beeef's recent activity
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
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Comment on Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges in ~tech
beeef LinkDoes anyone have experience with leaving their smart devices offline permanently? I have a Samsung smart TV, but I've never given it my wifi password. I have an external box for it so it's...Does anyone have experience with leaving their smart devices offline permanently?
I have a Samsung smart TV, but I've never given it my wifi password. I have an external box for it so it's literally just never gone online.
I also have an LG window air conditioner that is "smart", but it's also never been online. I can control it just fine with the remote, and even set a schedule for while I'm out of town so the house is nice and cool when we get back from vacation.
Do these refrigerators work offline?
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Comment on Colorado's Tildos - How-does it suit you? in ~life
beeef LinkThis state is the largest and most left of the mountain states. While I don't agree with everything our legislature is doing, they're doing more for the common working man than our neighbors. It's...Do you feel concerned about living there long term?
This state is the largest and most left of the mountain states. While I don't agree with everything our legislature is doing, they're doing more for the common working man than our neighbors.
Does the water situation bother you?
It's something I think about. The Colorado River Compact is in flux now. I live near the Upper Colorado headwaters. The Front Range cities and lower basin states do seem hell-bent on stealing as much water from here as possible. Colorado is the headwaters for a large portion of the western US, so we have a lot of power in water negotiations. If we're truly talking survival I think I'll walk to the Mighty Colorado and take what I need, regardless of what the water compact says we're allowed haha.
Did you move there as an adult, or were you raised there?
As an adult.
How does it compare to other places, in your view?
I've lived in rural areas my whole life. There aren't many places where you can live rural and still have culture, and frankly it's thanks to the money the ski resorts bring. I've thought about moving back, told myself that there are outdoorsy places in Northern Minnesota or the U-P or Appalachia, but then I go visit and it's just not the same.
With that said, I don't go east of the Eisenhower Tunnel more than once or twice a year. Colorado is like four states in one. From east to west, you have the farming communities on the great planes of eastern Colorado, the big cities east of the front range, the mountain towns in the high rockies, and the oil and gas cities of the western slope. It kind of depends which you're asking about.
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Comment on What are the genuinely worst films of all time? in ~movies
beeef LinkOne of the worst movies I've personally seen was the 2002 remake of Rollerball. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember two things: 1) it was in the news as the worst box office flop in...One of the worst movies I've personally seen was the 2002 remake of Rollerball. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember two things: 1) it was in the news as the worst box office flop in a long time, 2) it was the first date I ever took a girl on. We were in 7th grade and I think my mom dropped us off and picked us up. I have no idea why or how we picked that movie.
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Comment on Recommendations for noise cancelling, over ear headphones in ~tech
beeef Link ParentI've been using the XM3 since I bought them new many moons ago. They're comfortable and they fold up nicely into a carrying case. I like the touch activated controls on the right headphone. The...I've been using the XM3 since I bought them new many moons ago. They're comfortable and they fold up nicely into a carrying case. I like the touch activated controls on the right headphone. The sound quality is excellent and I love the option of noise canceling, ambient sound, or regular modes.
I know you don't ask, but my on ear headphones for working out are three WC CH 520. Inexpensive enough that I don't mind them bouncing around in a workout bag or getting sweaty. The only things I don't like is that they don't fold up nicely and they don't come with a carrying case, and also that the material on the ear cups gets wet with sweat and creates a painful suction effect on my ears, especially if I'm walking or running.
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Comment on Looking for an effective self-block application for Android in ~tech
beeef LinkI really struggle with this as well, especially as someone with bad ADHD and also working from home. In fact, I am literally blowing off work right now while browsing Tildes and to type this. I...I really struggle with this as well, especially as someone with bad ADHD and also working from home. In fact, I am literally blowing off work right now while browsing Tildes and to type this.
I put a screen use time widget on my home screen. That way every time I pick up my phone I am faced directly with how much time I've wasted on it that day. The problem with this is, if I am "good" and don't use it much, I think to myself: "oh I've got X minutes left in my phone budget today, so I'm going to spend the rest of the night scrolling." Not good.
