cycling_mammoth's recent activity
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Comment on Two years to save the planet, says UN climate chief in ~enviro
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
cycling_mammoth LinkUniversity exams have begun so I meal prepped some pulled pork in my slow cooker. I am still tweaking the recipe, this time I tried using broth for the liquid instead of water and I think it was...University exams have begun so I meal prepped some pulled pork in my slow cooker. I am still tweaking the recipe, this time I tried using broth for the liquid instead of water and I think it was an improvement? I mostly have been using it in sandwiches.
I also was able to get some grapes on sale, I am not usually one to buy grapes but it was nice as a change of pace in terms of my daily fruit consumption. They also seem to be surprisingly fresh, but that might just be my lack of knowledge of growing seasons.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
cycling_mammoth (edited )LinkI know I'm a bit late to the party but I finally started The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I got a really cheap used copy for the Switch and it's been really fun. I'm playing as a Dunmer (dark elf) and...I know I'm a bit late to the party but I finally started The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I got a really cheap used copy for the Switch and it's been really fun. I'm playing as a Dunmer (dark elf) and going for mostly magic, with some one handed swords as a backup melee weapon. The generic bugs & glitches are still present, and it's the first game that I've had crash the switch entirely to an equivalent of a BSOD, but otherwise it actually is quite performant and graphically comparable to other contemporary versions (at least to my eye). I do agree with keeping some of the general jankiness of the original (it's iconic at this point), but quest breaking and console crashing bugs feel a bit disappointing.
I've really enjoyed reading all of the in game lore books, which isn't exactly surprising considering I love in depth story telling & world building in novels and RPGs. I'd also argue that the game definitely has held up pretty well, yet at the same time makes Bethesda's more recent release, Starfield, feel all the more dissapointing. Notably its shallower story / world, and the egregious amount of loading screens (it feels like more than Skyrim, and even then many of those loading screens shouldn't have to be there in this day and age).
I think the only other oddity Ive found is the inclusion of motion controls. I really think they should not have included joycon motion controls if they are just going to half ass them. I tried them for fun and it just wasn't responsive. According to one friend who was with me when I tried it, it was less responsive than even the Xbox Kinect motion controls for Skyrim. They even managed to nail the gyro aiming for bows (at least with the pro con).
I think this may become one of my favourite RPGs, but definitely not the highest one by any means.
In unrelated RPG news, I just finished Tunic. I think this might be in my top ten games of all time, I've been slowly playing it "with" a friend who already beat it (he enjoys watching others play games) and I think it has to be one of the most unique games I've played. It definitely has many inspirations, whether that's old school Zelda (Link to the Past in particular), Souls, a few puzzle games, and it actually combines them quite well. It definitely does feel a bit segmented in their approach, much of the exploration and fighting is earlier while more puzzles arrive later, but it always has this sense of mystery beneath its charming / cute graphics.
In terms of more specifics, the "pages" mechanic to assemble the games instructions felt very fun, the Zelda Ocarina of Time esque target-lock combat system works very well and does actually challenge you (particularly with bosses), and the game uses its forced isometric perspective really well. The soundtrack is beautifully crafted as are the graphics.
It definitely isn't a game for everyone, I think some people will definitely just find it frustrating as it definitely throws you into the deepest end of the pool hoping you can swim. But for me it felt rather refreshing. It feels a lot more like older games where there's a challenge, but not necessarily in the way that some older games are just brutal (I know there's a better way of phrasing that but I dont have the words now)
Puzzle related spoilers, if you wish to play the game don't read the full version. There's two puzzles specifically that I found disappointing due to one feeling "bullshit", and the other was simple but tedious (I'd prefer mentally challenging, even if it takes the same amount of time without the tedious aspect)
I think the only two puzzles that I really hated were two of the fairy ones. The one fountain in the over world with the blue squares felt painful because the camera angle obscured some of the squares. A similar puzzle was in the cathedral (I think?) and it used candles without obscuring them, making it perhaps easier but it felt less "bullshit". The other one I hated was the broken golden obelisk, I knew immediately what I had to do and it just felt tedious. I prefer puzzles that make me think for a long time than ones that make me run around the map mindlessly.
