lackofaname's recent activity
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Comment on What just happened to TheNumbers.com should worry us all in ~tech
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Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies
lackofaname Link ParentStunning! Pic 2 in particular took my brewth away. Best of luck finding your ptarmigan :)Stunning! Pic 2 in particular took my brewth away.
Best of luck finding your ptarmigan :)
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Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies
lackofaname Link ParentYour enthusiasm is infectious! I've finally downloaded the merlin app, so it's available if I'm out walking or paddling and curious about a bird I encounter (for what it's worth, I'm in my late...Your enthusiasm is infectious! I've finally downloaded the merlin app, so it's available if I'm out walking or paddling and curious about a bird I encounter (for what it's worth, I'm in my late 30s now :)
I grew up very interested in nature, but my focus has generally been drawn more towards plants and fungi for whatever reason. Nonetheless, I'm always up for expanding my repetoire; thank you for sharing your resource recommendations.
I'll say, while I know relatively little about birds, their behaviour can be pretty interesting. I'll end on my favourite bird story: I've retained a particular memory of a paddling trip as a kid, crossing a lake with a huge number of loons on it; it had to be dozens. I only knew of loons as solitary, so this encounter stuck deep in my memory. Decades later, I was listening to a radio program and the guest discussed, of all things, the congregating behaviour of loons. It was so exciting to have my memory validated!
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Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies
lackofaname Link ParentThank you, bookmarked! I've been looking for things to watch to decompress after work.Thank you, bookmarked! I've been looking for things to watch to decompress after work.
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Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies
lackofaname Link ParentMaking a career out of bird sounds like the extreme logical conclusion of being into birds. That's very fun for the family to have an expert in the mix. Is there anything in particular you're...Making a career out of bird sounds like the extreme logical conclusion of being into birds. That's very fun for the family to have an expert in the mix.
Is there anything in particular you're hoping to see while you're visiting the park?
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Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies
lackofaname LinkI saw this article the other day, and its positivity struck me. I have a couple friends in the millennial the range who do enjoy birding frequently. I've never gotten deep into birding myself, but...A growing number of Torontonians are flocking to analog hobbies like birdwatching to make new friends and reconnect with nature.
Birding has “historically been seen as an old white guy thing,” said our group’s co-leader, May Matchim, a naturalist and documentary maker. But in the past decade, a flood of younger and more diverse Torontonians has breathed new life into the hobby. “It’s been really lovely to see that change happen in real time.”
I saw this article the other day, and its positivity struck me.
I have a couple friends in the millennial the range who do enjoy birding frequently. I've never gotten deep into birding myself, but can appreciate how cool they are and have been meaning to try out the Merlin app on walks.
At a time of shrinking attention spans, birdwatching can be an exercise in mindfulness and living in the moment. “It’s a meditative activity,” said Agatha Nyambi, a 34-year-old Ph.D student...
Another major benefit of the hobby is it’s often done in a group. “When you spend time with birding groups, you start to recognize people and it helps you feel like part of the community,” Nyambi said.
“I think there is something about birds and our appreciation of them — their strangeness, their beauty — that compels us to think outside of ourselves,” said Dr. Jonathan Rosand, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School...
Anyone here enjoy birding? Noticing similar trends in birder communities local to you?
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Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentMy absolute favourite cast iron pan is an old mid-century 5-inch pan I bought for $10 from a flea market; after cleaning off the gunk and rust, it's the smoothest, nonstickiest pan I own. I have...My absolute favourite cast iron pan is an old mid-century 5-inch pan I bought for $10 from a flea market; after cleaning off the gunk and rust, it's the smoothest, nonstickiest pan I own. I have two other cast irons I abuse for whatever, but this one is my egg-only pan that makes perfect nonsticking eggs.
I have no real point to this, just backing up the love for thrift finds!
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Comment on Do you cook with cast iron? Is it the hassle everyone says it is? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentI'm going to tack my tip onto your comment because I follow your philosophy of simplicity: After cooking and regular cleaning/wiping with a little bit of oil, I store my cast iron pans in the...I'm going to tack my tip onto your comment because I follow your philosophy of simplicity:
After cooking and regular cleaning/wiping with a little bit of oil, I store my cast iron pans in the oven, so every time I use the oven, they get a bit of an extra seasoning without me having to think about it. Easy peasy.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentI often have one banana out of a bunch that goes overripe. Rather than force myself to eat it or get rid of it, I toss it in the freezer to make banana bread once enough have accumulated. The nice...I often have one banana out of a bunch that goes overripe. Rather than force myself to eat it or get rid of it, I toss it in the freezer to make banana bread once enough have accumulated. The nice thing about freezer bananas is they mash up more easily, too!
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Comment on How much of an echo chamber is Reddit/the internet, really? in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentI started reading French-language subreddits to improve my french not long ago, and recently came across the exact same comment in two different posts; it was unique enough to stick in my memory....I started reading French-language subreddits to improve my french not long ago, and recently came across the exact same comment in two different posts; it was unique enough to stick in my memory.
