deimosthenes's recent activity
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Comment on Australian Parliament bans social media for under-16s with world-first law in ~tech
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Comment on Mozilla begs courts to allow Google search deal for Firefox to continue in ~tech
deimosthenes Link ParentThis is all off the top of my head so definitely take any details with a grain of salt, but Google has been funding the majority of Mozilla's budget (via the aforementioned default search provider...This is all off the top of my head so definitely take any details with a grain of salt, but Google has been funding the majority of Mozilla's budget (via the aforementioned default search provider deal) for many years.
Alongside the obvious immediate benefit of keeping people using google search, the existence of Firefox has acted as a defense for Google against Chrome (and other related browsers built on Chrome) having a monopoly on browsers.It's been a precarious position, I'm not looking forward to the likely scenarios of Mozilla scrambling for a new revenue stream and enshittifying Firefox in the process or dying a slow death. The latter taking us back closer to the bad old days of one browser engine being so overwhelmingly dominant it gets to use it's implementation as the defacto spec of how the web works.
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Comment on Battling infectious diseases in the 20th century: The impact of vaccines in ~health
deimosthenes Link ParentYeah the X axis on some of the charts was a bit suspicious too. I imagine it's just that they're at the mercy of what data is available and it's not like "vaccines help decrease infections" is a...Yeah the X axis on some of the charts was a bit suspicious too. I imagine it's just that they're at the mercy of what data is available and it's not like "vaccines help decrease infections" is a hard notion to sell. But I do wonder if there was a bit of cherry picking for charts that looked good rather than any sort of deeper analysis, in a few cases.
Something mildly irksome when you see a nice looking chart that seems to tell one story followed by a footnote that says the vaccine had been introduced many decades before the data started. What other factors painted the picture you're showing? Was it a push to make the vaccines more available? More effective vaccines? Better health outcomes overall? -
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
deimosthenes Link ParentThere are worse problems than to be thoroughly enjoying all of your choices in media, I suppose! I've got find memories of how ridiculous the read or die OVA got, probably haven't seen it in like...There are worse problems than to be thoroughly enjoying all of your choices in media, I suppose!
I've got find memories of how ridiculous the read or die OVA got, probably haven't seen it in like 15 years so might be time for a rewatch.
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Comment on Steam Deck shipping to Australia this November in ~games
deimosthenes Link ParentThis is an especially bad delay, but on the other hand to my knowledge I don't think the Index ever released locally. We're just not an especially big market, so I think it's an easy one to ignore...This is an especially bad delay, but on the other hand to my knowledge I don't think the Index ever released locally.
We're just not an especially big market, so I think it's an easy one to ignore if you're a company that isn't that confident manufacturing hardware at high scale.
I will say it was much worse back in the days of only physical media, when it wasn't unusual to have to wait for the PAL release of games (with additional languages) and then to have them even further delayed. The existence of digital distribution forces them to a more reasonable schedule if they want to bother with selling any physical games at all.
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Comment on No one’s laughing now: ‘Joker Folie à Deux’ falls down with $39m-$40m opening: How the sequel went sideways in ~movies
deimosthenes Link ParentI've been watching a movie a week in VR with friends for about 4 years now, and I actually really like it. First on a quest 1, although I did recently upgrade to a quest 3. The screen dooring on...I've been watching a movie a week in VR with friends for about 4 years now, and I actually really like it. First on a quest 1, although I did recently upgrade to a quest 3. The screen dooring on the quest 1 was noticeable but also pretty easy to ignore.
It does make me reluctant to pick especially long movies, but anything in the 1.5-2 hour range is generally fine.
Bigscreen VR is the app I'd recommend, if you're interested in giving it a go.
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Comment on Choosing a TTRPG system in ~games.tabletop
deimosthenes Link ParentAs someone that has recently made the transition I'd say that both pathfinder 2e and D&D 5e are pretty fundamentally complicated games compared to plenty of lighter options in the space. I...As someone that has recently made the transition I'd say that both pathfinder 2e and D&D 5e are pretty fundamentally complicated games compared to plenty of lighter options in the space. I actually don't know if either game is drastically more complicated than the other, they just manifest it differently.
