kai_re's recent activity
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Comment on Favorite quick play tabletop game recommendations in ~games.tabletop
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Comment on Great shows with a truly satisfying ending? in ~tv
kai_re Link ParentGurren Lagann! I saw it last year and I couldn't watch anything else for a while because I needed time to let the story settle. I ended up watching the last couple episodes again to help with the...Gurren Lagann! I saw it last year and I couldn't watch anything else for a while because I needed time to let the story settle. I ended up watching the last couple episodes again to help with the closure. I have not done that with any other series.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
kai_re Link ParentI've been playing Balatro on mobile too. At first I thought $10 was too much for a phone game but it turns out I prefer it on mobile and don't play it on PC anymore. It's strange because I've...I've been playing Balatro on mobile too. At first I thought $10 was too much for a phone game but it turns out I prefer it on mobile and don't play it on PC anymore. It's strange because I've never been into mobile or handheld gaming before.
I didn't know about the big update! I'm looking forward to that now.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
kai_re Link ParentOoh my partner and I have been playing quite a bit of Balatro. Love how you can really blow up the score. I got to my first game in the Es last week and that was a rush. I just unlocked a game...Ooh my partner and I have been playing quite a bit of Balatro. Love how you can really blow up the score. I got to my first game in the Es last week and that was a rush. I just unlocked a game changing joker a few days ago so I'm pretty excited to see it pop up one of these next plays. Lately I've been restarting the game until I see decent starting double tags and decide in the first 3-4 antes if I want to restart.
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Comment on Touch typing learning software in ~tech
kai_re LinkI learned on Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing in elementary. Also, my mom made me practice at home from a book on a typewriter. I was not allowed to use the corrective tape. By end of elementary, I was...I learned on Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing in elementary. Also, my mom made me practice at home from a book on a typewriter. I was not allowed to use the corrective tape. By end of elementary, I was doing around 50 - 60 wpm. Then I discovered Yahoo chat rooms, then MUDs and then Starcraft Brood War, where if I was going to say anything in a competitive realtime game, I was going to say it fast (I am female and was hypercompetitive because ppl used to think girls were bad at computer games). That got me to around 120 wpm by the time I was in college. 120 wpm with hunt-and-peck numbers and symbols... when I started programming in my mid 20s, I got a completely blank das keyboard to force myself to learn numbers and symbols. I'm approaching 40 now and my accuracy is still low with them :3
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Comment on Touch typing learning software in ~tech
kai_re Link ParentI typed in both qwerty and dvorak for a while and got up to 50 wpm on dvorak within a month or so (I type over 100 wpm in qwerty for comparison). Windows makes it pretty easy to switch keyboard...I typed in both qwerty and dvorak for a while and got up to 50 wpm on dvorak within a month or so (I type over 100 wpm in qwerty for comparison). Windows makes it pretty easy to switch keyboard layouts so I swapped back to qwerty whenever I needed, which turned out to be more often than not.
Dvorak felt better and was a lot smoother but I used a lot of hot keys for apps at work like Visual Studio, Maya, Photoshop, Unity, and then there's all the games. It wasn't worth it to me to have to remap hot keys, not to mention all the hot keys I gradually learned from others. I'm not even sure if some can be remapped since the entire team used them in the projects we were working in.
But it was fun to pop out all my keyboard keys and rearrange them to dvorak. My friends and coworkers got a kick of of it.
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Comment on Private school - worthwhile/good idea for not rich people? in ~life
kai_re (edited )LinkI grew up somewhat poor and went to a private, non-religious school from preschool through 6th grade. Very small classes, about 7 ppl in my grade from grades 1-5 and some kids left for 6th grade....I grew up somewhat poor and went to a private, non-religious school from preschool through 6th grade. Very small classes, about 7 ppl in my grade from grades 1-5 and some kids left for 6th grade. I switched to a public school for Jr. High and high school.
My early education was great, but it really needs to be supported by life at home. My parents largely ignored me, so my attitude towards education was entirely dependent on school, which focused on our independence (Montessori). It was good and bad. I learned how to get my work done asap so I could spend the remaining time drawing, but I didn't actually remember much. A fine skill for high-school, but less so for college. I should mention we had weekly classes in another language and swimming lessons as well. It was a very well rounded education and a good introduction to most forms of learning.
Socially I didn't really click with many kids at the private school. Most kids were well spoken with great vocabularies and the whole classroom would regularly have funny, witty conversations with the teacher, but I never knew how to participate in that. I should mention my parents were not fluent in English and neither were educated. I had a few friends but an effort was made to make sure I always went to their house, so there was a kind of an imbalance. The other kids were often very talented and had after school activities. In other words, I clearly didn't fit in. It was a very different environment from the public school I ended up going to (low income area).
