asparagus_p's recent activity
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
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Comment on ‘Matrix 5’ in the works with Drew Goddard as director, Lana Wachowski as executive producer in ~movies
asparagus_p LinkIf they've got a good idea for a new movie, then why not? I generally don't think creatives should just bow to the hate trains that often shunt into town and which are often completely overblown....If they've got a good idea for a new movie, then why not? I generally don't think creatives should just bow to the hate trains that often shunt into town and which are often completely overblown. They should believe in their vision and commit to it.
But if they're just going to do something formulaic and try to milk the franchise for every dollar they can get with minimum effort, then I'm not interested. I didn't hate Resurrections and it had some good ideas, but it became horribly cheesy towards the end and really petered out.
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Comment on What's something you've been mulling over recently? in ~talk
asparagus_p LinkI've been semi-seriously thinking of starting a new career as a postman/mail carrier. And when I say semi-seriously, I mean I'm probably not going to do it and think it's probably a terrible move....I've been semi-seriously thinking of starting a new career as a postman/mail carrier. And when I say semi-seriously, I mean I'm probably not going to do it and think it's probably a terrible move. I currently have a fairly creative freelance job, which provides an OK income and I enjoy it, but it's being rapidly replaced by AI and bargain-basement providers around the world, so I'm craving some stability. My body is also starting to give up on me because I spend far too much time at a computer, for both work and hobbies. I've been looking at the mail carriers in my neighbourhood and seeing how they get lots of exercise and probably have very little stress. My previous jobs for corporations have left me very reluctant to go back into that rat race, so I'd rather not opt for that perceived "stability" and the crappy politics that go with it.
But obviously I'm concerned that a job with zero creativity will ultimately turn out to be horrendously boring and a terrible move for my professional life. I'm wondering, has anyone here gone from a more creative/intellectual job to something more menial and actually thought they made the right move?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentI put in about 10 hours with Fallen Order but ultimately got a bit fed up of the backtracking, and the story just wasn't gripping me. I like RPGs with lots of relationship building with other...I put in about 10 hours with Fallen Order but ultimately got a bit fed up of the backtracking, and the story just wasn't gripping me. I like RPGs with lots of relationship building with other characters. Did this eventually happen in the game or did the focus continue to be on just fighting?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentI still haven't finished Yakuza 0. I put 33 hours into it and then had to leave it for a while, probably because work got busy. I was really enjoying it, although the save mechanic was frustrating...I still haven't finished Yakuza 0. I put 33 hours into it and then had to leave it for a while, probably because work got busy. I was really enjoying it, although the save mechanic was frustrating (I'm a PC player) and the fights were getting repetitive. But I do intend to finish it one day. It's just so hard to pick up a game after a long break and get back into it.
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Comment on US federal appeals court rejects Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity in ~news
asparagus_p LinkI've read that if he can keep delaying the federal trial until after he's won the presidency, then he can't be prosecuted. So this might be all for naught.I've read that if he can keep delaying the federal trial until after he's won the presidency, then he can't be prosecuted. So this might be all for naught.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
asparagus_p Link ParentI've just started reading Terry Pratchett in my middle-age. Was never interested until I read a few comments about how he had changed people's lives and how amazing his books were. I've only read...I've just started reading Terry Pratchett in my middle-age. Was never interested until I read a few comments about how he had changed people's lives and how amazing his books were. I've only read the first two so far, and I'm in the middle of Equal Rites now. I am enjoying them but wouldn't say I've fallen in love with them yet. Having said that, I have heard that his earliest books aren't his best, so I'm keeping an open mind.
I have laughed out loud on a few occasions, which is pretty rare for me when I'm reading.
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Comment on Manchester United to vote on selling minority stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Qataris "pull out" in ~sports.football
asparagus_p LinkIt's the least shitty of the options that's for sure. I've been a supporter for about 40 years but seeing them owned by the Qataris would probably have been the end for me.It's the least shitty of the options that's for sure. I've been a supporter for about 40 years but seeing them owned by the Qataris would probably have been the end for me.
