Tukajo's recent activity
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Comment on Some people can't see mental images. The consequences are profound. in ~health.mental
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Comment on Some people can't see mental images. The consequences are profound. in ~health.mental
Tukajo Link ParentI am a software engineer and mathematician and am aphantasic. I know this may sound pompous, but genuinely, is there any questions you'd like to ask? I'm happy to explain my thought process on how...I am a software engineer and mathematician and am aphantasic.
I know this may sound pompous, but genuinely, is there any questions you'd like to ask? I'm happy to explain my thought process on how I tackle complex problems and build things without visualization.
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Comment on Some people can't see mental images. The consequences are profound. in ~health.mental
Tukajo LinkI am also one of these folks. My wife and I are self described "aphantasia"-havers (aphantasic)? There are things that blew my mind when I realized people could literally conjure up images in...I am also one of these folks. My wife and I are self described "aphantasia"-havers (aphantasic)?
There are things that blew my mind when I realized people could literally conjure up images in their mind.
For me, a lot of it is just a "knowledge" of something. I don't literally "see" a mental image of a thing. I understand the concept of a tree, the rough scale, the color and texture, but I don't see it.
My wife and I are both software engineers, and I come from a background in mathematics. I think I view "objects" in my mind sort of the way I would a data model. I know the property, the shape, and the structural interactions of an object. As you would a data class defined in some programming language, but I cannot conjure an image.
This extends to my dreams. I don't really "see" things, but I can remember scenery and settings. It's very hard to explain.
One thing that is of note, I believe. Before this whole "aphantasia" popularity in recent years, there was no word for any of this. I remember trying out things like Sensory Deprivation tanks (which most people hallucinate in), and all I could see were the "pressure waves" caused by the blood flow in my eyes. No imagery whatsoever. My close friends, however, described seeing fantastic images.
Initially when I discovered that this was "not" the normal experience I was honestly pretty bummed about it. I remember feeling like I was missing out on something integral to the human experience. It's been years since, and more thoughts on the matter have lead me to the conclusion that my inability here has helped shaped me in ways I really have come to be proud of. It has helped me be talented (I think) in areas of logical thinking, mathematics, and abstract concepts.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
Tukajo LinkI've been doing Apple's Pluribus with the wife. I went into it purposely blind. I've been relatively pleased with Apple lately, it feels (for the most part) they are taking up the mantle of...I've been doing Apple's Pluribus with the wife.
I went into it purposely blind. I've been relatively pleased with Apple lately, it feels (for the most part) they are taking up the mantle of quality that HBO has seemingly given up.
We really have enjoyed Severance, and I have enjoyed Vince Gilligan's other work.
Without any spoilers, the direction the show has taken right out of the gate is super interesting so far. I was not expecting it, my mind immediately assumed certain tropes and I've been repeatedly proven wrong, which is nice.
spoiler
When the "survivors" are assembled, I was expecting more people to be on Carol's side. I plan to watch episode 3 soon, but I was not expecting all of the "survivors" to be so ok with this.
Also the implication that the hive mind cannot hurt anything could prove to be an interesting point of contention.
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Comment on Amtrak steadily continues upgrading Wisconsin stations for level boarding - improving access and travel time in ~transport
Tukajo Link ParentYes for sure, I don't want to come off as if train rides aren't enjoyable. If I didn't have a 3 year old, I would ride the train just about anywhere! However, since I must include him for obvious...Yes for sure, I don't want to come off as if train rides aren't enjoyable. If I didn't have a 3 year old, I would ride the train just about anywhere!
However, since I must include him for obvious reasons, we typically try to do roomettes. To give ourselves and the other passengers some peace and quiet.
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Comment on Amtrak steadily continues upgrading Wisconsin stations for level boarding - improving access and travel time in ~transport
Tukajo Link ParentI take the rail from St. Paul to Milwaukee occasionally, and I have noticed that they do stop "outside" Madison relatively closely for a few areas. I saw a lot of Amish stopping at small stations...I take the rail from St. Paul to Milwaukee occasionally, and I have noticed that they do stop "outside" Madison relatively closely for a few areas. I saw a lot of Amish stopping at small stations in Portage and Columbus, Wisconsin.
Columbus is fairly close to Madison that you could take a bus down I'm sure.
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Comment on Amtrak steadily continues upgrading Wisconsin stations for level boarding - improving access and travel time in ~transport
Tukajo Link ParentI'll consider the membership, that's a good find. I'll be honest, the affordability I mentioned is only an issue insofar as roomettes. I would love to visit my family friends in Virginia (just...I'll consider the membership, that's a good find.
I'll be honest, the affordability I mentioned is only an issue insofar as roomettes. I would love to visit my family friends in Virginia (just outside D.C.) or Pennsylvania, however roomettes are expensive and I genuinely prefer them.
