dirthawker's recent activity
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
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Comment on The Oatmeal: A cartoonist's review of AI art in ~comics
dirthawker LinkThe Oatmeal is always good. He really does keep in touch with the human aspect. I feel like AI art occupies a weird place in people's heads, and everyone is different. I think AI art can be...The Oatmeal is always good. He really does keep in touch with the human aspect.
I feel like AI art occupies a weird place in people's heads, and everyone is different. I think AI art can be interesting and a way for people without technical art skills to make something beautiful. As long as they remember that all they did was write a prompt and adjust things, that's fine, but sometimes people get weirdly possessive about it, as if they actually did work.
I have just one example where I clashed with someone over their AI art. They had taken a fairly well known cartoon, run it through some AI, and added an extra frame with a drawing and punchline of their own idea, also drawn by AI, and art style similar to the original cartoon. They left the name of the original artist intact: they did not indicate it had been chewed on by AI. Anyone who's a big fan of the OA and his style could probably tell it was not the original. However, if you were not super familiar, you wouldn't know. And my acquaintance did not put his own signature on it.
To me these were points of offense. Typically when cartoonists use or recreate another's work, they credit with "hat tip to" or "apologies to". I often see the characters of Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson get tweaked with, and even then with such nationally and even globally known cartoonists, they still get the "hat tip to" or "apologies to". To not indicate that this was an adjustment of the OA's work, to leave the OA's name there, and to not put his own name on it, felt wrong.
I made my argument, he said giving credit to OA was enough, then accused me of hating AI (which was a bit of a leap of faith there; I make fun of AI but have never gotten fire and brimstone about it). But he took the cartoon down, which was to me a satisfactory course of action, though if he had just added the hat tip stuff and his own name, I would have been fine with it too. But the whole interaction bothered me, and still bothers me. Why did he get so emotional and angry with me? Maybe people just hate being told they did something the wrong way?
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Comment on Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish? in ~tech
dirthawker LinkFrom my experience the two day shipping now seems to apply strictly to the shipping part. The problem is that it may take several days to actually get into the logistics system. Up till a couple...From my experience the two day shipping now seems to apply strictly to the shipping part. The problem is that it may take several days to actually get into the logistics system. Up till a couple years ago it was 2 day delivery.
When I first started shopping on Amazon I was more careful to compare prices with other places. Then for a good many years Amazon was the cheapest place, and I got lazy. Now I'm back to price checking because it is no longer true. Also interestingly, the tax calculation seems to be a bit off: I recently started an order for a pair of exhaust fans. The unit prices were the same on Amazon and HomeDepot, but on Amazon the total came to about $305 and HD just under $300.
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Comment on What are some of your routines or habits? in ~life
dirthawker Link ParentAin' nobody got time fo' dat!!Ain' nobody got time fo' dat!!
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Comment on What are some of your routines or habits? in ~life
dirthawker LinkI don't have too many habits anymore. I drink coffee every morning, and can count on one hand the number of days I didn't have coffee sometime in the day. I also play a bunch of crossword and word...I don't have too many habits anymore. I drink coffee every morning, and can count on one hand the number of days I didn't have coffee sometime in the day. I also play a bunch of crossword and word puzzles in the morning with my coffee. (WaPo Mini, NYT Mini, Wordle, Whittle, WaPo On the Record, WaPo Keyword, Whittle (I'm not good at it though), Raddle, Connections, Strands, Merriam-Webster Missing Letter, and on Puzzmo, the crossword and Pile-up Poker, although not so much lately as they just recently started paywall. )
As someone who was chronically dehydrated for many years and did not realize it was the cause of a few health issues, I now have a 48oz container on my desk which is impossible to ignore. When it's empty I refill it. I've refilled it as many as 3 times in a day, so I'm much better hydrated now.