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Comment on Your favorite band that no one has heard of? in ~music
asparagus_p Link ParentTwo great musicians right there.Two great musicians right there.
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Comment on Your favorite band that no one has heard of? in ~music
asparagus_p Link ParentToehider fan here! As a prog rock and prog metal fan, almost every band I listen to is pretty much unknown to the mass public.Toehider fan here! As a prog rock and prog metal fan, almost every band I listen to is pretty much unknown to the mass public.
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Comment on $600million and a decade later, where is Star Citizen? in ~games
asparagus_p LinkI stopped really caring about this game a long time ago, but I'm intrigued about what happened to the Squadron 42 single-player game? If I remember rightly, there was a trailer featuring some big...I stopped really caring about this game a long time ago, but I'm intrigued about what happened to the Squadron 42 single-player game? If I remember rightly, there was a trailer featuring some big names, but then nothing since. Did it get completely scrapped or is it just delayed?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentAh ok, thanks. Gaming is a very solo hobby for me and I only have a couple of friends who are into it, and they like different genres! So I don't really care about being part of any conversation....Ah ok, thanks. Gaming is a very solo hobby for me and I only have a couple of friends who are into it, and they like different genres! So I don't really care about being part of any conversation. In fact, I'm trying to avoid as much conversation around BG3 and Starfield as possible so the experience isn't ruined for me. I can't stand all the disappointed posts from people who got far too hyped far too early. At least Larian seems to have pleased almost everyone with the good job they did.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
asparagus_p LinkWow, it's really hard to avoid Starfield news these days. I'm trying not to read much so I go into it with no preconceived biases other than my own from past Bethesda games. I'm a patient gamer so...Wow, it's really hard to avoid Starfield news these days. I'm trying not to read much so I go into it with no preconceived biases other than my own from past Bethesda games.
I'm a patient gamer so it takes me a while to get to the latest games. I'm playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey right now. I think it's a great game but I lost momentum with it over the summer when I went on holiday. It's not easy getting back into it because I've been really busy at work. It's such a massive game and I've definitely reached that point where I just want to finish the main story. With so many other games I want to play and so little time, I often reach that point in a long game where I consider abandoning it and moving on. But I would much prefer to finish the main stories before moving on given the choice.
Looking forward to playing Baldur's Gate and Starfield some time in the future :)
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentGenuinely curious, what did your friend mean by this? Is it simply the multiplayer aspect, or is there another reason why you should play this game early after its release?but my friend convinced me to board the train before it left the station.
Genuinely curious, what did your friend mean by this? Is it simply the multiplayer aspect, or is there another reason why you should play this game early after its release?
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Comment on Do you replay video games? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentIt's showing its age, but there's a certain zen-like pleasure I take from playing it. The soundtrack, aesthetic and mechanics have nostalgic appeal from a time when Bioware was at the top of its...It's showing its age, but there's a certain zen-like pleasure I take from playing it. The soundtrack, aesthetic and mechanics have nostalgic appeal from a time when Bioware was at the top of its game. But it's definitely getting harder for me to replay each time I try.
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Comment on It’s official: Cars are the worst product category we have ever reviewed for privacy in ~tech
asparagus_p Link ParentI don't have any numbers to back up my hunch, but I'm wondering how large this middle class is and will be in the coming years. It very much feels like it's a shrinking proportion of the...there's still a large middle class to sell to
I don't have any numbers to back up my hunch, but I'm wondering how large this middle class is and will be in the coming years. It very much feels like it's a shrinking proportion of the population. But yes, I suppose there is an increasing number of dual-income no-kid households as well as those who have paid off their mortgage or sold up from a major city and banked a couple of million from their house. Still, I wonder how many will be in dire straits if the housing market were to crash and everyone's equity is slashed.
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Comment on It’s official: Cars are the worst product category we have ever reviewed for privacy in ~tech
asparagus_p Link ParentInteresting, and thanks for the source. I do happen to live in quite a wealthy part of my city, so what I see is probably skewed (a fair amount of Teslas these days as well where I live). But even...The average age of a vehicle in Canada is about 10 years.
