Darthvadercake's recent activity
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Comment on What are your thoughts on Bluesky social app? in ~tech
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Comment on What are your thoughts on Bluesky social app? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentDon't ask me why but the short form made me like Twitter, and now threads / bluesky. I was a Reddit junkie too, but Twitter and Reddit scratched totally different itches and I sought replacements...Don't ask me why but the short form made me like Twitter, and now threads / bluesky.
I was a Reddit junkie too, but Twitter and Reddit scratched totally different itches and I sought replacements for both. I like Tildes but it doesn't fill the void Twitter left, only the void of Reddit.
For me at least, Facebook is a place where a lot of real life people and family go and I need to think about what I said - it'll get seen by my friends and grandma both, and has a wide audience. Same for Instagram, and image focused never worked for me.
Reddit was entertainment and questions and general stuff, nothing personal and mostly talking to and reading stuff strangers wrote.
Twitter was somewhere in between. My grandma didn't have it, a few real life friends did but it wasn't as wide a net. I had online friends I basically only spoke to on Twitter, people I didn't know, but my tweets were about me and my life. It was like the perfect mix of internet anonymity while still building online friendships and meeting acquaintances, much more so than Reddit.
And no, Bluesky isn't the ideal replacement, neither is Threads, but both are trying at least. It's something.
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Comment on How do I use up all this mint? in ~food
Darthvadercake LinkOkay really important note I haven't seen here: are you aware you can freeze mint leaves? As long as they are not browning you can safely freeze them and use later. All of the above applications...Okay really important note I haven't seen here: are you aware you can freeze mint leaves? As long as they are not browning you can safely freeze them and use later.
All of the above applications work but if you aren't planning on doing them straight away, just freeze a bunch to buy yourself time.
For mine I freeze them and then take it out for like a mocktail or a water, strawberry and mint delicious drink. Especially if you make cold stuff you don't need to defrost it first, you can just add them frozen to add some cool to the drink. So for a smoothie or a drink or a cocktail just add the leaves straight from the freezer. So easy!
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Comment on What consumeristic and somewhat pointless hobby do you have? in ~hobbies
Darthvadercake Link ParentThere's really no right or wrong way to read, just personal preferences. Anything that makes you more enthusiastic about reading is the best way!There's really no right or wrong way to read, just personal preferences. Anything that makes you more enthusiastic about reading is the best way!
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentOh, just tested it and you are right! The accounts I used to be unable to find now show up! Maybe they made an update. Thanks!Oh, just tested it and you are right! The accounts I used to be unable to find now show up! Maybe they made an update. Thanks!
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Comment on Twitter blocks links to rival Threads, while CEO downplays reports of traffic decline in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentIt's a podcast from Wondery called Imagine Life. It's an interesting angle, in that they tell a life story from one persons perspective, but don't reveal until the end who it is. They did one on...It's a podcast from Wondery called Imagine Life.
It's an interesting angle, in that they tell a life story from one persons perspective, but don't reveal until the end who it is. They did one on Maya Angelou, one on Princess Diana, one on Mohammed Ali, one on Elton John etc. There is one episode telling the story from the eyes of Elon Musk. It's older, so it mostly ends with him setting up Space X and Tesla. Probably for the best, it makes him sound a lot nicer.
Elon's episode is called The Outsider, it's still available on my podcast app so hopefully you can find it!
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentCreating my account was easy. But I don't have a twitter just to tweet my own stuff, I mainly follow others. When I joined mastodon I was actively discouraged from joining mastodon.social. from...Creating my account was easy. But I don't have a twitter just to tweet my own stuff, I mainly follow others.
When I joined mastodon I was actively discouraged from joining mastodon.social. from what I recall it was either completely closed or they were telling people NOT to join it and go to another server instead. So I did. I went to mastodon.world
Only to find out that some of the accounts I used to follow were on world, and some were on social, and others were somewhere else completely. And while it was straightforward to find them on my server, it really wasn't to find them on completely different servers.
Your example, let's just follow everyone on mastodon.social, was exactly what I wanted and hoped for. But the whole point of the fediverse seems to be that it's spread out, so instead there's like 10 different twitters or 10 different threads, some folks are on one and others are on another and nobody is telling you or teaching you how you can follow and connect to everyone you want to see, without needing to have 10 accounts and 10 websites.