I believe my early education served me well. I was able to focus on my social skills in high-school to somewhat make up for what was missing in early life. I went to college, mostly learned on my own, dropped out and got a desirable job in my field (degrees don't matter in my field), and in general had a great career. My early schooling helped give me an advantage and the confidence to learn on my own. It also helped teach me how to set a goal (get through my list of work asap) and achieve it. And a fun willingness to assess and take some risks, some that worked very well in my favor. I should mention, my parents worked very hard, and seeing that helped me as well. But my schooling helped too.
Edit:typo
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Comment on I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life in ~life
kai_re LinkThis was a really fun read. I particularly liked the descriptions of "happy" rat behavior. This reminds me of my cat. Randomly, I'll hold a new toy or something delicious behind my back and tell...This was a really fun read. I particularly liked the descriptions of "happy" rat behavior.
When I walked into the lab, I noticed something unusual: The three driving-trained rats eagerly ran to the side of the cage, jumping up like my dog does when asked if he wants to take a walk.
Had the rats always done this and I just hadn’t noticed? Were they just eager for a Froot Loop, or anticipating the drive itself? Whatever the case, they appeared to be feeling something positive – perhaps excitement and anticipation.
This reminds me of my cat. Randomly, I'll hold a new toy or something delicious behind my back and tell him I've got a gift for him with a specific phrase and tone. He'll get really excited in anticipation of receiving something unknown but he knows it'll be good. It's just a way to bring more joy into his life and mine because it's so cute. As someone with an amount of anhedonia, this article is very encouraging and reminds me to create more things to look forward to, or try to think about anticipating the good things instead of thinking about negative consequences which leads me towards avoidance and feeling dread.
I also found the following really interesting!
One day, a student noticed something strange: One of the rats in the group trained to expect positive experiences had its tail straight up with a crook at the end, resembling the handle of an old-fashioned umbrella.
Curious, I posted a picture of the behavior on social media. Fellow neuroscientists identified this as a gentler form of what’s called Straub tail, typically seen in rats given the opioid morphine. This S-shaped curl is also linked to dopamine. When dopamine is blocked, the Straub tail behavior subsides.
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Comment on Community Check-In: How is everyone doing? in ~life
kai_re Link ParentI hope the change of scenery helps you! A year and a half is a long time to feel unwell and I imagine it was a hard choice to move out but I'm a strong believer of taking care of ourselves first...I hope the change of scenery helps you! A year and a half is a long time to feel unwell and I imagine it was a hard choice to move out but I'm a strong believer of taking care of ourselves first and foremost. When we are well, we can be more available to help others.
There are some grey areas. For example, I'd be willing to sacrifice an amount of wellbeing for my partner, and I don't have children but I imagine I'd make any sacrifice for them. A parent however, depends on our relationship and my own judgment of my wellbeing.
As far as judgments from others go, I wouldn't put much weight on what they say other than their words sharing more about them than you. They don't have to live your life or care about the people you care about, so they don't have much to go off of when they make judgments, nor do they have to deal with the consequences.
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Comment on Community Check-In: How is everyone doing? in ~life
kai_re LinkI got laid off from my job this week. I've been thinking to quit soon but this way I get severance pay so I'm happy. I look forward to getting back in shape since I'm no longer tied to a desk all day.I got laid off from my job this week. I've been thinking to quit soon but this way I get severance pay so I'm happy. I look forward to getting back in shape since I'm no longer tied to a desk all day.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (September 2024) — Version 1.1 adds an in-app YouTube player in ~tildes
kai_re LinkThank you for continuing to update and improve this app! Rif was a daily part of my life and now it's TCfT. I enjoyed the donation animation! CheersThank you for continuing to update and improve this app! Rif was a daily part of my life and now it's TCfT. I enjoyed the donation animation! Cheers
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
kai_re LinkI had Tues-Fri blocked off from work as my summer vacation to go camping! Unfortunately, I came down with a sore throat on Mon just in time to start my vacation off with a fever 🥲 This cold hit me...I had Tues-Fri blocked off from work as my summer vacation to go camping! Unfortunately, I came down with a sore throat on Mon just in time to start my vacation off with a fever 🥲
This cold hit me pretty hard and I was out of it for a couple days. I was definitely not going camping. It was a surreal, fevered, personal time dilation bubble where I was either in bed or on the couch, and my only break from feeling super crummy was when watching specifically Burn Notice, so I watched a lot of Burn Notice.
I'm mostly better now, just dealing with congestion and coughing fits, but I did cancel my weekend plans. At least I can play video games again.
Earlier this year, I tried lightly quarantining myself or masking before an important vacation, which worked well. This is because, in this past year, I've been sick on vacation twice (now three times). I think I will quarantine myself before every vacation from now on.
My partner and I bring So Clover whenever we go to a gathering in case there's an opportunity to play. It's easy to explain, easy to learn, and supports up to 6 per box (but can add another box for more ppl). It's also relatively short, like 30-40 mins for 6 ppl, and co-op. And no one has to "wait until it's their turn". The main limitation is it relies on understanding (simple) English words. It's kind of like Code Names but easier and more fun imo. Most of my ESL side of family can play.
Edit: I forgot to mention a big bonus is that ppl can easily drop in and out of this game