cube's recent activity

  1. Comment on Scifi / action (audiobooks)... who would I like next? in ~books

    cube
    Link Parent
    I would highly recommend this as well. I listened to the entire Saga via Audible and it was excellent.

    I would highly recommend this as well. I listened to the entire Saga via Audible and it was excellent.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Red Rising series made me start reading again (no spoilers) in ~books

    cube
    Link Parent
    The 6th book in the series is coming out July 25 if you are looking for another to read.

    The 6th book in the series is coming out July 25 if you are looking for another to read.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Red Rising series made me start reading again (no spoilers) in ~books

    cube
    (edited )
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    I haven't felt this way about a book series in over a decade. It is so refreshing and satisfying to be reading again. I just wanted to share this amazing series with everyone. Veteran readers...

    I haven't felt this way about a book series in over a decade. It is so refreshing and satisfying to be reading again. I just wanted to share this amazing series with everyone.

    Veteran readers might prefer something slower paced (RR is "pedal to the floor" pace) but for someone like myself who needs that to re-ignite my love for reading it is very welcome.

    I will say book 1 is a bit young adult fiction style. If you enjoyed it but felt that was a negative I would strongly encourage giving book 2 a chance. Book 2 is quite an evolution from the first book.

    7 votes

  4. Red Rising series made me start reading again (no spoilers)

    ~books Text 164 words
    Currently on book 3 of the Red Rising series. I've been trying to get back into reading for years but I've felt like "quicker" forms of entertainment (video games, etc.) have broken my ability to...

    Currently on book 3 of the Red Rising series. I've been trying to get back into reading for years but I've felt like "quicker" forms of entertainment (video games, etc.) have broken my ability to sit down and focus on a book. Case in point - I've had Red Rising book 1 downloaded to my kindle for years after a friend of mine gave it a overwhelmingly positive recommendation. I tried reading it a few times but my lack of attention span made me fail after just a few pages.

    Well all that changed recently when I finally sat down again and gave the book a proper chance by reading more then 3 pages I feel like I'm 14 years old again just crushing books in a few days. Several times I have not been able to put the book down and read until 2AM.

    Since the end of June I've finished the first 2 books and am around 1/3rd through the 3rd one.

    36 votes

  5. Comment on What game encouraged you to make your new PC, or upgrade? in ~games

    cube
    Link Parent
    Do you wear a VR headset while running on a treadmill or similar? If so, how easy do you find it to keep the headset clean?

    Do you wear a VR headset while running on a treadmill or similar? If so, how easy do you find it to keep the headset clean?

  6. Comment on What have your experiences been with losing interest in video games as you get older? in ~games

    cube
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    I am in my thirties and used to game for hours every night - mostly playing multiplayer games like Starcraft 2, LoL, CSGO, Valorant, and Destiny2. Now I find I just do not have the time to keep up...

    I am in my thirties and used to game for hours every night - mostly playing multiplayer games like Starcraft 2, LoL, CSGO, Valorant, and Destiny2. Now I find I just do not have the time to keep up with the competitive curve of the game.

    I used to be quite good at all of them, peaking at Diamond in SC2, LoL, and Valorant - but that required a lot of time investment that I just don't have anymore. Now playing those same games feels like I am "losing" since I can no longer play at the level I once did. As such, I've moved into the more casual and singleplayer gaming space.

    My biggest frustration that really ruins modern gaming for me is games not respecting the player's time. I understand that a 50-100 hour game is attractive to many players but I feel like almost every AAA game now thinks it needs to be some sprawling 50+ hour grindfest. I absolutely adore a 5-10 hour tight experience that I can knock out in a few weeks or perhaps even a spare weekend - but those experiences are few and far between now.

    I also feel like gaming feels like a bigger and bigger waste of time as I get older - probably due to more pressure and competition for my time as responsibilities increase.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    cube
    Link Parent
    I just finished the first book yesterday. Really enjoyed it. It's actually the first book I've completed in many years which is a huge compliment to the book. I used to read so much when I was...

    I just finished the first book yesterday. Really enjoyed it. It's actually the first book I've completed in many years which is a huge compliment to the book. I used to read so much when I was younger but in the last few years have found it difficult to find the time/focus.

    I have the 2nd book queued up on my kindle and will likely start it tonight.

  8. Comment on Canadians will no longer have access to news content on Facebook and Instagram, Meta says in ~tech

    cube
    Link
    I could not care less about Facebook/Instagram news, but I am really skeptical of this new bill. Decent Op-Ed on bill C-18 here: https://www.mcgill.ca/maxbellschool/max-policy/c-18

    I could not care less about Facebook/Instagram news, but I am really skeptical of this new bill.

    Decent Op-Ed on bill C-18 here: https://www.mcgill.ca/maxbellschool/max-policy/c-18

    15 votes

  9. Comment on Which theme are you defaulting to? I'm loving Atom One Dark. in ~tildes

    cube
    Link Parent
    Same. Was Dracula and then switched to Love Dark. The text just pops a bit more while retaining the dark theme overall.

