dirthawker's recent activity
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Comment on What do you need to vent about? in ~talk
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Comment on What do you need to vent about? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentI do know my way around Excel, but no, I haven't ever worked in finance. I think I'm just more comfortable with numbers than she is, but she's actually the one with an MBA.I do know my way around Excel, but no, I haven't ever worked in finance. I think I'm just more comfortable with numbers than she is, but she's actually the one with an MBA.
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Comment on What do you need to vent about? in ~talk
dirthawker LinkMy sister's a pretty all right person -- we're not super close, being very different personalities. But about once a year she'll grouse to me about not being sure about her finances for...My sister's a pretty all right person -- we're not super close, being very different personalities. But about once a year she'll grouse to me about not being sure about her finances for retirement. To me this is a math question, organizing what your expenses are, and comparing with your retirement income, and I've told her so, many times. Of course one cannot predict to the dollar what future expenses will be like -- one could have a sudden surge in medical expenses, for example.
At the end of every call, she says she's glad she talked with me and feels more confident. Until the next time she calls with the same exact concerns.
Calculating a year of expenses is not some arcane question, but I'm guessing she has never actually done it. It is frustrating to be a broken record...
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Comment on Share the contents of an old file you've got lying around in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentThanks for the compliment! I have not shown much writing to anyone so I don't have objective opinions of it, so that's kind of a relief. I burned through the need to write about 15 years ago as I...Thanks for the compliment! I have not shown much writing to anyone so I don't have objective opinions of it, so that's kind of a relief. I burned through the need to write about 15 years ago as I found myself. Went and killed off a few characters and re-animated them, and it was not the same after that.
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Comment on Share the contents of an old file you've got lying around in ~talk
dirthawker LinkI wrote a load of fiction in the late 80s and 90s. The equivalent of 1 novel, 1 novella, 2 largeish chunks to another novel, and probably 30 short stories. I did try to find a publisher for the...I wrote a load of fiction in the late 80s and 90s. The equivalent of 1 novel, 1 novella, 2 largeish chunks to another novel, and probably 30 short stories. I did try to find a publisher for the novel, but it got rejected a few times so I stopped. Writing was really just therapy for me and so a lot of it is a) more close to my heart than I want to share and/or b) the level of technology is hopelessly outdated at this point. But I have this little character intro from 1992 which is kinda cute.
Character
Bright jokingly considered his name self-descriptive. He looked, though not necessarily was, he would say. And he always called himself by that name rather than his hated first name, which was Alfried. Not Alfred but All-freed. Only his mother could call him that, and she was dead. Bright was an average tall, with honeyish hair leaning towards dishwater and a healthy-cheeked roundishness to his face. Looking at him made one think of chocolate. Eventually he would grow a potbelly the size of a small handbag, but it wouldn't be out of place. His eyes were small and fleshy but friendly, and the irises were a fascinating mixture of blue and green and grey, often reflecting anything in that general color area. He liked looking ordinary and pleasant and averagely nice, as it made him totally anonymous. Anonymity was necessary for his business. -
Comment on South Korea banned dog meat. So what happens to the dogs? in ~food
dirthawker Link ParentI very much dislike cats. I wouldn't want to eat one, not because they're cute fuzzy playful critters but my understanding is that predators don't taste all that great. Dogs are omnivores, so they...I very much dislike cats. I wouldn't want to eat one, not because they're cute fuzzy playful critters but my understanding is that predators don't taste all that great.
Dogs are omnivores, so they might taste all right. I'd be interested in trying dog meat, even though I adore them as pet companions. I generally consider myself an adventurous eater, though I draw the line at eating things that are still alive.
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Comment on Can AI-generated photos be art? in ~arts
dirthawker Link ParentMy immediate thought with the subject line was that "AI generated photos" is an oxymoron right out of the gate. Photography is a process, there are several branches it can take, but AI is not...My immediate thought with the subject line was that "AI generated photos" is an oxymoron right out of the gate. Photography is a process, there are several branches it can take, but AI is not usually one of them, and the photograph is just the final result. "AI generated photorealistic image" is, granted, a mouthful, but more accurate.
Can an "AI generated photorealistic image" be art? IMO yes, absolutely.
Now, regarding that "AI is not usually one of them": I did recently see a fascinating photo of a poorwill flying over the surface of a pond, mouth wide open to skim water off the surface. Album here but you'll have to search for '20700' and scroll; I cannot link directly to the photo. The photographer mentioned that since the intended subjects were bats, the much larger poorwill was cut off, and he used what he termed 'generative expand' to fill in the wingtips. I have to admit feeling a pinch of disappointment there because I feel it would be just as great a photo without the wingtips.
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Comment on What are your favorite recipes for salad dressing in ~food
dirthawker LinkSabzi khordan is a Persian salad that generally involves herbs, soaked walnuts, olive oil and spices. I do a more salady-less-herby version with romaine (and whatever herbs you want to include...Sabzi khordan is a Persian salad that generally involves herbs, soaked walnuts, olive oil and spices. I do a more salady-less-herby version with romaine (and whatever herbs you want to include like, cilantro, parsley etc) and the soaked walnuts. For the dressing grind the spices and mix them with olive oil, salt, and vinegar, and toss the feta in that.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentI think "influencer" is just a shiny new word for sales rep.I think "influencer" is just a shiny new word for sales rep.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentTrue, I could take an IT role in a different industry as long as it had the type of computers I'm familiar with or otherwise something I could easily learn. I feel like a high level position such...True, I could take an IT role in a different industry as long as it had the type of computers I'm familiar with or otherwise something I could easily learn. I feel like a high level position such as VP would require knowledge more specialized to the industry, but I guess I'm wrong?
