mieum's recent activity
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Comment on Keeping up a blogging habit while being a dad in ~life.men
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Comment on Popcorn! What's the best way to make it? in ~food
mieum Link ParentThis is more-or-less how I have made popcorn for years. It is very satisfying. We usually just salt it, but sometimes put in nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. I have been meaning to restock...This is more-or-less how I have made popcorn for years. It is very satisfying. We usually just salt it, but sometimes put in nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. I have been meaning to restock popcorn. I had never heard of mushroom popcorn or any of the other varieties mentioned in this thread. Definitely going to try some out!
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Comment on Best options for domain registrar and static site hosting in 2026? in ~comp
mieum LinkPorkbun is great. Migrated all my domains there from Namecheap a few years ago.Porkbun is great. Migrated all my domains there from Namecheap a few years ago.
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Comment on Has anyone tried making their own font? in ~design
mieum LinkLast year I went really far down the type design rabbit hole and started a slab serif typeface. I didn’t finish it and got very very sidetracked, but I am grateful for the experience. I still have...Last year I went really far down the type design rabbit hole and started a slab serif typeface. I didn’t finish it and got very very sidetracked, but I am grateful for the experience. I still have ambitions to make a font at some point. I think before I do, I might try working with existing fonts; for example, turning Cooper Hewitt into a variable font or adding some OpenType features.
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Comment on What are your current pain points with Linux? in ~tech
mieum LinkCJK input. I have used Linux for over 20 years, and every time I setup a new machine, it is always a mystery whether or not I will be able to get non-Latin input methods working. Even when it...CJK input. I have used Linux for over 20 years, and every time I setup a new machine, it is always a mystery whether or not I will be able to get non-Latin input methods working. Even when it works, it simply does not. CJK input has “bugs” in soooo many apps and has had them for at least the past 15 years that I have been fighting them. In some apps, CJK input is completely broken, and in others it behaves unpredictably (such as repeating the last character you typed when you finish typing). It is so annoying that you can’n just type in an app and expect the same behavior regardless of whether the app is QT, GTK, Electron, etc. There is also the problem that having to use a non-Latin input method at all feels like an afterthought, something just smooshed onto the vase after it has been fired. It can be so cumbersome, even just the way switching between input methods is handled, and if you don’t use QWERTY for Latin input in addition to requiring a CJK input method: RIP.
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Comment on Sam Neill, Jurassic Park star, dies at 78 in ~movies
mieum Link ParentWhoa… just realized that was him! Great movie!Whoa… just realized that was him! Great movie!
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Comment on What do you think is the best sandwich? in ~food
mieum Link ParentI feel like any sweet something on there works well with the onion. I really like the tang of raspberry with it, though. Maybe some chutney?I feel like any sweet something on there works well with the onion. I really like the tang of raspberry with it, though. Maybe some chutney?
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Comment on What do you think is the best sandwich? in ~food
mieum LinkAlready so many great sandwiches mentioned, so I will take a slightly different angle. PB&J with sliced (red) onions is so satisfying. It is not at all fancy, but when you are going to have a...Already so many great sandwiches mentioned, so I will take a slightly different angle.
PB&J with sliced (red) onions is so satisfying. It is not at all fancy, but when you are going to have a PB&J, raw onions on it really add a lot to the experience.
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
mieum Link ParentThanks :) I feel myself getting inspired to do a complete makeover haha. How do you make your site? Do you use some kind of site generator or CMS? Or by hand?Thanks :) I feel myself getting inspired to do a complete makeover haha.
How do you make your site? Do you use some kind of site generator or CMS? Or by hand?
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
mieum Link ParentI used a pretty crumby printer and did the binding by hand. It was a relatively low volume intended as gifts for friends and family, so it was manageable. I learned that quality printing is… hard...I used a pretty crumby printer and did the binding by hand. It was a relatively low volume intended as gifts for friends and family, so it was manageable. I learned that quality printing is… hard and/or expensive :b
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
mieum LinkFor years I have been trying to start recording and performing my music again. I am now trying to compose and record demos of fun-to-perform songs for a trio of drums, bass, and guitar. Along with...For years I have been trying to start recording and performing my music again. I am now trying to compose and record demos of fun-to-perform songs for a trio of drums, bass, and guitar. Along with this, I’m trying to produce nicely engraved scores to publish along with them, probably all in the public domain. I’m trying to do put out my signal so to speak in order to attract other like-minded musicians to eventually collaborate with. I just have to be in a band again, I can’t stand it any longer!
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Comment on What creative projects have you been working on? in ~creative
mieum Link ParentSounds really fun! Curious to see how they turned out. A few years back I did a run of chapbooks and had a blast (plus learned a lot).Sounds really fun! Curious to see how they turned out. A few years back I did a run of chapbooks and had a blast (plus learned a lot).