I can tolerate a coach seat on my way to Milwaukee as it's only a ~6 hour train ride, which is equivalent to a drive (4.5 hours by car nonstop). This seems like a fair trade given the costs is roughly equivalent in terms of money, but the benefit of not driving or having to focus on stops for the kiddo, is nice.
However, for long haul trips our family only exclusively flies. I just checked for a trip out in March, from St. Paul to Virginia would be $2,000 for a roomette. This begins to feel like a raw deal to me, and I can't pinpoint why. Perhaps it's because flying takes only 6 hours considering TSA and airport lines whereas this trip would take about 31-33 hours.
Don't get me wrong here. I WANT to travel by train. I despise airplanes and their damage to the environment, as well as I enjoy looking out a train window much more.
My problem is, I don't know how trains can better balance these three considerations: time to destination, money, and convenience.
When I visit my family in Germany, their train systems are such a no-brainer first choice. Over here stateside it feels like trains are a novelty I can only enjoy as an excuse for my son (as he loves all things trains). I wish I didn't have to feel this way.
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Comment on Amtrak steadily continues upgrading Wisconsin stations for level boarding - improving access and travel time in ~transport
Tukajo LinkI had the joy of taking my first Amtrak train through to Milwaukee from St. Paul with my young son last year. I hail from Wisconsin. The excuse to not drive is great, I wish they would add more...I had the joy of taking my first Amtrak train through to Milwaukee from St. Paul with my young son last year.
I hail from Wisconsin. The excuse to not drive is great, I wish they would add more service to Green Bay or Appleton for Wisconsin.
The cost was rather high, but I'm not sure if that is normal or just because of the holidays. I want to try again soon.
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Comment on Best recommendations for PC couch multiplayer games? in ~games
Tukajo LinkSunderfolk (from Mike Morhaime, ex CEO of Blizzard during their pinnacle) has been pretty enjoyable. It lets one person host (on a tv!) and the other players control their character via their...Sunderfolk (from Mike Morhaime, ex CEO of Blizzard during their pinnacle) has been pretty enjoyable.
It lets one person host (on a tv!) and the other players control their character via their phone. Sort of like a Jackbox game.
However, it's a DND style game. Pretty fun.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 10 in ~society
Tukajo Link ParentYou don't trust? They're TOTALLY going to have a vote with a useful outcome, and it's TOTALLY going to help people about to pay $3,000/month (not hyperbole) on their insurance that used to cost...You don't trust? They're TOTALLY going to have a vote with a useful outcome, and it's TOTALLY going to help people about to pay $3,000/month (not hyperbole) on their insurance that used to cost them ~$400/month.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 10 in ~society
Tukajo (edited )Link ParentRepublicans: You will suffer, and we will not reign in Trump illegally withholding SNAP benefits no matter what! Because a check on the Executive is unfathomable. Democrats: Everything we fought...Republicans: You will suffer, and we will not reign in Trump illegally withholding SNAP benefits no matter what! Because a check on the Executive is unfathomable.
Democrats: Everything we fought for was actually just made up, and we have capitulated. We could have capitulated earlier, like we were going to anyway, but we wanted to add confusion by feigning a resistance when there was no intent to stick it through anyway. Thus somehow making the entire situation worse than if we had just done nothing.
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Comment on Things to do when you've lost your job in ~talk
Tukajo LinkPlease reach out to me directly. I am not a hiring manager but I am a developer (in several stacks, including Android). I can provide resume feedback and float your information around my circle.Please reach out to me directly. I am not a hiring manager but I am a developer (in several stacks, including Android). I can provide resume feedback and float your information around my circle.
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Comment on Rising cognitive disability as a public health concern among US adults, trends from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2013–2023 in ~health.mental
Tukajo Link ParentThis was where my mind went to first. It seems that they "took note" of it but do they actually draw any conclusions on whether or not the destigmatization of mental health among young folks is...This was where my mind went to first.
It seems that they "took note" of it but do they actually draw any conclusions on whether or not the destigmatization of mental health among young folks is enough to "bridge the gap" here?
The section copied seems to stop just short of filling out that conclusion, unless I am misreading something.
Furthermore, I find it interesting they excluded the 2020 data due to the pandemic, but were willing to keep the 2021, 2022, and 2023 data. While 2020 was indeed the "start of it all" I think it's strange to exclude only that year. Health effects of the pandemic are still evolving to this day (such as repercussions from lost loved ones, other lingering affects, and social isolation). It seems like an important factor to consider in this data set in it's entirety, or not at all.
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Comment on Advice on poor Linux performance vs Windows in ~tech
Tukajo Link ParentRegardless, if you do figure it out let us know! It's good to knowledge share!Regardless, if you do figure it out let us know! It's good to knowledge share!
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Comment on Advice on poor Linux performance vs Windows in ~tech
Tukajo LinkLike others have said, are you sure you are not reading MBps instead of Mbps or vice versa? Side note. I recently switched to Linux Mint entirely from windows, and I have gotten used to things as...Like others have said, are you sure you are not reading MBps instead of Mbps or vice versa?
