longwave's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
longwave Link ParentYeah, "gourds" and "ants" is what our group came up with. You get a ton of fun word jokes off it too: gourd-inates, gourd-inate, "all a-gourd", etc. "Gourd" also rhymes with "Orb", which is what...Yeah, "gourds" and "ants" is what our group came up with. You get a ton of fun word jokes off it too: gourd-inates, gourd-inate, "all a-gourd", etc. "Gourd" also rhymes with "Orb", which is what we call the sphere in the spawn room.
What have been your favorite puzzles so far? I really enjoy the ones that physically separate the group across the map, and the ones where you can't see each other.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
longwave (edited )Link ParentIt's been a couple years, but I made Trombone Champ on my Steam Deck use the gyro for pitch control. While this didn't make control easier, it made it far funnier. And seconded on Big Walk. Our...It's been a couple years, but I made Trombone Champ on my Steam Deck use the gyro for pitch control. While this didn't make control easier, it made it far funnier.
And seconded on Big Walk. Our five-person group got the ending last night. We still have a ton of gourds to go find to 100% it. This is, without question, one of my favorite co-op games ever. I'd put it up with Baldur's Gate 3. I'm so glad that it got made and I'm so happy to have had a good time playing it.
Big Walk also worked great on Linux. My Steam Machine played it at high settings just fine, and my 3080 Bazzite box ran it at max settings (though with an annoying graphical glitch when on top one of the towers and while looking at a hill. Totally doesn't affect gameplay, just weird.).
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Comment on "Over the course of this article, we'll unravel the mysteries of elevators. The way you push their buttons, and how they push yours." in ~engineering
longwave Link ParentI am very interested in Junxions specifically because it’s about traffic simulation. I remember reading at one point that traffic signaling will be scriptable, and I’m all about that. Seconded on...I am very interested in Junxions specifically because it’s about traffic simulation. I remember reading at one point that traffic signaling will be scriptable, and I’m all about that.
Seconded on Elevator Saga. I’m fascinated with elevators and have wanted a game like this for a while.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
longwave (edited )LinkAs part of my never-ending fight against water getting into places that it shouldn't, I got my shower remodel mostly done. Once the old shower came out it was clear that there was some old water...As part of my never-ending fight against water getting into places that it shouldn't, I got my shower remodel mostly done. Once the old shower came out it was clear that there was some old water intrusion, probably because the previous owners were terrible at caulking and painting. Backing drywall was moldy, but bone dry. Finding mold behind old shower panels isn't apparently that weird at all, but does make me feel icky and unhappy, especially with a newborn in the house.
The marble crew / general contractors are great, but they subcontracted out to the worst plumbers. These guys cut some electrical and didn't install fixtures plumb, so that's adding time to the whole project. Hopefully this can still be wrapped up today.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
longwave Link ParentMe too! I just unlocked oil but I've done most of the MAM research already. I've been putting more research into aesthetics and have been trying to build some nice bridges and structures. Like I...Me too! I just unlocked oil but I've done most of the MAM research already. I've been putting more research into aesthetics and have been trying to build some nice bridges and structures.
Like I talked about in the thread last month, I am loving getting to put more creative expression into this game than I feel like I could in Factorio. It feels good!
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Comment on Reddit will require you to be logged in to use old.reddit.com in ~tech
longwave Link ParentKagi’s forum search and AI filtering attempts have been very useful for these reasons.Kagi’s forum search and AI filtering attempts have been very useful for these reasons.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers? in ~books
longwave LinkI started reading this before I realized it was a Book Club book! I enjoyed the book by itself, but I'd be a bit sad if it just ended without A Prayer for the Crown-Shy coming immediately after....I started reading this before I realized it was a Book Club book! I enjoyed the book by itself, but I'd be a bit sad if it just ended without A Prayer for the Crown-Shy coming immediately after. Towards the end of the first book things get real heavy, in a good way, but in a way that feels like it needs resolution.
