paper_reactor's recent activity
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Comment on It’s hearty, it’s meaty, it’s mold in ~food
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Comment on Surviving vegetarianism as a non-vegetarian chef in ~food
paper_reactor Link ParentAlways makes happy to see someone mention veganism! I've always found it funny that all the seasonings we cherish and love are really just plants and minerals. Don't want plain chicken? Slap some...Always makes happy to see someone mention veganism! I've always found it funny that all the seasonings we cherish and love are really just plants and minerals. Don't want plain chicken? Slap some ground up plants and minerals on it.
Also, while unrelated to this thread, because I perused a previous comment of yours I've included a couple resources I've used for my seitan/seitan-like recipes that my wife and I enjoy.
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Comment on Which board games have you all been playing this week? (to 19th September) in ~games.tabletop
paper_reactor LinkMy wife and I recently picked up "Her Story" on sale and it's a nice, light, partial engine building game. The premise is that you are writing a book with 8 chapters about notable women in...My wife and I recently picked up "Her Story" on sale and it's a nice, light, partial engine building game. The premise is that you are writing a book with 8 chapters about notable women in history.
While the game isn't strategically too difficult, I've still found it to be quite fun, especially since the game kind of forces competitiveness. Many of the cards center around providing benefits to players who aren't in the lead or are in last place which balances the game and helps keep it interesting. Late comebacks and last second wins are very possible.
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Comment on German cabinet approves measure to expedite solar deployment in ~enviro
paper_reactor Link ParentAnother thing to keep in mind is that in Germany, 215 GW of solar capacity will be roughly 22 GW of actual energy production based on actual capacity factor. This would of course need to be...Another thing to keep in mind is that in Germany, 215 GW of solar capacity will be roughly 22 GW of actual energy production based on actual capacity factor. This would of course need to be coupled with batteries, wind, and likely peaker plants to meet electrical demand.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
paper_reactor LinkI am still plugging away at the code I'm writing for my PhD in FORTRAN and C++. I've finished the neutron transport solver(s), need to merge them all, and I'm also almost done writing the kinetics...I am still plugging away at the code I'm writing for my PhD in FORTRAN and C++.
I've finished the neutron transport solver(s), need to merge them all, and I'm also almost done writing the kinetics solver(s). Next will be adding the thermal-hydraulic and thermal expansion modules. Alongside that, I'm looking at improving an older project that involves control-rod modeling and also taking a look at cross-section generation for my project.
When I can, I'm trying to learn Julia and improve my skills with scripting (bash and python).
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Comment on What silly thing do you argue about with your significant other? in ~talk
paper_reactor LinkWhen we walk our dogs, I rate them based on barking, leash pulling, and how well they handle bridges. My wife always gives them a 10/10 whereas I don't. Honestly, she gives them a 10/10 no matter...When we walk our dogs, I rate them based on barking, leash pulling, and how well they handle bridges. My wife always gives them a 10/10 whereas I don't. Honestly, she gives them a 10/10 no matter what the situation is lol, whereas I rarely do and it's a point of fun contention. I explain why they didn't earn a 10/10 and she says, "But they're dogs".
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Comment on I’m making tteokbokki for the first time tonight: any tips? in ~food
paper_reactor LinkI know you said you were skipping the fish cakes, but I highly recommend getting some (odeng) the next time you make it. The tteokbokki my mom and grandma made almost always had odeng and it was...I know you said you were skipping the fish cakes, but I highly recommend getting some (odeng) the next time you make it. The tteokbokki my mom and grandma made almost always had odeng and it was my favorite part.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
paper_reactor Link ParentIf you haven't played it, I recommend Chained Echoes. Just an awesome game I think made by one guy that is just a great, clean, homage to jrpgs.If you haven't played it, I recommend Chained Echoes. Just an awesome game I think made by one guy that is just a great, clean, homage to jrpgs.