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Comment on Twitter blocks links to rival Threads, while CEO downplays reports of traffic decline in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentI listened to a podcast that talked about his childhood (well before he came out as.. quite this bad). Apparently he was horrifically bullied as a kid and very very lonely. I sympathise with that,...I listened to a podcast that talked about his childhood (well before he came out as.. quite this bad). Apparently he was horrifically bullied as a kid and very very lonely.
I sympathise with that, but I have never seen a more clear cut case of 'you really should have gotten therapy for that to deal with it'. The man is a billionaire with 9 kids and three companies and he is still trying to prove he is better than his bullies.
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentDon't forget translations as well! My (dutch) mum is on facebook, and all options and functions on there come translated by default for her. I was happy using reddit as I am bilingual but for some...Don't forget translations as well! My (dutch) mum is on facebook, and all options and functions on there come translated by default for her. I was happy using reddit as I am bilingual but for some only using English is still a hurdle. Given Threads is currently super bare bones, it's very possible they haven't gotten translations for the full collection of EU languages yet
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentMastodon isn't really trying hard to replace Twitter. I was part of the wave leaving Twitter for new shores. I signed up to Mastodon, spend maybe a week, two at most, on there, before giving up on...Mastodon isn't really trying hard to replace Twitter. I was part of the wave leaving Twitter for new shores. I signed up to Mastodon, spend maybe a week, two at most, on there, before giving up on it. I think a lot of people did. It's just a pain to deal with unless you read the manuals, so to speak. Mastodon was basically 'appointed' as the new twitter alternative by a lot of twitter refugees. They didn't have a lack of new users or sign ups, but most new people who arrived didn't stick around. If Threads doesn't take off and users try Mastodon again most likely the same thing will happen.
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentThat was my assumption too. I am on threads. A huge part of why I am okay using it is because I already use Instagram and Facebook, so a lot of the data Threads would collect on me they probably...That was my assumption too. I am on threads. A huge part of why I am okay using it is because I already use Instagram and Facebook, so a lot of the data Threads would collect on me they probably already have taken from the other two sources anyway.
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Comment on Why has Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, not launched in the EU? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentI am based in the UK. We have it here. The fact we do is just another example of the impact of Brexit. Not the same level of data protection. The fact most British websites still abide by those...I am based in the UK. We have it here. The fact we do is just another example of the impact of Brexit. Not the same level of data protection. The fact most British websites still abide by those rules is because they also want to operate in the EU. But apps that can choose not to launch elsewhere really can milk our data pretty easily.
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Comment on Cartoon Network Studios to shut down, merge with Warner Bros Animation in ~tv
Darthvadercake Link ParentCow and chicken, dexters lab, johnny bravo and ed edd and eddy were some of my favourites as a kid. It's so sad that studio can't continue.Cow and chicken, dexters lab, johnny bravo and ed edd and eddy were some of my favourites as a kid. It's so sad that studio can't continue.
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Comment on Book writing self-hosted solutions? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentThat makes sense! I will be honest, some of those benefits would be useful, but two of my priorities for the program I use are 1) I can sync phone with my desktop and 2) free to use Those are more...That makes sense! I will be honest, some of those benefits would be useful, but two of my priorities for the program I use are 1) I can sync phone with my desktop and 2) free to use
Those are more important than any other benefits and I think a bit harder to achieve with other programs. But it does sound useful!;
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Comment on Book writing self-hosted solutions? in ~tech
Darthvadercake Link ParentI use it to actually write in, to create the content of the book. As far as creating a book layout and format that can be used to print it out, I haven't gotten to that yet as it's not finished....I use it to actually write in, to create the content of the book.
As far as creating a book layout and format that can be used to print it out, I haven't gotten to that yet as it's not finished. But I work as a designer, so my process to get it to printable format would likely be to do that in Indesign and really give a lot of thought to what fonts and what headers and which spacing etc. I wouldn't expect a program to create the final layout for me, I would want something custom because I love that aspect of making it look good
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Comment on Book writing self-hosted solutions? in ~tech
Darthvadercake LinkI'll be honest, I personally haven't really explored writing specific programs because I have never felt the need to. I write from my phone, tablet and desktop and just use google docs, nothing...I'll be honest, I personally haven't really explored writing specific programs because I have never felt the need to. I write from my phone, tablet and desktop and just use google docs, nothing else. Occasionally if I need a thesaurus I will just google it in my browser. It gives me everything I need.
