lackofaname's recent activity
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Comment on How do you survive time change? in ~life.pets
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Comment on How to stop negative thoughts and reset your mind for positive thinking in ~health.mental
lackofaname Link ParentIt's funny, while I'm absolutely prone to ruminating and spiralling at times, i also use my last name at other times when I'm trying to steel myself / push myself into doing something. Think...It's funny, while I'm absolutely prone to ruminating and spiralling at times, i also use my last name at other times when I'm trying to steel myself / push myself into doing something.
Think things like "come on, Lackofasurname, finish this one task and then you can take a break", or "Pick yourself up, Lackofasurname, that really wasn't so bad!", or "Great work, Lackofasurname, you killed it!"
The habit definitely started as a kind of tongue-in-cheek mimicry of sports coaches (or honestly, it might have been a riff on the way jack donaghy from 30 rock talks to himself)
In any case, for me at least, using my name when I'm talking to myself isn't mutually exclusive of ruminating, they're just 2 completely different types of 'conversations'.
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Comment on What are your favorite low cost main dishes/meals? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentOne my favourites is a riff on this sausage, chard, lentil soup. I generally omit the sausage and use italian sausage spices (eg, thyme, paprika, fennel, pepper) directly. I also prefer green...One my favourites is a riff on this sausage, chard, lentil soup. I generally omit the sausage and use italian sausage spices (eg, thyme, paprika, fennel, pepper) directly. I also prefer green lentils, as they hold up better imo. Plus, I'll swap out for whatever green/leafy I have on hand (spinach, collards, cabbage all work).
I also like french lentil soup, similar to this recipe, though again, I adapt to my tastes.
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Comment on Good News - A thread and a challenge in ~news
lackofaname LinkGuelph Ontario researchers donate 5,000 pounds of beans to food bank. A nice little story highlighting a way of diverting food to those in need. I've never really thought of where agricultural...Guelph Ontario researchers donate 5,000 pounds of beans to food bank.
A nice little story highlighting a way of diverting food to those in need. I've never really thought of where agricultural research and breeding program products end up, beyond tilling/composting.
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Comment on Good News - A thread and a challenge in ~news
lackofaname Link ParentSame! Seeing how far they overshot the minimum required votes was such a pleasant surprise. For those unfamiliar with the story, the signatures had to be physical (a digital petition wouldn't have...Same! Seeing how far they overshot the minimum required votes was such a pleasant surprise.
For those unfamiliar with the story, the signatures had to be physical (a digital petition wouldn't have cut it).
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
lackofaname (edited )Link ParentNot op, and not vegetarian but I do cook often without meat. Here are some ideas - I tried to stick to more 'mains' or hearty meals foods, as opposed to just various stews/soups. Stuffed peppers...Not op, and not vegetarian but I do cook often without meat. Here are some ideas - I tried to stick to more 'mains' or hearty meals foods, as opposed to just various stews/soups.
- Stuffed peppers (rice/lentil-based stuffing instead of ground meat)
- Black bean 'meatballs' in marinara. I can't find the specific recipe I use, but it involves partially baking the canned beans to dry them first, and adding some walnuts + sauteed mushrooms (on top of other standard steps). This all gives them a really nice texture.
- Falafel are quite easy to make at home, and go well with rice pilaf + sides for a full meal.
- Ful medames (seasoned fava beans), serve with pita, tahini, and veg. for a full platter
- Veggie pot pies
- Egg-heavy, but quiches, frittatas, and persian kukus as a proteiny main.
- Tacos and enchiladas are very easy to do vegetarian with sauteed veggies (or try making shredded jackfruit for a meat sub)
- Pupusas stuffed with beans, cheese, veg. Serve with curtido and rice/beans
- Various Greek 'lathera' dishes (veggies or beans stewed in olive oil and tomato) can be made as the main, served with good bread and feta. I particularly like arakas latheros (peas+potato)
- edit, I know I said I'd avoid soups/stews, but there's such a huge wealth of vegetarian vegetarian Indian curries/stewed dishes, it would be a real shame to omit broadly mentioning.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
lackofaname Link ParentOmg, i miss french onion soup so much (sadly I have to avoid eating much onion). I used to follow a recipe by the Two Fat Ladies that recommended holding onto leftover parmesan (or similar) cheese...Omg, i miss french onion soup so much (sadly I have to avoid eating much onion). I used to follow a recipe by the Two Fat Ladies that recommended holding onto leftover parmesan (or similar) cheese ends, and adding them to the broth during the simmering phase. Divine. I'd suggest giving it a try if you make it again! It can work for other soups, too.