I really like the world in the book. "Hopepunk" is a good descriptor for it. I'm excited to explore more of the world and to touch on the themes from the end of the first book in the sequel!
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Comment on Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows in ~tv
longwave Link ParentI’ve been sharing your book reccs with my partner this evening and WOW you’ve got some great picks! I can second most of these, and the rest are now at the top of my TBR. I recently read Fifth...I’ve been sharing your book reccs with my partner this evening and WOW you’ve got some great picks! I can second most of these, and the rest are now at the top of my TBR.
I recently read Fifth Season on her recommendation and adored it (I think we chatted about this in a different thread?) I also enjoyed the first couple Wayfarers books. I wasn’t in the right headspace for these when I tried reading them the first time but I might be now. (My current read is Monk and Robot and it’s just hitting right.) I can’t say enough good things about the Locked Tomb books! I grabbed the first one in an airport bookstore because the review on the front was funny and intriguing. I read the first book in practically one sitting, and then literally read Harrow and Nona in one sitting back to back as I smoked a brisket.
Someone dropped off Ancillary Justice in our Little Free Library the other day. My partner already grabbed it, so I think that’s next.
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
longwave Link ParentYeah, it's mostly the guilt thing. I don't want to drug him until I've exhausted everything else if I can help it. Framing it as a temporary thing to help with training makes sense, though. Seeing...Yeah, it's mostly the guilt thing. I don't want to drug him until I've exhausted everything else if I can help it. Framing it as a temporary thing to help with training makes sense, though.
Seeing how he would react to the sprinkler heads being removed isn't really practical, but I do have two similar comparisons. He really doesn't like water hoses, and he doesn't like splash pads. Basically, anything involving flowing, clean water is a no-go. Stagnant ditch water is fine, and good for drinking and playing.
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
longwave Link ParentOne of the problems is that the trigger is genuinely so quiet that I can't even notice it. The sound of water moving through the house is audible to me when the washing machine solenoid clicks on...One of the problems is that the trigger is genuinely so quiet that I can't even notice it. The sound of water moving through the house is audible to me when the washing machine solenoid clicks on and off, but I can't hear the valves out in the yard activate. I don't know how he does.
I might try shutting the water off and working the valves while giving him treats. That's a great idea!
I'm really hoping we don't need to resort to medications, but he's responded well to them in the past. We did get some calming diffusers the vet suggested, but it's still a little early to know how well they're working.
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
longwave Link ParentWe're also trying to keep him from barking at the door given the newborn in the house. This looks like a great channel for videos like that too; thanks for linking!We're also trying to keep him from barking at the door given the newborn in the house. This looks like a great channel for videos like that too; thanks for linking!
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
longwave Link ParentI've tried his usual and his high-value treats. He'll eat them, but it doesn't seem like a slam dunk. He loves pup cups though. Maybe I can buy a bunch of those and try that? Thanks for the ideas!I've tried his usual and his high-value treats. He'll eat them, but it doesn't seem like a slam dunk.
He loves pup cups though. Maybe I can buy a bunch of those and try that? Thanks for the ideas!
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Comment on How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers? in ~life.pets
longwave Link ParentOriginally the sprinklers did go off at night. We ran them around 4-5am before sunrise. They're quiet enough that we didn't here them ourselves, but it would wake up our dog and he'd start pacing...Originally the sprinklers did go off at night. We ran them around 4-5am before sunrise. They're quiet enough that we didn't here them ourselves, but it would wake up our dog and he'd start pacing around the bedroom.
Watering during walks doesn't work great because it's so hot out that we have to keep walks short and because the watering time is so long relatively.
Thanks for reminding me about the ThunderShirt! I looked into this a while back but forgot about it. I'll give that a shot and see how he does!
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How do I keep my dog from fearing water sprinklers?
My 55lb German Shepherd / Husky mutt is an absolutely wonderful dog with one fatal flaw: he is deathly afraid of my irrigation system. From inside the house, he can sense when the valves open and...
My 55lb German Shepherd / Husky mutt is an absolutely wonderful dog with one fatal flaw: he is deathly afraid of my irrigation system.
