pu1pfriction's recent activity

  1. Comment on Valve is possibly making a Steam Controller 2 and a ‘Roy’ for its Deckard in ~games

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I'd give you $15 and pay for shipping too if you're in the US and the controller still works! I've found it great for playing turn based style games on the TV to not have to use mouse+keyboard and...

    I'd give you $15 and pay for shipping too if you're in the US and the controller still works!

    I've found it great for playing turn based style games on the TV to not have to use mouse+keyboard and would love to have a backup.

  2. Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - Kindred by Octavia Butler in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I just wanted to share that I had to pause and stop reading at multiple points, as it was tough to get through two parts for me. The part when Dana escapes and you realize that just as she gets to...

    I just wanted to share that I had to pause and stop reading at multiple points, as it was tough to get through two parts for me. The part when Dana escapes and you realize that just as she gets to the first town that it's already over, she's going to be caught and brought back. The second time is when Alice escapes with her husband and they get caught and brought back as well. I knew the punishments were going to be violent and I could just feel the sense of dread and defeat that the characters had.

    I enjoyed the book in the sense that it was well-written and tells an important story. I did find myself wanting to know what happens in the end.

    4 votes
  3. Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - Kindred by Octavia Butler in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    My first thought when I realized what was going on was that Kevin and Dana would be able to talk some sense into Rufus and try to turn her family's history into a more positive one. Then I thought...

    My first thought when I realized what was going on was that Kevin and Dana would be able to talk some sense into Rufus and try to turn her family's history into a more positive one. Then I thought maybe Dana or Kevin would figure out a way to bring something back from the future with them to somewhat be able to "mass free" a bunch of slaves or at least cause some sort of upheaval.

    I was very wrong!

    2 votes
  4. Comment on Tildes Book Club Discussion - Kindred by Octavia Butler in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    It's not an easy read for a high schooler, because to me it's not an easy read at any age. It deals with really heavy material, and I could easily see high school me not liking the book or not...

    It's not an easy read for a high schooler, because to me it's not an easy read at any age. It deals with really heavy material, and I could easily see high school me not liking the book or not wanting to finish reading this book as it's very "in your face" with the terribleness of slavery and even the hopelessness that goes along with it.

    3 votes
  5. Comment on Tildes Book Club - Nominations thread in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    North Woods by Daniel Mason. It's a historical fiction set in New England in a single house, and tells the story of the house and the people in and around it over several centuries. It's received...

    North Woods by Daniel Mason.

    It's a historical fiction set in New England in a single house, and tells the story of the house and the people in and around it over several centuries. It's received a lot of praise and has a lot of great reviews.

    1 vote
  6. Comment on Tildes Book Club - October progress check in. How are you doing with Kindred? in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    I am behind as things have been a bit crazy in real life, but hoping to be able to read the book next week.

    I am behind as things have been a bit crazy in real life, but hoping to be able to read the book next week.

    1 vote
  7. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - This is How You Lose the Time War by El - Mohtar and Gladstone in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I was the opposite of you, I was panicking that they were going to get caught the entire time. In my head I am thinking is anyone going to notice this "seeker" before you get caught?! I really...

    Given that it was a time travel story, I guessed that the seeker was one or both of the main characters coming back through time pretty early on.

    I was the opposite of you, I was panicking that they were going to get caught the entire time. In my head I am thinking is anyone going to notice this "seeker" before you get caught?!

    I really thought that the Seeker was someone from the Agency trying to put a case together against them.

    4 votes
  8. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - This is How You Lose the Time War by El - Mohtar and Gladstone in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I knew that the book was supposed to be a love story, but I didn't realize just how much of it was dedicated to the back and forth between the two characters. I was expecting more "time war" and...

    I knew that the book was supposed to be a love story, but I didn't realize just how much of it was dedicated to the back and forth between the two characters. I was expecting more "time war" and some sort of battles and strategies and background into why and what exactly that they were fighting for.

    I must say that I normally wouldn't pick a book like this, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found it easy to read and everything was well written, so I didn't feel like it was a drag or anything. So even though my expectations were different, I did enjoy the story in the end.

    4 votes
  9. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - This is How You Lose the Time War by El - Mohtar and Gladstone in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I enjoyed all the clues and references that were dropped throughout the book. I like how they explained Atlantis as always being there but always being destroyed, a hint to why we can never find...

    I enjoyed all the clues and references that were dropped throughout the book. I like how they explained Atlantis as always being there but always being destroyed, a hint to why we can never find it. Plus you had the references to Shakespeare and Socrates.

    They also alluded to one of them working with Ghengis Khan's army at one point, and I believe someone was with the Russians in WW2. I found it interesting to use these clues to piece together where Red or Blue might actually be at that point in time.

    4 votes
  10. Comment on Tildes Book Club - How are you doing with Ocean at the End of the Lane? in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    I'm actually almost done with it already. I've been really curious to see how it wraps up and it's a pretty short book

    I'm actually almost done with it already. I've been really curious to see how it wraps up and it's a pretty short book

    2 votes
  11. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    Based on the description of the book that I read I had no idea it was going to be a first contact novel, it was an extremely unexpected surprise to me. But in the end that turned into a pleasant...

    Based on the description of the book that I read I had no idea it was going to be a first contact novel, it was an extremely unexpected surprise to me. But in the end that turned into a pleasant surprise and is probably the main reason why I liked the book so much.

    2 votes
  12. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I enjoyed the flashbacks as a way to piece together what had happened, and was very curious about how Grace actually ended up on the ship when there were so many other experts in training. There...

