WhyCause's recent activity
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Comment on How do you even find quality appliances anymore? in ~life.home_improvement
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Comment on Why most men don’t carry a purse in ~life.men
WhyCause Link ParentNo offense, but this might be the single-most British statement I've ever read.emergency pot of jam
No offense, but this might be the single-most British statement I've ever read.
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Comment on What are some things you do "the old fashioned way," which might come with unexpected benefits over the modern, "improved" way of doing things? in ~talk
WhyCause Link ParentMath is one way I keep my brain "online" enough during long drives to stave off road-hypnosis. Mile marker 282? At 77mph, I'll get through this state in (mental math noises, carry the 4, etc.)...Math is one way I keep my brain "online" enough during long drives to stave off road-hypnosis.
Mile marker 282? At 77mph, I'll get through this state in (mental math noises, carry the 4, etc.) ...about 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Mile marker 281...
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Comment on What are some things you do "the old fashioned way," which might come with unexpected benefits over the modern, "improved" way of doing things? in ~talk
WhyCause Link ParentThey also keep me from getting speeding tickets, particularly in school zones (which, I guess is also safer driving). For example, in a 20mph school zone, I put my car in third (it's a six-speed,...They also keep me from getting speeding tickets, particularly in school zones (which, I guess is also safer driving).
For example, in a 20mph school zone, I put my car in third (it's a six-speed, and geared kind of funny), and idle / barely put my foot on the gas. If I really wanted to make sure I didn't go over 20, I could keep it in second and keep my foot on the gas, but keeping it in third means I can accelerate without shifting once I get out of the school zone.
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Comment on What are some more obscure hobbies you enjoy? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentI agree, however, when I'm playing cards, I'm often playing enough hands to wear out the cards reasonably quickly. I prefer the nicer card stock and relative affordability of brands like Bee...I agree, however, when I'm playing cards, I'm often playing enough hands to wear out the cards reasonably quickly.
I prefer the nicer card stock and relative affordability of brands like Bee simply as a practical matter. For decks I buy because I like the looks, cardstock and finish quality never sway me one way or the other.
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Comment on What are some more obscure hobbies you enjoy? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentPre-pandemic, I was playing a few times a week, for a couple hours at a time. This tends to wear the cards out pretty quickly, so, yes, I preferred Bee because I didn't have to buy new decks quite...Pre-pandemic, I was playing a few times a week, for a couple hours at a time. This tends to wear the cards out pretty quickly, so, yes, I preferred Bee because I didn't have to buy new decks quite as often. Bicycle was a close second choice.
Purely a practical consideration.
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Comment on What is the oldest TV show you actually enjoy? in ~tv
WhyCause LinkI stay up late every Saturday night to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which ran from '64-'68. I never saw it or heard of it before I stumbled across it one night late, and it's become one...I stay up late every Saturday night to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which ran from '64-'68. I never saw it or heard of it before I stumbled across it one night late, and it's become one of the few shows I make time to watch.
Even older than that, though, is my favorite Western, Have Gun, Will Travel, which ran from '57-'63. This one came on a lot in my Gen-X youth; I loved it then, and I still love it today. I watch it every time I see it while channel-surfing.
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Comment on What are some more obscure hobbies you enjoy? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentI dabbled in sleight-of-hand magic when I was younger, but I never got into card magic. I practiced a lot of card manipulation, though, and that's part of why I grew to like Bee; they're stiff...I dabbled in sleight-of-hand magic when I was younger, but I never got into card magic. I practiced a lot of card manipulation, though, and that's part of why I grew to like Bee; they're stiff enough to put up with some abuse, and they're smooth enough to not catch when you're manipulating a card all the way around the deck. Also, for as big a guy as I am, my fingers are somewhat stubby, so it was easier for me to use the Bridge-width decks. The general availability of Bee (or Bicycle as a second choice) cemented my preferences.
