Asinine's recent activity

  1. Comment on Gluing and framing a 9000-piece jigsaw in ~games.tabletop

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    This is amazing! I have two 5000 pc puzzles, and this is very much like the advice I was given when I finished ours (one I did, one was given to us and was "professionally" completed, which has a...

    This is amazing! I have two 5000 pc puzzles, and this is very much like the advice I was given when I finished ours (one I did, one was given to us and was "professionally" completed, which has a different finishing than the one I took in to a local hobby shop where it seemed to be a lot more on this level. I finished ours in 2010, and we were gifted one by friends who divorced but got it professionally hung about that time).
    Now I have the space to finish one, and honestly I'd like to do another 5k puzzle, or even a 9k! It would detract from my gaming time, which I do not see as a negative thing, and I'll definitely reconsider courtesy of your tutorial!

  2. Comment on For those who didn't know, find what you want to watch and for how much on services! (justwatch.com) in ~movies

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    I didn't ask... but I believe we have similar favorite letters.

    I didn't ask... but I believe we have similar favorite letters.

  3. Comment on For those who didn't know, find what you want to watch and for how much on services! (justwatch.com) in ~movies

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    Thanks, I still keep a physical collection for things that I believe everyone should see/experience. I can always burn it to a usb stick (which most tvs today accept). I've mostly just resorted to...

    Thanks, I still keep a physical collection for things that I believe everyone should see/experience. I can always burn it to a usb stick (which most tvs today accept).

    I've mostly just resorted to ebay lately since that's what I always used, but as their business model has shifted so horribly in the last 10-20 years, I'm going to check these out!

  4. Comment on Experiences with united healthcare in ~health

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    I have for my 47 years of life, because all the times I have had health care that would cover stuff only failed me on every level. I've been misdiagnosed so many times with so much bullshit that...

    please don't put off routine medical care

    I have for my 47 years of life, because all the times I have had health care that would cover stuff only failed me on every level. I've been misdiagnosed so many times with so much bullshit that honestly, even my tenure where I had to get checked by military doctors did at least enlighten me a bit, (and to that aspect, huzzah?)

    I'm glad your spouse had a better outcome. Mine is entwined with the VA and that's a whole 'nother shitshow, but at least it isn't related to my healthcare options! (UHC)

    1 vote

  5. Comment on Shrinking number of free news outlets in ~talk

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    I try to donate towards things I feel are globally worth it: most goes to local food banks that I've researched, and I also put what I would like to think is a decent amount towards various other...

    I try to donate towards things I feel are globally worth it: most goes to local food banks that I've researched, and I also put what I would like to think is a decent amount towards various other online options (the Wiki, Mozilla, and DDG are some). I am super happy I went back and got my degree (though omfg I wish I could have had trade school opportunities in my youth, but being female kinda messed with a lot of that) and now make a comfortable amount that I can give.
    I have thrown more than a few donations towards NPR, as I do appreciate their reporting, but as you stated, everything is biased. And NPR at least doesn't do the paywall thing, so I'm not sure if that falls under your "if you want your propaganda to reach as wide an audience as possible, of course you'll publish it for free" statement (I doubt as much, but the shoe does fit here heh).

    Honestly, I would like to hear facts, not news. Very rarely does any "news" source actually publish anything new: we've already heard somehow, and it's always spun as you already know.

    I did have to chuckle though, your statement "I don't consume the news too much these days on account of the enormous mental strain I experience from being constantly reminded of how I'm living through the collapse of civilisation and the climate apocalypse" reminds me of growing up in the 80s... my mother had me believing the USSR was about to nuke us, and Regan was going to save us all! And honestly, looking at today's situation, I feel that it's not much different. I'm likely on the complete opposite viewpoint now, but who knows...

    Ultimately, I want facts. "Israel has prevented journalist from entering the West Bank" or "SCOTUS has declined to revisit gay marriage" are both things I want to know about. Tell me things like this, and I'm all yours!

    2 votes

  6. For those who didn't know, find what you want to watch and for how much on services! (justwatch.com)

    ~movies Text 73 words
    So, yeah, apparently a lot of folks don't know about this website. Didn't want to put it on the link because I wanted to briefly explain: I use duckduckgo and put a !justwatch after any movie or...

    So, yeah, apparently a lot of folks don't know about this website. Didn't want to put it on the link because I wanted to briefly explain: I use duckduckgo and put a !justwatch after any movie or show I want to know on which service it is available.
    But basically, go there, search for what you want to watch, and it'll tell you where it's available (if it is), and for how much!

