stu2b50's recent activity
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
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Comment on Amazon to allow EPUB and PDF downloads of DRM-free Kindle titles in ~books
stu2b50 Link ParentApplying it retroactively would be kind of wild. Ultimately, this should be up the authors. I wouldn’t want Amazon removing DRM without my consent.Applying it retroactively would be kind of wild. Ultimately, this should be up the authors. I wouldn’t want Amazon removing DRM without my consent.
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Comment on The iconic ‘Home Alone’ house is being renovated by its new owner (The interior is being restored to match its appearance in the original 1990 film) in ~movies
stu2b50 Link ParentI don't think it's really a fair comparison. The shots of the renovated house is from the retailer, who renovated it and is selling it. As in, it looks like no one lives there, because no one...I don't think it's really a fair comparison. The shots of the renovated house is from the retailer, who renovated it and is selling it. As in, it looks like no one lives there, because no one lives there yet. Whoever moved in would add some of their own furniture, some pictures, and I think that's plenty of decisions to make the place look homely but aesthetically pleasing.
Personally, just the wallpaper from the Home Alone time makes me want to gag. And that's only slightly an exaggeration. It actually hurts my eyes. I'd hate to have to live and stare at its horrific ugliness.
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Comment on UK and Denmark are demanding overhaul of European immigration laws – Keir Starmer and Mette Frederiksen argue populists will continue to gain ground if something isn't done soon in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentI feel like you're talking about something orthogonal. Kier Starmer isn't worried because TikTok has more far right content. Starmer is worried because they're getting blasted in elections. And...I feel like you're talking about something orthogonal. Kier Starmer isn't worried because TikTok has more far right content. Starmer is worried because they're getting blasted in elections. And that's what matters, in the end, in a democracy.
Furthermore, the order that you approach things in a democracy needs to be correct. If you want people to be more open to immigration, you have to convince them of that first, then try to implement it. Doing it in the reverse is just a one way ticket to electoral irrelevance. Is what it is. If it were some kind of monarchial or dictatorial system, then you could "lead the plebs" ala Lee Kuan Yew but that's not how most of Europe operates.
There are a lot of bigots out there but are we really overrun with them?
I mean, yeah. Not even half a century ago Black people weren't able to vote in the US and everyone was fine with that. Most of human social evolution in the last 10,000 years or so is memes, not genes, and so unlike genetic changes, memetic changes are far less stable. In a different environment, all of us could be bigoted racists.
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Comment on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 becomes first indie game to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards in ~games
stu2b50 Link ParentSomething interesting to think about is that out of all the games that received any nominations, the one that likely has the largest budget is Genshin Impact, which reportedly has cost over $700m...Something interesting to think about is that out of all the games that received any nominations, the one that likely has the largest budget is Genshin Impact, which reportedly has cost over $700m to develop.
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Comment on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 becomes first indie game to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards in ~games
stu2b50 Link ParentI don't think that analogy makes sense. It would be more like when Michael Phelps won like 10 gold metals at the same olympics in various swimming categories. Which did happen, and was fine? Not...I don't think that analogy makes sense. It would be more like when Michael Phelps won like 10 gold metals at the same olympics in various swimming categories. Which did happen, and was fine?
Not all GOTY titles are multifaceted like this time. Astro Bot won last year; it definitely did NOT win in Best Narrative.
In general, I feel like people get a bit too worked up about TGA. It's not that serious, in the end.
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Comment on The iconic ‘Home Alone’ house is being renovated by its new owner (The interior is being restored to match its appearance in the original 1990 film) in ~movies
stu2b50 (edited )Link ParentPersonally I much prefer the ikea white room look. Idk, the OG home alone style of McMansion just feels garish and too visually cluttered and busy to me. I hate how it looks. AMAPersonally I much prefer the ikea white room look. Idk, the OG home alone style of McMansion just feels garish and too visually cluttered and busy to me. I hate how it looks.
