WhyCause's recent activity
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Comment on What are your AI-generated guilty pleasures? in ~tech
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Comment on What are your AI-generated guilty pleasures? in ~tech
WhyCause Link ParentOne of my fellow players generated an image of a Bread Golem that was pretty awesome. I've tried to generate some images a couple of times, but it never turns out right.One of my fellow players generated an image of a Bread Golem that was pretty awesome. I've tried to generate some images a couple of times, but it never turns out right.
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Comment on How did you ruin a game for yourself? in ~games
WhyCause Link ParentEventually, I'll give up on a puzzle when playing now. I'll look at a guide, and more than half the time, I'll say, "that's stupid; how was I supposed to figure that out?" I'm generally pretty...Eventually, I'll give up on a puzzle when playing now. I'll look at a guide, and more than half the time, I'll say, "that's stupid; how was I supposed to figure that out?" I'm generally pretty good at puzzles, so if I'm truly stumped, its generally, genuinely, a stupid puzzle. The rest of the time, I'll get mad at myself for not realizing the solution.
I did have to quit playing Myst (the original version that came on a CD-ROM with a soundcard I'd bought) at one point; in the spaceship, where you have to set the 5 notes on the sliders to exactly match the notes played on the piano. I guess I'm pretty tone-deaf, and I just could not get those notes right. Since the sliders could only be moved by the mouse, I couldn't even brute-force it by getting close and adjusting with the arrow keys. Once I realized I'd never get it, I just stopped playing. I've still never completed Myst.
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Comment on How did you ruin a game for yourself? in ~games
WhyCause LinkThe old LucasArts adventure game Full Throttle (the original 1995 version). I'd asked for it for Christmas; the copy I received came with the walk-through book. Once I got a little stuck and...The old LucasArts adventure game Full Throttle (the original 1995 version).
I'd asked for it for Christmas; the copy I received came with the walk-through book. Once I got a little stuck and referred to the book, it snowballed, and I started referring to the book every time I got stuck, even just a little.
It turned what had been an enjoyable game into a visual novel, which was not what I wanted. I try very hard to avoid puzzle solutions for games now.
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Comment on 1940s New York City streetview in ~design
WhyCause LinkI built something similar for the New Orleans French Quarter. Click on a building, and you get a list view of scanned photos and slides the City has for each of the properties (grouped by year)....I built something similar for the New Orleans French Quarter.
Click on a building, and you get a list view of scanned photos and slides the City has for each of the properties (grouped by year). The color code indicates how historic the building is (click the ? icon to see the legend). The dictionary (book icon) has definitions of the specific architectural terms used when describing the building. The "More Details" link takes you to the Historic New Orleans Collection's page about the property, and includes chain of title information, often going back to the original land grants.
One of my favorite ones is Jackson Square; the earliest images are pictures of the models that were built to show what it was going to look like when the (proposed) interstate was going to be built between the French Quarter and the river.
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Comment on Goodbye, old friend in ~life.men
WhyCause Link ParentI... don't agree. There are likely many things going on in the ex-friend's life that are getting in the way and we don't know any of them. While the he appears to be handling it in a pretty rude...I... don't agree.
There are likely many things going on in the ex-friend's life that are getting in the way and we don't know any of them. While the he appears to be handling it in a pretty rude way now, that doesn't make it okay for OP to be a jerk back. I doubt the ex-friend is so callous as to be thinking that since OP has nothing left to give, that he should be discarded (I choose to think better of humanity), rather, I believe it's more likely he doesn't realize quite how his actions are being interpreted or he's embarrassed about all the times he's been rude up to this point and doesn't want to face the music. Withholding friendship to 'get back at' the ex-friend simply continues the transactionalism that OP disdains and makes the world worse; an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
There may very well be a time, as OP stated, when the ex-friend gets back in touch, which may (or may not) include recognition of how poorly he treated OP in the present; in the end, it doesn't matter. Being a friend means being there. It seems that OP wants to still be a friend, and I say, good for him.
The question at hand, though, is what about now? It does hurt when a friend moves on, and there's no way to make it not hurt except by talking about it and giving it time. Ex-friend is acting like a jerk whether he means to or not, but I was always told, "living well is the best revenge," and while 'revenge' may not be quite the right word in this instance, the meaning holds; OP should keep doing what he loves, keep mentoring younger professionals, and keep taking pride in making your profession better by doing so.
Ex-friend may never acknowledge the friendship again, OP, which would be sad, but not worth making your life miserable over by dwelling on it. If ex-friend does try to restart the friendship only to be spurned by you, the only thing you'll accomplish is making two people hurt and you still won't have him as a friend. Welcome him back (even if warily) and you'll have a better chance at truly healing.
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
WhyCause Link ParentI've been playing FTL almost every day since its release in 2012... Sheesh, I've been playing it almost 13 years. I've completed everything -- all achievements, beat it with all ships on hard,...I've been playing FTL almost every day since its release in 2012...
