scissortail's recent activity
-
Comment on I want to talk about sailing! in ~hobbies
-
Comment on Anyone here listen to NPR Tiny Desk concerts? in ~music
scissortail LinkSome really good ones already mentioned. Dan Deacon's is a ton of fun, but my all-time favorite is from Moon Hooch. 12 minutes of the rawest, most bumpin' music out there, all made with two...Some really good ones already mentioned. Dan Deacon's is a ton of fun, but my all-time favorite is from Moon Hooch. 12 minutes of the rawest, most bumpin' music out there, all made with two saxophones, a drumset, and a well-placed traffic cone. I go back to this recording more than just about any single recording of music I can think of.
-
Comment on Opeth - The Grand Conjuration (2005) in ~music
scissortail LinkOne of their all-time best tunes imo. This album got me into death metal, and was one of my first big loves in metal writ large. I still listen to this song and "Baying of the Hounds" on a fairly...One of their all-time best tunes imo. This album got me into death metal, and was one of my first big loves in metal writ large. I still listen to this song and "Baying of the Hounds" on a fairly regular basis. I also had a lot of love for their first two albums as well as the other big names on their list.
I enjoyed Heritage quite well, but haven't found much to like in their discog since. It felt like they lost their incredible sense of texture and variation shortly after the death growls went out the window. I've never enjoyed Steven Wilson's music, and it may be his influence on their sound that really turned me off.
I haven't listened to their most recent album, though, and may give it a spin sometime.
-
Comment on All main Disney animated canon films are going to be destroyed and you can save five, which five do you pick? in ~movies
scissortail LinkAlso sticking to the 2D/drawn stuff. Beauty and the Beast -- still the best overall Disney movie in my mind. Hunchback of Notre Dame -- a hot mess but the soundtrack alone is worth preserving. The...Also sticking to the 2D/drawn stuff.
- Beauty and the Beast -- still the best overall Disney movie in my mind.
- Hunchback of Notre Dame -- a hot mess but the soundtrack alone is worth preserving.
- The Lion King -- the popular favorite for very good reasons.
- Fantasia -- a rich selection of both music and animation.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh -- just because the world without an animated Pooh Bear is a little less bright.
-
Comment on How do you shave your nose and ears? in ~life.men
scissortail LinkMy nose and ear hair came in hard during my late 20s. I just use a small pair of scissors when I feel the need to clean up.My nose and ear hair came in hard during my late 20s.
I just use a small pair of scissors when I feel the need to clean up.
-
Comment on As Onosato dominates the spotlight, former sumo stars exit the stage in ~sports.combat
scissortail LinkOnosato is an absolute force. Was a joy to watch him this past basho--but my favorite moment was when he got dunked on by my original favorite rikishi (and still one of my favorites!),...Onosato is an absolute force. Was a joy to watch him this past basho--but my favorite moment was when he got dunked on by my original favorite rikishi (and still one of my favorites!), Wakatakakage. Seeing WTK rocket back to competing at the top levels has been heartwarming, and seeing him take down the big guy was one of my favorite Sumo moments in recent memory.
I'm also so relieved to see Kirishima more-or-less back to form, and could still see him getting the rope if all goes well.
Real sad to see Takakeisho go. I started watching just before Terunofuji ascended to Yokozuna, so the Battle Hamster has been a constant for me from the beginning. I always appreciated his style and willingness to just go for broke. I think if he had made Yokozuna he would have stuck around for some time longer, but not having the time to heal his injuries really put a timer on his career. I will always wonder how he would have done if he did like Teru (and now WTK) and just sat out and climbed up from the bottom.
Sumo has been just plain exciting for me lately. I feel like I'm actively rooting for nearly half the banzuke, it's great.
-
Comment on What are your favorite break up songs? Or my lover left me songs? in ~music
scissortail LinkThe one I go back to is Widower, by the DIllinger Escape Plan.The one I go back to is Widower, by the DIllinger Escape Plan.