The only thing I've found that really helps is physically putting my phone somewhere else. It is downstairs on the kitchen table right now. If I "accidentally" go get it again, I might make it more difficult to get to by bringing it outside and locking it in my car. I have such a bad memory that sometimes putting it in a random drawer will make me forget where it is the next time I go to pick it up, so I can effectively "hide" it from myself (until I use the find my phone feature from my watch).
I have also received advertisements for this "brick" product, although I have no personal experience with it: https://getbrick.com/
Unfortunately, I do have to be at a computer for work. Before I went WFH, I asked a friend who worked in IT to block certain websites from my machine for me, which helped. But I have found nothing to remain focused with a computer monitor in front of me.
Sometimes I just say to myself, "be bored". Like if I'm about to pick it up I just have to think to myself, "no... it's OK to just be bored for a minute. Stare at the wall if you have to but don't pick up the phone." Sorry you're dealing with this, I know what it's like. I have not found many good strategies but these are the best ones I've come up with.
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Comment on Gualliguaica - The drowning town in ~enviro
beeef LinkThanks for posting. I know of a few towns that were drowned to build reservoirs, and I've always thought it would be interesting, if sad, to be there while it happens. I wonder if you SCUBA dived...Thanks for posting. I know of a few towns that were drowned to build reservoirs, and I've always thought it would be interesting, if sad, to be there while it happens. I wonder if you SCUBA dived in this reservoir would you see remnants like foundations, or the baker's oven, still there.
We have a nearby town with an urban legend that you could still see the old church steeple when the water is low enough. Of course this is impossible, but we still like to tell the lie to newcomers and visitors.
I want to say, I've often wished for a way to search for sites like yours. Those being: personal websites of people with a particular interest or hobby and a lot of information about it. The pages about free flying are very cool!
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Comment on How has climate change affected your life / plans? in ~enviro
beeef LinkI've been living in Colorado ski towns my whole adult life. Anecdotally, I've noticed two big things In the summers, I feel like I used to be able to set my watch by the afternoon rain all summer...I've been living in Colorado ski towns my whole adult life. Anecdotally, I've noticed two big things
- In the summers, I feel like I used to be able to set my watch by the afternoon rain all summer long. We still have a monsoon season, but it seems much shorter and not nearly as consistent. Some days it rains all day, then we'll have a dry spell. Summer campfire bans were occasional, now they seem to be every other year.
- We've had some really, really bad winters. There have been low-snow winters as long as we've been recording them (I know '77-'78 was supposed to be pretty terrible), but I feel like the "normal" winters are much rarer, "bad" winters are more common, and "big snow" winters are extremely rare.
I love skiing, but I've been considering a move back to the great lakes where I grew up just because it seems like the west is drying out and the midwest/northeast seem like they might do alright with global warming. Duluth and the UP both get nearly as snowy as here, but there's not much good skiing. Upstate NY, northern VT, and northern NH seem like they get decent snow off Ontario, and the skiing isn't great but they do have some small mountains. Have also thought about going to British Columbia or Alaska, but I think they're facing the same problems as Colorado.
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Comment on Your cookware got worse on purpose: who owns Pyrex and All-Clad now in ~food
beeef LinkIt feels like I need to research every single little purchase decision I make before purchasing anything, to make sure it didn't get bought out by private equity or a conglomerate. Even Costco...It feels like I need to research every single little purchase decision I make before purchasing anything, to make sure it didn't get bought out by private equity or a conglomerate. Even Costco sells the fake Pyrex and now I don't even feel like I have the trust that their buyers are properly researching items before putting them on the shelves.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
beeef Link ParentYeah.... you can say that again. That said, I probably would finish reading the series if the finales were ever released. I'm interested in your recommendations since you seem to have good taste....I don't really care what Rothfuss or Martin do anymore and haven't for a while.
Yeah.... you can say that again. That said, I probably would finish reading the series if the finales were ever released.
