thecardguy's recent activity
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Comment on CrowdStrike code update bricking Windows machines around the world in ~tech
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
thecardguy LinkI guess I kinda want to start getting in more exercise, especially with recent changes in my life. However, i don't want to go to the gym- Idon't live in America, and where I do live, gym...I guess I kinda want to start getting in more exercise, especially with recent changes in my life. However, i don't want to go to the gym- Idon't live in America, and where I do live, gym memberships are kinda pricey, and any low-en ones are pretty much just treadmills with maybe a bench or two for lifting. Though I suppose that for a beginner, maybe those are the best options.
What I am doing though, is trying to ride my bike more often. I understand it's a low-impact cardio exercise, which is why I feel like it's a good start. But I'm thinking about maybe getting a stretch-band thingy for strength training.
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Comment on Maps distort how we see the world in ~science
thecardguy LinkA very interesting read- I always find maps to be fascinating. The amount of information about our world they provide... well, there's a reason why maps are sometimes HIGHLY coveted, especially in...A very interesting read- I always find maps to be fascinating. The amount of information about our world they provide... well, there's a reason why maps are sometimes HIGHLY coveted, especially in times of major conflicts.
However, I have one nitpick with the article: the comparison of Africa to other countries. Well yes, of course Africa is HUGE- IT'S A CONTINENT! With the exception of Europe, it was being compared to other COUNTRIES, not the continents. It would've been much better to try to compare Africa to North or South America in FULL. Actually, comparing it to the full landmass of Asia would've been even better- Asia is the largest landmass, so I think showing the largest vs. second largest (I'm pretty sure Africa is the second largest continent) would give a much better comparison.
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Comment on In Norway, children walk to school aged six, or even travel across the country. Why do these kids have so much independence, while other countries are so risk-averse? in ~life
thecardguy Link ParentI have A LOT to say on this, but it's various convoluted processes and tangents, so I'm going to try to keep my thoughts short and to the point. It's a testament to the MASSIVE culture differences...I have A LOT to say on this, but it's various convoluted processes and tangents, so I'm going to try to keep my thoughts short and to the point.
It's a testament to the MASSIVE culture differences between Japan and America. Living in Japan myself, I'm well-acquainted with the culture. Not only is Japan a collectivist society (everyone works together for the greater good... and everyone must act the same as well), but it's a smaller country in terms of literal land area. Plus, Japan's population has been on a steady decline for YEARS- so children are seen as precious. But more importantly, up to about the age of 10, maybe all the way through elementary school, children get a TON of leeway in what they can do. Mostly because once they get into teenage years... the dark side of Japanese discipline then rears its ugly head. It's not as bad as it used to be fortunately... but basically, all the freedom they get as children disappears quickly, so hence why I think kids in Japan get a ton of freedom early on.
Meanwhile, in America... I often wonder if there are drawbacks to having such a diverse population. It has turned America into a "every man/woman/child/dog/etc. out for themselves" situation- one of these days I'm going to make a topic about my further thoughts on this. But I digress. More importantly though... America is also a HUGE country. You have HUGE distances between many rural places, and so people use vehicles a ton. Japan certainly also uses vehicles... but you're also just as likely to see kids- heck, even adults- walking places or riding bicycles. This is something you won't see so much in America, because of how many vehicles are on the road.
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Comment on What's a life lesson you've applied that has changed your life? in ~life
thecardguy LinkThis usually gets told to kids who may be spoiled, and someone (usually their parents) try to bring them down to Earth by saying, "Be grateful for what you have" I think there's a better way to...This usually gets told to kids who may be spoiled, and someone (usually their parents) try to bring them down to Earth by saying, "Be grateful for what you have"
I think there's a better way to spin it, but this is how I've found my own happiness. Especially considering my current situation- I live in a place that not only is NOT my home country, but English is barely spoken here outside of the field that I'm in. It's also degraded to the point where it's a relatively low salary.
