Paul26's recent activity
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Comment on Ólafur Arnalds feat. Talos – A Dawning (2025) in ~music
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Comment on This site is fast in ~tildes
Paul26 LinkI’m often outside city limits where most of the stuff is slow. I can still use Tildes reliably. It’s nice.I’m often outside city limits where most of the stuff is slow. I can still use Tildes reliably. It’s nice.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentHey Fazit! So, I'm still not done 1Q84, but I am close. Maybe 85% done now. Without any spoilers, what I can say about it is this: 1Q84 to me is "fun". Easy to read for the most part, enough...Hey Fazit! So, I'm still not done 1Q84, but I am close. Maybe 85% done now. Without any spoilers, what I can say about it is this:
1Q84 to me is "fun". Easy to read for the most part, enough puzzle and mystery elements to "go deep" if I want to, or if not, just keep reading for the story without analyzing each detail. There were a few spots where I thought to myself "that's really cool" or "that's really touching", but I can't say I feel a deep connection to the characters. Maybe it will change in the last stretch? This may sound like a weird analogy, but sometimes I feel like I'm reading a text-only version of a Japanese manga (in a good way). If I were a fast reader, it would feel even more like that. I would imagine comic book panels in my head instead of a "movie" so to speak. It's mainly due to his weaving of fantastic elements. Not too heavy, but enough of that fantastic element to give it all a slight supernatural and floaty feeling, enough to add a constant layer of "what is really real?" to the whole story. -
Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentThanks, "perfect for the dark winter months" sounds timely as it's getting colder where I am by the week. I still have a little bit left of 1Q84, but so far I liked it. It did not wow me, but I...Thanks, "perfect for the dark winter months" sounds timely as it's getting colder where I am by the week.
I still have a little bit left of 1Q84, but so far I liked it. It did not wow me, but I liked it far better than A Wild Sheep Chase. I started The Wind-up Bird Chronicle several years ago and did not finish. There were some war-time scenes and descriptions that were a little much for me at that time. I do remember being intrigued by the story otherwise. I should have stuck with it.
1Q84 to me is "fun". Easy to read for the most part, enough puzzle and mystery elements to "go deep" if I want to, or if not, just keep reading for the story without analyzing each detail. There were a few spots where I thought to myself "that's really cool" or "that's really touching", but I can't say I feel a deep connection to the characters. Maybe it will change in the last stretch? This may sound like a weird analogy, but sometimes I feel like I'm reading a text-only version of a Japanese manga (in a good way). If I were a fast reader, it would feel even more like that. I would imagine comic book panels in my head instead of a "movie" so to speak. It's mainly due to his weaving of fantastic elements. Not too heavy, but enough of that fantastic element to give it all a slight supernatural and floaty feeling, enough to add a constant layer of "what is really real?" to the whole story.
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Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentThis is pretty ironic... I just recently started reading more on my e-book reader. I had an very old one, upgraded recently, and have been loving it (especially the dictionary feature and ability...This is pretty ironic... I just recently started reading more on my e-book reader. I had an very old one, upgraded recently, and have been loving it (especially the dictionary feature and ability to even pull up Wikipedia). So, this book may have to wait, now that I know it's bad on e-book readers. Knowing myself, I will likely tire of the e-book reader after a little while, and crave the physical book yet again. Thanks for the insights regarding this book!
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Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentThank you - that helps! "Heavy, but beautiful" may be "perfect for the dark winter months" as another commenter put it.Thank you - that helps! "Heavy, but beautiful" may be "perfect for the dark winter months" as another commenter put it.
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Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentI loved Snowcrash. Have not read Lexicon (my to-read list grows yet again!).I loved Snowcrash. Have not read Lexicon (my to-read list grows yet again!).
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Comment on Please help me pick my next book to read! in ~books
Paul26 Link ParentWhile not on this list, he is on my larger list of writers to explore. I did briefly encounter his work in a class in university. The reading was "The Garden of Forking Paths". That was back in...While not on this list, he is on my larger list of writers to explore. I did briefly encounter his work in a class in university. The reading was "The Garden of Forking Paths". That was back in 2008, so I forgot much of it.
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Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentI'll have to check that out. Corner Gas - great show!I'll have to check that out.
