bugsmith's recent activity

  1. Comment on Gold tops $4,900/oz; silver and platinum extend record‑setting rally in ~finance

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    People have a really warped view of what it means to be rich. And I don't mean "dumb people" or anything derogatory. I think it's a really wide reaching issue. We're constantly fed information...

    People have a really warped view of what it means to be rich. And I don't mean "dumb people" or anything derogatory. I think it's a really wide reaching issue. We're constantly fed information about billionaire CEOs, bankers, old-money families, country leaders and others making up the 0.01% that it disproportionately anchors the line we draw for what we determine to mean by "rich*.

    You're absolutely right. On a global scale or a national scale, having thousands to dump into anything that's not an immediate need or basic comfort you are most certainly rich.

    Consider that a salary of $60,000 (£44,000; €51,000) puts you in the top 1% globally [1].

    $35,000 (£26,000; €30,000) puts you in the top 5%. Think about that. Richer than 95% of people in the world. How can that fall under any other definition than rich?

    Then think about how far that kind of salary goes in the areas you can live and earn them.

    [1] Lots of Americans are in the global 1%. A tenth of their income could transform the world - Sigal Samuel

    2 votes

  2. Comment on Why there's no European Google? in ~tech

  4. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    I really want one. But the truth is, I really have no idea what I would print and can therefore not justify the price. I just think they are extremely cool.

    I really want one. But the truth is, I really have no idea what I would print and can therefore not justify the price. I just think they are extremely cool.

    3 votes

  5. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    I have read the entirety of the Bobiverse series. I adored the first three books and didn't hate the later entries (but felt the quality took a large dip). And Project Hail Mary ranks as one of my...

    I have read the entirety of the Bobiverse series. I adored the first three books and didn't hate the later entries (but felt the quality took a large dip).

    And Project Hail Mary ranks as one of my favourite books of recent years, and my absolute favourite audiobook experience. I'm so excited for the film.

  6. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    bugsmith
    Link
    I've just lost momentum on Satisfactory. As I've previously shared here, it's become my go-to game over the Christmas period. This year I started over fresh as there has been some new content...

    I've just lost momentum on Satisfactory. As I've previously shared here, it's become my go-to game over the Christmas period. This year I started over fresh as there has been some new content released since I last played and made it as far as Phase 4 before the thought of building oil infrastructure gave me enough of a repulsion that I realised it was time to stop playing again.

    I've simultaneously been playing through Coromon, thanks to a recommendation from @Carrow. I've been really enjoying it and have found it to be one of the better entries in the Monster Tamer genre. This one leans perhaps a little too hard on it's Pokémon roots, but I've found the story to be more engaging than most of it's inspiration's entries, and the difficulty feels about right. As far as creature design goes, I think it's fantastic.

    6 votes

  7. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Yes, I would push on. I found the book half-gripped me immediately, but I wasn't fully hooked. Just engaged enough that I knew I wanted to continue reading. But I found the second half of the book...

    Yes, I would push on. I found the book half-gripped me immediately, but I wasn't fully hooked. Just engaged enough that I knew I wanted to continue reading. But I found the second half of the book shined far greater, really grabbed me. The character never stops being somewhat of a Mary Sue, and there are many issues I take with the amount of suspension of disbelief required for that character to have adapted so dramatically. If you can get past that, I think it's a great read.

    The second book is where the story really begins to shine.

    1 vote

  8. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    You're the second to recommend this one. I'm certainly leaning toward this choice. What are your thoughts on it?

    You're the second to recommend this one. I'm certainly leaning toward this choice.
    What are your thoughts on it?

    1 vote

  9. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    I didn't mention it in my original post, but this was the title I was considering the most ahead of any recommendations. I keep reading mixed reviews on it. How do you rate it?

    I didn't mention it in my original post, but this was the title I was considering the most ahead of any recommendations. I keep reading mixed reviews on it. How do you rate it?

    2 votes

  10. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    I've seen a few mentions of Beware of Chicken. It's actually something I'm holding off from reading for a while, as I get the feeling I will enjoy it more with a few more cultivation series on...

    I've seen a few mentions of Beware of Chicken. It's actually something I'm holding off from reading for a while, as I get the feeling I will enjoy it more with a few more cultivation series on knocked off my list.

    I read Cradle rather than listened to it, so I'll definitely check out Legends and Lattes.

    3 votes

  11. Comment on I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next? in ~books

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    You know, I have a friend that bugged me to read that for ages and eventually gave up. The only reason I didn't was due to a backlog of stuff I wanted to get through. Perhaps it's time to give...

