Asinine's recent activity

  1. Gimp Tutorial for Idiot?

    ~comp Text 468 words
    I've been trying to use Gimp to replace other options for years now, but it feels so abstruse and severely inefficient. I used to use Photoshop around 15 years ago but have stuck with Paint.NET...

    I've been trying to use Gimp to replace other options for years now, but it feels so abstruse and severely inefficient. I used to use Photoshop around 15 years ago but have stuck with Paint.NET since - my problem is that I now use Linux and paint.net isn't available natively. I was using Pinta, but it just is like temu paint.net, and I wanted something more/better (also it has a number of bugs that can easily frustrate me and often crash/hang when doing work on larger files or for longer times).

    And for decades, people (both Windows and Linux users) have tried selling me on Gimp. I've tried over and over to get into it, but nothing made sense and it took way longer to do simple things than I thought it ought... but I'm trying for reals about 10 years since my last attempt.

    Please does anyone have a page that explains how to do things without everything being convoluted? There seem to be no ways to turn commands into keybinds or icons I can just click, and all the keyboard shortcuts I find are in relation to nothing I want to do. Ultimately, I prefer keyboard shortcuts, but I can do icons as well.

    Latest example: I want to draw a rectangle outline. Should be simple, but there is no tool to draw shapes (at least that I can find, and the tutorials online don't seem to imply the existence of one either). Okay... I have to select the rectangle select, then I have to go to the menu (Edit) and choose Stroke Selection... which pops up another menu with a ton of options. That's great and all, but in every other program I've ever used (even MS Paint!) you just click an icon and make the rectangle. If you want to alter the shape or something you right click or hold click, or maybe you can bring up a menu. But if I want to make a number of rectangles over and over? Even with keyboard shortcuts I have to make the rectangle (no issues there), then click Edit, "s" apparently takes me to the stroke menu, then enter. Bloated at best.

    So, if anyone has a good tutorial or something similar that can help me out here, or an alternative Linux-based raster graphics editor that is free, I would greatly appreciate to know of it/them. I really want to like Gimp, and I'm hoping someone here can either help me get into it or direct me elsewhere. Thanks!

    Edit: I realise I forgot to mention, I did use Krita for a bit. It felt like an in between Pinta and Paint.NET, but iirc, it crashed somewhat often or had enough bugs that I went back to Pinta.

    4 votes

  2. Comment on Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store in ~tech

    Asinine
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    I found some tutorials on that, but it didn't seem terribly user friendly and while I'd love to delve into it (especially with it being a phone I don't need), I just don't have the time these...

    I didn't even try running Android apps on Pinephone

    I found some tutorials on that, but it didn't seem terribly user friendly and while I'd love to delve into it (especially with it being a phone I don't need), I just don't have the time these days.

    And yes, I'm on a Pixel 7a whose camera magically shattered back in May whilst I was on vacation, so the camera lenses got scratched until I got back and got a replacement, then realized there are still slivers of glass when I put the replacement in and... I can't get the replacement out though I did not heat it to seal it. grumbles I ain't got time for it.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    How much forest area is required to produce that much? I had no idea the timber industry was still so strong, but makes sense (previously known due to the State of Jefferson attempts).

    How much forest area is required to produce that much? I had no idea the timber industry was still so strong, but makes sense (previously known due to the State of Jefferson attempts).

  4. Comment on Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store in ~tech

    Asinine
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    Most of your cons seem akin to things I do anyway (on my desktop/GrapheneOS, aka "why it doesn't just work..?" Because I want control!). I'm already familiar with Arch and found it via Manjaro, so...

    Most of your cons seem akin to things I do anyway (on my desktop/GrapheneOS, aka "why it doesn't just work..?" Because I want control!). I'm already familiar with Arch and found it via Manjaro, so no issues there.

    The downside for me is that I require certain app store apps on my phone for my job, and I need a decent camera for said job. I am fine with a crap battery life and all the other drama, but... I have to have Outlook, MS Authenticator (I believe I could use another, but ...), and a few others I don't have to have but definitely help and so while I have the Play store installed...

