lupusthethird's recent activity
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Comment on How are you dealing with inflation regarding everyday enjoyment? in ~life
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
lupusthethird LinkMy wife has been craving seafood lately, and today I happened to be a few hours out of town near an amazing fishmonger that we used to live by. Bought a selection of her favorites as a surprise......My wife has been craving seafood lately, and today I happened to be a few hours out of town near an amazing fishmonger that we used to live by. Bought a selection of her favorites as a surprise... oysters, scallops, uni, ikura, and choya umeshu to drink. Served with some stir fried nagaimo in bean curd sauce and yau choy sum.
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Comment on How do you organize your phone's home screens and apps? in ~tech
lupusthethird LinkI very much love minimalistic designs, so I use Nova Launcher (paid version) for Android to make everything easier to customize. My favorite thing is that each icon has options for multiple...I very much love minimalistic designs, so I use Nova Launcher (paid version) for Android to make everything easier to customize. My favorite thing is that each icon has options for multiple customized gestures when selecting it. For example, I can have an icon for Facebook... click it to open facebook app itself, or slide up on the icon to open Messenger, or swipe down on the icon to open Instagram. This way I can consolidate my icons really easily to the bottom row or two, without compromising functionality since multiple gestures can be applied to each one.
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Comment on Have you ever "homebrewed" fermented beverages? in ~food
lupusthethird LinkI started homebrewing about 15 years ago, mostly with the intention of creating something cheap that me and my friends at the D&D table could get completely wasted on. I would throw some Lalvin...Have you ever tried homebrewing?
I started homebrewing about 15 years ago, mostly with the intention of creating something cheap that me and my friends at the D&D table could get completely wasted on. I would throw some Lalvin D47 and some sugar into a gallon jug of cider from Wal-mart, slap a balloon on the top with a hole poked in it, and let it sit for about 2 weeks before siphoning it off into a clean gallon jug. It tasted pretty terrible, but it was strong at around 13-15% and was an incredibly cost effective way to get drunk. After focusing on cider for a few years I eventually branched out into making Mead and Beer as well.
What were lessons learned?
My favorite lesson learned was when brewing an Imperial Stout about 10 years ago. I was away at work the day after I put this batch into Primary fermentation, and got a call from my roommate in complete panic shouting "Your beer exploded!" I had never made this type of beer before, and had used a standard airlock and amount of headspace without knowing that the fermentation for this beer was much more active than I was accustomed to. The airlock completely clogged, pressure built up, and eventually it went Kaboom. The airlock was launched so hard skyward that it embedded itself halfway into the ceiling drywall, and my new batch of beer erupted like a volcano all over our kitchen floor. Lesson learned: Use a blowoff tube - it's better than an airlock.
Did you regret the up-front investment?
Making (terrible) hard cider was super cheap and hardly an investment at all - definitely worth it. But when stepping up to Mead/Beer, there was a significant investment in materials that I'd say is only worth it if you're going to stick with the hobby.
Do you bottle or keg?
I have done both. When bottling, I only use the flip-top bottles because I'm terrified of bottle capping machines (mostly thanks to that scene from Breaking Bad) They are more expensive but worth the ease of use.
What are your favorite recipes?
My favorite was just a simple standard mead. What set it apart from the rest? I forgot about it and left it in a closet for about 10 years. Every other cider or mead I've made have been rough around the edges - mostly dry and tannic, but this one was so amazingly smooth and crisp. So my advice... the most important part of any recipe will be time. Either learn to be patient, or make beer instead (it's drinkable sooner)
What is your setup like?
I have a 10 gallon stock pot that I use for the "Brew in a Bag" all grain method, multiple 5 gallon plastic carboys for primary and secondary fermentation, and a collection of different colored flip top bottles.
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Comment on Automakers are sharing consumers’ driving behavior with insurance companies (gifted link) in ~transport
lupusthethird Link ParentThis, seriously. I'm going to stick to cars from the 80s - 2000s from now on, as they are new enough to be fuel injected and have a lot of modern conveniences, but old enough that computers...This, seriously. I'm going to stick to cars from the 80s - 2000s from now on, as they are new enough to be fuel injected and have a lot of modern conveniences, but old enough that computers haven't taken over every component and put flashy screens all over your dashboard. It feels so much better to drive when the throttle and steering are mechanically connected rather than the drive-by-wire type systems with floaty controls that are common in cars nowadays.