Obsessed with thoughts that deform
Held on by hope too well worn
Crippled because of dreams that eclipse reality
Crashing into truths we don't perceive
We don't perceiveI couldn't hold on to the things that mattered to you
It was my big mistake
Thinking there were two roads to take -
Comment on The vertical farming bubble is finally popping in ~enviro
scissortail LinkFarmer here. To me, the glaring downside of this sort of farming is that it's pretty much totally impossible to close any resource loops on it; that is, just about all of the inputs have to come...Farmer here. To me, the glaring downside of this sort of farming is that it's pretty much totally impossible to close any resource loops on it; that is, just about all of the inputs have to come from off-site, and are often produced and transported with processes that involve lots of oil (via electricity, transportation, or direct material inputs). It's extremely vulnerable to supply chain shocks (not to mention power outages) in ways that diversified, organic, soil-based farms are not.
I think we'd be better served putting the resources going into this into supporting more sustainable farming practices that promote soil health and topsoil development/retention.
As an aside: I haven't done a ton of homework on this, but my understanding is that most of these operations focus on salad greens and succulent vegetables like tomatoes. Do they grow anything of real consequence in terms of calories or protein? Wheat, beans, squash, corn, potatoes? I have doubts about their suitability for the same, and therefore their suitability for making a serious contribution towards feeding people.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
scissortail LinkAnother reason to use F-Droid instead of the Play Store. Google and their partners will always prefer to be less than candid about their data usage.Another reason to use F-Droid instead of the Play Store. Google and their partners will always prefer to be less than candid about their data usage.
-
Comment on ‘Dilbert’ author Scott Adams tells White people to get away from Black people, gets dropped from US newspaper in ~comics
scissortail LinkObligatory RationalWiki page for Scott Adams. Adams has been a jackass and a crank for ages. It was only a matter of time before he got himself (justifiably) canceled.Obligatory RationalWiki page for Scott Adams.
Adams has been a jackass and a crank for ages. It was only a matter of time before he got himself (justifiably) canceled.
-
Comment on The internet is already over in ~tech
scissortail Link ParentI had read the Sam Kriss piece around when it came out, but missed "I Do Not Want To Be An Internet Person" until just now. That was a tremendous read.I had read the Sam Kriss piece around when it came out, but missed "I Do Not Want To Be An Internet Person" until just now. That was a tremendous read.
-
Comment on The campaign to sabotage Texas’ public schools in ~society
scissortail LinkBoy howdy was this a rough read. I've not been keeping abreast of the contemporary school board wars, and had only hints and guesses that things had gotten this ugly. I have a degree in education,...Boy howdy was this a rough read. I've not been keeping abreast of the contemporary school board wars, and had only hints and guesses that things had gotten this ugly. I have a degree in education, and even though I ultimately decided on a different life trajectory it still hurts to see public schools becoming battlegrounds for acrid, spectacle-raising politics.
The article does a great job at running through the threads of right-wing influence web. I would have guessed these to be more grassroots than they seem to be in reality--which is simultaneously a bit of a relief and a source of dread for me.
It seems like the latter-day Republican machine is just about keeping people as scared and as angry as humanly possible, and pointing that adrenaline towards their political ends. Any possible battleground for this now appears to be fair game.
I am glad to no longer be in Texas. I hope I don't sound too hyperbolic when I say I am scared for where it may be headed.
-
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
scissortail LinkI'm in one of my phases where I listen to a small handful of songs on repeat. The Toxhards - Ængus, The Prize-Winning Hog -- a miniature rock/metal opera about (surprise!) a prize-winning hog....I'm in one of my phases where I listen to a small handful of songs on repeat.
The Toxhards - Ængus, The Prize-Winning Hog -- a miniature rock/metal opera about (surprise!) a prize-winning hog. Extremely silly but, unironically, straight flames.