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Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games
cycling_mammoth Link ParentIm finally starting breath of the wild and even in that game im starting to feel that same freling. There's so much random crap in the inventory that might be used in some sort of elixir or food...Im finally starting breath of the wild and even in that game im starting to feel that same freling. There's so much random crap in the inventory that might be used in some sort of elixir or food or whatever and it just feels convoluted
On the other hand, if i take a game like Terraria I can and will throw out stuff i don't need, and other stuff I'll organize neatly into different chests. You have a limited inventory size and are forced to organise, store, and discard items.
With BOTW all you get for organization is pre determined tabs and a sort button which I find a little overwhelming.
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Comment on RSS users - how do you use, organize and maximize your enjoyment of RSS? in ~tech
cycling_mammoth LinkI guess I am quite similar to you and use it for content discovery. I have recently changed my methods, and have Blogs News "Notifications" (e.g a few github things I want to read every release...I guess I am quite similar to you and use it for content discovery. I have recently changed my methods, and have
- Blogs
- News
- "Notifications" (e.g a few github things I want to read every release notes for, severe weather events, data breaches)
- Parliamentary Bills (this one spams a little when in session), I might also add other stuff since nearly everything related to parliament has RSS feeds
- Tech news feeds
I USED to separate the news more into different regions, as well as separating my French and English news, but I really removed many of the feeds as it was just noise.
I'm still not 100% happy with my feeds, I think I'd want some way of rating what comes through my feed. Conceptually, Nunti achieves this but it doesn't yet have a way to have separate databases for different languages and also doesn't seem to like my OPML file.
I'd also like to curate a feed of investigative journalism from a plethora of sources, low noise, long form, and high quality. I've yet to really find enough dedicated feeds to this to achieve it sadly.
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Comment on Atlantic Ocean circulation nearing ‘devastating’ tipping point, study finds in ~enviro
cycling_mammoth LinkIf you'd like to just read the journal article mentioned at the end, you can find it hereIf you'd like to just read the journal article mentioned at the end, you can find it here
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Atlantic Ocean circulation nearing ‘devastating’ tipping point, study finds
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (February 2024) in ~tildes
cycling_mammoth Link ParentNo wonder I recognize the name I really loved RIF back when I used Reddit. Thank you for your answer :)No wonder I recognize the name I really loved RIF back when I used Reddit.
Thank you for your answer :)
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
cycling_mammoth LinkIn the episode of RuPaul's Drag Race from last Friday the song chosen for the lip sync at the end was Cher's Dark Lady. I love a lot of Cher's work and that song has been stuck in my head since...In the episode of RuPaul's Drag Race from last Friday the song chosen for the lip sync at the end was Cher's Dark Lady. I love a lot of Cher's work and that song has been stuck in my head since then. While I am still upset at who lost that week it at least had a good song at the end :p
Otherwise I have been listening to Kali Uchis' new album, ORQUÍDEAS (orchids) a lot, I definitely am at the point where I am craving some more new albums though!
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (February 2024) in ~tildes
cycling_mammoth LinkI have really been enjoying the app on my iPad and Android phone. The only issue I have really run into is the inability to change the main feed's "sort" but I understand you have yet to add all...I have really been enjoying the app on my iPad and Android phone. The only issue I have really run into is the inability to change the main feed's "sort" but I understand you have yet to add all of the website's functionality.
Might I ask if you have made any other apps before this one? For some reason the username "talklittle" is really familiar to me and I don't know if I am just being delusional.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
cycling_mammoth Link ParentThat was my thoughts as well, but Friday is the "end of the week" for many of us (depending on cultural / legal stuff). Is it normally published on a Monday?That was my thoughts as well, but Friday is the "end of the week" for many of us (depending on cultural / legal stuff). Is it normally published on a Monday?
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
cycling_mammoth LinkThis week I started a playthrough of Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver with my partner and their roommate. It has been quite enjoyable to play one of the Pokémon games from my childhood that I did...This week I started a playthrough of Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver with my partner and their roommate. It has been quite enjoyable to play one of the Pokémon games from my childhood that I did not have the chance to play as a kid. It definitely feels odd when I mostly remember Generation 5 games (Black / White, Black 2 / White 2) which feel a lot more ... polished? But I definitely can see why people absolutely adore HG/SS, and it has some of my favourite pokemon.