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Comment on What irrational video game requirements do you have? in ~games
lupusthethird LinkForcing completion of the game's "Story Mode" to unlock content in Multiplayer/Free play modes. I paid for the full game and I want to enjoy it the way I want to, not be gatekept by your arbitrary...Forcing completion of the game's "Story Mode" to unlock content in Multiplayer/Free play modes. I paid for the full game and I want to enjoy it the way I want to, not be gatekept by your arbitrary need to have me sit through your narrative. I'm fully aware that this has been a staple of gaming for a long time - look at how many unlocks were in Goldeneye back in the day... but I've gotten older and busier and don't have time for this anymore.
Examples: FFXIV requires you to sink hundreds of hours into the story to unlock dungeons if you wanna play with your friends. Another coming to mind is the rhythm game Amplitude where you not only have to complete the campaign but also full combo every chapter's songs to unlock another song from each chapter (Something I still have yet to do as I struggle in the last chapter and refuse to lower the difficulty)
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Comment on Happy Lunar New Year! in ~talk
lupusthethird LinkWe are cooking some soup, crabs and oysters right now, and having hotpot party tonight!! Happy CNY!!We are cooking some soup, crabs and oysters right now, and having hotpot party tonight!! Happy CNY!!
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Comment on Steam Next Fest: what have you been playing? in ~games
lupusthethird LinkTribes 3 It's currently in public alpha until the 12th. Very unpolished as can be expected, but still very fun to play Tribes again... I haven't been so amped during a game session for a long...It's currently in public alpha until the 12th. Very unpolished as can be expected, but still very fun to play Tribes again... I haven't been so amped during a game session for a long time. It was one of my favorite games way back in the day playing on a Voodoo2 and I've put countless hours into every game in the franchise. I'm playing as much of the alpha as I can for now, and excited to see how it will develop later on.
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Comment on The relative share of Americans living in the West of the US has declined in ~life
lupusthethird Link ParentThere are a lot of other factors as well. The quality of schools that my son will go to, ease of access to nature, availability of asian grocery supplies (a problem in many rural areas),...That said, it sounds like you're feeling pretty miserable, unsupported, and perhaps unsafe where you live now. Surely getting out of that situation is worth dealing with a higher interest rate? (assuming you can afford it, obviously)
There are a lot of other factors as well. The quality of schools that my son will go to, ease of access to nature, availability of asian grocery supplies (a problem in many rural areas), availability of jobs in my field. Ultimately, we would still need to live near a reasonably-sized city ideally, so it's unlikely we will be able to "break even" on a home unless we compromise greatly on some of those criteria.
It seems crazy to me to stay if the reason is purely to avoid making a financial choice that's not ideal. Peace of mind and your mental health have value too.
As a father, my number 1 source of stress is the financial security of my family, so it's really hard to commit to something so risky.
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Comment on The relative share of Americans living in the West of the US has declined in ~life
lupusthethird LinkI get it. I am a West coaster that used to be an East coaster, and really want to move back. I moved out here for the ample tech job opportunities about 15 years ago. It used to be so incredible...I get it. I am a West coaster that used to be an East coaster, and really want to move back. I moved out here for the ample tech job opportunities about 15 years ago. It used to be so incredible out here. I remember being stunned at how safe, beautiful, and clean my city was, despite being a larger city. Bought a house a few years ago just in time before the interest rate hikes, wanted to spread my roots here and settle in forever. Since buying the house, cost of living has doubled or maybe tripled, my property taxes have increased every year as new initiatives continue to pile onto the property taxes and nothing else, and my neighborhood is no longer safe due to police policy not allowing them to pursue. There are used needles being found at the playgrounds where I'm taking my kid, cars stolen and stripped and dumped down the street from me, armed robberies at the grocery store I go to almost every day, and a couple months ago guns were being fired out of stolen cars just outside my house. With having a toddler now, being separated from all the family back East, our family is also lacking a lot of support structure so it's been pretty tough. I really want to leave at this point but the interest rates have gone so crazy that it would end up a bad financial decision to do so.
