turmacar's recent activity
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Comment on Humble Bundle: Modern Sci-Fi Classics (Charles Soule, Joseph Fink, Hugh Howey, and Neal Stephenson) in ~books
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Comment on The shutdown of USAID has already killed hundreds of thousands in ~society
turmacar Link ParentJust for scale comparisons because I struggle with that. The population of Portland Oregon is 635,000, it's the 28th biggest city in the US. The US was going to save an equivalent amount of lives...Just for scale comparisons because I struggle with that. The population of Portland Oregon is 635,000, it's the 28th biggest city in the US.
The US was going to save an equivalent amount of lives because it was judged a good use of our tax dollars but because USAID was involved in an investigation into Elon Musk those people died.
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Comment on Looking for movies that combine religion mythology and supernatural elements in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentA very similar era of Bettany would be Priest (2011). Kind of Equilibrium meets Van Helsing, post apocalypse (alt universe?) where vampires are a big problem. Van Helsing (2004) also has a fair...A very similar era of Bettany would be Priest (2011). Kind of Equilibrium meets Van Helsing, post apocalypse (alt universe?) where vampires are a big problem. Van Helsing (2004) also has a fair amount of religious imagery. Definitely more on the action side of thriller.
Like you said, nothing super revolutionary going on but fun enough movies. Similar to the Keanu Constantine movie.
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Comment on Tips/guides to turn my home into a smart home? in ~tech
turmacar Link1- Do you have any recommendations of where I should start? Like for example, light switches first, then smart plugs, etc. Switches first IMO. Plugs are worth it if you have lamps and/or as...1- Do you have any recommendations of where I should start? Like for example, light switches first, then smart plugs, etc.
Switches first IMO. Plugs are worth it if you have lamps and/or as extenders for whichever network. Having the ability to use lights "as normal" is a benefit over bulbs and you don't have to worry about someone turning the switch off and suddenly those bulbs are just off instead of controlled by your automation. Also most switches you can program to do things on a double press, etc. which gives you more manual control options. Single up - main light, double up - lamp, triple up - everything, that kind of thing.
2- If I should take into consideration the number of devices. Could they potentially clog my router or my wifi AP's if they get too many? If yes, is there a way to prevent this?
I have zigbee and z-wave networks along with my wifi one. It means a greater diversity of devices but with Home Assistant coordinating everything, how they connect to HA is a much smaller detail and allows me to use anything. Z-wave can be a complication apparently for some people because it uses overlapping frequencies with wifi, but I haven't noticed any issues.
4- Do you have any tips, advice or warnings in general? Like problems that you know that I'll run into later, or things that you don't think are worth smartifying, etc (whatever you want to say, give it to me, I'll appreciate anything)
I originally centralized around Google Home and became dissatisfied with the customizability. It can work pretty well for a lot but you generally have to get it talking to SmartThings and/or some other hub and then you lose the centralized aspect of it, and it requires an internet connection for a lot. Maybe it's gotten better since I switched to Home Assistant but I really like that HA is completely local.
I have a home server but I put HA on a Raspberry pi 5 for redundancy. I don't want a storage array issue or my dealing with dockers or whatever to make my lights not work. I'm using HA Container in a docker instead of the HA OS so I can also have pihole on that pi, using it 'just' for HA seems like overkill to me. But I'm also getting annoyed not having access to Add-Ons occasionally so that might change. You can install them manually, most of the time there's even instructions, but it's just overall a much more involved process than clicking a button.
I would definitely prefer zigbee/z-wave/matter devices over Wifi devices. If nothing else they use dramatically less power. I have zigbee motion detectors that have been running for years off a coin cell battery.
MQTT is well worth setting up, it's a backend communication server / protocol that other stuff can hook into and then be read by Home Assistant. IIRC it's the preferred / recommended middleman for zigbee stuff anyway, but it also gives an easy connection point for web based tools, etc.
