AugustusFerdinand's recent activity

  1. Comment on Looking for very specific mouse recommendations in ~tech

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    I'm 100% trackball all the time, even (and especially) while gaming. Haven't touched a mouse in years outside of needing to use someone else's computer for whatever reason. I generally despise...

    I'm 100% trackball all the time, even (and especially) while gaming. Haven't touched a mouse in years outside of needing to use someone else's computer for whatever reason. I generally despise trackpads and don't even use them for anything other than the very occasional need to the desktop on my SteamDeck and even then if it's more than a few moments or a single task or two, I just pair one of the spare wireless trackballs I have to it.

    I have purchased Deck Verified games only to find out they use the trackpads and immediately refunded them.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Looking for very specific mouse recommendations in ~tech

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Can I interest you in our lord and savior, the superior pointing device since the dawn of time: Trackball

    Can I interest you in our lord and savior, the superior pointing device since the dawn of time: Trackball

    3 votes

  3. Comment on Danish deposit system: 93% of bottles and cans are returned and of those, 99.7% recycled (translation in comment) in ~enviro

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    For my current (Colorado) and former (Texas) states, there are no bottle return programs, so stats will likely be non-existent. In Colorado, the waste bins aren't provided by the local government...

    For my current (Colorado) and former (Texas) states, there are no bottle return programs, so stats will likely be non-existent.

    In Colorado, the waste bins aren't provided by the local government and are instead through private companies that residents have to seek out on their own, recycling is an optional extra that is not required (most neighbors have the recycling bin, but some do not). We separate waste appropriately, which was then picked up on a bi-weekly basis and sorted by the waste collection center.

    For Texas it is largely the same except the municipality provided trash and recycling bins and it was picked up weekly instead of bi-weekly.
    In Texas "metal recycling centers" are commonplace where people take various metals to be paid for them by weight. It is a common practice to do so among the poor and homeless population as aluminum pays the most of the common metals and is easy to acquire as there's little to stop someone from picking it out of trash bins, dumpsters, or just picking up litter. It is also commonplace for people, often immigrants or people just trying to make ends meet, to go around the city in their vehicles on "bulk trash" days to pick up the discarded metals from the curb to take to recycling centers for money. As with many things involving individuals, this has positives and negatives depending on the people involved.

    5 votes

  4. Comment on New policy changes for Southwest Airlines in ~travel

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    That's probably just on me then. Some of the friend group fly Southwest constantly, so I remember them talking about it, but didn't pay much attention as my history shows I fly with them about...

    That's probably just on me then. Some of the friend group fly Southwest constantly, so I remember them talking about it, but didn't pay much attention as my history shows I fly with them about once every 5 years.

  5. Comment on New policy changes for Southwest Airlines in ~travel

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    Heard about that last year, but was under the impression that uproar had them reverse that decision because apparently some people like to fight for a seat?

    Heard about that last year, but was under the impression that uproar had them reverse that decision because apparently some people like to fight for a seat?

  6. Comment on New policy changes for Southwest Airlines in ~travel

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    Cheaper in the sense that checked bags were included and their prices were generally in the same range as other airlines without checked bags (or the price was comparable if you were checking a...

    Cheaper in the sense that checked bags were included and their prices were generally in the same range as other airlines without checked bags (or the price was comparable if you were checking a bag), except Southwest's other aspects are all Spirit/Frontier level budget airline aspects.

    3 votes

  7. Comment on New policy changes for Southwest Airlines in ~travel

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    The new policy gets rid of the free checked bags, the rest of it doesn't change, so their only advantage is now gone.

    The new policy gets rid of the free checked bags, the rest of it doesn't change, so their only advantage is now gone.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on New policy changes for Southwest Airlines in ~travel

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Unlike others here I've never liked Southwest and that's as a former Texan that lived in the same city as their headquarters at Love Field. Their seating setup sucks, the race to check-in to not...

    Unlike others here I've never liked Southwest and that's as a former Texan that lived in the same city as their headquarters at Love Field. Their seating setup sucks, the race to check-in to not get a shit seat sucks, exclusive use of shitty Boeing jets sucks, yadda-yadda-yadda, and not any cheaper than any other flight.
    I am flying Southwest next week when I go back to Texas, but that's only because I have stuff I'm bringing to family members and get the two checked bags for "free" (ticket price is higher than another airline where I would normally have no checked bags) which are also old suitcases I'm not brining back with me. If I was flying after these policies kicked in, I'd just choose another airline like I usually do. Not that these private equity vultures give two shits about my once-in-a-blue-moon flight with them, but sure as hell means the next time I need to fly somewhere where Southwest also goes, it won't be on Southwest. Congrats on getting rid of the only thing that made you appealing, but I'm sure you'll make millions as short term profits make the stock go up and you sell off your share right before it all comes crashing down.

