benpocalypse's recent activity
-
Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
-
Comment on Atlassian acquires The Browser Company (Arc, Dia) in ~tech
benpocalypse LinkAs someone that has to use Atlassian tooling every day for work, I can't see this going well. I mean, Atlassian has bought a bunch of companies as part of their tooling, and they still have at...As someone that has to use Atlassian tooling every day for work, I can't see this going well. I mean, Atlassian has bought a bunch of companies as part of their tooling, and they still have at least 3 different flavors of Markdown depending on what product you're in. It's infuriating.
-
Comment on What happened to your first car? in ~transport
benpocalypse LinkMy first car, a super crappy 1987 Cutlass Cierra, I drove all through college. It had almost 300k miles on it. After I graduated college I got a job where I traveled 100% of the time, so I gave it...My first car, a super crappy 1987 Cutlass Cierra, I drove all through college. It had almost 300k miles on it. After I graduated college I got a job where I traveled 100% of the time, so I gave it to one of my younger cousins as their first starter car. I have no idea what happened to it after that.
It had awesome bench seats, the aftermarket CD player I installed in it rarely would read the CD you put into it, and at a certain point the gas tank sprung a slow leak, so I could never fill it above half a tank or else it'd just drip out. Good memories.
-
Comment on What are some great actual comedies made in the last twenty years? in ~movies
benpocalypse LinkI always get yelled at for this, but I love Super Troopers 2. I regularly watch this scene, and watch the movie at least once a year. Downvote me into oblivion, but I'll die on this hill. Rob Lowe...I always get yelled at for this, but I love Super Troopers 2. I regularly watch this scene, and watch the movie at least once a year. Downvote me into oblivion, but I'll die on this hill. Rob Lowe as the mayor is just amazing.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
benpocalypse LinkI'm on my second play through of Starfield, and previously I had defended it to the death, but this time I see the cracks starting to show through. The first go-round I was blinded by the amazing...I'm on my second play through of Starfield, and previously I had defended it to the death, but this time I see the cracks starting to show through. The first go-round I was blinded by the amazing story and amazing number of places you could go.
However, this time, I can't help but feel that the various disparate systems in the game do not in fact make a whole game. The ship builder is unbelievably broken even after all this time. The reasons for building a base are essentially zip. The actual quests are great, but ultimately it feels like an empty universe. I'm gonna still finish this play through, but not ever come back to it again. On the first play through I was so hooked on the main quest that any annoyances I encountered, I just tucked them away. This time I can't seem to ignore them.
I completely understand why people don't love this game.
-
Comment on What do you need to vent about? in ~talk
benpocalypse Link3 years ago my wife and kids and I moved into our dream home, and ever since, it's been like the movie The Money Pit. The foundation and fundamentals have been great, but everything else has been...3 years ago my wife and kids and I moved into our dream home, and ever since, it's been like the movie The Money Pit. The foundation and fundamentals have been great, but everything else has been a complete nightmare. I've sunk countless money into keeping the plumbing and HVAC in order but it seems like at this point I'm fighting a losing battle. We've had to replace the water pump for our well 3 times, had to install an insanely expensive water filtration system, and had to get a lot of general plumbing work done thanks to the poor quality water. I love the challenge, but at a certain point I just got burnt out.
It's not like I can't afford it, but it's hard to find contractors to come out and even work on it. I am very mechanically inclined, and could do most of this myself, but I just don't have the time. I do as much as I can, but again, it just feels like an uphill battle. I know other folks have a worse situation than I do, but this just wears on me mentally.
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
benpocalypse Link ParentI haven't read Mutiny on the Bounty mainly because it's so intimidating as far as the lore goes. For me, the apex mountain is Master and Commander. I've read that book many times, and have watched...I haven't read Mutiny on the Bounty mainly because it's so intimidating as far as the lore goes. For me, the apex mountain is Master and Commander. I've read that book many times, and have watched the movie a million times.
It's so weird, after I turned 40 a few years ago I suddenly got into birding, books/movies about sailing, and WW2 movies. Previously I was mostly into Sci-Fi books and movies exclusively.
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
benpocalypse LinkAfter having finished reading The Terror, and watching the accompanying 10 episode show, I'm now reading The Wager by David Grann because I just can't get enough old timey tales of sailing ships...After having finished reading The Terror, and watching the accompanying 10 episode show, I'm now reading The Wager by David Grann because I just can't get enough old timey tales of sailing ships gone wrong.
-
Comment on John Deere must face US Federal Trade Commission lawsuit over its tractor repair monopoly, judge rules in ~transport
benpocalypse LinkI feel like this has been discussed to death since I was in high school, and I'm 44 with kids now. John Deere has been turning the screws on farmers for decades.I feel like this has been discussed to death since I was in high school, and I'm 44 with kids now. John Deere has been turning the screws on farmers for decades.
-
Comment on What's an achievement (or achievements) you'll always be proud of? in ~life
benpocalypse LinkI'm old, but when I was in college my friends and I were talking about NES games that were hard to beat. I proclaimed that I beat Mike Tyson's Punchout, and everyone said no-way, as none of them...I'm old, but when I was in college my friends and I were talking about NES games that were hard to beat. I proclaimed that I beat Mike Tyson's Punchout, and everyone said no-way, as none of them had done it. It had probably been 5-10 years since I had, so I practiced all week, and the following weekend I beat it from start to finish without getting knocked out in front of all the naysayers.
