derekiscool's recent activity
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Comment on 2026 United States midterm elections megathread in ~society
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Comment on 2026 United States midterm elections megathread in ~society
derekiscool LinkI live in an area that's typically in the range of +20% for Republicans, yet I've seen more signs for the Democratic candidates for the first time ever. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much,...I live in an area that's typically in the range of +20% for Republicans, yet I've seen more signs for the Democratic candidates for the first time ever. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but a blue tsunami feels like a real possibility.
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in in ~tech
derekiscool LinkI stopped using reddit once they required logins for old reddit. But this genuinely seems like a terrible business decision. Requiring logins just to see content has to be bad for growth. I feel...I stopped using reddit once they required logins for old reddit.
But this genuinely seems like a terrible business decision. Requiring logins just to see content has to be bad for growth. I feel like most people I know just hit the back button anytime a website throws up a modal and says "login to continue".
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Comment on Manifestos, fear, and ‘loser thinking’: inside Proton’s AI reckoning in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentYikes. This is not a good look for a company whose sole focus is privacy and security. I hadn't been that worried after the last article posted here, but I'm definitely in the same boat as you...Yikes. This is not a good look for a company whose sole focus is privacy and security.
When it's time to renew my yearly sub, I'm going to seriously consider jumping ship if he's still at the helm
I hadn't been that worried after the last article posted here, but I'm definitely in the same boat as you now. Going to start looking at alternatives asap
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Comment on In China, the AI bubble has already burst in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentLooking at it from an even more basic stance - the bigger the bubble gets before popping, the bigger the fallout. For the everyday person, the best time for the bubble to pop is right now. The...Looking at it from an even more basic stance - the bigger the bubble gets before popping, the bigger the fallout. For the everyday person, the best time for the bubble to pop is right now. The next best time is tomorrow, etc
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Comment on Brazil election: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beats Flavio Bolsonaro in shock upset in ~society
derekiscool LinkI'm not from Brazil, but I still feel a great joy with this result. The general consensus from the outside seemed to be that it was almost a done deal for Bolsonaro to win. Instead, we got to see...I'm not from Brazil, but I still feel a great joy with this result. The general consensus from the outside seemed to be that it was almost a done deal for Bolsonaro to win.
Instead, we got to see the people rise to the occasion and win another battle in the fight against fascism. It was a delight to be surprised by this news and gives me a bit more hope for the future of my own country.
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Comment on Electronic Arts to cut 400 jobs, shut down BioWare in ~games
derekiscool LinkSo I guess this means the teased Mass Effect sequel is dead. The cynic in me believes this is primarily due to the extremely hard-right views of the new EA ownership (who gained control not even 3...So I guess this means the teased Mass Effect sequel is dead.
The cynic in me believes this is primarily due to the extremely hard-right views of the new EA ownership (who gained control not even 3 months ago), especially with the history and reputation BioWare has of more inclusive gender and sexual identity in its games.
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Comment on 1 in 8 Billion - Browser game, free, life sim with real statistics from 172 countries in ~games
derekiscool LinkI was born as a German woman into a decent family. Had a pretty great life, except for some struggles in my 40s after my husband hit me and we divorced. Sadly died a bit young at 61, shortly after...I was born as a German woman into a decent family. Had a pretty great life, except for some struggles in my 40s after my husband hit me and we divorced. Sadly died a bit young at 61, shortly after my daughter's wedding due to COPD.
I love this though. I only spent a few minutes on it, but I feel weirdly connected to the person I generated.
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Comment on I deliberately bet like a problem gambler. DraftKings made me a VIP. in ~tech
derekiscool Link ParentThis part is such a huge problem. Having to actually GO somewhere adds a hurdle that makes it that much harder to get exposed and drawn into addiction. But with gambling apps, it takes all of 5...The gambling apps use the same techniques that were developed in Las Vegas casinos.
This part is such a huge problem. Having to actually GO somewhere adds a hurdle that makes it that much harder to get exposed and drawn into addiction.
But with gambling apps, it takes all of 5 minutes to get started, literally anywhere (where it's legal) and any time. Bathroom break during work? Perfect time to place a few bets for tonight's events. It's always within arms reach. It's the equivalent of having a bookie follow you around 24/7, constantly nudging you and subtlety promising that you'll win big.
Sadly, the only way this gets addressed is with reform and regulations, which seems to be completely off the tabl in the near future.
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Comment on When instructed to make a “New Yorker-style cartoon,” ChatGPT is adding real New Yorker cartoonists’ signatures to its output in ~tech
derekiscool LinkThis sure feels like some pretty concrete evidence that LLMs are, in fact, built and reliant upon intellectual theft. I wish that our society was built to deal with this situation. It sure doesn't...This sure feels like some pretty concrete evidence that LLMs are, in fact, built and reliant upon intellectual theft.
I wish that our society was built to deal with this situation. It sure doesn't feel great that the collective works of our entire planet are somehow being stolen and turned into trillions for the ultra-wealthy. I'd be shocked if there were any repercussions for this.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentI've never played any of the other Ratchet and Clank games either, but Rift Apart was one of my favorite games on PS5. It was pretty much bug-free on console, so it's a bit sad to see that it...I've never played any of the other Ratchet and Clank games either, but Rift Apart was one of my favorite games on PS5. It was pretty much bug-free on console, so it's a bit sad to see that it didn't get the same love for the PC release.
