing choice. I actually didn't mind it / almost liked it, but what bothered me more was that they didn't have any time to go into the characterization of death. I think if there was more screen-time dedicated to death committing horrific crimes in the name of feeding off of death (or just more Varney) while juxtaposing against his crudeness (i.e. potty mouth), it could have been better. As it stands, I feels like he shows up, swears, and then dies, which makes the whole thing lack impact. But it was still OK.
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Comment on Steam Summer Sale 2023: Hidden gems in ~games
TrostAft LinkIf you think you'll enjoy visual novel style games, I really recommend both VA-11 Hall-A and Coffee Talk (both episodes). Both absolutely nail both characters and immersion into the vibe. Not...If you think you'll enjoy visual novel style games, I really recommend both VA-11 Hall-A and Coffee Talk (both episodes). Both absolutely nail both characters and immersion into the vibe. Not exactly unknown games, but in a niche (to the west) genre, so perhaps it still fits in the thread.
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Comment on Steam Summer Sale 2023: Hidden gems in ~games
TrostAft Link ParentPerhaps I ought to follow this lesson, my backlog is tremendous. But... I'll start next time. PS: Crosscode was fantastic! I'm looking forward to project terra, their next game.Perhaps I ought to follow this lesson, my backlog is tremendous. But... I'll start next time.
PS: Crosscode was fantastic! I'm looking forward to project terra, their next game.
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Comment on Castlevania - The power of persuasion: The changing of Isaac's worldview in ~tv
TrostAft LinkIsaac's arc is one of the strongest reasons to watch Castlevania. Although I generally liked the whole show, the shift in Isaac's perspective towards humanity, himself, and what he can/will do...Isaac's arc is one of the strongest reasons to watch Castlevania. Although I generally liked the whole show, the shift in Isaac's perspective towards humanity, himself, and what he can/will do about it was well done.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~talk
TrostAft LinkThis is speaking as someone who owns an electric skateboard and uses it to commute. They need to be regulated. I live on a college campus, one where companies have come and installed their own...This is speaking as someone who owns an electric skateboard and uses it to commute.
They need to be regulated. I live on a college campus, one where companies have come and installed their own electric scooters to use for a fee. And I think it's a nearly universal experience for anyone who has been on the campus to see someone using it in an borderline suicidal manner. Going 10-15mph faster than the pedestrians on the trails, completely ignoring road laws, and leaving them everywhere (middle of sidewalks and middle of roads).
While the latter is probably a phenomena exclusive to rental vehicle companies, the former two are a product of the fact that there are absolutely no rules for these things and that they can get really fast. My board can get up to 30mph, but I know that it would be courting death to operate it at that speed without a full pad set, and would be totally reckless on any kind of well-traveled road. But people renting them don't know, and people who own them typically learn after making a mistake, to the detriment of their own or others. Without any training, I think that the speeds that personal electric vehicles are allowed to hit should be capped at a level where mistakes aren't truly fatal; particularly, I think that electric vehicles need to be regulated to be able to operated at a maximum of class 2 designation without a license, more with a license. Maybe even more so.
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Comment on What have your experiences been with losing interest in video games as you get older? in ~games
TrostAft Link ParentYes, I've been a yakuza evangelist since I played zero. It's such an incredible depiction of strong willed and emotive characters being tossed into the fire and stirred about.Yakuza
Yes, I've been a yakuza evangelist since I played zero. It's such an incredible depiction of strong willed and emotive characters being tossed into the fire and stirred about.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TrostAft Link ParentYou definitely have to play 0, especially if you are interested in Majima. It's so well written and executed, It's been a long time since a game story got me to worry about characters like 0 did.You definitely have to play 0, especially if you are interested in Majima. It's so well written and executed, It's been a long time since a game story got me to worry about characters like 0 did.
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Comment on Steam Next Fest - Demos and livestreams for upcoming games, running June 19-26 in ~games
TrostAft LinkAnyone play the Jusant demo? There was some stutter (didn't check if it was shader comp), but assuming they manage to get that sorted out, I was actually rather taken with it. The climbing...Anyone play the Jusant demo? There was some stutter (didn't check if it was shader comp), but assuming they manage to get that sorted out, I was actually rather taken with it. The climbing mechanics, while initially awkward, quickly became natural. Assuming the climbing tasks become more interesting at some point in the full game, I'm really interested!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TrostAft LinkI just finished Yakuza Kiwami, and am planning on moving onto Kiwami 2 after I take a short break. For all the rough edges of RGG games, I'm always impressed on how well they manage to portray the...I just finished Yakuza Kiwami, and am planning on moving onto Kiwami 2 after I take a short break. For all the rough edges of RGG games, I'm always impressed on how well they manage to portray the wide range of human emotions in their stories and characters, particularly passion in both its negative and positive form.
Anyone who hasn't played at least Yakuza 0, I highly recommend trying it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TrostAft Link ParentSomehow I already have 25+ hours in that game, just playing the available part by myself and with different friend groups. For the exact reason you mentioned, I've been rationing myself off of...Baldur's Gate 3 is so good, but I'm trying to keep the discipline to wait until the full release so I can play a single character start to finish.
Somehow I already have 25+ hours in that game, just playing the available part by myself and with different friend groups. For the exact reason you mentioned, I've been rationing myself off of this game until it comes out fully. I'm so excited for it, Larian is one of my favorite studios.
CUDA being feature complete and having libraries & frameworks optimized and immediately deploy-able for it is all the difference. I don't like much of their business practices for their gaming GPU division, but their engineering and HPC teams are world class and have been awesome to work with / use as an someone who writes scientific computing code on the GPU.