scarecrw's recent activity
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Comment on [Release video/how to play the] オタマトーン Q（キュー） / Otamatone Q in ~music
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Comment on Valve uploads Steam Controller unboxing video, launch imminent in ~games
scarecrw LinkI still use my original steam controller, but if this has good reviews I'd consider updating. The selling point for me on the original was the customizability: I don't recall any other...I still use my original steam controller, but if this has good reviews I'd consider updating.
The selling point for me on the original was the customizability: I don't recall any other controller/launcher at the time having such powerful customization tools. The community shared controller schemes were especially useful in quickly getting running on games where controller support wasn't a developer focus.
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Comment on What is your go-to project for learning a new language? in ~comp
scarecrw LinkNot sure how generalizable this is, but I started learning Rust by going through Ray Tracing in One Weekend and translating as I go. It looks like someone's published a version for Rust...Not sure how generalizable this is, but I started learning Rust by going through Ray Tracing in One Weekend and translating as I go. It looks like someone's published a version for Rust specifically, but I actually found a lot of value in having to translate myself.
It's a good blend of not having to worry too much about the project/structure (as it's all planned out for you) but still forcing you to identify the goals and learn what language tools to apply.
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
scarecrw LinkThere's some great ones in these comments, so I'll give one that's a bit more on the silly side (though still great IMO): Chance - Milkshake. The same artist also put out a cover of Prince's When...There's some great ones in these comments, so I'll give one that's a bit more on the silly side (though still great IMO): Chance - Milkshake. The same artist also put out a cover of Prince's When Doves Cry that I love, but I haven't been able to find that on the internet anywhere to share.
I'll also shout out Rick Astley's covers on youtube.
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Comment on US keyboards don't have enough keys, so I switched to Japanese - HyperJIS in ~comp
scarecrw Link ParentI learned dvorak years ago but gave up on it after realizing: Getting okay at it was one thing, but getting to the point where I was faster than I am with qwerty was going to be a lot of work. I'm...I learned dvorak years ago but gave up on it after realizing:
- Getting okay at it was one thing, but getting to the point where I was faster than I am with qwerty was going to be a lot of work.
- I'm not going to be able to escape qwerty anyways (being the default in so many places), so I'd rather not have to deal with switching between the two.
It was certainly fun to learn, though!
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Comment on US keyboards don't have enough keys, so I switched to Japanese - HyperJIS in ~comp
scarecrw LinkI've recently finished a similar swap to a custom layout and have been considering writing up all my thoughts on it. Some of the changes are just mind-blowingly obvious in retrospect (the ctrl/esc...I've recently finished a similar swap to a custom layout and have been considering writing up all my thoughts on it.
Some of the changes are just mind-blowingly obvious in retrospect (the ctrl/esc instead of caps-lock should just be the standard) and I've surprised myself with how much use I've gotten out of having a 'compose' key for accents or special characters.
That said, some habits are hard to break. I tried using a thumb positioned backspace and could not change my muscle memory for that.
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Comment on No one can force me to have a secure website!!! in ~tech
scarecrw LinkI'll grant chrome some credit for swapping the "padlock" icon for the "tune" icon they currently use. They call out specifically that they wanted to avoid implying that a site is "trustworthy"...I'll grant chrome some credit for swapping the "padlock" icon for the "tune" icon they currently use. They call out specifically that they wanted to avoid implying that a site is "trustworthy" just because they support HTTPS.
https://blog.chromium.org/2023/05/an-update-on-lock-icon.html
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Comment on NASA’s Artemis II crew flies around the moon (live broadcast) in ~space
scarecrw LinkI think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around...I think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around the far side of the moon.
It makes perfect sense of course (EM waves have some trouble passing through thousands of kilometers of rock), but I can't help but find it silly that NASA has to accept the equivalent of "you're breaking up, I'm going through a tunnel".