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Comment on What was your first computer game? (Soundcheck question 2023) in ~games
lupusthethird LinkWe had a local small business PC store in my area that would rent out DOS games. You'd rent the installation floppies and it kind of operated on the honor system with the expectation you'd...We had a local small business PC store in my area that would rent out DOS games. You'd rent the installation floppies and it kind of operated on the honor system with the expectation you'd uninstall them afterwards. Of course, neither me nor anyone else that we knew that shopped there actually uninstalled them. I think my first was Commander Keen, but some others I spent a lot of time on were Skyroads, Wacky Wheels, Lemmings, The Lost Vikings, Wolfenstein, and Jazz Jackrabbit.
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Comment on Vote for "Movie of the Week" in January - 100 minutes or less in ~movies
lupusthethird LinkNominating Pontypool (1h33m runtime) Excellent little low budget, claustrophobic Canadian horror movie with an interesting concept and some genuinely creepy vibes. Takes place in a snowy Canadian...Nominating Pontypool (1h33m runtime) Excellent little low budget, claustrophobic Canadian horror movie with an interesting concept and some genuinely creepy vibes. Takes place in a snowy Canadian winter so it's thematically appropriate for January too IMO.
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Comment on Anime for someone who doesn't like (shonen) anime that much in ~anime
lupusthethird LinkJust adding a couple more I didn't see with CTRL F. Films, so that there will be less time investment required. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms / Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo...Just adding a couple more I didn't see with CTRL F. Films, so that there will be less time investment required.
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms / Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou - I was reminded of this one recently due to Frieren's popularity. Like Frieren, the main character Maquia lives much longer than we do, and this film explores her unique perspective as she raises an adopted human son that quickly grows older than herself. Definitely watch if you want to feel things. The art, animation, and soundtrack are all fabulous, and the story is incredibly moving, especially if you are a parent.
Galaxy Express 999 / Ginga Tetsudō 999 The Movie - An absolute classic and must-watch. A coming of age tale about an orphan boy going on a journey to avenge his deceased mother. The story is great, well paced, and in a setting that is well-developed. The soundtrack is an 11 out of 10 fully orchestrated masterpiece that I listen to often by itself, and it never fails to instantly evoke the imagery of the film in my minds eye.
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Comment on Are there any games that you have enjoyed playing without the HUD or mini-map? If so, which ones and why? in ~games
lupusthethird LinkEverquest. I have been playing since the original launch in 1999. Exploring Norrath without a map (by design at the time of launch) was incredibly immersive and rewarding. Especially considering...Everquest. I have been playing since the original launch in 1999. Exploring Norrath without a map (by design at the time of launch) was incredibly immersive and rewarding. Especially considering that, at the time, the internet was still in its infancy and there were not many sites out there for sharing knowledge with other players, resulting in a lot of "tribal knowledge" spreading organically by word of mouth. The vanilla game has added a map as of about 20 years ago. But even now, private servers exist that replicate the original UI and try to uphold its original design ideas by removing the map and other modern "conveniences."
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Comment on Do you have a favorite YouTube video? I want to know! in ~talk
lupusthethird LinkA really tough choice since I watch a lot. The ones I watch most, though, are just be recordings of artists singing covers, which I don't interpret as being in the spirit of the idea of "Favorite...A really tough choice since I watch a lot. The ones I watch most, though, are just be recordings of artists singing covers, which I don't interpret as being in the spirit of the idea of "Favorite Youtube video." That said, I'd probably go with PaperHeart by Qwaqa. Qwaqa is so incredibly creative with AMVs. This is the first one of theirs I saw, and it pretty much spoiled me to the point where they are the only AMV creator I still watch.
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Comment on Tinder unveils staggering $500-per-month ‘VIP’ subscription tier in ~tech
lupusthethird Link ParentBut thankfully, FarmersOnly is safe from their influence!But thankfully, FarmersOnly is safe from their influence!