From inside the house, he can sense when the valves open and starts panicking before water even starts spraying. He starts running, pacing, hyperventilating, and generally won’t settle. I sit with him and pet him and try to calm him but he won’t relax until the cycle is done.
This is so much of a problem that I simply didn’t run irrigation last year or the year before.
I’ve tried desensitizing him by sitting outside with him and running one of the zones, sitting inside and running a zone, or walking him around the block while I run the sprinklers so that it’s not a surprise when they turn on. I’ve tried showering him with treats, letting him go hide wherever he wants, working on his tricks, and singing to him. Nothing seems to work.
He never chews up the system or shows aggression to it. He knows where the heads are and avoids them in the yard.
More broadly, he doesn’t like being in or around water. He’s good at taking baths. He will get up on the tub and stand there quietly, but he will be shaking and stressed. If we take him to the lake or pool, he will get in the water after a ton of encouragement (and then he proceeds to love the water).
Does anyone have advice for dealing with this kind of behavior?
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
longwave Link ParentMy brain wanders too much when I listen to audiobooks, so I usually avoid them. I think, though, for a re-read, I’ll give these a shot. Bet that it would be a good experience indeed! (It’s hard to...My brain wanders too much when I listen to audiobooks, so I usually avoid them. I think, though, for a re-read, I’ll give these a shot. Bet that it would be a good experience indeed!
(It’s hard to stay focused on printed books too, but at least it’s easier to jump back to where I drifted away.)
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
longwave LinkI just finished reading N. K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky on my partner's recommendation. The first book took a bit to get me hooked, but wow, what a series....I just finished reading N. K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky on my partner's recommendation. The first book took a bit to get me hooked, but wow, what a series. The story and world are really interesting but I especially appreciated the characters themselves. There's themes around parenting that resonate with me right now, and also a lot of positive queer representation that is just nice to see.
I've just started reading Maintenance: Of Everything. So far, I'm enjoying it. Something I've definitely appreciated is how first section of the book deals with three approaches to maintenance and how preventative maintenance relates to anxiety. As someone who is dealing with a newborn and with some cascading household maintenance issues, this feels timely!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
longwave Link ParentI really like the way you described this! And you're right, this does feel like more of a game. Building is easier in Factorio, but you feel punished for anything less than perfection. Maybe...I really like the way you described this! And you're right, this does feel like more of a game. Building is easier in Factorio, but you feel punished for anything less than perfection. Maybe because you can see belt capacity instantly, for a large part of the factory?
Meanwhile, in Satisfactory, it's hard for me to know if the factory is at peak efficiency. It's harder to navigate the factory. My priorities are instead building something that just feels good. I like it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
longwave LinkI've been struggling to find my footing lately with any kind of gaming. But now, with the arrival of our newborn, I suddenly have this nice, long block at night while I'm watching the kid so my...I've been struggling to find my footing lately with any kind of gaming. But now, with the arrival of our newborn, I suddenly have this nice, long block at night while I'm watching the kid so my partner can get better sleep.
I decided to finally give Satisfactory a shot. My goodness, it's hooked me. I've never gotten past midgame in other factory games like Factorio before, but I think I'm going to be going far in Satisfactory.
What feels great is that this game is forcing me to be less orderly. With games like Rimworld or Factorio, I always feel tied to highly rigid designs and it's hard for me to be creative or let things flow naturally. Satisfactory is making me get over that. I still have to keep things organized, but I'm not burdened with "EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECT".
In my life, I've been trying to embrace my more creative, expressive, and emotional side. I've been trying to enjoy and respect imperfection. It sounds weird, but the game is helping me realize that.
I actually don't think we've done either of the puzzles you've described yet! There's so much more to find.
We're definitely going to get back in to it after a little break. The five of us managed to get the ending after about 20 hours and without really feeling like we were rushing it.
How five people across multiple timezones and with families and jobs managed to find 20 hours in the same week to game, no idea. But I'm so glad we did.