Interesting, and thanks for the source. I do happen to live in quite a wealthy part of my city, so what I see is probably skewed (a fair amount of Teslas these days as well where I live). But even when I'm on the road, it still seems like there's an awful lot of new cars around.
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Comment on It’s official: Cars are the worst product category we have ever reviewed for privacy in ~tech
asparagus_p LinkI just don't understand how so many people can afford to buy cars these days, and I mean really "afford" it, not financed to the hilt. Of course, there will always be those that can afford...I just don't understand how so many people can afford to buy cars these days, and I mean really "afford" it, not financed to the hilt. Of course, there will always be those that can afford $80-100,000 on a new car, but the mass market can't. Yet I see everyone in newish cars these days. Even used cars from the last 7 years are 30-40k here in Canada. My household is firmly in the middle-class in terms of income, yet we could never afford $400 bi-weekly payments to get a newish car on top of mortgage, bills, groceries, leisure spending, etc.
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Comment on Do you replay video games? in ~games
asparagus_p Link ParentMass Effect is my most replayed game, and I tend to replay through the whole trilogy each time. I have tried playing a Renegade character and femshep, but I usually play a male Shepard and...Mass Effect is my most replayed game, and I tend to replay through the whole trilogy each time. I have tried playing a Renegade character and femshep, but I usually play a male Shepard and Paragon. I have switched up my romances and I have what I consider my "canon" playthrough (Infiltrator, Ashley, save Rachni queen, etc.).
But each time I finish my playthrough, I swear it's the last time I do it. By the end I'm feeling like there are too many parts of the game that feel like a chore and that the magic dies a little more each time. Yet a few years later, I find a reason to pick it up once again. I still haven't played the Legendary edition, so I will definitely do another full playthrough at some point.
The only other game I have replayed is Skyrim, and that's because mods can make it completely different each time. Other than those two games, I rarely play games again. I'm currently playing AC: Odyssey, and while I'm really enjoying it, I know I will never play it again. It's far too long and grindy.
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Comment on What is worth the splurge to you and what absolutely isn't? in ~talk
asparagus_p Link ParentI never tell people not to tip, and I myself tip when I go out for dinner. I do it because it's expected and because I don't think it's fair to create bad blood between myself and the server when...I never tell people not to tip, and I myself tip when I go out for dinner. I do it because it's expected and because I don't think it's fair to create bad blood between myself and the server when it's not really their fault. My beef is not with them.
I also respect that you are doing a kindness, and if it makes you happy, it's not my place to tell you to stop. Personally, I wouldn't lavishly tip regularly because I rarely see a server doing anything other than what is expected by any professional doing their job. I'm kind, friendly, respectful and I hope the servers find me a pleasure to serve. I have conversations with them, I smile a lot, forgive mistakes, etc. Tipping on top of that just feels wrong, even though I do it. In my own line of work, I provide excellent service to my clients. I go out of my way to accommodate them. I'm responsive and fix any problems they may have. But I would never get tipped and I never expect to get tipped. It seems strange to me that we don't hold servers and restaurants to the same standards. I know there is a minimum wage issue in some parts of the States, but here in Canada, we have laws that ensure they get paid at least minimum wage. I know that isn't living wage, but that's a problem affecting many sectors and jobs, and customers propping up those restaurants is just a band-aid solution to a problem that needs extensive surgery.
Tipping is an antiquated system that shouldn't have a place in modern society. I firmly believe that, and I've yet to hear a compelling argument for why it should remain. But rather than telling people to stop tipping, I just try to deal with it in my own way. And that means I rarely go out for dinner now. The tipping culture can spoil an otherwise nice meal as I mentioned in another post, so I just don't bother as much as I used to. Just special occasions now. If people are doing the same and restaurants go out of business, that's just capitalism at work.
Tons of prog rock and prog metal! Devin Townsend, Nospun, Universal Totem Orchestra, The Ocean, Kingcrow and other obscure artists that I'd be very impressed if anyone else has heard of (sometimes less than 100 Spotify monthly listeners).