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Comment on What are your favorite ways to cook eggplant or dishes containing eggplant? in ~food
paper_reactor LinkZaalouk is a good option, I'll use it as a dip with some like toasted pita and hummus and call it dinner. Roasted eggplant just pairs really well with tomato-based sauces/dishes.Zaalouk is a good option, I'll use it as a dip with some like toasted pita and hummus and call it dinner. Roasted eggplant just pairs really well with tomato-based sauces/dishes.
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Comment on The IBM mainframe: How it runs and why it survives in ~tech
paper_reactor Link ParentThank you for the response! It was definitely helpful and I understand that designing, building, and maintaining these types of systems requires an incredible amount of people with a lot of...Thank you for the response! It was definitely helpful and I understand that designing, building, and maintaining these types of systems requires an incredible amount of people with a lot of knowledge in various topics. And thank you for the article on quantum-proofing, interesting read and the videos were a good watch. I'm curious to how quantum-computing may also change things beyond cryptography.
Sorry for the lack of clarity for my third question, but you touched on some of the points I was trying to get at. More directly, I was trying to ask, "If a company does want to move away from a dedicated/centralized mainframe that they solely use, what kinds of issues would arise?"
You touched briefly on the Coke/Pepsi example which is what I was thinking about. I was curious on what drawbacks and benefits you saw for a large company in using or not using mainframes.
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Comment on The IBM mainframe: How it runs and why it survives in ~tech
paper_reactor Link ParentDo you see a point where a shift away from COBOL happens on a larger scale? In my field (nuclear), FORTRAN is still standard, but other languages are creeping in and making dents outside of...- Do you see a point where a shift away from COBOL happens on a larger scale? In my field (nuclear), FORTRAN is still standard, but other languages are creeping in and making dents outside of research and academia. Less people are learning FORTRAN which makes using it a potentially losing battle over time.
- How often do you usually see companies upgrading mainframe hardware or getting new mainframes to replace operating ones? Rephrased, how long are mainframes usually designed to last?
- One of the benefits (from what I gather) of having dedicated mainframes is that they are just handling a specific company's data/operations with redundancies for that data/operations. Does a company trying to move to a cloud environment complicate managing those resources since they may be shared across multiple companies and would it really be beneficial?
- And I guess last question just for fun since it is IBM even though it's still early, are there already forays into how quantum computing may change how mainframe-type operations would have to occur?
Sorry if some of these questions seems misplaced, this is just something I have zero experience with. Thanks for your time!
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Comment on Are you currently learning a new language? Are there any languages that are on your wishlist to learn? in ~humanities.languages
paper_reactor LinkI speak English and Farsi, but I've been wanting to learn Korean (half my family is Korean) and have been trying to learn "survival" Icelandic since I'll be needing that soon.I speak English and Farsi, but I've been wanting to learn Korean (half my family is Korean) and have been trying to learn "survival" Icelandic since I'll be needing that soon.
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Comment on PostmodernJukebox ft. Wild Bill - Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees, ragtime rockabilly cover, 2023) in ~music
paper_reactor Link ParentI wonder if this common haha, I did the same thing with PMJ. Ingested their music at an alarming rate until I was done after a short bit of time. I did find some other cool artists like Caro...I wonder if this common haha, I did the same thing with PMJ. Ingested their music at an alarming rate until I was done after a short bit of time. I did find some other cool artists like Caro Emerald thanks to the style of music and the algorithms deciding what I might also like.
I personally found covers by Scary Pockets to stick with me longer (their cover of Creep is something I listen to fairly regularly). Pomplamoose is also really good with some of the same musicians as Scary Pockets. They do a lot of covers and mashups along with writing some original songs.
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Comment on What are your favourite bean recipes? in ~food
paper_reactor Link ParentIf I use red lentils (which isn't typical), I'll just cook it in the sauce since red lentils cook fairly quickly and I don't want them to get too soft. I cook green/brown lentils separately in...If I use red lentils (which isn't typical), I'll just cook it in the sauce since red lentils cook fairly quickly and I don't want them to get too soft. I cook green/brown lentils separately in some mix of broth and seasoning (usually with mushroom powder added) and then add it to the sauce after it has cooked enough. Green lentils take a while to soften in simmering sauce so I don't generally do it that way, but you can if you have the time.
