ajwish's recent activity
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Comment on iPhone 17, 17 Pro and Air announced in ~tech
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Comment on Looking for some video game suggestions based off some specific parameters in ~games
ajwish LinkMy game preferences are almost the inverse of yours, so take this with at least a tablespoon of salt, but I think Tactical Breach Wizards might be worth a look. Basically, you control character(s)...My game preferences are almost the inverse of yours, so take this with at least a tablespoon of salt, but I think Tactical Breach Wizards might be worth a look. Basically, you control character(s) on a grid, they have abilities, and you are trying to coordinate them to achieve a goal (usually defeating the baddies, but there are additional bonus goals too). You get to reset whatever actions the characters take however many times you like, which lets you try a bunch of different things. For me, this basically turned every level into a puzzle where I tried 27 things just to make sure everyone was thrown out of a window and I shoved at least one person into the void and sealed the doors to stop the flow of enemies and only took two turns (it turns out I am a very slow player because of this). Levels aren't very long, you can play them out of order, and you can replay them with different characters (and skills) after the first time through (you do gain abilities on your way through though, so it doesn't meet that requirement). Might scratch the strategy/puzzle itch, at least?
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June/July 2025 in ~games
ajwish Link Parent🦖 I would like to claim Sir Tiberius Rexasaurus IV. Tiberius has recently joined a Toastmaster's group, because he believes his public speaking skills (mostly roaring) combined with his appearance...🦖
I would like to claim Sir Tiberius Rexasaurus IV. Tiberius has recently joined a Toastmaster's group, because he believes his public speaking skills (mostly roaring) combined with his appearance are standing in the way of his desire to create true, meaningful personal connections in his life. He was very lonely, but regular attendance to these meetings has given him a group of supportive friends. In fact, maybe Toastmaster's wasn't really what he needed - it was the friends he made along the way. -
Comment on DnD 5e - Do’s and don’ts as a player in ~games.tabletop
ajwish LinkI think this is becoming more common in general, but I highly recommend having a session 0 before the game really gets going to flesh out some of these details. What is the kind of campaign people...I think this is becoming more common in general, but I highly recommend having a session 0 before the game really gets going to flesh out some of these details.
- What is the kind of campaign people are playing? Rib rafts across chasms or something more serious?
- Should players expect death as a possibility or is the GM hoping to keep people alive to continue the story?
- Does anyone have topics that should be avoided (this one can be a private/anonymous note to the GM) to avoid real-life trauma? Arachnophobia so giant spiders should be avoided or not instigating quests with villages razed to the ground?
- What are expectations for real life behavior? No phones out at the table? How many players need to be present for the session to continue as planned?
(There are way better guides out there on what all to touch on, but these come to mind first for me)
Having a conversation before things get going can be really helpful to make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what expectations are, which I've found helpful to reduce my anxiety around uncertainty.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
ajwish Link ParentEven just a validating "Yeah, that does suck." There are a lot of low effort but still substantially less shitty replies to those kinds of topics.Even just a validating "Yeah, that does suck." There are a lot of low effort but still substantially less shitty replies to those kinds of topics.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
ajwish Link ParentI have a deep hatred for this phrase too, but perhaps for the opposite reason. I hear it a lot as a response to things that can't really be changed (the weather is making my illness worse, or the...I have a deep hatred for this phrase too, but perhaps for the opposite reason. I hear it a lot as a response to things that can't really be changed (the weather is making my illness worse, or the current state of the world is stressful) and it feels ... Dismissive, maybe? Of course it is what it is - I am literally telling you a thing that is. Thank you for confirming that I am indeed describing a thing that is. It feels like the verbal equivalent of getting a read receipt and no response to me.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? (trial giveaway: round #2) in ~tech
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? (trial giveaway: round #2) in ~tech
ajwish LinkI think I'm quite late to the party, but I'd love to give it a try if there are codes left!I think I'm quite late to the party, but I'd love to give it a try if there are codes left!
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Comment on What's a feeling you sometimes experience that you don't have a name for? in ~talk
ajwish Link ParentI hate socks because they make my toes feel like they are suffocating (... Even though toes don't breathe? I don't know). Foot prison feels like a good descriptor for that too.I hate socks because they make my toes feel like they are suffocating (... Even though toes don't breathe? I don't know). Foot prison feels like a good descriptor for that too.
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Comment on What were your favorite games that you played this year, and why? in ~games
ajwish Link ParentI just finished Wandersong and I loved the way the achievements told a slightly different story than the one we see as the bard, but I hadn't considered how well that fits in with Audrey's...I just finished Wandersong and I loved the way the achievements told a slightly different story than the one we see as the bard, but I hadn't considered how well that fits in with Audrey's character, what an interesting insight! I also enjoyed the sense of fun/joy I got from the game - while there are some darker moments in the story, the game itself felt happy to me in a way that was really refreshing and necessary for me, especially at the end of the last year.