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Comment on Commonly misspelled words quiz in ~humanities.languages
scarecrw Link13/20 which, honestly, was as best as I could expect. Even that was using a few tricks like knowing rite as in "playwright" is the same as "shipwright", not "write", or that "marshmallow" comes...13/20 which, honestly, was as best as I could expect. Even that was using a few tricks like knowing rite as in "playwright" is the same as "shipwright", not "write", or that "marshmallow" comes from the "mallow" plant (pronounced as it's spelled).
I've come to view my weakness in memorization (and, by extension, spelling) as a blessing in disguise. There are plenty of ways it has frustrated me, but it also forced me to improve my skills of deduction and rederivation.
It does on occasion make me look like a fool, but most people would figure that out eventually anyways, so no harm getting that cleared up quick.
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Comment on Parseword - a delightfully complex word game from Wordle’s creator in ~games
scarecrw LinkVery neat! I've tried a few times to get into cryptic crosswords, but always felt like I was missing something and never had much fun with them. This seems like a more structured take on the idea...Very neat! I've tried a few times to get into cryptic crosswords, but always felt like I was missing something and never had much fun with them. This seems like a more structured take on the idea which I could latch on to.
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Comment on New York Times quiz: Who’s a better writer: AI or humans? in ~tech
scarecrw LinkI found the easiest tell to be that the AI writing had no "rough edges". The human writing always had a word or phrase or twist in meaning I wouldn't have expected, whereas the AI writing is...I found the easiest tell to be that the AI writing had no "rough edges". The human writing always had a word or phrase or twist in meaning I wouldn't have expected, whereas the AI writing is stylistically monotone. That momentary pause where you think to yourself "wait, what was that?" feels important, as that's when you have to shift your perspective to align with the author's; AI writing never asks that of you.
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Comment on Felicia – My System (2026) in ~music
scarecrw LinkI thought both Felicia and Greczula had better performances in the heats, but I was happy to see them at the top. My System is just such a fun song and the performance is amazing. I did love the...I thought both Felicia and Greczula had better performances in the heats, but I was happy to see them at the top. My System is just such a fun song and the performance is amazing.
I did love the little girl in the crowd during the final who had a (clearly homemade) dress made to look like Felicia.
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Comment on The average US college student is illiterate in ~life
scarecrw LinkI've appreciated the shared experiences here, so I'll add my own. I've definitely witnessed challenges with deep or long-form reading. I vividly remember a scare a while back having a group of...I've appreciated the shared experiences here, so I'll add my own.
I've definitely witnessed challenges with deep or long-form reading. I vividly remember a scare a while back having a group of highschoolers read a short passage and none of them being able to articulate what it was they just read. It made me realize I lack the language to label this phenomenon, as I was drawn towards describing them as "illiterate" the same as the post here, but I don't think that communicates the issue clearly.
One note that this article doesn't seem to acknowledge is that the weakening of long-term focus and persistence through learning challenges is not limited to poor performers. I think there's a natural association made that "poor attention" correlates with "less intelligence" within a group, thus if a whole generation is showing weaker attention than previous ones, they must be broadly less intelligent. Just based on my experience, I don't believe this to be the case at all. I've seen plenty of extraordinarily bright, hardworking students who share these challenges.
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Comment on What’s your preferred work monitor setup? in ~comp
scarecrw Link ParentI've been using an ultrawide with niri, and love the setup. I never was able to make a tiling WM work before, but the combination has sold me on it. It took me a long time to realize how nice...I've been using an ultrawide with niri, and love the setup. I never was able to make a tiling WM work before, but the combination has sold me on it.
It took me a long time to realize how nice multiple desktops/workspces can be. I just needed convenient enough bindings to convince myself to use them and I can't imagine going back.
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Comment on Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin (2026) in ~music
scarecrw LinkLots to love in UMK this year! I think Sinikka Monte's performance was the most surprising to me; I didn't think the song was anything special when listening to it, but seeing it live elevated it...Lots to love in UMK this year!