I knew bots are ubiquitous, but I was honestly surprised to see it in a non-English language, in smaller regional/niche subs. I guess I was naive and thought it was moreso a problem in the bigger, main subs. It's really extra-soured me from reddit. -
Comment on Denali Puppy Cam in ~life.pets
lackofaname Link ParentYesss, I tuned into playtime, too. They're so cute!Yesss, I tuned into playtime, too. They're so cute!
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Comment on What do you think the top three most used apps on your phone for the past week are? in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentSame for me and libby. I've listened to it a lot this week, but the listening time doesn't seem to be counted in my app use, so it didn't make the top 3.Same for me and libby. I've listened to it a lot this week, but the listening time doesn't seem to be counted in my app use, so it didn't make the top 3.
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Comment on What do you think the top three most used apps on your phone for the past week are? in ~tech
lackofaname LinkI guessed: Firefox, Libby, Google Maps "Actual" listed: Firefox, Maps, Signal That said, I think my guess is more accurate, but my Libby use isn't being counted as active use. I've listened to far...I guessed: Firefox, Libby, Google Maps
"Actual" listed: Firefox, Maps, Signal
That said, I think my guess is more accurate, but my Libby use isn't being counted as active use. I've listened to far more audiobook time than the time listed for either Maps or Signal.
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Comment on The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic in ~life
lackofaname Link ParentOof, that's tough to discover. But silver lining: better now than realizing later with more damage.Oof, that's tough to discover. But silver lining: better now than realizing later with more damage.
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Comment on The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic in ~life
lackofaname Link ParentWell done :) I also had a toilet problem I fixed last week that required descaling! My issue was poor flush power rather than leaking, though.Well done :) I also had a toilet problem I fixed last week that required descaling! My issue was poor flush power rather than leaking, though.
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Comment on Tildes Survey #8: What is your favorite video game? (Results) in ~talk
lackofaname LinkFor my response, I gave Disco Elysium. I found it interesting that I didn't see any discussion comments on it, since I thought it was rather popular. Because of the lack of comments, I was a bit...For my response, I gave Disco Elysium. I found it interesting that I didn't see any discussion comments on it, since I thought it was rather popular. Because of the lack of comments, I was a bit surprised to see it received one of the higher vote counts.
For me, I decided to vote for it because it's one of the only games I've ever finished. There are other games I've sunk farrrrr more time in (skyrim, fallouts, baldurs gate 3, some zeldas), but the story and world of Disco compelled me to keep going to the end and the choices never felt forced.
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Comment on The "go fix a minor annoyance" togetherness topic in ~life
lackofaname (edited )LinkI feel like this year has been the year of tackling things I've been putting off. In the 'small annoyance' front: I've relatively recently fixed a few little things in my car after the weather got...I feel like this year has been the year of tackling things I've been putting off. In the 'small annoyance' front:
I've relatively recently fixed a few little things in my car after the weather got nice. I recently did spark plugs, and replaced a couple other smaller things.
This thread helped inspire me to spend a few hours removing invasive buckthorn from my yard. Is that too huge an annoyance? I've been working to get rid of for the past few years, but have been putting off handling this year.
Edit: Annnnnd I finally finished a project and filled a hole in my yard that I've been procrastinating doing for a year now. Such a relief to be done!
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Comment on Taskmaster Season 21, Episode 1 - 'Cube is good.' | Full episode in ~tv
lackofaname Link ParentWhenever I start a new season, I tend to feel very skeptical of the contestants at first (about whether I'll enjoy their style or not). I was particularly unsure about Kumail at first this time...Whenever I start a new season, I tend to feel very skeptical of the contestants at first (about whether I'll enjoy their style or not). I was particularly unsure about Kumail at first this time because while I'd heard of him, his work doesn't really interest me.
But they all won me over very quickly, they're all so charming, in their own way! This is a pretty solid season all around. Maybe not tippy-top-of-top, but no weak spots either, imo. -
Comment on What are your gaming idiosyncracies? in ~games
lackofaname Link ParentI was going to agree with you on the looting, but you take it to a whole other level. I just generally hoard, I don't usually steal or hide bodies. Impressive. I also don't finish open world...I was going to agree with you on the looting, but you take it to a whole other level. I just generally hoard, I don't usually steal or hide bodies. Impressive.
I also don't finish open world games. I hate haging to make that Final Choice(tm), so instead I stop playing. I was trying to psych myself up to finish Baldur's Gate, but it's become yet another casualty on my unfinished game pile.
The numbers here were really eye-opening read for me. Yea I've heard the headlines about dead internet theory, bots > than humans, and the prevalence of crawling with ai, but I really had no idea of the scale, so seeing the ratio of 38,000:1 anthropic crawls:visitor was honestly shocking.
Also really interesting to see how, in the case of The Numbers, they're treating the crawlers as the audience to increase paid services.
Flip side, though: this really highlights how irresponsible the ai companies comes across to me, releasing such powerful tools into the wild and only then playing whackamole to put up guardrails and fix problems that could reasonably have been anticipated (though I'll grant, devious people can be clever as hell).