grahamiam's recent activity
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Comment on Director’s take – reflecting on the future of Overwatch 2 in ~games
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Comment on Director’s take – reflecting on the future of Overwatch 2 in ~games
grahamiam Link ParentMy understanding is that if the CMA does not approve, Microsoft will not be able to continue to do business in the UK, and that the deal would not be worth that, because it would affect their...My understanding is that if the CMA does not approve, Microsoft will not be able to continue to do business in the UK, and that the deal would not be worth that, because it would affect their entire business, not just the gaming portion.
https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/4/27/23699227/microsoft-activision-blizzard-antitrust-nope
So yes, in this case, they have the power to do so.
A lot of people on reddit are cheering for this to happen, saying that it would be a disaster for Microsoft to pull out of the UK, but a) this is shortsighted, even if the UK's govt sucks we shouldn't cheer a corporation being able to unilaterally influence policy like that and b) imagine the ripple effect it would have on other countries considering whether to invest in using Microsoft for products given Microsoft might pull out if law changes adversely affect them.
Unless the CMA reverses course (which is apparently very historically rare), to me it sounds like the deal is dead, but I'd be interested in reading more.
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Comment on Director’s take – reflecting on the future of Overwatch 2 in ~games
grahamiam Link ParentIsn't the Microsoft acquisition pretty much dead given the CMA's rejection of it? I'm very sad about what Blizzard has become, but I don't think consolidating the major industry players is the...Isn't the Microsoft acquisition pretty much dead given the CMA's rejection of it?
I'm very sad about what Blizzard has become, but I don't think consolidating the major industry players is the right path forward, so I'm glad it's not going to happen.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
grahamiam (edited )Link豆干 (pronounced "dough gan") gets translated as "dried bean curd" which is an awful unmarketable name. It's basically tofu that's firmer than "firm" tofu - it's had more water pressed out and is...豆干 (pronounced "dough gan") gets translated as "dried bean curd" which is an awful unmarketable name. It's basically tofu that's firmer than "firm" tofu - it's had more water pressed out and is denser and slightly chewy. It's very common here in Taiwan, and I think it would be way more popular than tofu in the United States - it fits the role of chicken breast in many dishes, imo. Lately I've been cutting it up into strips, then cutting onion and bell pepper into strips of a similar size and stir frying it similar to fajitas. At the end, though, I add salt, pepper, tons of cilantro (with the stems finely diced), and a big dollop of 豆瓣醬, but not a Taiwanese brand - theirs is less intense flavor. Instead, I recommend this Chinese brand: 鵑城牌. Not sure how hard it is to find in other countries. It's the same flavor that is used in (some) Mapo Tofus.
It's a healthy, fast, cheap meal. Sometimes I serve it on rice or noodles but I often just eat a big plate of it by itself.
Anyways, I have an iron deficiency and I'm vegetarian. I looked at my diet and think I'm getting enough iron, but I might not be getting enough Vitamin C to absorb the iron (I added more iron-rich food to my diet for 2-3 months and my number went down), so I'm trying to add more of that, and bell pepper is loaded with it (plus tofu/豆干 has iron), so I'm hoping this plus supplements helps without forcing me into eating more meat. Another possibility that there's mixed research on is that the polyphenols in coffee prevent you from absorbing iron too, which would be... devastating.
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Comment on ‘So, I hear I’m transphobic’: Dee Snider responds after being dropped by SF Pride in ~lgbt
grahamiam Link ParentKind of odd for you to copy so much of his statement but not what actually prompted the cancellation?Kind of odd for you to copy so much of his statement but not what actually prompted the cancellation?
Stanley’s post read, in part: “With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the ‘fun’ of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad.”
The post led some to criticize the Kiss singer of mischaracterizing gender-affirming care as a “some sort of game.”
Snider retweeted Stanley’s remarks, adding, “You know what? There was a time where I ‘felt pretty’ too. Glad my parents didn’t jump to any rash conclusions.”
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Comment on Bluesky is Jack Dorsey’s attempt at a Twitter redo and it’s already growing fast in ~tech
grahamiam Link ParentHmm, I guess that would make sense, but in these screenshots I'm clicked on those two posts and they still don't have numbers. Also, why is the 1+ there if it doesn't want to show numbers? If I...Hmm, I guess that would make sense, but in these screenshots I'm clicked on those two posts and they still don't have numbers. Also, why is the 1+ there if it doesn't want to show numbers? If I was going to use the platform seriously, I would want to know the reply numbers (maybe not the boost/like numbers), just so I knew which posts are generating significant conversation. Big difference between 1 reply and 30.
