milkbones_4_bigelow's recent activity

  1. Terry A Davis: Questions to God

    ~comp Text 84 words
    Hey everyone, just watching a very interesting history of Terry A Davis (creator of TempleOS) and around the 30 minute mark there is a list of questions Terry asked to God and the answers he...

    Hey everyone, just watching a very interesting history of Terry A Davis (creator of TempleOS) and around the 30 minute mark there is a list of questions Terry asked to God and the answers he believed he received. I took a look online but was unable to find anything. I don't suppose anyone out there has a link? I'd be very interested to read it. Thanks in advance.

    EDIT: I'm also interested in any links to the art he created (hymns, visual art etc).

    9 votes

  2. Comment on International alternatives... in ~books

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Hey 2942, thanks for this. Looks more like sci-fi though. Have you read much Vonnegut?

    Hey 2942, thanks for this. Looks more like sci-fi though. Have you read much Vonnegut?

    2 votes

  3. International alternatives...

    ~books Ask (recommendations)
    I've recently realised I read a lot of American literature. I'd like to broaden my horizons so I'm wondering for fun if anyone out there can suggest an international (i.e non-US) counterpart for...

    I've recently realised I read a lot of American literature. I'd like to broaden my horizons so I'm wondering for fun if anyone out there can suggest an international (i.e non-US) counterpart for any of the following or just general non-US recommendations?

    • Denis Johnson
    • David Foster Wallace
    • Flannery O'Conner
    • Carson McCullers
    8 votes

  4. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    (edited )
    Link
    I just re-read Jesus' Son a heartbreaking collection of short stories by Denis Johnson. The closing line of "Work" stopped me dead in my tracks. "Your husband will beat you with an extension cord...

    I just re-read Jesus' Son a heartbreaking collection of short stories by Denis Johnson. The closing line of "Work" stopped me dead in my tracks. "Your husband will beat you with an extension cord and the bus will pull away leaving you standing there in tears, but you were my mother."

    3 votes

  5. Comment on What's your favourite live album? in ~music

  6. Comment on What is a shortened phrase for this idea? in ~talk

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    Makes sense, I voted for spit-eval's post too :)

    Makes sense, I voted for spit-eval's post too :)

    3 votes

  7. Comment on What is a shortened phrase for this idea? in ~talk

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link
    Might you be referring to "graceful degradation" in the context of fault tolerance?

    Might you be referring to "graceful degradation" in the context of fault tolerance?

    5 votes

  8. Comment on Where to start with Mozart? in ~music

  9. Where to start with Mozart?

    ~music Ask (recommendations)
    Reading the excellent "Cave in the Snow", a biography of Tenzin Palmo, I learned of her love for Mozart and it got me thinking. For whatever reason my classical knowledge is limited, mostly...

    Reading the excellent "Cave in the Snow", a biography of Tenzin Palmo, I learned of her love for Mozart and it got me thinking. For whatever reason my classical knowledge is limited, mostly leaning towards more experimental contemporary composers (Cage, Pärt, Reich etc) and so I know very little about what you might call the classical heavyweights (Mozart, Chopin, Bach). With that said, where is best to start with Mozart?

    7 votes

  10. Comment on Recommend me a song based just on one line (or couplet) in its lyrics. in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    You're very welcome, I'm so glad you like it. Berman was something else, a tragic figure with an almost unreal knack for turning a phrase into something universal, hilarious and heart wrenching...

    possibly the best opening line I've ever heard

    You're very welcome, I'm so glad you like it. Berman was something else, a tragic figure with an almost unreal knack for turning a phrase into something universal, hilarious and heart wrenching (sometimes all at once). I mean, "In 1984 I was hospitalised for approaching perfection", what's not to like about that? :)

    2 votes

  11. Comment on The Restorative Pause of Silent Record Week in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link
    I really enjoyed this. I have a good friend who I'm sure will too. Thanks from us both.

    I really enjoyed this. I have a good friend who I'm sure will too. Thanks from us both.

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Suggestions for a Starter Synth? in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    Unsure exactly how to respond to this. It made me smile, I will say that. On serious note, I don't believe it's about the equipment you own, it's about the ideas you have. Some of the more...

    Unsure exactly how to respond to this. It made me smile, I will say that.

    On serious note, I don't believe it's about the equipment you own, it's about the ideas you have. Some of the more inventive musicians out there do just fine with very little, in fact, they thrive. I'd canvas OP to consider the road less travelled.

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Suggestions for a Starter Synth? in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    To offer a counter, I think there's something to be said for limitation. How about a KORG POLY-800? Fairly inexpensive and has real character.

