deathinactthree's recent activity
-
Comment on Confess your food crimes in ~food
-
Comment on Are you tech-savvy enough? in ~tech
deathinactthree LinkI definitely sympathize with the author's desire to "just do stuff", as someone who has spent an inordinate amount of time tweaking Linux (and XP) to get everything just right and end up spending...I definitely sympathize with the author's desire to "just do stuff", as someone who has spent an inordinate amount of time tweaking Linux (and XP) to get everything just right and end up spending more time on that than actually getting anything done, though I did all the tinkering because I genuinely found it enjoyable to do.
I don't get the "Russian Roulette" thing, at all, unless you're using a non-mainstream Linux distro or truly getting your elbows into tinkering with the system. I assure you that MacOS will orphan its phone and laptop hardware with point releases sooner than any given update will completely break my Zorin install.
Macs are great at what they do (I used them for years), and there are legitimate reasons to not use Linux, but if you just want to get things done on your computer, pretty much no OS holds you back from that these days--not even mobile OSes now, really--barring some very specific software needs and those gaps keep closing every day.
-
Comment on Are you tech-savvy enough? in ~tech
deathinactthree Link ParentI use Zorin as my daily driver, on PC and laptop, and do all my work and personal stuff on it. It's absolutely not a drop-in replacement for MacOS, it is as you say a tweaked up version of GNOME...I use Zorin as my daily driver, on PC and laptop, and do all my work and personal stuff on it. It's absolutely not a drop-in replacement for MacOS, it is as you say a tweaked up version of GNOME so the UX is not the same.
But the reason I use it is similar to what I like about Macs, which to paraphrase the blog in the OP is that it "removes the possibility of tweaking". You can futz with it like any Linux, but it's more of a pain to do (on purpose) because Zorin is built to have sane, stable defaults you're not meant to mess with at a basic level. It's not as easy to tinker with the UI as just starting with Arch, say, and building out your own experience, which the blog author wants to avoid.
If you don't like the default experience, you're going to have a bad time and should look at another distro, because like Mac it's meant to stay as it is in most respects. But I do like the default experience, a lot, and it's the closest in Linux I've ever seen to the "it just works" of Apple. I've found it to be extremely stable, everything worked out of the box with no setup beyond installing my apps and turning Proton on in Steam, and I've had zero issues in the year I've been running it since I moved off Fedora, which I unfortunately can't say the same about.
-
Comment on Confess your food crimes in ~food
deathinactthree Link ParentAs a Southerner, I think it's more about "not crossing the streams". IME Southern food has a lot of sweet and a lot of salty but they usually don't get served at the same time. If you have bacon...As a Southerner, I think it's more about "not crossing the streams". IME Southern food has a lot of sweet and a lot of salty but they usually don't get served at the same time. If you have bacon in the morning, you drink black coffee, not sweet tea (which is reserved for the yard or porch, on its own). Dessert like ice cream or trifle with coffee is anathema. I remember the first time I suggested drizzling honey over Brussels sprouts with bacon my grandmother looked at me like a horn grew out of my head.
-
Comment on What are your goto cocktails? in ~food
deathinactthree LinkMy #1 go-to cocktail is a rye-whiskey Manhattan, "perfect" (50/50 dry+sweet vermouth), no garnish, served over ice in a rocks glass. I usually prefer Bulleit rye or Sazerac (the brand) rye for...My #1 go-to cocktail is a rye-whiskey Manhattan, "perfect" (50/50 dry+sweet vermouth), no garnish, served over ice in a rocks glass. I usually prefer Bulleit rye or Sazerac (the brand) rye for these. I will take it "up" though if it's a higher-tier whiskey like Willet or Kings County.
I love Sazeracs and they're probably my favorite cocktail, but only when made correctly, which is surprisingly rare at most bars. Like, what they'll give you will be fine, but not really a Sazerac.
I also like to make dry martinis using rosemary-infused vodka, which I make at home--though "make" is a strong word because you just put a fistful of fresh rosemary stalks in a bottle of vodka and stick it in your freezer for a week or two. If you find the cocktail too savory or bitter, cut it with just a bit of limoncello.
-
Comment on Confess your food crimes in ~food
deathinactthree Link ParentIt might be regional. I love everything bagels with both butter and jam and every time I order it in the South, people look at me like I'm insane and will literally say, "are you sure?" I don't...It might be regional. I love everything bagels with both butter and jam and every time I order it in the South, people look at me like I'm insane and will literally say, "are you sure?" I don't know why, it's delicious. Sweet/salty combo.