    11 votes

  9. Comment on Chromecast alternatives in ~tech

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Define "functionality of a Chromecast" for your use cases. I know of some people that use them as smart sticks to run Netflix, Hulu, etc. instead of having a smart TV, some that just use them for...

    Define "functionality of a Chromecast" for your use cases. I know of some people that use them as smart sticks to run Netflix, Hulu, etc. instead of having a smart TV, some that just use them for screen mirroring, etc.

    5 votes

  10. Suggest a remote desktop program?

    ~tech Ask (recommendations)
    TL:DR: Need a remote desktop program that will let me get into my desktop from another network with no action required at the desktop itself. Will be out of town for about two weeks, have a...

    TL:DR: Need a remote desktop program that will let me get into my desktop from another network with no action required at the desktop itself.

    Will be out of town for about two weeks, have a Windows 10 desktop and a Windows 10 tablet. Desktop stays home, tablet is going with me in case I need something from my desktop. Need a way to connect and access and control my desktop from the tablet (I'll have KBM with me) with no interaction at the desktop itself (most remote desktop programs require confirmation at the desktop to access and/or gain control).

    Suggestions? FOSS preferred.

    18 votes

  11. Comment on Gran Turismo 3 in ultra widescreen in ~games

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    Attempt at a more immersive experience. Gran Turismo has never really been a "racing game" as most racing games of the time were, it was a "Driving Simulator" made with the best available tech for...

    Why an ultra-widescreen mode was added as a feature using technology clearly intended for LAN parties... I don't understand.

    Attempt at a more immersive experience. Gran Turismo has never really been a "racing game" as most racing games of the time were, it was a "Driving Simulator" made with the best available tech for each generation. Good enough to have spawned actual racing careers out of experienced players.
    So having an obscure way to get a more immersive simulation experience for those that could afford to do so makes perfect sense when approached as a simulator and not a game.

    3 votes

  12. Comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists in ~food

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    On the contrary, McDonald's had a long history of using beef tallow for their fries from the 40's to the 90's, when pressure to be healthier pushed them to switch to vegetable oil. That move was...

    McDonald's could not.

    On the contrary, McDonald's had a long history of using beef tallow for their fries from the 40's to the 90's, when pressure to be healthier pushed them to switch to vegetable oil. That move was met with pushback because the potatoes now didn't taste beefy so they added "natural beef flavor" to the fries. If anything, going back to beef tallow would likely a big boon to McDonald's.

    Steak 'n Shake have already announced they've gone back to tallow.

    9 votes

  13. Comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists in ~food

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, has said Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by seed oils and has called for fast-food restaurants to return to using beef tallow, or rendered animal fat, in their fryers instead.

    7 votes

  15. Comment on US Justice Dept. says ending Louisiana petrochemical case helps ‘dismantle radical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs’ in ~society

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link

    The Justice Department on Friday celebrated its decision to drop a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana petrochemical plant accused of worsening cancer risks for residents in a majority-Black community, saying the dismissal showed that officials are “delivering on President (Donald) Trump’s promise to dismantle radical DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and restore integrity to federal enforcement efforts.”

    15 votes

  17. Comment on Discord in early talks about IPO in ~tech

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    This isn't directed at you, but is in the same vein as your comment: So... when are y'all going to learn your lesson then?

    This isn't directed at you, but is in the same vein as your comment:
    So... when are y'all going to learn your lesson then?

    1 vote

  18. Comment on The classic 1972 concert film Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii gets restored and will soon hit IMAX theaters in ~music

  19. Comment on AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT reviews and launch in ~games

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    I've been rocking AMD hardware for years (CPU and GPU) and have been very happy. Intel and Nvidia's prices for the performance has never sat well with me, their business practices even less so....

    I've been rocking AMD hardware for years (CPU and GPU) and have been very happy. Intel and Nvidia's prices for the performance has never sat well with me, their business practices even less so.
    Are they usually the fastest overall? Sure.
    Are they twice as fast for twice (or in this case thrice) the price? Nope and never have been.

    I also don't game in 4k, nor see the point in doing so as 1440p at 120hz has yet to leave me feeling like I'm missing something (and I have gamed in 4k with no noticeable difference, we're well within the realm of diminishing returns), nor have any intention to ever buy a single component of my PC that costs as much as my mortgage.
    If I wasn't perfectly content, and never had any issues with, my current 6900XTXH I'd upgrade to this and hand down my 6900XTXH to my wife (and subsequently hand down my former Vega 64 that she currently uses to someone else).

    7 votes

  20. Comment on Ghost – Satanized (2025) in ~music

    AugustusFerdinand
    Link Parent
    Yeah, they're the KISS of the 2020s for me.

    Yeah, they're the KISS of the 2020s for me.

    12 votes