That said, my writing style so far has been to write chronologically, chapter my chapter. I am currently working on a second draft of half the book (it's a clear split between two defined sections so it made sense to edit from there). Occasionally I move one section from one chapter to the other but I just highlight and add a note to edit it later. But for the most part I just work chapter by chapter and know where I left off.
I am quite curious how everyone else here works because I hear a lot of folks here use specific software. What benefits do those programs offer? Is it a lot more beneficial than just using word?
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Comment on What are some very easy to make meal kits/prepared food that are accessible? in ~food
Darthvadercake Link ParentJust as a pro-tip, would it be worthwhile investing in one of those food cutter machines that do it for him if he puts in very large pieces? Might be safer?Just as a pro-tip, would it be worthwhile investing in one of those food cutter machines that do it for him if he puts in very large pieces? Might be safer?
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Comment on What are some very easy to make meal kits/prepared food that are accessible? in ~food
Darthvadercake LinkI don't eat meat or fish so only veggie recommendations, but one meal that came to mind would be burritos with falafel. You can heat up the burrito in a microwave, falafel in the oven, and eat it...I don't eat meat or fish so only veggie recommendations, but one meal that came to mind would be burritos with falafel. You can heat up the burrito in a microwave, falafel in the oven, and eat it with hummus and some ready chopped lettuce or spinach leaves. Hummus is super good and you can buy it premade, if he wants to he can also add some spices of his own, or add some cherry tomatoes to the mix / on the side. Those are also ready to eat straight from the bag
I don't know if it falls into a chefs type preferences, but did you know when you buy frozen potato waffles you can prepare them in a toaster? Just run them 3 or so times in the toaster and done, just as good as prepared in the oven.
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Comment on Is there any book that you keep trying but can not get through? in ~books
Darthvadercake Link ParentCan I make a book recommendation? I read the Silmarillion too and found it super hard to get through. My parents however also gave me 'Middle Earth for Dummies'. I initially felt a bit embarassed...Can I make a book recommendation? I read the Silmarillion too and found it super hard to get through. My parents however also gave me 'Middle Earth for Dummies'. I initially felt a bit embarassed because at the time I was an idealist who wanted to learn from the source. But I am also a Tolkien fan so I picked it up.
The dummies book did more for me than the Silmarillion. Honestly. It's super easy to get through, it gives you a tonne of the same background information the Silmarillion does, like how the world was created and who the wizards truly are, it teaches you how to write Elvish, but it skips the long prose and poems. It's honestly really good.
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Comment on Is there any book that you keep trying but can not get through? in ~books
Darthvadercake Link ParentI had the opposite experience. Well, not entirely. The beginning wasn't exactly easy but I found it doable. But the Besse Generis stuff intrigued me as did the spices and the worms. I put it down...I had the opposite experience. Well, not entirely. The beginning wasn't exactly easy but I found it doable. But the Besse Generis stuff intrigued me as did the spices and the worms. I put it down sometime around 75% into it and didn't pick it back up again. The part I struggled with was the future predictions, religious wars and the main character seemingly detaching hard from the situation he was in to try and explore future paths.
I want to get back into it and finish it, but it's been so long I would have to re-read the entire thing to finish it and that's no mean feat.
To me, it being similar is kind of the point.
I never wanted anything super different from Twitter. I just want Twitter without Elon and his army of free roaming nazis.
I don't think bluesky is perfect by any means, neither is Threads. Or mastodon. But I have to wonder - how many people commenting here actually loved Twitter before Elon took over? Because if Twitter never really did much for you, it just means you were never really the target audience of the new apps to begin with.
It's totally fine if you want more from an app, and obviously twitter isn't for everyone, but I think there is also a case of 'if you enjoy deeper discussion without a text limit, try a tildes or a reddit or a totally different platform, because neither Twitter nor bluesky were meant to do exactly that'.