Well_known_bear's recent activity
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Comment on What books helped you deal with the anxiety of life's uncertainties? in ~books
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Comment on How do you store ”loose” tech hardware? in ~tech
Well_known_bear LinkI pack related items (cables of the same kind, for example) in the same ziplock bag. All ziplock bags then go into a plastic storage crate. It's a good compromise between effort / space required...I pack related items (cables of the same kind, for example) in the same ziplock bag. All ziplock bags then go into a plastic storage crate. It's a good compromise between effort / space required in organising and effort required to find stuff I need later.
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Comment on When do you listen to podcasts? in ~life
Well_known_bear LinkI listen mainly on the commute and when exercising, doing chores or out for a walk. Basically any time I can sort of zone out and listen with half an ear when the topic engages me. This generally...I listen mainly on the commute and when exercising, doing chores or out for a walk. Basically any time I can sort of zone out and listen with half an ear when the topic engages me. This generally makes up about 8-10 hours a week.
Some of my favourites:
- This American Life (stories on a different theme each week)
- Planet Money (accessible economics news; has a 10 minute 'indicator' version which is published more frequently)
- Hard Fork (tech news; lots of jokes but also interviews with journalists and tech leaders)
- Search Engine (weekly story on a topic of interest to the host)
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Comment on What a bunch of A-list celebs taught me about how to use my phone in ~tech
Well_known_bear Link ParentPossibly this recent story? I found it a surprising result and indicative of how subtle the effects of pushed notifications can be.Possibly this recent story? I found it a surprising result and indicative of how subtle the effects of pushed notifications can be.
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Comment on Nintendo is telling game publishers Switch 2 will be delayed [until early 2025] in ~games
Well_known_bear Link ParentPerhaps it's a combination of: games that push current hardware to its limitations becoming increasingly more complicated and expensive to make; conversely, indie development (which doesn't...Perhaps it's a combination of:
- games that push current hardware to its limitations becoming increasingly more complicated and expensive to make;
- conversely, indie development (which doesn't require cutting edge hardware) becoming increasingly sustainable and accessible; and
- diminishing returns on what improvements to pure processing power can bring to gameplay experience.
I always look forward to new Nintendo consoles given their track record of delivering weird and novel ways of playing games (even if they're not always successful), but I'm perfectly happy now with longer gaps between 'same thing but faster' hardware generations.
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Comment on Google Bard is now Gemini; Gemini Advanced launched in ~tech
Well_known_bear LinkThe basic version of Gemini was rolled out today to my ancient pixel 3a (which is otherwise long beyond the point of getting even security updates). The results seem serviceable so far, but...The basic version of Gemini was rolled out today to my ancient pixel 3a (which is otherwise long beyond the point of getting even security updates). The results seem serviceable so far, but sometimes have odd glitches like returning part of the results in another language. I'll be trying it further in cases where I would like a starting point, but I definitely don't feel like I could rely on any results without doing my own verification.
That aside, the fact that Google is able to roll the AI out across its enormous product range and user base (much like MS has now done with copilot in windows 11) will no doubt give it a big leg up in getting people to adopt it at least for casual usage.
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Comment on The day I put $50,000 in a shoe box and handed it to a stranger in ~finance
Well_known_bear LinkThis (and the recent Cory Doctorow article) really stresses to me the importance of just taking a moment to hang up and call the institution directly from your side if any kind of stranger...This (and the recent Cory Doctorow article) really stresses to me the importance of just taking a moment to hang up and call the institution directly from your side if any kind of stranger contacts you on the phone at all. In our modern life, I am finding that more and more, the only people who call me directly are not the service providers I deal with, but scammers and spammers.
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Comment on Most bingeable book series? in ~books
Well_known_bear Link ParentI too felt that the first book required a genuine mental effort to get through (and this was going in after having read all the other Cosmere books first). The setting and social dynamics of the...I too felt that the first book required a genuine mental effort to get through (and this was going in after having read all the other Cosmere books first). The setting and social dynamics of the series initially feel very alien and the reader is constantly being confronted with new characters and information, the significance of which is not always immediately clear.
However, once I got through the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the following ones which then really dig into (and in many cases tear away at) the foundations laid in the first. The initial investment is well rewarded in my view!
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Comment on Fooocus - The most user-friendly local image-gen interface to date in ~comp
Well_known_bear Link ParentThe default install will give you a couple of models to start out with, and there are plenty of others you can download and try out. Citivai is a good starting point.The default install will give you a couple of models to start out with, and there are plenty of others you can download and try out. Citivai is a good starting point.
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Comment on Fooocus - The most user-friendly local image-gen interface to date in ~comp
Well_known_bear LinkGave it a shot and loved the idiot proof easy install process (although A1111 now also has a similar automated process) and simple user interface. This is a great option for anyone who wants to...Gave it a shot and loved the idiot proof easy install process (although A1111 now also has a similar automated process) and simple user interface.
This is a great option for anyone who wants to just jump in and generate some images, but only being able to use SDXL models as your main model is a real bummer. A lot of the models floating around right now are SD 1.5 and that's likely to remain the case in the short term.
