sparkle's recent activity
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Comment on Has anyone else intentionally lowered their phone's screen's saturation? in ~tech
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Comment on CGA-2026-01 🕹️⛵🛡️ INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in ~games
sparkle Link ParentSpecial shout out to this classic rendition of Dragon Roost Island - he also has a fun Outset Island and the other covers of Zelda/Mario/Chrono are equally as fun!Special shout out to this classic rendition of Dragon Roost Island - he also has a fun Outset Island and the other covers of Zelda/Mario/Chrono are equally as fun!
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Comment on CGA-2026-01 🕹️⛵🛡️ INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in ~games
sparkle Link ParentInteresting - I don't think I've noticed that effect but my eyes are also not as good as they used to be. I suppose it could be a difference in how cemu and dolphin hook into vulkan maybe? I am...Interesting - I don't think I've noticed that effect but my eyes are also not as good as they used to be. I suppose it could be a difference in how cemu and dolphin hook into vulkan maybe? I am running HDR mode on mine actually - forgot I had that enabled. Though I highly doubt that would make a difference. But yeah, lossless scaling is fantastic! I'm glad I found out about it while looking up 60fps mods. I tried the gecko codes for 60fps and while they kinda work, the game timing can get off in places. For instance, the first Niko jump mini-game is broken because he never completes the jump to the first platform. Just falls straight to the floor and stares at me blinking lol.
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Comment on CGA-2026-01 🕹️⛵🛡️ INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in ~games
sparkle Link ParentAhh sorry to steal your thunder! Hilarious that we both pretty much came up with the same steps independently and for different systems and are also both slow/busy gamers. Are you me? Am I you?...Ahh sorry to steal your thunder! Hilarious that we both pretty much came up with the same steps independently and for different systems and are also both slow/busy gamers. Are you me? Am I you?
Your steps are much more reproducible I think - I just hammered mine out while sitting on the couch in a post holidays daze. From what I remember, the steps are nearly identical so your instructions should be applicable to both setups.
Thanks and happy sailing - maybe after this I might even try a randomizer mod?
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Comment on CGA-2026-01 🕹️⛵🛡️ INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in ~games
sparkle LinkI know I'm a very slow gamer, so I actually started this a week ago. And much to my surprise, after having struggled to really get drawn into many modern games (even Clair Obscur took awhile for...- Exemplary
I know I'm a very slow gamer, so I actually started this a week ago. And much to my surprise, after having struggled to really get drawn into many modern games (even Clair Obscur took awhile for me and still felt like a chore for portions), I'm almost done with it already. It's not a matter of time or the relative shortness of the game, there's just something about the simplicity and the joy and the care that are crammed onto a 1.47GB disc that makes everything so much more fun.
When Wind Waker came out, I laughed at it with everybody else. Ocarina of Time would always be the golden standard, I thought. And it still is - though I think WW is a very close second for me now. There's something about the creative simplicity that's just missing from a lot of modern games - even BotW and TotK are struggle buses for me. I think I've possibly played WW more than even Link to the Past now.
Anyway! I did want to share my setup. I'm using the original NTSC Gamecube version. I have Dolphin emulator (whichever version is available from AUR) on my Arch Linux desktop with an i7-13700k with KDE Plasma6 on Wayland with an RTX3080 (proprietary Nvidia drivers).
Here's everything I did for my setup-
- Installed the Hypatia HD pack
- Patched the ISO with Better Wind Waker mod (I mostly did some QoL stuff in here, especially the inverted horizontal camera controls)
- Purchased Lossless Scaling from Steam (this worked much much better than the 60fps mods floating around out there)
- Installed lsfg-vk (also available in AUR) as a wrapper for the Windows only Lossless Scaling - I set it to be enabled on dolphin-emu application name and set my FPS scaler to 3x - this gives a very smooth experience for me on a 2k monitor at 165hz
- Most dolphin emulator options I just followed whatever the default for the HD pack recommended
- "Cheating" wise, I'm just using increased sail speed and slightly longer roll, along with the "second set of right shoulder items" code provided as an optional extra with BetterWW. Oh also widescreen support is essential
- I did consider RetroAchievements, but it only supports the EU/International edition and I was already an hour in when I realized this and didn't feel like switching.
