pienix's recent activity
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Comment on What lesser-known alternative would you recommend as a substitute for something more popular? in ~talk
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Comment on Firefox now supports native vertical tabs in 136.0 release in ~tech
pienix Link ParentI've been using the Sideberry add-on for a while now (which basically does the same thing, including tab grouping), and I get what you're saying. It took a while to get used to it, but now it...I've been using the Sideberry add-on for a while now (which basically does the same thing, including tab grouping), and I get what you're saying.
It took a while to get used to it, but now it absolutely doesn't bother me any longer, and it's so much easier to find back tabs when you continuously have dozens of them open.
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
pienix Link ParentOn The Outer Wilds: I assume you have played the DLC?On The Outer Wilds: I assume you have played the DLC?
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Comment on Everything is Chrome in ~tech
pienix Link ParentI made the switch for the same reason, and haven't found a reason to switch back. But what made me love Firefox is their Containers. It allows to group tabs into completely separate cookie...I made the switch for the same reason, and haven't found a reason to switch back. But what made me love Firefox is their Containers.
It allows to group tabs into completely separate cookie 'pockets' (or containers). I have personal accounts with several companies, all in the MS Office 365 space. I can be logged in in all of them in the same browser, without them interfering with each other because they're all in their own container. I can choose to open a new tab or link in a specific container. No more juggling with the accounts, it just works. I also use it to keep my social media browsing separate from everything else.
I don't know if this would convince a normie, though.
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Comment on Everything is Chrome in ~tech
pienix Link ParentIn my opinion it's even less concerning than that. IIRC, what they removed was not 'we won't sell your data you entered in the browser', but 'we won't use your data you entered in the browser'....In my opinion it's even less concerning than that. IIRC, what they removed was not 'we won't sell your data you entered in the browser', but 'we won't use your data you entered in the browser'.
Obviously, a browser needs to use that data to function properly. I think it was just an overzealous legal team who wanted to dot the i's and 'fix' the terms.
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Comment on "The Bullshit Machines" - A free humanities course on LLMs for college freshmen from UW professors in ~humanities
pienix Link ParentI tend to agree with this take. Claiming an LLM is just a fancy text predictor is the same as claiming a fully self-driving car is the same as a horse carriage because they both have wheels. I...I tend to agree with this take. Claiming an LLM is just a fancy text predictor is the same as claiming a fully self-driving car is the same as a horse carriage because they both have wheels.
I would also like to point to the recent 3blue1brown videos on YouTube (I think there are a total of 7 now, but the last three tackle the LLMs specifically) which go into the mathematics of how certain concepts or 'understandings' (e.g. the similar difference between man/woman, king/queen, nephew/niece) are represented in the model, and where and how facts are stored.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
pienix LinkJust finished Plague Tale: Innocence. The game gets fairly good reviews overall, I but found it quite disappointing. The story (which I expected to be quite strong in a game like that) is...Just finished Plague Tale: Innocence. The game gets fairly good reviews overall, I but found it quite disappointing.
The story (which I expected to be quite strong in a game like that) is wafer-thin and very short. I'm not a particularly fast gamer, and I finished the game in just over 10 hours.
The gameplay (especially the first half/ three quarters) is very linear, not innovative, and not very diverse. It's basically 'go to area with guards/rats' , 'find way to get past guards/rats' , 'go to next area'. The equipment you need to get past the enemy is conveniently always in reach. Perhaps there is more than one way to solve these little 'puzzles', but there is always one extremely straightforward approach that makes them unchallenging. Yes, the rats are a fun gimmick, but after a couple of areas they are just another obstacle.
It changes a bit in the last part of the game, which I enjoyed more, but it doesn't make up for the whole game.
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Comment on Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the thousands of apps hijacked to spy on your location in ~tech
pienix Link ParentDepending on your level of technical expertise, I would suggest setting up a PiHole. It's quite easy to set up, and you have full control over what gets through. Combining it with a PiVPN ensures...Depending on your level of technical expertise, I would suggest setting up a PiHole. It's quite easy to set up, and you have full control over what gets through.
Combining it with a PiVPN ensures ad blocking on the go.
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Comment on What hard scifi books could you recommend? in ~books
pienix LinkVernor Vinge has some pretty hard science fiction, although it depends on your definition. I would call The Martian quite hard. Fire upon the Deep, and Deepness in the Sky, I've really enjoyed, as...Vernor Vinge has some pretty hard science fiction, although it depends on your definition. I would call The Martian quite hard.
Fire upon the Deep, and Deepness in the Sky, I've really enjoyed, as well as the duology Across Realtime (The Peace War, and Marooned in Realtime)
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Comment on American election mental health thread in ~health.mental
pienix Link ParentYeah, I agree. It's not a republican problem, it's a democrat problem. Trump had a couple of million votes less than against Biden. Kamala has 15 million (!) fewer votes than Biden had. Where were...Yeah, I agree. It's not a republican problem, it's a democrat problem.
Trump had a couple of million votes less than against Biden. Kamala has 15 million (!) fewer votes than Biden had. Where were all these voters? Why didn't they bother to show up? Or how did they come to the conclusion that now is a good time to vote third party?
It's ridiculous. I'm not American, but I dreaded this day and my worst fears came true. This will affect the world and there isn't a goddamn thing I can do.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix Link ParentYeah, that's definitely the plan! Just finished Edgedancer, so now I'll start Oathbringer, and then on to Dawnshard. I already had to look up who Rysn was again. I tend to forget the characters...Yeah, that's definitely the plan! Just finished Edgedancer, so now I'll start Oathbringer, and then on to Dawnshard.
