busyant's recent activity
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Comment on 2024 United States Election Megathread in ~news
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Comment on Sen. Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again at a Kentucky event in ~news
busyant Link ParentI understand where you're coming from, and I hope you're correct about the health of our democracy, but ... I'm reminded of this Hemingway quote: “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,”..., American democracy is still in a very healthy state.
I understand where you're coming from, and I hope you're correct about the health of our democracy, but ...
I'm reminded of this Hemingway quote: “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”
I'm worried that we are in the "gradually" phase of democratic decline. And we just haven't reached the suddenly part quite yet.
Or, to use this summer's submarine implosion as another analogy. I'm worried the stress fractures are there. It may just take one more dive for the catastrophic failure.
Like I said, I hope you are correct.
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Comment on Help with choosing my first camera in ~hobbies
busyant LinkSony has an upcoming camera release (29 August). I think the rumor is that it will be a camera primarily for video shooters (see link below). My suspicion is that it will be beyond your budget,...Sony has an upcoming camera release (29 August). I think the rumor is that it will be a camera primarily for video shooters (see link below). My suspicion is that it will be beyond your budget, but I'm not well versed on Sony pricing.
You can also try to look at the used market, especially sites like keh.com and mpb.com
edit: to be clear, what I've read on reddit is that the expectation is that the A7C II will be announced.
If so (and if the A7C II is beyond your budget) it may force a drop in prices for the original A7C in the used market. -
Comment on What is your most annoying (minor) movie trope? in ~movies
busyant Link ParentBrian Regan has a bit about this.https://youtu.be/2eBRu6DWDkUBrian Regan has a bit about this.https://youtu.be/2eBRu6DWDkU
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Comment on AI comes for YouTube’s thumbnail industry in ~tech
busyant Link ParentThank you! I would never even have thought to search for this type of plugin.Thank you!
I would never even have thought to search for this type of plugin.
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Comment on Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts on Tuesday, by a grand jury in the District of Columbia, over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in ~news
busyant Link ParentInteresting comment. I asked him once why he supported Trump and he said something to the effect of "We need someone strong to prevent other countries from pushing us around." So, you may have...it sounds like a lack of healthy assertiveness. I would say people like that admire strongmen pretty often.
Interesting comment. I asked him once why he supported Trump and he said something to the effect of "We need someone strong to prevent other countries from pushing us around."
So, you may have locked onto the underlying issue.
That being said, he's a good egg (I've even seen his Facebook account. Ha!).
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Comment on Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts on Tuesday, by a grand jury in the District of Columbia, over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in ~news
busyant (edited )Link ParentThere's a maintenance guy that I know who I hire to do work around my house. He's the sweetest guy you'd ever meet. If anything, I could take advantage of him (he low-balls his hourly wage that he...There's a maintenance guy that I know who I hire to do work around my house.
He's the sweetest guy you'd ever meet. If anything, I could take advantage of him (he low-balls his hourly wage that he asks for and low-balls the amount of time that it takes him to do work for me)--wife and I are constantly telling him stuff like, "No. you worked more than x hours. Don't short-change yourself.".
It astounds me that he's a HUGE Trump fan.
I say this mostly because Trump is all about being mean spirited. And this guy is all about being fair and kind. If anything, he's unfair to himself.
The other Trump supporters I know are aligned with Trump mentally ("be mean spirited ... fuck the other guy before he fucks you ... who cares, as long as the liberals are upset ... etc.")
But this guy? Makes no sense to me.
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Comment on What are your experiences with condo ownership? in ~life
busyant LinkIf you're considering buying a condo, I have some suggestions. Disclosure: my wife and I own a home + 10 condos (rental investments). See if there are any lawsuits in the works in relation to the...If you're considering buying a condo, I have some suggestions.
Disclosure: my wife and I own a home + 10 condos (rental investments).
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See if there are any lawsuits in the works in relation to the condo association (everyone gets sued, but there might be some extra bad red flags in there).
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Ask other owners what they think of the management. Ask them what they think of the neighbors. Are the grounds of the condo association well maintained? Ask if there are any special assessments in the works (You probably don't want to get blindsided with an $x-thousand assessment or big raise in condo fees)?
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Look into the finances if you can. There are metrics for how much $ should be held in reserve relative to the number of condos.
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Attend a condo board meeting if possible.
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Ask for the association's rules/regs. If you have a pet, some associations forbid them (unless they are a service animal and you can demonstrate that fact).
Obviously, you will have to determine who is telling you important information and who just likes to complain.
This probably sounds somewhat frightening, but the obvious upside is that someone else (management company) takes care of a lot of external stuff for you.... and there may be amenities (swimming pool, tennis court, etc.).
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Comment on I, like many of you came from Reddit. But what brought you to Reddit? in ~tech
busyant LinkI created my original reddit account about 9 months after it was launched (my original account is 17+ years old). Back then, there were no subreddits (iirc) and the content with similar to HN. I...I created my original reddit account about 9 months after it was launched (my original account is 17+ years old).
Back then, there were no subreddits (iirc) and the content with similar to HN.