    Same. Was Dracula and then switched to Love Dark. The text just pops a bit more while retaining the dark theme overall.

    5 votes

  10. Comment on What gaming rumor just won't die? in ~games

    cube
    Link Parent
    This "rumor" just seems so illogical - if Steam runs out of business why would they give a fuck about "making it right"? When a billion dollar org is on the verge of bankruptcy the last thing they...

    This "rumor" just seems so illogical - if Steam runs out of business why would they give a fuck about "making it right"? When a billion dollar org is on the verge of bankruptcy the last thing they care about is the individual wellbeing of their customers - they are just fighting for survival at that point.

    The only plausible (and I would even say "likely") contingency plan for Steam is I highly doubt it would ever actually just go bankrupt and disappear. They would sell to some big player before that point. A ton of big companies would love to own Steam and if Steam thought they were doomed they would just sell.

  11. Comment on Galaxy Z Fold 5 folds flat, as confirmed by first leaked press render in ~tech

    cube
    Link Parent
    I think the general idea once the tech is ironed out the it gives your the best of both worlds in regards to phone form-factor and tablet form-factor. You can have a device the size of a phone...

    I think the general idea once the tech is ironed out the it gives your the best of both worlds in regards to phone form-factor and tablet form-factor.

    You can have a device the size of a phone that easily and intuitively expands to the size of a tablet for things that can meaningfully utilize the extra real estate (web browser, media consumption, etc.). I still have yet to see a folding phone though that doesn't feel like a compromised phone [folded closed] experience and a compromised tablet [folded open] experience. I will not be getting one until the phone experience is as good as current normal phones.

    3 votes

  12. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    cube
    Link
    Just started "Red Rising" - scifi series about a class uprising set in a future where humanity has populated the solar system. Really good so far.

    Just started "Red Rising" - scifi series about a class uprising set in a future where humanity has populated the solar system. Really good so far.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Reddit CEO pledges to not force subreddits to reopen. Admin team then immediately threatens moderators who closed their subreddits with removal. in ~tech

    cube
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    I know its not entirely apples to apples, but I just want to point out what AWS charges for REST API calls: AWS: $3.50/million calls for the most expensive tier, with pricing going to around half...

    I know its not entirely apples to apples, but I just want to point out what AWS charges for REST API calls:

    • AWS: $3.50/million calls for the most expensive tier, with pricing going to around half that as you accumulate more API calls - https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/pricing/
    • Reddit: $240.00/million calls, with no tiered pricing.

    In other words 68x - 159x the price AWS is charging for those calls. Reddit uses AWS for most of its infrastructure so its a very high possibility that they are getting the API bill from AWS, adding a 159x markup (Reddit is certainly at the largest discount, due to the sheer quantity of calls), and then trying to bill the 3PA dev that amount.

    I absolutely understand charging the 3PA's for their usage, but the markup here is just absolutely absurd. Even just a "mere" 50x markup on the API calls would have netted Reddit a lot of money and been way more achievable for 3rd party devs.

    71 votes

  14. Comment on What is the most recent game to really impress you? in ~games

    cube
    Link Parent
    Spoilers here! I had very similar thoughts to you. I was initially disappointed with the ending - but then I came to realize that the disappointment I was feeling was exactly what the game...
    Spoilers here!

    I had very similar thoughts to you. I was initially disappointed with the ending - but then I came to realize that the disappointment I was feeling was exactly what the game intended. The overall theme was about losing yourself in other people[Delilah]/stories[murder conspiracy] as a means by which to escape the grim reality that has befallen the main character (slowly losing his wife).

    As the weeks and months passed since I finished the game - I found myself continuing to come back and think about Firewatch not just as a game, but also its themes and how they relate to real life.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on What is the most recent game to really impress you? in ~games

    cube
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    This is by no means the most recent game - but I find myself thinking about Firewatch still on occasion. As a adult with not a ton of gaming time these days, I really appreciated its "bite size"...

    This is by no means the most recent game - but I find myself thinking about Firewatch still on occasion.

    As a adult with not a ton of gaming time these days, I really appreciated its "bite size" approach (you can finish the game in an afternoon) while also being a pretty interesting, mature, story. I won't spoil anything, but I'll just say I found the game really thought provoking in a way not many other games have managed.

    16 votes

  16. Comment on What is the most recent game to really impress you? in ~games

    cube
    Link Parent
    This game really impressed me as well - and I really didn't enjoy BOTW that much. I kept trying BOTW to try and experience the magic that everyone was talking about but while I could see why...

    This game really impressed me as well - and I really didn't enjoy BOTW that much. I kept trying BOTW to try and experience the magic that everyone was talking about but while I could see why people liked it - I just found it really empty and boring.

    TotK on the other hand... a masterpiece.

    6 votes

  17. Comment on Apollo will close down on June 30th. Reddit’s recent decisions and actions have unfortunately made it impossible for Apollo to continue. Thank you so, so much for all the support over the years. in ~tech

    cube
    Link Parent
    old.reddit.com with RES is a good experience. Doesn't look the prettiest - but it's a very functional design. I'm sure they will kill the old UI at some point though.

    old.reddit.com with RES is a good experience. Doesn't look the prettiest - but it's a very functional design.