And yet, I'm very happy where I am- despite the low pay, I genuinely enjoy my job. Also, the cost of living in this country is extremely low compared to my home country. And I'm finding learning the language (something I'd started long before I even moved overseas) is difficult but fun.
I could easily go back home any time- in fact, some say that the government of this country almost might prefer it. And while going back home means I'd be able to see my friends and family again... I would ultimately be a miserable bastard back in my home town, with little chance of being able to change it. So despite the many challenges, I'm happy to live on literally the opposite side of the world from my hometown.
Oh, I should mention that I'm from an itty-bitty town in America that doesn't appear on maps until you REALLY zoom into New York State. And I've heard the US is only getting worse since I even last visited over a year ago (though to be fair, it IS an election year, when everything seems to go crazy).
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Comment on US Soccer fails to deliver in ~sports.football
thecardguy LinkSoccer was neither invented by Americans nor are they able to dominate in it, so they really don't care about it. Okay, I'm only half-joking with this. Sometimes I wonder why America has never...Soccer was neither invented by Americans nor are they able to dominate in it, so they really don't care about it.
Okay, I'm only half-joking with this.
Sometimes I wonder why America has never really put as much effort into producing a strong soccer team as compared to other nations. While I myself am American, I wouldn't call myself the average American, entirely... at least partially because I decided to leave the country. But I feel like soccer has a lot of elements that, to put it simply... bore the average American. It rarely ever has flashy plays, for one thing- Gridiron football has your long throws into scoring, baseball has home runs, and basketball does three-pointers or free-throws. The closest thing soccer has is arguably bicycle kicks, and not only are those EXTREMELY rare, but they're also dangerous, to my understanding.
... of course, I feel the real reason is that it's because the US isn't able to compete on an international stage and be the best- other countries have been doing it longer and are much better- that it just does "not even gonna bother- instead, let's pour money and talent into things we ARE good at!"... which isn't entirely wrong. The whole idea of maximize your strengths and minimize weaknesses... a VERY prevalent attitude in America.
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Comment on "Radical, in a different vein": The "Abundants" and supply-side progressives in ~misc
thecardguy Link ParentOh absolutely there are people who would COMPLETELY disagree with this. I wish I could give you a number, but let's just say that in terms of percentages, it's hopefully not more than 3~5% of the...Oh absolutely there are people who would COMPLETELY disagree with this.
I wish I could give you a number, but let's just say that in terms of percentages, it's hopefully not more than 3~5% of the population. The problem is, when dealing with 8 BILLION people, even something like .01% is into the hundreds of thousands.
Or to put it another way: there absolutely ARE people who believe, for whatever reason, they are better than anyone else. That they are special and deserve to live by luxurious standards, while everyone else should live in serfdom- more specifically, serfdom to support these "special people"... and if they can't support you- or simply even if these "special people" don't like them- well, then they shouldn't even exist.
If you look closely at history, you'll find that there are always those who believe they are Gods amongst men... And they want society to know it too. Unfortunately, they seem to be cruel, unforgiving gods.
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Comment on Where do you find community? in ~talk
thecardguy LinkI have two major communities. The first one is TECHNICALLY a hobby group, and some posters decided that doesn't count. And yet, this group is arguably very tight-knit, always giving each other...I have two major communities.
The first one is TECHNICALLY a hobby group, and some posters decided that doesn't count. And yet, this group is arguably very tight-knit, always giving each other support not just in the hobby, but also in their lives overall. That said, it is a very niche hobby, and not just anyone can get into this specific group. Which may be part of why it's so supportive.
The other one I was introduced to by a co-worker. This is a more general group, but we get together on bi-weekly basis. It's actually an international group, so you have people from many parts of the world, and the people who come regularly are people who you find yourself wanting to just spend some time with, chat a bit about what's going on in your life, and then everyone heads home after a few hours. Of course, there's usually food involved, which is one of its big draws. However, this is something I also have to actively make time for, which i think is the big key: in today's world, you have to carve out time for anything that isn't work or school.
