asparagus_p's recent activity
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
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Comment on AI videos have never been better: can you tell what's real? in ~tech
asparagus_p LinkI don't think our scores matter all that much because the point is already made: AI videos are good enough to fool lots of people. This particular test was done in such a way as to try and fool...I don't think our scores matter all that much because the point is already made: AI videos are good enough to fool lots of people. This particular test was done in such a way as to try and fool you, but it doesn't really matter. Hardly anyone will get 10/10, so it's already a scary future we are in.
I've been saying for a couple of years now that we need transparency regulations. AI absolutely must be labeled clearly as such, and it's scandalous that governments are dragging their heels on this. I know it won't stop people publishing fake videos, but it will be a start and at least stop major brands from doing it.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
asparagus_p Link ParentIt depends. Some CGI (like OG Jurassic Park), is amazing and the right choice for fast-paced, frantic scenes.It depends. Some CGI (like OG Jurassic Park), is amazing and the right choice for fast-paced, frantic scenes.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
asparagus_p Link ParentAnd I'm fine with that as long as it's believable and not obviously a puppet. I know he's an alien and so we shouldn't apply earth-like expectations to him, but if the locomotion is off, it will...And I'm fine with that as long as it's believable and not obviously a puppet. I know he's an alien and so we shouldn't apply earth-like expectations to him, but if the locomotion is off, it will kill immersion.
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Comment on The reason movie trailers give so much away: "a necessary evil" in ~movies
asparagus_p LinkIt's interesting to read this straight after seeing the new trailer for Project Hail Mary. That trailer contains quite a few spoilers, so it's got people talking about it. One of the theories is...It's interesting to read this straight after seeing the new trailer for Project Hail Mary. That trailer contains quite a few spoilers, so it's got people talking about it. One of the theories is that the spoilers are there deliberately to show people what kind of movie it is and so they know what to expect and don't feel cheated (in this case, it's a family-friendly movie, not a thriller). This article pretty much supports that theory, but with the added context that focus groups specifically say that they want to see more of a movie. That surprised me as someone who likes a good twist, but it's not surprising when thinking about how most focus groups are chosen.
These focus groups are chosen with the angle of maximizing bums on seats. They supposedly represent the mass market, but that of course does not represent healthy chunks of the population, especially the movie buffs.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
asparagus_p Link ParentThe back of the book hints at the fact that he's not alone, but it's not explicit at all. I wish they'd kept this level of intrigue by just hinting at it - maybe just a quick glimpse of the ship...The back of the book hints at the fact that he's not alone, but it's not explicit at all. I wish they'd kept this level of intrigue by just hinting at it - maybe just a quick glimpse of the ship or something. I'm surprised they even showed Rocky because that doesn't seem necessary, even if they wanted to make it clear it was an alien movie. Perhaps it's to show it's a family-friendly movie and not a horror/thriller?
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
asparagus_p Link ParentI had similar thoughts about the little of Rocky I saw in this trailer - it looks like an animatronic more akin to ET than a movie with 2025 technology. But, it was just a trailer and maybe it...I had similar thoughts about the little of Rocky I saw in this trailer - it looks like an animatronic more akin to ET than a movie with 2025 technology. But, it was just a trailer and maybe it will look better in the actual movie.
I'm also very curious about the ending and how they handle it. I think it's a very important part of the story, so I'll be very disappointed if they skip it.
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentCertainly no easy answers! I'm actually supposed to be going to the Louvre in a few weeks. I'm travelling a long way to get there, so I really hope there won't be a strike!Certainly no easy answers! I'm actually supposed to be going to the Louvre in a few weeks. I'm travelling a long way to get there, so I really hope there won't be a strike!
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentPossibly, but I'm sure they can come up with ways to prevent this if they are willing to stamp out corruption. Don't allow reselling, have unique identifying numbers per ticket, don't sell...(1) this will absolutely create a black market for tickets, so rich folks are getting in anyways,
Possibly, but I'm sure they can come up with ways to prevent this if they are willing to stamp out corruption. Don't allow reselling, have unique identifying numbers per ticket, don't sell wholesale... (not an expert).
