aphoenix's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Survey #1: How old are you? (Results) in ~talk
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Comment on Tildes Survey #1: How old are you? (Results) in ~talk
aphoenix Link ParentThank you for pointing out that I'm older than at least 87% of the users here.Thank you for pointing out that I'm older than at least 87% of the users here.
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Comment on Street Fighter | Official trailer in ~movies
aphoenix Link ParentI should also clarify that if I watched any movie in the theatres anymore, this one would be a very likely candidate. It looks like a ton of fun.I should also clarify that if I watched any movie in the theatres anymore, this one would be a very likely candidate. It looks like a ton of fun.
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Comment on Street Fighter | Official trailer in ~movies
aphoenix Link ParentI think there is an important distinction to make between a well-made B movie (which this appears to be) and a poorly made movie, which is what I think should normally be considered "bad". This is...I think there is an important distinction to make between a well-made B movie (which this appears to be) and a poorly made movie, which is what I think should normally be considered "bad".
This is going to be a movie which is not making a statement, has no particular commentary, and is not intended to make you think. It is likely going to hit nostalgia hard for GenXers and Millenials, make you laugh in a low-brow way, and have some cool fights. I think a lot of cinema people really frown on that type of movie, but the intent is simple entertainment; it's possible that this is just a good trailer, and that the underlying movie is bad, but I think it's more likely that the trailer is an accurate depiction of what you can expect in the movie, which is not a movie that is attempting to be 'good'.
I realize there's some pedantry in the above statement, but I think that it's actually kind of important when evaluating this kind of movie.
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Comment on How worried should I be about plastic water bottles? in ~talk
aphoenix LinkFor reusable plastic containers, the appropriate level of concern is approximately 0, as long as you clean them regularly, and you're not leaving them with water in them under the dashboard of...For reusable plastic containers, the appropriate level of concern is approximately 0, as long as you clean them regularly, and you're not leaving them with water in them under the dashboard of your car for long lengths of time.
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Comment on Bush: Tiny Desk Concert (2026) in ~music
aphoenix Link ParentActually, for once, I wasn't at that concert. I'm pretty sure I took my siblings to go see Independence Day that weekend for their birthdays. I think I saw Bush at Edgefest at the Molson...Actually, for once, I wasn't at that concert. I'm pretty sure I took my siblings to go see Independence Day that weekend for their birthdays.
I think I saw Bush at Edgefest at the Molson Amphitheatre around 98 or 99. They put on a great show. And Live for maybe the Secret Samadhi tour, appropriately at The Phoenix, and they were incredible.
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Comment on Air Canada CEO will retire this year after his English-only crash message was criticized in ~transport
aphoenix Link ParentI think the easiest way to see why there is offence would be to picture something similar: The CEO of Ford makes a video expressing condolences for something that happens in America. In the video,...I think the easiest way to see why there is offence would be to picture something similar:
The CEO of Ford makes a video expressing condolences for something that happens in America. In the video, he speaks only Spanish, with English subtitles. Then later he admits that he doesn't speak English. There would be a lot of questions that people would have, like "why doesn't the face of this company speak the language of the country?"
This is almost exactly the same, it's just that in this case, the CEO speaks the same language as all of us here.
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Comment on Slay the Spire 2 launches into Early Access in ~games
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Comment on Slay the Spire 2 launches into Early Access in ~games
aphoenix Link ParentDid you verify this by clearing to A10?Did you verify this by clearing to A10?
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Comment on Tildes Minecraft Weekly in ~games
aphoenix LinkI dropped in to the server last night to look around and see what was happening. You are all building on a totally different level from me and my basic block homes! I enjoyed taking in all the...I dropped in to the server last night to look around and see what was happening. You are all building on a totally different level from me and my basic block homes! I enjoyed taking in all the different art and build styles.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
aphoenix Link ParentI think that's one of the clear differences, and another would be his absolute refusal to allow anyone else to help, even in the event of his death. That seems to lack some internal consistency,...I think that's one of the clear differences, and another would be his absolute refusal to allow anyone else to help, even in the event of his death. That seems to lack some internal consistency, since he effectively let the showrunners finish his work before he did, so I don't see the issue with books.