AMA
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Comment on UK and Denmark are demanding overhaul of European immigration laws – Keir Starmer and Mette Frederiksen argue populists will continue to gain ground if something isn't done soon in ~society
stu2b50 Link ParentWhy do you think it’s “giving in” to the populists? At some point, it’s just democracy doing democracy things, parties having to adhere to the will of the people. The polices Starmer and are...Why do you think it’s “giving in” to the populists? At some point, it’s just democracy doing democracy things, parties having to adhere to the will of the people.
The polices Starmer and are proposing are also not exactly mirrors of what far right parties say and imply. They’re harsher than the current status quo, but again, that’s what the people want. Kinda is what it is at some point.
They’re far from “throw the browns in camps and turn on the gas” like some parties like to insinuate they want to do.
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Comment on Meet Pebble Index 01 - External memory for your brain in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentGiven the size of the lithium ion battery, I’d imagine the passive drain will knock it out in about a week with zero use. You’d most likely have to charge it every 3-5 days with normal use. It...Given the size of the lithium ion battery, I’d imagine the passive drain will knock it out in about a week with zero use. You’d most likely have to charge it every 3-5 days with normal use. It probably has an AirPod sized or smaller battery.
And in that case, honestly, yeah I’d rather have the disposable ring. If the cadence is a new every 2 years it’s pretty whatever.
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Comment on Meet Pebble Index 01 - External memory for your brain in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentEh, I don’t think it’ll extrapolate like that. Rechargeable batteries have much worse passive drain than non-rechargeable batteries. I see that every day with my now lithium ion powered mouse,...Eh, I don’t think it’ll extrapolate like that. Rechargeable batteries have much worse passive drain than non-rechargeable batteries. I see that every day with my now lithium ion powered mouse, which honestly performs much worse battery wise than my wireless mouse that used AAs.
Most lithium ions are going to passively drain out in a few weeks.
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Comment on The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring over 200 characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentSure, either way this isn’t something a company “hemorrhaging” money would do out of desperation for liquidity. An investment in equity means they’re taking cash, and converting into the...Sure, either way this isn’t something a company “hemorrhaging” money would do out of desperation for liquidity. An investment in equity means they’re taking cash, and converting into the opportunity for long term gains on investment. The opposite, essentially.
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Comment on The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring over 200 characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentIf they’re hemorrhaging cash, why would they give $1b in cash to OpenAI?If they’re hemorrhaging cash, why would they give $1b in cash to OpenAI?
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Comment on The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring over 200 characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentIt’s a hedge. It’s not impossible that Sora is the future of media. And in that world, Disney as currently structured is obsolete. We’ve seen many companies crumble when technology catches them...It’s a hedge. It’s not impossible that Sora is the future of media. And in that world, Disney as currently structured is obsolete. We’ve seen many companies crumble when technology catches them off guard - Disney is still reeling from being late to streaming.
This gives Disney a foot in the door. It also involves Disney paying for $1b in OpenAI equity - more hedge.
And if isn’t? Is what it is. It’s like paying for insurance when you’re not sick.
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Comment on Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete in ~music
stu2b50 Link ParentThat’s like anonymizing the athletes in the Olympics lol. Not to mention all the performances are tied with the local culture of the country, so it wouldn’t exactly be hard to guess who’s who....That’s like anonymizing the athletes in the Olympics lol. Not to mention all the performances are tied with the local culture of the country, so it wouldn’t exactly be hard to guess who’s who.
Fundamentally, Eurovision is political. What people don’t want it to be is “negative/sad” political. But it was explicitly intended to be for a stronger European identity.
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
stu2b50 Link ParentThere won’t be a season 3 of the Jinx story, but that’s mainly because that’s just the end of the story the creators wanted to tell. Wasn’t a cancellation, stories do have endings. Fortiche, the...There won’t be a season 3 of the Jinx story, but that’s mainly because that’s just the end of the story the creators wanted to tell. Wasn’t a cancellation, stories do have endings.