Plus expanding the authors I read means theres literally an unreadable amount of good books out there
I'm interested in your recommendations since you seem to have good taste. I recently read the first three Farseer books and am also on the third book of the first Stormlight Archive arc.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
beeef Link ParentI'm not sure what you mean about an unfortunate period - does this mean the writers don't have publishing support for future books? I don't know much about the writing or publishing industry, only...I'm not sure what you mean about an unfortunate period - does this mean the writers don't have publishing support for future books? I don't know much about the writing or publishing industry, only the stories themselves and discourse around them.
I think that's the nice thing about the graph I posted. I'm fine with a finale that's only slightly worse than its own average rating. But some of them seem to go so far off-base that it's not even worth starting.
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
beeef LinkBetween Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Dexter, and The Name of the Wind (to name a few), I have basically sworn off of starting series or books until I can independently verify that the thing I'm...Between Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Dexter, and The Name of the Wind (to name a few), I have basically sworn off of starting series or books until I can independently verify that the thing I'm about to start 1) is completed (or at the very least, the sub-series or first arc is completed in the cases of very large "world building" type of series) and 2) the finale is rated by viewers or readers at least as high as the rest of the series. This chart popped up on Reddit many years ago and I've been meaning to look at the repo and apply it to more recently created tv series. The only thing I don't really keep this rule with is podcasts (shoutouts to Limetown, Malevolent, The Magnus Archives, and Old Gods of Appalachia).
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Comment on What's your dream job? in ~life
beeef LinkIf money didn't matter I think I'd be a backcountry ski guide three days a week from January through April and a fly fishing guide three days a week June through September and I'd spend the rest...If money didn't matter I think I'd be a backcountry ski guide three days a week from January through April and a fly fishing guide three days a week June through September and I'd spend the rest of the year traveling or taking classes in interesting things or building cool projects.
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Comment on USA to mandate surveillance tech for new cars also determing fitness to drive by 2027 in ~transport
beeef Link ParentFor people that can work on their own stuff, I don't think this will really be an issue. I usually buy 5-10 year old cars. If, in 2032, I'm buying a 2027 vehicle, I'd imagine hackers and mechanics...For people that can work on their own stuff, I don't think this will really be an issue.
I usually buy 5-10 year old cars. If, in 2032, I'm buying a 2027 vehicle, I'd imagine hackers and mechanics will have long since made circumventing any of this nanny-state crap on the 2027 model year easy to do for someone that can plug in an OBDII scanner and maybe snip a few unnecessary GPS/modem/camera/sensor wires or swap in a new ECU.
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Comment on Music streamer Deezer allows users to filter out AI music, so why does Spotify not offer the same? in ~music
beeef Link ParentIn addition to this, I've found a bunch of real, live radio stations that have .pls files on their website that I can save to my hard drive and open in VLC on desktop or on my phone. They get kind...For just mindless “play the radio” type stuff, funnily enough, I find Pandora is still the GOAT.
In addition to this, I've found a bunch of real, live radio stations that have .pls files on their website that I can save to my hard drive and open in VLC on desktop or on my phone. They get kind of repetitive if you listen to the same station all day every day, but I have a few I rotate throughout the work week. Doesn't work as well if you're driving and have a spotty connection though. I think I'm so dependent on Spotify since I basically never have service while camping and they make it easy to download thousands of songs with one tap.
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Comment on Music streamer Deezer allows users to filter out AI music, so why does Spotify not offer the same? in ~music
beeef Link ParentThey don't just do this with AI. There are plenty of God-awful covers on the platform that they sneak into otherwise good playlists. I needed a road trip playlist and didn't have time to build one...The easy answer is that Spotify sucks and wants very much to serve you slop it can sling without paying royalties rather than actual music.
