Aliens on a napkin: Fifty years ago today, the birth of '2001' in a polynesian restaurant in New York
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lou's recent activity
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Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv
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Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv
lou Link ParentI kept waiting for it to become full-blow sci-fi but the reality is that Pluribus is relationship drama first, sci-fi second. If you like drama than it's interesting and unique. If you're looking...I kept waiting for it to become full-blow sci-fi but the reality is that Pluribus is relationship drama first, sci-fi second. If you like drama than it's interesting and unique. If you're looking for sci-fi you may find it pretty basic.
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Comment on Pluribus full season discussion in ~tv
lou LinkYes, it was too slow. No, I don't use TikTok and I'm 43 years old. And no, I do not think it should be super fast. I think it could use some adjustment to reduce overly long self indulgent shots...Yes, it was too slow. No, I don't use TikTok and I'm 43 years old.
And no, I do not think it should be super fast. I think it could use some adjustment to reduce overly long self indulgent shots by two to five secom. It would still be a slow burn, meditative experience.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
lou LinkI'm reading "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke and it's great. The chapters are short and sweet. I looked for a simpler description of the ship elsewhere because some things are ambiguous...I'm reading "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke and it's great. The chapters are short and sweet.
I looked for a simpler description of the ship elsewhere because some things are ambiguous in the book. Just enough to help me picture it. No spoilers.
I decided that 2026 is the year when I educate myself on science fiction classics. It'll be great.
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Comment on US to stop processing visa applications from seventy-five nations in ~society
lou Link ParentBrazil is multi cultural and Argentina is pretty white.Brazil is multi cultural and Argentina is pretty white.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
lou Link ParentI don't think WhatsApp was at fault back then. And the hegemony took place long before Meta acquired it. It's just that the phone companies charged extra for SMS for a very long time. Even today,...In Brazil (and many other countries), somehow Meta wormed their way into that position.
I don't think WhatsApp was at fault back then. And the hegemony took place long before Meta acquired it. It's just that the phone companies charged extra for SMS for a very long time. Even today, I'm not sure if they're unlimited. But that doesn't matter anymore.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
lou Link ParentI'm sorry, I'm really trying to understand. How can this be simpler than clicking on a button to uninstall and then on another to install?I'm sorry, I'm really trying to understand. How can this be simpler than clicking on a button to uninstall and then on another to install?
I cut off access at the root, on the DNS servers of my devices. I use NextDNS, which made my life easier: I added all the Meta domains I know to the block list and activated a specific third-party list for the company's domains. It's outdated, but I imagine it covers a lot that would slip through my manual filtering.
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
lou Link ParentThere are many other situations in which you are forced to use WhatsApp, like school, college, and most workplaces. I'm sorry about your family :(There are many other situations in which you are forced to use WhatsApp, like school, college, and most workplaces.
I'm sorry about your family :(
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Comment on Is it possible to live without WhatsApp? in ~tech
lou (edited )LinkI'm Brazilian like the author. It's impossible to live in Brazil without WhatsApp. Even excluding social interactions, WhatsApp is used by many businesses and even by the government. I do block...I'm Brazilian like the author. It's impossible to live in Brazil without WhatsApp. Even excluding social interactions, WhatsApp is used by many businesses and even by the government. I do block myself from WhatsApp regularly and aggressively using Lock Me Out on Android. But even then it's a gamble. If something comes up that requires WhatsApp I'm pretty much fucked.
I'm not sure why the author did so many complicated things when he could simply uninstall the app. I'm failing to grasp what is the point of doing all that complicated stuff instead.
I changed my WhatsApp profile photo and left a status message saying that I am available via SMS/RCS, Signal, and email.
That probably works if you work in IT and have lots of IT friends. Family is unlikely to adapt. Unless they're okay with being essentially an outcast, I don't think the author will stay away from WhatsApp for much longer. This is like punching the ocean.
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Comment on Recommendations needed: Favorite “comfort” movies in ~movies
lou LinkThat is very personal, what is comfortable to some is not comfortable to others. The Godfather and anything Star Trek does the trick for me. Harry and Sally with the wife is quite cozy. All that...That is very personal, what is comfortable to some is not comfortable to others. The Godfather and anything Star Trek does the trick for me. Harry and Sally with the wife is quite cozy. All that 80s and 90s romcom Nora Ephron era was amazing.
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Comment on Scott Adams dead: Dilbert creator was 68 in ~comics
lou Link ParentI love the one where Dogbert cannot write a novel because he is too concise. I'm trying to find it.I love the one where Dogbert cannot write a novel because he is too concise. I'm trying to find it.