D&D does a good job of looking a bit simpler on the surface which can be appealing as a new player sitting down to look at the material. This comes at the expense of having a lot of gaps where there isn't much guidance on how to do something and the DM has to patch things together on the fly and homebrew parts of the system to get it to work. This can be a lot of slowdown for rules arbitration, etc. in the thick of things sometimes.
Pathfinder 2e has a lot more of these edge cases fleshed out and tighter balance as a whole. This is great support if you're the one running the game and generally it plays a bit more tactically and consistent, but seemingly having a rule for everything can be a lot to wrap your head around at first glance. The arithmetic of adding bonuses to your dice roll can also lead to bigger numbers I suppose, which I know some find off-putting.
I'm definitely a bit biased in which I prefer but you can definitely have a lot of fun with either.
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Comment on Bethesda yanks Thatcher's Techbase Doom mod from in-game browser in ~games
deimosthenes Link ParentNot quite, in that Wolfenstein 3D predated Doom by a year or so. Not that this really changes the point being made.Not quite, in that Wolfenstein 3D predated Doom by a year or so. Not that this really changes the point being made.
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Comment on Is there a digital D&D that is turn-based and go at your own pace? in ~games.tabletop
deimosthenes Link ParentYeah it has multiplayer and it largely works well. The UI gets pretty flustered when multiple people try to take actions at the same time though, so designating someone to control the overworld...Yeah it has multiplayer and it largely works well. The UI gets pretty flustered when multiple people try to take actions at the same time though, so designating someone to control the overworld map can cut down on frustration.
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Comment on What slow-burn game is worth the time? in ~games
deimosthenes LinkLots of excellent suggestions, one I didn't see listed yet is Noita. I originally picked it up and only put a few hours in, until I kept seeing it mentioned enthusiastically in threads like these....Lots of excellent suggestions, one I didn't see listed yet is Noita.
I originally picked it up and only put a few hours in, until I kept seeing it mentioned enthusiastically in threads like these.
It's a brutally difficult action rogue-like with a fully destructible physics-driven environment. There's very little up-front explanation of the mechanics or the plot or even the goal, and the world is absolutely rife with secrets. But if you persevere (or more likely look up some tips or tutorials) then it can be incredibly rewarding when things click. I've got well over a hundred hours and I'm only barely scratching the surface of what is there.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
deimosthenes Link ParentYeah I caught this without much context or expectations because it was showing at a film festival screening a few friends were going to. I was impressed by the pacing and how well it balanced...Yeah I caught this without much context or expectations because it was showing at a film festival screening a few friends were going to.
I was impressed by the pacing and how well it balanced action and world building with quieter comedic moments. -
Comment on It’s time to bury the defective detective in ~tv
deimosthenes Link ParentIt was on my mind too, partly because I'd been rewatching and enjoying it recently despite being pretty apathetic to most crime drama. As you've pointed out, the way in which Monk was flawed felt...It was on my mind too, partly because I'd been rewatching and enjoying it recently despite being pretty apathetic to most crime drama.
As you've pointed out, the way in which Monk was flawed felt less tired and formulaic. There's a warmth and kind-heartedness to the character that does a better job getting the viewer on board than the "loose cannon that gets results" trope this article largely seems to be railing against.
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Comment on Those who read a lot of fiction shown to have improved cognitive abilities in ~science
deimosthenes LinkI suppose the association between reading fiction and empathy makes intuitive sense. Beyond exposing you to a lot of different perspectives than your own, written fiction is more prone to first...I suppose the association between reading fiction and empathy makes intuitive sense. Beyond exposing you to a lot of different perspectives than your own, written fiction is more prone to first person accounts. It's more feasible to include trains of thought and introspection directly in written work than other media like film or television, which more often has to be seen from the point of view of an arbitrary observer and demonstrate this stuff externally.
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Comment on Is it time for a user growth campaign? in ~tildes
deimosthenes Link ParentOn your latter point about niche content, I think it can also relate to plenty of users (myself included) being reluctant to comment if I don't feel like I have much insight to contribute. If I've...On your latter point about niche content, I think it can also relate to plenty of users (myself included) being reluctant to comment if I don't feel like I have much insight to contribute.
