smiles134's recent activity
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Comment on What is one of the coolest museums you've visited? in ~travel
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Comment on Where do you all get your news from? How do you work to avoid echo chambers and propaganda? in ~life
smiles134 Link ParentYes, all true. They talk about their rating system here: https://ground.news/rating-systemYes, all true. They talk about their rating system here: https://ground.news/rating-system
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Comment on Where do you all get your news from? How do you work to avoid echo chambers and propaganda? in ~life
smiles134 LinkI'm gonna throw in a recommendation for Ground News. I've used the app for a few years now. It's a news aggregator that collects stories on the same topic from across the political spectrum. So...I'm gonna throw in a recommendation for Ground News. I've used the app for a few years now. It's a news aggregator that collects stories on the same topic from across the political spectrum. So for an example, this story:
European Union to put countermeasures to U.S. tariffs on hold for 90 days
There are 181 sources covering this story, and they're split along the political bias spectrum, and you can click through and see what AP is reporting vs. say, The Daily Wire.
They also track "blind spots" -- stories that one side is reporting on, but the other side isn't (or one side is reporting heavily on while there's spotty coverage on the other).
You can't avoid bias entirely. But being aware of it, and actively seeking out multiple POVs is the best way to get an idea of the whole picture in my opinion.
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Comment on US President Donald Trump announces pause in ‘reciprocal’ tariffs for all countries but China in ~society
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Comment on Countries say Donald Trump's White House hasn’t responded on tariff talks in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentCongress needs to wake the fuck up. I know some congressional republicans are either in support of what he's doing or entirely afraid they'll be voted out of office, but how long are they going to...Congress needs to wake the fuck up. I know some congressional republicans are either in support of what he's doing or entirely afraid they'll be voted out of office, but how long are they going to let this go on?
(I know the answer is indefinitely. But it shouldn't be.)
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentIt's possible I would've gotten more into Ragnarok if I'd spaced them out a bit more, but I basically played them back to back. I did a run of Titanfall 2, which I hadn't played in a while, but...It's possible I would've gotten more into Ragnarok if I'd spaced them out a bit more, but I basically played them back to back. I did a run of Titanfall 2, which I hadn't played in a while, but that campaign is only like 6-8 hours, so there wasn't much of a palette cleanser in between.
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Comment on See Donald Trump's list: More than 180 countries and territories facing reciprocal tariffs from the US in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentProbably the worst/most Orwellian aspect of all of this are Trump's officials going around saying what a genius Trump is, how it's going to make America so rich, and how Americans are supportive....How can anyone make sense of this?
Probably the worst/most Orwellian aspect of all of this are Trump's officials going around saying what a genius Trump is, how it's going to make America so rich, and how Americans are supportive.
That's right: Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, said this morning on CBS News that Americans are behind Trump.
I don't know about you, but I've not seen a single person outside of this administration say this is a good idea or even well-executed.
The markets are crashing, the spin is useless. They really believe we have no ability to think on our own.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 LinkOver the last month or so, I've played through God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok for the first time -- I hadn't played any of the earlier GoW games, but I understood this to be a good...Over the last month or so, I've played through God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok for the first time -- I hadn't played any of the earlier GoW games, but I understood this to be a good place to jump in. I really enjoyed both games, though I think I liked GoW (2018) better. I always found myself groaning when I had to play as Atreus as his fighting style was way less interesting. Also, I don't know if I just explored more in the earlier game, but the upgrades and armor I found in Ragnarok were way more limited. It's also possible I missed something, but Atreus ended with like 20k XP that I couldn't find anything to use it for.
I liked the story fine enough in Ragnarok. I was a bit over the whole teen angst, needing to get away from my Dad part of it by the middle, but I came around by the end.
I'd give GoW a 9/10 and Ragnarok an 8/10, probably
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Comment on See Donald Trump's list: More than 180 countries and territories facing reciprocal tariffs from the US in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentYes, the Senate's vote would need to pass the house as well, and Mike Johnson will probably just not bring it for a vote.Yes, the Senate's vote would need to pass the house as well, and Mike Johnson will probably just not bring it for a vote.
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Comment on See Donald Trump's list: More than 180 countries and territories facing reciprocal tariffs from the US in ~society
smiles134 LinkWe put tariffs on some islands that are uninhabited (Heard and McDonald islands), as well as an island that's mostly inhabited by US military and contractors (BIOT). Feeling like they didn't do...We put tariffs on some islands that are uninhabited (Heard and McDonald islands), as well as an island that's mostly inhabited by US military and contractors (BIOT).
Feeling like they didn't do their research.
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Comment on Liberal projected to win Wisconsin Supreme Court race in blow to Donald Trump in ~society
smiles134 LinkCrawford didn't just win. She blew Schimel out of the water. I'm from Wisconsin and though I don't live there anymore, I have close friends and family who do, so I was keeping a close eye on this...Crawford didn't just win. She blew Schimel out of the water. I'm from Wisconsin and though I don't live there anymore, I have close friends and family who do, so I was keeping a close eye on this race. I was not expecting this to be called tonight, and it got called like 2 hours after polls closed.
Crawford won counties that were +10 for Trump just in November, and the more red suburbs and northern counties inched closer to blue tonight.
