rsl12's recent activity
-
Comment on The beautiful dissociation of the Japanese language in ~humanities.languages
-
Comment on Tildes Book Club meta discussion - should we read nonfiction as well as fiction and with what frequency? in ~books
rsl12 LinkI think that nonfiction would result in more personal discussions, since we are more likely to relate what we read to personal experiences. Tildes discussions from previous (fictional) book club...I think that nonfiction would result in more personal discussions, since we are more likely to relate what we read to personal experiences. Tildes discussions from previous (fictional) book club books seem to center on the artistic merits, meanings, symbolisms. I enjoy that kind of discussion too, but I think nonfiction would drive the kinds of discussions that lead to richer interpersonal connections.
-
Comment on The beautiful dissociation of the Japanese language in ~humanities.languages
rsl12 LinkI have been casually learning Japanese for a few months in preparation for a trip this summer. One advantage I have over other English-speaking learners is my advanced knowledge of Korean, the...Because of the unique dissociation between the written word and the way it is pronounced, Japanese is not only harder to learn, but it's also more malleable and richer in a way that cannot be imitated. It's an extra dimension of language and a happy historical accident.
I have been casually learning Japanese for a few months in preparation for a trip this summer. One advantage I have over other English-speaking learners is my advanced knowledge of Korean, the language most similar to Japanese. The author correctly notes the features of Japanese that are unique, even when compared to modern Korean. How he can enjoy these "features" is a mystery to me!
Centuries ago, Korean used to have the same problems: lots of shoehorning of pure Korean words into Chinese characters. But through a series of reforms, Korean is now commonly written with a very logical alphabet. As I learn Japanese, I am frustrated by the points the author celebrates, and I thank the inventor of the Korean alphabet for having made my ancestral language much more sensible!
-
Comment on Song lyrics are getting more repetitive, angrier in ~music
rsl12 LinkThanks for sharing the article! After skimming it, I feel like the study doesn't prove anything. The dataset is from last.fm users, which means the songs represented for each year are not randomly...Thanks for sharing the article! After skimming it, I feel like the study doesn't prove anything. The dataset is from last.fm users, which means the songs represented for each year are not randomly selected. The songs examined from 1974, for instance, would be the songs/lyrics that last.fm users listened/read on last.fm, which means not the ones listened to in 1974. Time has done the job of filtering out flash-in-the-pan songs from 1974.
All the study can really say is that people who listen to old music today pick out songs that are more complicated lyrically than what is popular with people who listen to contemporary music. The same could be said of literature--those who like reading classics prefer novels with richer language compared to people who like reading only contemporary novels.
-
Comment on Multiauthor poetry anthology recommendations in ~books
rsl12 LinkDo you like Garrison Keillor (Lake Wobegon)? "Good poems" is a collection he curated, and the poems are unmistakably of his taste. Easy to understand, folksy, and often meaningful and beautiful.Do you like Garrison Keillor (Lake Wobegon)? "Good poems" is a collection he curated, and the poems are unmistakably of his taste. Easy to understand, folksy, and often meaningful and beautiful.
-
Comment on The worst masterpiece: ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ at 100 in ~music
rsl12 (edited )LinkI enjoyed this article! It's got a good survey of attitudes towards the piece, but also the interesting insight about the promise of the piece when it came out: a closer fusion of ideas between...I enjoyed this article! It's got a good survey of attitudes towards the piece, but also the interesting insight about the promise of the piece when it came out: a closer fusion of ideas between the classical and jazz worlds. As someone who plays both, I see the author's point that classical players/composers on the whole still don't have a good sense of how to implement jazz rhythm, both in the strictness of tempo or the swing beat. I don't totally agree with his main point though.. I find love and respect from most classical/jazz musicians for the other side, and the number of universities and conservatories offering jazz programs is both a symptom and a cause for the jazz/classical blends we see today. I think the reason the two worlds are still quite separate is the same reason that Japanese and English languages will remain distinct from each other no matter how close relations get between their native speakers--the languages are just fundamentally different and it's hard to master both in one lifetime.
Oxalis was worried the piece would just be about cultural appropriation; the author mentions it briefly, but I don't think it's the main focus of the authors' gripe.
-
Comment on I need an alternative to the traditional typewriter in ~creative
rsl12 LinkI don't know anything about typewriters, but I was curious. I found these instructions for a Remington Portable. On Page 2, under "Handling Cards and Envelopes", it says "To write on cards and...I don't know anything about typewriters, but I was curious. I found these instructions for a Remington Portable. On Page 2, under "Handling Cards and Envelopes", it says "To write on cards and envelopes, use the permanent Card Finger on the Card and Writing line scale." I have no idea what card fingers or card and writing line scales are, but maybe those are good search terms to try...?
-
Comment on One Dimensional Pacman in ~games
rsl12 LinkIt was cute! My high score is 2307. The power pellets are best used to eat the dots in the center, as those are the ones that are impossible to eat in the higher levels without the ghost-eating...It was cute! My high score is 2307. The power pellets are best used to eat the dots in the center, as those are the ones that are impossible to eat in the higher levels without the ghost-eating ability.
Is it okay to be pedantic about trivial things? Pac-man is still two-dimensional. Though I concede "One Dimensional Pacman" sounds better than "One Degree of Freedom Pacman".