Fortiche, the studio, is working with Riot on more animated series in the league universe and I haven’t seen any reporting to the contrary.
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
stu2b50 Link Parent? It wasn’t cancelled.Arcane was/is absolutely incredible. It's a travesty that they cancelled it after just two seasons.
? It wasn’t cancelled.
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Comment on Whatever happened to _____? in ~talk
stu2b50 LinkTo pose and answer a question at the same time, one thing I noticed was the effective death of cherry as a key switch manufacturer and brand. I remember when I was first introduced to mechanical...To pose and answer a question at the same time, one thing I noticed was the effective death of cherry as a key switch manufacturer and brand.
I remember when I was first introduced to mechanical keyboard, cherry switches were the switches to have. Every keyboard manufacturer would proudly list having cherry switches.
Today, they seem completely and utterly outcompeted. They are more expensive, and substantially worse, than their Chinese competitors. And few keyboards have their switches anymore. Certainly it’s no longer a feature.
Cherry is now looking to sell its manufacturing divisions as its financials worsen. https://www.heise.de/en/news/Cherry-gives-up-German-production-and-wants-to-sell-core-division-11092713.html
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Comment on These travel influencers don’t want freebies. They’re AI. in ~travel
stu2b50 Link ParentI don't think that's really the case? Maybe for like a hotel, but in my experience most "travel influencers" are more about particular destinations and their experiences there. The mountain...I don't think that's really the case? Maybe for like a hotel, but in my experience most "travel influencers" are more about particular destinations and their experiences there. The mountain Yakedake is definitely not paying anyone to talk about it.
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Comment on Firewood banks aren’t inspiring. They’re a sign of collapse. in ~finance
stu2b50 Link ParentThe “aren’t inspiring” part of the title. I don’t see this supposed deluge of articles that “wrap them in the same tired language”.Most articles about wood banks wrap them in the same tired language. Community spirit. Rural generosity. Neighbors helping neighbors. It’s the kind of coverage you get when journalists focus on the people stacking the wood instead of the conditions that made it necessary.
The “aren’t inspiring” part of the title. I don’t see this supposed deluge of articles that “wrap them in the same tired language”.
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Comment on Firewood banks aren’t inspiring. They’re a sign of collapse. in ~finance
stu2b50 LinkThis feels like it's fighting a strawman. I did a cursory google and found mostly articles by local news which were like 4 sentences and mostly an advertisement/call to action, e.g "X are...This feels like it's fighting a strawman. I did a cursory google and found mostly articles by local news which were like 4 sentences and mostly an advertisement/call to action, e.g "X are accepting donations for their firewood bank. Please donate if you have spare firewood".
The news from major outlets are like https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/19/climate/wood-banks-winter-maine.html, which is pretty somber and not particularly a celebration of anything.
In painting, there is the concept of edge control. There are generally three buckets of edges: a hard edge, a soft edge, and a lost edge. In traditional painting, hard edges are used sparingly. Hard edges have no guesswork for the mind - they are definite, they give all the solutions. Useful for subjects, but exhausting when too present. Soft edges describe the gradations of form. Lost edges are what tell the story of the painting - the implication of an edge, without ever defining an edge. They are important because it allows an artist the grace to represent a world too complex to mark down on paper, for the artist to imply detail and have the audiences mind fill in the rest from their own visual bank. It’s the tree that’s actually speckles of light and dark green, that represents a vast forest no painter has the time to individually draw.
Metaphorical storytelling is a way to have soft and lost edges in a narrative. When the plot simply states something, there’s no wiggle room, no space for the uncertainty of real life. When it is implied through metaphor, now the final result is colored by experiences of the reader, and there’s space for the reader to use their own experiences to fill in gap. It’s a way to allow readers to have experiences they otherwise would not be able to have, because no author is omnipotent.