steel_for_humans's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on People who turn off their electronics hours before bed... What do you do at night? in ~talk
steel_for_humans Link ParentDid you try an 8'' ereader with physical buttons? The size is akin to a paper book and you get the tactile feel because of pressing the buttons to turn a page. For me, personally, it works just...Did you try an 8'' ereader with physical buttons? The size is akin to a paper book and you get the tactile feel because of pressing the buttons to turn a page. For me, personally, it works just the same as paper books, I just see the text and the device sort of disappears from my view. :)
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Comment on Just finished reading The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, and wondering what to read next in ~books
steel_for_humans (edited )Link ParentIt's the Baalzamon figure for me. He's literally Sauron and Moiraine (Gandalf) accompanied by Lan (Aragorn) forms the fellowship of backwater peasants. They need to go to Mordor (the Blight) and...I disagree with you, unless, I suppose, one to boil both stories down to "people from a backwater follow a wizard to save the world". But in the particulars, the worlds are vastly different.
It's the Baalzamon figure for me. He's literally Sauron and Moiraine (Gandalf) accompanied by Lan (Aragorn) forms the fellowship of
hobbitsbackwater peasants. They need to go to Mordor (the Blight) andthrow the ringfind the Eye of the World. The analogies are blatant and I I've seen that opinion many times, with which I personally agree. Furthermore, the first book (or even the second one) feels like your run of the mill fantasy with the Big Evil and the Hero and the clash between Light and Darkness. Yawn. So I'm super happy that it turns out to be much more.EDIT: there's even a man coming annually on a cart with fireworks, haven't seen that one before ;)
It has lovable characters, interesting lore and superb worldbuilding. To me, every country feels completely different culturally -- from clothing, through people's behavior and their sayings to architecture. In my opinion most writers are either good at writing characters OR worldbuilding. Jordan somehow was good at both.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
steel_for_humans Link ParentI tried playing Divinity: Original Sin 2 in co-op. After a few hours it turned out that me and my companion had very different ideas on how to approach the NPCs, quests and a lot of other things....I tried playing Divinity: Original Sin 2 in co-op. After a few hours it turned out that me and my companion had very different ideas on how to approach the NPCs, quests and a lot of other things. Plus, my companion played the game while I was offline (not fair) and progressed a quest and that was the last nail in the coffin for our game. I had an honest talk with him and we decided to part ways and play solo.
And then I found out I don't like Larian's games. That post (written by somebody else, but I have it bookmarked and always share the link when people ask me why I don't like Larian) from Reddit describes perfectly how DOS feels to me. And now reading @burkaman's original post it feels like I expected -- BG3 is DOS3 disguised in DnD robes. I have had zero hype for this game, but a few of my friends have been playing it since its launch and raving about it, so I reluctantly put it on my wishlist and probably will try playing it some day, but this discussion enforces my reservations.
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Comment on E-reader purchasing advice in ~tech
steel_for_humans Link ParentForma is the best ereader I ever used. Period. :) But just to list all I had for comparison: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Paperwhite (1st gen), Kindle Voyage, PocketBook InkPad 3, Kobo Forma (current),...Forma is the best ereader I ever used. Period. :) But just to list all I had for comparison: Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Paperwhite (1st gen), Kindle Voyage, PocketBook InkPad 3, Kobo Forma (current), PocketBook Era (current). I tested a borrowed Kobo Aura One for a few weeks (read 1 book), but didn't buy it in the end.
I am also used to 8'' displays (InkPad, Forma) and was wondering whether Era wouldn't be too small at 7'' but I am pleased to inform that it isn't. :) At the same time, 6'' screens appear tiny to me, it would be difficult for me to go back to that size.
Regarding the horror stories, I don't know what you mean and I guess I don't need to. ;) The Forma's frontlight is not uniform, I admit -- there's a blue tint at the edge where the buttons are placed. But Era's frontlight is no better. Perhaps only Amazon nailed it on Kindle? Anyway, it doesn't bother me, I just have high tolerance for those things. My main issue is the pricing of those premium ereaders, I think PocketBook's prices are too high for what they offer. But I still pay...
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Comment on E-reader purchasing advice in ~tech
steel_for_humans Link ParentIf you consider PocketBook, take a look at last year's PB Era, too. It has a different form than InkPad. It is asymmetric, which personally I like a lot more. I currently use Kobo Forma and...If you consider PocketBook, take a look at last year's PB Era, too. It has a different form than InkPad. It is asymmetric, which personally I like a lot more. I currently use Kobo Forma and PocketBook Era interchangeably. As you can see both have similar form factor. :) I had a PocketBook InkPad 3 before. Kobo has a rock-solid firmware, while PB tends to have some issues here and there.
