bgc's recent activity

  1. Travel tips?

    ~travel Ask (survey)
    Hi everyone, I just came back from a trip - here are some interesting takeways I thought would be useful to share. Happy to hear from anyone about any other interesting ways to make your life...

    Hi everyone, I just came back from a trip - here are some interesting takeways I thought would be useful to share. Happy to hear from anyone about any other interesting ways to make your life better on the road.

    • Power: Bring a British power adapter head for airplane / train usage - often the North American style NEMA pins are very loose and this is a handy way of overcoming that problem. A very good solution is one of those power adapters for multiple countries with USBC and USBA ports in addition to being able to plug in. It was amazing on the flight to charge multiple devices at the same time.
    • Power: Modern power banks can deliver 100W and hold around 28K mAH (weird power unit, I know...) - even with a laptop you can last all day
    • Trusted Traveller Programs: Everyone knows about Global Entry, but a lesser known one is ABTC for Asia - saved me hours of waiting in line. I'm curious if there are any other good ones.
    • Networking: A little mini travel router is really useful to auto-connect all of your devices and allows you to use smart home devices. A little finicky in terms of setup so it requires some level of networking knowledge (e.g., MAC cloning). You can bring your own casting devices and take over the TV. You can also use it to share wifi on an airplane but I found it too clunky to want to do this often when flying economy.
    • Networking: Bring an ethernet cable and if your laptop doesn't have one, a dongle. Some hotels will have a more reliable eth connection.
    • TVs: Some TVs are set in a "hospitality mode" and have HDMI ports disabled.
    • Organization: Numbering all of your interal compartments with little tags so that you can make sure you have everything by just running through the numbers - this time, I left behind one bag by accident.
    • Finances: A Wise prepaid credit card is very convenient re: paying in local currency.
    • Transportation: Consider getting a transponder for whatever local toll system is in place. In the US my research indicates that the best one is the UNI from Central Florida Expressway.
    • Transportation: Always have an international driver's permit (IDP) - I forgot to get one ready and couldn't rent a car.
    • Passport: Lots of places surprisingly required the physical passport for things like tax free rebates, etc. Important to carry on person in a secure pocket.
    • Laundry: Surprisingly, many budget hotels come with either coin laundry or laundry machines, and many AirBnbs have ensuite laundry. It's good to book one in the middle of the trip on purpose to wash your clothes. The fancy hotels had very expensive laundry service $5 per piece of underwear...
    • Hotels: Travelling in Asia, I became a fan of the local hotel chains (especially Dormy Inn). Booking cancellable reservations also gave me flexibility to modify my travel plans.
    15 votes

  2. Comment on Which challenging book was worth the effort for you? in ~books

    bgc
    Link
    The Picture of Dorian Gray, every sentence and every word I felt like I had to highlight. Flowers for Algernon, I too went to a special school and keenly felt the blossoming of my mind. However,...

    The Picture of Dorian Gray, every sentence and every word I felt like I had to highlight.

    Flowers for Algernon, I too went to a special school and keenly felt the blossoming of my mind. However, one of my biggest fears is the eventual diminution of my mind as I age.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on What's an atypical thing you do that you'd recommend to others? in ~talk

    bgc
    Link
    Every morning I run a full mental / strength / flexibility routine instead of just stretching. That way I can use time to insert things into memory by rote memorization while doing static or...

    Every morning I run a full mental / strength / flexibility routine instead of just stretching. That way I can use time to insert things into memory by rote memorization while doing static or dynamic stretching. Example mental reps include memorized language phrases (introducing myself in other languages), jiujitsu frameworks, and thinking frameworks.

    4 votes

  4. Comment on Apple debuts iPhone 16e in ~tech

    bgc
    Link
    I was waiting for a iPhone SE with a USBC port :( to pair with a giant work iPhone

    I was waiting for a iPhone SE with a USBC port :( to pair with a giant work iPhone

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Reddit will lock some content behind a paywall this year, CEO says in ~tech

    bgc
    Link
    I wonder if the business strategy will be to paywall more things, or find some way to deliver value for dollar. I don't mind paying for things but not interested when it's simply a short term cash...

    I wonder if the business strategy will be to paywall more things, or find some way to deliver value for dollar. I don't mind paying for things but not interested when it's simply a short term cash grab at the expense of the community. That being said, please remember to donate for Tildes :). It's a blessing that Tildes isn't overrun with the same problems as a public company.

    4 votes

  6. Comment on What short standalone book is worth more than its page count? in ~books

    bgc
    Link
    Siddhartha by Herman Hesse - I suggest the librivox recording if anyone prefers audiobooks. It’s a quick and beautiful read.