Sheesh, I've been playing it almost 13 years. I've completed everything -- all achievements, beat it with all ships on hard, collected all the ships the hard way (via quests) -- but I still play all the time. It's gotten to the point where it's almost like playing solitaire; something I can do while only using half my concentration.
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Comment on If you had to buy a car today, what would you buy? in ~transport
WhyCause Link ParentNot slower, but ahead of the curve. I believe it was for the 2021 model year (may have been the 2020) that Mazda got rid of the touchscreen. They'd always had the dial, but, according to the lady...Mazda has been much slower to embrace the “touchscreen all the things” school of design.
Not slower, but ahead of the curve.
I believe it was for the 2021 model year (may have been the 2020) that Mazda got rid of the touchscreen. They'd always had the dial, but, according to the lady who sold us our 2021 CX-5, they had so many complaints about fingerprints on the screen that Mazda just got rid of touch controls. With my elbow on the armrest, my hand naturally fell on the dial, and the volume knob was just to the left. Environmental controls were all knobs and buttons as well (but kind of hard to read in some light conditions).
Our CX-5 just got totaled, and we're debating whether to get a different car, or just get another CX-5.
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Comment on Is the Cybertruck really that bad? in ~transport
WhyCause Link ParentI think you answered your own question there; you see them all the time because they are so different from all the other cars on the road. You may, in fact, be noticing the same one or two...Anecdotally it seems to have sold quite well - I see them all the time. The design is definitely visually interesting, although polarizing.
I think you answered your own question there; you see them all the time because they are so different from all the other cars on the road. You may, in fact, be noticing the same one or two repeatedly.
My wife and I bought a Mazda CX-5 during the pandemic. We had to put down a deposit and wait a month or so to pick it up. In that month, I noticed so many CX-5s on the road (I swear, they make up 50% of the vehicle traffic around here) only because I was looking for them; prior to that they blended in and I paid them no attention whatsoever.
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Comment on Favorite quick play tabletop game recommendations in ~games.tabletop
WhyCause LinkI played Gelatinous over Thanksgiving with my (mostly non-gaming) family, and it was a hit. It's for 3-5 players, the rules are dirt-simple, and it plays very quickly. There's no thinking here,...I played Gelatinous over Thanksgiving with my (mostly non-gaming) family, and it was a hit.
It's for 3-5 players, the rules are dirt-simple, and it plays very quickly. There's no thinking here, only luck, so it's best as a filler or last-one-of-the-night game. If you buy a second set, you can play with up to 10 people.
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Comment on Churchil Solitaire - The game that turned me off from buying mobile games in ~games
WhyCause Link ParentI second the recommendation for DSD6. It generally takes about 7-10 minutes per play, and I play it several times a day. It's based on the Print-n-Play version of Tau Leader Games physical dice game....check out the free Deep Space D6
I second the recommendation for DSD6. It generally takes about 7-10 minutes per play, and I play it several times a day.
It's based on the Print-n-Play version of Tau Leader Games physical dice game.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tildes
WhyCause Link ParentOh, man; I thought I was the only one! I get so many death announcements, receipts, verification emails, etc. that I can't believe there are that many people with my last name out there (it is...As an amusing aside, I did manage to get my real name as a gmail address...
Oh, man; I thought I was the only one! I get so many death announcements, receipts, verification emails, etc. that I can't believe there are that many people with my last name out there (it is decidedly uncommon). I can only assume it's the same three people handing out my email address as theirs.
I used to reply to the (human) senders, letting them know that they had the wrong contact info, but one time I replied (nicely) to someone who sent me staff salary information for a church, and they got real snarky. At that point, I just started deleting and / or unsubscribing as they came in.
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Comment on Looking for slim wallet recommendations in ~life.style
WhyCause Link ParentI use their Daily Wallet to hold about 8 cards and cash. I think I stretch it out more than it's designed to hold. I keep cash folded twice and two debit/credit cards on the elastic side, and the...I use their Daily Wallet to hold about 8 cards and cash. I think I stretch it out more than it's designed to hold.
I keep cash folded twice and two debit/credit cards on the elastic side, and the remaining cards on the other. I have two IDs in the front pocket on the non-elastic side, and the remaining cards in the back one. That said, most of the cards in the back pocket are insurance-style cards (basically laminated paper), and they are sometimes difficult to pull out.
It's worked reasonably well for me, but I'm not a huge fan of the style of it. Of course, practicality won out (it was $5 on clearance at Academy Sports).
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Comment on Choosing a TTRPG system in ~games.tabletop
WhyCause Link ParentI worry about the 5e2024 rules; everything I've read is that the player characters have even more options and power. I think it's about to get even worse.I worry about the 5e2024 rules; everything I've read is that the player characters have even more options and power. I think it's about to get even worse.
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Comment on Choosing a TTRPG system in ~games.tabletop
WhyCause LinkAfter years of playing 5e, our DM got kind of sick of players still not knowing exactly what their characters could do (seriously, there were flowcharts made and everything), and combat turns took...After years of playing 5e, our DM got kind of sick of players still not knowing exactly what their characters could do (seriously, there were flowcharts made and everything), and combat turns took forever.