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Comment on Pride Month at Tildes: #5 - Ask almost anything in ~lgbt
thecardguy LinkI hope what I'm about to ask is allowed. To say this could potentially be inflammatory is an understatement, and I am asking from a genuine place. Or rather... it IS a hypothetical question, but...I hope what I'm about to ask is allowed. To say this could potentially be inflammatory is an understatement, and I am asking from a genuine place. Or rather... it IS a hypothetical question, but should this ever happen to me, I want to know how to react to it. Keep in mind I'm what would be labeled as a cishet man.
Lesbian, gay, queer... I get all that. It's when we hit transgender that my brain starts to spin in circles and crash. On one hand, I think I get what it is: a person who was assigned at birth as a male or female later in life (well, let's say from teenager or young adult, potentially younger) finds it is more true to themselves to actually be like the opposite gender. Maybe this is simplifying it, but I hope I'm at least on the correct path.My issue is this: maybe that's not who you ever actually were, but the person who you were before transitioning is the person who I knew. The easy answer is "Well, this is now a new person, and I'm sure you can get to know them just as well- they may even have a lot of similarities!". Unfortunately, it's not that easy for me- especially when the previous person is literally called a deadname- it has an implication that you killed the person I may have known before. At the very least, it feels like after the transition, you replaced the person who I knew before. This is where it really wanders into the hypothetical- if I have a child in the future, and the child eventually transitions... well, I had a strong connection for x amount of years, and now they're gone. This new person is a stranger- a stranger that replaced my beloved child. It IS purely hypothetical, but how should that kind of thing be handled? With friends, it's a bit easier, because friends come and go all the time... so probably some uncomfortable feelings at first, but easier to handle in the long run.
Just as a side note- I actually do have a friend who transitioned, but it was easy to accept because of the time period involved- I knew him previously as a classmate, but then about a decade passed before I met him again, so while a shock, ultimately not that difficult to handle.
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Comment on Your favorite deeply unpopular music in ~music
thecardguy LinkLet's start with the unpopular- as in, MASSIVELY unpopular... if a bunch of musicians I know are to be believed. I unironically actually LIKE Nickelback. I'm well aware of the criticisms- they...Let's start with the unpopular- as in, MASSIVELY unpopular... if a bunch of musicians I know are to be believed. I unironically actually LIKE Nickelback. I'm well aware of the criticisms- they just recycle the same music over and over, and Chad Kroger is an absolute douchebag- but I rock out HARD to their bangers.
(Plus whenever someone points out how much of a terrible person Kroger is, I like to respond with "So, how do you feel about Guns'N'Roses?")As for obscure... There's only a couple of bands that I've listened to the full album from beginning to end, no skips. One of them was called Taking Dawn. I think they changed their name a few times, and I'm not even sure they're still active. But, they are the ones who got me to love The Chain, due to their hard rock cover of it.
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Comment on Why is the Sonic comic so controversial? in ~comics
thecardguy Link ParentProbably a combination of two things that largely breed online, especially in the dim corners that mainstream scrutiny often overlooks. First, I hope I don't have to explain the infamous Rule 34....Probably a combination of two things that largely breed online, especially in the dim corners that mainstream scrutiny often overlooks.
First, I hope I don't have to explain the infamous Rule 34.
But that's only part of it. There are unfortunately people who take joy in twisting something innocent for children and making it very weird and adult- orientated, to put it mildly. The Blood and Honey slasher film comes to mind. Or to put it another way, as a random person once commented online: the whole reason fanfiction exists is so the writer can make two characters have sex. I"ve learned that online, people really ARE that depraved.
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Comment on The summer box office crisis: Is the sky really falling this time? in ~movies
thecardguy LinkI'm going to argue this, though I fully confess I don't know how true it is or not. The biggest issue for me... is TIME. I fully confess that Marvel conditioned me to expect a movie to be AT LEAST...I'm going to argue this, though I fully confess I don't know how true it is or not.
