Xyst's recent activity

  1. How do you go about learning a new language?

    ~humanities.languages Ask (advice)
    I've been playing with the idea that I might try to learn a second language. I have sparse memories of my great grandparents and grandparents speaking their native language, but it didn't get...

    I've been playing with the idea that I might try to learn a second language. I have sparse memories of my great grandparents and grandparents speaking their native language, but it didn't get passed down beyond them.

    In my daily life I have no immediate need to communicate outside of English, but I think it would be more than interesting anyway. I've played around with Duolingo and while I can see what it's doing (very early stages), I struggle to feel it will be useful for long.

    What are the methods that folks have used to learn a new language? Is there a path that is "best" or "easiest"? As an old, I'm used to the traditional method of learning with a teacher, but I don't know how to find one locally for the language I'm interested in (modern Greek).

    Any advice is very welcome, thanks!

    P.S. I hope this lands in the right section, I wasn't sure if I should post it here or in Hobbies.

    44 votes

  2. Comment on What is your weirdest kitchen appliance and what do you think of it? in ~food

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I was reading about these on buy it for life recently and the recommendations for Drinkmate and Aarke were both discussed. One of the appeals is the ability to adapt them for large CO2 cannisters...

    I was reading about these on buy it for life recently and the recommendations for Drinkmate and Aarke were both discussed. One of the appeals is the ability to adapt them for large CO2 cannisters that can last months and re filled up from commercial suppliers cheaper than the canisters.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on What fictional world would you live in, if you could pick any one? in ~talk

    Xyst
    Link
    I'll be the odd duck and go with Arcadia Bay from the Life is Strange series...after the storm, or when the storm never happens depending on your choices. Sure what happens in the game is pretty...

    I'll be the odd duck and go with Arcadia Bay from the Life is Strange series...after the storm, or when the storm never happens depending on your choices.

    Sure what happens in the game is pretty horrific, but the setting is idellic and I'd love to live somewhere so beautiful and intertwined with nature.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on Superman | Official teaser trailer in ~movies

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I thought the actor they used for Supes/Clark was a bit to big in terms of musculature. I suppose it's more in line with the modern ideal of a (super)man, but the moments as Clark didn't resonate...

    I thought the actor they used for Supes/Clark was a bit to big in terms of musculature. I suppose it's more in line with the modern ideal of a (super)man, but the moments as Clark didn't resonate with me. I could just be getting old though.

    5 votes

  5. Comment on Do any of you use Hulu? Looking for shows that entertain adults but a 7 year old can be in the room. in ~tv

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I'm doing my first watch through now on Peacock, I also have a 7 year old. I don't think I'd combine those 2 yet. In another couple years maybe, and YMMV as each kid is different.

    I'm doing my first watch through now on Peacock, I also have a 7 year old. I don't think I'd combine those 2 yet.

    In another couple years maybe, and YMMV as each kid is different.

    7 votes

  6. Comment on Kamala Harris plans to tax unrealized US stock gains — but only for people worth $100 million in ~society

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    Mark to market accounting has been around in finance for quite some time now, so the complexity isn't that insurmountable. Having a material threshold keeps the "efficiency at scale" discussion to...

    Mark to market accounting has been around in finance for quite some time now, so the complexity isn't that insurmountable. Having a material threshold keeps the "efficiency at scale" discussion to a minimum, but most of the headlines have people clutching the Robinhood accounts instead of recognizing who this really targets.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on What are your favorite Dreamcast games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games

    Xyst
    Link
    Well, my friend only had two... Crazy Taxi and Soul Blade. Soul blade was the better of the two but I still liked crazy Taxi.

    Well, my friend only had two... Crazy Taxi and Soul Blade. Soul blade was the better of the two but I still liked crazy Taxi.

    6 votes

  8. Comment on What shampoo/conditioner do you use? in ~life.style

    Xyst
    Link
    Also male, but have long fine hair. I've been using Redkin gloss treatment for shampoo and conditioner but I have also had good luck with Biolage in the past. My barber/stylist uses Paul Mitchell...

    Also male, but have long fine hair. I've been using Redkin gloss treatment for shampoo and conditioner but I have also had good luck with Biolage in the past. My barber/stylist uses Paul Mitchell when I visit and I see similarly good results.

    Also, make sure you shop the Ulta sales and you can typically nab 10% off or so.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ obliterates R-rated record with $205 million opening weekend, eighth-biggest in box office history in ~movies

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I think this is one of those where it's no expected to be a "good" movie in terms of plot, script, or acting. In fairness, I don't attribute those things to this franchise at all. It makes sense...

    I think this is one of those where it's no expected to be a "good" movie in terms of plot, script, or acting. In fairness, I don't attribute those things to this franchise at all. It makes sense to me that the audiences would love it even though the critics don't. It's a fun summer popcorn flick and doesn't try to be more than that.

    12 votes

  10. Comment on How soon might the Atlantic Ocean break? in ~enviro

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    Thanks. I saw the article mentioned that the warm zone would shift southward towards the equator and that some areas (e.g. rain forest) may see their rainy season invert, but where does the rest...

    Thanks.

    I saw the article mentioned that the warm zone would shift southward towards the equator and that some areas (e.g. rain forest) may see their rainy season invert, but where does the rest of the rain go?

