vord's recent activity
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
vord Link ParentRIP Frank Muller. I wish he could have seen it through. I do think, to paraphrase King in his intro to the unabridged The Stand, that audiobooks and video adaptations somewhat limit the...RIP Frank Muller. I wish he could have seen it through.
I do think, to paraphrase King in his intro to the unabridged The Stand, that audiobooks and video adaptations somewhat limit the imagination of the reader. Anybody who watched Wizard of Oz before reading the books will attach Judy Garland to Dorothy. And it certainly has its ups and downs.
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
vord Link ParentSalem's Lot is what pigeonholed him as a horror writer in the public's eye, but even in his non-horror works his ability to describe things in such a visceral way can still make me squirm.Salem's Lot is what pigeonholed him as a horror writer in the public's eye, but even in his non-horror works his ability to describe things in such a visceral way can still make me squirm.
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
vord Link ParentKing has many strengths, but sex scenes is not one of them. My spouse observed that, at least in fanfic, the writers who are best at worldbuilding are the worst at smut, and vice versa. The Tower...King has many strengths, but sex scenes is not one of them.
My spouse observed that, at least in fanfic, the writers who are best at worldbuilding are the worst at smut, and vice versa.
The Tower is a treasty on storytelling, and while it definitely felt a hard turn, I can't say it was completely out of place given his sudden motivation to not leave an unfinoshed life's work.
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
vord Link ParentI consider the foundation it lays to be too critical to be skipped as some suggest. Four events in particular, as well as firmly establishing the lens through which we should consider the...I consider the foundation it lays to be too critical to be skipped as some suggest. Four events in particular, as well as firmly establishing the lens through which we should consider the gunslinger's actions throughout.
Generally, I tell people that unlike most books/series where I think 5 chapters is enough to judge, you have to get through part 1 of book two before you pass judgement on whether to cry off the quest. Besides, it has the greatest opening line I've ever read.
The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.
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Comment on Reading my first Stephen King novel - What are your favorites? in ~books
vord Link ParentBook 1 of Dark Tower is definitely more of a prelude to Book 2 than anything else.Book 1 of Dark Tower is definitely more of a prelude to Book 2 than anything else.
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
vord (edited )LinkI find this is less true if you presume one simple thing: The author is a genius, and you are merely trying to comprehend it. When taken through that best-intentions lens, things hold up better. I...Much like magic tricks, I firmly believe that, when dissected, fiction tends to die.
I find this is less true if you presume one simple thing: The author is a genius, and you are merely trying to comprehend it. When taken through that best-intentions lens, things hold up better.
I do think the best fiction does hold up to detailed analysis. If a high school class can't dissect a work by discussing themes, topics, symbolism, and ponder the intentions behind the author's work....it's probably not that coherent.
These things don't have to be intentional by the author. The symbolism will often be applied through the lens of the reader.
Part of the reason I love Animal Farm so much is that an communist and a capitalist can reasonably debate about whether it is a critique of Capitalism or Communism, and they would both be right. Orson Wells was an atheist, antifascist, democratic socialist. Knowing that about tne author, we can see it was really a critique of all patriarchal societies.
@unkz mentioned Stephen King, and a similiar thing applies. Now that we can see a lot more of his personal beliefs very publicly, you can go back and read some of his older works and see the characters and themes can have a very different vibe. If King was instead an awful MAGA idiot, it would paint the picture very differently.
Heinlien's work is a lot less fun when you learn that the thick, heavyhanded militarism of Starship Troopers is not a social critique, but an advocacy. It definitely distorted how I felt about my favorite novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistresa.
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Comment on Kiosking Ubuntu computers in ~comp
vord Link ParentLike a LAN center or Internet Cafe of old, or perhaps a library? Internet Cafes were possibly one of the best cyberpunk moments we had in the late 90s.Like a LAN center or Internet Cafe of old, or perhaps a library?
Internet Cafes were possibly one of the best cyberpunk moments we had in the late 90s.
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Comment on Your phone is a fake house in ~tech
vord (edited )Link ParentI was gonna say, if their relation with their phone is similiar to mine with my computer, I find that incredibly sad. They can put up some art in their digital apartment if they don't put holes in...I was gonna say, if their relation with their phone is similiar to mine with my computer, I find that incredibly sad.
They can put up some art in their digital apartment if they don't put holes in the wall. I can take a sledgehammer to the walls of my digital home and re-arrange the layout of all my rooms.
We invented tricorders and the companies that make them are determined to shove ads in our faces to convince us to spend more instead of changing the world.
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Comment on The San Francisco Bay Area shortage of dental hygienists in ~health
vord LinkFor a simple why, look into the next tier of enshittified gig economy platforms. An Uber-style "independent contractors" platform for nursing and hygenisists: Gale "Let's them work how they want"...For a simple why, look into the next tier of enshittified gig economy platforms. An Uber-style "independent contractors" platform for nursing and hygenisists: Gale
"Let's them work how they want" is business code for "undermine nursing unions and murder any semblance of stability."