    Avoid hardware synth spending black hole at all costs. Ableton and a good controller will get you so much further. For a cheap controller I would look at Nektar ones. I think even 88-key would fit into your budget.

    To offer a counter, I think there's something to be said for limitation. How about a KORG POLY-800? Fairly inexpensive and has real character.

    2 votes

  14. Comment on reCAPTCHA: Is there method in monotony? in ~tech

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Hey skybrian, I appreciate your detailed reply. With that said, I'm afraid I still disagree, at least with the last part of your premise :) As the old adage states, there's no such thing as a free...

    Hey skybrian,

    I appreciate your detailed reply. With that said, I'm afraid I still disagree, at least with the last part of your premise :)

    Google Search and Maps and YouTube are useful services that billions of people use every day, for free

    As the old adage states, there's no such thing as a free lunch. I believe there is a cost, whether the bill is paid now or (in a more likely scenario) in the future. I can however back-pedal slightly on using reCAPTCHA as the poster child in this case. It's probably not the best example. That said, much like eating Vegan at McDonald's, I still feel icky about lining the pockets of a company I fundamentally disagree with.

    In terms of egalitarianism, I just don't see it. "Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterised by the idea that all humans are equal in fundamental worth or moral status." I do not think Google's business model can make that claim. I refer you to the excellent book by Virginia Eubanks - Automating Inequality in which she makes the claim that "While we all live under this new regime of data analytics, the most invasive and punitive systems are aimed at the poor".

    Interesting to hear about your experience at Google, thanks for sharing. I previously worked for one of the larger tech shops too and had a very similar time of it. I'm much happier having jumped ship to work on a project I consider to be more sustainable and responsible in the long term.

    1 vote

  15. Comment on Recommend me a song based just on one line (or couplet) in its lyrics. in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link
    I asked the painter why the roads are colored black. He said, "Steve, it's because people leave and no highway will bring them back". Song Info Random Rules by Silver Jews I have no words to...

    I asked the painter why the roads are colored black. He said, "Steve, it's because people leave and no highway will bring them back".

    Song Info
    Random Rules by Silver Jews

    I have no words to express what the late great David Berman means to me. A poet and one of the greatest songwriters of the last 50 years. This whole album is incredible. I would urge any of you reading this to give it a spin.
    4 votes

  16. Comment on reCAPTCHA: Is there method in monotony? in ~tech

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    That's fair enough. Glad everyone got a chance to express their opinion.

    There are plenty of reasons to dislike and distrust google, but I don't think this particular project of theirs is one of them.

    That's fair enough. Glad everyone got a chance to express their opinion.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on The Bug That Exposed Your PayPal Password in ~comp

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    Who knows, the ICO fined BA £183m.

    The more I learn about PayPal the more I hate them. It is absolutely unconscionable that they would store passwords in plaintext, but to also send them to you? WTF? That's some gross incompetence there. They really should be paying a huge fine for doing something so stupid. But of course, that will never happen.

    Who knows, the ICO fined BA £183m.

    3 votes

  18. Comment on Recommend me a song based just on one line (or couplet) in its lyrics. in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    Link Parent
    Awesome choice! There are some great lines on this record. One of my favourites: "Travel where you are, tourism is sin. These are the ruins we left behind, you can’t take pictures of them."

    Awesome choice! There are some great lines on this record. One of my favourites: "Travel where you are, tourism is sin. These are the ruins we left behind, you can’t take pictures of them."

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Recommend me a song based just on one line (or couplet) in its lyrics. in ~music

  20. Comment on Recommend me a song based just on one line (or couplet) in its lyrics. in ~music

    milkbones_4_bigelow
    (edited )
    Link
    When you punish a person for dreaming his dream, don't expect him to thank or forgive you Song Info The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton by The Mountain Goats "This is a song about hope in...

    When you punish a person for dreaming his dream, don't expect him to thank or forgive you

    Song Info
    The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton by The Mountain Goats

    "This is a song about hope in your life. There is a magnificent Mark Eitzel song title, 'It Is Important Throughout Your Life to Proclaim Your Joy.' It is also important to admit, on occasion, to the righteousness of your fury: The justness of your cause in the face of those who would do you wrong, and who would rob you of your youth, and who would ignore what's good and beautiful in you. And I know this is all corny, platitude stuff, but I know people who got sent to places, and it sucked for them. You can't even say how bad it was. Kirk Fitzpatrick, I remember when they sent you away, man. This is for you."
    5 votes