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Comment on Just finished reading The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, and wondering what to read next in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentThe first book is almost literally LotR ;) And it's bad in that sense. As far as I know it was requested by the publisher, then when WoT gained popularity Jordan got more leeway and so each...The first book is almost literally LotR ;) And it's bad in that sense. As far as I know it was requested by the publisher, then when WoT gained popularity Jordan got more leeway and so each subsequent book departs from Tolkien works and becomes its own thing. I love Wheel of Time, it may be the most important fantasy series for me, I picked it up when I was 15 or so and it has been formative for me, as a reader, in some ways. I never finished reading it and in fact I'm in a re-read at the moment (finished book 4 in August). I highly recommend this series with the caveat that the first book is kinda bad because of how strong the similarities between WoT and LotR are at the beginning. It sucks when people tell you to plod through some bad to get to the good, like "the first four books suck, but wait for book 5" :D However, with WoT you don't have to endure for so long. The second book is really good and from the third onward it's peak fantasy to me. :)
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Comment on To those who play(ed) Ring Fit Adventure -- did it have an effect on your body and health? in ~games
steel_for_humans Link ParentThanks for the lengthy reply. I am not allowed to lift heavy weights due to retina degeneration which is one of the saddest things for me because I don't have many options of building muscle. I...Thanks for the lengthy reply. I am not allowed to lift heavy weights due to retina degeneration which is one of the saddest things for me because I don't have many options of building muscle. I trained with light weights for a couple years using BodBot (an app) but I have not observed any real effects on my body. I've been thinking about bodyweight excersises, though when I ask an opthalmogisit about whether I'm allowed to do pull-ups, every doctor says they can't tell me it's safe, but they won't tell me that it is unsafe, either. They discourage it. And cardio doesn't do much for me, I want more muscle. I know that RFA is more of a cardio excersise but I heard it can be challenging, especially to untrained people and was hoping that maybe, maybe it would help me to make at least some small gains. And I'm just interested in the game part of it, it's a great motivator.
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Comment on To those who play(ed) Ring Fit Adventure -- did it have an effect on your body and health? in ~games
steel_for_humans Link ParentThe only fitness game I played / trained with (and regularly at that!) was EA Sports Active 2. :) It was pretty good and used similar hardware concepts, except it didn't have the ring, only some...It is the best video game fitness I have tried and I have tried most of them.
The only fitness game I played / trained with (and regularly at that!) was EA Sports Active 2. :) It was pretty good and used similar hardware concepts, except it didn't have the ring, only some bands which you put on your arm and leg.
What else have you tried?
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To those who play(ed) Ring Fit Adventure -- did it have an effect on your body and health?
As the title says. I am interested in hearing about your experiences with that game. Why did you pick it up? Did it meet your expectations? Did it have positive (or negative?) effects on your body...
As the title says. I am interested in hearing about your experiences with that game. Why did you pick it up? Did it meet your expectations? Did it have positive (or negative?) effects on your body and health? Did it change anything in your life?
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentSounds like you might be interested in some Android based e-readers.if amazon made a kindle client for other ereaders
Sounds like you might be interested in some Android based e-readers.
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentThere are Kindle exclusives? Can you name some titles?I've noticed is there's simply no way to buy books that are exclusive to kindle and use them.
There are Kindle exclusives? Can you name some titles?
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Comment on What do you think about how women are depicted in "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentI actually checked Wikipedia this morning to see if Wolfe was married :D (he was) That explanation makes more sense, but then I dislike the protagonist. I also get a feeling that if the narrator...I actually checked Wikipedia this morning to see if Wolfe was married :D (he was)
That explanation makes more sense, but then I dislike the protagonist. I also get a feeling that if the narrator is lying to me, then what's the point of me listening to him..? I don't know. I guess the concept is too difficult for me, maybe.
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Comment on What are some short story collections you'd recommend? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentIs the movie "Arrival" based on that story?Is the movie "Arrival" based on that story?
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What do you think about how women are depicted in "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe?
It's one of those highly praised series that I've been waiting to read for years. When I finally did (I bought the full set of used and slightly wearied paper books), I bounced off quick. I tried...