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Comment on Bluesky is Jack Dorsey’s attempt at a Twitter redo and it’s already growing fast in ~tech
grahamiam Link ParentChecked it out again, and I was wrong, it's even true for people on the same server as me? Here are two screenshots. Both show the same thread, but with two different tweets loaded. You can see...Checked it out again, and I was wrong, it's even true for people on the same server as me? Here are two screenshots. Both show the same thread, but with two different tweets loaded. You can see that they have many responses and probably a lot of likes, but this is not displayed at the bottom of the tweets. Also, two different tweets are showing the same first reply, meaning I don't know which replies are for which tweets in a thread, which would definitely be a problem in a bigger thread.
https://i.imgur.com/CrxQwoJ.png
https://i.imgur.com/agjXWKA.pnghttps://mastodon.social/@Popehat/110271583163944337
https://mastodon.social/@Popehat/110271586181549712 -
Comment on Bluesky is Jack Dorsey’s attempt at a Twitter redo and it’s already growing fast in ~tech
grahamiam Link ParentI was told it didn't matter at all what server I pick, but that's clearly not true. For my follows on other servers, none of the numbers are correct under tweets, and I ran into other issues with...I was told it didn't matter at all what server I pick, but that's clearly not true. For my follows on other servers, none of the numbers are correct under tweets, and I ran into other issues with interacting with tweets/people from other servers but I've forgotten those by now.
But overall it comes down to not trusting the moderation style to hold up if it ever did explode in popularity.
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Comment on Jerry Springer, politician turned TV ringmaster, dies at 79 in ~news
grahamiam LinkVery interesting guy, but yeah, echo whether he was overall a net positive or negative is hard to say. There's a wonderful novel with a central character who is very loosely based on Springer that...Very interesting guy, but yeah, echo whether he was overall a net positive or negative is hard to say. There's a wonderful novel with a central character who is very loosely based on Springer that I recommend: The Spectators by Jennifer DuBois.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
grahamiam Linkhttps://tildes.net/~books/150c/what_are_you_reading_these_days#comment-7t75 I'm halfway through the third book of NK Jemisin's Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy. Second book was even better than...https://tildes.net/~books/150c/what_are_you_reading_these_days#comment-7t75
I'm halfway through the third book of NK Jemisin's Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy. Second book was even better than the first, but the third one started out pretty rough (the third's protagonist started off seeming very inconsistent in an annoying way, which of course can be realistic, but in this case did not seem to be). I think it's getting better though. I still don't think it's as good as her Broken Earth trilogy.
One thing I really like about this series is that it's maybe the only fantasy series I've read (which admittedly is not a huge number) that seems to take very seriously and thoughtfully how beings of very different power levels would coexist over a long period of time (in this case gods and humans, but could be anything). It seems like most fantasy books separate different groups as much as possible except for < key plot point. >
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Comment on Steam Eastern Games Fest in ~games
grahamiam LinkFrom Taiwan, I recommend OPUS: Echo of Starsong if you're into gameplay-light, story-heavy games. Stylistically similar to Kentucky Route Zero, good music, cool worldbuilding (there's some really...From Taiwan, I recommend OPUS: Echo of Starsong if you're into gameplay-light, story-heavy games. Stylistically similar to Kentucky Route Zero, good music, cool worldbuilding (there's some really good mythos in it that doesn't take over the story). Characters are a little overly flat/static/stereotypically negatively anime (in that they suddenly have a BIG CHANGE and that they're portrayed very cutesy/silly even in very serious moments). The ending is really great.
If you're familiar with Taiwan, the world is especially cool because a lot of the places are named after places in Taiwan.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1504500/OPUS_Echo_of_Starsong__Full_Bloom_Edition/
This is the third OPUS game and I think it's a pretty big step above the previous two, if you played either of them (don't really recommend them).
Also, if you want a dose of Taiwanese culture, The Legend of Tianding has amazing art and music and voice acting, but its actual gameplay is pretty lacking.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1406850/The_Legend_of_Tianding/
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
grahamiam LinkJust finished burning through the first book of NK Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I'd held off despite absolutely loving The Broken Earth trilogy, partially because...Just finished burning through the first book of NK Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I'd held off despite absolutely loving The Broken Earth trilogy, partially because I didn't really enjoy the short story that became The City We Became and partially because I'd heard it isn't as good. And it isn't! But it's still really, really good. If you liked The Broken Earth trilogy, read it (I think, will see after Books 2-3), but if you haven't read The Broken Earth, definitely start there. First book is The Fifth Season.
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Comment on Bear meat vending machine is a first for Japan in ~food
grahamiam Link ParentThe opening to Eating Animals lays this out really well - it's been a while since I've read it, but basically the idea that the US "throws away" 1-2 million dogs per year through euthanasia, and...The opening to Eating Animals lays this out really well - it's been a while since I've read it, but basically the idea that the US "throws away" 1-2 million dogs per year through euthanasia, and any suggestion to eat any of that meat would be treated as insanity. Eating dog is a racist punchline only. And yet, 60-70 million pigs who live in worse conditions than those dogs did and have been repeatedly scientifically shown to be higher intelligence than dogs are eaten each year.