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Comment on Searching for neighbours on the indie web in ~tech
mieum LinkI also don’t have a button, but over the years I have tried to Indieweb-ify my (somewhat neglected) blog: https://giraffleur.org/ I like your button and the overall vibe of your site! I am about...I also don’t have a button, but over the years I have tried to Indieweb-ify my (somewhat neglected) blog: https://giraffleur.org/
I like your button and the overall vibe of your site! I am about to dump a bunch of new posts and do a little housekeeping on mine, so maybe I will whip up a button while I’m at it ;)
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Comment on Group chat solutions for small groups? in ~comp
mieum Link ParentSelf-hosting XMPP (or Matrix for that matter) is not that hard, but it does require attention. I think the bigger issue there is that for anyone using iOS the UX will be uncomfortable enough to...Self-hosting XMPP (or Matrix for that matter) is not that hard, but it does require attention. I think the bigger issue there is that for anyone using iOS the UX will be uncomfortable enough to dissuade people from using it. This has something to do with iOS’ policies about apps running in the background (I believe), and even though there are ways to mitigate that abrasion it is still there. I currently use Snikket so I can have a phone number back in the US and it is pretty wonky. I hosted a server for years to use with my family, and most of them gave up on it and the ones who stuck with it had a hard time. Which is too bad because XMPP is the full package.
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Comment on Why computers won’t make themselves smarter - Ted Chiang in ~tech
mieum Link ParentAh okay, I see what you mean. That definitely makes sense! I'll put the rest of my response here to avoid spoiling the story for anyone I think when I read it some years back I read it as a...Ah okay, I see what you mean. That definitely makes sense!
I'll put the rest of my response here to avoid spoiling the story for anyone
I think when I read it some years back I read it as a metaphor for what "knowledge is power" means in the 21st century; whether it is AI, Google & Friends slurping up everyone's "behavioral surplus," or some dude jacked up on smart pills :b The plot revolves around how the protagonist's increased intelligence/knowledge suddenly necessitates their having to immediately spend all their energy trying to gain more knowledge and intelligence as a matter of self-preservation. I can't remember the exact details, but I vaguely remember that the other super-intelligent character is described by the narrator as being less virtuous or righteous because of their wanting to use their powers for good (or something like that) as if the protagonist is trying to not only defend themself but humanity as a whole. But they are both effectively the same kind of hazard to society.
Another thing that stood out to me is the narrator's first-person descriptions of becoming super-intelligent. Maybe because my field is the philosophy of education, I read the story as kind of a speculative commentary on the nature of intelligence and maybe experience more generally. I recall him describing his higher intelligence as basically alogical, describing his learning process as a kind of aesthetic experience. Having not read the story in forever, these sorts of details are what remain most vividly in my memory and apparently made a big impression on me at the time. I'll have to give it another go, if only to enjoy the build up to that awesome ending :)
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Comment on Why computers won’t make themselves smarter - Ted Chiang in ~tech
mieum Link ParentI think that is one of my favorite stories of his. What is surprising to you about its connection to this article? It has been a while since I have read it, but I don’t remember it being written...I think that is one of my favorite stories of his. What is surprising to you about its connection to this article? It has been a while since I have read it, but I don’t remember it being written in a way that suggests how ultraintelligence would be a real possibility. I’ll have to give it a re-read!
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Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
mieum Link ParentThat makes sense, but what is curious to me is that it was not required reading when I was in school. There are also lots of other books that were required reading whose protagonists don’t get as...That makes sense, but what is curious to me is that it was not required reading when I was in school. There are also lots of other books that were required reading whose protagonists don’t get as much hate as Holden. Anecdotally, it seems like the internet could have something to do with it.
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Comment on What’s a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
mieum LinkYou don’t need to like Holden Caufield to like the book. It is almost a meme to rag on A Catcher in the Rye because Holden is not very amicable. But… so what? There are so many books with...You don’t need to like Holden Caufield to like the book. It is almost a meme to rag on A Catcher in the Rye because Holden is not very amicable. But… so what? There are so many books with protagonists who are objectively worse people than the troubled youth Holden is, but the hate for him as a protagonist is so amplified in comparison. I never understood why. Not sure whether it’s the haters who are missing the point or if it is me! :b
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Comment on Who's tried durian? in ~food
mieum LinkI also enjoy it. I think people’s aversion to it has to do with it disagreeing with their concept of how a fruit is supposed to be. It is not very stinky in my opinion. Just think of it like a...I also enjoy it. I think people’s aversion to it has to do with it disagreeing with their concept of how a fruit is supposed to be. It is not very stinky in my opinion. Just think of it like a cheese; something to spread on a cracker :)
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Comment on What are some good influences for kids today, both online and offline? in ~life
mieum LinkThere are a lot of very good podcasts for kids. The one we have listened to the most is called Noodleloaf, which is a "music education podcast" that is very fun and well done. I think when it...There are a lot of very good podcasts for kids. The one we have listened to the most is called Noodleloaf, which is a "music education podcast" that is very fun and well done.
I think when it comes to any kind of media, whether it is good or bad, making it social goes a long way. I mean, just casually binging stuff on a small screen is not great. But we read, watch, and listen to a lot of stuff together. Not all of it is stuff that I would have wanted my kids to watch (not that it is inappropriate but more just... meh), but having an opportunity to communicate about it is important. Not that my opinion is authoritative, but I always call out senselessly sexist content or things like that even just in passing. It is a crazy wild world out there, and surely they will get exposed to weird things in their peer groups. It is good for them to have a sense about what is bueno and what is not.
Others have already given so much advice and wisdom about living life with little ones. To add my two cents, I will just say that having a nice way to capture ideas, explore curiosities, and manage your thoughts is helpful for any kind of writing. It is especially helpful when you have little kids and cannot focus on writing regularly and for extended periods of time. I have tried various systems and tools over the years and found that nothing is perfect. Even just making a mess of breadcrumbs for yourself later is a great way to offload the thinking from your brain to work on or discover those thoughts again later.