I live in the PNW now but haven't ordered a bagel here in at least a decade so I can't remember if they think it's weird here as well. I do remember when I lived in Vermont briefly, no one said a word.
-
Comment on Confess your food crimes in ~food
deathinactthree Link ParentI absolutely lived off of ramen, drained, with canned tuna mixed with mayo (instead of the egg) as a binder for years. Little salt, little pepper, little dried basil if I have it. Sometimes I'll...I absolutely lived off of ramen, drained, with canned tuna mixed with mayo (instead of the egg) as a binder for years. Little salt, little pepper, little dried basil if I have it. Sometimes I'll throw some frozen peas into the boiling ramen for a little extra clean protein nudge. I genuinely love the taste, after decades I've never gotten tired of it, and you're right that it's great for lifters. I mostly eat plant-based now but I'll still sneak this into my diet occasionally, as a treat.
-
Comment on System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | Reveal trailer in ~games
deathinactthree Link ParentYes, I'm sort of glad they're not doing a ground-up remake. Not just because it would take much longer--the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release? But...Yes, I'm sort of glad they're not doing a ground-up remake. Not just because it would take much longer--the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release? But also because you're right--the environmental graphics mostly still hold up decently well [NB: and mods with higher quality texture packs have already been around for decades] and it's really just the character models that would be off-putting to a modern gamer. But even so, I always felt like the uncanniness is part of the horror; I recall a good write-up in the 2000s arguing why SS2 was the greatest PC game of all time and the phrase "the tragic grotesquery of the inhabitants" being a feature-not-a-bug is still stuck in my head 20 years later. Like, to the point that I probably won't even ever play the remaster, and just continue playing the original like I do ever other year or so.
Offtopic
my WORD
-
Comment on Ho-hum, ho-hum: ‘Snow White’ opens to $43m — what poisoned this princess at the box office in ~movies
deathinactthree (edited )Link ParentAs someone who read up through Winter's Heart as a teenager, I've been mostly happy with the series, including the recent scenes with Mat you mention--the series kind of leaves Mat on the table a...As someone who read up through Winter's Heart as a teenager, I've been mostly happy with the series, including the recent scenes with Mat you mention--the series kind of leaves Mat on the table a bit but I'd argue the books do too barring some pivotal scenes. They got the most important parts right IMO.
[EDIT: Where the hell is Faile though???]
Point being (assuming I have one, heh), is that someone whether it's Amazon or Netflix et al could totally do Lamora, it's in their wheelhouse. The first book alone could be easily two seasons.
-
Comment on Ho-hum, ho-hum: ‘Snow White’ opens to $43m — what poisoned this princess at the box office in ~movies
deathinactthree Link ParentNow that would be really interesting, and in hindsight I'm a little surprised it's not like an Amazon Prime series already. It's basically Oceans 11 meets Wheel of Time. "I'm just waiting for Jean...Now that would be really interesting, and in hindsight I'm a little surprised it's not like an Amazon Prime series already. It's basically Oceans 11 meets Wheel of Time.
"I'm just waiting for Jean to get here" in the season finale would go extremely hard.
-
Comment on Ho-hum, ho-hum: ‘Snow White’ opens to $43m — what poisoned this princess at the box office in ~movies
deathinactthree Link ParentThat could be interesting but I feel like it's counter to the story, which is more Count of Monte Cristo than Rome. He's a thief so it makes more sense to effectively "steal" wealth and power by...That could be interesting but I feel like it's counter to the story, which is more Count of Monte Cristo than Rome. He's a thief so it makes more sense to effectively "steal" wealth and power by magic and social adroitness than gain it by conventional historical means of allies and armies. There are already tons of those kinds of stories.
I mean to say the unconventionality is the point, if that makes sense.