    I may reach out if/when I give up on my poor beaten-up Pixel 7a (which magically had a camera destruct, which honestly is the only reason I need another phone because... work requires me to take pics).

    4 votes

  5. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    Which is a fair statement, but I believe still adheres to my argument. It's all in the eye (and understanding) of the reader/speaker.

    Which is a fair statement, but I believe still adheres to my argument. It's all in the eye (and understanding) of the reader/speaker.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store in ~tech

    Asinine
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    I need to figure how this Pine Phone actually works I suppose.

    I need to figure how this Pine Phone actually works I suppose.

    7 votes

  7. Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    Dang, sorry I stated "your problem is..." Yeah, I'm a bit late checking back in, life's been crazy. I wanted to apologize for coming across as accusatory or offensive, if you took it that way. I...

    Dang, sorry I stated "your problem is..."
    Yeah, I'm a bit late checking back in, life's been crazy.

    I wanted to apologize for coming across as accusatory or offensive, if you took it that way. I appreciate your chipper response as well!

    The thing is, I actually do engage in serious discussion in bringing the SI to the US, but yeah... I'm often shut down. I also work in power generation that utilizes fossil fuels, so that's yet another often offensive topic I often attempt to engage in with others in order to explain and facilitate understanding, instead of just listening to what the politicians say.

  8. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    It's still kinda fucked... I wrecked my '18 Civic EXT last January (2024) and replaced it with a '19 Si shortly thereafter. I had purchased the '18 in mid 2019 with around 8k miles for $22k, and...

    It's still kinda fucked... I wrecked my '18 Civic EXT last January (2024) and replaced it with a '19 Si shortly thereafter. I had purchased the '18 in mid 2019 with around 8k miles for $22k, and the '19 Si with ~65k miles at 5 years old was $23k.
    Now, do note that I demand my cars to have manual transmission, but I don't believe that choice doesn't reflect the pricing. I found some other Civics around $18k, but they were older than my totaled car and/or had some other issues.

    Granted, I'm not in the market now (and I hope to keep this one and not wreck it for a long while to come, especially as manual transmissions are so sadly phased out here in the US... just need a personalized plate reading "GASHOLE"), but it seems like everything else after covid, the prices spiked and never really settled back down.

    See also: my mortgage. :(

    1 vote

  9. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    I feel this is a Ceci n'est pas une pipe statement. Letters do not make sounds; they convey which sounds should be made by the reader, which then greatly varies based on which language(s) the...

    I feel this is a Ceci n'est pas une pipe statement. Letters do not make sounds; they convey which sounds should be made by the reader, which then greatly varies based on which language(s) the reader understands.

  10. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    Uh, where's SF getting fresh cedar that regularly that CA is just fine with felling that many trees?

    Uh, where's SF getting fresh cedar that regularly that CA is just fine with felling that many trees?

    1 vote

  11. Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    On the contrary, I feel most folks I know (and myself personally) ask questions like "how did they miss this in QA?!?!?!" because there wasn't enough outreach for testing or other feedback...

    On the contrary, I feel most folks I know (and myself personally) ask questions like "how did they miss this in QA?!?!?!" because there wasn't enough outreach for testing or other feedback options, which will then bring back in programmers, but ultimately devs are the ones who make the decisions, not the code.

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Twenty-one facts about throwing good parties in ~life

    Asinine
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    This reminds me of how parties are supposed to be in books, or in some occasions (when not based on a book), in movies. I'm an introvert, and this is just so very weird to me. Also, my SO is an...

    This reminds me of how parties are supposed to be in books, or in some occasions (when not based on a book), in movies.

    I'm an introvert, and this is just so very weird to me. Also, my SO is an extrovert, and I can tell you 100% both of us have headed up some amazing parties that have nothing to do with anything suggested.

    Personally, I really don't know how to throw a party, but I suspect the key factors should be:

    1. If you're throwing a party, it's a free option for people you'd consider family and/or friendly if not friends. That is, it's not something you're beholden to or including people you do not care about.
    2. If people don't like it, don't invite them next time. Though why were they in your life and on your guestlist?

