clayh's recent activity
-
Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
-
Comment on Do any of you use Hulu? Looking for shows that entertain adults but a 7 year old can be in the room. in ~tv
clayh LinkI can't tell if it's still on Hulu, but Brooklyn 99 is funny and kids can be in the room.I can't tell if it's still on Hulu, but Brooklyn 99 is funny and kids can be in the room.
-
Comment on What are some professions, crafts, competitions, or activities in which being older is considered advantageous? in ~talk
clayh LinkAt a recreational (and perhaps even professional) level, curling definitely is a sport that requires significant experience. Most of the best curlers at my local club are in the 40-65 age range.At a recreational (and perhaps even professional) level, curling definitely is a sport that requires significant experience. Most of the best curlers at my local club are in the 40-65 age range.
-
Comment on What are your predictions for 2025? in ~talk
clayh Link ParentThey will see it more clearly if insurance companies refuse to cover them and the Federal Govt. stops providing funds for rebuilding. Doesn’t seem entirely unlikely, what with all the talk about...They will see it more clearly if insurance companies refuse to cover them and the Federal Govt. stops providing funds for rebuilding. Doesn’t seem entirely unlikely, what with all the talk about cutting agencies and slashing budgets.
-
Comment on Why Ren'Py? in ~games
clayh LinkThere's a Ren'Py game from 2013 worth visiting, called Save the Date. You can find it here: https://paperdino.com/save-the-date/There's a Ren'Py game from 2013 worth visiting, called Save the Date. You can find it here: https://paperdino.com/save-the-date/
-
Comment on What long standalone book is worth its page count? in ~books
clayh Link11/22/63, by Stephen King. It's not his usual fare; no horror. It really got into my head. Some spoiler-y thoughts I've heard some folks say they thought it dragged a bit in the middle, but upon...11/22/63, by Stephen King. It's not his usual fare; no horror. It really got into my head.
Some spoiler-y thoughts
I've heard some folks say they thought it dragged a bit in the middle, but upon finishing the book, my thought was that he did that on purpose because he wants you to kind of forget why you are where you are, empathizing with the main character. By the time the main character is supposed to do his thing, you're sort of rooting for him to forget about it and mildly horrified when he proceeds. At least, that's how it impacted me.
Incidentally, King mentions Time and Again, by Jack Finney, as a major source of inspiration. That's also a very good and long book. Finney wrote The Body Snatchers (film being Invasion of the Body Snatchers), which is an excellent short read and allegory about the spread of fascism.
-
Comment on What’s something that you weren’t supposed to see/hear, but did? in ~talk
clayh Link ParentThanks for your comment. I'm sorry to hear of the experiences you had - they sound absolutely terrifying. I was lucky enough to make it to mid-life without ever experiencing anything particularly...- Exemplary
Thanks for your comment. I'm sorry to hear of the experiences you had - they sound absolutely terrifying.
I was lucky enough to make it to mid-life without ever experiencing anything particularly traumatic like this. I mean... I was on a plane that almost crashed once and it gave me a fear of flying for over 20 years, but that seemed like a situational fear. This event created more of a global trauma/fear response that was not confined to a particular place or situation.
Immediately after it happened, I guess I was in shock for 24 hours or so, and then when it set it, my mind went absolutely crazy. It replayed the situation 1000 times per minute, with an endless stream of what-if scenarios, regrets, feelings of shame, terror, sadness, etc. I realized shortly thereafter that I needed to seek treatment ASAP and I am lucky enough to be friends with some people who helped me find the proper treatment.
What I was told is that there were so many troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD that the research into how to treat it had dramatically improved in recent years. It boiled down to: medicate away the symptoms for 6 weeks (which is not PTSD but the "acute trauma response phase") and you're far more likely to avoid chronic PTSD. I hated the medication and stopped it probably a bit too early, but I would say that it was 95% effective. There was a bit of a stress rebound when I came off of it and then about 2 months later I was having some weird panic triggers, but now they've mostly faded.
However, rarely does a day go by when it doesn't replay in my mind at least once. Now, however, it's more like watching it on TV than being there in person, if that makes any sense. I guess it's more of an analytical replay than an emotional replay.
I live in the house that I grew up in and the street is a calm and peaceful one. I spent my childhood playing in the woods where I found the body. Honestly, I can't even really type that without tearing up. The events completely shattered the nostalgia, serenity, and personal connection that I have with the area where it happened. I don't think I'll ever get that back. I've tried to walk back to the place where I found the body and... I just can't do it. Not yet. Maybe eventually. Maybe not. We've thought a lot about moving since this all happened. I previously never would have considered it and while I still have an emotional pull to the location, it's more wistful... like remembering a good friend from high school who I haven't seen in a long time versus a visceral active connection. It may sound strange, but I think I mourn the loss of that more than anything.
It's tough to move forward from stuff like this and I wasn't even a direct victim of a crime. The woman murdered was a 23 year old mother of 2 young children. It appears to have been somewhat random. Neither the victim nor the perpetrator lived anywhere near here - they just happened to come down the street. I'm so sorry for those children who will grow up without their mother.
