spidercat's recent activity
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Comment on Researchers were able to isolate the brain from the rest of the body of a pig, and kept it alive and functioning for five hours in ~science
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Comment on American Red Cross declares an emergency blood shortage, as number of donors hits twenty-year low in ~health
spidercat LinkI'd love to donate - but I'm always just below the weight requirements. I'm not sure how well it scales, I'm certainly not an expert, but you'd think they'd be able to proportionally scale down...I'd love to donate - but I'm always just below the weight requirements. I'm not sure how well it scales, I'm certainly not an expert, but you'd think they'd be able to proportionally scale down how much blood they take, since I'm at a very healthy weight. I'm just short. lol
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Comment on Core Internet – what sites and services should we permanently preserve? in ~tech
spidercat Linkthe Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and other data portals like it (e.g. iDigBio, the US-centric equivalent for physical specimen data). https://gbif.org https://idigbio.org Up to...the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and other data portals like it (e.g. iDigBio, the US-centric equivalent for physical specimen data). https://gbif.org https://idigbio.org
Up to billions of biodiversity data points from around the world. Digitized natural history collections. Metadata, multimedia. Think extinct, or endangered species. Think of the extinct o'o bird and its tragic, lonely song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRaC2Rx3BVY). Think of how many more of these instances we might document - or even prevent.
Invaluable stuff. Basically libraries of Alexandria for biodiversity data. All running on "soft money"...
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Comment on How social media’s biggest user protest rocked Reddit in ~tech
spidercat Link ParentYup, RiF was goated. I know that technically I could use the ReVanced patch for RiF, too, and that would work until it... doesn't, but as much as I miss RiF, I just don't see the point in delaying...Yup, RiF was goated. I know that technically I could use the ReVanced patch for RiF, too, and that would work until it... doesn't, but as much as I miss RiF, I just don't see the point in delaying the inevitable. RedReader does a great job, and it has just enough "jank" (I say with love) that it makes it less of a dopamine factory than RiF, which is overall good for my reddit addiction lol.
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Comment on How social media’s biggest user protest rocked Reddit in ~tech
spidercat LinkI'm still on reddit, but I definitely use it less since the events of June. I refuse to use their official app (if I MUST use it, I use a patched version via ReVanced) and I've found I actually...I'm still on reddit, but I definitely use it less since the events of June. I refuse to use their official app (if I MUST use it, I use a patched version via ReVanced) and I've found I actually really like RedReader, one of the capital-F Free apps exempted from the API fees.
I mod several subs, one of which is a frontpage sub, but since there are no mod tools on RedReader, my modding activity has gone way down. Which is fine; I do what I can when I'm on a desktop and need to "take out the trash". I know I'm not the only one who has gone the RedReader path.
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Comment on Flipboard begins to federate in ~tech
spidercat LinkFlipboard... is this the same app that came pre-installed on Galaxy devices a generation or two ago, and was all-too-easy to accidentally swipe to from your home screen? I'm pretty sure that's the...Flipboard... is this the same app that came pre-installed on Galaxy devices a generation or two ago, and was all-too-easy to accidentally swipe to from your home screen? I'm pretty sure that's the same Flipboard.
I imagine I'm not the only one with a negative/annoying association with the app, but I realize that's a "me problem" since IIRC it was trivial enough to disable/deactivate. Anyway. Best of luck to them.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
spidercat Link ParentI had seen it, years ago, but forgot all about it - thank you for the reminder!!I had seen it, years ago, but forgot all about it - thank you for the reminder!!
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
spidercat Linkbeen learning electronics fundamentals! I've always been a computer nerd, but I'm 100% self-taught. it's been a near-lifelong frustration of mine that I can't 100% conceptualize how a computer...been learning electronics fundamentals! I've always been a computer nerd, but I'm 100% self-taught. it's been a near-lifelong frustration of mine that I can't 100% conceptualize how a computer works... like, on the physical, electron level. how, to HUGELY simplify, a series of billions of "yes/no" options can have complicated logic applied to it to eventually give us what we see in front of us on this website. it's a "black box" of magic and mystery but I NEED TO KNOW.
over the years the "black box" grows smaller and less scary as I have passively and casually learned more, and after a recent impromptu lesson from my partner (who has a PhD in this stuff - lucky me!), I think I'm starting to finally "get it" and I am determined to demystify the magic at long last. my partner had a bit of a lightbulb moment in my gaps of understanding, and we built a simple flip-flop together. it's a concept I hadn't encountered before in my endeavors to teach myself how all this stuff works and it really opened my mind and is helping to make much more sense out of everything.