At about the time I was manipulating cards, I took a left turn into actually playing cards, specifically Euchre. At that point, anything beyond being able shuffle well and quickly was just showing off, so I really went no further with card magic. With Euchre being a somewhat fast game with much shuffling, sturdier and readily available / inexpensive cards became my go-to choice.
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Comment on What are some more obscure hobbies you enjoy? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentI do like how accessible playing cards are as a collectible; even the plane-spotter cards weren't very expensive when I bought them (probably around $10 for both). Some of the mass-produced modern...I do like how accessible playing cards are as a collectible; even the plane-spotter cards weren't very expensive when I bought them (probably around $10 for both). Some of the mass-produced modern decks are still pretty cool, though I now avoid the myriad Bicycle special editions that I would have picked up in the past (to preserve my wife's sanity).
Some modern "neat" decks I'll still grab, though. For example, I have a deck of Animal Crossing cards that Nintendo released as a My Nintendo physical bonus, and a deck of cards I found at IKEA one time. Neither are terribly special, and both were inexpensive, but they're different-looking enough that I hang onto them. I also ask friends who travel to Europe to bring me decks as souvenirs, since some countries use different suits and I find that history interesting.
Grabbing a bunch of cheap decks over the years did leave an impression on me; I'm pretty snobby about the quality of the cards I buy to play now. If it were up to me, I would only play with narrow-width Bee decks, blue back.
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Comment on What are some more obscure hobbies you enjoy? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentThis was a hobby of mine for a while in my youth. My most valuable (to me) "score" was two decks of Vietnam war-era plane spotter cards, but then I stopped going to antique shows with my parents...This was a hobby of mine for a while in my youth. My most valuable (to me) "score" was two decks of Vietnam war-era plane spotter cards, but then I stopped going to antique shows with my parents and started grabbing crummy decks because I thought they were "neat". Then, once I got married, my wife kept asking, "do we really need all of these decks of cards?" Most of the crummy ones were gone pretty shortly thereafter.
I found some pre-revolutionary French cards (face cards of each suit, mounted and framed separately) once that I was very interested in... until I saw the price.
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
WhyCause Link ParentI just want a beer-flavored beer; something I can drink several of without blowing out my tastebuds. I've been to breweries where they have nothing but IPAs, and I just wonder how many potential...I just want a beer-flavored beer; something I can drink several of without blowing out my tastebuds.
I've been to breweries where they have nothing but IPAs, and I just wonder how many potential customers they drive off with their insistence on one style.
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Comment on Beer peeps, what have you been drinking? in ~food
WhyCause Link ParentCincinnati's Rheingeist is like that for me. I've not had a bad beer from them, even styles I don't usually like.Cincinnati's Rheingeist is like that for me. I've not had a bad beer from them, even styles I don't usually like.
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Comment on What’s something you’ve noticed about getting older? in ~talk
WhyCause Link ParentOnce you get to a certain age, your barber will start asking if you want your eyebrows trimmed. Take them up on it. It means other people can see the crazy-long hairs, not just you.Once you get to a certain age, your barber will start asking if you want your eyebrows trimmed.
Take them up on it. It means other people can see the crazy-long hairs, not just you.
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Comment on ‘Dilbert’ author Scott Adams tells White people to get away from Black people, gets dropped from US newspaper in ~arts
WhyCause Link ParentI suspect that the opinions of "celebrities" reflect the population as a whole; that is if X% of the general population believes something, about X% of celebrities will too. The difference is that...I suspect that the opinions of "celebrities" reflect the population as a whole; that is if X% of the general population believes something, about X% of celebrities will too. The difference is that most of the time, people in the public eye keep someone around to help them navigate the waters of public opinion, with an eye toward preserving their celebrity status and income. As many of us have seen with relatives, though, the rise of The Former Guy has freed some to grace us all with their real opinions, consequences be damned.
Competency has the nasty side effect in some (including me) of inducing stubbornness, and if you push against stubbornness too hard or too often there will be a response. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to learn that, over the years, there have been several (unwelcome to Adams) conversations about diversifying the cast of Dilbert, and the recent strips and this podcast are him finally responding, feeling freed by the zeitgeist. I'll bet Adams is currently laughing at the shit-storm he's started, much like that crotchety old uncle at Thanksgiving who proclaimed some belief that made monocles drop into teacups.