It's one of those highly praised series that I've been waiting to read for years. When I finally did (I bought the full set of used and slightly wearied paper books), I bounced off quick. I tried reading it in 2019, so my memory of that book ("The Shadow of the Torturer") is foggy, but I wrote down some notes at the time.
I dropped the book somewhere around the Botanical Gardens, mostly because of very annoying female characters, all of whom were the protagonists so-called love interests. It seemed like every attractive woman he met would fall for him and it was so unnatural. I don't even have a problem with the idea per se, for example I'm buying into how macho-men are getting women in Wilbur Smith's adventure books because it feels organic, in Wolfe's book it was like a teenage boy fantasy.
I don't actually remember it well, but here's an excerpt from what I noted at the time:
I don't understand Severian's actions - he is challenged to a duel using the flower of vengeance - neither he nor the reader knows what's going on. At the same time, he is tasked with reaching Thrax and assuming the position of local executioner there. He interrupts his journey and decides to take up the challenge, of course, with a girl he has just met in some inn. He is convicted and instead of serving his sentence, he engages in some foolishness. I wanted the girl to disappear from the pages of the novel. Then a second woman appears and I feel that there will also be something between her and Severian.
The Polish edition which I read is 326 pages long, I dropped off at page 245, I just couldn't bear it anymore. I occasionally see those books, either on my shelf (I have not given them away) or in stores and keep thinking that maybe I misunderstood it or didn't see their greatness and wondering if it would click if I tried again.
Maybe it is just me?
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentNo, not on Kobo. Though it is possible to remove DRM from Adobe Digital Editions books and then put the files on your ereader. If you need Google Play and Kindle app, but not on an Amazon device,...No, not on Kobo. Though it is possible to remove DRM from Adobe Digital Editions books and then put the files on your ereader. If you need Google Play and Kindle app, but not on an Amazon device, then Android is the only choice -- readers such as those from Onyx Boox.
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentLocked in what way? You can sideload books purchased elsewhere. You are not forced to buy them from Kobo. Technically that is true of Kindle, too, but Amazon does some things to make it less...Locked in what way? You can sideload books purchased elsewhere. You are not forced to buy them from Kobo. Technically that is true of Kindle, too, but Amazon does some things to make it less pleasant. Not so with Kobo.
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Comment on Do your friends read books? Is the readership rate high in your country? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentI'm like that. I give away books that I didn't like or that were "just ok", but I'm running out of shelf space. I still keep 20-30+ year old paper books that I loved.I'm like that. I give away books that I didn't like or that were "just ok", but I'm running out of shelf space. I still keep 20-30+ year old paper books that I loved.
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentLet me ask you. Do you know if it's possible to make ebooks from Dropbox show in the KOReader library view? That's one thing that doesn't work on Kobo out of the box, Dropbox files are separate...OK I stand corrected on the Dropbox thing then.
Let me ask you. Do you know if it's possible to make ebooks from Dropbox show in the KOReader library view? That's one thing that doesn't work on Kobo out of the box, Dropbox files are separate from other files that are in the main memory of the reader. Does it work better on PocketBook?
the newer Kobo's do have troubles on newer firmware with Koreader
Oh yeah, I heard about KOReader issues, actually. I have not been affected because I'm using Kobo Forma which is not the newest device (although Kobo is still pushing firmware updates for it, I like it). No issues here.
Koreader has been very stable on both Pocketbooks I tried so I guess your experience might also be older?
Yes, my experience with KOReader on PocketBook would be from around 2018, so it may be no longer valid. Good to hear! In that case it's an additional pro for getting an Era for myself. :) I'm thinking about it because of a subscription service (kinda like Kindle Unlimited) that's available in my country.
What did you have before PB Era?
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Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books
steel_for_humans Link ParentKobo has Dropbox support built in (it may not have had it when you tried, perhaps). KOReader is easy to install by running a script, I installed it on my PocketBook InkPad 3 a few years and it...Dropbox? Built in, no hack required. Koreader? Just copy this folder and change the default program, no tricks needed.
Kobo has Dropbox support built in (it may not have had it when you tried, perhaps). KOReader is easy to install by running a script, I installed it on my PocketBook InkPad 3 a few years and it wasn't without problems :) From my experience KOReader works much better on Kobos than on PocketBooks, it's more stable. Well, it began as a Kobo app in the first place.
I think you can forget about that. It was a GameCube game and now Nintendo released a remaster on Switch, so it’s going to stay there. Nintendo never releases their games on other platforms. I guess, an option for you is to emulate it.