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Comment on Spotify cancels industry-favorite podcasts Heavyweight and Stolen in ~tech
Well_known_bear LinkThis is a shame. Spotify seems to have struggled a bit with the show in the past (taking it off regular podcast feeds to Spotify only for a while, only to then bring it back), but it clearly had...This is a shame. Spotify seems to have struggled a bit with the show in the past (taking it off regular podcast feeds to Spotify only for a while, only to then bring it back), but it clearly had an audience.
I loved Jonathan's work on Wiretap and TAL (and Heavyweight too, although I liked the ill fated Mystery Show better) and look forward to seeing whatever he does next.
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Comment on Morning routines and getting ready for the day in ~life
Well_known_bear LinkI am absolutely not a morning person (I can stay up late indefinitely but I can't get up after I sleep), so everything from keys to phone to wallet is set out on the desk the night before. On...I am absolutely not a morning person (I can stay up late indefinitely but I can't get up after I sleep), so everything from keys to phone to wallet is set out on the desk the night before.
On weekdays, I can then just get up, brush my teeth, get dressed, pick up everything off the table and leave for work on complete autopilot.
On weekends, there is no morning routine as I'm asleep until midday.
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Comment on Boston Dynamics shows off LLM equipped robot in ~tech
Well_known_bear Link ParentThe video really made me think of VASCO from Starfield. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes even in the next 5 years!The video really made me think of VASCO from Starfield. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes even in the next 5 years!
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Comment on Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the most inventive 2D Mario in decades in ~games
Well_known_bear LinkThe reviews are very positive, but I am curious how people feel about the 10 hour (main story) - 20 hour (full completion) playtime. For comparison: Mario Odyssey: 10-60 hours New Super Mario Bros...The reviews are very positive, but I am curious how people feel about the 10 hour (main story) - 20 hour (full completion) playtime.
For comparison:
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Mario Odyssey: 10-60 hours
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New Super Mario Bros U: 10-25 hours
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~books
Well_known_bear Link ParentBook 4 has no firm release date, but Lynch commented in 2022 that he sent new work on the series to his agent and editors. Personally, I'm content to wait for all three of these authors to release...Book 4 has no firm release date, but Lynch commented in 2022 that he sent new work on the series to his agent and editors.
Personally, I'm content to wait for all three of these authors to release their next book at their own pace. If it never happens, that's fine too. I still had fun reading what was already released, and there's certainly no shortage of other great books to read instead!
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Comment on I just had a weird experience, one possible interpretation of which is that my iphone just read my mind in ~talk
Well_known_bear LinkReminds me a little of this podcast episode. A man has a similar experience of something happening in real life being reflected in an ad which Facebook showed shortly afterwards. He suspects that...Reminds me a little of this podcast episode.
A man has a similar experience of something happening in real life being reflected in an ad which Facebook showed shortly afterwards. He suspects that the phone was listening in on their conversation to gather data. The hosts look into whether this is possible / actually happening.
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Comment on MS Paint adds support for layers and PNG transparency in ~tech
Well_known_bear LinkI'm not expecting anyone to use this for illustration (no doubt some will as a challenge!), but this will be really nice to have if you're just trying to bash together an image meme/joke or...I'm not expecting anyone to use this for illustration (no doubt some will as a challenge!), but this will be really nice to have if you're just trying to bash together an image meme/joke or explanatory diagram. Paint is so lightweight that I always prefer working in it when it's a feasible option for what I'm trying to do.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Well_known_bear LinkI went back and completed Undertale. I originally gave it a go around the original release date, but I'm terrible at shoot-em-ups and found that the combat was not for me. However, seeing a random...I went back and completed Undertale.
I originally gave it a go around the original release date, but I'm terrible at shoot-em-ups and found that the combat was not for me. However, seeing a random update about Deltarune reminded me that I had this game and I decided to go back to it.
I'm still awful at dodging bullet patterns, but this time I tried to avoid fighting as much as possible and had a much better time just treating each compulsory fight as a little puzzle and running away from everything else. The game does kind of nudge the player in this direction (I just didn't pick up on it after years and years of conditioning from other RPGs!) and it's also pretty generous with healing items, so I had no problem muddling through despite constantly getting hit.
The story is a lot of fun and pleasingly also very short (took about 4-5 hours for me to complete the regular and 'good' endings). The humour and frequent fourth wall breaking isn't going to appeal to everyone, but for a game that's now 8 years old, the writing doesn't feel dated at all, with no reliance on memes or references which tie it to a particular period.
All in all, I'm interested enough to go on to check out Deltarune.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Well_known_bear Link ParentI also struggled with mastering the dodge timing for Lynels and ultimately came up with a bunch of easier alternative ways to fight them. Definitely try out the many other options the game offers...I also struggled with mastering the dodge timing for Lynels and ultimately came up with a bunch of easier alternative ways to fight them. Definitely try out the many other options the game offers (powers, items, combinations, bow-bullet-time, etc)!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Well_known_bear Link ParentFor what it's worth, the earlier Baldur's Gate games didn't have the camp (characters joined and left permanently, although there were some you could pick up again), but my mind also immediately...For what it's worth, the earlier Baldur's Gate games didn't have the camp (characters joined and left permanently, although there were some you could pick up again), but my mind also immediately went to the Dragon Age camp system. The role it serves in the game is pretty much identical.
The same author's book 'Status Anxiety' was also a great read for me as a young person dealing with how I fit into the world relative to everyone else.