igemnace's recent activity
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Comment on Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them in ~transport
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Comment on Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them in ~transport
igemnace Link ParentThe more rural areas, perhaps you mean? Flushing toilets, running showers, and running machines are just as mundane as you might think in a lot of residential areas.The more rural areas, perhaps you mean? Flushing toilets, running showers, and running machines are just as mundane as you might think in a lot of residential areas.
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Comment on Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them in ~transport
igemnace Link ParentThey're just plugged into outlets at home. I think this is a mismatch of context. A lot of homes don't have washers and dryers in the statistical sense, yes, because there is still quite a number...They're just plugged into outlets at home.
I know a lot homes don't use washers and dryers. I assumed the reason was a combination of not having enough water pressure and their electrical grid.
I think this is a mismatch of context. A lot of homes don't have washers and dryers in the statistical sense, yes, because there is still quite a number of areas that aren't energized, or still rely on traditional water supply. Here's a report I quickly found: 2.5 million households still with no regular access to electricity.
BUT, these are typically far-flung, rural areas. These are NOT the areas where the e-bike explosion is happening. That is a lot more centered in urban areas (e.g. Metro Manila and surrounding provinces), and in these areas, washers and dryers are just as much a regular fixture of a home as you might think them to be.
Lack of regulation is a contentious issue here actually. It mostly revolves around how e-bikes should be treated: should they be treated closer to bicycles because of how slow they are? Driver's licenses aren't needed for those. Smaller implications of these are: being allowed to cross pedestrian crosswalks (mimicking people walking their bicycle across), enjoying access to bike-only lanes.
Or should they be treated closer to motorcycles because of how large they are, and how non-negligible an impact they can cause if they get involved in an accident? Driver's licenses are needed for those. Smaller implications of these are: enjoying access to major thoroughfares, following the same rules of the road as cars (stop at traffic lights, no waiting at intersections, etc).
The call for regulation stems from the fact that we see e-bikes taking advantage of both sides (asserting that they're a "legit" vehicle and going onto major thoroughfares, but then asserting that they're "just a bike" and move across pedestrian crosswalks when traffic lights are red), and because a lot of the drivers don't have licenses, they just don't have the training to make that kind of driving safe.
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Comment on Mortal Kombat 1 | Official Banished trailer in ~games
igemnace Link ParentUgh, definitely so. For a while there, I felt like it was really platform fighters that proliferated (some awesome contenders, I liked NASB myself but that was a bit of a bubble). Now, we have...Ugh, definitely so. For a while there, I felt like it was really platform fighters that proliferated (some awesome contenders, I liked NASB myself but that was a bit of a bubble). Now, we have SF6, Tekken 8, and MK1 as the heavy hitters once again, and a bit closer to my heart, Marvel 2 and 3 are having a renaissance. We're on an uptick again -- '23 is the new '09.
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Comment on Lets talk roguelikes! in ~games
igemnace LinkI love roguelikes! Junethack was fun; looking forward to TNNT to flail around and never ascend for yet another year ;) To add to the list of recommended roguelikes, I'd like to pitch in: Shattered...I love roguelikes! Junethack was fun; looking forward to TNNT to flail around and never ascend for yet another year ;)
To add to the list of recommended roguelikes, I'd like to pitch in:
Shattered Pixel Dungeon. It's a mobile game (well, originally anyway -- it's on Steam/GOG/itch.io now), but it has such a great amount of content -- shorter than your typical roguelike, but definitely not coffee-break. It follows in the spirit of traditional roguelikes: turn-based, tile-based, unidentified scrolls and potions, 25 floors grouped into dungeon sections, plus you even delve into the dungeon to grab the Amulet of Yendor!
It started as a fork of Pixel Dungeon, which I also recommend! Open-sourcing PD was a godsend, and resulted in the proliferation of all these variants. Shattered is my favorite because of the sheer amount of content it has added (artifacts, new classes, improved graphics and music) and its dedication to keeping a well-balanced metagame. The additions are so huge and well-polished; Evan has truly made his own game out of it.
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Comment on Minecraft Wiki strongly considering moving away from Fandom in ~games
igemnace Link ParentApart from those already mentioned in this thread, here are the ones I've used that have awed me with the amount of effort to ensure that the information is high quality: Nethack Wiki (beware:...On a related note, what are your favorite wikis (game or otherwise)?