Maximum the Hormone - HAWATARI NIOKU CENTI -- Probably best known as one of the ending themes for the anime Chainsaw Man, which I haven't seen/read any of. Got turned on to this tune by friends who know I love MtH. This is short, but jam-packed with the band's signature stylistic shifts (as well as some badass glitchy stuff that is newer to their sound).
Maximum the Hormone - これからの麺カタコッテリの話をしよう -- Keeping with the same group, this is one of their newer single drops that isn't connected to an anime. This one sees them playing with disco and EDM as well as the usual hardcore/j-pop/punk fare. Like riding in a racecar whose transmission kicks monstrously. Skip to 1:25 if you aren't watching the video/don't want to give the intro your time.
The Offspring - Staring at the Sun -- If you know the Offspring, you know what this is about. If not, this tune would be a good introduction to their high-octane, driving punk stylings. I'm always astonished by how easy Dexter Holland makes his vocals sound, despite them being rather on the high side.
-
Comment on Does anyone actually like canned beans? in ~food
scissortail LinkJust wanted to chime in to say you are not alone! I don't find canned beans repulsive, but I do find them to be significantly inferior to dry beans in terms of taste and texture. I think properly...Just wanted to chime in to say you are not alone! I don't find canned beans repulsive, but I do find them to be significantly inferior to dry beans in terms of taste and texture. I think properly cooked dry beans have a fuller, more complex flavor and a slightly more toothsome texture, which I prefer. I haven't bought canned beans in years, despite the extra effort needed to prepare the dry ones.
I will also be growing my own beans this year, and I am extremely excited to see how they are when home-grown.
-
Comment on What is your earliest memory of the internet? in ~tech
scissortail LinkI think my first memory of the Internet as a thing-that-exists was hearing the sound of my parents' dial-up modem around the time I was in second grade. I was in a typing class at my school at...I think my first memory of the Internet as a thing-that-exists was hearing the sound of my parents' dial-up modem around the time I was in second grade. I was in a typing class at my school at around the same time, and played some games on the house's old Mac (still had a floppy drive!), but I don't think I got on the internet at home or at school.
My first memories of actually using the internet likely came around the time I was in sixth grade, though I don't doubt I used it some at school before then. It was around that time that I would use library computers to play the flash games on Cartoon Network's website. I would get an email address shortly thereafter (Yahoo! first, and later Gmail), and for many years I was a prolific and dedicated email correspondent. The bulk of my Internet use for much of my childhood was email and GameFAQs.com, which supplanted my earlier addiction to Prima's Official Strategy Guides (which I would often get for games I didn't even have!).
-
Comment on What's your unpopular opinion or idiosyncrasy about video games or games in general? in ~games
scissortail Link ParentI recently shared a hotel room for nearly two weeks with one of my best friends. He brought his Switch along and was playing Xenoblade 3. The fact that someone let that sound design out of the...I recently shared a hotel room for nearly two weeks with one of my best friends.
He brought his Switch along and was playing Xenoblade 3.
The fact that someone let that sound design out of the door completely floors me. It was easy to tell when a battle started because of the immense cacophony that started streaming out of the speakers. I couldn't believe my ears.
I've also noticed that it and other recent games have to use voice lines for e v e r y t h i n g. Even fiddly menu stuff like equipping an item gets you a voice clip that's trying to be quippy. I can't imagine the budget that's being pissed away on bad readings of small lines for each and every button press.
-
Comment on What's your unpopular opinion or idiosyncrasy about video games or games in general? in ~games
scissortail LinkMy younger self would be appalled to see me type this, but I just don't like video games that much anymore. I played a few while unemployed during quarantine times, and good ones, too--TLOZ: The...My younger self would be appalled to see me type this, but I just don't like video games that much anymore.
I played a few while unemployed during quarantine times, and good ones, too--TLOZ: The Wind Waker, The Hex, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door--but they were the first ones I had played through in many years. Looking back, too, I can't help but feel that I should have done something else with my time.
