frowns's recent activity
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Comment on How A24 spurred a meme craze and got the many to watch ‘You Can See Everything’: documentary opens to $15m milestone in ~movies
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Comment on Given everything we know about AI so far, what do you think it can or cannot be good for? in ~tech
frowns LinkLots of great points here already, but I haven’t seen cybersecurity mentioned here yet. LLMs can make extremely high-quality (spear)phishing campaigns trivially, producing higher-quality spoofs...Lots of great points here already, but I haven’t seen cybersecurity mentioned here yet. LLMs can make extremely high-quality (spear)phishing campaigns trivially, producing higher-quality spoofs without a lot of the dead giveaways that even a non-savvy person could spot. Scraping a person’s entire public online presence for insights on how to scam them can be done in minutes now. Or, scraping the online presence of a target’s loved one to create deepfakes and scam people is much easier and again much higher quality. That’s all just social engineering too, and doesn’t even get into all of the accidental (or “accidental”, perhaps) LLM-in-testing hacks that have been all over the news lately. For all of the advances LLMs can promise in good and nice things, it can be used to advance bad and not nice things as well. That’s not necessarily a reason to shut it all off, but it feels like it should be a bigger part of the conversation than it often seems to be today.
I have to use LLMs a lot for my job. Like, usage is mandated by department and company leaders, and I am the admin for a suite of tools that uses LLMs for various functions. I struggle with that due to ethical concerns like those cited by various users here, but it’s not exactly the best time to be job hunting, and there’s kind of nowhere left to go in my career path that won’t be as bad or worse for LLM usage. So my options are pretty much “live with it” or “burn it all down and start over in a new career path”. That decision has definitely been weighing on me a lot lately. I’m paid very well for what I do and my job isn’t that hard for me, so halving my salary and starting at the ground floor again is a tough pill to swallow.
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Comment on Looking for more pop / rock songs with sick sax solos! Got any ideas? in ~music
frowns LinkLate to the party but there’s a fun squonky sax solo in Il Tesoro di Sardenga by Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. Fun record too, they made a whole soundtrack for an imaginary 70’s Italian film.Late to the party but there’s a fun squonky sax solo in Il Tesoro di Sardenga by Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. Fun record too, they made a whole soundtrack for an imaginary 70’s Italian film.
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Comment on Help me choose a small electric car in ~transport
frowns Link ParentAbsolutely big same, love our Bolt to death. Also looks like the new model solved the only real frustration I have with ours: they bumped the fast charging speed up. It’s really not even an issue...Absolutely big same, love our Bolt to death. Also looks like the new model solved the only real frustration I have with ours: they bumped the fast charging speed up.
It’s really not even an issue if you bring something to do or plan your trip so you’ll need a charge at a meal time. Would def be nice to have the faster charge though!
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Comment on In search of the hypothetical iPhone Duo buyer in ~tech
frowns Link ParentOff topic: airlines are required to allow you to take a CPAP as a “free” carry on luggage item in addition to your suitcase and personal bag. You don’t have to squeeze it into your luggage unless...Off topic: airlines are required to allow you to take a CPAP as a “free” carry on luggage item in addition to your suitcase and personal bag. You don’t have to squeeze it into your luggage unless that’s your preference.
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Comment on Any obscure songs you'd like to share? in ~music
frowns LinkDon’t have any specific songs on my mind, but wanted to plug Chances with Wolves if anyone hasn’t heard of it yet. There are nearly 600 “episodes” now, each one a 2-hour radio show put on by crate...Don’t have any specific songs on my mind, but wanted to plug Chances with Wolves if anyone hasn’t heard of it yet. There are nearly 600 “episodes” now, each one a 2-hour radio show put on by crate diggers with some wild stuff on it. Lots of international covers of western music, lots of songs you’ve never heard before and will probably never hear again, and a few songs here and there that you do know that make you feel like a real smarty pants.
