derekiscool's recent activity
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Comment on China drafts world’s strictest rules to end AI-encouraged suicide, violence in ~tech
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Comment on Fitness tracker smart watches that work well without a smartphone app? in ~health
derekiscool Link Parent+1 for Garmin. The app shouldn't be required (unless they've changed it very recently with the newest models). If you want the fitness data on something other than the watch, you can just connect...+1 for Garmin. The app shouldn't be required (unless they've changed it very recently with the newest models).
If you want the fitness data on something other than the watch, you can just connect it to a PC via USB and copy the data files straight from the watch.
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Comment on Half way through the 2020's. What's your favorite games so far? in ~games
derekiscool Link+1 for Caves of Qud! It still feels relatively unknown, but my god is it an amazing game. In no particular order for the rest (and off the top of my head): Baldur's Gate 3: Okay, I think this may...+1 for Caves of Qud!
It still feels relatively unknown, but my god is it an amazing game.
In no particular order for the rest (and off the top of my head):
Baldur's Gate 3: Okay, I think this may actually be a contender for the best game of all time. Not much more to say.
Cyberpunk 2077: I'm definitely in the minority here, but I loved the game from release day. I don't remember any major bugs and I had a great time playing it.
Dwarf Fortress: Obviously DF is much older than this decade, but I didn't start playing until the steam release- and boy did I sink a lot of hours into it.
Icarus: Haven't played this one in a while, but it scratched the survival crafter itch for my for quite a while. I really enjoyed it.
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Comment on Lord of the Rings Extended Editions returning to theaters with a 4D twist in ~movies
derekiscool LinkThanks for posting this, I got myself some tickets for a regular showing! I've always wanted to see these in theaters, so I'm very excited to finally have the chance.Thanks for posting this, I got myself some tickets for a regular showing! I've always wanted to see these in theaters, so I'm very excited to finally have the chance.
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Comment on Paramount launches a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in ~movies
derekiscool (edited )LinkI really hope that this completely fails. We're talking about giving a major stake of American (global, really) media to middle eastern countries with a long history basic disregard of human...I really hope that this completely fails. We're talking about giving a major stake of American (global, really) media to middle eastern countries with a long history basic disregard of human rights, totalitarianism (Including the blatant murderand dismemberment of foreign reporters), denial of women's rights, etc.
Any sane democratic country would not allow this
dealtakeover to happen, but we are obviously way past thay point in th US. -
Comment on RAM is so expensive, Samsung won’t even sell it to Samsung in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentUgh, this bubble can't burst fast enough.Ugh, this bubble can't burst fast enough.
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Comment on 2025 Spotify Wrapped is now out in ~music
derekiscool Link ParentI hope Last.fm sticks around as is. It feels like one of the last bastions of the old internet. I've used it for so many years, but the fear that it's going to succumb to enshittification also...I hope Last.fm sticks around as is. It feels like one of the last bastions of the old internet. I've used it for so many years, but the fear that it's going to succumb to enshittification also never leaves me
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Comment on New ‘Stargate’ TV series ordered at Amazon from ‘Blindspot’ creator Martin Gero in ~tv
derekiscool LinkI'd like to think the absurd amount of Stargate I've watched over the past few years is a major factor in this getting greenlit, lol. Jokes aside, it seems like Amazon has done well with its...I'd like to think the absurd amount of Stargate I've watched over the past few years is a major factor in this getting greenlit, lol.
Jokes aside, it seems like Amazon has done well with its sci-fi series, so I'm cautiously optimistic that this will turn out good. As long as they keep the ensemble cast and "doesn't take itself too seriously" format, it has great potential.
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Comment on A new era of intelligence with Gemini 3 in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentThat's all well and good until you're one of the millions who loses their job and needs to start selling assets or pulling from retirement to survive. Meanwhile, the wealthy see minimal impact and...That's all well and good until you're one of the millions who loses their job and needs to start selling assets or pulling from retirement to survive.
Meanwhile, the wealthy see minimal impact and can continue investing during the crash.
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Comment on Project Hail Mary | Official trailer in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentAppreciate the warning! I was about to watch it, but I'd rather go in blind than have anything spoiled!Appreciate the warning! I was about to watch it, but I'd rather go in blind than have anything spoiled!
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Comment on US Senate suddenly passes the Jeffrey Epstein bill just hours after it cleared the House in ~society
derekiscool Link ParentThe problem that I see is that even obviously scrubbed documents will convince 99% of their base that Trump had nothing to do with Epstein. And once they're convinced, no amount of uncovering by...The problem that I see is that even obviously scrubbed documents will convince 99% of their base that Trump had nothing to do with Epstein. And once they're convinced, no amount of uncovering by high-quality journalism will change their minds.
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Comment on James Comey, the situation: Malevolence, incompetence, and the strange case of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan in ~society
derekiscool LinkSo it looks like this was, what should be a shocking (but sadly isn't) complete disregard for the law. Are there any mechanisms to hold the DOJ and FBI accountable for this? It seems, even if the...So it looks like this was, what should be a shocking (but sadly isn't) complete disregard for the law.