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Comment on Quizzle – Can you guess the word in fewer than twenty questions? in ~games
spidercat Link ParentSo, for today's (Nov 16) word of the day, I asked "is it small?" and it said no. But... what the word of the day refers to is small! So that really threw me off. Otherwise, very cool and fun...So, for today's (Nov 16) word of the day, I asked "is it small?" and it said no. But... what the word of the day refers to is small! So that really threw me off.
Otherwise, very cool and fun concept. :)
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Comment on Mean Girls | Official trailer in ~movies
spidercat LinkThe original is for sure one of my comfort movies - I've seen it countless times and I never grow tired of it. I'm cautiously optimistic this will be a good reboot/reimagining (as a musical,...The original is for sure one of my comfort movies - I've seen it countless times and I never grow tired of it.
I'm cautiously optimistic this will be a good reboot/reimagining (as a musical, IIRC?). Tina Fey's involvement gives me confidence.
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Comment on The gruesome story of how Neuralink’s monkeys actually died in ~tech
spidercat LinkI almost never say this, as I generally don't like to invoke this kind of energy without very good reason, but - I feel sick after reading this. These poor poor animals. I hope they rest easy. :(I almost never say this, as I generally don't like to invoke this kind of energy without very good reason, but - I feel sick after reading this. These poor poor animals.
I hope they rest easy. :(
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Comment on What are your favorite soundtracks for films and video games? in ~music
spidercat LinkAnything Dave Wise - e.g. the Donkey Kong Country trilogy for the SNES. Eveline Novakovic (nee Fischer) too. Her work, especially on DKC3, was fantastic, and I will shout her out as often as I...Anything Dave Wise - e.g. the Donkey Kong Country trilogy for the SNES.
Eveline Novakovic (nee Fischer) too. Her work, especially on DKC3, was fantastic, and I will shout her out as often as I can. Incredibly talented woman.
The tricks people would use to squeeze as much range and quality out of the SNES's SPC700 sound chip is just so amazingly impressive, and the compositions still hold up today. Sometimes I'll just stick on this 30min loop of "Northern Kremisphere" and crank out some work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5vdMgYBi4 that synth growl is just so cool...
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Comment on What is something that, surprisingly, worked? in ~talk
spidercat LinkIs your dog fearful of the vacuum? Scold it. The vacuum, not the dog. Scold the vacuum. Tell it that it's a BAD vacuum. TOO LOUD. You're scaring the puppy. BAD!! Chances are, your dog will feel a...Is your dog fearful of the vacuum? Scold it. The vacuum, not the dog. Scold the vacuum. Tell it that it's a BAD vacuum. TOO LOUD. You're scaring the puppy. BAD!!
Chances are, your dog will feel a little more at ease, since their human is acknowledging the perceived threat and is "doing something about it".
Works with other things your pup might be wary of, too. Beeping appliances, ceiling fans... yeah my dog is silly lol.
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Comment on What is your favourite cutscene/cinematic in any game? in ~games
spidercat Linkthe moment in Horizon: Zero Dawn when you learn what, exactly, Zero Dawn is. honestly, it's a culmination of little snippets of info in the quest Deep Secrets of the Earth, so linking just one...the moment in Horizon: Zero Dawn when you learn what, exactly, Zero Dawn is.
honestly, it's a culmination of little snippets of info in the quest Deep Secrets of the Earth, so linking just one cutscene devoid of context doesn't really hit as hard as it does when you're actually playing the game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjpdU1R-LP4
but holy fucking shit. I've played a lot of videogames and this scene, to me, is probably one of if not the most impactful/profound moments in any videogame I've ever played. just an incredible "holy fucking SHIT" when you realize what all went down.
spoiler
I know it's just a Grey Goo scenario https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_goo so it's not like, a super original novel concept, but it was SO impactful to me when I was playing through HZD. such a good game.
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Comment on I had a severe panic attack two days ago in ~health.mental
spidercat Link ParentLook at my third paragraph, friend. I have been there, too. I felt so broken and helpless that I thought checking myself into a mental hospital was the logical next step... Spoiler alert, I never...How am I supposed to receive this when I feel the exact opposite? :(
Look at my third paragraph, friend. I have been there, too. I felt so broken and helpless that I thought checking myself into a mental hospital was the logical next step...
Spoiler alert, I never ended up checking myself in. Though, IF I DID, there would have been NOTHING wrong with that, and it would NOT have meant I was a broken person - it would have just meant that I needed extra help.
It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to need help and support. It doesn't mean you're broken.
Speaking of "broken": my therapist and I prefer to use the term "wounded" instead of "broken" - "broken" implies some sort of defect that needs external help to be repaired, and may even be irreparable. Wounds, however, heal over time. We heal our wounds.