They don't just do this with AI. There are plenty of God-awful covers on the platform that they sneak into otherwise good playlists. I needed a road trip playlist and didn't have time to build one so I got Spotify-created playlist based on a generic "road trip music" type search. I ended up skipping maybe 3 songs out of the first 10 because they were some garbage cover of an otherwise good song. I don't know if they were AI covers or covers from a smaller and cheaper band that could play these things similarly. They're clearly just trying to avoid paying the original creator. Now I just try to avoid picking any of the "Spotify-created" playlists and find playlists that seem to be curated by an actual human.
Unfortunately music streaming seems to be going the same way video streaming did. Spotify used to be awesome (like Netflix was). I had to go back to piracy for the most part for movies and TV, and now it looks like I'll have to do the same for music unfortunately.
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Comment on Your favourite karaoke songs? in ~music
beeef (edited )LinkFriends in Low Places by Garth Brooks is a go-to for me. I also sing a ton of Avril Lavigne and early- to mid-aughts pop punk. And a lot of Alan Jackson. I forgot to mention a lot of Eminem -...Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks is a go-to for me. I also sing a ton of Avril Lavigne and early- to mid-aughts pop punk. And a lot of Alan Jackson. I forgot to mention a lot of Eminem - mostly Marshall Mathers LP and a little bit of The Eminem Show.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
beeef LinkI got a 32:9 Ultrawide and the two I've been enjoying so far are Beam NG Drive and Arma Reforger. I really just got Arma because the helicopter flight looked cool. So I am basically just using it...I got a 32:9 Ultrawide and the two I've been enjoying so far are Beam NG Drive and Arma Reforger. I really just got Arma because the helicopter flight looked cool. So I am basically just using it as a flight sim in the sandbox mode. I have played a few multiplayer games but it takes a while to get up to the point you can get a heli in those games. I've enjoyed Beam for a long time but with the new screen it is so much better.
I've also rejoined my playthrough on Divinity Original Sin II. Despite having about 250 hours in multiple playthroughs throughout the years, Arx is the furthest I've gotten. I've decided I'm going to finish this before picking up Baldur's Gate.
I still haven't finished Elden Ring and was so disappointed that you need a mod to get ultrawide working, and you have to be offline in order to not trip the anti-cheat with it.
I'd really like to find an immersive first person RPG with native ultrawide support. I started playing Borderlands 2 again when I saw it supported ultrawide natively, but I like the more Skyrim-ish vibes rather than future/dystopia sort of thing.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life
beeef Link ParentYeah I use the term "ask the boss" in a joking manner. It's not really asking permission. I live with someone so I'm going to check with them before hosting a social function. I would do the same...Yeah I use the term "ask the boss" in a joking manner. It's not really asking permission. I live with someone so I'm going to check with them before hosting a social function. I would do the same if I had roommates instead of a wife. Not really any different from booking a conference room at work. You check the conference room calendar to make sure it's free when you need it before scheduling a big important meeting.
As far as not hosting, the conversation goes more like "hey I checked the calendar and there's nothing on it so I'm doing X Wednesday after work, double checking that we don't have anything happening that night, right?" But I still might phrase it as I "asked the boss".
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Comment on Enjoying reading in the age of LLMs in ~humanities
beeef LinkI was looking for discussion and analysis of a book I recently finished and it was so hard to wade through mountains of SEO optimized crap and AI slop. I feel like I used to be able to find some...I was looking for discussion and analysis of a book I recently finished and it was so hard to wade through mountains of SEO optimized crap and AI slop. I feel like I used to be able to find some English professor's personal geocities blog fairly easily and get some actual interesting viewpoints. I wish I could filter out websites based on Alexa rank or something, just remove the top 10% or 20% or even 50% most visited websites on the net from my search results so I could find some good "deep cuts" with real discussion and opinions.
A combination of:
Basically the most immersive open-world fantasy RPG imaginable.
I've played Skyrim more than probably any other game. Most of my mods focus on making the combat mechanics more exciting and less clunky, and adding NPCs with new lines of dialogue. I have thought about trying the Skyrim together mod, but it seems a bit complex to set up and the people I'd want in my party aren't as tech-savvy when it comes to modding.