CannibalisticApple's recent activity
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Comment on PBS station sues to regain access to seventy years of archival TV history in ~tv
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Comment on Less than a year on, Microsoft tells Mico to pipe down in ~tech
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI think it had to do with how intrusive he was? Pop-ups can be annoying without a character actively talking to you, and I think the timing of him popping up further grated on nerves. Being asked...I think it had to do with how intrusive he was? Pop-ups can be annoying without a character actively talking to you, and I think the timing of him popping up further grated on nerves. Being asked "would you like some help with that?" while doing a simple task, or when you're already frustrated with something... Yeah, that usually tends to piss people off.
I also have fond memories of Clippy. But then, I was a kid and I found all the assistants interesting. (I remember there was also a dog and I think the planet Earth??)
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Comment on Canadian wildfire that forced 20,000 to flee may signal ‘new normal’ in ~enviro
CannibalisticApple Link ParentOral traditions, legends and myths can reveal so much when you look at them more deeply. A lot of them are just attempts to explain or record natural phenomena beyond their understanding. I...Oral traditions, legends and myths can reveal so much when you look at them more deeply. A lot of them are just attempts to explain or record natural phenomena beyond their understanding. I remember a video talking about how Aboriginal storytellers have a tale about a land bridge that was submerged 10,000 years ago. Most legends and myths seem to refer to specific events (like Lake Nyos having ancient spirits, or a myth about a Hindu goddess raining hail on someone), but this post and article go into a myth that explained how an ancient irrigation system worked.
A good starting point would be to collect old tales and legends from tribes local to specific regions, and comparing that to past geological records. Finding a common trend among tales from different tribes could be a good indicator that some specific event occurred.
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Comment on ‘Barbie 2’ in crisis: sequel could be shelved amid pay battle and crumbling deal talks in ~movies
CannibalisticApple Link ParentI think it's mainly because Barbie tells a complete story. It's clear they got across the main message they wanted to convey, so it's hard to imagine what else a sequel could explore. Even sequels...I think it's mainly because Barbie tells a complete story. It's clear they got across the main message they wanted to convey, so it's hard to imagine what else a sequel could explore. Even sequels that aren't meant to be cash grabs can fall short for various reasons.
In Barbie's case, the fact the original film had such a strong message plays into my own skepticism. I've noticed a lot of the strongest media were made with a message or theme that's fully explored in the first installment. So the sequel has to try to emulate that, but often without having the exact same message or themes so as to avoid negating the first one's message or events.
Sometimes, there's an easy additional theme to explore in a sequel, but Barbie already explored gender roles, self determination, and identity very nicely. Maybe the sequel could focus more heavily on the identity aspect of Barbie than social commentary about gender, but... It's such a complete story and wrapped up all the plot ends, so a sequel truly feels unnecessary except for profit.
(And something tells me the studio might try to get more involved with the sequel because THEY just want it for cash grab purposes. And I've said many times now that it's executive meddling that tends to ruin creative projects the most.)
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Comment on Any significant changes to Tildes are extremely unlikely in ~tildes.official
CannibalisticApple Link ParentWe haven't interacted too much, but I'll miss seeing you around. You reaching out to me recently reaffirmed part of why I love the community on Tildes so much, so it's sad to see you being pushed...We haven't interacted too much, but I'll miss seeing you around. You reaching out to me recently reaffirmed part of why I love the community on Tildes so much, so it's sad to see you being pushed away from here. I hope you can find more places with a bit less friction and a similar sense of community.
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Comment on The US is recruiting gamers to solve its air traffic controller shortage in ~transport
CannibalisticApple LinkDepending on the type of games they play, this actually makes sense. I can already see a lot of overlap in the skills (though it's 3:30 am and my brain is not cooperating enough to actually...Depending on the type of games they play, this actually makes sense. I can already see a lot of overlap in the skills (though it's 3:30 am and my brain is not cooperating enough to actually name/describe said skills).
I remember someone posted on Reddit about ATC enrollment years ago before the exodus, both hoping to recruit people and also explaining the full details and downsides of the job. I think it may have been this AMA, which apparently became an annual series. In any event, one key note is that acceptance into the academy isn't a guarantee people will graduate and enter the field. They need to pass evaluations, and the training is rigorous. I assume that standard will continue to hold true.
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Comment on What are your thoughts on audiobooks? in ~books
CannibalisticApple LinkDepends on the book. We often check out audio books for long road trips. A good narrator can make a world of difference, and so can the format of the story. Last time we listened to one that...Depends on the book. We often check out audio books for long road trips. A good narrator can make a world of difference, and so can the format of the story. Last time we listened to one that opened with a bunch of (fictional) news snippets and articles, and we initially switched to another book thinking the whole novel would have that format. That sort of format does not translate well to audio.
