pekt's recent activity
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
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Comment on Factorio Space Exploration 0.7 released in ~games
pekt Link ParentThanks for sharing that, I had no idea that the team that makes Splatoon also handles Animal Crossing! I wonder if working on such different games helps them keep things fresh when developing the...Thanks for sharing that, I had no idea that the team that makes Splatoon also handles Animal Crossing! I wonder if working on such different games helps them keep things fresh when developing the other.
That did get me curious, and it looks like they have released an animal crossing game every 4–5 years in the past, and it has been over 5 years since New Horizons came out. That game was the first time I saw my wife get really engrossed in a game since she didn't grow up playing video games, and I know she'll want to play the next one when it comes out.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
pekt (edited )Link ParentI'm hoping to do something similar with my own kids, they deserve love and support and understanding. My struggle is that I didn't receive that when I was a child. I won't go in to details, but I...I'm hoping to do something similar with my own kids, they deserve love and support and understanding.
My struggle is that I didn't receive that when I was a child. I won't go in to details, but I suffered through abuse as a child and was exposed to pornography at a very young age on purpose. With it being frictionless to access online meant that I was able to keep coming back to it snd developed an addiction to pornography at a young age that I've had to fight and pray to overcome. It's also sadly impacted relationships I've had, including my marriage.
I personally believe the current state of pornography in its current free and digital form is a huge detriment to society. Others may disagree, but I know when I was a kid it was joked about, and I'm guessing that most kids and teenagers under 18 I know were looking at it. Pornography online is nothing pornography in the pre internet days. Finding an adult magazine or video meant that the child who found it could access that one video. Now a child who figures out how where porn is online can access it at all times from their internet connected device and hiding it is as easy as closing their private browser tab instead of needing to stash the physical evidence.
I hate the privacy implications and don't want the world to devolve into a pure nanny state where it's impossible for adults to make these kinds of choices for themselves. But I do hope for a zero trust security implementation of the ID verification. Some kids don't have parents who can be trusted to do "proper" parenting to talk them through the dangers of things on the internet. I used to laugh at the "think of the children" argument, but aftering taking the time to address my own addiction and abuse, and becoming a father, I get it. I would never let my children go through what I did and I hope that something can be done for the children who don't have parents who care enough or have them time/know how to make decisions about these things. Workarounds will always exist, but the scout's honor system in place on these sites now don't work.
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Comment on I tried to protect my kids from the internet. Here’s what happened. in ~tech
pekt (edited )Link ParentWhen you mentioned that the technology is there for annoymous age verification, it made me remember that it was mentioned on the Security Now podcast that the founder of Yubico (which makes the...When you mentioned that the technology is there for annoymous age verification, it made me remember that it was mentioned on the Security Now podcast that the founder of Yubico (which makes the hardware security keys called YubiKeys), Stina Ehrensvärd, has been working on a solution for this: https://siros.org/
The idea Steve Gibson (from the Security Now podcast) had would be for individuals to essentially go to a sort of notary/public service where they would be able to give you a digital token that you use with your biometric to unlock on your decide that provides an assertion that you are above x years of age. The token wouldn't disclose any other information about you beyond that you are above x years of age and that Y government (or private) body has confirmed this.
I had more I wanted to add to the conversation but only have a few minutes so I wanted to share this in case anyone else wanted to look in to it as well.
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Comment on Factorio Space Exploration 0.7 released in ~games
pekt Link ParentI've been considering one, and recommended it to my wife over getting a Switch 2 since they're around the same price, but I'm willing to guess that if a new Animal Crossing game is announced we'll...I've been considering one, and recommended it to my wife over getting a Switch 2 since they're around the same price, but I'm willing to guess that if a new Animal Crossing game is announced we'll end up with a Switch 2.
Appreciate the recommendation and glad it runs Factorio well! The downside being it isn't sold directly by Valve where I live so I'd need to trust an importer or get it when I visit the US again.
It's a maybe one day item for me and I think it'd definitely help me game more. For now I mostly use emulators + save states on my phone when I want to play a game that doesn't run natively on Android.