Apart from those already mentioned in this thread, here are the ones I've used that have awed me with the amount of effort to ensure that the information is high quality:
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Comment on Minecraft Wiki strongly considering moving away from Fandom in ~games
igemnace Link ParentNot just for Old School Runescape, but also the main game. Even way before the split (2005-2006), the RS Wiki community already had a track record of excellence, and so they've brought that...Not just for Old School Runescape, but also the main game. Even way before the split (2005-2006), the RS Wiki community already had a track record of excellence, and so they've brought that culture wherever they go, from RS3 to Old School, from Fandom to their own servers. It's a truly awesome thing the more you ponder it; Runescape players might sometimes take it for granted, but not every wiki gets it this good.
it's funded by Jagex so they don't need ads
I feel like this is a good time and place to highlight this: even with funding, the RS Wiki maintainers are actually just scraping by. See:
https://runescape.wiki/w/Forum:Funding_the_wikis
https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Forum:Funding_the_wikis (redirects to the above)Running the wiki looks to be a thankless job, and yet even in this situation, the maintainers are looking to be prudent and democratic about the whole process. If nothing else, it really hammers in the point how much they truly care.
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Comment on The small web and minimalist websites - what are your thoughts and experiences? in ~tech
igemnace LinkI tend to think of the small web as individual, personal blogs and small community sites such as the tildeverse. I actually don't think of Tildes as part of the small web, because there's so many...I tend to think of the small web as individual, personal blogs and small community sites such as the tildeverse. I actually don't think of Tildes as part of the small web, because there's so many here (although I joined very recently; this might have been a much tighter community before).
What is your experience, if any, with the small web?
The blogs on the small web are frequently where I find the most interesting information! Most of the ones I've read are tech-related, but quite a number of them tackle on other topics, too. I like this discourse on "The Quiet Web", for example:
https://briankoberlein.com/tech/quiet-web/
https://manuelmoreale.com/asynchronous-conversationsI feel frustrated how you can never really just stumble onto these from web searches anymore, because the major search engine indices are so polluted with soulless, SEO-marketed websites with empty thoughts. You can seek them out to a good extent, but one way or another luck is such a factor in finding them -- you randomly come across a great blog post in HN or Lobsters, for example, or one of the blogs you already know links to a new blog.
Just a while ago, there were small search engine projects with curated indices that focused specifically on small-web-type sites. ht3.org was what I liked, but that's gone now.
Which steps have you taken (if at all) to ensure your website is not bloated?
I actually follow a very similar approach to bettermotherfuckingwebsite.com, where you lean heavily on HTML as it is, with a sprinkling of CSS to make things readable with delight.
No JS (because my pages aren't dynamic), no client-side tracking. If I ever want to look at visit stats (and I rarely do), I view nginx access logs with goaccess.
On that note, thanks for the link to the 512kb club! I've put in a PR for fun :)
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Comment on What's your favorite scene in Tolkien's Legendarium? (Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Silmarillion, etc...) in ~books
igemnace Link ParentTom Bombadil was such a funny fellow! I love the rescue in the Barrow Downs: The "thumping and stamping" of the Barrow-wight is such a hilarious mental picture for me. I picture him waddling back...Tom Bombadil was such a funny fellow! I love the rescue in the Barrow Downs:
Tom went back in again, and there was a sound of much thumping and stamping. When he came out he was bearing in his arms a great load of treasure: things of gold, silver, copper, and broze; many beads and chains and jewelled ornaments.
The "thumping and stamping" of the Barrow-wight is such a hilarious mental picture for me. I picture him waddling back carrying a mountain of treasure with a stupid grin on his face. Haha! Tom Bombadil doesn't care how bleak the situation is supposed to be; when he's around, the world is whimsy.
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Comment on What's your favorite scene in Tolkien's Legendarium? (Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Silmarillion, etc...) in ~books
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Comment on What's your favorite scene in Tolkien's Legendarium? (Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Silmarillion, etc...) in ~books
igemnace (edited )LinkOh, I have so many! The ones where sentence brevity has a lot of impact: Such a really great way to build anticipation, hit you with the climax, and leave you reeling from the awe of the scene --...Oh, I have so many! The ones where sentence brevity has a lot of impact:
And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.