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Comment on What's a culture shock that you experienced? in ~talk
lou (edited )LinkYou kinda have to be Brazilian to fully grasp this, but I'm from Salvador, the most African city outside of Africa. Going to Curitiba, a Brazilian city with a strong Ukrainian and German makeup,...You kinda have to be Brazilian to fully grasp this, but I'm from Salvador, the most African city outside of Africa. Going to Curitiba, a Brazilian city with a strong Ukrainian and German makeup, was quite an adventure. They don't really say "good morning," etc. They talk much less overall. Which I actually kinda liked, but coming from Salvador it was an adjustment. Also, the experience of looking around and everyone was white. I felt a little isolated, and the few Black people there dressed formally and extremely well in comparison to the others. I got the impression that they dressed that way to compensate for being Black. But IDK. It was my first experience in an extremely White culture. I loved the city, the cold climate, and most people were very nice. Just different.
Also, I had no idea that cold could be "trapped". The stores had no heating and stayed cold the entire day. That may sound silly, but when you live at a place that is always between 25C and 38C (and 18C with high humidity just a few days every year), you subconsciously think that is the default, as if everything had a natural tendency to heat. Which, of course, they don't. It's just one of those things that you are used to and never think about.
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Comment on Remembering Erich von Däniken, 1935 – 2026 in ~books
lou LinkBefore we had the Internet and Wikipedia, if you found a book in your home, you pretty much believed it. I remember finding his book interesting, but even as a kid, it felt like a reach. Like,...Before we had the Internet and Wikipedia, if you found a book in your home, you pretty much believed it. I remember finding his book interesting, but even as a kid, it felt like a reach. Like, "Does my mom really believe that?". I never asked. It was entertaining that's for sure.
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Comment on Scott Adams dead: Dilbert creator was 68 in ~comics
lou Link ParentNo need to find reasons, back in the day Dilbert was actually very funny. Especially Dogbert!No need to find reasons, back in the day Dilbert was actually very funny. Especially Dogbert!
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Comment on Scott Adams dead: Dilbert creator was 68 in ~comics
lou LinkDilbert comics were a big part of my childhood. Me and my cousin had one of Dilbert's comic books -- the larger one. We read it over and over and repeated the lines all day long. We had other...Dilbert comics were a big part of my childhood. Me and my cousin had one of Dilbert's comic books -- the larger one. We read it over and over and repeated the lines all day long. We had other books too, and we also watched the cartoon. It was awesome. Thanks for that, Scott Adams!
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (January 2026) in ~health.mental
lou Link ParentI don't know. I'm thinking of starting a collection of model trains., (just kidding :P)I don't know. I'm thinking of starting a collection of model trains.,
(just kidding :P)
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (January 2026) in ~health.mental
lou LinkMy psychiatrist surprised me today by talking to me about autism. About three years ago I did believe I might be autistic and sought professional advice. Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to...My psychiatrist surprised me today by talking to me about autism. About three years ago I did believe I might be autistic and sought professional advice. Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to pay for a full evaluation by professionals, so I went to a project in our local university. I was evaluated by a student and it took only three sessions instead of the regular 12. The autism assesment was negative and I didn't took it as definitive back then and neither did my psychiatrist. I forgot about it completely and had no wish to pursue a diganosis.
Today my doctor surprised me by saying that he studied autism in adults more thorougly last year and that, after consulting with my psychotherapist, they are both positive that I am autistic. My doctor's appointment lasted about 90 minutes today only because of that (my mental issues are mostly in maintenaince mode, there's no reason for me to be there more than 45 minutes).
I had a session with my psychotherapist right after that. She didn't have lots of advice but was clearly trying to convey that business should go as usual, there is no reason for panic, "autism" is just word, etc. I told my wife, she seems to think it's cute? I am overwhelmed. How can I integrate that information into decisions I made recently and others I am making now? What a fuck a 43-year-old does when they "become" autistic?
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Comment on What private companies are you happy doing business with? in ~talk
lou LinkI've had good interactions with https://bearblog.dev/, which, as far as I know, is mostly one guy.I've had good interactions with https://bearblog.dev/, which, as far as I know, is mostly one guy.
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Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
lou Link ParentSure. But I thought we were talking about the same due to my ignorance of the word "penance". That changed my interpretation of the entire comment.Sure. But I thought we were talking about the same due to my ignorance of the word "penance". That changed my interpretation of the entire comment.
It is slow. But I'm scared to say that because on Reddit people will basically call you a dumb TikTok teenager if you say that.