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Comment on Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing in ~tech
lackofaname LinkHuh, a lot of the style examples in the first 3 sections help explain the uncanny valley tells I've noticed in ai writing but haven't been able to fully articulate on my own. A few, though, are...Huh, a lot of the style examples in the first 3 sections help explain the uncanny valley tells I've noticed in ai writing but haven't been able to fully articulate on my own. A few, though, are common writing devices I use pretty extensively (in cases where they make sense,I'd argue).
One concern (fear?) I have around reading ai-generated writing is that it's going to impact, and degrade, how I write. I've learned my craft through picking up conventions and ideas from colleagues. It can be tough to encounter a pattern repeatedly and not absorb it.
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Comment on This is not a ruined cottage | The Druridge Bay ruin in ~humanities.history
lackofaname Link ParentThe video briefly mentions there had been mines laid in the area. Are they still something one has to be careful of off the beaten path? (I'm from Canada, so the idea of mine fields or old bombs...The video briefly mentions there had been mines laid in the area. Are they still something one has to be careful of off the beaten path? (I'm from Canada, so the idea of mine fields or old bombs found are very foreign concepts to me i hear about in the news sometimes)
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Comment on This site is fast in ~tildes
lackofaname Link ParentThe comment posting the mcmaster carr website upset me because i immediately thought of how truly attrocious home depot (and honestly all the home hardware-type box stores l around me: home...The comment posting the mcmaster carr website upset me because i immediately thought of how truly attrocious home depot (and honestly all the home hardware-type box stores l around me: home hardware, rona, canadian tire) website are.
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
lackofaname Link ParentThis is why I kept mine focused putely on the fun, aesthetic aspect, I darent draw the ire of notafae. But, between you and me, if a few new strategically beneficial sidewalks got added in the...This is why I kept mine focused putely on the fun, aesthetic aspect, I darent draw the ire of notafae.
But, between you and me, if a few new strategically beneficial sidewalks got added in the process, and the new streetlamps just happened to reduce light pollution, what a lucky coincidence. :D
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Comment on Microsoft warns that Windows 10 reaches end of support today in ~tech
lackofaname Link ParentAh, thank you for sharing! It really is so poorly rolled out. Once I update my external files backup, I'll just need to take the plunge with esu, and see what happens.Ah, thank you for sharing! It really is so poorly rolled out.
Once I update my external files backup, I'll just need to take the plunge with esu, and see what happens.
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
lackofaname LinkI would rip up every single (boring standard grey concrete) sidewalk in my little city and hire artists to redesign and replace them with colourful, wild, artsy designs of sidewalks (but still to...I would rip up every single (boring standard grey concrete) sidewalk in my little city and hire artists to redesign and replace them with colourful, wild, artsy designs of sidewalks (but still to appropriate sidewalk code for accessibility). A different artist and style for every neighbourhood. I'm hardpressed to imagine that'd use up all billion, so throw in replacing all streetlights with cool looking posts (and nice warm lights just because screw the cold bluish led look), and I guess just keep spreading the idea further and further out of the city until the money ran out. No reserve funds for upkeep; that'd be way too practical.
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Comment on Microsoft warns that Windows 10 reaches end of support today in ~tech
lackofaname LinkI'm a little confused about the ESU sign up for devices ineligible for win11. maybe someone can help? The esu prompt I got noted that it's free if my device is backed up, otherwise costs $30 USD....I'm a little confused about the ESU sign up for devices ineligible for win11. maybe someone can help?
The esu prompt I got noted that it's free if my device is backed up, otherwise costs $30 USD. I continued expecting to have to pay, but the only radio button listed for me was the free option (in brackets it noted my system was already backed up, making the free option available). But, I've never fully backed up my system (aside from saving cdrive files manually to an external harddrive) or used onedrive.