-
Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
deathinactthree LinkI don't train Wing Chun anymore but other styles (Shuai Jiao + Hsing-I), but I keep this on hand as a good practice set when I have access to a mook. Which I don't at the moment, but this lives in...mook jong
speed
single outside drill
low hammer fist, outside pak sau, high forefist
double outside drillinside gate speed drill
low hammer fist, 1 or 2 inside paks, high forefist
swing fist outside for the switchton sau + punch center drill, left and right
bon sau to lop to backfist
lop sau drills
all with tiger steppingfook sau drill
flick hand, turn body, push but don't pull!three hand monkey
stick close, wedge to sliding pak to spade handmook pounding (send energy out, don't stay tight)
cross ton sau
left hand low right hand high fist, use body not arms, turn high hand inwardgum sau
left ton right bonbon sau
do it in steps: hands, shoulders, and then risingshock and ton
outside/inside gate, left and right, must complete an inward circlesnaking drill
twist body and lock, slide arms through but don't drag against nervearm bangs low and high
I don't train Wing Chun anymore but other styles (Shuai Jiao + Hsing-I), but I keep this on hand as a good practice set when I have access to a mook. Which I don't at the moment, but this lives in my notes app on my phone just in case.
-
Comment on Post something from your notes app in ~talk
deathinactthree Link ParentHa, I haven't heard a few of these and will be stealing a couple. My version of one of them is a lyric from a hardcore band I quote often, "you're talking so much shit your mouth looks like an...Ha, I haven't heard a few of these and will be stealing a couple. My version of one of them is a lyric from a hardcore band I quote often, "you're talking so much shit your mouth looks like an asshole".
-
Comment on What's the oldest tech you use, and why do you still use it? in ~tech
deathinactthree LinkMy oldest piece of "tech" is a 1951 Zenith Cobra-Matic console record player. (The linked video isn't mine but is the same model.) Mine was fully restored when I purchased it, but recently fell...My oldest piece of "tech" is a 1951 Zenith Cobra-Matic console record player. (The linked video isn't mine but is the same model.) Mine was fully restored when I purchased it, but recently fell off in use because I need a new needle and can't find one for love or money, and the tuner still works but the tuning arm broke a couple of years ago so you basically have to guess at the channel as you're turning the knob.
-
Comment on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man S1E1: Amazing Fantasy in ~tv
deathinactthree LinkHaving recently finished the season, I will say that I liked it way, way more than I expected to. I was a little wary of the visual design, like it was trying to have its cake and eat it to...Having recently finished the season, I will say that I liked it way, way more than I expected to. I was a little wary of the visual design, like it was trying to have its cake and eat it to between classic 4-color Kirby-era comic style and modern animation that looks computer aided (whether it is or not), but it works enough that it stops being uncanny after the first two episodes.
The writing is among the best I've seen in a TV Spider-man IMO, and threads the needle where both kids and adult fans will enjoy it. Most every character is likable, but most importantly, Peter is actually funny. Not just tepid Whedonesque quips, but a sharp wit in the suit that will actually make you chuckle out loud.
I should state here that I'm not like A Serious Person about the character or the comic. Not speaking as a super fan, so take that as you will. But I thought it was great.
-
Comment on The iPad’s “sweet” solution in ~tech
deathinactthree Link ParentAnecdotes are not data, but I will say that in my industry I've worked for 3 large media agencies over the last 15 years or so that were all in on GSuite. Not to contradict that MS still rules the...Anecdotes are not data, but I will say that in my industry I've worked for 3 large media agencies over the last 15 years or so that were all in on GSuite. Not to contradict that MS still rules the day, but it is a thing that happens. I have mixed opinions about it. Moving my client reporting to Sheets ended up being a huge advantage/time saver for me. Building and giving webinars in Slides was honestly a huge pain in the ass. YMMV.
Using my previous example, people are pissed that the "new" MS Outlook is just a wrapper around the web client. Teams is most definitely doing this as well.
As an aside, and again anecdotes are not data, I have noted over the last few years that the web versions as PWAs for Outlook and Teams seem to function better than the native versions even on Windows. The web versions of both have been better both stability-wise and feature-wise that I'm not surprised that they've overtaken the native versions. Even when I was on Windows these past few years before I switched over full-time to Linux, I would install and use the PWAs of Outlook and Teams in W11 because I had fewer issues with them. And it makes sense to prioritize that from a developer perspective because (as you say, "shipping one version of the app") it makes the apps platform-agnostic and more easily deployable.