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Comment on The San Francisco Bay Area shortage of dental hygienists in ~health
vord Link ParentMy dentist in NJ is amazing. They are fully staffed, have a full care system that lets you interact completely via text, including chatting with technician/front desk for scheduling. The facility...My dentist in NJ is amazing. They are fully staffed, have a full care system that lets you interact completely via text, including chatting with technician/front desk for scheduling.
The facility has it centered around the hygenists: The workspace is entirely theirs, they don't move around during visits except to take a break while the dentist steps in. They can handle scheduling/rescheduling as part of the the appointment, making it easier for patients to have a preferred hygenist.
It's the epitome of 'empower the employee' and it seems to be working. I don't think I've seen more than 2 face changes in 4 years, in a junior role.
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
vord (edited )Link ParentTo chime in with the other posters, my own child has a speech impediment. They entered Kindergarden after the mask mandates dropped during pre-K in 2022. They had been put off almost two years...To chime in with the other posters, my own child has a speech impediment. They entered Kindergarden after the mask mandates dropped during pre-K in 2022. They had been put off almost two years though, because their case was not nearly as bad as many other peers, the system had been flooded.
Parents of young children, in isolation with mostly just those children, adapt to the voice of their child and speech development levels off.
More ancedotal evidence from teachers I've met suggests a huge backslide, not just delay, in proficiencies across the board. Like 6th graders no longer reading at 6th grade level in 8th, but at a 4th or 5th. As well as an acceleration of sociopathic behavior in teens (though social media is likely leading that particular charge).
Generative AI is not helping at the 6th grade or higher level.
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Comment on Bagels and shrinkflation in ~food
vord (edited )Link ParentIf it's any comfort, the basic ingredients are also suffering shrinkflation, if in less obvious ways. One store me sells 5lb bags of sugar for one brand at a higher price per lb than the 1lb bag...If it's any comfort, the basic ingredients are also suffering shrinkflation, if in less obvious ways.
One store me sells 5lb bags of sugar for one brand at a higher price per lb than the 1lb bag from the same brand, which is counterintuitive and works because of the deeply engrained 'buying bulk is cheaper' mentality.
It'll be a trick like 'buy 2, get 1 free' on the 1 lb with '$1 off the 5 lb', with both marked up over usual price. Unless customers are willing to sit down and do the math, it's such a slight difference most won't notice.
You might say"'oh it's just bad sale timing," until you notice that sale never materially changes prices, just wiggles the math around using different words and baseline prices. There is no bottom to the pit of evil that is marketing accounting tricks to fool customers.
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Comment on Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts in ~finance
vord Link ParentThis is an old policy of theirs. Schools do not like being in the news for data leaks. When LastPass leaks happened, they dropped them like a sack of potatoes.This is an old policy of theirs. Schools do not like being in the news for data leaks.
When LastPass leaks happened, they dropped them like a sack of potatoes.
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Comment on Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts in ~finance
vord LinkArchive I find it most interesting that the downfall of the AI bubble might be businesses losing insurance, or seeing much higher premiums, due to use of generative AI and the risk of insanely...I find it most interesting that the downfall of the AI bubble might be businesses losing insurance, or seeing much higher premiums, due to use of generative AI and the risk of insanely costly mistakes.
My former employer wouldn't sign on with any IT vendor unless they also provided a million-dollar insurance policy in the contract if their product resulted in a data leak or other security nightmare.
Such a potential risk significantly alters the TCO and thus the viability of AI products to the corporate sector.
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Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
vord Link ParentThat's bullcrap propaganda (the needing specific security features that is). If it can be secure in a browser, it can be secure as an app.That's bullcrap propaganda (the needing specific security features that is). If it can be secure in a browser, it can be secure as an app.
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
vord Link ParentI am mostly refering to the smaller companies, particularily ones offering non-Android options. I probably should have said so though. You're not getting a Pinephone activated on Verizon. Or a...I am mostly refering to the smaller companies, particularily ones offering non-Android options. I probably should have said so though.
You're not getting a Pinephone activated on Verizon. Or a Unihertz. Or a Fairphone. Or a Librem. Most also won't activate on ATT. Tmobile is thankfully more forgiving, but even they can be hit or miss.
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Comment on A new Jolla phone has reached the required pre-order crowd-funding amount in ~tech
vord Link ParentIt's because in the USA, you can't activate most phone models, regardless of compatibility, unless either Verizon or AT&T whitelists it. If you're lucky T-mobile will. And Verizon and AT&T have no...It's because in the USA, you can't activate most phone models, regardless of compatibility, unless either Verizon or AT&T whitelists it. If you're lucky T-mobile will.
And Verizon and AT&T have no incentive to whitelist any phone that isn't Google, Samsung, or Apple.
I consider Insomnia one of his best. In part because it's one of the few books out there that are almost completely unadaptable to film but works so wrll as a novel. And because even if it's not his best writing, it's one that had me pondering it on ocassion for years after.
I would be curious for him to take another go at something like that now that he's 8 year's over Ralph's age.