As far as texture, my wife and I like it (she prefers it with green lentils since red lentils aren't firm enough), but we use legumes frequently so I can't really say if the texture is odd. I think the biggest thing is imparting enough flavor into the lentils as your cook them which is partly why I'm not the biggest fan of cooked, canned lentils, but those can still work.
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Comment on Never waste a midlife crisis in ~life
paper_reactor Link ParentI mostly agree about the binary choice and the survivorship bias. I feel like this guy is, well, almost peddling this "reach for dreams" and "don't waste your mid-life crisis" narrative without...I mostly agree about the binary choice and the survivorship bias. I feel like this guy is, well, almost peddling this "reach for dreams" and "don't waste your mid-life crisis" narrative without really expanding on it at all. No matter who it involves, getting through a mid-life crisis requires understanding why you have one and then looking at whether you can afford to solve it. Quoting someone saying they would rather be penniless than bitter kind of screams ignorance and entitlement to me since it ignores a lot of the inputs that go into navigating a mid-life crisis. Additionally, though the blog post kind of looks down on it, if buying a new car is all it takes for a 40 year old person to come to terms with their mid-life crisis and move forward happily with new perspective, I would call that a success.
And to the OP (@RadDevon), you mention that you may have been looking for a place you already fit and not a place to stake a claim and grow. I think your process with location is similar to his process with places. Traveling seems to be your way of navigating your current crisis and apparent wanderlust. I think once you anchor yourself mentally and personally, the place will come to you when visit it and with that will come people. Regardless, the process always seems to be anchoring yourself and everything will follow. The guy being quoted anchored himself in his new work/job whereas you will anchor yourself with whatever that may be.
I don't feel like I went through an unplanned or unknown mid-life crisis. I've reach a couple points where I needed a change in my life, so I planned for it and made sure I could get through those life hurdles.
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Comment on What are your favourite bean recipes? in ~food
paper_reactor LinkI love beans, I'd wager more than OP (jk). And depending on how far you are willing to expand what a bean is, here are things I make/eat regularly enough: Hummus of all kinds Chili Beans and rice...I love beans, I'd wager more than OP (jk). And depending on how far you are willing to expand what a bean is, here are things I make/eat regularly enough:
- Hummus of all kinds
- Chili
- Beans and rice of different varieties
- Banh mi with tofu (a bean product)
- I make faux ricotta using tofu
- Tacos/Burritos/Quesadillas with beans
- Chickpea salad (kind like a chicken salad replacement)
- Fesenjan with lentils (while not a bean, lentils are close enough, this is a favorite of mine and the base recipe is here )
- I often use lentils when I make spaghetti
- Curries (chana masala, dal makhani, rajma masala, chana korma which is another favorite of mine)
- Ethiopian dishes (misir wot, kik alicha)
- Made black bean patties and meatballs
- Japanese/Korean style curry with chickpeas
- Tempeh is life, made bbq from it, chili, buffalo sandiwches, the list goes on
- I do not like natto
- White chili
- Shepherds pie with peas and lentil
- Black bean and corn salsa
- Kongnamul michim (I grew up eating a lot of Korean food)
I'm sure there more, but this is what I could come up with for now.
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Comment on Where do you stand on climate change? in ~talk
paper_reactor (edited )Link ParentI don't know that the person making the original comment necessarily feels this way, but this is a sentiment I've seen expressed by people that find William Happer and his ideas to be agreeable...- Exemplary
I don't know that the person making the original comment necessarily feels this way, but this is a sentiment I've seen expressed by people that find William Happer and his ideas to be agreeable (note: I do not agree with William Happer's ideas). You can get some idea of his thoughts in this document here.