That said, I don't listen to them too much since I don't have many tasks I can do while listening, and largely lack the patience to sit around just listening these days. They're still our go-to choice for long road trips though.
I do have a soft spot for the narrator George Guidall. Not even sure how exactly to look up specific narrators, but he's narrated over 1,200 audio books. I listened to him read a good chunk of The Cat Who series during high school, and would actually sometimes just lie down on the floor listening to it for hours on end. On our last trip I even picked out one book specifically because he narrated it. His voice is just really calming.
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Comment on Any significant changes to Tildes are extremely unlikely in ~tildes.official
CannibalisticApple LinkThank you for this post. I had wondered if you'd open the door to allowing others to push proposed features, but ah well. The site is perfectly functional right now, any new features would...Thank you for this post. I had wondered if you'd open the door to allowing others to push proposed features, but ah well. The site is perfectly functional right now, any new features would basically be "bonuses" rather than absolutely crucial (well, maybe besides a "block user" feature).
Thank you for all your hard work maintaining the site! I do second the question about the plans for continuity though. Really hoping there's not a bus factor of one.
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Comment on Suggestion for a new label: "Misinformation" in ~tildes
CannibalisticApple Link ParentThis is why I wondered about a more neutral term. Misinformation is not a euphemism for lying, it's the spread of incorrect information without the intent to lie or deceive others. Sometimes it's...This is why I wondered about a more neutral term. Misinformation is not a euphemism for lying, it's the spread of incorrect information without the intent to lie or deceive others. Sometimes it's people quoting an incorrect interpretation of some law or announcement, and sometimes it's reciting rumors and hearsay as facts, but there are also many cases where it involves reciting "common knowledge" that's actually untrue or facts which have since been debunked.
For instance, a lot of people still believe there's a waiting period of 24-48 hours before you can report someone missing to the police. Or the still-common claim that Albert Einstein failed a math class. Or that Mister Rogers fought in a war. Or various survival tips like peeing on a jellyfish sting, or sucking venom out of a snake bite. Or heck, a bunch of the myths tackled by MythBusters.
There are many pieces of inaccurate information being spread with absolutely no malice or intent to deceive people involved, but just people not doing proper fact checking or being unaware of new research or developments. I do see the potential value in letting people flag those, as inaccurate information can lead to crazy outcomes like the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Wikipedia article opens the Events section with a header titled "Misinformed Public Announcements" and details how a press conference about new travel regulations, held by a man who hadn't participated or been fully updated on the regulations, ultimately led to the fall.
And now that I think about it, the verb "misinformed" feels a lot less charged and malicious than its noun counterpart. Being misinformed just means you were told wrong information, like being given the wrong starting time for a meeting. It's different from being told and repeating lies, as happens with disinformation. (Is "disinformed" even a verb??)
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkBeen playing Pokopia because the big underwater update and first part of the DLC dropped last week. Building underwater is fun. I've already spawned nearly all of the new Pokémon, and working on...Been playing Pokopia because the big underwater update and first part of the DLC dropped last week. Building underwater is fun. I've already spawned nearly all of the new Pokémon, and working on Bubbly Basin has me thinking of how to move around Pokémon in other areas to spread out the activity. Also, I love the new light items.
But a related thought I had: the mainline games could be a lot better better if they use a similar block-based graphic style.
I recently learned that Pokopia was conceived by Shigeru Ohmori, the director of the recent mainline games who started out designing maps for Ruby/Sapphire. He was apparently nostalgic for working on tilesets and making habitats for Pokémon to spawn, and he thought players would enjoy it too. (He was right, it's addicting.)
And that got me to thinking how one of the bigger issues with the recent games is just the graphics and overall world design. The 2D games had incredible maps with all sorts of hidden areas that were fun to explore, but the 3D games... Not as much. Especially the most recent games. Sword/Shield is the most linear game, Scarlet/Violet has a fairly empty open world (made worse by the lack of buildings we can enter despite so many of them looking like we should be able to go inside), Legends Z-A is pretty gray due to being a city (and yet ALSO lacks buildings we can enter), and... Yeah, their 3D maps are just lacking a lot of the older games' charm.
Also, the repetitive textures in SV just look bad. I'm not even that critical of graphics compared to some people, but cliffs shouldn't look so obviously textured from a distance in what SHOULD be a AAA game.