Side note. I recently switched to Linux Mint entirely from windows, and I have gotten used to things as well. I actually copy large files from various drive types and across different networking limitations/locally as well.
All of this is to say, I'm happy to hop on a call with you or something and debug any bottlenecks or dispel any misunderstandings. Feel free to privately DM me.
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Comment on Tilderinos in ~talk
Tukajo Link ParentI've been intentionally creating "excuses" to get the gang together as well. Movie night over discord? I'm passing through your city, let's get lunch? Etc etc. I've found that being more proactive...I've been intentionally creating "excuses" to get the gang together as well. Movie night over discord? I'm passing through your city, let's get lunch? Etc etc.
I've found that being more proactive about building community has helped tremendously for my mental health.
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Comment on Telehack: ARPANET multi-user simulation; 26,600+ simulated hosts of the early net in ~comp
Tukajo LinkWow this is incredibly cool. I've worked in unix systems before but have never toyed with Usenet or the likes. Definitely going to have to book mark this and experience some of this. Thanks OP.Wow this is incredibly cool. I've worked in unix systems before but have never toyed with Usenet or the likes.
Definitely going to have to book mark this and experience some of this. Thanks OP.
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Comment on Tilderinos in ~talk
Tukajo LinkI'm in my early 30s but I grew up with 5 older siblings so I had a lot of introduction to the Internet in the 90s. Tildes feels like a weird (in a good way) space to me in that it seems like one...I'm in my early 30s but I grew up with 5 older siblings so I had a lot of introduction to the Internet in the 90s.
Tildes feels like a weird (in a good way) space to me in that it seems like one of the last places I can find genuine interaction that feels sincere and isn't needlessly polarized or monetized.
I've gotten similar function out of local astronomy group forums or the likes, but it's just not the same as the group is singularly focused on the topic of astronomy (obviously) and (no offense to those guys) the hobby is comprised of like 95% men over the age of 60. I can't really relate all that much.
There's a concept of "Men's Shed" I've heard about, where other countries will build a space for men to just gather, and be. Tildes feels like what I would imagine that concept would be like, but just more inclusive.
I really appreciate you folks.
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Comment on What makes a game, a game? in ~games
Tukajo (edited )LinkThis is something that has intrigued me a lot. This may be a little bit of a stretch, but this sort reminds me a lot about how difficult it is for people to peg down "types" in programming. E.g.,...This is something that has intrigued me a lot.
This may be a little bit of a stretch, but this sort reminds me a lot about how difficult it is for people to peg down "types" in programming. E.g., how do we define the shape, properties and structure of an abstract "thing"?I would say, in loose terms, I view a "game" as: something that one or more participants, willfully place themselves into an "activity" where they expect some level (or at least the probability) of satisfaction.
This could be satisfaction of the leisure of an activity, the excellence of striving for your best, the joy from "solving" something. It could also be some actual "typical" reward like the cash from gambling. I think it closely relates to some form of deriving pleasure from the activity, or at least the expectation of it.
For instance, I have a degree in mathematics and computer science, and I derive "pleasure" from seeing excellent proofs, or challenging problems. However I did not list "taking a math test" as being a game, because I don't think I would associate the rigor, stress, and connotations of an academic test to be "positive". At least not within The United States.
I don't think that's for everyone, but I would expect most people view math tests in a "I hope I do well, or I will flunk out of this class", rather than a "I hope I do well or I won't have fun!".
This all reminds me a lot of Aristotle's "Eudaimonia".
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Comment on Idle complaints of indebtedness and isolation in ~talk
Tukajo Link ParentIt's windows 10 deprecation e-waste season! (Or trying to repurpose those devices into Linux machines!) To be more empathetic in my tone, however. The world is a dark place right now for a lot of...It's windows 10 deprecation e-waste season!
(Or trying to repurpose those devices into Linux machines!)To be more empathetic in my tone, however.
The world is a dark place right now for a lot of people, including OP. I hope folks on Tildes can band together to help build at least a small island of compassion and camaraderie.
When designing a system (my day job as a Software Engineer), I first "talk" through the problem in my head. Like literally perform an inner monologue describing to myself at a high level what I would like to accomplish.
This sort of is uncannily like a the "thought process" you might see when you show the thinking on a large language model like o1. I will converse with myself and find myself saying in my own head "wait, if this system has this delay, then it can cause a bottleneck here".
Once that process has "wrapped up", I put things to diagram or tickets if they warrant it. So if something is going to be sufficiently difficult for me to convey to someone else via description, I will diagram the architecture (mermaid diagrams, excalidraw, good ol' pen and paper, etc).
I have used CAD tools, but I do not do them for my professional work. Only for personal 3D-Printing in the one-off. I am incapable of "imagining" addendums to objects in 3D models, even if I am literally looking right at them. I typically just have to try things until it "looks right".