Pistos's recent activity
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Comment on Save Point: A game deal roundup for the week of November 9 in ~games
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Comment on How has AI positively impacted your life? in ~tech
Pistos LinkI use AI every day, maybe 1 or 2 hours a day in the aggregate. In my case, I mainly use Claude, with smatterings of ChatGPT usage, but I'm not really married to any service just yet. I never would...I use AI every day, maybe 1 or 2 hours a day in the aggregate. In my case, I mainly use Claude, with smatterings of ChatGPT usage, but I'm not really married to any service just yet. I never would have thought that I'd become this avid a user, but, that's how it's turned out.
My main use case is helping with foreign language self study (Korean, in my case). Secondarily, it's been useful for just learning beginner-level stuff about a variety of topics. It's helped with gardening, and indoor plant care, plumbing, and cooking. I've done several other things with it, though, ranging from finding English synonyms, to researching tech purchases, to getting an overview of some new software engineering domain. I have had mixed results trying to use AI to help ("help") code, so I don't often turn to it for that. My main problem is it takes too much conversation to finally come up with a working solution or conclusion, and it's especially bad when you have to debug what it gives you, and you keep pointing out issues here and there (who should be helping whom in this interaction?).
I'm also impressed with what it can "see" when you upload pictures. It's identified (or guessed at) insects and plants, and judged plant health. It also seems to have very good OCR, so snapping pics of signs, etc. in the world around you is easy for it to read and help you with.
AI is also good at producing text things given some constraints. For example, I have provided my current Korean vocabulary, and it's able to generate graded reading that is at my level (or slightly beyond, if I ask it); or relate new learning material to stuff I already know.
For me, a big thing about these AIs is that you can go back and forth in a conversation to refine your needs vs what it's giving you; or to drill down and improve your understanding of something; or to ask questions for clarification or further education. It's almost like having a teacher or tutor on hand -- though, of course, with the caveat that you need to stay guarded with your trust, and double check things as needed.
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Comment on How has AI positively impacted your life? in ~tech
Pistos Link ParentI've done a similar workflow by just snapping a regular pic with my phone, and uploading it in the basic Claude or ChatGPT web UI. It's identified (well, taken good guesses at) insects and plants,...I've done a similar workflow by just snapping a regular pic with my phone, and uploading it in the basic Claude or ChatGPT web UI. It's identified (well, taken good guesses at) insects and plants, especially when you give some text context (like how big the spider was in inches, etc.). It's also made judgements on plant health.
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Comment on How has AI positively impacted your life? in ~tech
Pistos Link ParentDepending on the topic, you can try to double check stuff out on the Internet, hopefully using reliable, authoritative sources. "Why not just go straight to the Internet?" you might ask. Well, it...Depending on the topic, you can try to double check stuff out on the Internet, hopefully using reliable, authoritative sources. "Why not just go straight to the Internet?" you might ask. Well, it sometimes can point you quickly in the right direction(s), or provide jumping points for your further research. You might be able to do the same, but it might take you longer.
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Large US study finds memory decline surge in young people
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Comment on Paid e-mail providers - your experiences, how you use them and how I would use it in ~tech
Pistos Link Parent+1 for Fastmail. Happy user for over a year now. (Formerly self-hosted.) The price is acceptable to me, but that obviously varies from person to person. Things I like about it: easy masked email;...+1 for Fastmail. Happy user for over a year now. (Formerly self-hosted.) The price is acceptable to me, but that obviously varies from person to person.
Things I like about it: easy masked email; can use mail client (instead of web interface); no (known) issues with rejected mail or spam false positives; zero downtime so far. It does the job, and has no annoying UX issues.
I only need and want them for email. Can't speak to calendar or contacts features.
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Comment on Los Angeles Dodgers beat Toronto Blue Jays to win the World Series in ~sports.baseball
Pistos LinkSidebar: How funny was that comebacker to Wrobleski? I mean, what in the heck are the odds of that happening right after a controversial HBP after 2 close up-and-ins. I was laughing out loud a...Sidebar: How funny was that comebacker to Wrobleski? I mean, what in the heck are the odds of that happening right after a controversial HBP after 2 close up-and-ins. I was laughing out loud a whole minute after that.