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentContent creator has a very generic feel to it. "We make stuff" - uhh, thanks? A few decades ago when we had a parent volunteer day at one of the schools in my district, I got to talking with one...Content creator has a very generic feel to it. "We make stuff" - uhh, thanks?
A few decades ago when we had a parent volunteer day at one of the schools in my district, I got to talking with one and asked what he did. He told me he was a vice president, with the implication that you could just plop him into any industry and he could do the VP job. Which kinda mystified me as a person in IT, with its very specific knowledge that cannot be transferred to other types of work e.g. hotel management or making candy.
I dislike the term "influencer" for its similarly generic feel. It seems impossible that it could be a real job, even though I have a niece who is doing just that.
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Comment on The most ingenious hawk in New Jersey in ~science
dirthawker Link ParentHard to say. It's probably occasional enough that they benefit more from staying than avoiding entirely. I think flocking birds' survival skills tend more towards not being the slow one.Hard to say. It's probably occasional enough that they benefit more from staying than avoiding entirely. I think flocking birds' survival skills tend more towards not being the slow one.
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Comment on The most ingenious hawk in New Jersey in ~science
dirthawker Link"On weekday mornings, when pedestrians would activate the signal during rush hour, roughly 10 cars would usually be backed up down a side street. This jam turned out to be the perfect cover for a..."On weekday mornings, when pedestrians would activate the signal during rush hour, roughly 10 cars would usually be backed up down a side street. This jam turned out to be the perfect cover for a stealth attack: Once the cars had assembled, the bird would swoop down from its perch in a nearby tree, fly low to the ground along the line of vehicles, then veer abruptly into a residential yard, where a small flock of sparrows, doves, and starlings would often gather to eat crumbs—blissfully unaware of their impending doom."
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The most ingenious hawk in New Jersey
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Comment on US Food and Drug Administration to limit covid shot approval to elderly, those with medical conditions in ~health
dirthawker Link ParentNot only does RFK want the CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water, he also wants the FDA to phase out oral fluoride supplements. Taking away your choices and forcing you to do only...Not only does RFK want the CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water, he also wants the FDA to phase out oral fluoride supplements. Taking away your choices and forcing you to do only what they deem acceptable is the Republican agenda.
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Comment on How do you decide what to cook on a normal day? in ~food
dirthawker Link ParentThai curry paste (brands actually made in Thailand e.g. Maesri or Mae Ploy) is definitely easier if you buy it. My understanding is that many are made by pounding things that take a million years...Thai curry paste (brands actually made in Thailand e.g. Maesri or Mae Ploy) is definitely easier if you buy it. My understanding is that many are made by pounding things that take a million years to turn into paste and ain' nobody got time fo' dat. Indian curries OTOH are pretty do-able once you have the set of spices. A shortcut for the "cook until the oil comes out" is to use tomato paste instead of fresh tomatoes.
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Comment on How do you decide what to cook on a normal day? in ~food
dirthawker Link ParentOh, one more I totally forgot: I cook pearl couscous about halfway, add a protein and throw on a bunch of handfuls of baby spinach. Re-lid and let it steam down. Mix it all up (baby spinach can...Oh, one more I totally forgot: I cook pearl couscous about halfway, add a protein and throw on a bunch of handfuls of baby spinach. Re-lid and let it steam down. Mix it all up (baby spinach can get clumpy if you let it cook together too long) and let any remaining liquid simmer off. Husband has been using cooked chicken strips in a bag for the protein, which is kinda against my personal principles, but he's not a cook, or rather a very new cook, so he's allowed ;) I think it's great he's learning
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Comment on Tips for starting a garden? in ~hobbies
dirthawker Link ParentNice tip, thanks, I'll try it next season! I've heard eggshells don't uptake as well as one would think, even when finely ground. I used a liquid calcium magnesium, but still got a little BER.Nice tip, thanks, I'll try it next season! I've heard eggshells don't uptake as well as one would think, even when finely ground. I used a liquid calcium magnesium, but still got a little BER.
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Comment on Tips for starting a garden? in ~hobbies
dirthawker Link ParentSecond on the cherry tomatoes being forgiving. I've grown San Marzanos for many years and the most disappointing thing is to see blossom end rot appearing despite being careful about watering, and...Second on the cherry tomatoes being forgiving. I've grown San Marzanos for many years and the most disappointing thing is to see blossom end rot appearing despite being careful about watering, and getting calcium into the soil. By contrast I have never gotten BER on a cherry tom.
OP, when you transplant your tomato seedlings from the start pots to the bed, plant them deep, like insensibly deep. Like half the plant under the soil. This helps them grow stronger roots. It does not have to go straight down, going sideways is perfectly all right as the plant will straighten itself as it grows.
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Comment on They don’t read very well: A study of the reading comprehension skills of English majors at two midwestern universities in ~humanities.languages
dirthawker Link ParentYou might enjoy this video of a linguist speaking Gen Alpha. (Start around 1:56 to skip the endorsement)You might enjoy this video of a linguist speaking Gen Alpha. (Start around 1:56 to skip the endorsement)
That took me right back lol