I already had to look up who Rysn was again. I tend to forget the characters introduced in these interludes. But it comes back quickly, especially with the help of coppermind.net :-)
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (November 2024) in ~health.mental
pienix LinkA couple of months ago (I think it was the May edition of this topic) I mentioned that I was dealing with a lot of stress at work, which caused insomnia, which caused more stress. Stuck in a...A couple of months ago (I think it was the May edition of this topic) I mentioned that I was dealing with a lot of stress at work, which caused insomnia, which caused more stress. Stuck in a vicious cycle, and the doctor put me at home for a month.
The best way to deal with a burnout is to start working when you can, while making sure you don't overdo (like training a muscle). So for the past months I've been steadily taking up more work. Starting with just 30%, slowly making my way to 80% in October. Starting next week, I'll go to the full 100% again.
I feel ok. I believe I can do it, although I'll have to watch out. There's a lot to do at work these days, and I feel I'm reaching my limit, with the occasional bad nights as a result.
But that's ok. I still see it as 'training my muscle', and the bad nights itself don't stress me as much anymore. Psychologist helped me a lot with that.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix LinkWith Stormlight 5 coming out next month, I started the Stormlight Archive. I've had these books for a couple of years now, but I wanted to read all 5 in one go. I'm almost finished with Words of...With Stormlight 5 coming out next month, I started the Stormlight Archive. I've had these books for a couple of years now, but I wanted to read all 5 in one go.
I'm almost finished with Words of Radiance, and I'm loving it so far! It's epic, but with a manageable amount of characters to keep track of.
I also have the 'in between' books laying around (Edgedancer, Dawnshard, Sunlit Man), so I doubt I'll be ready when the book gets here.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pienix Link ParentAnd "Project Hail Mary" is basically "Mark Watney in space" But I don't care, though. I enjoyed every bit of it. Artemis is probably my least favorite of the three.And "Project Hail Mary" is basically "Mark Watney in space"
But I don't care, though. I enjoyed every bit of it. Artemis is probably my least favorite of the three.
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Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
pienix Link ParentPurple. I don't actually have a favorite color, never had. But as a child I was so sick of having to fill in these get-to-know-eachother books/questionnaires/... where they would ask for a...Purple. I don't actually have a favorite color, never had. But as a child I was so sick of having to fill in these get-to-know-eachother books/questionnaires/... where they would ask for a favorite color, that I just picked one at random.
I've stood by it ever since, and I don't have any feelings towards it.
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Comment on Any other 3D Printers here? in ~hobbies
pienix Link ParentI've been painting as well, and don't seem to have the same issues with acrylic paint, without primer. I use very little water, though. Also I print sculptures printed with a 0.2mm nozzle and...I've been painting as well, and don't seem to have the same issues with acrylic paint, without primer.
I use very little water, though. Also I print sculptures printed with a 0.2mm nozzle and 0.06mm layer height, so the surface is quite smooth.
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Comment on Any other 3D Printers here? in ~hobbies
pienix LinkAt the beginning of this year, I got a Bambu A1 mini, and I just love it. I don't want to bother with tinkering. I just want to print as easily as possible. Bambu is great for that. Right now I've...At the beginning of this year, I got a Bambu A1 mini, and I just love it. I don't want to bother with tinkering. I just want to print as easily as possible. Bambu is great for that.
Right now I've only printed with PLA, but I have a spool of PETG and I really want to try TPU as well.
One thing I really enjoy lately, is printing small sculptures (the 0.2mm nozzle is just crazy) and painting them. Mostly related to books and games I like.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
pienix Link ParentWent in completely cold. I didn't even know it originally was a Skyrim mod until after. It was fun. Not too difficult or farfetched in terms of clue-finding, but it continued being interesting,...Went in completely cold. I didn't even know it originally was a Skyrim mod until after.
It was fun. Not too difficult or farfetched in terms of clue-finding, but it continued being interesting, with some discoveries I did not see coming. And while it was quite short, I became really invested in the characters. The 'best ending' was very satisfying.
I have a feeling the creators are really into history and culture due to the (I'm assuming) lots of accurate pieces of information and items you find throughout the game.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
pienix LinkIn the last thread I mentioned that I finished Cyberpunk and was looking for something completely different. A smaller game with maybe a more unique gameplay and/or story. Meanwhile I finished...In the last thread I mentioned that I finished Cyberpunk and was looking for something completely different. A smaller game with maybe a more unique gameplay and/or story.
Meanwhile I finished Stray. A beautiful little game (took me just under 10 hours), where you play as a cat in a post-apocalyptic robot-inhabited city. A nice story with some original lore, and quite moving at times. And I loved the little tippy-taps, the "mews" and "mraws", the naps, ...
After that I played What remains of Edith Finch. Even shorter (maybe a couple of hours of gameplay), but again quite original. It's basically a short story, consisting of several even shorter stories, some with unique gameplay or storytelling mechanisms. I found it very relaxing, in a way. The story is about death and loss, so not a happy story, but sad and beautiful.
Next on the list is Forgotten City. Don't really know what it's about, only that there is a time loop and that it's supposed to be good.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
pienix Link ParentPlease pick up the DLC as well. It's amazingly beautiful, original, and adds a lot of depth to the original story.Please pick up the DLC as well. It's amazingly beautiful, original, and adds a lot of depth to the original story.
This is a good opportunity to plug the following site: https://www.goeuropean.org/
It provides European alternatives for the big American brands, something I'd like to focus on for the foreseeable future.