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Comment on Factorio Space Exploration 0.7 released in ~games
pekt LinkFor some reason, I had thought Space Exploration as a mod had hit 1.0. I'm glad to see it's still being worked on. I've had a serious Factorio itch lately, but haven't been able to sit down to...For some reason, I had thought Space Exploration as a mod had hit 1.0. I'm glad to see it's still being worked on. I've had a serious Factorio itch lately, but haven't been able to sit down to scratch it and with my personal laptop battery starting to swell I don't plan on using that laptop until I can take it to get the battery replaced.
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
pekt (edited )Link ParentI'm either a former young white man or a current one depending on how people define it. I saw there was a ton of great conversation on this post over the last few days and I thought I'd share some...There is a serious gap in messaging and leaves them susceptible to being influenced by whoever tells them they're good.
I'm either a former young white man or a current one depending on how people define it. I saw there was a ton of great conversation on this post over the last few days and I thought I'd share some of my own experiences where I ran into this.
I remember being in university when Trump was first elected and taking the time to pay more attention to the election since it was everywhere. I'd been raised in a more conservative household and I had heard about that experience of people going to college and becoming liberal through there experiences there. I'd always considered myself somewhat moderate if leaning conservative, but I came in to college thinking there would be an openness of ideas or debate with people, especially professors being willing to explore multiple sides.
That was not my experience, I found in everyone of my "core" (general non major courses) I would get a lower grade if I didn't tow the line or express progress ideas. I.e. I got a C for writing a paper that expressed what I thought was a nuisanced position that I put time into in a philosophy class and then got an A on my next paper by extolling the virtues of communism. Honestly, it felt wrong doing it, but I wasn't going to tank my GPA (which I did later through not being sure I wanted to be in my major and other reasons) and put the couple of small scholarships I had at risk due to not telling the guy teaching my class who would wear a hammer and sickle shirt to lectures what he wanted to hear.
There was definitely a lot of that messaging that being white and men was/is bad and living with a bunch of college aged guys we'd joke about it endlessly. But beyond joking I felt like that messaging kept me from buying into the left side of politics at that time and led me to voting for Trump. I also felt like the email scandal was a big deal and should have been taken more seriously than it was instead of there being attempts to sweep it under the rig which contributed to thinking he (Trump) was going to change things up by being someone who was coming from outside the current established political parties.
I hadn't watched a Charlie Kirk video in years, but I felt like him taking the time to talk with students on campus and challenge people's beliefs through debate was part of that visions that I saw as being on a college campus. My wife didn't like his political views but she enjoyed some of his videos to see an articulate person put his points forward and defend them.
Edit: I meant to auto select a word and bumped post so I'll leave this hear real quick and then come back and remove it once I get my thought down.
Edit 2: I usually like to put more thought into something like this, but since I had it up and I probably wouldn't have the time to come back in a couple of days I thought I'd put together something real quick before my kids woke up, but they are awake and I'm out of time to type more.
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Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk
pekt (edited )LinkFortnight and Semiweekly - because biweekly bugs me by having two meanings, and you have to clarify what you mean instead of using one word that means what you want it to mean. Whenever I hear...Fortnight and Semiweekly - because biweekly bugs me by having two meanings, and you have to clarify what you mean instead of using one word that means what you want it to mean. Whenever I hear biweekly, I always have to ask the clarifying "do you mean twice a week or every two weeks?".
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
pekt Link ParentWhen I started drinking coffee regularly, I decided that I'd drink black coffee instead of coffee with sweeteners/cream/milk/other stuff added in. This was mainly a health thing, as I know that...When I started drinking coffee regularly, I decided that I'd drink black coffee instead of coffee with sweeteners/cream/milk/other stuff added in. This was mainly a health thing, as I know that it's easy to put in a lot of extra stuff/calories in to a coffee to get it to taste "nice". It also made me appreciate the difference in tastes that coffee can offer and when I have a coffee that does have other stuff added in it feels like a treat or something special to enjoy. Also, it's cheaper.
The downside being, when I have guests who like their coffee a certain way, I don't really have much to offer them besides some sugar and milk since I don't stock anything else that they might want in their coffee.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
pekt LinkMy slow watch through of Initial D First Stage continues. I've watched through episode 11 so far. The last few episodes saw Takumi take part in another race after having a challenge accepted on...My slow watch through of Initial D First Stage continues. I've watched through episode 11 so far.