Such a really great way to build anticipation, hit you with the climax, and leave you reeling from the awe of the scene -- all in one paragraph.
Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood. So died in the deep places of Menegroth Elwë Singollo, King of Doriath, who alone of all the Children of Ilúvatar was joined with one of the Ainur; and he who, alone of the Forsaken Elves, had seen the light of the Trees of Valinor, with his last sight gazed upon the Silmaril.
The poetic repetition of the gaze upon the Trees and the Silmaril is poignant. But what really struck about me in this scene is how much longer it dwells on the titles and accomplishments of Thingol, while the actual passage about his death ("and slew him as he stood") is incredibly short. Thingol was at the height of his hubris -- and it only took a moment to cut him down. The death itself was enough to take me aback; beyond that initial shock, if you re-read that paragraph more and more, the more you see how beautifully crafted it is.
Then the ones that simply had a profound emotional effect on me:
And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron, crowned, and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.
One of the fan-favorite scenes, surely. "And Morgoth came." is once again a sentence with so much impact for its brevity. This particular scene that follows it is one of my favorites: the Enemy, a towering shadow. But Fingolfin gleams as a star beneath it still. Fingolfin was supposedly driven here by despair, so it's so profound how this scene evokes so much hope.
Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.
My single favorite passage. There is such an ache in "And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?" You get the feeling that life and death are not matters humans should be governing at all.
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Comment on Understanding Red Hat's restrictions to CentOS source redistribution in ~tech
igemnace Link ParentOkay, gotcha. This is the premise that I missed. I agree that everything you said afterwards logically follows.their subscription agreement says the contract will be terminated if you share it.
Okay, gotcha. This is the premise that I missed. I agree that everything you said afterwards logically follows.
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Comment on Understanding Red Hat's restrictions to CentOS source redistribution in ~tech
igemnace Link ParentI agree with everything you said about GPL only requiring distributing the source code to the same people you distribute the binaries too, such as only the paying clients (this is how the FSF...I agree with everything you said about GPL only requiring distributing the source code to the same people you distribute the binaries too, such as only the paying clients (this is how the FSF normally espouses profitable free software).
Just want to point out that I believe the article's main point is:
What exactly is in that subscription agreement? Well according to Alma Linux, “the way we understand it today, Red Hat’s user interface agreements indicate that re-publishing sources acquired through the customer portal would be a violation of those agreements.”
Which does sound to me like a GPL violation: you can't restrict downstream freedoms; paying customers have the freedom to distribute. Which you also state in your post as one of the freedoms the paying customers should have! I'm simply pointing out that this is the dissonance the article is putting forth, I believe.
Though, it doesn't help that the article surrounds that single sentence with so much fluff that could potentially drown out the point. It also certainly doesn't help that the whole thing is a tertiary source ("We heard that Alma Linux heard that...").
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Comment on Do you know any games with excellent gameplay but horrible graphics? in ~games
igemnace LinkHorrible graphics is maybe a bit harsh, but: Nethack, and the whole roguelike space! One of the many things I like about Nethack- and Angband-style roguelikes is their being turn-based (so you...Horrible graphics is maybe a bit harsh, but: Nethack, and the whole roguelike space!
One of the many things I like about Nethack- and Angband-style roguelikes is their being turn-based (so you technically have all the time in the world to think things through) but they still find ways to put you in stressful situations. Ever fallen through a pitfall trap and landed crippled in a room filled to the brim with monsters way out of your level? The gut instinct is to forget it's turn-based and panic and run, and the game punishes you for it.
Keeping calm and being tactical about your solutions in a stressful situation is a skill, and the game lets you hone and apply that skill once you realize it's how the game is played. Modern, real-time, action-based roguelikes let you train your reaction time, coordination, and quick thinking -- which are definitely valuable! -- but I think there's value in being deliberate and tactical, a play style you'll just really see a lot more of in turn-based roguelikes.
No problem! Even being a Filipino myself, my experience is also limited (I can't be in two places at once; my socio-economic background shapes what people I hang out with and what I anecdotally consider "normal", etc), so that's just as valid :)