I also have developed darned good oral hygiene. I had a lot of cavities as a kid (or rather, the dentist claimed I did, leading me to a lifetime of fillings that needed to be redone every so often), my teeth are crowded and hard to floss without ending up with floss in pieces. I get pockets in my gums. Last time I went for cleaning my hygienist threatened to make me come in for deep cleaning (I am skeptical of it doing much more than funding my dentist's kids' college education), so I made a deal with her to buy one of those water flossers. It's an awkward beast but actually quite good at keeping away plaque. I'll be seeing her in a couple weeks so we'll see if it actually works as advertised. I also started on Invisalign a few months ago, so now I'm water flossing twice a day and brushing twice a day (though the morning brush is only for one minute; evening is the full two). Not sure if I'll maintain that when Invisalign is over -- really too soon to say.
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Comment on Is Tildes protected from malicious actors, aka paid trolls, aka bots? in ~tildes
dirthawker Link ParentHaving come from the Jurassic aka typewriter era, the -- is second nature to me. I like the em dash visually, but it would take effort to learn to do naturally without (IMO) great benefit.Having come from the Jurassic aka typewriter era, the -- is second nature to me. I like the em dash visually, but it would take effort to learn to do naturally without (IMO) great benefit.
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Comment on What can I do with my old Pixel 3 phone in 2025? in ~tech
dirthawker Link ParentA used XL/2/3 is probably < 100 so if you're paying for storage maybe it's worth it.A used XL/2/3 is probably < 100 so if you're paying for storage maybe it's worth it.
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Comment on What can I do with my old Pixel 3 phone in 2025? in ~tech
dirthawker Link ParentYup, the older models were promised unlimited high quality photo storage. I have a Pixel XL that I set up to sync with my EDC Pixel 8 using an app called Resilio Sync. Auto backup is turned off on...Yup, the older models were promised unlimited high quality photo storage. I have a Pixel XL that I set up to sync with my EDC Pixel 8 using an app called Resilio Sync. Auto backup is turned off on the 8 and on on the XL. The only issue with this setup is the XL stays at home, so if I take pics on the 8, they won't get uploaded until I get home and the 2 phones can talk to each other. I suppose if the XL had a data plan I could take it with me and get photos backed up to the cloud immediately, but I don't need immediately.
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentOh, neat! It looks like Eyezmaze remade everything in HTML5 -- thanks I may be a bit busy later too, thanks!Oh, neat! It looks like Eyezmaze remade everything in HTML5 -- thanks I may be a bit busy later too, thanks!
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
dirthawker Link ParentOh, was that that Japanese series with the buttons to add an attribute and things happen? Often with little people figures running around doing tasks? That was a super fun game. There's a whole...Oh, was that that Japanese series with the buttons to add an attribute and things happen? Often with little people figures running around doing tasks? That was a super fun game.
There's a whole genre of Japanese escape games that could be delved into, starting with Crimson Room, but that is big enough to deserve its own thread. It's terrible how so much was lost when Flash was discontinued. Some devs moved to Unity but a lot just quit.
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
dirthawker LinkHave not seen Peanut Butter Jelly Time posted yetHave not seen Peanut Butter Jelly Time posted yet
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
dirthawker (edited )Link ParentAnimator vs Animation was a fantastic series (I think 3 were made, though tbh the first one was hands down the best.) I could really relate to that one because I was learning to write games in...Animator vs Animation was a fantastic series (I think 3 were made, though tbh the first one was hands down the best.) I could really relate to that one because I was learning to write games in Flash when it came out.
I still remember the leopleuridon from Charlie...
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Comment on This to That (glue advice) in ~creative
dirthawker Link ParentE6000 is flexible when dry, that's probably what you're experiencing. I would do a 2 part epoxy - JB Weld is very good. My fridge door handle snapped at the top and I 1. epoxied it with JB Weld...E6000 is flexible when dry, that's probably what you're experiencing. I would do a 2 part epoxy - JB Weld is very good. My fridge door handle snapped at the top and I 1. epoxied it with JB Weld and 2. bought a replacement handle for when the JB Weld would eventually break. That was 4+ years ago and the handle is still sitting in the closet.