The last few episodes saw Takumi take part in another race after having a challenge accepted on his behalf, and come to realize that he enjoys driving and street racing. I've enjoyed the pacing of the show and really find that it sucks you in and makes you want to watch an extra episode to see what happens with it being a cliffhanger ending without it feeling like a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of each episode.
Honestly, I'm not a big car guy, but I do think if I had watched this show as a teenager, I probably would have enjoyed working on my car more and probably put more effort in to the "optional" work (like a rear window being stuck for a year+ or my back right speaker not working properly, etc.) that I neglected because I wanted to work on it as little as possible to not be around my dad more than I had to.
I'm not sure if I'll immediately watch the next season after this one or go watch something else I've been meaning to watch.
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
pekt LinkWhen I lived in the US I was a big fan of Winco. Employee owned, and their store brand was always good quality and decently priced. It was fantastic having them in the college town where I...When I lived in the US I was a big fan of Winco. Employee owned, and their store brand was always good quality and decently priced.
It was fantastic having them in the college town where I attended university, as they were open 24/7. Also loved having one nearby where we lived post graduation as I was able to either stop and get groceries on my way home without going out of my way or during covid/post kid I could get up early, do all of our family's shopping and be home and have everything put away before my wife and kid were up.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pekt Link ParentHow far are you in the Fellowship of the Ring? The beginning of the story is slow-going, and I feel like it picks up more in chapter 8 or 9. I'm currently rereading the Fellowship of the Ring and...How far are you in the Fellowship of the Ring? The beginning of the story is slow-going, and I feel like it picks up more in chapter 8 or 9.
I'm currently rereading the Fellowship of the Ring and do agree with you that the book takes its time in getting started.
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Comment on Why do you like your job? in ~life
pekt LinkOne of the biggest benefits of my current role has been working remotely and the flexibility my role offers. I started (mostly) remote work during COVID in my previous company and came to really...One of the biggest benefits of my current role has been working remotely and the flexibility my role offers. I started (mostly) remote work during COVID in my previous company and came to really enjoy it. After moving abroad, almost all the roles I applied for locally were onsite full-time or have one day a week work from home as a perk. Traffic can be terrible here, especially after work during rush hour, so being able to avoid that is a huge win. I also get to spend time with my kids more, and my role is flexible enough that I can step away to get things done as I need or help my kids with something. I'm expected to be available, but if I need to take a few minutes to load the laundry machine, pick up my kids from school, or something else, that's fine. I'm treated like an adult who can get his work done without micromanaging.
The company I work for provides a product I had used for years and was something I recommended to my friends and family to use since I started using it. It's great being able to work here and everyone I've met at the company has been great.
I also work daytime hours, which is amazing for my health and family relations. I worked nights after moving and even after switching my shift to half night, half daytime I wasn't getting enough sleep, though I'd do it again for that pay as if I could have kept that job for the long term it would mean my wife wouldn't need to work if she didn't want to.
Downsides:
Not working locally has meant I haven't made friends from work who I can hang out with here, and I've also not had that immersion to push me to learn the local languages. I especially need to work on the national local language, as it is a huge plus towards getting my permanent residence.
My current role is very focused on the company's products and I don't think it is as transferable to other positions in the career trajectory I had wanted, so I'm needing to put in extra time to improving myself so I can hopefully move to another role in the company in the future that would have broader skills I can take elsewhere if needed. -
Comment on Over 50% of the job cuts in video games are in California in ~games
pekt Link ParentThat's totally valid. There are AAA games I'd like to check out at some point, but it'll be when I'm buying them at a steep discount after they've been out for over a decade. I don't have the time...That's totally valid. There are AAA games I'd like to check out at some point, but it'll be when I'm buying them at a steep discount after they've been out for over a decade. I don't have the time to play shooters like I used to which keeps me from getting any new ones, and I'm not planning to build a new computer to play games anytime soon which means I'm mainly going to be playing older/lower spec games on my laptop for the foreseeable future.
Baldur's Gate 3 in particular has made me want to go replay Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 since I played them as a kid and feel like there's a lot in those games that I missed out on or don't remember.