...I should probably put that on my resume.
-
Comment on What video game mods do you play, or have played in the past? in ~games
benpocalypse LinkI'm dating myself here, but when Capture the Flag came out for Quake 2 with the offhand grappling hook it changed my life. It was such a game changer that you could grab the flag, swing from the...I'm dating myself here, but when Capture the Flag came out for Quake 2 with the offhand grappling hook it changed my life. It was such a game changer that you could grab the flag, swing from the ceilings while being backwards and launching missiles at the people chasing you. There were CTF mods before it, but the offhand grappling hook blew my mind.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
benpocalypse LinkI thought John Mastodon was Elon's enemy?I thought John Mastodon was Elon's enemy?
-
Comment on Car maintenance/replacement advice in ~transport
benpocalypse LinkI'm not sure the warranty status on your CRV, but some brands still carry a 10 year powertrain warranty, and the engine is indeed part of the powertrain. You should at least inquire at your local...I'm not sure the warranty status on your CRV, but some brands still carry a 10 year powertrain warranty, and the engine is indeed part of the powertrain. You should at least inquire at your local Honda dealership about it. My wife has a 2016 Odyssey, and it definitely has a 10 year powertrain warranty.
Others have given some great pointers so best of luck!
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
benpocalypse Link ParentThey even added a mode called something like "tourist mode" where you can enjoy the game without having to do ANY of the tedium or worry about taking damage and just enjoy the amazing graphics and...They even added a mode called something like "tourist mode" where you can enjoy the game without having to do ANY of the tedium or worry about taking damage and just enjoy the amazing graphics and story. If you liked the demo and premise, I highly recommend you give it a 2nd chance.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
benpocalypse LinkI started playing Pacific Drive as soon as I had heard of it. It was really fun. I'm a huge sci-fi nerd and this is right up my alley. However, it seemed like the further you get in the game past...I started playing Pacific Drive as soon as I had heard of it. It was really fun. I'm a huge sci-fi nerd and this is right up my alley. However, it seemed like the further you get in the game past roughly the 10 hour mark, the more tedious and punishing the game got. Like...not in a fun way. So I stopped playing and sent the company that makes it, Ironwood Studios, a really constructively worded email explaining my frustrations and how I wished they would make the game more accessible for people like me that don't have the time to sink into games like this.
(It's a rogue like first person sci-fi driving game where you drive a car and upgrade it as you explore the mysterious "zone.")
I'm not taking credit for this, but a few months later they released a huge quality of life patch that allows you to customize almost all aspects of gameplay. They have presets you can choose from, or you can build you own.
Fast forward, I've got just over 35 hours in and am getting close to beating it now that I took out the tedium. Highly recommend it.
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
benpocalypse LinkMy company is launching a new greenfield product, which includes a new UI, and even though it's a bit old, it still applies - I've been reading The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman. It's...My company is launching a new greenfield product, which includes a new UI, and even though it's a bit old, it still applies - I've been reading The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman. It's essentially a book about how physical or software interface evolves over time to be user friendly. Hard recommend, even if you're not in the software field.
-
Comment on Elon Musk’s xAI seeks up to $4 billion to compete with OpenAI in ~tech
benpocalypse LinkI am also seeking 4 billion dollars.I am also seeking 4 billion dollars.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life
benpocalypse Link ParentI'm 43, have a wife and 2 kids, and a great job, and I'm still playing my student loans. I was lucky to have refinanced when rates were low, so the payments aren't outrageous, but I agree that...I'm 43, have a wife and 2 kids, and a great job, and I'm still playing my student loans. I was lucky to have refinanced when rates were low, so the payments aren't outrageous, but I agree that this is a bandaid over a broken system. Higher education shouldn't be so expensive, and honestly in America we should have universal healthcare and free higher education.
-
Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
benpocalypse LinkAfter many weeks of part time effort, I finally got Rss generation working for my static site generator that's written in C#/.Net. It's nothing impressive, of course, but I'm enjoying hand rolling...After many weeks of part time effort, I finally got Rss generation working for my static site generator that's written in C#/.Net. It's nothing impressive, of course, but I'm enjoying hand rolling my own SSG. It's probably still not fit for public consumption, but I use it to run my own personal site. It just takes in Markdown files and spits out a website that is pure Html/Css.
If anyone is morbidly curious you can check out Markerator on Github. Feel free to file issues.
Oh, and you can see the site that is being generated with it my personal site, Bengineering.
-
Comment on The sins committed in the name of Agile development in ~comp
benpocalypse LinkI'm really getting tired of the recent trend of crapping on Agile. If you don't like it fine, don't use it. At my last company, the teething pains of agile implementation weren't fun, but after...I'm really getting tired of the recent trend of crapping on Agile. If you don't like it fine, don't use it. At my last company, the teething pains of agile implementation weren't fun, but after roughly 6 months we got in a really great groove and I learned to love Agile. If it fits your organization and team, use it. If it doesn't, then use Kanban or something else and shutup.
I'm going to get downvoted to oblivion for this, but my wife, kids and I love the movie Captain Ron, and watched it just last weekend. We watch it at least once a year, and I don't care how bad it sucks, I love it.