-
Comment on What’s something that you weren’t supposed to see/hear, but did? in ~talk
clayh LinkWithout providing too much detail; happened last Spring... I received a call from my neighbor that something weird was happening at the end of the cul-de-sac. I walked out there, hearing somebody...Without providing too much detail; happened last Spring... I received a call from my neighbor that something weird was happening at the end of the cul-de-sac. I walked out there, hearing somebody dragging something heavy into the woods next to my house. I walked to the end of the cul-de-sac and there was a car parked there, backed up to the woods. A moment later, a man came out of the woods and claimed he hit a deer with his car. He drove away shortly thereafter. I walked into the woods and found the dead body of a young woman who had been murdered within the past 10 minutes.
So, yeah... I ended up with severe panic attacks, hallucinations, inability to sleep, not feeling safe in my house, and in PTSD therapy for a while, and I'm still struggling with intrusive thoughts and occasional moments of severe dread. There were others involved who experienced similar things. It didn't help that the police/forensics teams don't clean up. I was left to scrub a 50' trail of blood off of the street and scrub down blood splatter all over the mailboxes etc, in large part so that my kids wouldn't get into it or see it.
Edit: I was able to provide info to the authorities that led to the prompt arrest of the perpetrator.
-
Comment on How do you shave your nose and ears? in ~life.men
clayh Link ParentLife is easier if you just accept aging and stay healthy. Sure, trim your eyebrows and nose hair and ear hair, but I don't know... I guess I end up thinking that the people who go out of their way...Life is easier if you just accept aging and stay healthy. Sure, trim your eyebrows and nose hair and ear hair, but I don't know... I guess I end up thinking that the people who go out of their way to do unnatural things to try to look younger end up just looking silly.
-
Comment on How do you shave your nose and ears? in ~life.men
clayh LinkLook… you’ll need to trim more things as you get older. Eyebrows, etc. I have had this Philips Norelco one (or very similar) for over 10 years and it is excellent. It has attachments for all the...Look… you’ll need to trim more things as you get older. Eyebrows, etc. I have had this Philips Norelco one (or very similar) for over 10 years and it is excellent. It has attachments for all the things. https://a.co/d/1QLm2Qw
Edit: I think I have the MG7770/49 with 25 pieces. It came with a charge cord and I think it’s waterproof.
-
Comment on What long book series is worth its page count? in ~books
clayh LinkSome Cold War spy fiction: The Bernard Samson series, by Len Deighton (9 books) The George Smiley series, by John Le'Carre. (9 books)Some Cold War spy fiction:
- The Bernard Samson series, by Len Deighton (9 books)
- The George Smiley series, by John Le'Carre. (9 books)
-
Comment on Inside the war against excessive headlight brightness in ~transport
clayh Link ParentMy understanding is that they are only on the 2025 models of the R1S and that they were just recently activated with a software update. Also, they are not turned on by default, I think.My understanding is that they are only on the 2025 models of the R1S and that they were just recently activated with a software update. Also, they are not turned on by default, I think.
-
Comment on Inside the war against excessive headlight brightness in ~transport
clayh LinkThe 2025 Rivians have adaptive headlights and it’s a trip to see them in action. They appear to do a good job of leaving other cars in an unlit cone, but I’ve never experienced what it’s like to...The 2025 Rivians have adaptive headlights and it’s a trip to see them in action. They appear to do a good job of leaving other cars in an unlit cone, but I’ve never experienced what it’s like to ride in front of one or as oncoming traffic (to my knowledge).
Here’s an article about them: https://www.theautopian.com/the-rivian-r1s-is-americas-first-car-with-this-special-headlight-technology-and-it-is-amazing/
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
clayh Link ParentIf you enjoy the Star Wars vibe, you may want to try Star Wars Outlaws. Personally, it's the most fun I've had with a Ubisoft game in years, mainly because they nailed the environment/vibe. Note,...If you enjoy the Star Wars vibe, you may want to try Star Wars Outlaws. Personally, it's the most fun I've had with a Ubisoft game in years, mainly because they nailed the environment/vibe. Note, however, that it doesn't feed into the force power fantasy. The main character is a Han Solo-esque woman who is down on her luck and coerced into putting together a crew to pull off a heist. There are no force powers or light sabers to be seen, but tons of small details that Star Wars fans will recognize.
Edit to add: the gameplay is somewhere between Assassin's Creed and Uncharted, with some space combat thrown in. Mix of stealth and cover-based blaster action.
-
Comment on Requesting recommendations for a smart doorbell in ~tech
clayh LinkWe have an Arlo Video Doorbell that works well. It requires an indoor chime component, but I guess they all do. When somebody rings the doorbell, it calls our phones. It is battery powered and...We have an Arlo Video Doorbell that works well. It requires an indoor chime component, but I guess they all do. When somebody rings the doorbell, it calls our phones. It is battery powered and requires charging every 2 months or so, but it's easy to remove from the mount and could charge overnight without a problem.