The biggest issue for me... is TIME. I fully confess that Marvel conditioned me to expect a movie to be AT LEAST 2 hours long. To put it simply, I ain't got that time to sit in a theater uninterrupted for 2 hours. 90 minutes is doable, and between 90 and 120 minutes (about 110 minutes) is the sweet spot for me. I will say that there are movies which need the extra time... but once you go past the 120 minute mark, I start glancing at my watch.
Basically for me, movies cost too much in time and actual money for me to go to the theater. I have both Netflix and Amazon Prime, which have a Pause button. So I can pause, get up and stretch, go do something else for a few minutes, and then resume watching. Which is another issue: fewer movies are being made which can even capture my attention for up to 120 minutes.
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Comment on Nearly 80% of Americans say fast food is now a luxury because it’s become so expensive in ~food
thecardguy Link ParentPretty much. There's a MAJOR reason why only folks generally born and bred into politics can rise high. The first one is, usually connections and wealth (I'll spare you my US-is-an-oligarchy rant)...Pretty much.
There's a MAJOR reason why only folks generally born and bred into politics can rise high. The first one is, usually connections and wealth (I'll spare you my US-is-an-oligarchy rant)
The second one, however... is ultimately charisma. This is all typed out in text, and there were studies done on how much is lost when just using text. Politicians have to know how to manipulate peoples' emotions, to be likeable and charismatic. The people that do all the other lifting in society- scientists, economists, you name it... are very rarely charismatic.
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Comment on 49M people still use their PS4s, matching the PS5 in ~games
thecardguy LinkI'm in that group. I use my PS4 a TON. Heck, I actually use my PS3 quite frequently, and also have a PS2 I hook up on occasion. For those old systems, I gave a simple rule: it doesn't"t matter if...I'm in that group.
I use my PS4 a TON. Heck, I actually use my PS3 quite frequently, and also have a PS2 I hook up on occasion. For those old systems, I gave a simple rule: it doesn't"t matter if they brought the old games to a new system; they rarely add anything new to the game I have for the original system- there's maybe one or two exceptions to this, tops.
Oh, I forgot to add: I don't even have a PS5 anyways. There are a handful of appealing games, but I want to play through my backlog first. Heck, I have a couple if old PS1 games that I actually use an emulator for.
Honestly, many of my hobbies are a case of "I'm ignoring the shiny new stuff because the old stuff has plenty of gems already".
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Comment on Am I alone in thinking that we're bouncing back from a highly technological future? in ~life
thecardguy LinkI think what's happening is arguably the usual story with humanity: something Really Cool and Awesome is created, people dream of all the neat things that they can do with it.... and then the...I think what's happening is arguably the usual story with humanity: something Really Cool and Awesome is created, people dream of all the neat things that they can do with it.... and then the reality of how it's ACTUALLY used comes crashing down.
We DO have all these awesome technological advancements. The problem is, they're still just ultimately tools in the end. And it's become my (rather cynical) opinion that humanity prefers to abuse the tools we make to have power over others, rather than use them to benefit other people. Especially with the Internet, we keep hearing about all these companies getting our personal data and then selling it for profit. If that is what advanced technology is going to be used for... people prefer their privacy rather than new gadgets.
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Comment on What is your opinion on Dan Brown novels? in ~books
thecardguy LinkI know I read the Da Vinci Code, and at least one other- probably The Lost Symbol. This would've been just as I was graduating from high school, maybe starting college. What I remember is that I...I know I read the Da Vinci Code, and at least one other- probably The Lost Symbol. This would've been just as I was graduating from high school, maybe starting college. What I remember is that I enjoyed them a lot.
Would I enjoy them now? No clue- the Internet keeps saying that the books I enjoyed when I was younger don't hold up very well (there's a very infamous fantasy series that is the poster child of 'awesome as a teenager, terrible as an adult'), and I already have other books that I want to read before I even try to go back to older books.