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentI agree, and I hate that its affordability has ruined certain locations. But I don't think looking to history in this respect should serve as a model for what it should be. Society was very...I mean, tourism has long exclusively been for the very wealthy.
I agree, and I hate that its affordability has ruined certain locations. But I don't think looking to history in this respect should serve as a model for what it should be. Society was very different back in the days of the Grand Tour.
I have no problem with airline prices being higher the further you travel, and obviously I have no problem with more luxury being available to those who can afford it. So wealth can still be a differentiating factor in tourism. But inflating prices of cultural sights and attractions does not seem the fair thing to do. I don't think they should be the exclusive domain of the wealthy. Someone from Germany should be able to travel to and holiday in France fairly cheaply by virtue of their geographical location, whereas they may not be able to afford a trip to Australia.
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentWhat's wrong with just restricting numbers? I don't see why pricing needs to be used to price people out of it, when you can just allocate X number of tickets per day and ensure there are...Tourists are causing harm, so we might as well charge them for it.
What's wrong with just restricting numbers? I don't see why pricing needs to be used to price people out of it, when you can just allocate X number of tickets per day and ensure there are designated time slots.
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentSo the wealthy just get to do whatever they want regardless of desire, whereas the less privileged have to make agonizing decisions every day based on how much they desire it?Price is proxy for desire. If your dream is to see the Mona Lisa or whatever, then an additional $100 is not a big deal,
So the wealthy just get to do whatever they want regardless of desire, whereas the less privileged have to make agonizing decisions every day based on how much they desire it?
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Comment on The world’s most-visited museum shuts down, in response to mass tourism in ~travel
asparagus_p Link ParentI wish I could downvote the suggestion to penalize lower-income people and find new ways to favour the rich. "Due to overtourism, the world's cultural treasures are henceforth only to be...I wish I could downvote the suggestion to penalize lower-income people and find new ways to favour the rich.
"Due to overtourism, the world's cultural treasures are henceforth only to be appreciated by the wealthy"
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Comment on Can AI-generated photos be art? in ~arts
asparagus_p LinkThe answer to "Is X art?" is almost always "yes". I don't feel it's a useful discussion. I think a more useful conversation is one to have with yourself: "Do you enjoy it and/or feel it has...The answer to "Is X art?" is almost always "yes". I don't feel it's a useful discussion. I think a more useful conversation is one to have with yourself: "Do you enjoy it and/or feel it has artistic value for you". Everyone has their own tastes, and I'm sure many will enjoy AI-generated art.
For me, art that I value has to have a human component involved in its creation, which is more than just random chance. I think there needs to be a vision behind it, an intentionality, so that the finished piece is roughly what was envisaged. Added to that, its value for me increases with human skill. If I enjoy looking at it AND it has been created with skill that I can't personally match, my enjoyment and admiration of it increases more. AI-generated art does not generally fit those criteria... for me.
This is how I like to approach the subject of whether something is art, but I also acknowledge that it's deeply personal and others will have different definitions. And that's ok.
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Comment on Ukraine destroys more than forty military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia in ~news
asparagus_p LinkCan anyone explain to me why Ukraine are being very transparent about this attack now? They seem to giving away all their secrets. Is it because an attack like this can only be done once? And is...Can anyone explain to me why Ukraine are being very transparent about this attack now? They seem to giving away all their secrets. Is it because an attack like this can only be done once? And is it also about humiliating Russia by showing how they did it? I still would have thought it's best to keep details as secret as possible.
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Comment on Will the humanities survive artificial intelligence? in ~tech
asparagus_p Link ParentWhat concerns me with my experiments with chatbots is how confident they sound, even when they have produced a wrong answer. In my experience, incorrect or misleading information is consistently...What concerns me with my experiments with chatbots is how confident they sound, even when they have produced a wrong answer. In my experience, incorrect or misleading information is consistently provided, and it's only because I know the real answer that I have discovered the problem. If I didn't know the answer, there's nothing that would make me think the answer is wrong, other than the vague "X can make mistakes. Check important info" disclaimer. In their attempts to sound as human and natural as possible, they imitate our very human tendency to confidently spout bullshit.