I enjoy Joe Abercrombie a lot - I have read The First Law trilogy, but have a bunch more on my reading list to get to at some point. Great recommendation, thank you!
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
aphoenix Link ParentI watched most of the first season of GoT and I felt the casting was generally off. The way that I would describe the issue is that one of the things that I regret about the Lord of the Rings...I watched most of the first season of GoT and I felt the casting was generally off. The way that I would describe the issue is that one of the things that I regret about the Lord of the Rings movie is that after watching the movies, most of the characters in my mind have changed from what they were before I watched the movie into just the movie characters. The Samwise Gamgee and Gandalf of my youth are gone, and the ones in my head are now Sean Astin and Ian McKellan (and generally the same is true for the whole cast except for elves). For the most part, that didn't happen with Game of Thrones, except for a couple of characters. I will say that I actually already pictured Sean Bean as Ned Stark in my head-cast though, so they did nail that one.
And yes, if you don't want to watch the series until the books are done, you will never watch Game of Thrones. The books will never be finished. I don't even think the next one will ever release, which actually makes my above point even pettier.
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Comment on What are you no longer a fan of? in ~talk
aphoenix LinkOthers have mentioned some things that I used to be fans of (America, Musk, Harry Potter, Gretzky, Reddit, etc.) but I'm going to go in a much pettier direction. George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice...Others have mentioned some things that I used to be fans of (America, Musk, Harry Potter, Gretzky, Reddit, etc.) but I'm going to go in a much pettier direction.
George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire was a book series that I spent a lot of time with over my life. I got the first book in a whole different millenium from this one, so I have read and re-read the series a number of times, and I have spent a lot of time waiting for books. I realize that authors don't technically owe us anything - I don't blame Martin for however he spends his time instead of being an author. He's old and he wrote himself into a corner. But I'm not going to read or support his work any more. If The Winds of Winter ever actually releases, I have no plans to read it, and I no longer care about what happens to the characters, despite the fact that I spent so much time with them.
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Dan Simmons, author of the Hyperion Cantos, dies aged 77
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
aphoenix Link ParentI didn't mean to insinuate any lack of gratefulness, or anything. I legitimately am just happy that the key got used; the fact that it provoked reflection and thought is an incredible bonus.I didn't mean to insinuate any lack of gratefulness, or anything. I legitimately am just happy that the key got used; the fact that it provoked reflection and thought is an incredible bonus.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
aphoenix Link ParentWell, I'm glad that you're (maybe?!?) enjoying the game. I'm glad that the key is getting used, because boomer shooters and Warhammer both tend to miss for me.Well, I'm glad that you're (maybe?!?) enjoying the game. I'm glad that the key is getting used, because boomer shooters and Warhammer both tend to miss for me.
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Comment on How many Hosers are there on Tildes? in ~talk
aphoenix Link ParentWhich part of Montreal are you going to? If you want something very inexpensive but quite good, Restaurant Picks was really enjoyable. They are fast food but not a chain, had great poutine and...Which part of Montreal are you going to?
If you want something very inexpensive but quite good, Restaurant Picks was really enjoyable. They are fast food but not a chain, had great poutine and burgers the last time I was there. It's near McGill / College of Montreal.
Creperie Chez Suzette in Old Montreal is the only creperie that has stuck with me from all the trips I've made to Montreal. It's somewhat near the Notre Dame Basilica.