-
Comment on Graduating college, starting work, and being lonely in ~life
clayh LinkThis may seem random, but hear me out… Check out the Silicon Valley Curling Club. If you can, do it with a friend or coworker and enroll in a learning league or take a Learn to Curl class...This may seem random, but hear me out… Check out the Silicon Valley Curling Club. If you can, do it with a friend or coworker and enroll in a learning league or take a Learn to Curl class together. If you like it, sign up for a 1x/week league!
Curling is an extremely social sport at the club level and is also a very friendly and inclusive sport, including people of all ages. Most clubs have rules against smack talk, etc. Here’s a link to get you started. https://siliconvalleycurling.com/
-
Comment on Heat pumps used to struggle in the cold. Not anymore. in ~enviro
clayh LinkWe have 3 heat pumps now and I’ve had heat pumps my entire life. They may be more efficient now, but they are significantly less reliable. Rarely do 6 months go by without us having a problem with...We have 3 heat pumps now and I’ve had heat pumps my entire life. They may be more efficient now, but they are significantly less reliable. Rarely do 6 months go by without us having a problem with one of them. Two of the units are Mitsubishi mini-splits (one ducted and the other with wall-mounted heads). The other is a more traditional unit. The more traditional one is a Bosch unit.
At the moment, the Bosch (less than 3 years old) is broken. The wall-heads mini split exploded 2 days ago, when a circuit in it blew, causing all the coolant to leak out.
We never had problems like this in the 80s and 90s. Quality has plummeted.
-
Comment on AirPods or not? in ~music
clayh LinkOne thing worth keeping in mind is that AirPods Pro 2 can also function as clinical-grade hearing aids and can be tuned to your specific hearing loss. There's some info here:...One thing worth keeping in mind is that AirPods Pro 2 can also function as clinical-grade hearing aids and can be tuned to your specific hearing loss. There's some info here: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/hearing-health/
-
Comment on Trees and land absorbed almost no CO2 last year in ~enviro
clayh LinkOne thing I always wonder about.... At some point, mitigating climate change is going to be an obviously huge economic opportunity. We aren't there yet, evidently, but I feel like once the dam...One thing I always wonder about.... At some point, mitigating climate change is going to be an obviously huge economic opportunity. We aren't there yet, evidently, but I feel like once the dam starts to spring leaks and the big-money players decide that they can make more money by helping mitigate climate change, that's when we will start to see serious progress.
I would love to see the USG invest in a climate change mitigation project on the scale of the moonshot research in the 1960s.
-
Comment on What is the key 'gameplay loop' in a MUD game? in ~games
clayh LinkI played MUDs back in the early 1990s - I guess the "golden age". There were 3 main things that were super appealing, that drove my gameplay. The first was the social aspect. Players in guilds...I played MUDs back in the early 1990s - I guess the "golden age". There were 3 main things that were super appealing, that drove my gameplay.
The first was the social aspect. Players in guilds were really cool! I wanted to be in a guild, but the guilds were restrictive.... you had to go on raids with players, show that you could collaborate, etc. to be able to join. Once you joined, you could enter the guild hall, which was restricted only to members. This was really cool!
The second was that (in the ones I played) once you hit level 18, you were a Wizard. The Wizards were the ones to coded the MUD and could create new areas, build the lore, new spells, etc. Plus, you could use all sorts of magic stuff that was not available to non-Wizards. The social collaboration continued on to the actual shared building of the MUD world, which was very cool.
The final was exploration. I grew up on Zork and other Infocom games and exploring a MUD was similar. It was awesome to map out a new area, figure out where various mobs were camped, find new mysterious locked doors, etc. As a lower-level player, mastering the knowledge of the game world could be a wholly single player experience or sometimes required collaborating (on puzzles, raids, etc.).
I have a lot of great MUD memories. There's something about not having graphics that makes the imagination go wild. I could visualize all of the areas of the games (and still can!) whereas now, you get what the devs choose to show you. That's not bad, just different. It's like the difference between reading a novel and watching a TV adaptation of it.
My wife and daughter enjoy playing word games together but get frustrated when there's a single profile on a site and they can't both play. So, I thought I'd build them some word games. There's one, so far, called Charming. I've gone to great lengths to try to keep as much data as possible browser-side, so everything is stored in local storage, except when you submit your (randomly generated anonymous) player name and score to the leaderboard. The leaderboards are cleared daily (at midnight UTC). The bonuses assigned to letters and the "charms" in the game are randomized daily. Trying to come up with an intuitive scoring scheme was more of a challenge than I thought. Rewarding long words leads to people just trying to find the longest word... rewarding a word count leads to a bunch of small words. There are still some problems, but if anybody wants to try it out, here you go:
https://www.gorillasuit.io/
I'm happy to hear any feedback! Because of local storage, it may not persist your data if you play in a "wrapped" browser, like you might get when you click the link in Discord or something.
FWIW, the game Gorilla Suit comes from a time when I convinced my kids that our neighbor was wandering around in our yard in a gorilla suit. I was trying to get them to run around outside when they were being lazy.... and it worked! :)
Edit: The back end uses Django. The front end just uses Django templates, some JS, and p5.js for the game itself.