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Comment on E-reader purchasing advice in ~tech
lupusthethird (edited )LinkThere sure are a lot of posts recommending Kobo here. I "upgraded" from my old Kindle3 to a Kobo Aura H20 about 2-3 years ago, and wouldn't recommend it tbh. The battery life when I first got the...There sure are a lot of posts recommending Kobo here. I "upgraded" from my old Kindle3 to a Kobo Aura H20 about 2-3 years ago, and wouldn't recommend it tbh. The battery life when I first got the Kobo was just OK, lasted 2-3 days... I suppose I was spoiled by the Kindle3 which lasted for probably a month even with heavy daily reading. Now, however, the Kobo battery has degraded so much that it only lasts a few hours. The power button has also been incredibly finicky... I have to hit it in the exact right spot or else it won't make contact and turn on, which often takes me 10+ attempts. Maybe I just got a bad one? But just wanted to chip in with my Kobo experience thus far.
I hadn't heard of the Onyx Boox readers, and I'm tempted to try them out. Do they benefit from rooting/jailbreaking at all? Other than the obvious removal of stock android bloat.
(Edit: Spelling correction)
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Comment on What game mechanic or boss could you just not overcome? in ~games
lupusthethird LinkI used to spend nearly all my time playing DJ Max Portable 1 and 2, and I was pretty dang good at it. Pentavision had a (rarely used) online competitive leaderboard, of which I was a regular....I used to spend nearly all my time playing DJ Max Portable 1 and 2, and I was pretty dang good at it. Pentavision had a (rarely used) online competitive leaderboard, of which I was a regular. However, there was one mission in Mission Mode that I just could not beat. In Mission 69 (did they do that intentionally?) the UI moves around left and right on the screen randomly, and you can only break 35 times while playing some of the toughest songs in the game. I could manage everything except the last song, Nightmare. The combination of the fast BPM, insane amount of notes, and the UI bouncing back and forth makes my eyes cross and I get instantaneously nauseous. Not to mention the hand cramping after trying it multiple times in a row. It shocks me knowing there are people who can actually do it.
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Comment on What are some good, non-microtransaction riddled mobile games? in ~games
lupusthethird LinkMy go-to is Slay. I used to play the Windows version of this game all the time... pretty sure I originally found it through one of those old Shareware compilation CDs. Was extremely happy to see...My go-to is Slay. I used to play the Windows version of this game all the time... pretty sure I originally found it through one of those old Shareware compilation CDs. Was extremely happy to see that the developer did a mobile port!
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Comment on What anime scenes are most memorable to you? in ~anime
lupusthethird (edited )LinkMacross Plus - Isamu vs Guld This was such a great climax to Macross Plus, and the musical score by Yoko Kanno fits it so perfectly. I used to fastforward to this scene and watch it over and over....Macross Plus - Isamu vs Guld
This was such a great climax to Macross Plus, and the musical score by Yoko Kanno fits it so perfectly. I used to fastforward to this scene and watch it over and over. One of the best mecha dogfights in anime. https://twitter.com/i/status/1429680548885139456 (apologies I couldn't find a better clip)Galaxy Express 999 (Movie)
The entire movie tbh...I practically have the whole thing memorized. It's such a great coming-of-age story, seeing Tetsuro grow as he strikes out on his own, with each planet the train visits revealing more of the harsh realities of life to him and forcing him to evolve. Also, the soundtrack is a masterpiece that I can listen to on its own any day of the week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pnPcz298h4March Comes in Like a Lion
Episode 3, When Hina is acting strong during the anniversary of her mother's death, but Rei finds her as she sneaks away to bawl in private. Even though this is only 3 episodes into the series, the impact of this scene is so powerful and I still cry just thinking about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_NHcf7UF7cHunter x Hunter
Meruem and Komugi at the end of the chimera ant arc. The way that Meruem keeps asking if Komugi is still there is just absolutely heart wrenching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_NHcf7UF7c
Despite the inflation I haven't adjusted much on everyday costs aside from quitting drinking. Instead, I am saving by learning to DIY pretty much everything in my house because I can't afford to have anything fixed by the proper professionals anymore. I've built my own workbench, mounted TVs, installed electrical sockets and sconces, repaired drywall holes, installed decorative trim molding, built various floating shelves and closet shelving all around the house. Also been learning to work on cars... changing my own oil, filters, belts, blower motor, liftgate supports, etc. As someone who's never had to do any of this before, I'm actually finding it to be incredibly satisfying. The next project is going to be renting a sod cutter and tearing up the lawn to replace it with a more maintenance-free ground cover (considering Creeping Thyme)