    39 votes

  7. Comment on Shrinking number of free news outlets in ~talk

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    That being said, I would say that paying for news is worth it, but it just seems that anything behind a paywall is just as biased as anything else. Ping it on the adftonesmedia.com site, but......

    I feel that at some point it becomes worth it to simply pay for news if you care about getting high quality, unbiased reporting.
    Does not exist. But, you can at least have some options for less-unbiased reporting.

    That being said, I would say that paying for news is worth it, but it just seems that anything behind a paywall is just as biased as anything else. Ping it on the adftonesmedia.com site, but... there is no unbiased anything these days.

    11 votes

  8. Comment on I ran a 50k today, please clap in ~sports

    Asinine
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    Good for you, and that's brutal for basically anyone (and if they don't agree, poo poo!) And I will not link a Shia Lebouf gif :D Seriously, I'm impressed and would like to do that one day, but I...

    Good for you, and that's brutal for basically anyone (and if they don't agree, poo poo!)
    And I will not link a Shia Lebouf gif :D
    Seriously, I'm impressed and would like to do that one day, but I won't!

    3 votes

  9. Comment on NATO alphabet in ~talk

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    I'm screwed if I ever have to state my security questions to another human...

    I'm screwed if I ever have to state my security questions to another human...

    1 vote

  10. Comment on Looking for watch recommendations as my partners Apple Watch doesn't even last a day anymore in ~tech

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    Another +1 for Garmin. I was gifted an Epix two years ago. I use maybe 5% of its features... but when I do, it's super useful. It's definitely pricey, but I've only heard good about Garmin. It...

    Another +1 for Garmin. I was gifted an Epix two years ago. I use maybe 5% of its features... but when I do, it's super useful. It's definitely pricey, but I've only heard good about Garmin.
    It also holds an amazing battery life. When I was using it for exercising 5-10 hours a week, it would still only need to be charged every 5-7 days. Now that I'm down to around 5 hours tops, more around 2-3 of active use, it has lasted up to 10 days.

    ... and it's 2 years old!

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Experiences with united healthcare in ~health

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    Ugh this scares me so much, as I have UHC and use the HSA because while I'm at the age where I should be seeing a PCP on the regular, I typically am pretty healthy and don't require any medical...

    Ugh this scares me so much, as I have UHC and use the HSA because while I'm at the age where I should be seeing a PCP on the regular, I typically am pretty healthy and don't require any medical services...
    But if I do, I'm likely gonna hurt bad. Like everyone else using UHC...

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Hate-reading? in ~books

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    That honestly sounds awful... I mean, that the pace and focus were lost on later books because I definitely felt the first was an ADHD fest. And honestly, I also likely have it, but half the time...

    That honestly sounds awful... I mean, that the pace and focus were lost on later books because I definitely felt the first was an ADHD fest. And honestly, I also likely have it, but half the time I was just so confused as to what the hell was going on that before halfway through I quit caring altogether (and thus, Oliver Twist).

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Hate-reading? in ~books

    Asinine
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    I believe the last hate-read I did was A Game of Thrones just about the time the show was announced. I was given the book by a friend to borrow (who prefaced it with "every character you love will...

    I believe the last hate-read I did was A Game of Thrones just about the time the show was announced. I was given the book by a friend to borrow (who prefaced it with "every character you love will die or make you hate them) and had a rough time, so I tried the audio book. I actually dropped it about halfway through to read Oliver by Dickens... if that shows anything about how much I wasn't into anything by Martin I guess. But my favorite character did live through the first book, was pretty awesome, and ended up becoming even more awesome in the series from what I understand (Arya).

    4 votes

  14. Comment on Hermann and Albert Göring: Two very different brothers in ~humanities.history

    Asinine
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    Thank you for posting this. I first learned of Hermann probably around age 14, playing the PC game Knights of the Sky. I'd had some history in school, mostly US related (being American), but world...

    Thank you for posting this. I first learned of Hermann probably around age 14, playing the PC game Knights of the Sky. I'd had some history in school, mostly US related (being American), but world history typically only highlighted Hitler for the Nazi atrocities at that age level.