-
Comment on How social media’s biggest user protest rocked Reddit in ~tech
rsl12 Link ParentThe "quick gratification" issue has always been a problem with Reddit, hasn't it? It's a problem baked into their positive-feedback algorithm: posts that quickly gain upvotes within the first few...The "quick gratification" issue has always been a problem with Reddit, hasn't it? It's a problem baked into their positive-feedback algorithm: posts that quickly gain upvotes within the first few minutes of posting get pushed to the front page. Reddit could be tweaking the algorithm to make it worse, but my guess is that the "dozens" who left included some of the best posters/mods.
-
Comment on Ten conflicts to watch in 2024 in ~misc
rsl12 LinkThe article is more informative and insightful than I would have thought from the title. There's a lot to digest in here. Thank you.The article is more informative and insightful than I would have thought from the title. There's a lot to digest in here. Thank you.
-
Comment on How social media’s biggest user protest rocked Reddit in ~tech
rsl12 (edited )LinkFor those of you curious about the longer-term impacts of the 2023 summer Reddit protests. TL;DR: other than a slight dip over the summer, Reddit traffic has remained consistent, despite "dozens"...For those of you curious about the longer-term impacts of the 2023 summer Reddit protests.
TL;DR: other than a slight dip over the summer, Reddit traffic has remained consistent, despite "dozens" of Redditors promising to leave the site if their favorite 3rd party apps had to close shop. The article quotes a couple people who state that the quality of the content has declined. A Reddit spokesman's response is that there's no metric by which to measure content quality.
The article lists some positive changes that Reddit made in response to the protests. Reddit has been working on improving mod tools within the official app and on accessibility issues. According to a Reddit spokesman, they are on track to comply with WWW consortium's accessibility guidelines by the end of 2024.
Personal note: it would be nice to have a metric by which to measure content quality. I peek in there every now and then, and the content in the big subreddits is definitely worse than I remember.
-
How social media’s biggest user protest rocked Reddit
80 votes -
Comment on The medical reason a doctor might put sugar on your anus in ~health
rsl12 LinkTrying to think of other things that swell where this might work. What about blisters?Trying to think of other things that swell where this might work. What about blisters?
-
Comment on What are your "must-read" books? in ~books
rsl12 Link ParentOn your suggestion, I found the book at the library. The first story was wonderful, and I can't wait to read more!On your suggestion, I found the book at the library. The first story was wonderful, and I can't wait to read more!
-
Comment on One win, 17,000 defeats - life as a Washington General in ~sports.basketball
rsl12 LinkWhat kind of basketball player signs up to be a Washington General? This article describes the special personality traits necessary: competitive enough to hone their game, but so humble that they...What kind of basketball player signs up to be a Washington General? This article describes the special personality traits necessary: competitive enough to hone their game, but so humble that they don't mind being in the permanent shadow of the Harlem Globetrotters. The article made me appreciate how difficult that job must be. If I ever go to a game (I've never!) I'll need to express my appreciation to the Washington Generals.
-
One win, 17,000 defeats - life as a Washington General
14 votes -
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
rsl12 Link ParentI appreciate your advice, to read in small bits at a time. Book of Disquiet has been on my "To Do" list forever. Now that I know it's best enjoyed in small bites, I guess I could start reading it...I appreciate your advice, to read in small bits at a time. Book of Disquiet has been on my "To Do" list forever. Now that I know it's best enjoyed in small bites, I guess I could start reading it today.
-
Comment on Do you have favorite lighthearted or silly songs? in ~music
rsl12 Link ParentI love Trout Fishing in America. The songs below are very kid-oriented, but enjoyable to me nevertheless: Big Rig Through the Window My Hair Had a Party Last NightI love Trout Fishing in America. The songs below are very kid-oriented, but enjoyable to me nevertheless:
-
Comment on Is this the protein plant of the future? New study finds ‘sweetness gene’ that makes lupins tastier in ~food
rsl12 LinkClickbait title. A summary of the article is "scientists have identified a single gene responsible for the 'sweet' varieties of lupins". The article has nothing to do with the 'future of food.'...Clickbait title. A summary of the article is "scientists have identified a single gene responsible for the 'sweet' varieties of lupins". The article has nothing to do with the 'future of food.'
I've bought lupini a few times from an international market. At least in the form I bought them, they are a bar/snack food. There's a peel that's technically edible, and under that a firm bean that reminds me a bit of fava. Nice bean variety, but nothing in the article suggests that it's anything more than that.
-
Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes (Android version) is open for alpha testing on the Google Play Store in ~tildes
rsl12 Link ParentMaybe so. On the web version, all tags are shown, which I still think isn't very useful (it would be more useful when viewing a single topic), but I could see how others might think it is. On...Maybe so. On the web version, all tags are shown, which I still think isn't very useful (it would be more useful when viewing a single topic), but I could see how others might think it is. On Three Cheers, I don't see the point of showing only 1 to 3 of the tags.
Can you imagine what the nationalists would say? "USA is trying to assert their power over us, just as they did in WWII. They think their writing system is superior, but we won't let them erase our Japanese culture!"
I googled online discussions on this topic, and let's just say, even in English, there are a lot of impassioned conservative voices saying how the existing system is fine, even superior, to any alternative.