TL;DR: Adams has probably always thought this and for now he feels like he can get away with saying it.
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Comment on An AI program voiced Darth Vader in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ so James Earl Jones could finally retire in ~tv
WhyCause LinkI was certain the only way we would finally see the end of "The Skywalker Saga" was if James Earl Jones died or retired. I even said this to my son the other day, with the caveat, "...unless they...I was certain the only way we would finally see the end of "The Skywalker Saga" was if James Earl Jones died or retired. I even said this to my son the other day, with the caveat, "...unless they use AI to re-create his voice."
I guess it'll be a while before we're finally done with the story of the Skywalkers.
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Comment on What are some good ultra-low-spec computer games? in ~games
WhyCause Link ParentI'd just like to second the motion for FTL. I bought it the day it came out (in 2012), and I still play it almost every day.I'd just like to second the motion for FTL.
I bought it the day it came out (in 2012), and I still play it almost every day.
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Comment on What are some engrossing self-contained iPhone games? in ~games
WhyCause LinkI have been playing Deep Space D6 pretty much incessantly lately. It's a digital implementation of the print-and-play demo of the solitaire dice game by Tau Leader Games. A full game plays in...I have been playing Deep Space D6 pretty much incessantly lately. It's a digital implementation of the print-and-play demo of the solitaire dice game by Tau Leader Games.
A full game plays in about 10 minutes (if you win). It is hard, random, frustrating, and I keep going back to it. It's also free, small (69MB), and offline, so it will work very well on a ship.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~comp
WhyCause Link ParentI'd actually be curious to hear a defense of it. I say that in all seriousness; why should we accept tracking via JS?I'd actually be curious to hear a defense of it.
I say that in all seriousness; why should we accept tracking via JS?
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Comment on Food in New Orleans? in ~food
WhyCause LinkAs, apparently, the only denizen of /r/neworleans on here, welcome! Have a good time! Tip your servers! Don't be a jerk. You're in luck, because this is the really slow time of year for...As, apparently, the only denizen of /r/neworleans on here, welcome! Have a good time! Tip your servers! Don't be a jerk.
You're in luck, because this is the really slow time of year for restaurants (hurricanes and brutal humidity tend to discourage tourism). Because of that, some of the best and fanciest restaurants get together every year to have special, reasonably priced menu selections all through the month of August. Going to a normally out-of-my-league restaurant for one of these lunch or dinner specials is about as local as it gets.
I know you said you'd be here all of July, and not August, but that's where the luck comes in; this year, the specials begin on July 14th. Check out The COOLinary New Orleans site. You can filter by neighborhood, type of food, etc., and see the special menu offered at each restaurant. Keep in mind, some of these places will require a reservation, so you should probably call ahead. Most places do not require a coat and tie, but some will require slacks and a collar (no jeans). Again call ahead to check if you're concerned.
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Comment on Input from a text file, pull from multiple APIs, formatting output, etc. in Python in ~comp
WhyCause Link ParentI would suggest using the (included) csv module instead, if all you're only going to use Pandas for to_csv. Pandas is a pretty big package to load just for CSV output. If you sort your data into a...I would suggest using the (included)
csvmodule instead, if all you're only going to use Pandas forto_csv. Pandas is a pretty big package to load just for CSV output. If you sort your data into a list of dicts (or even just one dict, if you only want one row), you can use thecsv.DictWriterclass. If you don't care about a header row, you can just usecsv.Writer.
I've had better luck with a local appliance parts store. I had the clutch and transmission go out on my (ancient) washer, and my local parts store had both for much less than I could find online. I was also guaranteed to be getting the correct parts, since I went in with a photo of the model number label. They also had the one special (inexpensive) tool I needed to do the replacement easily, and suggested I buy that as well (that likely saved me a lot of headaches).