I've summarized his basic arguments below:
- The Earth has risen in temperature before and life moved on, that this part of a natural cycle
- CO2 levels have been much higher, and current cries surrounding it are alarmist
- We aren't 100% sure that "recent" global warming is attributed to humans (against the majority of scientific consensus)
- Plants would love more CO2 in the atmosphere, and what, are humans going to try and eliminate CO2 from the atmosphere when it's needed
- That climate science is too complicated and climate models shouldn't be trusted
- There is evidence warming preceded CO2 rising meaning it's possibly not humans
and the list goes on.
Now, part of what makes his arguments compelling is that, well, he has truth in many of his statements and taken at face value they seem to support what he his concluding. Yes, the Earth did have higher temps and higher levels of CO2 than currently, but factors are very different. My common points in rebuttal include:
- Happer often ignores the rate of temperature increase as unusual, focusing instead on the fact we aren't sure it's caused by humans and the fact these temps and conditions have occurred previously
- Happer really focuses on CO2, which I get is a key greenhouse gas, but ignores other ghg aside from water vapor
- He says life survived before, so it should survive again. Realistically, part of addressing climate change is helping to maintain the current equilibrium. The reality is that if rising temps somehow wipeout the majority of life on Earth, mother nature will continue and reestablish equilibrium in the future and continue moving forward. But that doesn't mean humans will; extreme rising temps would no doubt put pressure on humans and the current state of the Earth.
- Also, William Happer is notably not a climate scientist. A smart guy, but not an expert.
- This is just a pet peeve of mine, but Happer often concludes his statements with a shoutout to climate change supporters hampering scientific and economic progress. Tell me more about your motivations.
I could go on, but at the end of the day, current science does not support people who just say "It's just a current cycle that we may be speeding up". And from a realistic standpoint, how is rising temps a good thing for humans?
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
paper_reactor Link ParentIt really is, remembering it hit me with a massive wave of nostalgia. The mashups subreddit was what brought me to reddit around 2009 and I remember when this album dropped just having my mind...It really is, remembering it hit me with a massive wave of nostalgia. The mashups subreddit was what brought me to reddit around 2009 and I remember when this album dropped just having my mind blown. Have a lot of memories in college with that album playing in the background.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
paper_reactor LinkThese are what's been rolling through my playlist this week: Lots of older Kanye recently (MBDTF and earlier, "Roses" is such a good song) Cake, pretty much all their stuff Girl Talk (All Day...These are what's been rolling through my playlist this week:
- Lots of older Kanye recently (MBDTF and earlier, "Roses" is such a good song)
- Cake, pretty much all their stuff
- Girl Talk (All Day album, randomly remembered this after years and it's been fun listening)
- Galdive (the singer has such a silky voice, her live session of "Pocket" is sublime)
- A bit of Sabaton splashed in
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
paper_reactor LinkI was reading through the Witcher series, but took a break and have been reading a book called "The Rickover Effect". It's an interesting recounting of how Rickover really brought nuclear power to...I was reading through the Witcher series, but took a break and have been reading a book called "The Rickover Effect". It's an interesting recounting of how Rickover really brought nuclear power to the Navy and in effect to the public by someone that was pretty close to him in the process. With the current landscape of the U.S government nothing like it was back in the 50s, it's pretty crazy to read about how Rickover managed to get these projects completed through the administrative and engineering challenges he faced in a time when nuclear power was still new. Additionally, it gives pretty good insight into the type of leader Rickover was and how his prioritizing of proficiency and "doing things right", often times without compromise, paved the way for success.
It can get pricey if you want more "direct" vegan replacements from the store. Vegan cheese is pricier, vegan chicken nuggets are pricier, vegan egg is pricier, etc. Overall, I spend less eating vegan as compared to an omnivore diet, but specialty products can add up quick.
I think the struggle people have with vegan food (when they aren't vegan or are new vegans) is that they want a vegan meal that mimics/replaces a meat/dairy meal when vegan cooking has a different mindset. This drive for mimicking/replacing will increase costs unless you learn how to make your own replacements which is time consuming.