GameFreak clearly still isn't used to working in a 3D environment after all this time. I feel like using a 3D "tileset" might work better for them, or at least for the initial design phase when mapping out the region. Doesn't need to be overly cartoony or voxel-based, but the final result would honestly probably look a lot better than the current bland and lifeless environments.
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Comment on Suggestion for a new label: "Misinformation" in ~tildes
CannibalisticApple LinkI do wonder if there's some more neutral-sounding term we could use. Given the current state of the world, the word "misinformation" feels a bit too charged. I know it's different from...I do wonder if there's some more neutral-sounding term we could use. Given the current state of the world, the word "misinformation" feels a bit too charged. I know it's different from disinformation, but there's a serious problem with both linked to current events (especially in the US) so seeing either term gets my hackles up.
But I can see the value in such a label for information that's factually wrong or mistaken. Though as others have noted, Tildes' development is effectively on pause right now so it's a bit of a moot point.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
CannibalisticApple Link18 sheep escaped after a semi crash on I-465 in Indianapolis yesterday. Another article mentioned some drivers used their cars to make a corral, but I'm linking this one since it actually has a...18 sheep escaped after a semi crash on I-465 in Indianapolis yesterday. Another article mentioned some drivers used their cars to make a corral, but I'm linking this one since it actually has a video clip.
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 🗡️🛡️❤️🔺 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkI'm playing it on my Switch 2 via the SNES Virtual Console! Started today, but not sure I'll actually finish because the Pokopia DLC drops tonight (actually might be live now?) and I'm about to...I'm playing it on my Switch 2 via the SNES Virtual Console! Started today, but not sure I'll actually finish because the Pokopia DLC drops tonight (actually might be live now?) and I'm about to live in that world again.
That said, I've made good progress today! I think I'm about to finish the first part of the game. Did briefly consult a guide once to figure out how to progress on one part, but other than that (and the hints you mentioned) I've been trying to figure it out myself. Compared to some games, the puzzles and dungeons aren't too hard or frustrating so far.
One thing I love about the Switch's VC system: rewind. Not save states (though it does have them as "suspend points"), we can rewind at any point. It's so good for not having to spend time manually backtracking if I realize I went the wrong way or accidentally jumped off a cliff. And to prevent losing too many hearts or arrows to stupid things. (My aim with arrows needs work...)
That feature is definitely why I've made so much progress in such a short time. Very useful feature, and I can highly recommend it if anyone else has a Switch and NSO. :D
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Comment on Women should be able to open things in ~life.women
CannibalisticApple Link ParentDefinitely have struggled, and I wish more lids at LEAST had ridged grooves or something to have a better grip. I never struggle with peanut butter or water bottles. At worst I'd end up using a...Definitely have struggled, and I wish more lids at LEAST had ridged grooves or something to have a better grip. I never struggle with peanut butter or water bottles. At worst I'd end up using a towel or my shirt to twist stubborn caps because the ridges begin digging into my palms a bit painfully (or my hand gets sweaty), but those ridges also let the fabric grip more easily. But any glass jar with a smooth metal lid is awful.
On that note, the difficulty varies by individual jar—not brand or product, but jars. My last major struggle was trying to open a jar of pasta sauce for probably five minutes, until I decided to try another unopened jar of the exact same sauce. It popped off almost instantly, no tricks needed. Just... GAH.
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Comment on Is there a way to filter out everything posted by a user? in ~tildes
CannibalisticApple Link ParentWhat is anarchist moderation?What is anarchist moderation?
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Comment on Sapphire - 'Shiki No Uta' (Samurai Champloo) English cover (2016) in ~music
CannibalisticApple Link ParentAccording to a comment by her, it's accurate enough that the original singer used her English lyrics for a music video six years ago. Unfortunately uncredited, but she said she's more flattered...According to a comment by her, it's accurate enough that the original singer used her English lyrics for a music video six years ago. Unfortunately uncredited, but she said she's more flattered than anything. And I get it, her translation is now the official one. That's pretty awesome.
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Comment on ‘The Walking Dead’ renewed by Netflix in five-year, $500m co-exclusive deal with AMC Global in ~tv
CannibalisticApple Link ParentFor a while now I've wanted a sitcom in a zombie setting for similar reasons. The way most post-apocalyptic fiction involves the cast constantly moving as settlements get destroyed either due to...For a while now I've wanted a sitcom in a zombie setting for similar reasons. The way most post-apocalyptic fiction involves the cast constantly moving as settlements get destroyed either due to zombies or the leaders being evil/corrupt (usually both) gets tedious. I figure that surely SOME humans would set up a decent settlement where the leaders weren't secretly evil, and everyone just cares about surviving and has a fairly competent setup.