Anyone else experience similar and can walk me through what to expect as I continue down the esu path? (Im in Canada if that matters)
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Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk
lackofaname Link ParentOf all the funny answers, the photo of this one made me legit laugh out loud. I really wasn't expecting something so manicured and uniform.Of all the funny answers, the photo of this one made me legit laugh out loud. I really wasn't expecting something so manicured and uniform.
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
lackofaname Link ParentThis reminds me of a running joke that apple tv just greenlights shows Tim Cook wants to watch.This reminds me of a running joke that apple tv just greenlights shows Tim Cook wants to watch.
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Comment on Who/what are your go-to sources for authentic recipes of regional cuisines? in ~food
lackofaname LinkI don't have as big a list as you, but a few i return to: My Persian Kitchen for Persian cuisine La Pina en la Cocina for Mexican Manjula's Kitchen for vegetarian Indian (particularly North...I don't have as big a list as you, but a few i return to:
- My Persian Kitchen for Persian cuisine
- La Pina en la Cocina for Mexican
- Manjula's Kitchen for vegetarian Indian (particularly North Indian), but especially no onion/no garlic recipes that work with my dietary sensitivities
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Comment on America's dumbest crop: grass in ~enviro
lackofaname Link ParentThis is pretty much me. I have a lawn, and sure I have to mow and I do some other manual labour on it, but I let it be a weedy mess that dies when it gets hot/dry, so it's not responsible for much...This is pretty much me. I have a lawn, and sure I have to mow and I do some other manual labour on it, but I let it be a weedy mess that dies when it gets hot/dry, so it's not responsible for much resource use.
I can only expand my gardens so much before I run out of time to tend them (though i have plans for way more expansion eventually). Letting the space go wild would just let the invasives I'm fighting take over (which are only as much a problem as they are because the last owners tried the wild approach). Plus, a bit of lawn space is great for hosting outdoor activities.
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Comment on AI slop is killing our channel in ~tech
lackofaname LinkCouple thoughts, may as well start with the silly one: Anyone else hear, almost, "Canada" every time the narrator says "Calendar"? While overall I'm in line with the video, there are 2 maybe minor...Couple thoughts, may as well start with the silly one: Anyone else hear, almost, "Canada" every time the narrator says "Calendar"?
While overall I'm in line with the video, there are 2 maybe minor points I think merit nuance (or I just wanted to share my thoughts):
-The first is the argument that the article they looked at again must have been generated by AI because it was flagged as high probability using an AI writing detector. I've seen first hand those tools are alllllll over the place on their predictions when assessing purely human-written text. (Though, maybe they rechecked the articles in other ways to conclude whether they were likely ai slop, and just didn't mention for the sake of the narration)-The second is about the finding that scientific papers show an increasing trend toward markers indicative of ai. Grain of salt and all, but this isn't necessarily bad. Maybe researchers now can write their manuscript in their native language and use an ai to translate (or write in english and clean up grammar). Or, sure, they may be plugging in findings and to help buld the first draft (original research articles tend to be very formulaic IMRaD). That said, I agree it's important to state which and how ai tools are being used. Above uses are much different than plugging in results and asking the ai to build a discussion/draw conclusions without heavy human brainpower contributing.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - September 2025 - Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang in ~books
lackofaname Link ParentIt's common of all Chiang's stories, but I particularly enjoy the way this story dives straight into the world he's devised; it's simply a fact that god, angels, miracles, and all the mess they...It's common of all Chiang's stories, but I particularly enjoy the way this story dives straight into the world he's devised; it's simply a fact that god, angels, miracles, and all the mess they cause are.
I'm pretty agnostic myself, so I don't approach this story from a personal lens of thinking about god/theology per se. Instead, I find it prompts me to think about morality more generally. I like that I don't find it tries to lead me to a particular conclusion, but feels sort of like a rorsach test as the different characters work through their various experiences.
This is my first time change with a cat, and I've also been prepping for about a week by pushing out feeding time a little later. I'm not quite up to the full hour yet.
The cat is suppppper food motivated and will whine for food up to an hour before feeding time (even when i accidentally overfed and he put on weight), so I'm used to ignoring his fake pleas during the adjustment.