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Comment on A liar who always lies says “All my hats are green.” in ~science
ajwish Link ParentI would definitely be interested if you have the chance to explain or point me to some resources! I have absolutely no background but find this sort of thing endlessly fascinating.I would definitely be interested if you have the chance to explain or point me to some resources! I have absolutely no background but find this sort of thing endlessly fascinating.
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Comment on Using AI generated code will make you a bad programmer in ~tech
ajwish LinkThis is not the main point of the piece, but I think the sentiment is kind of required scaffolding for the main point: I see this view a lot and don't really understand it - the idea that being a...This is not the main point of the piece, but I think the sentiment is kind of required scaffolding for the main point:
Serial AI coders may want to be big boy developers, but by letting predictive text engines write code for them they're hurting the chances of that ever happening. At least for now, the real big boy developers are the ones writing code that those predictive text engines are training on.
I see this view a lot and don't really understand it - the idea that being a "real" programmer means meeting a standard of difficulty or doing things from scratch (does it really matter whether I have the syntax memorized for multiple languages? or whether I can implement a specific, routine task off the top of my head? Is that really what makes a skilled programmer?). I think this is maybe what @Eji1700 was referring to? I'm not sure this is even all that specific to using AI for code generation (as others have pointed out, it seems pretty applicable to many of the other tools that are regularly used).
I will be the first to admit that I am not a developer, or a programmer, or a skilled coder or anything of the sort. So being a "real big boy developer" is probably not within my reach.1 I do bioinformatics work now, most of which is totally self taught and objectively terrible from a code quality stand point. I joke that I will become obsolete once people realize all I do is google variations on [insert concept here] in [language]. So it's definitely possible that I'm missing some context or experience to understand this idea. Why is this such a common perspective?
1 Additionally, as I will never be a big boy, the most I could possibly aspire to would be a grown up developer. I'm not a huge fan of "big boy" as a descriptor. But I digress.
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Comment on Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions in ~food
ajwish Link ParentThis had not occurred to me at all, for some reason. I think it could definitely be helpful to get some ideas for the kinds of recipes that might work. Thank you!This had not occurred to me at all, for some reason. I think it could definitely be helpful to get some ideas for the kinds of recipes that might work. Thank you!
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Comment on Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions in ~food
ajwish Link ParentThank you so much for the resources, this is great! I've never heard of digestive enzymes beyond lactase (so far I just buy lactose free stuff, which has worked out). This is good to know, I'll...Thank you so much for the resources, this is great!
I've never heard of digestive enzymes beyond lactase (so far I just buy lactose free stuff, which has worked out). This is good to know, I'll definitely ask what my options are.
I think I've heard the Monash University app but in the context of IBS management, I didn't realize it was for FODMAPs in general. Having a consolidated resource for this stuff is very helpful, especially as I'm getting a feel for different foods.
I'm very grateful for the onion and garlic substitutes especially. I'm Indian American and do cook Indian food and it has been a real struggle to replace onions because they are in everything and seem to be especially triggering for me. Thanks for the recipe recommendations as well, I'll give those a shot!
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Comment on Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions in ~food
ajwish Link ParentI agree that support communities can be really helpful for this, but unfortunately once you have multiple different things going on, it can be hard to find that kind of community. I found some of...I agree that support communities can be really helpful for this, but unfortunately once you have multiple different things going on, it can be hard to find that kind of community. I found some of those really helpful when I was first diagnosed with gastroparesis though, so it's definitely a good thought.
A personal recipe box is definitely my end goal! A lot of recipes really can't be made compliant with my restrictions though, so even finding a way to sort through recipes for things that could actually reasonably be modified would be very helpful.
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Comment on Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions in ~food
ajwish Link ParentInteresting, that's actually something I haven't thought very much about. I'll definitely look into that! It's hard to get things into real small pieces with a knife (or maybe my knife skills are...Interesting, that's actually something I haven't thought very much about. I'll definitely look into that! It's hard to get things into real small pieces with a knife (or maybe my knife skills are bad, who knows) so this seems like a similar strategy but better than I can do myself. Thanks!
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Comment on Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions in ~food
ajwish Link ParentGood questions! For fiber, I mostly just have a pretty good sense of the low -> high scale for fiber content (I have like a mental points system for how much fiber I consume in a day, which I know...Good questions! For fiber, I mostly just have a pretty good sense of the low -> high scale for fiber content (I have like a mental points system for how much fiber I consume in a day, which I know is not a super exact method but up until this point has served me well). Also, for any packaged food, there is usually an indicator of fiber content and google is pretty good for other things. I think technically fiber doesn't decrease when you cook it, but it generally does make it easier for me to process (I would never eat raw spinach, but cooked - and especially chopped fine/pureed - I can eat some).