I am strategically upgrading to mmWave detectors (basically small scale radar instead of the more passive detectors) that need to be wired because they have gotten more affordable and for stuff like the bathroom they provide more granularity / capability. It can see through my shower curtain so I don't have to guess based off a timer if someone is still in there for example. I think they're neat and worth getting in specific rooms, but the cheaper sensors are probably the primary ones you want.
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
turmacar Link ParentIt's one of those things that is unintuitive until you look into it it feels like. Maybe because we're urbanized to the point of "oh it's 'just' farming, everyone used to do it!" Not paying money...It's one of those things that is unintuitive until you look into it it feels like. Maybe because we're urbanized to the point of "oh it's 'just' farming, everyone used to do it!" Not paying money (directly) for the thing is obviously cheaper than paying money for the thing. But those indirect costs add up fast. There's a better return if you do it year over year because you don't have startup costs, but mostly if you count your own labor as 'free'. I don't even think that's unfair given that taking care of chickens is more 'fun' than walking down a grocery store isle and the quality can be better, but only if you have the time to invest in another 'hobby'.
It just turns out economies of global/mass production are really efficient, for better or worse.
Watching Jeremy struggle with that is a large part of why I think Clarkson's Farm is entertaining / frustrating in equal measure.
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Comment on The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official trailer in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentLess ignored and more threw it all away. I can even understand at least the initial framing of the EU being "old canon" because, yeah it was a spaghetti mess of weird stuff to deal with if you're...Less ignored and more threw it all away. I can even understand at least the initial framing of the EU being "old canon" because, yeah it was a spaghetti mess of weird stuff to deal with if you're bringing it more front and center.
But as someone who grew up seeped in the EU it's been really weird watching them lift pieces of plot lines and character beats and graft them together in a different mess that also doesn't really work. At least the old stuff was mostly just focused on having a story instead of nostalgia bait and/or navel gazing every 5 minutes.
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Comment on How are Framework Laptops? in ~tech
turmacar LinkI bought a Framework 13 last year and overall very happy with it. (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series) The case is pretty nice. I'm sure there are better but it's metal, inflexible/light enough to carry one...I bought a Framework 13 last year and overall very happy with it. (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series)
The case is pretty nice. I'm sure there are better but it's metal, inflexible/light enough to carry one handed by the corner, and I've never had any hot spots or anything.
The keyboard is fairly nice. Not as good as my daily driver mechanical. Not as bad as a mushy cheap netbook keyboard.
I bought an SSD and RAM separately because their markup is excessive IMO. It's not that out of line with industry standards and there's some overhead I'll tolerate for them having to have it in inventory, etc. But they ship the laptop partially disassembled anyway as part of their schtick to make it less threatening to open yourself. I just think it's rough that the same model hardware was ~1/2 price on Amazon/Newegg at the time.
It's had a few flavors of Linux on it. Settled on Garuda for now but that's more personal taste that anything. Haven't really had any issues though I vaguely remember people had some initial trouble getting the fingerprint reader working for unlocking.
Massive fan of the modular ports. If for no other reason than I don't remember ever having had/seen another laptop where you can charge it from either side. Have a few modules in my laptop case and swap them out as needed. The storage ones are pretty useless personally but I guess its nice to have the option.
Camera's serviceable, apparently the v2 is better but haven't bothered to upgrade it.
Pleased with how it comes apart, though I haven't had reason to since putting it together the first time. Nice to have a device not depending on glue to hold it together.
At some point going to upgrade the mainboard and get an enclosure for the old one to do something with but it's still too new for that. Very happy to have the option.
Like you said, I bought it in large part because of the principle of the thing. Had a trip coming up and needed a laptop and they seemed as good as anything if a bit pricier. Would buy again.