If I've followed the link through and read an interesting but niche article and see that there are 0 comments then that can feel kind of intimidating and I'm likely to move on. If there's already at least a little bit of discussion (even just the op saying what they found interesting) then it can be easier to riff on that existing discussion.
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Comment on “Wherever you get your podcasts” is a radical statement in ~tech
deimosthenes Link ParentWhile it's not a debate I'm interested in hashing out in any great detail, I imagine they were referring to the broad public perception that many Apple products tend towards walled gardens. Good...While it's not a debate I'm interested in hashing out in any great detail, I imagine they were referring to the broad public perception that many Apple products tend towards walled gardens.
Good interoperability when you stay within their ecosystem, some glaring holes if you don't. Resistance to allowing any browser engine other than WebKit on iOS. All the drama about RCS and iMessage. That kind of thing.I think there's some truth to the perception, but it doesn't mean they don't also contribute to OSS or have admirable initiatives in other areas. A company that large is rarely monolithic.
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Comment on Long Term Refactors in ~comp
deimosthenes LinkI like the idea of keeping a list maintained of which long term refactors are ongoing. I've done most of the rest with reasonable success and had good buy-in from other developers at the time we...I like the idea of keeping a list maintained of which long term refactors are ongoing.
I've done most of the rest with reasonable success and had good buy-in from other developers at the time we originally discussed it, but it's all too easy for it to become hidden institutional knowledge over time because it was an orphaned wiki page among dozens of other irrelevant pages.
Then a new starter copies patterns from the wrong part of the codebase and you don't pick up on it until the PR and they have to redo it all, which is demoralising for everyone involved. -
Comment on Most bingeable book series? in ~books
deimosthenes Link ParentGonna have to have another stab at these. I made it a couple of books in and the world-building was super cool, but I was struggling to keep it all clear in my head.Gonna have to have another stab at these. I made it a couple of books in and the world-building was super cool, but I was struggling to keep it all clear in my head.
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Comment on Most bingeable book series? in ~books
deimosthenes LinkThere's some really great recommendations already listed, so I'm definitely going to need to check out some of the ones I don't recognise. One I'd like to throw into the mix is The Wandering Inn....There's some really great recommendations already listed, so I'm definitely going to need to check out some of the ones I don't recognise.
One I'd like to throw into the mix is The Wandering Inn.
It's a fantasy series which is notable for a huge cast of lovable characters, surprisingly in-depth world-building and just being really, really long. It's the right mix of silly slice of life, epic fantasy and poignant moments to make it really bingeable, so I see the word count as an advantage rather than an imposition.Like a few stories mentioned above it's a web novel, with some of the trappings of the progression fantasy and litRPG subgenres. Importantly though the purpose is to tell a good story, these gamey elements are in aid to the story and not the other way around.
Also the whole thing is available online for free, or there is ebooks / audiobooks for those that prefer to consume it that way.
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Comment on Just finished my first twitch stream in a while. It wasn't great, but for once, that's actually okay. in ~talk
deimosthenes LinkCongratulations for pushing through and having a good time! I definitely know what you mean about the pressure to be 'on', but I think there's something to be said for a more relaxed stream which...Congratulations for pushing through and having a good time! I definitely know what you mean about the pressure to be 'on', but I think there's something to be said for a more relaxed stream which is more hanging out with friends than needing to put on a performance.
What was the game, if you don't mind me asking?
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Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk
deimosthenes Link ParentIt's completely turn-based combat, no fast reflexes required anywhere in the game. So more akin to Dragon Age than the Witcher games. It's a dungeons and dragons game, but with a ridiculous level...It's completely turn-based combat, no fast reflexes required anywhere in the game. So more akin to Dragon Age than the Witcher games.
It's a dungeons and dragons game, but with a ridiculous level of care and polish to try to nail what draws people into the idea of tabletop RPGs.
It sounds like it also prohibits the companies from requiring government-issued ID at sign-up so hopefully that bullet is dodged.
This is all fairly poorly thought out, my best guess is we end up with something fairly toothless but the government campaigns on having tried to do something to protect the kids.
The only alternatives I can think of are bailing out of the country entirely or some sort of ripe for abuse detection of age based on an uploaded photo.