My team so far consists of Quilava, GeoDude, Gastly, Shiny Eevee (soon to be Umbreon), Quagsire, Gloom and Ratticate as my HM pokemon
Otherwise it has mostly been reading for my University courses. I am particularly enjoying the Medieval literature I have been reading, mostly the texts following the Norman Conquest. It is particularly interesting seeing some of the source texts to later renaissance drama works, the multilingual culture within the British isles (the transition from using the Wessex-English as a koine to using French [romanz] as the dialect bridging mutually unintelligible dialects of English), and seeing a dramatic cultural shift in the 12th century. The linguistic characteristics of this society are really intriguing to me, but I think that is just my inner language nerd.
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Comment on Inventing the perfect US college applicant – For $120,000 a year, Christopher Rim promises to turn any student into Ivy bait in ~life
cycling_mammoth Link ParentDepending on how far back we are going I always got the impression that people in higher social strata were often obliged to attend higher education not for career opportunities, rather for the...I think it’s important to ask ourselves what the people who originally went to college were getting out of it, and if there’s not anything valuable we are losing in this transition to a focus on vocational training.
Depending on how far back we are going I always got the impression that people in higher social strata were often obliged to attend higher education not for career opportunities, rather for the maintenance of tradition / deocorum, to become more 'learnèd', and really just to maintain the status quo of separation of the classes. The main distinction between the upper class and the labourers for the longest time (probably post 12th century ish? at least for what is modern day England) would be that upper-class peoples need not 'labour', they have complete time for leisure (or at least the appearance of not needing to work). Of course, I am looking at this as a student of literature and not history, and while I have learned much history in my studies it is not the primary focus of them and I could be very wrong.
Considering this, I don't think we are losing much in the transition to more vocational training. But at the same time Universities aren't exactly just 'vocational training' yet. Perhaps it's more so vocational training in STEM fields, but outside of them I still get the sense that there's really an attempt to craft critical thinking skills and creating well rounded individuals.
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Comment on What are people's thoughts on "secureblue", "bazzite" and other ublue images? in ~comp
cycling_mammoth LinkFor those who do not know, Universal Blue, or ublue is an ecosystem of operating system images based on Fedora Atomic Desktops. They aren't a fully fledged separate distribution, rather customized...For those who do not know, Universal Blue, or ublue is an ecosystem of operating system images based on Fedora Atomic Desktops. They aren't a fully fledged separate distribution, rather customized images based on pre-existing Fedora options. Some of these include custom kernels etc. for Surface devices and Asus devices, or more extreme tweaks like Bazzite which ports all of the Steam Deck's software to a Fedora Based image for use on a Steam Deck, ROG Ally etc.
The main interest to me is specifically secureblue, one of the community images. I have yet to see much discussion on Privacy Guides, but many of the changes do seem to be quite sensible ones. Particularly the changes to the default firewall behaviour, opportunistic DoT and DNSSEC and the MAC address randomization (the way those are configured by default in Fedora always rubbed me the wrong way). I am also intrigued by the inclusion of GrapheneOS' hardened malloc, but also a little concerned with compatibility. I am just curious if anyone here who is more knowledgeable or has tried using secureblue or any other ublue images and has any further thoughts on them? I find the concept rather exciting, as it allows people to create much more opinionated images without having to create yet another distro that lacks 'relevancy'.
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What are people's thoughts on "secureblue", "bazzite" and other ublue images?
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Comment on What books would you recommend for me? in ~books
cycling_mammoth Link ParentI'm not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand I do think it is an amazing text, but on the other I do not think many will enjoy it. Its most interesting quality to me, its style of...Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand I do think it is an amazing text, but on the other I do not think many will enjoy it. Its most interesting quality to me, its style of narration, is also what makes it impenetrable to some readers. This isn't to say the text should be disqualified, I feel it is one of the most important books I have ever read, but it definitely isn't the first one I'd jump into after a long hiatus from reading.