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Comment on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals win election in ~society
asparagus_p Link ParentBecause he's a fiscal Conservative and socially more progressive. So, he seized an opportunity that mostly aligned with his convictions. The Conservative party have moved further right ever since...Why would we trust a guy who's a Conservative when it suits and a Liberal when it seems more opportune?
Because he's a fiscal Conservative and socially more progressive. So, he seized an opportunity that mostly aligned with his convictions. The Conservative party have moved further right ever since joining with Reform, and there's no centre right anymore. That's a shame because right-leaning moderates have no choice but to support Liberal or go much further right than they are comfortable with.
I don't think it makes Carney any less of a man of conviction than Poilievre. Do you really think a career politician won't change convictions to secure the vote? Idolizing a party leader and failing to see through their spin is how the US got into such a mess.
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Comment on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals win election in ~society
asparagus_p Link ParentYou can't take QC out of the equation. They're a part of Canada, and you can't ignore them. Saying that QC never likes a Conservative is a cop out. Conservatives have been in power in the past,...You can't take QC out of the equation. They're a part of Canada, and you can't ignore them. Saying that QC never likes a Conservative is a cop out. Conservatives have been in power in the past, and they will be again, and QC has and will be part of the equation.
Polievre's wins could have been done by anyone in this election because lots of people were fed up with the Liberals and wanted change. The deciding vote in Canada rests on the more moderate voters that can swing either left or right, but not too far either way. Once Carney stepped in, those moderates had a choice, and the fact is that Poilievre is too far right on social matters for many. His Trump-lite playbook with slogans and nicknames was not a good strategy when Trump was let loose, and Poilievre was too slow or incapable of pivoting.
I think you're letting him off too lightly. The right leader would have won it for the Conservatives.
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Comment on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals win election in ~society
asparagus_p Link ParentAre you not holding him accountable for failing to win the election? You can't just blame everyone else when the right leader should easily have won that for the Conservative party. He looked...You might not like him but the guy's effective when he has a mission. And I'd put Poilievre the bulldog against Trump any day. He's feisty, smart and thinks fast on his feet.
Are you not holding him accountable for failing to win the election? You can't just blame everyone else when the right leader should easily have won that for the Conservative party. He looked utterly lost once Trudeau and the Carbon Tax were gone. He didn't think fast enough, had no clear strategy, and failed to win over enough voters. That election was there for the taking, and he fumbled when it mattered most.
Even if you think he played it well, then the simple fact is that he isn't popular enough. Not enough people like him or preferred him to the alternative, and that's a prerequisite to become the country's leader.
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Comment on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals win election in ~society
asparagus_p Link ParentThanks for your reply and explanation. This is very interesting, and I think you are putting far too much on just one man and ignoring what is actually going on down there. Yes, he's a buffoon,...Thanks for your reply and explanation.
I am of the very firm belief that the Trump threat is highly overblown and was used to great effect to scare voters
This is very interesting, and I think you are putting far too much on just one man and ignoring what is actually going on down there. Yes, he's a buffoon, but in 100 days he has caused incredible damage and been allowed to do things that should just not be possible. Regardless of whether he will be around in a few years, he has a lot of people in the background waiting to pick up where he left off. There will be a backlash eventually, but how much damage will be caused in the meantime, including within Canada?
believed that a resume was more important than actual past performance. Its a forehead slapping moment for me indeed.
But that was one of my points, Carney has actual past performance. He helped the UK through Brexit and Harper through the last great recession. And Poilievre? You mention he's a good bully, but what real successes has he got? None, nada. He failed to win the election, which was on a plate, and lost his seat. The Conservatives absolutely should have won that election, and it's a huge failure on Poilievre's part that he didn't manage to win it. But you seem to think that it's not his fault but rather some scaremongering from the Liberals. That's letting him off incredibly lightly. He failed when it really mattered, and I think that's a telling sign of his leadership qualities. We'll see if his uniting of the party lasts now.
And also a lot of CGI.