Anyway, I guess over a billion dollars in star pitching contracts really can buy you victory. Credit to the Dodgers. Jays made it close, but came just short.
Who knows what the Jays roster will be like next year. This is probably as close as Toronto will get in another long period of time. They were the underdogs, and they overachieved this year, but who knows when all the little parts and lucky things will happen all at once again.
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Comment on Cyclist falls down 130-foot ravine in France, survives three days by drinking wine he had in shopping bag in ~life
Pistos Link ParentWell, 2 days without food usually won't kill anyone (can confirm).Well, 2 days without food usually won't kill anyone (can confirm).
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Comment on People with a very good memory: does that make it harder to forgive? in ~talk
Pistos LinkI see what you're getting at, but think about this, too: Forgiving is something you can do without forgetting.I see what you're getting at, but think about this, too: Forgiving is something you can do without forgetting.
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Comment on What indie competitive games do you play? in ~games
Pistos LinkI don't play them any more, but I had fun with this WWI FPS series: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/BlackmillGames Challenging in their own way, and pretty much no fully automatic guns.I don't play them any more, but I had fun with this WWI FPS series:
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/BlackmillGames
Challenging in their own way, and pretty much no fully automatic guns.
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Comment on Announcing the Backlog Burner event for November 2025: Shrink your unplayed games list this coming month! in ~games
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Comment on Struggling in my relationship in ~life
Pistos Link ParentI just want to add to what sparksbet said above. I know you said you've said a lot to your partner already, but in case this would be insightful to you: Speaking from experience, sometimes people...I just want to add to what sparksbet said above. I know you said you've said a lot to your partner already, but in case this would be insightful to you:
Speaking from experience, sometimes people (like me) just don't get it, and don't pick up on clues, can't read the situations -- whatever you want to call it. Then, the other person goes ballistic one day, and only then do people like me see how big of a deal it's been -- but not before the ballistics. I have often thought in my head (and sometimes verbalized -- but that usually just sparks more fire), "I wish I knew. I wish you said it more explicitly." Like, I feel like people like me need an explicit description of where things are headed. Anything like "I am feeling [negative feelings] right now because of [circumstances, state; you keep doing X; you keep ignoring X]. I'm telling you, if things continue like this, in [time frame], I am going to (be furious / leave / take Y action)."
I'm not guaranteeing this will help, but it might. If the other side genuinely cares, they'll take it seriously, and take action, or at least want to fix it, even if they don't know how. And, if they want to, but don't know how, you can offer solutions or plans that you both can agree to.
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Comment on Thieves steal crown jewels in four minutes from Louvre Museum in Paris in ~arts
Pistos (edited )LinkBrings to mind the consideration of whether we should pay attention to such things (or even publish news about them), as the fame (infamy) may fuel and encourage future similar crimes. Similarly,...Brings to mind the consideration of whether we should pay attention to such things (or even publish news about them), as the fame (infamy) may fuel and encourage future similar crimes. Similarly, some argue that mass shooters, etc. should not be named or depicted (face) in news, for similar reasons (though coverage of the tragic events themselves would be acceptable).
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Comment on I could use recommendations for an ultrawide monitor in ~tech
Pistos LinkGiven your expressed feature needs and wants, I'm curious why you require ultra-wide-ness. I would guess that you'll get more quality for the same money by getting a standard 16:9 monitor.Given your expressed feature needs and wants, I'm curious why you require ultra-wide-ness. I would guess that you'll get more quality for the same money by getting a standard 16:9 monitor.
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Comment on How do I convince my workplace we need SQL databases? in ~tech
Pistos LinkNot sure how feasible this is for your scale, technical context, and departmental culture, but: You could try double-writing. Whatever goes into your existing "bad" tech stack also gets written to...Not sure how feasible this is for your scale, technical context, and departmental culture, but:
You could try double-writing. Whatever goes into your existing "bad" tech stack also gets written to your proposed "good" tech stack. Doesn't have to be super efficient, or perfectly in parallel. It could be a delayed write, even in a batch at midnight, or whatever. Then you at least have a source that you can read from and perform SQL queries against, etc. It would let you compare both tech stacks, hopefully with a situation, project, or task that gives you some meaty numbers and facts to pitch your proposal. e.g. "In the emergency incident that happened in December, it took the team X hours to come up with the needed data, but I got it from the parallel SQL database in (X - n) hours."