-
Comment on The future is Niri in ~comp
deathinactthree Link Parent"Papers on a desk" is a good way to put it. I'm old enough that I started high school every year with a new Trapper Keeper, and before the next year's classes started I would meticulously organize..."Papers on a desk" is a good way to put it. I'm old enough that I started high school every year with a new Trapper Keeper, and before the next year's classes started I would meticulously organize it with individual folders for every class, in the order of the schedule, with a system of "most important things on top" in the folders and post-it notes for anything extraneous. In hindsight I think that carried over to how I think about my PC desktop, heh. Flipping through virtual desktops in a normal workday is quite similar to how I flipped between folders back then, I think it influenced how I think about workspaces in general.
-
Comment on The future is Niri in ~comp
deathinactthree Link ParentThis is where I'm at as well. My brain seems to work best with 4-5 virtual desktops dedicated to a specific layout and task group (e.g., chat programs, email, browsers, office app workspace,...Conversely, floating WMs are where my cognitive load is lowest, assuming a competent desktop environment. I make heavy use of multiple monitors and virtual desktops and arrange windows the way I like on each, and then mix and match desktops between monitors to yield the desired combination. After that initial bit of management, I’m done and windows live in those positions 99% of the time. Almost zero management, manual or otherwise.
This is where I'm at as well. My brain seems to work best with 4-5 virtual desktops dedicated to a specific layout and task group (e.g., chat programs, email, browsers, office app workspace, gaming apps). They always exist in the same spaces in the same layout and never change. I set it up once and when I restart my computer, say, launching the apps puts them back in the right layout on the right workspace so I never have to redo it.
I think Niri looks pretty cool and I want to try spinning it up in a VM just to play with it but tiling WMs don't really jive with my headspace. First, because (like you said) they never seem to put windows where or how I want them. I'm not even sure I can adequately explain why the sizing/positioning just always feels off to me. And second, because my day-to-day virtual desktop layouts never dynamically change, or need to for my typical workflow, which seems to be the main value-add of using a tiling WM. Obviously that's not true of everyone and I'm offering any sort of value judgment on tiling vs. floating, but tiling WMs, to me, feel like more cognitive load, not less.
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
deathinactthree LinkI've recently started getting into making my own ramen bowls, which I've never done before. I'm not pretending to do it in any kind of authentic way so I've been playing around with various...I've recently started getting into making my own ramen bowls, which I've never done before. I'm not pretending to do it in any kind of authentic way so I've been playing around with various methods--in one pot on the stove, using my Instant Pot, cooking ingredients all together or separately, using different kinds of noodles, doing it with chicken, pork, or vegan versions.
My SO after I told her about it thoughtfully bought me a set of ramen bowls with chopsticks and renge, which I didn't have and made eating it more enjoyable. My first few attempts were acceptable but not awesome, but they're pretty good now. A true ramen connoisseur would probably scoff at it, but would still finish eating it.
-
Comment on Spotify down? No, your Spotify mod was just blocked—here's why it won't work anymore. in ~tech
deathinactthree Link ParentAndroid app works just fine, pretty much indistinguishable from the iOS one. Also worth noting: If you're on Windows or Linux, Cider is an independent app that runs Apple Music on those platforms....Android app works just fine, pretty much indistinguishable from the iOS one.
Also worth noting: If you're on Windows or Linux, Cider is an independent app that runs Apple Music on those platforms. I subscribe to Apple Music because I think it's the best music streaming service, but I don't have a Mac so I use the Android app on my phone and Cider on my Linux PC.
Cider is free but has a "supporter version" with a one-time payment that gets early access to updates and new release versions--which means any bugs or feature requests get pushed out faster, and I have found it to be worth it. It's only $3.50 on itch.io which I recommend even if you're on Windows, as the Microsoft Store version always seems to lag on updates and I've always found it to be oddly unstable in general.
Bluntly, chicken on top of waffles with syrup as a Southern staple is both a rather recent fad, and sort of a myth. Its origin is actually Amish, using stewed chicken, and the fried chicken "soul food" version originated in New York.
It became part of the soul food culture of the South, but only later, and not actually consumed very often because it wasn't as cheap to make. It was a "special occasion" thing, not something you'd eat at every Sunday supper like collard greens with ham hocks and fried catfish.
You absolutely could not find chicken and waffles in any given Southern restaurant as rule like you can now--spending my childhood in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi in the 80s and 90s, I never once saw it on a menu until it exploded in popularity as a hip, "authentic" trend about 10-15 years ago. Now it's everywhere, and hey, I like it, but strictly speaking it's not really a Southern thing and most of us either never ate it at all, or ate it extremely rarely.