Are there any mechanisms to hold the DOJ and FBI accountable for this? It seems, even if the case is thrown out (likely), a significant amount of damage was still done. What is there to stop this administration from targeting dissenters with completely fabricated charges, with the sole intent of financial and resource drain?
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Comment on Best recommendations for PC couch multiplayer games? in ~games
derekiscool LinkHuman Fall Flat is a really fun one - for some reason, it's the only game my wife has ever been willing to play with me.Human Fall Flat is a really fun one - for some reason, it's the only game my wife has ever been willing to play with me.
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Comment on New ‘Star Trek’ movie in works at Paramount from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) in ~movies
derekiscool Link ParentTotally agree. They keep trying to make Star Trek an action movie/series, which is almost totally antithetical to the original vision of the series. Star Trek needs to be thought-provoking. It...Totally agree. They keep trying to make Star Trek an action movie/series, which is almost totally antithetical to the original vision of the series.
Star Trek needs to be thought-provoking. It needs to paint an encouraging view of the future. I want to see a world where humanity has overcome its worst tendencies and learned to coexist.
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Comment on Pennies are being canceled and the US Mint won't make any more. What does that mean? in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentI mean, in a sense, you would be part of the problem (but only like 0.1%). I can't really fault a small business for doing what it needs to survive (especially something as niche as piano tuning)....I mean, in a sense, you would be part of the problem (but only like 0.1%). I can't really fault a small business for doing what it needs to survive (especially something as niche as piano tuning).
My complaint was more directed the "in your face" sort of advertising that tries to use every trick in the book to get your dollar for something you don't need.
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Comment on Pennies are being canceled and the US Mint won't make any more. What does that mean? in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentOh, I would be so happy if we could get rid of that $x.99 and $x.95 BS. I despise all the little psychological games advertisers play.Oh, I would be so happy if we could get rid of that $x.99 and $x.95 BS. I despise all the little psychological games advertisers play.
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Comment on Looking for watch recommendations as my partners Apple Watch doesn't even last a day anymore in ~tech
derekiscool Link Parent+1 for Garmin. They are extremely well built in my experience, and they've always been the bar setters for fitness tracking quality. Battery life on all the watches I've owned has been phenomenal.+1 for Garmin. They are extremely well built in my experience, and they've always been the bar setters for fitness tracking quality. Battery life on all the watches I've owned has been phenomenal.
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Comment on UC San Diego sees students’ math skills plummet in ~society
derekiscool Link ParentStandardized testing has its flaws, but to me, math is the one area where it makes complete sense. There can be no ambiguity (assuming properly written questions) in the answers. By definition,...Standardized testing has its flaws, but to me, math is the one area where it makes complete sense.
There can be no ambiguity (assuming properly written questions) in the answers. By definition, you can't just memorize the answers. You need to memorize the rules. And once you know the rules, you should be able to tackle almost any problem.
They say it’s essential to include the high school attended as one input
I fully agree that this is a bad metric that will almost certainly lead to racial and class biased admissions.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentThe one thing I wonder about is whether it's viable to sell the Steam Machines at a loss. For consoles, it's an easy decision because you're locked into the console ecosystem and storefront,...The one thing I wonder about is whether it's viable to sell the Steam Machines at a loss. For consoles, it's an easy decision because you're locked into the console ecosystem and storefront, making that money relatively easy to recoup.
But since this is just a standalone PC, the (near) guarantee of purchases on the storefront is not there.
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Comment on Valve announces new hardware: Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine in ~games
derekiscool LinkDang, I'm a little shocked they finally followed through with the steam machine after all these years! Camera tracking on the headset is a big deal. It makes it so much more accessible. I wasn't a...Dang, I'm a little shocked they finally followed through with the steam machine after all these years!
Camera tracking on the headset is a big deal. It makes it so much more accessible.
I wasn't a fan of the previous steam controller - this one looks a bit better, but I'm still not a fan of trackpads.
I'm very interested to see how these perform and how well they're received.
Edit: If the steam machine does end up being popular, it's really going to push Linux support - which is great for anybody who wants to break out of the Mac/Windows oligopily
I've thought of this a lot recently. When the leaders actually care about the success of their country, authoritarianism is undoubtedly effective. China being the prime example - they've essentially gone from a 3rd world country to a global superpower in a bit over 30 years. Its amazing how efficiently change can happen when the government has a unified goal.
But then, that success means nothing to those who've been brutalized and murdered by the state. Those in protests like Tiananmen Square, or the 1 million+ Uyghurs who've been locked up and tortured and/or killed. Or probably millions of others that we've never heard a peep about.
On one hand, it shows how much we could accomplish if we, as humans, could just agree on the goal of making life better for everyone. On the other hand, it seems that sort of unified drive can only come from those who crave power. And those that crave power to that extent rarely care about individuals and usually have no qualms ordering the murder and torture of innocents.