To "fix" this, we switched to Shadowdark (after a stopover in Old School Essentials-land), and we haven't looked back. Players are much more constrained in their options, so you don't get the analysis paralysis of 5e. Combats buzz along, even with 6 or 7 players at the table. You get the lethality of old D&D with the modern convenience of d20 roll-over. The rules are extremely easy to read and use, whether in book form or in PDF, and all of them (player and DM) are in one book.
There's no adventure or specific setting in the core book, but there are three 'zines (for now, more are coming next year) called Cursed Scrolls that are each set in a different milieu and include new character classes and an adventure in that setting. Old D&D modules are stupid-easy to convert (drop a zero from the treasure, and swap the D&D monster stat blocks for the equivalent SD one); some people do the conversion on the fly during play. There's also a pretty active community (Reddit and Discord) making new (often free) stuff all the time.
At the very least, I'd suggest you read the free Quickstart rules (available at the above link), which you can also use to run a session or two to see how you like it.
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Comment on Does anyone have any advice for new dads? in ~life.men
WhyCause LinkAs a father who also lives far away from family (not quite as far as you, but far enough), I have six specific suggestions for you. These may seem glib, but I'm deadly serious. Things not covered...- Exemplary
As a father who also lives far away from family (not quite as far as you, but far enough), I have six specific suggestions for you. These may seem glib, but I'm deadly serious. Things not covered by these you'll either figure out quickly on your own or the pediatrician will set you straight on.
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Buy a couple of packs of handkerchiefs, and carry one with you all the time. They are nose-wipers, tear-dabbers, face-napkins, blood-stoppers, butt-cleaners (with a little water), emergency capes and bandit masks, and, occasionally, an emergency diaper. I buy handkerchiefs for the parents any time I go to a baby shower, no matter what's on the registry.
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Learn a few origami models. The number of times a crane, flapping bird, boat, samurai helmet, or dinosaur has given me a few moments' peace are uncountable.
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Talk to them all. the. time. Talk to them when you carry them or wheel them down the aisle at the store. Talk to them while feeding them or changing their diaper. Read to them when you run out of things to talk about. Do it in different languages as needed. Someone else mentioned this already, but it's pretty important.
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When you're starting to potty train them, buy a pack of post-it notes and keep it in the diaper bag. When they sit on a toilet in a public bathroom, use a post-it to cover the automatic flush sensor, and keep it on there until they leave the stall. Kids sit just at or below the beam, and any time they move, the toilet flushes; modern toilets have a loud flush that scares them and makes them not want to go to the bathroom when out, which will make for accidents and added stress for both you and the child. Also keep in mind that going to the bathroom is one of the only things young children have control over, so don't try to force it on them. Let them guide you on when they're ready to start learning, or they will exercise their one lever of control. Also, hand dryers can be super loud; cover their ears when they use them so hand-washing isn't a frightful experience as well.
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Be willing to take the baby off by yourself; your wife will need the breaks, even if she says she doesn't. When you go to a store, take the kid to the toy or book section by yourself; let her browse. When at home, take the baby into another room to play or on a walk when you hear her teeth grind. The flip side of that is that you'll need breaks as well; I recommend a trip to the restroom when you feel your blood pressure rising. Five minutes of peace can reduce frustration immensely, even if you just stand in front of the toilet and do nothing.
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This one is the most important, and the hardest, but it is essential; build a local family. Make sure you have friends you can invite over when the baby goes to bed. Have a couple of friends you can count on to watch the kiddo while you and your wife go to the DMV or store for 20 minutes. Take advantage of the neighbor who says they can watch them while you go out to dinner. Find the lady who watches kids on the side instead of a regular day-care and stick with her. Raising a kid is a lot of work, and it's extremely difficult to do it all on your own.
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Comment on If you had up to US$250 to get one person into a hobby you're interested in, what would you do to get them started? in ~hobbies
WhyCause Link ParentAfter not playing since the Ice Age expansion (so, '95-ish), my son convinced me to take him to a pre-release event (Murders at Karlov Manor), and I enjoyed it way more than I expected. It turns...After not playing since the Ice Age expansion (so, '95-ish), my son convinced me to take him to a pre-release event (Murders at Karlov Manor), and I enjoyed it way more than I expected.
It turns out that I like the draft format, and I liked that I wasn't the only one going in at least partially ignorant of the combos to look for. It was a very newbie-friendly environment that might work well to introduce someone to MtG.
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Comment on How do you even find quality appliances anymore? in ~life.home_improvement
WhyCause Link ParentI'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 found a site that sold replacement parts with comprehensive guides and just replaced the $60 part.
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).
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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...
I believe (based on output alone; 13 albums released so far this year on Apple Music), that The Luna Lounge is LLM-generated.
Which is too bad, because it's great lo-fi background music. I'm pretty anti-LLM use, but I might have trouble not turning on one of the albums when I just need something on in the background.