kfwyre's recent activity

  1. Comment on The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic in ~life

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    Asking for help is completely in scope for the topic, and I think that it's very kind of you to want to solve an annoyance for someone else. I'm hopeful that you get some good tips.

    Asking for help is completely in scope for the topic, and I think that it's very kind of you to want to solve an annoyance for someone else.

    I'm hopeful that you get some good tips.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic in ~life

    kfwyre
    Link
    Thus far I have: Cleared out dust from under my bed. Was it part of what was aggravating my allergies, or is copious spring/summer pollen what's destroying me? I have no way of knowing, but I...

    Thus far I have:

    Cleared out dust from under my bed. Was it part of what was aggravating my allergies, or is copious spring/summer pollen what's destroying me? I have no way of knowing, but I figured it can't hurt.

    Refilled the hand soap next to my kitchen sink. I mean, I could certainly just keep using the dish soap for handwashing like I have been ever since that hand soap ran out, but if I've got the two containers already, why not refill them?

    Changed the batteries on my air quality meter. One of those minor things that's super easy to do, but I always forget to bring the batteries down whenever I'm in my basement, and going down JUST to replace the batteries feels like a bigger task than it actually is for some reason?

    3 votes

  3. The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic

    ~life Ask
    There's something small that you've been meaning to do but, for whatever reason, you haven't done it. Rather than just forgetting about it, however, your brain has decided to make it take up a...

    There's something small that you've been meaning to do but, for whatever reason, you haven't done it. Rather than just forgetting about it, however, your brain has decided to make it take up a minor amount of space in your awareness -- not enough to make it an immediate concern or something you plan to act on, but still just enough to be annoying.

    Well, this is your call to address the issue head on! Pull that mental splinter out and get rid of it for good!

    Maybe you need to...

    • change an air filter
    • tighten your showerhead
    • go through that stack of mail
    • box up a return
    • put more air in your bike tires
    • rearrange a bookshelf
    • throw out some expired cans
    • vacuum behind the couch
    • clean the dust out of your computer fan
    • etc.

    Whatever it is, this topic is your call to GO DO THE THING.

    And then, come back here and tell us what you did.

    One minor annoyance solved for only one person? Not a big deal.

    LOTS of minor annoyances solved for LOTS of different people? GIGANTIC DEAL!

    This topic is our space to communally revel in the glorious shared feeling of being slightly more annoyance-free, together.

    IMPORTANT: Clearing up multiple annoyances is explicitly allowed!

    17 votes

  4. Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of June 7 in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    PICO PARK:Classic Edition is currently free on Steam and will be getting delisted on June 14.

    PICO PARK:Classic Edition is currently free on Steam and will be getting delisted on June 14.

  5. Comment on New 8-Bit All-Stars Bundle in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link
    Importantly, these aren’t just indie games that go for an NES style, they actually work on NES hardware/emulators:

    The New 8-Bit All-Stars Bundle includes exactly what the name implies - a curated collection of NES and Famicom games created by indie developers who share the same passion for retro gaming that you do.

    The titles included span a wide variety of genres, including platforming action, puzzle adventures, roguelikes, arcade experiences, and more. Whatever kind of retro gamer you are, there’s something here for you.

    Importantly, these aren’t just indie games that go for an NES style, they actually work on NES hardware/emulators:

    The ROMs can be played on emulators or loaded onto flash cartridges for use on original hardware and other compatible systems. See each game’s itch.io page for compatibility details and additional information.

    2 votes

  7. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    Omg what a flex. Congrats! You’re now the patron saint of the Backlog Burner.

    I finally ran out of games

    Omg what a flex.

    Congrats! You’re now the patron saint of the Backlog Burner.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on "Teachers are going to hate it": How social media apps hooked teens at school in ~tech

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info! I’ll edit my edit.

    I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info! I’ll edit my edit.

    1 vote

  9. Comment on "Teachers are going to hate it": How social media apps hooked teens at school in ~tech

  11. Comment on "Teachers are going to hate it": How social media apps hooked teens at school in ~tech

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link
    Not sure where we landed on archive links so if I need to remove this one, let me know. Also see the gift link below provided by u/MostCertainlyANonMythicalBeing

    Snapchat sent phone alerts to adolescents during school hours, urging them to share what was going on in their classrooms.

    Meta paid “teen ambassadors” to promote Instagram and hand out swag to their friends at school.

    TikTok gave the National PTA millions of dollars, in part to throw school events about online safety and provide favorable comments to journalists.

    Again and again, the world’s leading social media companies have targeted students, even as complaints have mounted that they are hurting teenagers’ mental health and academic performance, according to a New York Times review of internal documents that lay bare for the first time these tactics to hook young users.

    The documents emerged from lawsuits filed by more than 1,400 school districts against Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube amid a rising backlash against social media, with parent movements and best-selling books blaming the platforms for loneliness, bullying, eating disorders and sexual exploitation.