I have a short mental list of "games I will get to if I start playing again" (Disco Elysium, Outer Wilds, Kentucky Route Zero, Return of the Obra-Dinn, among others). I seriously doubt I'll get to any of them. I'll play couch multiplayer games with my friends when invited, but don't have much drive to initiate and none to play by myself. I tried getting into a terminal-based roguelike recently and it just didn't stick, but I am almost glad for that.
It's hard for me to unpack why I feel this way. Part of it is discomfort with the industry: its supply chains, the way it drives PCs to constantly increase spec (for increasingly marginal returns), the awful labor practices of the larger firms. Part of it involves my shifting views on technology itself and my pessimism towards contemporary technology writ large. And to be totally honest, part of me feels that (for me personally) they are largely a waste of time. I don't get much thrill anymore out of well-designed gameplay (Dark Souls was my touchpoint for this), and I can scratch my aesthetic itches much better with visual artwork, film, or music. I've only had one moment playing a video game that was truly edifying, despite sinking an awful lot of hours into them.
Said moment, tangent.
I was playing *Shadow of the Colossus* and was loving it. It was spare, gorgeous, and to-the-point. The fights were compelling, and the sense of scale and awe the colossi invoked was unlike anything I had experienced in a game. I kept getting an uneasy feeling as I went, though. I can't remember which one it was, but I made it to a colossus that just did not attack you. You had to climb on the thing and fucking murder it. I did, and I just couldn't keep playing. It felt so wrong. What motivation could have possibly been worth destroying what was surely a unique, intelligent, ancient creature like that? One that didn't even defend itself, much less show any aggression? I felt sick. I never picked the game up again after that.Best game I ever played.
This all genuinely makes me sad to write. Video games were a huge part of my childhood. I got a Gameboy Color with Pokemon Red and Super Mario Bros. Deluxe in the first grade, and went straight through to about age 23 with them as a very regular part of my life. They probably had a hand in teaching me reading and problem-solving. My tightest group of friends, still very close, bonded together in no small part over a shared appreciation for video games. I feel a bit of distance from them now that I don't keep up, and that is difficult to grapple with. I can still speak the language and know many of the old references, but much of it has just passed me by for years now. I feel as if the past few years, moving away from playing video games, I have been saying goodbye to part of my past.
I don't regret doing so, but boy does it feel bittersweet.
-
Comment on Oil: It was the best of fuels, it was the worst of fuels in ~enviro
scissortail LinkA podcast-length primer on oil, its production, and the crises it is inextricably woven into.A podcast-length primer on oil, its production, and the crises it is inextricably woven into.
-
Oil: It was the best of fuels, it was the worst of fuels
4 votes -
Comment on What are the top five software apps you benefit the most from? in ~tech
scissortail LinkMy answers are pretty staid, I suppose. ed - I usually don't need anything fancier. I'll break out nano if I don't want to futz about trying to figure out how do do something in ed. I'll break out...My answers are pretty staid, I suppose.
-
ed - I usually don't need anything fancier. I'll break out nano if I don't want to futz about trying to figure out how do do something in ed. I'll break out my copy of Ed Mastery by MWL if I am in more of a futzing-about mood.
-
mpv - I get distracted by music easily and so don't often listen for stretches longer than an album, so cmus doesn't get much play for me. mpv is also my go-to video player.
-
uBlock Origin - necessary if I want to browse the web and remain sane.
-
mupdf - lets me look at pdf files and search through them. If I really need to scribble on them I use xournal++.
-
yt-dlp - my setup gets easily overwhelmed by streaming video, so this is a necessity if I want to keep up with Sumo, learn things through video, or look at the Twitter videos my friends send me.
-
I've only sailed a little bit in my time. Messed with some small-boat stuff and have been a passenger on big-kid sailboats.
These guys are a huge inspiration, though. They are some of the most interesting people on the internet, and do a lot of their living and working on a sailboat.