    Seriously, reading that stressed me out a bit, though I have been overwhelmed with functioning in life lately... but I wanted to represent those of us who do like "throwing parties" but keep it real and ... uh, not like that I guess? Not like some required function?

    I honestly don't know what type of party this actually advocates, aside as I previously mentioned if it was in a book (and I'm thinking maybe I need to re-read The Great Gatsby, of which I could not remember the title, but a quick search of "books about parties" did me a solid), because no military/work/extra large socialite person I was either related to or semi-associated with ever seemed to be aligned with this in the parties I've had to attend.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music

    Asinine
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    The Manfred Mann "wrapped up like a douche" is so awesome hah. But you're demanding me to find new info with your other options! LOVE IT!

    The Manfred Mann "wrapped up like a douche" is so awesome hah. But you're demanding me to find new info with your other options! LOVE IT!

    2 votes

  14. Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music

    Asinine
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    My ex called me his little windmill, and that kinda has stuck (okay has a lotta stuck) and also the music video is still one of my favs! ;D

    My ex called me his little windmill, and that kinda has stuck (okay has a lotta stuck) and also the music video is still one of my favs! ;D

    2 votes

  15. Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music

    Asinine
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    The ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind.... the ants are blowing in the wind!

    The ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind.... the ants are blowing in the wind!

    5 votes

  16. Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    Your problem is that this "the law" is not actually a thing. I grew up seeing the retrospect failures in California, where we'd get billboards stating distances in km and miles. I am not sure what...

    Your problem is that this "the law" is not actually a thing. I grew up seeing the retrospect failures in California, where we'd get billboards stating distances in km and miles.
    I am not sure what the governance declarations were back in the day, but I was told (and haven't confirmed, but it seems to check out) that Canada and the US opted to swap to metric for distances at some point in the late 70s/early 80s. But the US was a... as kinda today, a chickenshit and preferred bullshit over fact.
    So, there's my honest thoughts on that.

  17. Comment on What it’s like to have your period in prison in ~life.women

    Asinine
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    Maybe, but there other systems here in the US that are so sadly similar: namely healthcare for one.

    Maybe, but there other systems here in the US that are so sadly similar: namely healthcare for one.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on What it’s like to have your period in prison in ~life.women

    Asinine
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    I don't see that as the solution at all, but reform is definitely going to be difficult to achieve.

    I don't see that as the solution at all, but reform is definitely going to be difficult to achieve.

    5 votes

  19. Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music

    Asinine
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    I've run out of time on my Libby rental of Bram Stoker's Dracula for my commute this week. (Libby is an app for local libraries in the US.) I was able to re-up it and will finish it on my way in...

    I've run out of time on my Libby rental of Bram Stoker's Dracula for my commute this week. (Libby is an app for local libraries in the US.) I was able to re-up it and will finish it on my way in on Monday, but... I'm very happy I finally got it. I've always been intrigued with vampires, mostly via movies/tv and just culture, but I really started appreciating the concept with Interview with the Vampire, and also the mid/late 90s options with awesome soundtracks. Which all that is unrelated haha... but I'll definitely need to rewatch Dracula 2000 to fact check.
    Also finished One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest two weeks before. I knew it was gonna be depressing, but hot dang, it was great and awesome. More akin to 1984 or Animal Farm than Fahrenheit 451...

    And if you want music options, I'd been listening to some original Glitch Mob (Drink the Sea) but also some random Ratatat.

  20. Comment on What it’s like to have your period in prison in ~life.women

    Asinine
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    This frustrates me personally, similarly as Shane Bauer's American Prison did. The system is so screwed up on every aspect that it almost doesn't matter anymore why the people are in prison: the...

    This frustrates me personally, similarly as Shane Bauer's American Prison did. The system is so screwed up on every aspect that it almost doesn't matter anymore why the people are in prison: the system is just as bad.

    2 votes