All of this gets me to a very faithful Gamecube HD version but with all the bells and whistles of the Wii U version. Which I could also emulate but meh, challenges make things fun sometimes.
I'm also using the Tingle Tuner for the very first time! I never owned a GBA (or a GameCube for that matter) - only playing WW at friends houses or by borrowing their console. Dolphin can emulate the GBA and give you a real Tingle Tuner experience which is honestly really fun. I know it got lots of hate for Tingle and the annoying sounds (you can mute the GBA controller adapter) but the minimap and wind compass at a glance are quite nice to have. Not to mention more collectables.
Hopefully this helps anybody else who wants to play on Linux. Happy to answer any questions or provide more details if needed!
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
sparkle Link ParentHey that's awesome! I used a quit smoking tracker a long time ago that I can't recall the name of. But I do recall that it included some stats to help with motivation - for instance, you could...Hey that's awesome! I used a quit smoking tracker a long time ago that I can't recall the name of. But I do recall that it included some stats to help with motivation - for instance, you could enter the average cost of a pack of smokes you used to buy and how often you smoked and it would tell you how much you were saving daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Maybe that could be a feature to add? I know when I quit drinking a few years ago, there was a lot of "well shit, I just saved 250$ this month. Maybe I'll treat myself to ___" moments that really helped.
It also had health statements in there like "after 6 months, your lungs are back to 50% capacity" or something like that. Though obviously with any sort of health statement, likely better to steer clear unless you really know what you're talking about.
Best of luck in your sobriety journeys - it's hard at first but it gets much much easier. Dry January is honestly the hardest bit - especially if there are lots of post-holiday events and stuff and cousins who won't take no for an answer (speaking from experience...)
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
sparkle LinkI've been on a math/physics kick for awhile (specifically topology and non-euclidean geometry) and recently heard about the works of Greg Egan, a mathematician/author. I'm starting with Diaspora...I've been on a math/physics kick for awhile (specifically topology and non-euclidean geometry) and recently heard about the works of Greg Egan, a mathematician/author. I'm starting with Diaspora which is supposedly one of his better works.
I realized quite quickly that this is basically a textbook cleverly disguised as fiction, and honestly I'm here for it. He presents the topics in engaging ways without patronizing the reader and also tells an interesting story of humanity 1000 years in the future.
While it's not the best nor most innovative sci-fi I've ever read, it's definitely been good nerdy fun as opposed to "fun to read but forgettable". I enjoy using it as a jumping off point to rabbit hole down other adjacent topics - though I guess this does make it quite a slow read for me as I get easily distracted. But still, I look forward to reading it more than I have about a lot of books recently.
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Comment on Advice with my Nextcloud + Kodi set-up in ~tech
sparkle LinkWhich model of Raspberry Pi and what adapter are you using to power it? Newer ones like the 4 and 5 require 15W and 25W minimum respectively, using smaller ones will still boot and work most of...Which model of Raspberry Pi and what adapter are you using to power it? Newer ones like the 4 and 5 require 15W and 25W minimum respectively, using smaller ones will still boot and work most of the time but there will be all sorts of wonky behaviour.
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Comment on The Windows 11 crisis in ~tech
sparkle Link ParentPlease don't throw that curse around lightly. Sincerely, a former thin client admin for non-technical users. (seriously Karin, how did you manage to print a screenshot of an email, annotate it...At a certain point, the largest non-tech sectors will consider if a deploying *nix browser kiosks will save millions, and we'll have come full circle to thin clients again.
Please don't throw that curse around lightly. Sincerely, a former thin client admin for non-technical users.
(seriously Karin, how did you manage to print a screenshot of an email, annotate it with pen, scan it back in, print it, and then fax it??)