There are loads of great coffee places all over town, but I enjoyed Hinnawi Bros Bagel & Cafe (again near McGill) quite a bit last time I was there. The coffee was great and the bagels were really good Montreal style bagels.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
aphoenix LinkI have been playing The Baby In Yellow which I have to say is easily the best Cosmic Lovecraftian Horror Babysitting Simulator that I've ever played. I don't always try to get 100% on the...I have been playing The Baby In Yellow which I have to say is easily the best Cosmic Lovecraftian Horror Babysitting Simulator that I've ever played. I don't always try to get 100% on the achievements in a game, but I did manage to do so with this one. It's not a lengthy game - steam tells me I've played 9 hours and at least a couple of those I just had the game paused while making dinner - but it was a pretty fun. Really not much more to say about it; actually I think "Cosmic Lovecrafting Horror Babysitting Simulator" is probably the only 5 words I need to perfectly encapsulate the sort of game it is, and every other word I've put here is a waste.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
aphoenix LinkThe Series 21 Cast for Taskmaster has been announced. Behind a spoiler in case any one doesn't want to read Amy Gledhill - a great English comedian, if you watch WILTY or Cats does Countdown,...The Series 21 Cast for Taskmaster has been announced.
Behind a spoiler in case any one doesn't want to read
Amy Gledhill - a great English comedian, if you watch WILTY or Cats does Countdown, you've likely seen her, and she has a great set that you may have seen from Just for Laughs or Edinburgh Fringe.
Armando Iannucci - a Scottish satirist and writer, in my opinion an absolute incredible "get" for Taskmaster. He has created several shows including Veep, Avenue 5, Alan Partridge, and more, and also wrote and directed In The Loop and Death of Stalin.
Joanna Page - a Welsh actress probably most notable as Stacey in Gavin & Stacey and maybe as a presenter on Loose Women. She's also been in lots of popular movies, like Love Actually.
Joel Dommett - English comedian / actor, also relatively known on panel shows and such in Britain.
Kumail Nanjiani - Pakistani comedian / actor who has been in a lot, but is probably most notably known in recent memory for getting super jacked and being in a Marvel movie that didn't do well. He's super funny though, and another incredible addition to the cast.
Looks like it's going to be a pretty great Series 21.
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Comment on The Muppet Show | Teaser trailer in ~tv
aphoenix LinkI am wildly excited about this. I like Seth Rogen a lot as a producer of things, and this looks like it's just picking up where the Muppets left off. They are perhaps my favorite franchise, and I...I am wildly excited about this. I like Seth Rogen a lot as a producer of things, and this looks like it's just picking up where the Muppets left off. They are perhaps my favorite franchise, and I still love watching the old Muppet Show.
These are valid questions and good points, and there's a lot of what I would consider to be unseemly responses to it. (@Bauke, you replied graciously, this is not for you)
It is very difficult to interpret tone from text. Many people inferred rudeness from what are honestly just facts. The site has no data policy or contract, is effectively anonymous, has no contact information, asks for personal data, and does not identify itself as a personal project. Pointing that out is not rude.
People from a different regions write with different styles. I have a German friend, and at first their emails always read as brusque and unfriendly until I got used to them. Then I realized that how I was interpreting their words said more about me than it said about them. In some other regions, adding frippery to text is actually the rude thing to do.
Looking out for privacy is important. We should be encouraging and thanking the people who watch for privacy infringement. Consider a scenario where someone else made this survey and it was a scam; @pallas would certainly have been thanked for pointing out that other people might be giving away private information. Just because some of us know that this is not a scam, that doesn't make questioning less valid.
Not knowing who is whom on Tildes is OK. Having a response that puts someone down for not knowing something is gross. I think it's always better to take XKCD's Lucky 10,000 approach to things. This was an opportinty for (and in fact was, because of how @Bauke responded) a cool way for someone to say, "Oh, @pallas, actually this is @Bauke, who is a trusted user around here. They have made a lot of cool things and contributed a lot of cool stuff directly to Tildes itself, so if you trust this site, then it is not a significant leap to trust the survey." and then it would be two cool people making each other's acquaintance.
Responding with the Principle of Charity in mind is always a good idea.
Thanks for pointing out the potential privacy concerns @pallas.