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Comment on April Fools Thread in ~talk
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Comment on Residents of Greenland have switched to daylight saving time this weekend for the very last time in ~life
grahamiam Link ParentFor me I think part of it is that the "9-to-5 schedule" or even 8-5 doesn't exist for me or anyone I know, most people work a little more some days and a little less some days, and even parents...I feel oddly detached from the recent debate about daylight savings. The switch has literally never affected me in any way. I truly cannot understand why people feel strongly about it.
For me I think part of it is that the "9-to-5 schedule" or even 8-5 doesn't exist for me or anyone I know, most people work a little more some days and a little less some days, and even parents have before school and after school stuff that's very inconsistent. For me the only annoyance is now interacting with differences (e.g. I live somewhere that doesn't switch but many of my friends have to switch, which is confusing af).
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
grahamiam Link ParentI use Hekili addon, not WAs, for Shaman/DH rotation. My only WeakAuras are Tama's todo list and the /say Thundering chat bubble spam for m+, which will thankfully be unnecessary next season. I...I use Hekili addon, not WAs, for Shaman/DH rotation. My only WeakAuras are Tama's todo list and the /say Thundering chat bubble spam for m+, which will thankfully be unnecessary next season. I don't raid, but I am up to 2700 M+ rating as Enh Shm and 2500 as Veng DH.
Fortunately I haven't encountered the toxicity you've described here. I don't pug a lot, but when I have it's been pretty smooth. The exception is PVP. Solo shuffle is the most toxic cesspit I've been in, especially playing as a healer. If Blizzard quadrupled the size of the block list I might give it a go again, but yeah.
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Comment on What's the best way to save/store money? in ~finance
grahamiam LinkThese questions have big variations depending on where you live, how much you make, what your living/career situation is, goals, family, etc., but /r/personalfinance is an amazing resource. Start...These questions have big variations depending on where you live, how much you make, what your living/career situation is, goals, family, etc., but /r/personalfinance is an amazing resource. Start with their wiki.
Keeping all of your money in cash is a bad idea, as is crypto. But where it should go instead is a complicated answer.
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Comment on What’s something you’ve noticed about getting older? in ~talk
grahamiam LinkSmall and silly, but grey/white hair hasn't bothered me at all. Probably a good dose of male privilege. However, what's driven me slightly crazy, is that random hairs suddenly grow twice as long...Small and silly, but grey/white hair hasn't bothered me at all. Probably a good dose of male privilege. However, what's driven me slightly crazy, is that random hairs suddenly grow twice as long as all their peers? The worst is in my eyebrows. I'm guessing eventually I'll just stop caring, but right now I care, and it's so annoying to turn on the bathroom light and look in the mirror and look for "okay, what's going wrong this week?"
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Comment on Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms threaten to block “healthy” food labelling guidelines in court in ~health
grahamiam (edited )Link ParentSince moving to another country where all food labels have both "per serving" and "per 100g", it's been much easier for me to compare. Skim milk has 4.8g sugar / 100g, my soy milk brand has the...Since moving to another country where all food labels have both "per serving" and "per 100g", it's been much easier for me to compare. Skim milk has 4.8g sugar / 100g, my soy milk brand has the exact same amount, OatYa (Quaker Oats) oat milk has 4.1g. Regular Coke is 10.6g. Skippy crunchy peanut butter has 8.5g. This "healthy" muesli I got on sale has 14.1g (I forgot to check before buying it). Idk why I don't just keep on with my own oatmeal and add stuff in.
Obviously comparing foods to drinks and stuff you use for flavor versus staple foods, different kinds of sugar, sugar from fruit versus corn syrup, etc. is all very nuanced, but in the US I often felt like it was impossible to really compare different foods with wildly different serving sizes.
Some surprising ones - mirin and gochujang are almost half sugar (51 and 46, respectively). Longan honey is 66g. Funny how much more guilty I feel about adding honey to something.
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Comment on What is a fun or interesting fact about where you live? in ~life
grahamiam LinkIn Taiwan, when they tore down statues of the former dictator, they put a bunch of them together into a single park. Kind of a neat solution: https://travel.tycg.gov.tw/en/travel/attraction/718In Taiwan, when they tore down statues of the former dictator, they put a bunch of them together into a single park. Kind of a neat solution: https://travel.tycg.gov.tw/en/travel/attraction/718
I guess? To me, whether or not a handful of gaming IPs reclaim success is way less important than two of the biggest players in gaming merging. Even if Microsoft is losing the console war pretty handily, even if Activision has terrible management, it's a bad for the future.