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
sparkle Link ParentThis and Transatlanticism, along with The Postal Service, are three of my time travel albums. Each song can draw me back to a specific point (or points!) in time in a really rather uncanny way....Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (indie/emo/alternative rock)
This and Transatlanticism, along with The Postal Service, are three of my time travel albums. Each song can draw me back to a specific point (or points!) in time in a really rather uncanny way. They were just that impactful at those moments in my life as I moved towards adulthood (and a few moments during adult life too).
Great album, I still enjoy some of their newer stuff even if it doesn't quite have the same impact.
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Comment on I fixed my lactose intolerance -- by chugging all the lactose in ~health
sparkle Link ParentI do recall the Got Milk stuff and also all the calcium stuff. Teachers would tell me I'll have brittle bones or break my arm more easily if I didn't drink my milk but I was like "but it makes me...I do recall the Got Milk stuff and also all the calcium stuff. Teachers would tell me I'll have brittle bones or break my arm more easily if I didn't drink my milk but I was like "but it makes me feel sick... I don't want to drink it"
Meanwhile, I've gone nearly 40 years without drinking milk and have yet to break a bone ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Of course, having said that, I'll likely break something shoveling snow this weekend...
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Comment on I fixed my lactose intolerance -- by chugging all the lactose in ~health
sparkle Link ParentYeah, I'm realizing now reading the other comments that people can develop it post-adolescence which honestly was news to me - I thought it only went away or got worse in adolescence and was...Yeah, I'm realizing now reading the other comments that people can develop it post-adolescence which honestly was news to me - I thought it only went away or got worse in adolescence and was unaware it could be acquired later in life. I know I would be looking for a way to fix things if I was suddenly intolerant to beans or potatoes (my two favourite foods)
Many people consider drinking milk to be a serious ritual.
My figure skating coach recently told me that she drinks half a litre of milk every night before bed which was in the back of my mind when writing my original comment. Just one of those things that is difficult for me to comprehend, I suppose.
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Comment on I fixed my lactose intolerance -- by chugging all the lactose in ~health
sparkle Link ParentThat's a good point, I don't eat out very often and when I do, I'm not regularly checking for lactose beyond just skipping cheese and sweet stuff. Mine isn't severe enough for small amounts to...That's a good point, I don't eat out very often and when I do, I'm not regularly checking for lactose beyond just skipping cheese and sweet stuff. Mine isn't severe enough for small amounts to tear me up so maybe I've just always been lucky or assumed it was something else causing me some gastrointestinal distress. My wife is also lactose intolerant so we don't have problems at home either usually (except on the rare occasion we want to make ice cream, typically in the middle of winter for whatever reason).
I guess avoiding lactose stuff has just become so natural to me that I don't see why people put it in everything, other than it just being a part of the culture. I do get irrationally angry at seeing Asian cuisines recently adding cheese to everything though. I went out for Korean BBQ with friends that I was visiting in LA once and there was just a huge tray of melted bubbling cheese and corn in front of me the entire night. Was really rather disgusting to me but at least the rest was non-cheese lol
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Comment on I fixed my lactose intolerance -- by chugging all the lactose in ~health
sparkle Link ParentAh you hit an interesting point. I developed a fairly severe distaste for sugar at a very young age to the point I became fairly repulsed by most candy and cake things (I also have autism related...Ah you hit an interesting point. I developed a fairly severe distaste for sugar at a very young age to the point I became fairly repulsed by most candy and cake things (I also have autism related sensory issues, especially around anything sticky so that might be part of it too?). So I naturally avoid almost everything you listed or I opt for less sweeter varieties if they're available.
Almost sounds like big dairy and big sugar have been hanging out together...
But to the credit of everybody else, I guess I just sometimes forget other people like other things lol. If I suddenly developed a bean intolerance (one of my favourite foods), I'd probably also want to fix it or at least make them tolerable again.
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Comment on I fixed my lactose intolerance -- by chugging all the lactose in ~health
sparkle LinkI can handle small amounts of lactose in cheese and yogurt (that I make myself so I can hella strain it) but actual liquid milk still makes me vomit. The rest of dairy products just come out the...I can handle small amounts of lactose in cheese and yogurt (that I make myself so I can hella strain it) but actual liquid milk still makes me vomit. The rest of dairy products just come out the uhh. other chute.