Corner Gas - great show! -
Please help me pick my next book to read!
Hello fellow readers! I am finally close to finishing the book I am reading (maybe 2 weeks away or so - I am kind of a slow reader). That book is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. However, I am already...
Hello fellow readers! I am finally close to finishing the book I am reading (maybe 2 weeks away or so - I am kind of a slow reader). That book is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. However, I am already getting excited about the next book and I have a few on my "to read" list. I have read nothing by any of these authors, so I am going in blind, based only on some browsing and very basic non-spoiler reviews. Please, no spoilers. I thought it might be fun to post this here and see if your thoughts can help me prioritize my "to read" list and pick the next book I'll read. I think I am leaning towards "The Tunnel" or "The Seventh Function of Language", but anything on the list will be very fresh to me.
Title Author Life: A User's Manual Georges Perec, David Bellos Lives Other Than My Own Emmanuel Carrère, Linda Coverdale The Door Magda Szabo, Len Rix +1 The Melancholy of Resistance László Krasznahorkai The Seventh Function of Language Laurent Binet The Tunnel Ernesto Sabato The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett 13 votes -
Comment on What are some interesting landmarks in your neck of the woods? in ~talk
Paul26 LinkThe town of Vulcan, AB is close to where I live! Small, but neat sight for any Star Trek fans. Live long and prosper! But my personal favorite is the Nikka Yuko Japanese garden in Lethbridge, AB....The town of Vulcan, AB is close to where I live! Small, but neat sight for any Star Trek fans. Live long and prosper!
But my personal favorite is the Nikka Yuko Japanese garden in Lethbridge, AB. It's a bit of a drive for me, but an unexpected find a couple summers ago when we were in Lethbridge for an event. The garden is located in a larger park next to a lake, and there is a very nice path that goes all the way around.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (October 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 Link ParentCongrats on the new gig! I could use a new opportunity to fall on my lap right about now. The current job is "fine", but I am starting to get bored. My job has morphed into a middle-man role for...Congrats on the new gig!
I could use a new opportunity to fall on my lap right about now. The current job is "fine", but I am starting to get bored. My job has morphed into a middle-man role for the most part, and a lot more solo work ("crunching the numbers") and less working with people. This is exactly the opposite of how I had imagined this role to evolve. Part of me hopes they just automate this whole role and fire me with a nice package so I can take a break and look for something else without worrying about cash. -
Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (October 2025) in ~health.mental
Paul26 LinkA couple months ago I posted about video games and spending too much time playing. I received a lot of useful advice, thank you all who commented. I took some of that to heart and kept it front of...A couple months ago I posted about video games and spending too much time playing. I received a lot of useful advice, thank you all who commented. I took some of that to heart and kept it front of mind. I was successful at being more mindful for a while, but for the last 2 weeks I noticed I had circled back to a point where I really wanted to play, to the point that I got home from work and first thing I did was about 1 hour of gaming. I don't want to reiterate all the points in my previous post or make anyone reiterate their replies. One reply in particular said "sometimes, some gaming". This I think is what I'll ultimately hold onto. However, I will try to simply not play at all for as long as I can. In my Tildes inbox, I have a reply regarding a book I am (still) reading. I am sad that I managed to play so many hours of games, and yet I still have not finished this book. I lost track of how many times in life I have felt this way, and it's always around some habit-forming thing/addiction (games, alcohol (quit - 8 years ago), cigarettes (quit - 12 years ago)). Since games are less harmful than substances, that's why I do want to keep the "sometimes, some gaming" idea in mind. I don't want to hate myself if I do feel like playing a game. But I want to treat them more like TV shows or movies. When it's done, it's done. I shouldn't immediately default to another game, nor should I crave gaming in general. A good example is Borderlands 4. As a fan of the previous games, I was certain I would dive right into this when it got released. I did not. I watched some reviews and decided it's just more of the same and I gave the franchise enough weeks/months of my life already. Not buying Borderlands 4, in other words, was a win for me. So, if some game that I really want to play comes out, I can indulge without feeling guilty, and once done, I can put away the console ("sometimes, some gaming"). The opposite, and the behavior I still seem to struggle with, being that of reaching for the controller at the first sign of free time, or spending time thinking of whatever game I'm playing. If I play, I will enjoy it and be present. But in general, I'll aim not to play and reach for the book (or the pen, or the pencil) instead of the controller.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentYes, true. Now, if you want to see just thing from the people you follow you have to hit this little arrow at the top and choose that option.Yes, true. Now, if you want to see just thing from the people you follow you have to hit this little arrow at the top and choose that option.