This is a big deal. Musk's money cannot just buy him positive results. And quite frankly, inserting himself into the race in such a public and loud way probably only hurt Schimel.
And in a more specific way, Wisconsin retains its 4-3 liberal majority on the supreme court when abortion rights are going to be tested, and a (finally) ungerrymandered voting map has been established.
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentPart of it was I started grad school and couldn't sink the time in every season to get to play and above, and the game is so frustrating at levels below that lol And yes, I would never willingly...Part of it was I started grad school and couldn't sink the time in every season to get to play and above, and the game is so frustrating at levels below that lol
And yes, I would never willingly play with a console player. Just can't do it.
I was hoping Siege X would be a whole new game, because at this point I don't think I can just jump back into it, but I do regularly miss playing it.
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
smiles134 LinkFrom about 2016/2017 - 2020, most of my time gaming was in Rainbow 6 Siege. I loved the tactical aspects. It was like an FPS chess match. I'd honestly still be playing if my friends still played,...From about 2016/2017 - 2020, most of my time gaming was in Rainbow 6 Siege. I loved the tactical aspects. It was like an FPS chess match. I'd honestly still be playing if my friends still played, but one by one they drifted into other things and for about the last year or so I was mostly playing solo and I got tired of that, so I switched to Apex, and then mostly into single player games. I haven't played a competitive multiplayer game in probably 2 years now.
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Comment on ‘Legend of Zelda’ film sets March 2027 theatrical release from Sony Pictures in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentA big difference is there's already a clear narrative for TLOS, but Zelda doesn't really have that. It's definitely game > story when it comes to Zelda.A big difference is there's already a clear narrative for TLOS, but Zelda doesn't really have that. It's definitely game > story when it comes to Zelda.
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Comment on Marvel’s ‘Blade’ scrapped in ~movies
smiles134 LinkBased on everything that happened leading up to this, I'm not at all surprisedBased on everything that happened leading up to this, I'm not at all surprised
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Comment on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Direct 3.27.2025 in ~games
smiles134 Link ParentIsn't the "Let's depower Samus so she starts from square one" like a primary component of metroidvanias?Isn't the "Let's depower Samus so she starts from square one" like a primary component of metroidvanias?
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Comment on Everything is a remix in ~tech
smiles134 LinkI love this video/series -- I used to show it to my comp students when we talked about genre and remix. We didn't get too bogged down in part 4, but the first 3 parts are really illustrative of...I love this video/series -- I used to show it to my comp students when we talked about genre and remix. We didn't get too bogged down in part 4, but the first 3 parts are really illustrative of how nothing is made in a vacuum, and how masters of craft are true students of genre. They understand the disparate parts and how they fit together, and--most importantly--how the parts can be broken down, shuffled around and inverted in order to create something new and exciting.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentOh yeah, several times. He likes it -- it's a good movie. I think they did a fine-enough job creating a situation where it's believable for Tom Cruise's character to come back to the flight...Oh yeah, several times. He likes it -- it's a good movie. I think they did a fine-enough job creating a situation where it's believable for Tom Cruise's character to come back to the flight school. The last like 30ish minutes are a bit beyond belief, but overall it's enjoyable.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentYour taste is your taste -- don't let anyone try to dictate what you should or shouldn't enjoy. And for what it's worth, Top Gun is a great movie. It's my retired Air Force Captain dad's favorite...Is it bad that I seem to enjoy movies like this more than complex movies where the plot has a bit more meat on the bones?
Your taste is your taste -- don't let anyone try to dictate what you should or shouldn't enjoy.
And for what it's worth, Top Gun is a great movie. It's my retired Air Force Captain dad's favorite film of all time.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 LinkI watched A Real Pain over the weekend, and all I knew about it going in was that Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin went on a trip to Poland together. I really loved this movie. It's quiet and...I watched A Real Pain over the weekend, and all I knew about it going in was that Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin went on a trip to Poland together.
I really loved this movie. It's quiet and not too complex and it utilizes every minute of its runtime. I think the way certain details are withheld or revealed at points in the script really make this work.
Spoilers about some significant plot points/character details.
Like for instance, a lesser version of this movie might've included a beat in the first scene, when Eisenberg's character is trying to get a hold of Culkin's character to make sure he's at the airport in time, where Eisenberg's character calls his wife to worry about the trip and the fact that his cousin had overdosed just a few months ago. That clues the audience in for something to look out for, but instead of burdening us with that first, it lets us understand the dynamics between the characters first. And it keeps that information close to its chest for a long time too -- Eisenberg's character is uncomfortable sharing this and has a hard time opening up about his feelings, so it works -- but as soon you learn this, it recolors the entire movie, really. It's a great move, and hard to pull off without feeling like the audience has been misled, but damn.Without making this too much about myself, but I really saw a younger/older version of myself in both characters, which I think is maybe part of why the movie resonated so much with me. When they're on the rooftop toward the end of the film smoking a joint and Eisenberg says he'd give anything to know what it's like for everyone to light up when he walks into a room -- like damn, that hit me so hard.
They have the space shuttle Discovery, an SR-71 Blackbird and a Concorde (and hundreds of other planes). It is very easily the coolest museum I've been to.