    Not sure where we landed on archive links so if I need to remove this one, let me know.

    Also see the gift link below provided by u/MostCertainlyANonMythicalBeing

    26 votes

  13. Comment on Steam Machine and Steam Frame will be shipping this summer in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    cc: @donn There are also phone apps that will do it (just check the privacy notifications beforehand to find one that isn’t selling your data). I’ve used EyeMeasure on iOS, and its measurement...

    cc: @donn

    There are also phone apps that will do it (just check the privacy notifications beforehand to find one that isn’t selling your data).

    I’ve used EyeMeasure on iOS, and its measurement matched the one on my prescription.

    I don’t have a recommendation for Android but I assume something similar is out there.

    3 votes

  14. Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of June 7 in ~games

    kfwyre
    (edited )
    Link
    Maybe they're trying to coincide with IGN Live, or maybe it's for their anniversary, or maybe they're trying to pre-empt the upcoming Steam Sale, but Humble has been tossing out bundles left and...

    Maybe they're trying to coincide with IGN Live, or maybe it's for their anniversary, or maybe they're trying to pre-empt the upcoming Steam Sale, but Humble has been tossing out bundles left and right lately.

    There are currently 15 different game bundles active.

    Recent Highlights:

    Really solid collection of games with a low tier 3 price ($10 USD), including my beloved Rollerdrome.

    Another solid bundle for the same cost. Worth the cost of admission for Descenders, Parking Garage Rally Circuit, and art of rally alone.

    Note: art of rally's soundtrack (not included) is like, the ideal "put on in the background for good vibes while working" album.

    Pinging @cfabbro for this when he gets back: there might be some stuff your nephew wants in this one!

    2 votes

  15. Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying? in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    Count me as a +1 for Pnin. I'm late to it, but I'm currently halfway through and should be finishing it in the coming days.

    Count me as a +1 for Pnin.

    I'm late to it, but I'm currently halfway through and should be finishing it in the coming days.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on I'm ever more annoyed with Steam in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    This is a good idea. Can you set it so that it pulls those up all the time, or do you have to manually filter each time you go to a new game? Personally, I'd love if Steam could look at what I've...

    This is a good idea. Can you set it so that it pulls those up all the time, or do you have to manually filter each time you go to a new game?

    Personally, I'd love if Steam could look at what I've played and for how long, match that to other users with similar profiles, then give me a "Reviewers Like You" score composed primarily of their thoughts on a given game, rather than just a full aggregate of everyone. I feel like this would help add nuance to their current system as well.

    6 votes

  17. Comment on Steam Machine and Steam Frame will be shipping this summer in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    I was initially in the market for the Steam Machine, especially because I've already been wanting to replace one of my machines for a while. Even without knowing its price though, I've had to do...

    I was initially in the market for the Steam Machine, especially because I've already been wanting to replace one of my machines for a while. Even without knowing its price though, I've had to do general financial belt tightening (that's unfortunately far too necessary currently), so I'll be passing on it.

    Also, I didn't really need a Steam Frame since I already have a fully functional Index, but I planned to keep an eye on the price and might have jumped on it just because it's a lot more versatile and comfortable than the Index (no cable, no base stations). I was 50/50 on whether I'd pass on it or splurge a bit and snag one, but I've toggled fully over to passing.

    That said I don't really blame Valve for this, nor am I going to get angry about it online.

    My current plan is to run my current tech into the absolute ground before upgrading. I used to feel limited by what could/couldn't run, but, honestly, I play mostly low-spec games anyway, and I also have MORE than enough of those to keep me busy for years decades, so the need to upgrade was driven more by convenience rather than necessity.

    Also, my outlook genuinely shifted from "I want the new shiny thing" to "I love my trusty gaming hardware pals that have stood by me for years now" when I started thinking about the cost savings of continuing to use them.

    5 votes

  18. Comment on Steam Machine and Steam Frame will be shipping this summer in ~games

    kfwyre
    Link Parent
    I like the concept though: the Steam Frame Frame, ready for you to fill with all your own components. Surely I can repurpose an some old phones for the eye displays, right?

    I like the concept though: the Steam Frame Frame, ready for you to fill with all your own components.

    Surely I can repurpose an some old phones for the eye displays, right?

    3 votes

  19. Comment on Readers’ top 100 novels of all time published in English in ~books

    kfwyre
    Link
    This is a follow-up to this list which was chosen by authors, critics, and academics. If anyone here submitted their top books, let us know what you chose!

    After critics and authors picked their top 100 novels we asked for your favourites. From Uruguay to the Isle of Skye, more than 3,000 readers cast their votes. Here’s your list – topped by a new number 1

    This is a follow-up to this list which was chosen by authors, critics, and academics.

    If anyone here submitted their top books, let us know what you chose!

    8 votes