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Comment on Give us your hot takes on the latest Nintendo Direct in ~games
turmacar Link ParentInterested in the Virtual Boy thingy but very cautious/curious about price. It's nice that there will be the cardboard version at least.Interested in the Virtual Boy thingy but very cautious/curious about price. It's nice that there will be the cardboard version at least.
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Comment on Reddit announces new limits on moderating large subreddits and for moderators to remove content sitewide in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentUnfortunately I think we've somehow passed Eternal and ended up at a September Ouroboros.Unfortunately I think we've somehow passed Eternal and ended up at a September Ouroboros.
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Comment on Has anyone else run up against higher costs due to the US tariffs? in ~society
turmacar Link ParentAmazon requires (or at least used to, my knowledge is from talking to a business owner over a decade ago) products listed on their site to be stored in their warehouses. So presumably they've...Amazon requires (or at least used to, my knowledge is from talking to a business owner over a decade ago) products listed on their site to be stored in their warehouses. So presumably they've already imported the thing and paid the tariff for the MSRP, and now that markup gets folded into the list price.
It's why a lot of the time if you look at an item on Amazon and on the manufacturer's site, the Amazon price tends to be the price on the manufacturer's site plus shipping.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
turmacar Link ParentFor The Division 2 IIRC it was another case of a long patching cycle post release, so a lot of early impressions probably don't matter anymore. I do remember going from 1 to 2 and they basically...For The Division 2 IIRC it was another case of a long patching cycle post release, so a lot of early impressions probably don't matter anymore. I do remember going from 1 to 2 and they basically made the harder endgame guys from 1 the 'standard' enemies in 2 at launch. Hence the dislike.
Similar to something like Destiny 2 or WoW where there has been so much commentary about different phases/versions of the game at this point you basically need a rubric with what version each is talking about for them to be relevant.
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Comment on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | Official trailer in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentThat's fine, and I picked up on the similarity to the toy at the beginning and the colors/shot choices at the end. But "the end" doesn't last long enough for any of that to develop. It just gets...That's fine, and I picked up on the similarity to the toy at the beginning and the colors/shot choices at the end. But "the end" doesn't last long enough for any of that to develop. It just gets dropped at the end of a very atmospheric movie, especially for a 28 Later sequel. It feels like The Green Knight ending with Harley Quinn popping up and cracking jokes while beating up some knights with a baseball bat.
If they had advertised the movie as the first of a new trilogy from the start it might not have been as jarring, but killing the tone of your film as people are about to walk out the door solely to maybe follow through with the sequel is a very risky decision. Maybe the whole trilogy will work well together and watching them all in a row it'll be great, but that's still a hell of a move.
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Comment on 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | Official trailer in ~movies
turmacar LinkLooks interesting, but holy hell did the last one have some tonal whiplash in the last ~2 minutes. Can't help but feel it would've been a better movie without the 'stinger' of the tracksuit gang....Looks interesting, but holy hell did the last one have some tonal whiplash in the last ~2 minutes. Can't help but feel it would've been a better movie without the 'stinger' of the tracksuit gang. I don't understand what was gained by not just having him meet them / be in the gang at the start of the sequel.
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Comment on Karen Gillan joins the new ‘Highlander’ and has the best reaction to the news in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentIt's pretty quality / generation dependent too. I doubt many people think of the original Ocean's 11 or Django these days instead of the remakes. Highlander is an interesting one because the...It's pretty quality / generation dependent too. I doubt many people think of the original Ocean's 11 or Django these days instead of the remakes.
Highlander is an interesting one because the original movie, and probably show, are pretty fondly remembered but while the sequel movies have their fans they're definitely more niche.
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Comment on What are some of your favorite Nintendo Switch games? in ~games
turmacar LinkMetroid Dread is an excellent... really struggling to find a term other than "Metroidvania", but... that's what it is. Donkey Kong Bananza has been a lot of fun. Definitely leans toward older...Metroid Dread is an excellent... really struggling to find a term other than "Metroidvania", but... that's what it is.