I've avoided clicking this video on my feed for awhile because I expected it to literally be milk chugging, like the scene in Anchorman which still makes me gag. So I'm quite relieved to hear it's just milk powder but still. Hrchhh.
That being said, I'm fine with my lactose intolerance. I'm genuinely curious why in North America is it considered a thing that needs to be cured? I know one reasoning is because some medicines contain lactose and that can be problematic for lactose intolerant patients, which is understandable. But all too often, when I tell people I'm quite heavily lactose intolerant, they start telling me about their lactose intolerant cousin who takes lactaid and how I'm missing out on so much. So I guess I get the vibe that it's a FOMO thing or a desire to not be seen as different?
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Comment on Around the world in 80 days ... sustainably in ~talk
sparkle Link ParentIf I recall, Jean-Luc Picard was named after Jacques Piccard, who was Bertrand's fatherIf I recall, Jean-Luc Picard was named after Jacques Piccard, who was Bertrand's father
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Comment on What are some of your favorite stews/soups? in ~food
sparkle Link ParentRegarding grains of paradise, I did find this comment from Alton Brown's apple pie recipe So barring buying them online, perhaps you could blend black pepper, smidge of lemon zest, and cardamom?...Regarding grains of paradise, I did find this comment from Alton Brown's apple pie recipe
Note regarding Grains of Paradise: Aframomum melegueta is a cousin of ginger and its seeds are known as "grains of paradise." I have absolutely no idea why this spice is not more popular, because when crushed, the seeds deliver a spectacular complexity, a mingling of black pepper, lemon, cardamom, and something that reminds me of brown butter. Although GoP is welcomed on many a meat dish, it's on fruit that I really read the magic. This pie, is not this pie without this spice. You won't find it at the mega mart but it can be found online from sources such as spicehouse.com.
So barring buying them online, perhaps you could blend black pepper, smidge of lemon zest, and cardamom? I've personally been finding interesting uses for cardamom lately, particularly in savory baked goods and even hybrid ones like coffee cake.
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Comment on CGA-2025-10 🕹️⏰ 🗺️ 🐸 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Chrono Trigger in ~games
sparkle Link ParentIf it makes you feel better, I only had OTA channels growing up and was strictly limited to 1 hour per day of TV time on a CRT. I still had glasses starting at age 6 so maybe it's just bad...If it makes you feel better, I only had OTA channels growing up and was strictly limited to 1 hour per day of TV time on a CRT. I still had glasses starting at age 6 so maybe it's just bad genetics and not the CRT
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
sparkle Link ParentThanks! Getting a bit of Ayreon vibes from it - I do enjoy a good story told through songThanks! Getting a bit of Ayreon vibes from it - I do enjoy a good story told through song
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Comment on OpenAI’s H1 2025: $4.3b in income, $13.5b in loss in ~tech
sparkle Link ParentMy organization has internal documentation spread across so many areas. GitHub, confluence, Jira, backstage, inherited wikis from acquisitions, Jim's "don't delete, impt docs" folder, etc. I'm...My organization has internal documentation spread across so many areas. GitHub, confluence, Jira, backstage, inherited wikis from acquisitions, Jim's "don't delete, impt docs" folder, etc. I'm half tempted to join our hackathon this year just to pitch a documentation oriented LLM to help organize all this. Sadly the hackathon will mostly be about "how can we use AI to
gougebenefit customers". I guess this still falls under that umbrella lol, just not in the way management wantsnot just organization but, like you said, keeping it up to date as well! GitHub is actually pretty good at automatically updating documentation when setup right, but the rest are just generally unmaintained and unhelpful.
Nobody wants to do the work to update and maintain it because we're all overworked (partially because of poor documentation) so an LLM would be an excellent tool in this situation
Not quite saturation, but I forgot my Kindle on a recent trip so was forced to read my book on my phone. The night-mode on my Pixel still wasn't enough so I wound up just cranking the hue all the way to red and lowered the saturation to get a really rather pleasant low-light reading experience. While the glossiness of the screen still bothered me a bit, it was an overall decent replacement.