JCPhoenix's recent activity
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Comment on Apple announces Macbook Neo, a new budget Mac in ~tech
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Comment on Color game — how well can you remember colors? | Dialed in ~games
JCPhoenix Link44.31/50 on my first try. https://dialed.gg/?c=HL5R48. Of the three values, brightness was the most difficult for me. Neat little game.44.31/50 on my first try. https://dialed.gg/?c=HL5R48. Of the three values, brightness was the most difficult for me.
Neat little game.
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Comment on The US Pentagon says it’s ‘lethalitymaxxing’. Why has ‘incel’ slang crossed into the mainstream? in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentYou're right. That's exactly what min-maxing is and generally where it's found. I wondered if that's where "-maxing" came from. It makes sense, at least with regards to "looksmaxxing." My...You're right. That's exactly what min-maxing is and generally where it's found.
I wondered if that's where "-maxing" came from. It makes sense, at least with regards to "looksmaxxing." My understanding, which is probably wrong because I'm an old, is that it started with guys who wanted to maximize desirable parts of their face (or overall look/physique), while minimizing parts that aren't. Like emphasizing a jawline.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentI strictly voted for the games I wanted to play. I don't have a solution, but I also don't mind if past rollovers were re-weighted in the middle of things if that's what makes sense.I strictly voted for the games I wanted to play.
I don't have a solution, but I also don't mind if past rollovers were re-weighted in the middle of things if that's what makes sense.
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Comment on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in Israeli and American joint strikes in ~society
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Comment on How far back in time can you understand English? in ~humanities.languages
JCPhoenix Link1300 I was still able to understand. By 1200, I get the gist of the passage, but there are still many words that I don't know, so I'm not sure of the details. And 1100 and 1000? Pfft. No way. I...1300 I was still able to understand. By 1200, I get the gist of the passage, but there are still many words that I don't know, so I'm not sure of the details. And 1100 and 1000? Pfft. No way.
I was familiar with the letters thorn and eth, as well as the long s, so those weren't too bad. Yogh I eventually figured out. but wynn and ash, I didn't know the sounds of. And trying to figure it out in context was impossible.
I figured out that "ic" was Iike German "ich, or "I" in English. But that's it.
One of the lighbulb moments for me was "deorcnesse." I was like "de-orc-ness? Orcs? Were there orcs here?" And then I said it faster a few times and was like "Ohhh, darkness!"
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Comment on Anthropic rejects latest US Pentagon offer: ‘We cannot in good conscience accede to their request’ in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentI'm not involved in that project (nor do I really want to be), so I'm not sure what route they're going. I'm not sure what "from scratch" entails, but I'm sure the idea they have is more like...I'm not involved in that project (nor do I really want to be), so I'm not sure what route they're going. I'm not sure what "from scratch" entails, but I'm sure the idea they have is more like taking an existing model, hosting it locally, and training/turning it with whatever we toss into it.
We definitely don't have the expertise on hand to build an entirely new model. I even wonder if we have the expertise to take an existing model and make something of it! Either way, I think the group that's working on this is still exploring things.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentLol, no no! I was just joking! All good!Lol, no no! I was just joking! All good!
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Comment on Anthropic rejects latest US Pentagon offer: ‘We cannot in good conscience accede to their request’ in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentThe US government buying COTS from American companies basically supports the US economy. Also, why reinvent the wheel? That said, there are definitely groups within the US government that have...The US government buying COTS from American companies basically supports the US economy.
Also, why reinvent the wheel?
That said, there are definitely groups within the US government that have been working on internal AI tools. And there are numerous internal AI tools across government already in use. Some of which predate this administration. I work within the US government and even our small-d department has been looking into spinning up our own AI tool, separate from our parent agency and big-d Department's tools.
So somewhere, deep within the Pentagon or Fort Meade, there's definitely a group or groups who are working on AI that's optimized for the business of war. But again, if COTS products are better -- and they definitely are, compared to some of the internal AIs I've used, at least for typical mundane office stuff -- why not just buy and use those?
FWIW, I 100% agree with Anthropic here.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentUgh, I can't believe you'd call me out like this for my inability to read. But thank you nonetheless lolUgh, I can't believe you'd call me out like this for my inability to read.
But thank you nonetheless lol
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Comment on Anthropic rejects latest US Pentagon offer: ‘We cannot in good conscience accede to their request’ in ~tech
JCPhoenix LinkWell, here's the government's response: President Trump bans Anthropic from use in government systems. Someone else can post this as a separate post if they want.Well, here's the government's response: President Trump bans Anthropic from use in government systems.