The other standout game that I absolutely loved is Returnal (which I also played on PC without any major bugs).
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Comment on A reckoning in Springfield, Ohio: The truck driver who struck and killed Pierre Damas Bel in ~society
derekiscool LinkI live in this area of the state, so it feels a bit more personal than most similar news. It's just an absolute tragedy that this happened, especially when you look at the events that led to it....I live in this area of the state, so it feels a bit more personal than most similar news.
It's just an absolute tragedy that this happened, especially when you look at the events that led to it. It literally all started with a random, extremely bigoted Facebook post.
The Haitian people of Springfield have arguably saved the city from total despair. Were it not for them, we'd be talking about it the same way we talk about places like Gary, Indiana or Flint, Michigan. It's still far from perfect, but the Haitian people have unquestionably made it a better place.
Pierre is an obvious standout example of this. A young man, no different than any American citizen, with a bright future who just wanted to make his way in the world.
And the reward they, like Pierre, get for being upstanding members of the community is to be treated like criminals and unwanted second class peoples. It's just disgusting to think how hateful people can be.
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentSquadrons when it first came out was one of the coolest VR experiences IMO, so that's a good choice! It actually felt like an unfair advantage being able to turn your head and track other ships so...Squadrons when it first came out was one of the coolest VR experiences IMO, so that's a good choice! It actually felt like an unfair advantage being able to turn your head and track other ships so easily haha.
I'm really hoping the new pod racing game has a VR mode, because I think that would be an absolute blast.
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentOh sorry, I think I misunderstood the original question completely. I've only tried streaming via the windows steam client, not Linux. In windows at least, desktop view works perfectly fine, but I...Oh sorry, I think I misunderstood the original question completely. I've only tried streaming via the windows steam client, not Linux.
In windows at least, desktop view works perfectly fine, but I can't say for Linux. I do have a separate Linux PC though, so I might try it out with that if I find the time
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentI got mine yesterday, it was shockingly good honestly. In regular VR games it there wasn't any noticeable latency. Even in high intense stuff like iRacing it was barely noticeable. And the image...Was the remote desktop view working well? I was unable to get a good desktop experience out of SteamVR over Steam Link when connecting to a Linux PC (it used to work on Windows).
I got mine yesterday, it was shockingly good honestly. In regular VR games it there wasn't any noticeable latency. Even in high intense stuff like iRacing it was barely noticeable. And the image quality looked as good as if it were hardwired to me.
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentI don't think this will be a problem. Lots of people are using very old VR headsets just fine. Your worry about only using it a few times is valid though. I can't really tell you if that will...then I would need to buy a current model to enjoy the current VR games
I don't think this will be a problem. Lots of people are using very old VR headsets just fine.
Your worry about only using it a few times is valid though. I can't really tell you if that will happen or not, but I can tell the VR gaming space is obviously much thinner than regular PC gaming.
Some of the best uses are sims, if you're into that. Flight sims, racing sims, etc.
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Comment on Got my hands on a Steam Frame. Can't use it much for not having prescription lenses yet, but AMA. in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentThe official supplier for the frame is Zenni Optical. You can just manually input your prescription and buy them online. I imagine other suppliers will pop up at some point, but Zenni is currently...The official supplier for the frame is Zenni Optical. You can just manually input your prescription and buy them online.
I imagine other suppliers will pop up at some point, but Zenni is currently the only option AFAIK
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Comment on Anthropic's IPO prospectus shows sweeping AI vision, surging costs in ~finance
derekiscool Link ParentA $2 trillion valuation for a company that made $4.6 billion in revenue is so insane, I don't even know how to process it. Surely that's too insane even for this marketA $2 trillion valuation for a company that made $4.6 billion in revenue is so insane, I don't even know how to process it. Surely that's too insane even for this market
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Comment on Who gets the Steam Frame? Did Valve pick you for the first wave? in ~games
derekiscool Link ParentGot mine yesterday. It is soooo much more comfortable than my old headset (vive pro 2). It actually looks clearer too, despite a lower pixel count. My guess is because the screen door effect is so...Got mine yesterday. It is soooo much more comfortable than my old headset (vive pro 2). It actually looks clearer too, despite a lower pixel count. My guess is because the screen door effect is so minimal.
My biggest worry was latency while streaming, but it wasn't noticeable in most games I tried. It was really only noticeable in iRacing, but even then it wasn't terrible. I probably won't race online with it, but it could be done if you can handle the slight latency. Eventually I want to get the HD camera and figure out an AR setup.
The pass through camera obviously isn't amazing, but I expected a bit worse based on the reviews. It's kinda fun to see the world in IR tbh.
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Comment on These cookies are 3D-printed and made of recycled plastic in ~science
derekiscool Link ParentThis was my understanding as well. The article states the plastic gets converted (though I suppose it doesn't specify all of the plastic gets converted).I think the point of the yeast is to concert the plastic to something else that is digestible. In theory there shouldn't actually be any plastic left at the end of the process.
This was my understanding as well. The article states the plastic gets converted (though I suppose it doesn't specify all of the plastic gets converted).
It's kind of shocking that Florida didn't turn blue, given the result in the rest of the country.
It brings up some interesting questions. Is Florida really that unique? Is this a result of voter suppression tipping the scales? Or is this purely because Democrats didn't bother spending big money in Florida?