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Comment on Any obscure songs you'd like to share? in ~music
frowns Link ParentDef in my top 10 albums, maybe even top 5. No duds on the whole record, great guitar solos, cheeky lil’ lyrics… what more could one want?Def in my top 10 albums, maybe even top 5. No duds on the whole record, great guitar solos, cheeky lil’ lyrics… what more could one want?
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Comment on Is anyone watching Widows Bay? (Apple TV) in ~tv
frowns LinkThe “wolves” calendar bit in the first episode absolutely killed me. Didn’t disappoint from then on!The “wolves” calendar bit in the first episode absolutely killed me. Didn’t disappoint from then on!
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Comment on What are your favourite fragrances, and why? in ~talk
frowns Link ParentPetrichor is probably my favorite smell in nature. So intrigued by a personal scent based on that! I know you’re between suppliers, but any particular recs of ones you’ve liked in the past?Petrichor is probably my favorite smell in nature. So intrigued by a personal scent based on that! I know you’re between suppliers, but any particular recs of ones you’ve liked in the past?
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Comment on What are your favourite fragrances, and why? in ~talk
frowns LinkMy daily driver is usually Bronze Wood and Leather by Jo Malone. It’s a little bit too masc for my tastes for the first half hour or so after applying (I was so mad at myself after testing it,...My daily driver is usually Bronze Wood and Leather by Jo Malone. It’s a little bit too masc for my tastes for the first half hour or so after applying (I was so mad at myself after testing it, driving home smelling like sad dad aftershave), but it fades into a lovely, sweet muskiness that I really enjoy for the rest of the day (by the time I got home I was convinced and ordered a bottle).
My “date night”/“dress to impress” scent is Tom Ford - Santal Blush. To me this is the perfect scent, but it’s pricey and the scent doesn’t really last a full day, so I mostly use it for special occasions. I would bathe in this stuff if I could.
I also have a couple of cheap-but-delightful solid perfumes that I really enjoy from Broken Top: Santal Noir and Tobacco Teak. I stumbled upon the former in a random gift shop on vacation and loved it, it’s a slightly warmer take on the Santal style. If I want a break from the JML I always reach for this. I’d probably replace it as my daily driver if it didn’t take so long to apply :)
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
frowns Link ParentWhere most people would typically say something like “pound sand” or “kick rocks”, I always say “piss up a rope”.Where most people would typically say something like “pound sand” or “kick rocks”, I always say “piss up a rope”.
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Comment on Humble Choice - June 2026 in ~games
frowns Link ParentI’ve been intrigued by Indika if you still have the key for that! Thank you for offering!I’ve been intrigued by Indika if you still have the key for that! Thank you for offering!
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Comment on Actually useful MCPs in ~comp
frowns LinkMy company’s data warehouse is in Databricks, and I use their MCP daily. Super handy to just cut Claude loose on whatever fresh hell of metric requests I have waiting for me when I log on and have...My company’s data warehouse is in Databricks, and I use their MCP daily. Super handy to just cut Claude loose on whatever fresh hell of metric requests I have waiting for me when I log on and have a fancy looking dashboard to placate leadership within the hour.
Slack MCP is handy for me too, but I mostly use it for trends and behavior analysis in channels to supplement the metrics in the dashboard above.
I don’t think they even look at the reports :(
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Comment on Matt Damon says Netflix wants movies to restate the 'plot three or four times in the dialogue' because viewers are on 'their phones while they're watching' in ~movies
frowns LinkThis was so apparent in the latest Stranger Things. It felt like a constant cycle: explain what just happened, then reiterate the plan, then split up for some shoehorned dramatic interludes for...This was so apparent in the latest Stranger Things. It felt like a constant cycle: explain what just happened, then reiterate the plan, then split up for some shoehorned dramatic interludes for characters that have a paper-thin arc, and then a heavy action scene. Rinse and repeat.
What they’re not accounting for is that they’re driving the part of their audience who isn’t on their phones to pick up their phones. But I suppose “active consumer” isn’t really the target audience anyway, since active consumers will cancel a subscription if they don’t care for the content. It’s easier and more reliable money to cater to the audience that just wants something on in the background.