I kind of grew "with" reddit. As it added subreddits, I found more and more things to like.
Here's something weird that I forgot about.
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Each day, from about 2007 to 2012, I would scan Reddit and save about 30 funny memes or humorous posts
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In the evenings, I would show them to my two young sons.
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I would have them read the memes (and comments) out loud and they found it hilarious.
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What I was secretly doing was trying to help them to learn how to read.
I miss those days.
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These days, I go to reddit for specific niche subreddits and I come to Tildes a LOT. I'm really enjoying this place.
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Comment on How often do you visit your parents? in ~life
busyant Link ParentYes. That's precisely what I meant by "ping." Does my father pick up the phone? We might talk for a few minutes, but it's mostly to check in and make sure there is no crisis.it invoked for me the fact that I often check in and hope all is well. I’m dreading the day I can’t get ahold of my mom because she has died or something happened.
Yes. That's precisely what I meant by "ping." Does my father pick up the phone? We might talk for a few minutes, but it's mostly to check in and make sure there is no crisis.
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Comment on How often do you visit your parents? in ~life
busyant LinkI visit my parents weekly. They live ~140 km away. My mother is 82 and has dementia. My father is 85 and is still remarkably active and mentally sharp, but he has his hands full with my mother. I...I visit my parents weekly.
They live ~140 km away.
My mother is 82 and has dementia. My father is 85 and is still remarkably active and mentally sharp, but he has his hands full with my mother. I basically check on them (in person) once per week and I run their finances (something my mother used to do). My father and I coordinate home help for my mother.
I also phone them daily, mostly as a "ping."
Finally, I live in the same town as my in-laws. As you might guess, family is a priority to me and I don't begrudge it.
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Comment on Where ya from? in ~talk
busyant LinkCentral Connecticut, USA. On the one hand, I'd prefer to live in/near Boston for the jobs / environment. On the other hand, I made a conscious decision to be closer to family. I've been here 20...Central Connecticut, USA.
On the one hand, I'd prefer to live in/near Boston for the jobs / environment.
On the other hand, I made a conscious decision to be closer to family. I've been here 20 years and I'm starting to appreciate it. Better late than never.
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Comment on Italian soccer players banned from wearing No. 88 on jerseys in campaign against antisemitism in ~sports.football
busyant LinkYears ago, Gigi Buffon (arguably, Italy's greatest goalkeeper ever) was planning on wearing 88 for one of his club teams. There was significant criticism and he ultimately opted for a different...Years ago, Gigi Buffon (arguably, Italy's greatest goalkeeper ever) was planning on wearing 88 for one of his club teams. There was significant criticism and he ultimately opted for a different number. I believe he wore "1" for the national team.
I don't know what Buffon's politics are, but my recollection at the time is that he claimed (after the backlash) that the double-circles in the number 8 symbolized soccer balls and masculinity (testicles), so, according to him, 88 represented his massive balls.
Who knows what the truth is/was.
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Comment on What is one food item that you absolutely hated initially but it slowly grew on you? in ~food
busyant LinkPeppers. There was something about the seeds that grossed me out until some point in my late 30s. Now, I love them. Seeds and all. Bell, poblano, jalapeno, even habanero (though, they are a bit...Peppers. There was something about the seeds that grossed me out until some point in my late 30s.
Now, I love them. Seeds and all. Bell, poblano, jalapeno, even habanero (though, they are a bit excessively hot).
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Comment on What belongs in your "base" hard-copy library? in ~books
busyant LinkI think your question is too much a matter of personal taste. Given the fact that a lot of material is available on-line these days, I would probably go with "beautiful" or interesting historical...I think your question is too much a matter of personal taste.
Given the fact that a lot of material is available on-line these days, I would probably go with "beautiful" or interesting historical stuff.
Obviously, I can't afford any of this, but I think Bill Gates had enough good ta$te to purchase the Codex Leicester. Throw in an original Gutenberg Bible and some medieval illuminated manuscripts.
Maybe Fermat's book with his margin comment.
I can dream, right?
edit: apologies if I'm deviating too much from the intended question. In a more realistic sense, I would probably try to buy "beautiful" books on typography and/or first edition books that I found interesting (that I could afford).
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Comment on The four best Reddit alternatives: As Reddit melts down, users are fleeing to lemmy, kbin, tildes and more in ~tech
busyant Link ParentTo me, Tildes feels more like a slightly expanded version of HN (topically) than Reddit. The only "problem" I have with Tildes is that sometimes I want to "check my brain at the door" and look at...Because everything about this website screams "Reddit" in spite of the denial of the more prominent users.
To me, Tildes feels more like a slightly expanded version of HN (topically) than Reddit.
The only "problem" I have with Tildes is that sometimes I want to "check my brain at the door" and look at something silly, but that's not really Tildes' fault.
I just need to find a place that satisfies that need.
I used to have a Biden sticker on my car (back around 2020).
Someone intentionally tried to run me off the road by speeding past me and then brake-checking me.
I can't say with certainty that it was because of my Biden sticker, but there were enough stickers on the other guy's car to make me realize I was driving with a target on my car.