    Siddhartha by Herman Hesse - I suggest the librivox recording if anyone prefers audiobooks. It’s a quick and beautiful read.

    2 votes

  7. What are your favorite special kitchen ingredients?

    ~food Ask (recommendations)
    I’m looking to explore a bit so i’d love to hear your thoughts. These are the items that make my kitchen special. I mainly cook Asian style food (Chinese, Japanese), so my ingredients trend in...

    I’m looking to explore a bit so i’d love to hear your thoughts. These are the items that make my kitchen special. I mainly cook Asian style food (Chinese, Japanese), so my ingredients trend in that direction. This is a combination of ingredients, condiments, and even snacks that bring joy to me.

    If there’s a particular special brand that you think is extra special, i’d love to hear it too!

    • Mirin (in Toronto there is a small store that makes homemade mirin)
    • Yuzu ponzu sauce (same supplier)
    • Furikake / shichimi
    • Korean seasoned salt
    • Perilla Oil (an amazing nuttier substitute to sesame oil) - great on subtle dishes like zaru soba
    • Szechuan peppercorns - amazing to put into the mortar with other aromatics
    • Chinese cured pork belly - wow how immensely flavorful - I like the five spice one. Small cubes makes fried rice sing
    • Oyster sauce (two ladies LKK not panda LKK)
    • Nem Chua
    • Good butter (Kerrygold or St Brigid)
    • Sambal Oelek
    • Pandan leaves and frozen chopped lemongrass
    • Maldon salt
    • Frozen cheap chocolate squares (Swiss Delice)
    • Lao Gan Ma black bean chili crisp
    • Salted yolk potato chips, Honey Butter chips
    • Korean seaweed sheets for stock along with the little anchovies
    • Frozen unshelled clam meat - just throw a handful into anything like pasta or stir fries. So cheap and so good!
    • Chinese cooking wine
    • Perilla leaves (gganib)
    • when I can find them, Alphonso, Kesar, or Colombian Sugar Mangos
    • Concord or Muscat grapes
    • fatty Biltong (Florence meats is best)
    • wavy soba (for some reason I like the mouth feel)
    • frozen special handmade ramen
    • Calabrian peppers
    • Peperoncinos (I like the ones from Terroni)
    • Peruvian sweety drop peppers
    • Thai kefir leaves (frozen)
    • Thai birdseye peppers
    • Vietnamese veggies (rau ram) and Thai basil mmm
    • fermented tofu bricks - kinda smelly but adds a slickness and sourness when stir frying Chinese veggies
    • Korean coque d’asses (Japanese ones are a bit dry for me). Great frozen as well.
    • mango gummy candy from cocoa land lot 100
    • Chinese snow pear
    • kewpie mayo (creepy baby)
    • kozlik triple crunch mustard
    • Vietnamese fried onions (need to figure out what brand is best)
    • affordable soy sauce (made in Japan ones - yamasa or kikkoman)
    • fermented black pepper (I like the Trader Joe’s ones - I put it into ramen broth)
    • kecap manis (abc brand) for making Indonesian stuff
    • Hungarian Hunters sausages - great snacks that last
    19 votes

  8. Comment on What things do you have are surprisingly good / handy? in ~life

    bgc
    Link Parent
    This is so interesting, I never thought to bring my own bed to a friend’s house. This is like a brilliant version of a Murphy bed…. Thanks for the recommendation!!

    This is so interesting, I never thought to bring my own bed to a friend’s house. This is like a brilliant version of a Murphy bed…. Thanks for the recommendation!!

    1 vote

  9. Comment on What things do you have are surprisingly good / handy? in ~life

    bgc
    Link Parent
    This is awesome.

    This is awesome.

    1 vote

  10. Comment on What things do you have are surprisingly good / handy? in ~life

    bgc
    Link Parent
    Oh yes, I also have a big ass screwdriver that has never been used for screwdriving! It mostly is used for weeding.

    Oh yes, I also have a big ass screwdriver that has never been used for screwdriving! It mostly is used for weeding.

    8 votes

  11. What things do you have are surprisingly good / handy?

    ~life Ask (survey)
    As I write this, I’m using a $10 foot massager from Temu that my wife bought. I thought it was totally stupid but it gets nightly use. We lie on the couch and just let it run. Edit2: it looks like...

    As I write this, I’m using a $10 foot massager from Temu that my wife bought. I thought it was totally stupid but it gets nightly use. We lie on the couch and just let it run.

    Edit2: it looks like the LINGTENG one on Amazon - probably white labeled from same factory, nothing special about it but we like the simplicity.

    What has anyone else found surprisingly useful?