    I'm sure they will kill the old UI at some point though.

    3 votes

  18. Comment on The revolt of the Christian home-schoolers in ~life

    cube
    Link Parent
    Cost is usually the reason. Public school is free. Even the most modest private religious school will probably be $10K+ per student, per year since they do not receive any public funding. If you...

    Cost is usually the reason. Public school is free. Even the most modest private religious school will probably be $10K+ per student, per year since they do not receive any public funding. If you have 2 or 3 kids that cost becomes extreme in a hurry.

    3 votes

  19. Comment on The revolt of the Christian home-schoolers in ~life

    cube
    Link Parent
    Both were true. We had probably ~250 students per grade and I also grew up in a region with a very large homeschool population.

    Both were true. We had probably ~250 students per grade and I also grew up in a region with a very large homeschool population.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on The revolt of the Christian home-schoolers in ~life

    cube
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    I guess this is the "opposing" view - but I actually really enjoyed my time being homeschooled and looking back it is one of the best things that happened in my life. I'm in my 30's now and have...
    • Exemplary

    I guess this is the "opposing" view - but I actually really enjoyed my time being homeschooled and looking back it is one of the best things that happened in my life. I'm in my 30's now and have thought about this topic quite a bit over the years - especially as homeschooling has grown in popularity and grown in infamy.

    I was homeschooled from Grades 1-8 (although did attend public school in grades 2 and 5) and then went to public high school. A lot of articles and experiences I read about focus heavily on how parents mistreated/sheltered/lied to their children through the homeschooling experience and then the conclusions follow from there. I do not want to take anything away from those stories, as they are real and the trauma is there, however I do not agree with the conclusion that often follows: homeschooling = bad.

    When I read and hear about these stories the common denominator is almost always parents who are overly sheltering their children - perhaps knowingly or unintentionally. Either way - the root of problem is not the homeschooling, but rather the parents approach to the child’s upbringing. In these cases homeschooling can cause serious damage to the child’s upbringing, but at its core it is not THE thing that caused the damage. For that you have to go pack and point the finger at the parents.

    Homeschooling is something that can can be absolutely amazing or absolutely terrible for the child. It comes down to how much the parents are going to invest into the process and reasons for homeschooling the child. If parents choose to homeschool to protect their child, I think that is the wrong decision (assuming the child is a “normal” child. Perhaps in cases where a child has extreme anxiety homeschooling may be a solution to protect). Rather, if a parent chooses to homeschool to accelerate and diversity their child’s learning - it can be an exceptional thing.

    The latter requires some serious effort from the parents. They need to accomplish the following:

    1. Be aware and up to date with the public school curriculum and teaching their child the same topics at the same pace (or faster pace)
    2. Actively invest into the child’s social upbringing as the child does not have classmates. This would be things like sports, clubs, field trips, social events with other homeschoolers, church, going the extra mile to drop off and pick up your child so they can spend time with friends, etc.
    3. Be parents who are academically and socially capable of doing the job. Between my two parents, they have 5 university degrees in the sciences, math, and philosophy. They also coached local sports teams, volunteered at many local clubs and events, and brought us children with them to many events. To be clear - I don’t think there is a specific education requirement to homeschool your children, but there are absolutely parents who should not be doing it.
    4. Have a real reason for homeschooling the child. Examples include:
      • teaching the children a broader range of subjects
      • teaching the children at an accelerated pace, pending the child’s ability to learn
      • Accommodating a factor that makes public school difficult/impossible. Perhaps the child has a learning disability or cannot attend a consistent public school due to travelling or something.

    My final point is one that I think not many people who are critical of homeschooling themselves think about. That point is confirmation bias. Everyone knows the stereotype of the “homeschooled kid being a weirdo”. My assertion is that that stereotype is a result of confirmation bias. My anecdotal evidence for that is when I was homeschooled leading up to public high school I was in a social group of around 40-50 local homeschooled kids (across grades 1-8), many of which ended up attending the same public high school. When these kids went to public school, some were immediately “the homeschooled kid” and many others the general public school had no idea. I was of average social standing in high school but whenever I would mention I was homeschooled to people who didn’t know they would remark something like “what?! How can that be - you are so normal”, and then I could name 10 other people in our grade that were also homeschooled whom everyone considered “normal”, while there would be 2 or 3 that were the “weird homeschooled kids”. I firmly believe that if someone is “normal” or “popular” - no one questions where they were raised or what school they went to. If someone is “weird”, then anything in their upbringing that was outside the norm will become the reason they are “weird”. As soon as the class learns the anti-social “weird” kid was homeschooled, then that becomes their identity. This leads to confirmation bias of homeschooled = weird/anti-social. There are plenty of “weird” kids who went to public school their whole life - they will often get some other branding from the general public.

    Anyhow - that was a big an essay. Hopefully that makes some semblance of sense. Happy to answer any questions on my experience/thoughts on homeschooling.

    32 votes