For sugars, it's just fructose and fructans. There are tools like this that help with FODMAPs, but not all FODMAPs are problems for me and there usually isn't clarification on which ones are the issue in any given food. I think more complex sugars can break down into less complex sugars but fructose is pretty simple as is (so... possibly cooking makes things worse? unclear).
Historically, a lot of my substitutions have been to adjust things by swapping out for a safer vegetables, cooking things to death, and having really small pieces (so for peppers, I would probably still use peppers but in a smaller quantity and chopped small and cooked all the way through). This doesn't work for everything, but has left enough "normal" food available to me to manage. But some peppers have FODMAPS (is it fructose? fructan? I have no idea) and others don't, so then substitution becomes more complicated.
I'm maybe asking for something that doesn't exist, but I would really, really, really like to avoid the "stick it in a blender" approach because I cannot handle it. I don't mind softer/smoother textures (I eat a lot more mashed starchy vegetables, for example, and soup) but it would be great if that wasn't all that was happening (and if I have to avoid some foods because they can't be altered without sticking them in a blender, I would probably just be sad and avoid it rather than resorting to blending it. Personal preference.)
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Recipes and meal planning for uncommon dietary restrictions
Some backstory, in case it provides useful context for this question. I was diagnosed with gastroparesis more than 10 years ago. Gastroparesis doesn't have a ton of treatment options, and...
Some backstory, in case it provides useful context for this question.
I was diagnosed with gastroparesis more than 10 years ago. Gastroparesis doesn't have a ton of treatment options, and "lifestyle changes" are one of the big things required to at least manage symptoms. Recommendations for a gastroparesis friendly diet are to limit fiber, limit fat, limit alcohol, eat very small meals frequently instead of a few larger meals, cook the heck out of things, puree things, etc (basically, do what you can to minimize the work your stomach will have to do).
After my initial diagnosis I got fairly good at modifying standard recipes to accommodate my restrictions (though there are still some things I just avoid completely, like corn and kale). So even though it was a little extra work, I could mostly adjust standard meal prep and recipe ideas to work for me.
Recently though, I've had some new health issues occur that have resulted in a couple of other digestive issues (among them fructose intolerance and fructan intolerance) that further restrict my diet and suddenly my options are way more limited. I'm reaching out to a dietician, but honestly a lot of these things are mostly treated with (organized) trial and error, so the more information and tools I have at my disposal, the better.
I was wondering what people use for finding recipes and meal planning when they have less "standard" dietary restrictions. I find that a lot of these tools have options for vegetarians, vegans, paleo diet, keto diet, low carb; or for common allergens like peanuts and soy. But I haven't found a way to limit more specific things (especially things, like fiber, that are generally regarded as beneficial, or things, like fructose, that are everywhere). I suppose just manually searching for and then looking through a bunch of recipes is an option, but that can also be challenging given that nutritional information on recipes isn't always complete. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions that people have for this sort of thing because I like to eat but right now food is making me very sad.
(also sorry if ~health was a better place to put this, I wasn't sure exactly where it should go)
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Comment on The Steam Summer Sale 2024 is live (runs June 27 - July 11) in ~games
ajwish Link ParentI too would recommend Lil Gator Game if that's your vibe, as well as Smushi Come Home, both had that short, cozy, exploratory feel to me.I too would recommend Lil Gator Game if that's your vibe, as well as Smushi Come Home, both had that short, cozy, exploratory feel to me.
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Comment on The Steam Summer Sale 2024 is live (runs June 27 - July 11) in ~games
ajwish Link ParentA Short Hike is probably one of my favorite games, and even though it is pretty short to beat (3-4 hours, if you try to do most things, maybe?) I still come back to it just because I like the...A Short Hike is probably one of my favorite games, and even though it is pretty short to beat (3-4 hours, if you try to do most things, maybe?) I still come back to it just because I like the little world and atmosphere. Highly recommend.
There are a lot of reasons for one-handed phone use beyond distracted use though. I read on my phone and I like holding a cup of coffee in my other hand. Sometimes I use it for recipes and only one hand is clean. Sometimes I'm petting my dog while I'm sending texts. Some people have smaller hands or joint pain that can make large phones tricky even with two hands. Some people only have one hand. Some people are sick of having their phone fall out of their tiny, tiny pockets constantly but also appreciate the convenience of modern smart phones and view the smaller screen as a worthwhile trade off.
None of these reasons are texting and driving. I'm glad a larger screen is helpful for you! It's great that you have so many options available for that. It can also be kind of a bummer to be part of a group that doesn't have any options to have their needs met. Sure, the market has decided these products don't need to exist, but as an individual human bean, that doesn't mean that need goes away; inconveniently, my body and lifestyle don't change to match the market. Maybe instead of being annoyed by a pity party, just recognize that there is a group of people trying to advocate for something that would be a better fit for them, wish them good luck, and then move on to the other comments visible on your large screen.