I think Sinikka Monte's performance was the most surprising to me; I didn't think the song was anything special when listening to it, but seeing it live elevated it substantially. That said, Liekinheitin was on another level from everyone else.
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Comment on I switched my gaming PC to Linux, and this time I think it's for good in ~comp
scarecrw LinkI also recently decided to properly switch! Similar spot for me, used it off-and-on dual-booting and had it on my laptop (though that's basically a web-browser device), but decided to actually...I also recently decided to properly switch!
Similar spot for me, used it off-and-on dual-booting and had it on my laptop (though that's basically a web-browser device), but decided to actually switch with no plan on going back. Overall, definitely no regrets. It feels like being a kid again where computers were fun and if you don't like something you can just change it.
The switch was a pain in the ass, but that had nothing to do with linux. I had previously set up a few drives as media storage via Windows Storage Spaces, and getting that reconfigured was a slow and annoying process. Lesson learned for the future to think ahead about storage compatibility.
Gaming has been no issue at all. I mostly play indie or puzzle games, and a lot of them were as simple as
wine game.exeand it just runs. Lutris/Steam have made anything else work without issue.The only thing that didn't work great wasn't a game, but MusicBee. Running it via wine has some issues, and nothing I've found native to linux comes close to its functionality.
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Comment on The mega-rich are turning their mansions into impenetrable fortresses in ~finance
scarecrw LinkI've had the chance to get to know the security of some ultra-wealthy people and one thing that's very interesting is just how varied it can be. The pattern I've noticed is that the level of...I've had the chance to get to know the security of some ultra-wealthy people and one thing that's very interesting is just how varied it can be. The pattern I've noticed is that the level of security seems less correlated with wealth, and more correlated with how much of their life is wrapped up in their business. For many of these people, their homes/lives are a business, and security equipment and staff are just a part of the operation like you'd have at an office building.
There's also a split between those who want their security approach to be intimidating and restrictive vs those who treat it more as an obligation. Whenever I hear about bad interactions with the wealthy due to their security, it seems like such an obvious own-goal; pissing off the people you interact with not only earns you a terrible reputation, it's also incredibly stupid from a security perspective.
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Comment on Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem (2026) in ~music
scarecrw LinkSuper well deserved win! It was a great song and ridiculously well performed. While they didn't win, I was glad to be introduced to Myrkur and spent yesterday listening to this wonderful album:...Super well deserved win! It was a great song and ridiculously well performed.
While they didn't win, I was glad to be introduced to Myrkur and spent yesterday listening to this wonderful album: https://myrkur.bandcamp.com/album/folkesange
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Comment on A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant) in ~tech
scarecrw Link ParentI used a chromebook with linux containers for a long while with great success. I actually bought the original pixelbook for that exact reason. Unfortunately, in every case I've seen, student...I used a chromebook with linux containers for a long while with great success. I actually bought the original pixelbook for that exact reason. Unfortunately, in every case I've seen, student chromebooks are locked down in a manner which prevents this from being used.
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Comment on A case for increasing computer literacy (but also a rant) in ~tech
scarecrw Link ParentI think at this point the installation process is pretty similar for both (at least when considering mainstream distros). They both usually have a simple "reformat the whole drive and set it up...I think at this point the installation process is pretty similar for both (at least when considering mainstream distros). They both usually have a simple "reformat the whole drive and set it up for me" option, it's just that more people installing Linux are doing so from an existing set up and need to care about dual booting or retaining data. The likelyhood of falling off the happy path just seems higher for Linux.
I think one of the key pieces holding back Linux adoption is the variety in set ups meaning that troubleshooting becomes a hassle of determining what information is relevant for you. The experience of running into an issue, finding a supposed fix, trying it, having things break further, and then being told "oh no, that only works on this other DE, you need to do..." isn't fun, and isn't something you're as likely to run into sticking with windows.
Unfortunately, that problem comes part and parcel with the freedom of choice Linux presents.
I bought one of these for a friend of mine back in high school. Surprising amount of fun to be had making annoying music!