    Edit -

    Here are some things that came in mind as I was walking around:

    • Different type of mason jar lids from masontops for sprouting, cold press coffee, pouring spout for watering plants, etc.
    • ifixit kit - originally used for phone fixing now used for prying random stuff - the Ifixit jimmy is really useful, and it’s great to have all tools in one place
    • Shoegoo - originally used for shoe fixing now used for fixing bike parts - time to invest in a glue gun
    • YouTube premium - I originally got a family plan so that my mom wouldn’t watch so many ads, but now it’s an integral part of my passive learning system - languages, guitar, sports, etc.
    • hydrogen peroxide - I got it for wound disinfecting but it has only ever been used as a stain remover.
    • cheap Muji mini umbrella - way more used than my fancy Davek
    60 votes

  12. Comment on What is your favorite Final Fantasy game? in ~games

    bgc
    Link
    FF6 was my favorite. As a kid from the suburbs without a car, it was my first taste of opera, casino / airships, rafting, mining and factory towns, etc. The world building was truly magical.

    FF6 was my favorite. As a kid from the suburbs without a car, it was my first taste of opera, casino / airships, rafting, mining and factory towns, etc.

    The world building was truly magical.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on What's your recommended survival crafting game to play solo? in ~games

    bgc
    Link Parent
    The actual story is a bit clumsily written so you didn’t miss much. I think the star is the gameplay with permadeath - learning to survive despite issues with cannibals, hygiene and diarrhea…

    The actual story is a bit clumsily written so you didn’t miss much. I think the star is the gameplay with permadeath - learning to survive despite issues with cannibals, hygiene and diarrhea…

    1 vote

  14. Comment on Tildes Video Thread in ~misc

    bgc
    Link
    An interview with Paul Singer of Elliott Management - interesting insights from a very sharp perspective on shareholder value. https://youtu.be/3EOLtbqjQB0?feature=shared

    An interview with Paul Singer of Elliott Management - interesting insights from a very sharp perspective on shareholder value. https://youtu.be/3EOLtbqjQB0?feature=shared

    2 votes

  15. Comment on What's your recommended survival crafting game to play solo? in ~games

    bgc
    Link
    I enjoyed playing NEO Scavenger. The graphics are pretty bad and the UI is rough but if you can put up with that it’s fun to unravel.

    I enjoyed playing NEO Scavenger. The graphics are pretty bad and the UI is rough but if you can put up with that it’s fun to unravel.

    4 votes

  16. Comment on An uncompromising guide to sleep masks (for side-sleepers) in ~health

    bgc
    Link
    Great review, keep it up! I appreciated that it wasn’t fluff and very practical.

    Great review, keep it up! I appreciated that it wasn’t fluff and very practical.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on The illustrated encyclopedia of sleeping positions on a plane in ~travel

    bgc
    Link
    Thanks for a quick laugh at work!

    Thanks for a quick laugh at work!

    8 votes

  18. Comment on Recommendations for less mass-produced and more artistic tv in ~tv

    bgc
    Link
    Try a Korean show on Netflix entitled ‘My Mister’ - it’s very famous for good writing.

    Try a Korean show on Netflix entitled ‘My Mister’ - it’s very famous for good writing.

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri lovers, tell me what sets it apart in ~games

    bgc
    (edited )
    Link
    The graphics are nothing to write home about but the balance and deep faction philosophy / lore are what set it apart. As the game unfolds, I find myself sympathizing with different leaders and...

    The graphics are nothing to write home about but the balance and deep faction philosophy / lore are what set it apart. As the game unfolds, I find myself sympathizing with different leaders and their mindsets - even Sister Miriam. The unfolding of dystopian technologies and decisions without judgement is really well done. Finally, (spoiler alert) having the planet itself as an entity with agency and self preservation goals has a very Speaker for the Dead kind of feel.

    https://youtu.be/24OXzIRIiMQ?feature=shared

    There is also an undercurrent of ironic humor that’s prevalent in the choice of quotes - see retroviral engineering, for example.

    The gameplay mechanics are also fun in that you can flexibly customize the units and that adds value to tactical combat beyond most civ games.

    The expansion doesn’t live up to the original.

    18 votes

  20. Comment on Seven things killing movie theaters (and how to save them) in ~movies

    bgc
    Link Parent
    Yes, I agree - as mentioned by another post earlier, the competitive option of at home viewing has become a superior experience at a lower price. Movie theaters will have to adapt - where I live,...

    Yes, I agree - as mentioned by another post earlier, the competitive option of at home viewing has become a superior experience at a lower price. Movie theaters will have to adapt - where I live, the subculture themed smaller theaters are still booming as a hipster kind of outing. Some will live and others will make way for a better economic use of the space (in my city one of the theaters became a giant Asian spa). The production studios will still make money on content.

    1 vote