I figured a MASH-style sitcom would be the best way to explore it since sitcoms are generally set in one location. Survivors have made a settlement and set up a new society, and it follows the daily life as they settle into a new normal while waiting for things to die down. Still have drama as they have to maintain defenses and occasionally fend off zombies that get inside, and people do still get bit and die. Can have other survivors arrive, and possibly visit other settlements. Maybe they get radio reports of ongoing fighting and efforts to combat the apocalypse.
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Comment on Game Pass was supposed to save Xbox – instead, it’s killing the company in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentHonestly, even that sort of delay does harm. A lot of people wait to buy games because of varying reasons ranging from being too busy to waiting for launch bugs to be ironed out (which feels...Honestly, even that sort of delay does harm. A lot of people wait to buy games because of varying reasons ranging from being too busy to waiting for launch bugs to be ironed out (which feels increasingly common) to just waiting for sales. There's a whole subreddit r/patientgamers for people who wait for at least twelve months:
Whether it's price, waiting for bugs/issues to be patched, DLC to be released, don't meet the system requirements, or just haven't had the time to keep up with the latest releases.
And on that note: games are generally more expensive than movie tickets, and movie theaters are also a generally more "social" activity. There are multiple movies I've only seen because friends invited me, and wouldn't have watched on streaming. Even watching the social aspect, it's a lot easier to impulsively spend $15-$25 on a movie ticket than to drop $30-$60+ on a single-player game you won't have time to play right away.
On top of all that, there's a big difference in the experience of a movie theater versus streaming at home, but no such difference with Game Pass. So there's even LESS incentive to buy a game at full price on day one when you know you can play it in a few months.
I've honestly never understood how Game Pass was profitable and worked from an economic standpoint... And I guess that's because it really wasn't.
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Comment on Pepsiman Recompiled Webport in ~games
CannibalisticApple LinkPossibly tangential: I'm realizing how advergames may actually be one of the best options for developers to focus purely on mechanics. The aesthetic is already decided, expectations are low so...Possibly tangential: I'm realizing how advergames may actually be one of the best options for developers to focus purely on mechanics. The aesthetic is already decided, expectations are low so they don't need to think too hard on the setting (unless they REALLY want to), and they don't need to be innovative to stand out because the branding already makes it stand out. So the devs can focus on just making solid gameplay using existing mechanics. (Seriously, even without some major gimmick or exclusive mechanic, basic platforming can still vary wildly due to things like how "slippery" movement is, how precise jumps have to be, how punishing missed jumps are, etc.)
From what I hear, Dorito's Crash Course is also fondly remembered by players for being fairly solid and fun despite the short duration (may also be because it was apparently free on Xbox 360?). I also remember someone on reddit years ago saying how their friend group played some Shrek party game as a joke, but then realized it actually had good balance compared to their other party games and so it became a regular feature.
Of course, this is reliant on the developers. I expect most devs just see them as low-effort cashgrabs (which they definitely are) and aren't interested in spending too long on them. But for some, it may be a good excuse to be paid while refining their understanding of some basic mechanics or experiment a bit since... Well, advergames are mostly shovelware anyway. The main expectation for them is "doesn't break at the main menu screen and players can complete it".
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Comment on Pepsiman Recompiled Webport in ~games
CannibalisticApple Link ParentAccording to Wikipedia, the game's a bit of a cult classic due to a mix of how cheesy it is, having actually surprisingly decent gameplay for an advertisement (lots of comparisons to Crash...According to Wikipedia, the game's a bit of a cult classic due to a mix of how cheesy it is, having actually surprisingly decent gameplay for an advertisement (lots of comparisons to Crash Bandicoot), and it's also been played at Summer Games Done Quick a few times.
Also, it has 2D cut scenes by Kotaro Uchikoshi who later became famous for the Zero Escape trilogy along with some other prolific titles (AI: The Somnium Files my beloved). He's not influential enough to contribute to its cult classic status, but still sticks out to me as pretty wild given how different it is from the rest of his works.
From what I recall, PBS chose to restructure and outsource most of the backend IT work around that time. My mom worked for the local branch, and I remember one coworker/friend who did something with database management was among the many let go. I don't remember all the details since it's been so long, but the decision definitely came from the national level.
So sadly, I think that led to a lack of employees who knew how to back it up locally... and also had permission/clearance from PBS to handle the data.