smiles134's recent activity
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Comment on Draft bill would, if passed, allow US President Donald Trump to wage war against drug traffickers and countries in ~society
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
smiles134 Link ParentI read Player Piano for the first time earlier this year too. I felt it was surprisingly relevant in this age of constant AI salesmen proclaiming AI/LLMs will replace all the "menial" work and...I read Player Piano for the first time earlier this year too. I felt it was surprisingly relevant in this age of constant AI salesmen proclaiming AI/LLMs will replace all the "menial" work and make jobs more efficient.
But overall, I agree, there are a lot of signs of it being a debut novel from a writer who had not yet developed a style with which to say what he wanted to say. As is always the case with Vonnegut, you can see ideas and themes peaking through that he continued to grapple with for the rest of his career.
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Comment on Draft bill would, if passed, allow US President Donald Trump to wage war against drug traffickers and countries in ~society
smiles134 LinkHe's already doing this? And bragging about it? The US has launched two strikes against boats they claim -- without any evidence as far as I've seen -- were trafficking drugs. In international...He's already doing this? And bragging about it? The US has launched two strikes against boats they claim -- without any evidence as far as I've seen -- were trafficking drugs. In international waters, not even on US territory.
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Comment on Jimmy Kimmel pulled “indefinitely” by ABC after Charlie Kirk comments in ~tv
smiles134 Link Parentcapitalism will always favor the status quo. Rather thank rock the boat, they're just gonna push for whatever allows them to keep making money. There no principles at work here.capitalism will always favor the status quo. Rather thank rock the boat, they're just gonna push for whatever allows them to keep making money. There no principles at work here.
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Comment on More US employers fire workers over Charlie Kirk posts as pressure from right mounts in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentIt's on its way out because they kept going lower and lower to the point where we had thousands storming the capitol building and then pardoned after their guy won another election. So going high...It's on its way out because they kept going lower and lower to the point where we had thousands storming the capitol building and then pardoned after their guy won another election. So going high seems to be pretty fucking useless.
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Comment on What are some “sore thumb” lyrics for you? in ~music
smiles134 Link ParentThis is pretty standard fare for Jon Mess lol seriously, go back and look at the lyrics from Downtown Battle Mountain. He's been doing this forever.This is pretty standard fare for Jon Mess lol seriously, go back and look at the lyrics from Downtown Battle Mountain. He's been doing this forever.
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Comment on Charlie Kirk shooting: US President Donald Trump says suspect in custody in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentI had the same thoughts honestly, or that he could have foreign government covert ops support cause this would be a great way to stir up some unrest and further destabilize the US. But nope, just...I had the same thoughts honestly, or that he could have foreign government covert ops support cause this would be a great way to stir up some unrest and further destabilize the US.
But nope, just a radicalized kid.
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Comment on Vimeo enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in ~tech
smiles134 Link ParentI have a friend who worked at Brightcove, another video streaming platform that BS acquired last year. He'd worked there for just shy of ten years and then got laid off in March and has been...I have a friend who worked at Brightcove, another video streaming platform that BS acquired last year. He'd worked there for just shy of ten years and then got laid off in March and has been trying to find a new job ever since.
And now he's more bummed because he knows 100s more software engineers with his same skillset are gonna be on the job market pretty soon.
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Comment on Nova Launcher discontinued in ~tech
smiles134 LinkOh man this is a bummer. I knew it was coming but thought I could ride it out for a while... I do need to replace my phone in the nearish future, so maybe I'll deal with it then.Oh man this is a bummer. I knew it was coming but thought I could ride it out for a while... I do need to replace my phone in the nearish future, so maybe I'll deal with it then.
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Comment on Epic Systems’ mythical and sprawling campus in ~design
smiles134 Link ParentRight. Everyone I knew at Epic lived in Madison proper.Right. Everyone I knew at Epic lived in Madison proper.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentMy wife and I have watched the whole (original) series front to back 3 times. It is a really great show to just have on. The plots get extremely whacky toward the end but it's never so bad that...My wife and I have watched the whole (original) series front to back 3 times. It is a really great show to just have on. The plots get extremely whacky toward the end but it's never so bad that you want to turn it off.
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La Dispute – No One Was Driving the Car (2025)
There was some discussion here when the earlier singles for this album came out, so I figured it was worth posting the full album now that's out (as of today, September 5)....
There was some discussion here when the earlier singles for this album came out, so I figured it was worth posting the full album now that's out (as of today, September 5).
https://ladispute.bandcamp.com/album/no-one-was-driving-the-car
Have you listened yet? What do you think? Standout songs? What did you think of the rollout for this album? (If you're unaware, the band released nearly the full album, except for the final two songs, over the past several months. They essentially released each "chapter" in the story of the album as individual EPs or singles.)