You may be wounded - we all are, in so many ways - but you are not broken.
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Comment on Getting older and nostalgia - what do you miss? in ~talk
spidercat Link ParentIt's a tiny thing, but I find turning off "last seen" and/or read receipts on your messenger apps of choice to be extremely helpful. The whole "omg, you saw my message an hour ago but never...It's a tiny thing, but I find turning off "last seen" and/or read receipts on your messenger apps of choice to be extremely helpful. The whole "omg, you saw my message an hour ago but never responded!"/"I KNOW you're online, stop ignoring me!"/"SHIT I opened the message, they'll know I've read it, now I HAVE to reply" dynamic is seriously not good for our mental health, on either side of the equation.
Turning off read receipts and "last seen" functionality has helped me tremendously with the toxic unspoken "pressures" of digital communication.
WhatsApp supports turning off this functionality, as does Signal.
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Comment on I had a severe panic attack two days ago in ~health.mental
spidercat LinkHey there, I'm so so sorry you're going through this. If it helps, I'd like to tell you my own story of panic, anxiety, and overcoming it. I spent the better part of a year dealing with honestly...Hey there, I'm so so sorry you're going through this.
If it helps, I'd like to tell you my own story of panic, anxiety, and overcoming it.
I spent the better part of a year dealing with honestly debilitating panic and anxiety issues. I could hardly leave the house. I was too anxious to eat and became very underweight. I was convinced there was something wrong with me and my body; I very seriously considered institutionalizing myself because I felt so trapped in the "panic hole". It was bad.
The good news is, I am much better now. You can be, too.
Everyone's journey is different, but mine involved: reading work by Dr. Claire Weekes (a pioneer in terms of anxiety and panic science and treatment), getting comfortable with the physical feelings of anxiety (it's just adrenaline due to a false alarm by your limbic system, and it cannot hurt you), and having propranolol as an "emergency red button" when it became too overwhelming - I prefer it to e.g. xanax as I remain sober and functional, and it has some unique activity with the amygdala specifically. For what it's worth, I haven't taken propranolol in about a year, now. Haven't needed to.
This is all on top of my foundational background of going to therapy for years - don't skip on therapy if it is accessible to you.
Finally, supplementing magnesium really seemed to be the final piece of the puzzle for me. Like, if 90% of me becoming functional again was me doing the work (and we HAVE to do the work... nothing and nobody will do the work for us), the final 10% was magnesium. I think I may have been deficient.
Do I still have anxiety? Yep, and I always will. I've had anxiety my entire life, after all. I still also get the same thoughts and feelings that would have made me panic a year ago. The difference now is that I know what it is, and I'm not afraid of it anymore.
"The waves never stop coming, but you can learn how to surf."
I can live my life again. There are moments where I feel like crying because of how far I've come.
You can do it. You are not broken. I believe in you.
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Comment on That essential morning coffee may be a placebo in ~food
spidercat LinkPlenty of things are placebo... and there's nothing wrong with that. The placebo effect does NOT mean something is worthless, and there's some interesting hypotheses as to why we evolved to be...Plenty of things are placebo... and there's nothing wrong with that. The placebo effect does NOT mean something is worthless, and there's some interesting hypotheses as to why we evolved to be able to perceive a placebo effect in the first place.
If you haven't watched Medlife Crisis's video on the placebo effect, you absolutely should. It's long but it is so, so well done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tefIopDJQBQ
Link for those on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/medlifecrisis-how-to-use-the-placebo-effect-to-feel-better
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Comment on It's July 1st, my third party app still works to visit Reddit? in ~tech
spidercat Link ParentYeah. tbh it kinda feels like it's less about actual facts or substance, and more about "I'm a very special boy, I'm privy to info you're not privy to, trust me bro, I'm right and you're wrong....Yeah. tbh it kinda feels like it's less about actual facts or substance, and more about "I'm a very special boy, I'm privy to info you're not privy to, trust me bro, I'm right and you're wrong. neener neener neener!"
I guess it's good to know that not even Tildes is immune to this kind of pointless dick measuring, lol.
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Comment on It's July 1st, my third party app still works to visit Reddit? in ~tech
spidercat Link ParentFor what it's worth, that user is replying to comments now. It's all still fishy IMO. The way they keep dropping the """NDA""" as if it's a flex is very... I don't want to say cringe, but, it's...For what it's worth, that user is replying to comments now.
It's all still fishy IMO. The way they keep dropping the """NDA""" as if it's a flex is very... I don't want to say cringe, but, it's cringe. I don't know why they're going to bat so hard for reddit leadership.
"we are the universe experiencing itself"