Very mild spoilers that further my perspective
From what I have seen in others who have read the book, the ones who put more weight into Mr. Stevens narration tend to struggle with the text, then those who recognize quite early on the ironic nature of his narration. He is arguably reliable in his narration, but the rendition of events to me is self-serving and rather particular. I feel like we aren't often confronted with this as readers and it is so essential to understanding the text (in whatever way you wish to).Edits: clarity / grammar
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Comment on What is your experience with foldable phones? in ~tech
cycling_mammoth Link ParentIf you don't mind me asking, what was your reason for getting an iPad Mini over the larger iPads (~11", not the 12.9" massive pro one)? I personally use my 2018 pro 11" for note taking and some...If you don't mind me asking, what was your reason for getting an iPad Mini over the larger iPads (~11", not the 12.9" massive pro one)? I personally use my 2018 pro 11" for note taking and some light artistic work, but I find the mini quite interesting and just want to hear your rationale.
Thanks :)
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Comment on What do you do with old electronics? in ~tech
cycling_mammoth LinkFor old consoles I tend to keep them. While you may not be interested in using it now, 5-10 years from now you may desire to play some classic xbox games and generally the experience is nicer on...For old consoles I tend to keep them. While you may not be interested in using it now, 5-10 years from now you may desire to play some classic xbox games and generally the experience is nicer on the original hardware than an emulator. Homebrew can also give a new lease of life to an older console, for example I homebrew'd my childhood Wii allowing me to emulate older games that pre-date me (nes, snes, some sega stuff, n64 etc.) many of these games never releasing on the Wii's virtual console (why was only one n64 mario party released???). It also saved me some money when buying GameCube games since I can just emulate a memory card on my SD instead of having to pray that a 20 year old card won't die.
A lot of those other devices you could either re-purpose (e.g. an old desktop can make a great media server, or a PC to hook up to your TV for emulation etc.) or they can be sold / donated. The only major caveat I have is the storage mediums on PCs / phones, which I would much prefer destroying or at the very least securely wiping them. If they were encrypted then wiping them should be fine.
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Comment on Is an iPad enough for college students these days? in ~tech
cycling_mammoth Link ParentI'm quite surprised, the LMS (D2L Brightspace) I used in High School and University has an Android and iOS app for several years now. If it is a website only, by default Safari on the iPad now...Also, many learning management systems have poor mobile experiences as well. If she has to submit anything via an LMS, it’s going to be a struggle on just an iPad.
I'm quite surprised, the LMS (D2L Brightspace) I used in High School and University has an Android and iOS app for several years now.
If it is a website only, by default Safari on the iPad now requests desktop sites (since 2019 I think?), it may still be a hassle if the UI doesn't like touch input but it does avoid a crappy mobile interface being stretched onto a massive canvas.
Regardless, I still overall agree with you, there is too much software that one may need in university that requires a true laptop operating system and will not work on iPadOS. For example, Zotero is indispensable for me and the iPad experience is quite lackluster. I also find remote lab access to be much better with the dedicated Windows / Mac / Linux app rather than the website.
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Comment on Is an iPad enough for college students these days? in ~tech
cycling_mammoth Link ParentMy school also had this but there are some caveats that are worth mentioning. While the web client for remote access worked, the desktop client (windows, linux, macOS) was more featureful...Edit: I just remembered that my community college actually had remote access VMs available to all of their students, and their images had the programs that were required for all of their courses upon request. I don't know how common this practice is, but if the school in question has this kind of thing in place, it makes an iPad a lot more tenable.
My school also had this but there are some caveats that are worth mentioning. While the web client for remote access worked, the desktop client (windows, linux, macOS) was more featureful particularly if you wanted to share folders on your local device with the server. Remote access VMs also do not solve the proctoring problem, as you still need a personal device to use for proctoring. Although in the case of my University some of those proctoring softwares were banned and most exams are in person at this point anyways.
If you don't mind me asking, what made wren.co better than competitors in your research? I'm not exactly in a financial / life position to be concerned about carbon offsets (I'm still a university student), but it's something I'd definitely want to consider when I'm more established.