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Comment on Over 50% of the job cuts in video games are in California in ~games
pekt Link ParentI was going off the implication that @raze2012 mentioned and that many large companies making AAA games have offices in different places in the world. With the article focused on how 50% of those...I was going off the implication that @raze2012 mentioned and that many large companies making AAA games have offices in different places in the world. With the article focused on how 50% of those layoffs were in California alone it made sense to me that other offices that are part of those companies not located in California, or in the US, would have received fewer layoffs due to the cost of their team members being lower.
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Comment on Over 50% of the job cuts in video games are in California in ~games
pekt LinkI think the focus on "California AAA" being where a lot of cuts are happening makes some amount of sense. I know I'm not the target market anymore, as I don't buy many games and wouldn't touch a...I think the focus on "California AAA" being where a lot of cuts are happening makes some amount of sense. I know I'm not the target market anymore, as I don't buy many games and wouldn't touch a modern AAA game, but I have friends who still play video games a ton. When I have chatted with them and asked if they're getting [insert big name release] they've mostly laughed and say no because they don't think it'll be worth it.
I remember seeing this article about how PC gamers spent most of their time playing older games, and I think it makes it harder for these large AAA games to make a return on their investment, which makes it a riskier proposition to continue funding them. I can see how people playing older games consistently would lead to employees in California, especially if they live in Silicon Valley, where the cost of living is so high, being cut first as studios try to cut costs. The cost savings from off shoring is something I'm not a fan of, but even if they don't take the jobs out of the US and used remote working to hire someone in a cheaper area or formed a subsidiary studio there, the company could still see significant savings.
This is just some quick Google math, but the cost of living in Raleigh, North Carolina is approximately half of San Jose, California, so you could afford to have approximately twice as many developers working there for the same cost. Note: I'm using quick math and I know there are additional costs associated with having employees than just their salary.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pekt Link ParentYour comment made me think about how Smaug did probably plunder Dale as well as Erebor which would also entitle some of people living in Lake Town a portion of those riches beyond what was...Your comment made me think about how Smaug did probably plunder Dale as well as Erebor which would also entitle some of people living in Lake Town a portion of those riches beyond what was promised them for assisting Thorin and co.
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Comment on Blizzard Entertainment files lawsuit against World of Warcraft private server Turtle WoW in ~games
pekt Link ParentI was thinking a long those lines, more that they were buying all the custom code and balancing that they had included and then using those ideas in their Classic+ release. A pipe dream for sure...I was thinking a long those lines, more that they were buying all the custom code and balancing that they had included and then using those ideas in their Classic+ release. A pipe dream for sure since they'll want to do their own thing which I have little hope of being better.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
pekt Link ParentI'm not sure if this was around when I started in on One Piece, but the amount of episodes out and the amount of filler I had heard was in there pushed me to reading the manga over watching the...I'm not sure if this was around when I started in on One Piece, but the amount of episodes out and the amount of filler I had heard was in there pushed me to reading the manga over watching the anime.
I'm not sure I'll ever watch the anime with how long it is even with the filler removed but I've had this bookmarked for years just in case
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Comment on Blizzard Entertainment files lawsuit against World of Warcraft private server Turtle WoW in ~games
pekt LinkBlizzard put out a survey somewhat recently to see what users would want in a classic + server. This reminds me of them shutting down the vanilla private server Nostalrius before they opened their...Blizzard put out a survey somewhat recently to see what users would want in a classic + server. This reminds me of them shutting down the vanilla private server Nostalrius before they opened their own classic servers.
With how well Turtle wow is doing it feels like they could have just purchased the server and hired on the team and reset everyone to level 1 for an official release and rename is Classic +. Maybe get rid of the donation mechanics that they didn't like or heck keep them in since they like micro transactions.
It's a fine line to balance, for sure. I think the digital experience poses unique challenges, that society hadn't addressed until now because it was a newer medium, but as things have become increasingly digital the need to address them has come. Since unlike with a physical place that is an adults only establishment like a bar, strip club, etc. there has been no way to confirm that only adults are present.
I don't pretend to know what is the correct way to address this, but I'm glad it's being looked at. I think having a zero knowledge age verification system would have been helpful to a younger me, even if I tried to get around it like a lot of teens who attempt to circumvent parental/whatever restrictions. I just hope that I'm able to walk through the contents of the internet with my kids and help them to make wise choices and always be there for them.