The new DB doesn't even necessarily have to be a perfect 1:1 copy of the data. If it can just ingest roughly the same volume/scale of data, you might still be able to make your point.
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Comment on Gimp Tutorial for Idiot? in ~comp
Pistos LinkTo me, GIMP is for image editing, but Krita is for painting, drawing, illustration. I haven't done this in a while, but I recall that you can assign hotkeys to any menu item. There's a setting you...To me, GIMP is for image editing, but Krita is for painting, drawing, illustration.
I haven't done this in a while, but I recall that you can assign hotkeys to any menu item. There's a setting you turn on, then, when you hover over a menu item, you press your desired hotkey to assign it.
Default shortcuts: For drawing shapes, I use the fill shortcut the most (Ctrl-, or Ctrl-.), but to just stroke an outline, Ctrl-'. That, as you've found, will bring up a dialogue box, but there's also a separate assignable shortcut to stroke with the last used values (default Ctrl-").
Not here to sell you on GIMP (because it just isn't the powerhouse and legend that Photoshop is), but thought I'd help you with some of your pain points with GIMP. Me, personally, GIMP's #1 missing feature is non-destructive editing. I still use GIMP, though, because it's half decent, and freely available on Linux. For certain kinds of projects, Canva (especially paid) is easier, especially for less-technical people (not implying that you are).
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Comment on I am angry at Google and wanted to share (rant) in ~tech
Pistos Link ParentThe technical parts are more or less the easy part. The hard part is dealing with when mail from your host is blocked or rejected for non-technical reasons (usually stupid ones), or unknown...The technical parts are more or less the easy part. The hard part is dealing with when mail from your host is blocked or rejected for non-technical reasons (usually stupid ones), or unknown reasons. Sometimes you more or less have no power to fix the issues, and just have to accept that entire providers (say, hotmail) will reject all your email.
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Comment on Toronto Blue Jays prove they're top dog, clinch ALCS berth in the Bronx in ~sports.baseball
Pistos Link ParentI'll admit that I laughed out loud when I saw/heard this for the first time, but I can't help thinking this is just putting things on a tee for revenge taunting if the Jays ever lose to the...I'll admit that I laughed out loud when I saw/heard this for the first time, but I can't help thinking this is just putting things on a tee for revenge taunting if the Jays ever lose to the Yankees in the future, a-la Joel Embid mockery. In fairness, I don't know if Guerrero Jr. would have continued on so much if Ortiz didn't spur him on. You could see the awkwardness on Jeter and ARod's faces, and I felt secondarily awkward, too (as a Jays fan).
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Comment on Help choosing a new linux computer? in ~tech
Pistos LinkI'd recommend keeping your budget mid-range and up, because once you start cheaping out on parts, then they'll be manufactured by some little-known brand, and so Linux compatibility is likely to...I'd recommend keeping your budget mid-range and up, because once you start cheaping out on parts, then they'll be manufactured by some little-known brand, and so Linux compatibility is likely to be iffy.
That said, you want to do a quick websearch for all the main parts' Linux compatibility before you buy, particularly the graphics, wireless network, wired network (if any), audio. To help with this, search not only for the brand and model name of your prospective part, but also the chipset, since a lot of hardware is just branded versions of a chipset, particularly when it comes to networking. Driver compatibility is often given for the chipset, rather than the brand and model of whatever you've picked up.
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Comment on I am angry at Google and wanted to share (rant) in ~tech
Pistos LinkI suppose you've passed your threshold of tolerance for Google, but, in case you wanted to "play" a little with the content blocking algorithms: Maybe try coding your message a little bit. Using...I suppose you've passed your threshold of tolerance for Google, but, in case you wanted to "play" a little with the content blocking algorithms: Maybe try coding your message a little bit. Using synonyms, alternate wording, misspellings, spaces inside words, maybe even use non-ASCII alphabet characters (accented letters, etc.). Maybe instead of mentioning Smart Features, refer to it as "the [N]th option from the top", or whatever. Other options including writing elsewhere (e.g. pastebin, github gist), and linking to it.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Royal Edition (bundle) was just released. About 40% off regular price for base game and all DLC.
Also released was a so-called Saga Bundle, which includes both KCD1 and KCD2, and all DLC for both.