    I enjoyed the flashbacks as a way to piece together what had happened, and was very curious about how Grace actually ended up on the ship when there were so many other experts in training. There were times later in the book that I did want to just get back to the present and read about what Rocky and Grace were doing though.

    2 votes
  13. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I had a very similar reaction to this book, and I ended up finishing it within a few days because of this. At the beginning I wanted to learn more and more about the astrophage and how exactly...

    I had a very similar reaction to this book, and I ended up finishing it within a few days because of this. At the beginning I wanted to learn more and more about the astrophage and how exactly they were going to solve that problem. I was also very curious on how Grace would end up on the mission based on all the other flashbacks.

    Then once we meet Rocky, I wanted to know everything about him, his planet, and the progression of the teamwork and friendship between him and Grace.

    I'm definitely a sucker for a optimistic or happy ending, and the way these characters came together and worked together was awesome.

    3 votes
  14. Comment on Tildes Book Club - 2024 summer schedule in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    I was not able to get The Dispossessed in time and then I was in the middle of reading another book, but I have a hold out for Project Hail Mary and I'm next in line so looking forward to joining...

    I was not able to get The Dispossessed in time and then I was in the middle of reading another book, but I have a hold out for Project Hail Mary and I'm next in line so looking forward to joining in on the next discussion.

    2 votes
  15. Comment on Tildes Book Club - Voting thread 2 results - requesting feedback from library users in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    Ocean at the End of The Lane is immediately available in my library system, Time War looks like it's only a few weeks wait so no issues, and Small Gods seems to have unlimited eBook copies...

    Ocean at the End of The Lane is immediately available in my library system, Time War looks like it's only a few weeks wait so no issues, and Small Gods seems to have unlimited eBook copies available.

    I was actually wanting to read The Ocean at the end of the Lane so this is perfect timing.

    2 votes
  16. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I enjoyed the limited perspective and the mystery around essentially knowing only what Piranesi knows for the most part. It's also a great perspective because while Piranesi looks at the world...

    I enjoyed the limited perspective and the mystery around essentially knowing only what Piranesi knows for the most part.

    It's also a great perspective because while Piranesi looks at the world with such awe and joy, he's also fundamentally a smart person. So you don't feel like he's missing out while he tries to use logic to piece together things that don't quite make sense.

    As we get further into the book, we do start to understand more than Piranesi and I was practically begging him not to trust The Other, but it wasn't in a frustrating way. It's more in a way that you want Piranesi to figure out that he's being controlled and treated essentially as a research prisoner for The Other.

    5 votes
  17. Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I was hoping so much that Piranesi would leave the house at the end, even if it was only for a little while. I understood his reasons for wanting to stay at first. I was kind of sad that he felt...

    I was hoping so much that Piranesi would leave the house at the end, even if it was only for a little while. I understood his reasons for wanting to stay at first. I was kind of sad that he felt like he was missing things in either world, but I do feel like he realized the beauty of the real world at the end.

    It also makes things easier that he was able to actively jump between the two worlds at the end of the book.

    3 votes
  18. Comment on Tildes Book Club - We will be discussing Piranesi the third week in April in ~books

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    I didn't realize there was a book club on here! This one looks like a great read so I'll be hopefully grabbing this one from the library and joining in on the discussion next month.

    I didn't realize there was a book club on here! This one looks like a great read so I'll be hopefully grabbing this one from the library and joining in on the discussion next month.

    4 votes
  19. Comment on This is why it’s so hard to find mental health counseling in the USA right now in ~health.mental

    pu1pfriction
    Link Parent
    I would say a large part of the situation is the amount of schooling that it takes and the actual pay upon graduation. At least when you go to medical school to become a doctor, you have a massive...

    I would say a large part of the situation is the amount of schooling that it takes and the actual pay upon graduation. At least when you go to medical school to become a doctor, you have a massive salary potential upon graduation.

    Even if you want to just be a therapist, not even a psychologist; you are looking at a bachelor's degree and then a master's degree in social work, or some sort of mental health counseling. Then add on another two years of practical training before you even get your license. So it's a minimum 8 years before you can practice on your own, and then you have to be good at marketing yourself to actually be successful in private practice to make money. If not you're working for someone and making a good salary, but nothing tremendous.

    And then as a therapist, you aren't allowed to perform assessments or diagnose so for patients that really need medication you'll have to refer to a psychiatrist or a psychologist.

    And then for a PhD/PsyD you are looking at 4 years bachelor + 5 years graduate (minimum), so that's 9 years before you are working. And it's very rare for psychology PhD/PsyD programs to be fully funded, I believe there are only a handful of programs like that. Acceptance rates are in single digits and then when you graduate you do make six figures, but not $200k like a physician would. It's a lot of schooling and highly competitive for a somewhat low return.

    You have to REALLY want to do something like this and I'm sure the job has extremely high burnout rates.

    5 votes
  20. Comment on Reddit communities are switching to NSFW to create some friction and rob Reddit of ad revenue in ~tech

    pu1pfriction
    Link
    Unfortunately what I'm seeing in some of the bigger subreddits that I used to frequently browse is people are just angry and asking for the mods to be removed. They are also complaining about any...

    Unfortunately what I'm seeing in some of the bigger subreddits that I used to frequently browse is people are just angry and asking for the mods to be removed. They are also complaining about any malicious compliance rule changes. Understandable (but disappointing) if you've only ever used the official app or the website and don't know how much behind the scenes effort goes into moderating a larger community.

    10 votes