    I think you might enjoy The Will of the Many by James Islington

    You know, I have a friend that bugged me to read that for ages and eventually gave up. The only reason I didn't was due to a backlog of stuff I wanted to get through. Perhaps it's time to give this one a go.

    Thanks for the recommendations.

    3 votes

  12. I recently finished the Cradle series by Will Wight and have post series depression. What shall I read next?

    ~books Ask (recommendations)
    I cannot recall the last time I devoured a series so quickly. I loved Cradle. The characters were so colourful and endearing, the plot was permanently escalating at a pace the resonated perfectly...

    I cannot recall the last time I devoured a series so quickly. I loved Cradle. The characters were so colourful and endearing, the plot was permanently escalating at a pace the resonated perfectly with me, and honestly, I found the writing style to be spot on.

    And now I've left feeling rather empty... (perhaps rather on point!).

    Others who have enjoyed this series, what else did you love?

    To give a sample of books I've enjoyed recently: Children of Time, Stormlight Archive, Kingkiller Chonicles, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Red Rising.

    23 votes

  13. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Oh my goodness. Azure Dreams, specifically the GBC version, was amongst my very favourite games growing up. I adored that game and it gave me a taste for traditional roguelikes which has lingered...

    Oh my goodness. Azure Dreams, specifically the GBC version, was amongst my very favourite games growing up. I adored that game and it gave me a taste for traditional roguelikes which has lingered with me for life.

    I've not replayed it in adulthood and think I probably ought not to, so as to leave it feeling incredible in my memories.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative

  15. Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Any chance of a non-imgur link for us UK folk that can't be bothered to connect to a VPN?

    Any chance of a non-imgur link for us UK folk that can't be bothered to connect to a VPN?

    1 vote

  16. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Oh, this is the first time I've heard of Coromon. I just checked it out, and it is very much something I would be interested in. It was 75% off on Steam, so I've just purchased it and look forward...

    Oh, this is the first time I've heard of Coromon. I just checked it out, and it is very much something I would be interested in. It was 75% off on Steam, so I've just purchased it and look forward to getting stuck into it in the new year. Thanks for the recommendation.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Not the OP, but I stopped at the very end of the first act. I adored the game, but lost enthusiasm after giving up on doing the shenanigans surrounding the optional final boss . It's a shame to...

    Not the OP, but I stopped at the very end of the first act. I adored the game, but lost enthusiasm after giving up on doing the shenanigans surrounding the optional final boss (the golem). It's a shame to have basically finished the act and not move on, but I took a big break and lost all context.

  18. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    Yes yes yes yes yes. I love Cassette Beasts. Undoubtedly my favourite monster tamer outside the big one, and the big one is mostly riding on nostalgia. The story, the whole visual style, the...

    Yes yes yes yes yes. I love Cassette Beasts.
    Undoubtedly my favourite monster tamer outside the big one, and the big one is mostly riding on nostalgia.
    The story, the whole visual style, the sensational soundtrack and, of course, the brilliant gameplay.
    You've really captured my own feelings of the game, and I'm thrilled to see someone else here who loved it as much as I do.
    Face Down by Joel Bayliss and Shelby Harvey is a regular on my playlist. The songs are so iconic, they give me shivers down the spine.

    2 votes

  19. Comment on Want to get in the gym? Here are some tips from a beginner.* in ~health

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    I totally agree with this as a starting point. But I really hope that you'll supplement your choice of cardio activity with some resistance training, because skeletal muscle will drastically...

    I totally agree with this as a starting point. But I really hope that you'll supplement your choice of cardio activity with some resistance training, because skeletal muscle will drastically decrease your risk of injury, in some cases improve your performance and likely increase your longevity. One session a week maintained consistently can be enough.

    4 votes

  20. Comment on Gift recommendations in ~life

    bugsmith
    Link Parent
    As someone who is slowly, almost glacially, entering the world of Arduinos, ESP32s and embedded toys... What might you use the Cardputer Adv for? I'd love to hear some concrete ideas for my own...

    As someone who is slowly, almost glacially, entering the world of Arduinos, ESP32s and embedded toys... What might you use the Cardputer Adv for? I'd love to hear some concrete ideas for my own inspiration.

    I'm very new to this and only bought my first ESP32 recently (an M5Stack Atom) as I wanted to interface with the inverter for my solar batteries directly via modbus, and this seemed to be a fun and inexpensive way to do so.