    I remember looking up various aces that popped up in the game a few years later and learning of their fate in our World Book Encyclopedias (was a hand-me-down to my parents from her parents when they upgraded to the 1967 edition I believe from 1963 - it stated JFK was still president) and learning that Göring turned into the monster he was. I have since lived in Germany, earned a minor in German, and learned about the circus of monsters that the Nazi party was - and I always love hearing stories like this.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers in ~science

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    [Disclaimer: I should probably just go to bed, but instead I've hit enter...] I'd venture that a lot of science is still slippery slope, or at least heavily biased by the funders of whatever...

    [Disclaimer: I should probably just go to bed, but instead I've hit enter...]

    I'd venture that a lot of science is still slippery slope, or at least heavily biased by the funders of whatever research is ongoing.

    Ngl, but the statement "He loved trashing the establishment, whatever it is" has been a sort of life statement for me being gen X and all, but also I learned early on that arguing for things like "purple is a fruit" is just that: a nonsensical attempt to mess with rigid standards the majority upholds. In the past, religion has been a great target for it (personally), and I view a lot of science as religion these days very similarly (as aforementioned, because you can easily find peer-reviewed studies on many topics that will contradict each other based on the funding's goal)...
    Granted, I'm not justifying eugenics theories by any means, but I'd also wager a number of people who may disagree with my above statements would also be those suggesting the meme "when you come to realize that Idiocracy was supposed to be science fiction..."

    4 votes

  16. Comment on V for Vendetta - 20th anniversary | Announcement trailer in ~movies

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    When I was living in the EU ('06-'12), the US still looked worse. I figured that just kinda kept upholding its status. In other news, I have given up on seeing anything in theaters (or seeing...

    When I was living in the EU ('06-'12), the US still looked worse. I figured that just kinda kept upholding its status.

    In other news, I have given up on seeing anything in theaters (or seeing bands play live unless I can pay cash to a venue that doesn't presell anything) but I may make an appearance for this, as I never did see it on the big screen.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on Tips for becoming a tea person in ~food

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    Definitely this, as various teas actually are way better with the proper steeping times and temperatures. I am the worst person at being snooty, or for tea, sort of "fine dining"esque, but I've...

    Definitely this, as various teas actually are way better with the proper steeping times and temperatures. I am the worst person at being snooty, or for tea, sort of "fine dining"esque, but I've also recently been doing two cups of mostly decaf in the mornings at work (I do one keurig cup of decaf [12oz] and every other day brew one carafe of "real" coffee and top off the remaining 6 ounces with that), and then using some fine tea mixes we picked up over at a pretty cool tea and spice shop about an hourish+ away.
    Also, if it's not an apple or fruity herbal tea, I will typically add milk. If it is apple or fruity herbal and does well with lemon, I will often add that and honey.
    I generally do not add sweeteners, but I did get a very delightful chai mix (with numerous real semi-crushed cardamom!) which is enhanced with a slight amount of sweetness with the milk. And as aforementioned, if lemon is a nice addition so is honey.

    Edit: Also a while ago I picked up some tumeric tea from Amazon, and it was okay both with the lemon/honey combo or just a splash of milk, but then I started experimenting with grinding my own spices. I had some black tea I hadn't touched in a while at the time so I tried my own chai mix, also did some Christmas-y mulled-wine type options, and was eyeing doing dried fruit types, but I lost interest (and we also moved at that time). So depending on your preference or desire, there are MANY options available, whether you want to take the time to do them yourself or just buy a predone option.

    6 votes

  18. Comment on Gimp Tutorial for Idiot? in ~comp

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    Interesting, and it's available via yay. I'll look into it, thanks!

    Interesting, and it's available via yay. I'll look into it, thanks!

    1 vote

  19. Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk

    Asinine
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    Some highlights I want to see (and may have...): the Aircraft Boneyard: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BZ5hBP4CrXGqWsoN6 or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis%E2%80%93Monthan_Air_Force_Base Forestiere's...

    Some highlights I want to see (and may have...):

  20. Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk

    Asinine
    Link Parent
    That's crazy, because Six Flags took over Marriott's Great America/Great America/Paramount's Great America, and I'm not the only [ex-]Californian who has referred to it as "Six Flags Great...

    That's crazy, because Six Flags took over Marriott's Great America/Great America/Paramount's Great America, and I'm not the only [ex-]Californian who has referred to it as "Six Flags Great America". I did not even realize until I read this that I am/was incorrect.
    I believe the only time I visited was during Marriott's owning time in the 80s, and I hated the feeling of falling at that age (until my late teens when I overcame it to try to be cool, but I still hate it), and all I really remember was Looney Tunes were the mascots, and I got soap in my eye at the hotel we were staying at.