Not to go full tin hat but I’d be shocked if there wasn’t someone somewhere twisting their mustache because they know LLMs will be great at writing scripts that are just one plot point and a bunch of summarizations and restatements of that plot point.
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Comment on Things are crumbling around me and a lot of it is my fault in ~health.mental
frowns Link ParentMan, that’s really tough. I’m sorry you’re in such a pickle. If there’s anything a rando on the ‘net can do to help, please let me know!Man, that’s really tough. I’m sorry you’re in such a pickle. If there’s anything a rando on the ‘net can do to help, please let me know!
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Comment on Things are crumbling around me and a lot of it is my fault in ~health.mental
frowns LinkFirst of all, I am so sorry that you’re going through this. I’ve worked with (not for, thankfully) this type of lunatic before and it’s so extraordinarily uncomfortable and painful. It sucks even...- Exemplary
First of all, I am so sorry that you’re going through this. I’ve worked with (not for, thankfully) this type of lunatic before and it’s so extraordinarily uncomfortable and painful. It sucks even worse that it might jeopardize your welfare.
Is he the owner or something? I can’t think of a world where HR would allow that kind of talk between a supervisor and their employee, let alone allowing that person to be fired for retaliatory reasons…
Regardless, I don’t think you should be so hard on yourself. You’re not the bigot, and it’s not your responsibility to police all bigots in the world. It’s good to stand up to them when you can, and it sounds like you do. There were complicating factors that stopped you from following that instinct this time, but that doesn’t make you any less of a good person. You still have to eat and pay rent if you want to survive long enough to stand up to the next one.
Sincerely hoping your work doesn’t fuck this one up, because IMO this is open and shut in your favor, and that guy should be paying the price for this abhorrent behavior, not you.
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Comment on Looking for a non-smart watch recommendation in ~tech
frowns Link ParentHey that’s wild — I created InfiniTime (the iOS companion app) back in the day! I had to bail on it because I got a real job, so someone else has long since taken over dev and maintenance and I...Hey that’s wild — I created InfiniTime (the iOS companion app) back in the day! I had to bail on it because I got a real job, so someone else has long since taken over dev and maintenance and I haven’t touched it in a couple years. Nice to see it’s still on that list though 🥹
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
frowns Link ParentBeen playing a ton of this too and for some reason I didn’t draw the line between the extra chill solo sessions (with people leaving each other alone or sometimes even straight up helping...Been playing a ton of this too and for some reason I didn’t draw the line between the extra chill solo sessions (with people leaving each other alone or sometimes even straight up helping strangers) and the extra-unchill duo sessions where it seems like everyone is out for blood and nobody cares at all about ARCs. I guess I need to get over my urge to be friendly to strangers when I’m playing on a team. I just hate shooting first!
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Comment on Honk your horn in ~health.mental
frowns Link ParentJust about the only thing I miss about working in kitchens is going to the walk-in and just cursing and screaming my head off. Turns out all that insulation is good for more than just keeping food...Just about the only thing I miss about working in kitchens is going to the walk-in and just cursing and screaming my head off. Turns out all that insulation is good for more than just keeping food cold. Sometimes I’d “forget” to grab something so I could go right back and get another little outburst in.
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Comment on Castle Rat - The Bestiary (2025) in ~music
frowns LinkI’m so bummed! They just played a venue I love but I was too late to get tickets. It’s basically just a medium-sized bar. Would have been so rad 😔 Edit to add: it’s not all bad news though cuz...I’m so bummed! They just played a venue I love but I was too late to get tickets. It’s basically just a medium-sized bar. Would have been so rad 😔
Edit to add: it’s not all bad news though cuz this album is bangin’
Saw it last night and it really lived up to the hype. My partner and I have been running into each other’s offices all day like “wait remember the part where […]? What on earth was that about?!”