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Comment on I gave up meat and gained so much more | A tale of one person's life, culture, and growing up in ~life
thecardguy LinkRead through the original article. And there's one thing that stands out to me, that I saw in a comic many years ago, that ultimately is why I stick with meat: I know how to cook meat. Or to out...Read through the original article. And there's one thing that stands out to me, that I saw in a comic many years ago, that ultimately is why I stick with meat:
I know how to cook meat.
Or to out it another way: whenever vegetables and vegetarian (and maybe vegan?) cooking is brought up, the same line in brought up: it just sucks because you're not cooking it right!
Which in my case is true- I'm American, and American cooking comes down to "throw the meat on the stove/grill for a few minutes, turn it over a few times, and you're done". Meanwhile, the implication for vegetable is that you have to have various seasonings and spices to make them tasty. I'll be honest: I hate cooking (I'm 100% a "set it and forget it" kind of guy), so anything that requires multiple components to make tasty... yeah, you lose me immediately.
And yet for all of that, I am actually interested in Buddhist dishes to a certain extent. Not only is the country where I'm in massively influenced by Buddhism, but I always hear about how the traditional dishes are very healthy. And yet, at the end of the day, it's all about how tasty food is (screw you Stonewall Jackson, if anyone understands THAT obscure reference), and it seems to me that vegetables that are simply washed, cut up and arranged in colorful ways... do not make for a tasty meal.
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Comment on Data show that the amount of sexual content in top films has sharply declined since 2000 in ~movies
thecardguy Link ParentI won't go into the rabbit hole I found regarding this, but this seems to be the case when it comes to those things and religion: "Our god wants us to fight and kill those who are our enemies!...I won't go into the rabbit hole I found regarding this, but this seems to be the case when it comes to those things and religion:
"Our god wants us to fight and kill those who are our enemies! Violence and murder is actually ok! But doing anything sexual, while crucial for keeping the human race around, actually takes us away from being close to our god, so that's really a necessary evil."
The short version is, a lot of religious folk- specifically Christians- tend to follow the teachings of someone who I will say was a charlatan. They call themselves Christians, but they should really be called Paulists.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
thecardguy LinkAs I made a recent thread about it, I'm playing Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning on my PS3. I'm enjoying it a TON- though I suppose that it's because I'm trying to do most of the side quests first...As I made a recent thread about it, I'm playing Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning on my PS3. I'm enjoying it a TON- though I suppose that it's because I'm trying to do most of the side quests first and level up rather than tackle to main story all at once. Plus, it's relatively simple in terms of combat. While I prefer turn-based, this style of action-adventure is really good, too
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Comment on The "Great Games"- AAA titles, easy brand recognition- are what everyone pushes. But sometimes you need a "just average" game. in ~games
thecardguy Link ParentAh, I didn't realize this, that there was a TON of manpower and development... only for it to ultimately flop. For the most part these days, I don't buy anything new (with one or two exceptions)-...Ah, I didn't realize this, that there was a TON of manpower and development... only for it to ultimately flop.
For the most part these days, I don't buy anything new (with one or two exceptions)- too many disappointments, and the meme of "NEVER pre-order a game". Which means I tend to judge games based on what secondhand stores are selling them for. The AAA titles are maybe $10~15 cheaper than new copies. But I distinctly remember Kingdoms being close to $10 at the time I bought it used- mind you, this was probably also about 8 or 9 years ago. Being that cheap... well, as you pointed out: despite the tram behind it, it was unpopular. When I normally think AAA titles, I assume they're going to be a massive success.
I'm feeling dumb because I don't get this.
Or rather, I understand the basic idea- a piece of software used by TONS of businesses like major airlines got a bug/glitch, and is shutting everything down.
But... I guess the question is, who's actually using this software- it's called Cloudstrike and on Microsoft, right? That means Windows OS, correct? Be cause I have a different brand of laptop, but it still runs Windows - 11, I believe- and I haven't had any issues in the past 24 hours. So is it just the big businesses that are running the software? I'll be wary of any update requests, certainly... But as the Internet freaks out, I'm not seeing any of it (so far).