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Comment on The case for cultured meat has changed in ~food
dirthawker Link ParentI've eaten both Impossible and Beyond products and they're pretty decent. Prices have lowered since I first tried it, and is getting on a par with biological meat as the latter's price rises. If...I've eaten both Impossible and Beyond products and they're pretty decent. Prices have lowered since I first tried it, and is getting on a par with biological meat as the latter's price rises. If the Trump admin doesn't manage to go through with their wish of knocking down safety guardrails in the name of increased production, then I'm guessing the price of beef will continue to rise.
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Comment on Survey results on books that people identify as shaping their life/personality after reading them in high school in ~books
dirthawker Link ParentThe Narnia series was a favorite of mine as well during elementary school and for many years after. They weren't suggested by parents or religious people around me, they were in the (public)...The Narnia series was a favorite of mine as well during elementary school and for many years after. They weren't suggested by parents or religious people around me, they were in the (public) school library and seemed like a really good adventure series. Only much later as I grew away from Catholicism did I see the heavy handed pro Christian, anti Islamic stuff, and bits of racism.
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Comment on What's your current PC wallpaper? in ~tech
dirthawker LinkCurrently the desktop has a photo I took on a trip to Hawaii -- we hiked the Kilauea Iki crater and it's just a shot from when we got to the bottom of the inside. I did edit out the other hikers....Currently the desktop has a photo I took on a trip to Hawaii -- we hiked the Kilauea Iki crater and it's just a shot from when we got to the bottom of the inside. I did edit out the other hikers. Usually it's James Webb photos. I change them manually when I get bored of them, or have something I really like.
On the phone is an image made by a Facebook friend which is an abstract greyish blue and gold swirly nautilus and bubbles. She is a professional artist afaik but seems to do these for fun. I suggested she should sell them as phone wallpaper, but she wasn't interested. Prior to that I used various screenshots from Mateusz Skutnik's Submachine game.
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Comment on Do you share your location with your friends? in ~tech
dirthawker LinkNot quite a boomer here. No way would I give persistent access to anyone, not even my own dearest spouse. I've shared location for a limited time so that a visiting friend could find me at the...Not quite a boomer here. No way would I give persistent access to anyone, not even my own dearest spouse. I've shared location for a limited time so that a visiting friend could find me at the transit center parking lot, that's it.
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Comment on What happened to your first car? in ~transport
dirthawker LinkIt was not really my first car but the first one my parents let me drive. We lived on a pretty good hill in a suburban neighborhood. I was driving home and started smelling gasoline. Since I was...It was not really my first car but the first one my parents let me drive. We lived on a pretty good hill in a suburban neighborhood. I was driving home and started smelling gasoline. Since I was only a half mile from home I thought I'd be able to make it, and my folks would be able to figure out the problem. No. A few blocks later flames started leaping out from under the hood. I turned the corner, put it in park, and jumped out. I forgot to turn off the engine in my panic and the poor car kept burning. It happened I parked in front of an old folks care home and I'm sure I raised blood pressures like they hadn't in years. They were the sweetest people, asking me if I had insurance and telling me it would be all right. The fire department came and put it out. My parents were very cool about it, fortunately.
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Comment on What do you do while walking your dog? in ~life.pets
dirthawker LinkBack when I had a dog, it was just enjoying the woods and the trail, listening to and looking for birds, foraging blackberries if available, looking for bunnies and squirrels and lizards. Before I...Back when I had a dog, it was just enjoying the woods and the trail, listening to and looking for birds, foraging blackberries if available, looking for bunnies and squirrels and lizards. Before I started training him for hunting, he would do that fox thing where they go still, then do a giant spring in the air and come down front paws and nose first. That was always super entertaining, though I never saw what he was going for.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
dirthawker LinkScarlett Johansson and Adam Driver Fighting in ‘Marriage Story’ Is Being Used by the USDA to Scare Off Wolves
I use IbisPaintX a lot for taking notes while playing games, and AllTrails occasionally. Both have a subscription model -- Ibis is $28 and Alltrails is $36 per year. I just do not consider a subscription reasonable for apps that I use in a very limited way. Both I believe have some kind of social networking aspect, which I don't use at all. I'd rather be able to just buy the app and be done.