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Comment on I am angry at Google and wanted to share (rant) in ~tech
Paul26 Link ParentGlad you got a kick out of it haha! A part of me is starting to seriously consider my next job and what it should be doing to avoid sitting 8 hours in front of a Windows computer using Office...Glad you got a kick out of it haha! A part of me is starting to seriously consider my next job and what it should be doing to avoid sitting 8 hours in front of a Windows computer using Office apps. I am starting to feel I have put enough years in this kind of job and next time I'm looking, it will have to be very different, hopefully away from a computer altogether if possible. When I volunteer, I work with people in person, and while it can sometimes be difficult and draining, I gotta say that after 2-3 hours of volunteering I feel more "accomplished" than after a week at my regular job.
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Comment on I am angry at Google and wanted to share (rant) in ~tech
Paul26 LinkSimilar to your experience, at work, they recently enabled the upgraded (enterprise? "work"?) version of Co-Pilot. Now, at the start of each Word doc is a Co-pilot summary bar. I have not figured...Similar to your experience, at work, they recently enabled the upgraded (enterprise? "work"?) version of Co-Pilot. Now, at the start of each Word doc is a Co-pilot summary bar. I have not figured out how to disable, and it may even be forced by global policy. Likewise, all Office apps are now plastered with Co-pilot pop-ups and content. Even the MS Forms website has a large Co-pilot side panel with suggestion on improving my forms. Some of these can be disabled (Excel, at least, had a setting to minimize the number of these annoyances). Even OneNote has a Co-pilot line at the top of a new note offering assistance. This is like Clippy on steroids. It's like Microsoft was upset that people didn't take Clippy seriously in the 90s and they are unleashing their vengeance on us all with Co-pilot. Clippy is laughing from his grave.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentLoans are crazy. The way interest works on those is such a waste of money. And I can't even wrap my head around leasing. I guess it's like long-term renting. I prefer to buy something I can afford...Loans are crazy. The way interest works on those is such a waste of money. And I can't even wrap my head around leasing. I guess it's like long-term renting. I prefer to buy something I can afford 100% rather than buying something fancy I can only afford by borrowing money. I don't like the loan chain around my neck. But a close relative of mine, for example, had no issue splurging on a luxury European car, leasing it. Guess what happened a few years later when life threw them a curveball? Could no longer afford it. Hundreds in leasing fee, insurance, premium gas just to satisfy some materialistic craving for a luxury vehicle.
For my next car I'm taking your advice, tho it won't be for a while. I have a Jetta at the moment, and I chose it hoping it lasts a long time. My brother in law moved to my city recently, and he knows a lot more about cars than I do, so he'll be my car friend who I'll take with me. I can do small things on my own (swap winter / summer wheels, minor repairs). I'd like to eventually learn how to change breaks pads and do oil changes.
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Comment on What's a product or service that you use but don't want to pay for and why? in ~life
Paul26 Link ParentThank you! That looks promising. I’ll give it a shot.Thank you! That looks promising. I’ll give it a shot.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentThank you. This is really useful and I wish I knew this a few months ago. I’ll know for my next car tho and I look forward to saving a bunch of cash at that point. I am one of the general public...Thank you. This is really useful and I wish I knew this a few months ago. I’ll know for my next car tho and I look forward to saving a bunch of cash at that point. I am one of the general public who thought I better avoid anything that’s more than 5 years old and over 100k Km.
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Comment on What common misunderstanding do you want to clear up? in ~talk
Paul26 Link ParentWithout someone who does know a lot about cars, how can a non-car person know when the 2012 Outback is indeed OK or not? The seller will always say "it's great!" What are some easy things to look for?Without someone who does know a lot about cars, how can a non-car person know when the 2012 Outback is indeed OK or not? The seller will always say "it's great!" What are some easy things to look for?
I discovered this musician recently and have been impressed and touched by his music.