Donkey Kong Bananza has been a lot of fun. Definitely leans toward older collect-a-thon platformers like DK64 or Banjo-Kazooie.
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Comment on I spent months living with smart glasses. People talk to me differently now. in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentThey were decently hard to get. Even if you could afford the price tag there wasn't a way to just buy them in a store, you had to apply for them. As a CS student at the time that was excited about...They were decently hard to get. Even if you could afford the price tag there wasn't a way to just buy them in a store, you had to apply for them. As a CS student at the time that was excited about wearables I tried to get some through/for the department and never got any.
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Comment on What do you do while walking your dog? in ~life.pets
turmacar Link ParentThey're bone conduction, the instant they're off your head they sound like a speaker left on low in the next room. They just have a flat surface that rests against... whatever the bone just in...They're bone conduction, the instant they're off your head they sound like a speaker left on low in the next room. They just have a flat surface that rests against... whatever the bone just in front of your ear is.
Their sound quality is fine, have converted a few friends to them. They're not as good as over the ear headphones but at least on par with most earbuds. If you turn them all the way up they can get a little buzzy depending on what you're listening to, but other than that no problems. They're basically unusable in a plane for example, but that's because they're meant for you to hear your surroundings easily by not blocking anything. But for walking/hiking they're fantastic.
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Comment on What do you do while walking your dog? in ~life.pets
turmacar LinkWeirdly I also have a cemetery nearby that's a good spot for quick neighborhood walks. It's just one of the few areas nearby without traffic, cars or otherwise. We get out to nearby hiking trails...Weirdly I also have a cemetery nearby that's a good spot for quick neighborhood walks. It's just one of the few areas nearby without traffic, cars or otherwise. We get out to nearby hiking trails or parks when we can.
I really like the Shokz headphones because they leave my ears open. Tend to listen to podcasts or call people and just talk for a bit.
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Comment on The history of SPAM in ~food
turmacar Link ParentOther than the texture that seems like a decent tuna salad recipe, just with jello instead of mayo/mustard. Adding some lime juice wouldn't even be that outlandish. But the concept a quarter of...Other than the texture that seems like a decent tuna salad recipe, just with jello instead of mayo/mustard. Adding some lime juice wouldn't even be that outlandish. But the concept a quarter of that as an entree is just so off-putting.
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Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp
turmacar LinkBeen playing with adding small controllers to home assistant to use LEDs to display status of things. Mostly because I have a few pi picos that have been on the "find a project" bench for awhile...Been playing with adding small controllers to home assistant to use LEDs to display status of things.
Mostly because I have a few pi picos that have been on the "find a project" bench for awhile now so was trying to make use of parts on hand instead of ordering exactly what a tutorial/blog laid out. Got one wired to an airlift wifi module but it was enough of a pain trying to get them to actually connect to the wifi I switched over to a pico w, which was incredibly straightforward to get connected all the way to home assistant. Went to get the LED strip I'd seen in the pile and it was already wired up to a Zooz z-wave module that I'd apparently set up and couldn't decide what to do with it.
So now there's a nice little light strip above the washer/dryer that goes red if they're turned on during peak electrical pricing and can otherwise just add directed light to the room when the main light comes on or be a nightlight or whatever. Which is neat.
But now I'm back to square one on "what can I use these picos for". Could maybe light a bookcase I suppose but that seems like a waste of an addressable LED strip and the capability of the little controllers. Maybe somehow get it setup so each shelf can be lit up individually? That actually sounds neat.
SevenEves and Anathem are the only other ones I've read.
Weirdly the blurb they have about SevenEves is about the last ~1/3rd of the book. The earlier sections are much more disaster movie-y, though handled better than most disaster movies IMO. There's some criticism that there's a hard cut to several thousand years later and now it's basically an Asimov style "look at this cool future society" but overall I thought it was a good read.
Anathem I remember enjoying but don't remember much of.