Someone else can post this as a separate post if they want.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix (edited )LinkLufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (5) Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist (5) Maniac Mansion (3) Beneath a Steel Sky (3) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (2) Threads of Fate (2)Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (5)
Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist (5)
Maniac Mansion (3)
Beneath a Steel Sky (3)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (2)
Threads of Fate (2) -
Comment on Anthropic rejects latest US Pentagon offer: ‘We cannot in good conscience accede to their request’ in ~tech
JCPhoenix Link ParentThis is what I was wondering about. On the low-side (the unclassified networks), GenAI.mil uses Google Gemini. While I've yet to use it, several of my coworkers have. And from their comments, it..."The Pentagon is negotiating with Google and OpenAI to try to get them to agree to what Anthropic has refused," the petition added.
This is what I was wondering about. On the low-side (the unclassified networks), GenAI.mil uses Google Gemini. While I've yet to use it, several of my coworkers have. And from their comments, it does alright (though they're just using it for "typical" workplace purposes; summarizing, writing policies/SOPs, etc.). Would it be that difficult for Google (or OpenAI) to simply step in if Anthropic is kicked to the curb?
I'm not saying that if Google and/or OpenAI are willing to allow "all lawful uses" and can easily replace Anthropic, that Anthropic shouldn't be making a stand. If I was at Anthropic, whatever stuff other companies do is their business. Living by your own principles is always worthwhile. Hopefully both Google and OpenAI are like "Yeah, nah, no go," too. However, my fear, as we've already seen with numerous companies, is that they simply are like "Yeah, do whatever! Just gib monies."
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Comment on New accounts on Hacker News ten times more likely to use em-dashes in ~tech
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentI'm in the process of playing all the "Trails" games (currently playing Trails from Zero, but I've played Cold Steel 1 and part of CS2, out of order) and for sure some of the starts are a bit...I'm in the process of playing all the "Trails" games (currently playing Trails from Zero, but I've played Cold Steel 1 and part of CS2, out of order) and for sure some of the starts are a bit boring and slow.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Nominations Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkBoost: Lufia II I rented this from Blockbuster as a kid. Didn't get very far, but like @endymiion, just looking for a reason to finally play it again. For real this time!Boost: Lufia II
I rented this from Blockbuster as a kid. Didn't get very far, but like @endymiion, just looking for a reason to finally play it again. For real this time!
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Nominations Topic in ~games
JCPhoenix Link ParentYeah all three games are fairly separate from each other. Mother 1 and Mother 2 (or Earthbound) are definitely more related, but I don't necessarily know if I'd call 2 a sequel of 1. I played EB...Yeah all three games are fairly separate from each other. Mother 1 and Mother 2 (or Earthbound) are definitely more related, but I don't necessarily know if I'd call 2 a sequel of 1. I played EB as a kid and loved it; never played Mother 1 and really don't have a huge desire to do so.
And Mother 3 is even more separate from the first two. IMO. There's one important character that comes from Earthbound and is even more important in Mother 3, but you can still solidly enjoy the game and story of the latter without understanding that character's backstory. In some ways, I don't even think the backstory is that important.
You wouldn't be missing anything by playing Mother 3 by itself. Though I will never not recommend playing Earthbound!
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Comment on US Supreme Court strikes down Donald Trump's tariffs in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentI worked in the higher-ed realm for nearly two decades. Some of these people with PhDs and other advanced degrees were baffling to me. I was like, "How do you have a PhD?? How do you survive?!"I worked in the higher-ed realm for nearly two decades. Some of these people with PhDs and other advanced degrees were baffling to me. I was like, "How do you have a PhD?? How do you survive?!"
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Comment on US Supreme Court strikes down Donald Trump's tariffs in ~society
JCPhoenix Link ParentYeah as much as I hate it -- as an American -- the world needs to fuck us. And not in the fun, consensual way. At this point, I am an adherent to the "touching the stove" theory of...everything....Yeah as much as I hate it -- as an American -- the world needs to fuck us. And not in the fun, consensual way. At this point, I am an adherent to the "touching the stove" theory of...everything. There are some of us who don't need to touch the stove to understand it's hot (ignore the fact that as like a 7yo child, I once reached into an oven to touch the glowing orange heating element). But apparently like 30-40% of my compatriots need to do so -- potentially repeatedly -- so they may learn the lesson. I am not very confident they will learn, but I don't know what else will work at this point.
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Comment on Phil Spencer is leaving Microsoft/Xbox in ~games
JCPhoenix LinkIf Microsoft gaming (or at least Xbox) is dying, then I feel like the guy taking over who leads the push for Copilot means it's effectively dead. Not that fanboism is really relevant here, but...If Microsoft gaming (or at least Xbox) is dying, then I feel like the guy taking over who leads the push for Copilot means it's effectively dead.
Not that fanboism is really relevant here, but I've never been an Xbox person. But it's a shame what's going on with Xbox. Less consumer choice is never good.
MacOS on an A18? Yet we still can't have MacOS on an iPad. Sigh.
I know some of those iPads have M-series CPUs, too...