    Those winds that bring rain to the Midwest, North east, and Europe...where does all that rain go after the collapse? Does it just stay over the ocean, or is the implication that it never evaporated and never becomes rain?

    5 votes

  11. Comment on How soon might the Atlantic Ocean break? in ~enviro

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    Did you, or has anyone else, seen what the potential impacts would be for North America? It looks like Europe, Asia, and the Tropics lose their farm land, but does that extend into North America...

    Did you, or has anyone else, seen what the potential impacts would be for North America? It looks like Europe, Asia, and the Tropics lose their farm land, but does that extend into North America as well?

    4 votes

  12. Comment on US President Joe Biden raises tariffs on $18 billion of Chinese imports: EVs, solar panels, batteries and more in ~society

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I'd say the goal is focused on economic growth and protection of the manufacturing base (and jobs) moreso than cheaper goods. I'm probably biased, but I see this as a good thing for the Western...

    I'd say the goal is focused on economic growth and protection of the manufacturing base (and jobs) moreso than cheaper goods.

    I'm probably biased, but I see this as a good thing for the Western countries so long as the regulations are held to encourage domestic companies to shift their manufacturing to green energy products too.

    3 votes

  13. Comment on What was your first computer game? (Soundcheck question 2023) in ~games

    Xyst
    Link
    At home, on a computer, I think it was Zaxxon on a TRS80 clone from radio shack. I'm guessing there was an Arcade machine that predated that, but I don't really remember which one.

    At home, on a computer, I think it was Zaxxon on a TRS80 clone from radio shack. I'm guessing there was an Arcade machine that predated that, but I don't really remember which one.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on What are your predictions for 2024? in ~talk

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    One interesting thing about the loss of free money is that it presents an opportunity for conservation. Some groups are working with countries that have a high cost of capital/borrowing...in...

    One interesting thing about the loss of free money is that it presents an opportunity for conservation. Some groups are working with countries that have a high cost of capital/borrowing...in exchange for co-signing the dept to garner lower rates, the benefiting country invests the savings into climate and conservation projects.

    It's an interesting tact that I heard about recently. It doesn't last forever as interest rates decline, but it's an approach I haven't seen before.

  15. Comment on The old new way to provide cheap housing in ~design

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    Having recently sought ought fully furnished living space due to an insurance issue...they are not easy to find outside of short term AirBnB. When they are available they are prohibitively...

    Having recently sought ought fully furnished living space due to an insurance issue...they are not easy to find outside of short term AirBnB. When they are available they are prohibitively expense...think corporate apartment pricing and I'm in a large, medium cost of living city in the US.

    I think the boarding house idea, if managed well and locally, is one that is potentially a good idea. Many folks in American Universities lived in communal dorms so the idea is at least palatable to the masses in some form/fashion.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on US stores increasingly reverse course on self checkout in ~tech

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    The TJs thing is very location dependant. For instance, I see it in major cities like New York, SF, and large metro Areas, but smaller cities and even places like Atlanta Metro don't have the...

    The TJs thing is very location dependant. For instance, I see it in major cities like New York, SF, and large metro Areas, but smaller cities and even places like Atlanta Metro don't have the feeder model...though I wish they did.

    I'm not certain if it's an architectural issue where only stores designed for it can have it or not.

    8 votes

  17. Comment on Philips Hue will force users to upload their data to Hue cloud in ~tech

    Xyst
    Link
    What I still don't understand is if I don't create an account, will anything change for me? I just use my lights and switches at home so don't need remote access.

    What I still don't understand is if I don't create an account, will anything change for me? I just use my lights and switches at home so don't need remote access.

    3 votes

  18. Comment on The Reddit protest is finally over. Reddit won. in ~tech

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    I think old school forums had a better model for dealing with that. Lurkers could read through 200 page threads about popular topics at their leisure without creating new threads. The recency...

    I think old school forums had a better model for dealing with that. Lurkers could read through 200 page threads about popular topics at their leisure without creating new threads. The recency model ala reddit seemed to encourage rehashing from it's core design.

    34 votes

  19. Comment on No more freebies: US companies crack down on customer perks and rewards in ~finance

    Xyst
    Link
    So companies now view both their customers and their employees as liabilities. Should I soon expect that corporations will skip the preamble of providing a service or good and skip straight to...

    So companies now view both their customers and their employees as liabilities. Should I soon expect that corporations will skip the preamble of providing a service or good and skip straight to robbing me at gun point?

    40 votes

  20. Comment on Vote to block Georgia spaceport upheld by state’s high court in ~space

    Xyst
    Link Parent
    If memory serves me correctly, the proposed spaceport had two main issues... One was close proximity to protected (?) / land that is in need of environmental protection...the 2nd issue at play was...

    If memory serves me correctly, the proposed spaceport had two main issues... One was close proximity to protected (?) / land that is in need of environmental protection...the 2nd issue at play was that the proposed spaceport was poorly designed and was not thought to be able to survive long term due to poor business planning.

    Essentially, it seemed like somebody wanted to do something because they could and darn the cost or impact to local communities and wildlife...according to my neighbors that used to live there.

    2 votes