For me, this is miles better than PANORAMA was, and I'm glad that I held off on listening to anything after Environmental Catastrophe Film was released until this full album drop. I sort of hated the rollout for that, but I also think I understand why they did it.
I don't think it tops Rooms of the House, but it's absolutely among the band's top three (with Wildlife being the third in that mix). It really does feel like a mashup of the urgency/aggression of Wildlife and the artistry of Rooms of the House, and brings in some of the band's spoken word releases as well.
Environmental Catastrophe Film is the best song on the record, but that was going to be hard to beat because it may be the band's best song in general -- certainly their best song in a decade. Steve has also caught my attention each time it's come up in my play throughs.
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Comment on Epic Systems’ mythical and sprawling campus in ~design
smiles134 LinkSo I went to college in Madison and know a lot of people who either worked at epic or interviewed there (including my wife). The campus was a big selling point during the interviews -- they'd give...So I went to college in Madison and know a lot of people who either worked at epic or interviewed there (including my wife). The campus was a big selling point during the interviews -- they'd give you a tour and everything and let you go down the slide instead of the staircase and all that.
The downside is Epic is notorious for overworking their employees. My good friend who worked there for a summer internship said he'd never work there full time. My wife wasn't offered a job but interviewed for a student job and had to prepare a one hour presentation as part of her interview.
The turnover is so insane at Epic that every five years you work there, they'll give you a 30 day paid sabbatical and will cover travel expenses if you go on a trip.
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Comment on 007 First Light | State of Play gameplay deep dive in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentFor what it's worth (from what I understand as I have not read any of the books), this is going back to the novels descriptions. This is from wiki: In the novels (notably From Russia, with Love),...For what it's worth (from what I understand as I have not read any of the books), this is going back to the novels descriptions.
This is from wiki:
In the novels (notably From Russia, with Love), Bond's physical description has generally been consistent: slim build; a 3 in (76 mm) long, thin vertical scar on his right cheek; blue-grey eyes; a "cruel" mouth; short, black hair, a comma of which rests on his forehead.
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Comment on Duty-free no more: Parcels worth under $800 no longer qualify for a US tariff exemption in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentThis is all assuming Republican voters connect the effect with the cause. I'm not sure they will ever take responsibility for their actions.This is all assuming Republican voters connect the effect with the cause. I'm not sure they will ever take responsibility for their actions.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
smiles134 LinkTwo new albums came out today that I've been waiting on: Hot Mulligan's The Sound a Body Makes When It's Still The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die's Dreams of Being Dust...Two new albums came out today that I've been waiting on:
Hot Mulligan's The Sound a Body Makes When It's Still
The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die's Dreams of Being Dust
The Hot Mulligan album sounds very much like a Hot Mulligan album, which is not a bad thing. I'm not sure it moves the needle much in the way some of their earlier albums have, but it's still very good.
The TWIABP album is monstrous in the best way. They've leaned into this class post-hardcore sound in a way I never expected them to (with features from Brendan Murphy, Greg Thomas, Dylan Walker and Mike Sugars) with sticking fully with their classic post-rock emo sound that's been part of their DNA forever. I'm clicking with this way more than I have with any of their albums post Harmlessness.
Otherwise: listening to a big mix of bands I have plans to see live this fall. PUP, Ekko Astral, La Dispute, The Story so Far, Origami Angel, Arm's Length, Anxious, Saturdays at Your Place, Riley!, Carly Cosgrove, Koyo, Ben Quad, TRSH, Kerosene Heights, and Pool Kids
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Comment on Donald Trump shock spurs Japan to think about the unthinkable: nuclear arms in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentWe legit need widespread deprogramming initiatives. These people are in a cult.We legit need widespread deprogramming initiatives. These people are in a cult.
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Comment on Gamescom 2025 megathread in ~games
smiles134 LinkThe Battlestar Galactica game and Valor Mortis were the two games that piqued my interest mostThe Battlestar Galactica game and Valor Mortis were the two games that piqued my interest most
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentAh -- well I definitely recommend it, as well as their earlier games (A Way Out and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons).Ah -- well I definitely recommend it, as well as their earlier games (A Way Out and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons).
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentI got Generation Zero on a Epic giveaway (I think) -- installed it and uninstalled it within 30 minutes of play. It was extremely not my thing, and reading reviews it seems like it didn't impress...I got Generation Zero on a Epic giveaway (I think) -- installed it and uninstalled it within 30 minutes of play. It was extremely not my thing, and reading reviews it seems like it didn't impress anyone.
Oh and guess what, the administration announced a third lethal strike on a boat this evening.