pmheavy's recent activity

  1. Comment on What’s a book that we were never supposed to be able to read? in ~books

    pmheavy
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    Meditations by Marcus Aurelius likely was not meant to be released, considering it is his private writings to himself. I found that aspect made it interesting to read, because it seems very...

    Meditations by Marcus Aurelius likely was not meant to be released, considering it is his private writings to himself. I found that aspect made it interesting to read, because it seems very personal to read someone's journal.

    The reference to the Platonov novella makes me wonder how many books published in the USSR (and maybe authoritarian countries more generally) are only known from their censored versions. Reading an afterward of Roadside Picnic was interesting because it gave an overview of working with/against/around censors. And I think the translations made after 1991 are likely based on the authors' version and not the censored one.

    15 votes

  2. Comment on The Airbnb/Hotel Gap: Private common spaces in ~life

    pmheavy
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    I haven't done it myself, so I'm not sure how it compares to AirBnB, but many hotel brands also arrange house rentals. I know Marriott does through their Homes and Villas site and it's likely...

    I haven't done it myself, so I'm not sure how it compares to AirBnB, but many hotel brands also arrange house rentals. I know Marriott does through their Homes and Villas site and it's likely other brands have similar rentals. In some tourist areas there are often local rental companies that arrange house or cabin rentals, but you'll likely need to search for them by region.

    5 votes

  3. Comment on What was your first programming language, what languages do you know now, and what tips do you have for those trying to learn any of those? in ~comp

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    My first language would either be Blitz Basic or C++, though can't really remember which since I started with both around the same time. Now I've done work in a variety to at least some degree,...

    My first language would either be Blitz Basic or C++, though can't really remember which since I started with both around the same time. Now I've done work in a variety to at least some degree, but typically work with either Python or Rust now.

    As far as tips:
    For beginners, it's generally not too important which language or libraries you use, it's more important to start building something. Getting experience in making even a small project in a "wrong" language choice is far more educational than not finishing something in a "correct" one. Also, don't skip on learning data structures.

    For more advanced users, if you have some Python experience and are looking to improve it, I found Fluent Python to be an excellent book. It definitely taught me a lot about not only the language, but how to write much cleaner code and take advantage of a lot of features I didn't know were available.

  4. Comment on What are some traditional internet forums that you still use? in ~tech

    pmheavy
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    Ars Technica has a forum that covers a variety of topics/interests. It has a heavy focus on science and tech.

    Ars Technica has a forum that covers a variety of topics/interests. It has a heavy focus on science and tech.

    9 votes

  5. Comment on Besides Shawshank Redemption, what films do you like that feature grit, resilience, endurance under hostile circumstances? in ~movies

    pmheavy
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    I'm surprised Kajaki (released in the US as Kilo Two Bravo) hasn't been mentioned yet. Though it is probably a bit of a different take on the topic.

    I'm surprised Kajaki (released in the US as Kilo Two Bravo) hasn't been mentioned yet. Though it is probably a bit of a different take on the topic.